If you want to read about a failure of leadership and ordinary Americans taking up the slack, just check out this article. about the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

If you want to provide leadership, think about how you can introduce America to the reality in Iraq by introducing them to people who have been there, and people who are

Maybe a reality show set in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in the homes of our Veterans who have been there. (Is that a little odd, that I am suggesting a "reality show" should include some reality?)

And imagine if that reality was on HBO weekly.

Imagine if Americans knew as much about Iraq as they know about Tony Soprano.

I think it would be valuable for America, and I think it could be an overwhelmingly successful commercial venture. But it would become even more successful if the proceeds where spent helping the Veterans that our government has neglected.

It is not my skill, but I hope that someone with some clout and some skills takes it up. . .

Hint hint.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "It's pretty clear that an overwhelming majority of Republicans think it's a bad idea to have a surrender".

Well, we've found something we can agree on, we don't want to surrender. So why is Mitch McConnell screaming "surrender!" each time he gets on TV?

Me, and most Americans want victory with honor.

And, there is one thing that is clear:

This administration can't deliver it.

This Administration and The Rubber Stamp Republican Congress have sabotaged every opportunity for victory. From basing their argument for war on transparent lies, to hiring outside contractors untethered by the quaint conventions on torture, to saying to the world "we don't consider anything we do torture. as long as it doesn't cause death or leave permanent marks", to hiring political allies in stead of qualified professionals to receive $100's of billions of dollars and rebuild Iraq.

Between the arrogance, the greed and graft, and the outright stupidity it is abundantly clear that these bozos could not find peace with honor if it came up and spit in their faces.

So, until we can dislodge President Bush from the controls, we'll be forced to watch our money spent, and our men and women die, while Mitch McConnell prattles on about surrender.

I shudder when I think of how close this country has come to a coup.

It sounds sensationalistic when I say it.

But if you all recall how close we came to having Harriet Miers and Alberto Gonzalez sitting on the supreme court, it's suddenly all too real.