Well, at least according to Joe Klein.

Actually, I'm not. But aren't there many truthful points within his entire list?

I especially like the idea that "capitalism, carefully regulated and progressively taxed, is the best liberal idea in human history."

That's what most Republicans would call "socialism."

The fundamental difference is that Klein sees "criticism" as "blame." There is nothing wrong with criticizing our country -- we start wars based on lies, many millions of people are left behind under our version of capitalism, corporatism has overrun our country and we have very little public space, places -- virtual or not -- that are not co-opted and "Brought To You By..." a major corporation.

And this thing we call Democracy is really all about money, and very little about We The People. (See: 2006 election, Mandate to Leave Iraq.)

So, is that extremism? If so, well, then there it is.

I am a left wing extremist.

Friedman (sub req):

But worst of all, Muslims, the very people whose future is being killed, are also mute. No surge can work in Iraq unless we have a “moral surge,” a counternihilism strategy that delegitimizes suicide bombers. The most important restraints are cultural, societal and religious. It takes a village — but the Arab-Muslim village today is largely silent.

But wait. I thought the terrorist Assad was going on television to renounce terrorism and ask the Muslim community to do so as well?

Oh, I remember. The bomb went off and......wait...that's not real.

This is all SO confusing.

Good article in Wired about some interesting behavior going on in Digg:

In about two hours, LeMieux gathered data on 1,708 buries, fueling growing concern about the benefit of Digg's bury tool and the possible influence of a network of self-appointed censors. The site has long suffered rumors of abuse by a group of users that buries Digg stories it finds ideologically unappealing. Bury Brigade has become the common name for this anonymous mob.

Gets at the same kinds of meta-discussions we have here at TPMCafe, about creating censorship and allowing for multiple points of view within a group-based online community.

There's a theory that Giuliani's campaign will fall apart, once America gets to know him. But if you think Obama, another relatively inexperienced candidate with Rock Star status for no real reason, can go all the way, then you have to say Giuliani can as well.

This week's NY mag cover story is "HIM????" -- basically, why New Yorkers don't understand what everyone else sees in America's Mayor. (Answer: It's cause we know him). What's illuminating about this article, though, it just how wrapped Rudy is in the mythology of 9/11:

September 11 comes up even faster than Rudy could have expected. One of the scouts tells Giuliani that she lost a cousin that day. Rudy smiles a bit and touches her on the shoulder while Judi gives her a hug. The girl asks how the mayor made it through that day. “With the help of loved ones,” he replies. The little girl smiles. Afterward, I ask the girl what her cousin’s name was. “I don’t know, I never met him,” she says. By now, another blonde girl, maybe 11, is tugging on the mayor’s sleeve. “You’ve been my hero since 9/11.”

The real question for Democrats is, who is going to take on the myth of Giuliani, and, by default, the myth of 9/11?

Someone is going to have to reach out to these little adoring girls, and their adoring parents, and let them know it's all crap. It's all a myth, an orchestrated mythology created to stir up fear for fear's sake, a strategy to win Republican votes.

Which Democrat is going to say this?

Because, if you read the whole article, I don't see how any Democrat is going to win against Rudy's ability to, in less than seven minutes flat, bring a room full of Republicans to tears.

The remains of Jesus found:

Two limestone boxes said to contain residue from the remains of Jesus and Mary Magdalene were unveiled yesterday at a news conference at the New York Public Library by the documentary’s producer, James Cameron, who made “Titanic” and “The Terminator.”

I'm sure this won't cause any controversy.

My guess? The Democrats are at fault here.

See, Al Gore is funny, people.

Not wooden. Funny!!!

...and, to add: Compare and contrast, the person we saw on stage last night, who has become, really, a Great Man, and the load of crap his former running mate has turned into.