It seems as though Bush is responding to the lambasting he took in last week's debate against a far more prepared, intelligent, and articulate Kerry by resorting to abject nastiness - a strategy that has all but defined his entire tenure in court-appointed office. How he thinks that insult and estrangement of not only Kerry's views, but of those of no less than half the country are a viable strategy to win support and confidence is something that only the most cynical, desperate minds could devise.

When the neo-conservatives mock a challenge for reasons to go to war, they mock half of America. When they call reasonable dissent anti-patriotic, they insult half of America. When they defend corrupt, back-door no-bid deals with well connected cronies as 'necessary', they're spending money that half of Americans object to. Bush has crossed the line, and he's no longer playing politics with Kerry. He's attacking the views of half of us, and flaunting the disregard for consensus and reasonable conduct he's always sadly displayed.