Love Letters and Advice

"The Obama Watch Continues":

Shortly after talking to Mr. Obama, we bumped into Ethel Kennedy, who was walking through the halls of the Capitol after watching her brother-in-law, Edward Kennedy, be sworn in for his 8th term as a Democratic senator from Massachusetts.

Mrs. Kennedy, a strong admirer of Mr. Obama, said she still hopes that he runs for president.

“He’s terrific,” Mrs. Kennedy said, her face lighting up when asked about Mr. Obama. “He can’t run soon enough.”

While some Democrats have wondered aloud whether Mr. Obama has enough experience to jump into a presidential campaign, Mrs. Kennedy is not on that list. When asked if she thought it was too early for him to run, she declared: “No, not at all.”

“The guy is so centered. That’s not going to change,” Mrs. Kennedy said. “I don’t think experience is a big factor.”

Mr. Obama’s wife, Michelle, and other close friends have expressed concern about the senator’s safety if he decides to run for president. His aides have already been discussing security plans, in case he runs.

As she rode in an elevator, surrounded by a few members of her family, Mrs. Kennedy lowered her head when she was asked whether such concerns should prevent Mr. Obama from running. She shook her head, indicating her answer was no.

“Life,” she said, “is an adventure.”

"How can Congress help end the war:"

We all know that Democrats and the growing ranks of war-weary Republicans can pass whatever legislation they want, Bush will just thumb their nose at them and the public. And short of pulling funding -- which would get more people killed -- there's little that Congress can actually do.

What Democrats in Congress will have to do (and already plan on doing) is use their bully pulpit to amplify the overwhelming public opposition to the war. Bush isn't up for reelection, so he doesn't give a damn about himself. But if he sees that in political terms the war could cost his party dearly in 2008, that may be the one thing that could pull him back from the precipice.

It's clear that lots of Republicans are already panicking about their 2008 chances, and it won't be long before most of the Republican senators up for reelection in 2008 are fervent war opponents, as well as any House Republican who won her or his reelection battle by single digits.

But it won't save them, just like it didn't save Lincoln Chafee.

This is the Republicans' war. They bought it. They broke it. They own it. And they will suffer the brunt of it.

And the more Bush and McCain escalate the war, the deeper the consequences will be.

So don't fret that Congressional Dems can't unilaterally get us out of that mess. That power is vested in the president. But the bigger the mess Republicans make of the war, the bigger our victories in 2008. And if we make those big gains in Congress and the White House, ending this war will be tops on our 2009 agenda.

"Getting Bakered":

Bush doesn't care what anyone thinks. He doesn't care what Jim Baker thinks, he doesn't care what Jack Murtha thinks, and he doesn't care what his Dad thinks. He will send more troops to Iraq because that's what he wants to do. This will end up killing more Americans, more Iraqis, and further the agenda of our enemies. There's only one way to stop him, and it's not through persuasion, it's through cutting off funding, removing his war-making authority, and forcing him to obey Congressional mandates.

Democrats are getting much better on Iraq, but still, Steny Hoyer needs to do better than this.