Could they stand on their hind legs? Do you think?

performing pastel-colored poodle,
in a clown and poodle show
[OCRegister]

Ari Berman in The Nation takes a look at the Dems, embroiled in their running soap opera of duck and cover. Hide from it all but be The Alternative --also known as The Candidate:

Iraq returned as a central theme in George W. Bush's State of the Union address this year. With the war on the minds of many members of the public and with the 2006 midterm elections approaching, it seemed natural that the opposition party would forcefully challenge the President's policy.

Sometimes a love affair lasts, half a lifetime, a lifetime. Perhaps not exactly unrequited but, shall we say unknown to one party... Requited, as writers need their readers.

Vidal in Ravello [Reuters]

My favorite political interview... to date (subject to revision and new loves), Jerry Brown interviewing Gore Vidal in the mid 90s for Pacifica Radio.

After a short hiatus, Riverbend is back to blogging. If you don't already read her blog, Baghdad Burning, you should start!

Remember when dubya tried to justify the iraq invasion by saying we did it for the womenfolk?

Our story begins:

then

There was an emotional moment during Wednesday's State of the Union address when the mother of a 25-year-old Marine killed in Iraq, Janet Norwood, embraced an Iraqi voter, Safia Taleb al-Souhail. They were among the guests invited to sit with the president's wife Laura Bush for the annual address.

Voice of America
Iraqi Voter and Marine's Mother Embrace During State of the Union
February 3, 2005
VOA news.

Marisa has a great diary crossposted at booman and liberal street fighter called "Citizen-Petitioner".

The post talks about Cindy Sheehan and last night's 1500 vigils. And includes some great quotes from on-scene reports by Greg Moses, editor of Texas Civil Rights Review. These diaries are being collected at Peacefile.org.