John, thank you for acknowleging that Kerry didn't fight this to the bitterest end. He could have, and I'm sure he had people urging him to, but he chose not to. That does mean something, even though it will be quickly forgotten.

With respect to "bridging the divide", from one who has stood in the middle (so much that several people have no idea how I voted despite all the verbiage on my weblog), it looks to me like BOTH parties have a lot of bridge building to do. Yes, as you say it's easier to meet in the middle, but I've been in the middle all along and I've been mighty, mighty lonely. I'd suggest you say to the Republicans exactly what you said to the Democrats, start building your bridges from YOUR end.

Probably a good idea. The Dems aren't known for reaching out.

Jack - that was whole point of meet in the middle.

Gimme a break.

From where I sit, the Right gives more in the tussle than the Left does. Because the Left plays for keeps. The Right really has different motivations. One of the reasons the RINOs are squishy, and Republicans don't fight Judges like the Democrats have fought judges.

Let Bush start some building. But it's a bridge to nowhere if the Dems don't push over from their side.

I'm not big on gloating. If this has been Wes Clark, well, then I would not have been able to restrain myself.

Well, John, I would give you a break, but you ARE looking from the right.

:-P

People looking from the left say the exact same thing, that from where *they* sit, the Democrats roll over for the Republicans repeatedly. Who is correct? Standing in the middle, I'd say neither, because I see almost NO bridge building on either side.

Yes, the Democrats need to build bridges. Yes, Democrats need to disavow Michael Moore and his ilk.

But...

Yes, the Republicans need to build bridges. Yes, Republicans need to disavow Ann Coulter and her ilk.

See, that's the problem with being in the middle. No one is willing to back you up 100%, and everyone is willing to throw rocks at you. (and I'm getting tired of ducking and dodging all the time...)

I commented to your post because if not now, when? If not me, who?

I do appreciate you not gloating, and I understand what you say about Wesley Clark. You have more knowledge of him than I do (just as I feel I understand George W. Bush better than many because I lived in Texas when he was governor), and I would understand it being "personal".

Jack and John,

My neighbor's a Democrat; I'm a Republican.

He borrows my tools; I borrow his.

When he's finished using his leaf-blower on his lawn, he burns up the gas he's got left by cleaning off my driveway; I helped him build his new shed.

If either of our families is away for the weekend, the other keeps an eye on things and takes care of the dogs.

I keep his brand of beer in my garage fridge and vice versa.

There's a twenty-year gap between our ages.

Guys, nobody has to build any bridges--they're already in place. It's only a matter of finding them and walking across; of course, you might want to look around first, just to make sure there's no "One Way" sign posted...

Sorry, Jack, but I think Ann Coulter's got a great-lookin' ilk, so this Republican'll take a raincheck on the disavowal, okay? =]