Former Sen. Lincoln Chafee proved himself more prudent, informed, and progressive (if the word 'progressive' denotes, as it seems to in our sorry times, someone who opposes torture and the launching of illegal invasions) than half the Democrats in the Senate in 2002, when he opposed Bush's Iraq war resolution. This was a time when Sens. Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and John Kerry were prostituting themselves for their own political ambitions, in the process ceding near dictatorial powers to Bush- but what's an invasion of a helpless country if it positions you as a 'centrist' who is palatable to your average warmongering neocon?

Now Chafee is disafflilated from his former party, as the possession  of an ethical compass of any sort is incompatible with membership in the racketeering outfit known as the GOP.

He is now stumping for Obama in Rhode Island, He does not, however, have kind words for the 110th Congress of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid:

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The pattern isn't hard to detect: People who have harsh words for Vladimir Putin, or the conduct of the Chechen wars,  do not prosper.

Karinna Moskalenko, who is representing the late Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist who had written several books chronicling Putin's corruption and failed Chechen wars- and was shot on Putin's birthday for her pains- was herself poisoned in Strasbourg this week, and in an imaginative manner- by ten highly toxic mercury pellets placed in the family car.

Ms. Moskalenko spends much of her time in Strasbourg, in eastern France, pursuing cases at the European Court of Human Rights, according to the radio station. Some of her cases have been on behalf of Chechens complaining of human rights abuses. She has represented Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the jailed oil tycoon. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Ms. Moskalenko's clients included Garry Kasparov, the former chess champion who has become an opposition political leader in Russia, and Mr. Litvinenko, the former K.G.B. officer.

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What struck me most about the debate was the contrast in generosity between the two men.

McCain is backward-looking, angry, and (needless to say) feeds on resentment. He does not stand for "change" or (to use the unfortunate catchphrase adopted by the Democratic Congress which McCain has appropriated, a 'New Direction").. And when he reaches "across the aisle," he is careful to avoid Obama's grasp.

I was very moved by the moment early in the debate when Obama commended McCain for his opposition to torture. (And I was very glad this issue became a part of the discourse. People need to be educated on this issue, it is destroying our own culture as well as our standing in the world.)

I liked the way Obama called Palin a "politician" who had fired up the "base." He allowed McCain to launch a ludicrous attack against Biden, in the process hanging himself with his own rope- Iraq (the surge's 'success' is limited to the MSM). Obama came across as patient, measured, while McCain was rabidly denouncing the credentials of a man who, whatever mistakes he has made, is infinitely more qualified for office than Palin.

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When McCain jeered at Obama that he had never been "south of the border,' it was one of the most bizarre insults one candidate has ever lobbed at another.

Actually McCain has some issues "south of the border" that should not be forgotten

http://www.juancole.com/2008/10/mccain-funded-righwing-contra-death.html

"Joe the Plumber became famous tonight."

Yes, he did...

When Bob Schieffer asked the candidates, "How does your choice of Vice President show that you will be a responsible leader?" or something of the kind, and McCain was forced to eulogize Sarah Palin- then Obama sounded indulgent, as of course he had to, of McCain's unmitigated folly, while McCain abandoned himself to a ludicrous attack on Joe Biden.

But it was mostly how Schieffer sounded almost plaintive in asking the question. We would all rather have Tina Fey as VP than Palin.