It's that time of year - when the world of non-profits sends out appeals for financial support as donors look to load up on 2006 charitable write-offs.  But where are my tax-deductible dollars best sent?

Well, Don Rumsfeld essentially said the same thing about the War on Terra as he was shown the door by Bush:

The great respect that I have for your leadership, Mr. President, in this little-understood, unfamiliar war, the first war of the 21st century -- it is not well-known, it was not well-understood; it is complex for people to comprehend.

I'm the one who won't raise taxes. My opponent now says he'll raise them as a last resort, or a third resort. When a politician talks like that, you know that's one resort he'll be checking into. My opponent won't rule out raising taxes. But I will. The Congress will push me to raise taxes, and I'll say no, and they'll push, and I'll say no, and they'll push again, and I'll say to them, "Read my lips: no new taxes." (Emphasis added)

The Wall Street Journal has been a widely-respected newspaper for many, many years....much like CBS News with Dan Rather.  

Presidential Politics won.

(Lots more below the fold.)

And Smith has a good premise, which I'll display below the fold:

But, in looking through their special Election Board (the mods were sick of polluting the lamentations about the Cubs and other meatier current events discussions with the messiness of election talk), I caught this interesting post and thought I would pass it along to you, and I post it below the fold:

Fort Wayne (IN) Journal-Gazette: After 2 tries, Parra flees debate over stage fright

"I'm not used to being in front of the camera. ... I couldn't get my words out. I was just overwhelmed," she said after the aborted debate, which was being taped at WPTA and which would have been aired this weekend. The matchup has not been rescheduled and is not likely to be.

I'm interested to see that Bush has developed a case of cottonmouth.  

I've done a little public speaking, and I only get it when either I'm nervous or my allergy medicine dries out my mouth.  

As I type, Bush grabbed a sip of water.  Verrrry interrresting!

More analysis as I digest this further...wanted to get it into circulation ASAP.

Back when the movie first came out, there was a lot of discussion about how to maximize the political value of the release of the DVD, which we understood was to be one month in advance of the election.  

Let's reopen that dialogue.  

The Republicans, on the other hand, have done a masterful job of placing a number of identifiable "personalities" on the airwaves to reinforce RNC talking points.

It's time that the Democratic Senators step up to the challenge and rally behind Senator Kerry going into the November election.  The D's need to put forth every effort - just like the R's are - to win this thing.  They need to leave no stone unturned in their drive to remove George W. Bush from office an give John Kerry the coattails leading to a Democrat majority in the Senate and the House.

There are 29 incumbent Democrats who are not facing an election this year.  I submit that these folks ALL must step up to the challenge.  They need to be on TV, unashamed of promoting John Kerry and Democratic candidates nationwide.  They need to be headlining last-minute fundraisers.  They need to tell Paula Zahn, Wolf Blitzer, Linda Vester and Shepard Smith that their talking points are vapid at best.  These folks are totally safe.  They can be our standard bearers as they literally cannot lose this cycle.

So I figured I'd better bring a few books to pass the time and expand my knowledge. (As Covey says, "Sharpen the Saw"!)

Can I have some suggestions?

Unreal.  

Is this the sign of things to come?

Kerry at midnight.  Can't wait!

It's going to be a huge challenge.  We're going to have to merge cultures - the big money, low involvement, rapidly aging Democratic Party with the the younger, small dollar, high energy activists.  I honestly don't know if a merger can be accomplished, but our numbers are small enough (hugely Republican area...or at least non-Democrat area) that we really have no choice.

So I was thinking - How can we set the tone at our first joint gathering?  Free food helps, but I want to keep costs down.  Then the idea hit me - Music.

Why?  Perhaps because had that horrible accident not taken place, we wouldn't have Wolf Blitzer as the lead anchor on CNN's political coverage.  I'm not kidding.  Aaron Brown was the man.  

Kos raises a VERY valid point when he wonders aloud, "Why is John Kerry running?"  Being a reasonably fair guy, I thought that we should let Senator Kerry speak for himself.

And, if a speech announcing one's candidacy for office doesn't tell you why he's running...well, that's a problem.

I'll let you decide.