The War as Catalyst

The election shows that even though the anti-war movement is anemic and the Democrats ran away from the issue both parties have to address the issue head on if they want to do well in 08.' This is evidenced by the firing of Rummy and Nancy Pelosi's comments that the #1 issue for the country is now the war. This talk will fade as Rove and Bush trot out new tactics with the Baker/Hamilton Commission with their new man at the Pentagon at the point. The Democrats hope for a calming because they are split on the issue-some Dems in liberal districts in cities have hard core Out Now constituencies and other suburban/rural Dems have a more hawkish/nationalist pose.

Cockburn points to the losers in the election-Neo-cons and liberal free traders.