>>>Oh, and if you hear Rove's speech, I do believe he did mention moveon.org.
He did mention it, but even most of the well informed folks here at FR failed to pick up on that fact. If one reviews the posts in these Rove threads one gets the impression that they believe he is referring to Democrats in general and not just Moveon.org.
I think, perhaps, I did not make my point clearly. Most of the well imformed people here at freerepublic know damn well that Moveon.org and Michael Moore speak for the democrats. To a freeper, when Rove mentions moveon.org, we instantly associate it with the dems.
But, the dems want to perserve an illusion. Namely, they want Dean and Moveon.org to put forth their wild views on a regular basis. Meanwhile, the democrats try to maintain plausible deniability by claiming they have nothing to do with Moveon.org or Michael Moore, something that is patently absurd. Look at Hillary, for example.
Along came Rove and made the absolutely correct statement about how "liberals (moveon.org)" are approaching the war on terror. What happens? The democrats react faster than you can count to three. But wait, I thought the democrats were different from moveon.org and Michael Moore. Today, the White House spokesman takes the same approach, only highlighting what we already know. Ther is NO difference.
The illusion is gone. Rove's approach was artful and genius. The democrats have no more cover. They are firmly associated with moveon.org, even the ever careful Hillary Clinton.
So what? I mean what follows from your whine? If Rove's remarks were clear, correct and cogent -- as they were -- why should he be responsible for any delay, inadequacy or (in the case of 'Rats) unwillingness to understand them? Why should the 'Rats be exonerated, even partially, from blame for their baseless attacks just because a few others made similar (if less intentional) mistakes.
Furthermore a coordinated attack, such as the 'Rats are mounting, is the result of considered strategic decisions by professional politicians. And their attack has been prosecuted on the floor of congress and in comments and questions during official hearings. This is hardly comparable to off-the cuff comments by bloggers and bulletin board users.