I just received a note from the Democratic party. It reads:

Democrats have consistently asked Bush the hard questions on Iraq. Democratic lawmakers, led by Tom Daschle and Nancy Pelosi, are speaking up for Americans concerned about the rush to war without the support of our allies and the world. Democrats continue to try and work toward a resolution of the conflict in Iraq and believe the administration must do more to address the national security issues raised by North Korea.

You gutless cowards. You sniveling, shifty, cynical opportunists. I am willing to tolerate plenty of bluster and crypto-fascism from the Republican Party -- as long as there's a strong opposition to keep them in check. Let me refer you to the Senate and House roll calls on Public Law 107-243. You don't get to vote one way and then walk it back when you find that opinion has changed. The Democratic Party has no leaders, it has polling numbers. Shame.

What Bush might say if he said what he meant. http://www.fuckitall.com/bsh/

If you missed the press conference last night, like I did, have no fear. The White House has a full transcript and video. Read on for pithy armchair-wonk commentary.

Last week Newsweek reported that Hussein Kamel told the CIA that Iraq did destroy all its chemical and biological weapons. You'll remember Kamal as the son-in-law who defected, became a Western informant, then stupidly went back to Iraq, where he was quickly executed. Newsweek had been one of many publications that had held Kamel up as an information goldmine, one that proved Iraq was up to no good. The Newsweek story failed to make clear how this information fit in with their years of other reporting. The Guardian tried to put the whole thing together, saying that the former UN inspector now thinks Kamel was a "consumate liar." Nobody gives much guidance on how much of what we think about the programs is based on Kamel. Much of what he said was backed up by documents, so it can't be all wrong.