So the Moose wants to play dirty, does he?

That's fine. But we are free to analyze his playbook, and guess whose playbook it's eerily similar to.

Moose is a Rove-style Republican at heart. Disagree with him, especially from the left, and out come the same old ad hominems, the same old namecalling, the same old scare words. He isn't content to argue his points; he must show his opponents as fools or worse.

Now the Moose is all over Kos - two posts in about six hours - for a completely irrelevant, if unwise, remark he made long in the past. Didn't bother the Moose until Kos did an ad for Lamont, apparently.

There's a word for that tactic, Moosie. It's called SWIFTBOATING.

At long last, quadruped, have you no sense of decency?

Oh, and yes, Moose, Gore is going to walk all over Hillary. Deal with it.

Just One. That's the new meme I would wish to infest every brain in the left in the few months we have before the November elections. Just One.

What does it mean?

If you can somehow manage to convince JUST ONE of your Republican friends that they should vote Democratic this time, we can literally change everything. And we can assure a political climate where it will be easier for more of them to do so next time.

I know; it's a titanic task to change even ONE mind after the Brain Slugs have infested it. We've all tried it and come away bloody. But this is a unique moment in history; the mudslide away from Bush has begun, and the erosion of the vast edifice of lies and hate on the right has never been more in effect. We have an opening. You have an opening. You, personally.

Now is the time to pinpoint that one friend who just might have finally had enough and reason with him or her. Now is the time to put aside the I-told-you-so's - there will be plenty of time for that later. Just let them naturally come to the conclusion so many now want to come to, but can't quite squeeze it out. Welcome them to the fold like the Salvation Army saving a soul.

If you can pull it off... if even SOME of us can pull it off... imagine the results. It's the fourth quarter; time to pull out all the stops.

(I know that's a mixed metaphor but it's a private joke for us football playing pipe organists.)

Maybe you really can't spare money for the Democrats. Maybe you really DON'T have the time to devote to volunteer work - I certainly don't. But you can do this.

Just One.