Here's a compassionate approach to this issue. I also disagree with Harkin. If Harkin wants to draft legislation, he should do so. He should not be using as an example a woman who has been dead for fifteen years. This case has absolutely nothing to do with disabilities. It has absolutely nothing to do with compassion.

I'm not buying into the necessity for "sensitivity" on our side until the GOPers start paying a price.

I'll try to exercise more self restraint.

In light of the thoughtful feedback this post has generated, I think I'll redo the piece without Schiavo's picture and repost it on my site by tomorrow morning.

I hope anyone who was offended by the original will check agitprops.org tomorrow and take a second look to see if you find the revision more effective.

Again, thanks to everybody who has offered feedback -- it has all be very useful.

(And thanks to Chris for boosting it up to the front page for a while today -- my hits on Agitprops skyrocketted!)

I also do not believe for a second we should abandon harsh tactics. Remember how the RWCM kept insisting that the American people were fed up with personal attacks and negative campaigning? I'll believe it when I see it. Until there is some evidence of a genuine backlash against the GOPers, I am very volatile about suggestions that we need to be more civilized or restrained.

If the American people want slasher politics, then that is what we better give them. I don't approve of American bloodlust, but as a matter of pragmatic politics, we can't afford to back down from the GOPer attack machine.

I am tired of getting swiftboated. I am tired of getting Falwelled. I am tired of hearing that our lying sack of ** President has resolve. I don't know what it takes to break throught the information smog that is dominating the media. If shock and slasher tactics are the only thing that works, then shock and slasher tactics it will be.

I occasionally get abrasive. I think the Democratic party needs to get a whole lot more abrasive. We keep playing by Marquis de' Salisbury rules while they play by Marquis de' Sade rules. Unfortunately, the American people and the media think GOPers are strong leaders and Democrats are weak.

I'll take Mayor Newsome, Barney Frank and Barbara Boxer over anything the GOPers have to offer in the way of political courage, principles and personal character. I have no idea why the American people prefer DeLay, Frist and Cheney. Until somebody can explain that to me, I'm going to stand hard and fast for fighting fire with fire. No surrender. No quarter. No mercy.

Peace out,
JollyBuddah

Once the story dies down, and they have leftover reels to work with, they'll have a friggin episode of Dateline run some anorexia story that liaises the Schiavo story to the story of "millions of teens".

It's like all the after action stuff they ran after Scott Petersen non-case.

Now that they're really tiring out on Petersen, they'll do some family stuff for about a week after she dies.  Then there'll be some friends from HS.  

Then there will be a run of after action stuff.  Why you should have a living will.  Is there a soul and where is it.  Anorexia and girls risking brain damage to be thin.  

The news cycle can be quite disgusting to watch.