It’s amazing how much a couple of lines sums up the approach from the left: “I think it’s very important to make charges like that. I think it’s very important to combat this kind of activity in every way that you can.”

In shorter terms:

1) villify the Bush administration and

2) do whatever it takes to accomplish this regardless of the truth.

Regrettably this has been the centerpiece of the Dems’ approach over the last several years. I say regrettably, because notwithstanding my desire to see the Dems stay out of power for a very long time, these are very serious times which require a serious public dialogue. We don’t have that right now. Rather than a serious discussion on the level of proof required for preemption we have “Bush lied”. On social security reform we have “Bush is manufacturing a crises”. The list goes on. In the end the public is denied a real debate. And then Bush is accused of being “unilateral”. I think the better word is responsible. After all, someone has to be the adult around here.

LGF broke the story of Congressman Maurice Hinchey’s (D-NY) remarks in Ithaca, NY on the Future of Social Security.

Apparently, in Congressman Hinchey’s opinion, Karl Rove was behind the forged documents leading to Ra^thergate.

From the LGF transcript:

Congressman Hinchey: “And I said that. In the very beginning. I said ‘It’s my belief that those papers, and that setup, originated with Karl Rove and the White House.'”
Audience Member: “Don’t you think it’s irresponsible to make charges like that?”
Congressman Hinchey: “No, I don’t. I think it’s very important to make charges like that. I think it’s very important to combat this kind of activity in every way that you can. And I’m willing – and most people are not – to step forward in situations like this and take risks.”

Even when he doesn’t have any kind of proof.

Round up of other’s musings on this:
The Anchoress, Roger L Simon, Powerline, VRWC#1 Member, Polipundit, Betsy’s Page, RightWingNews, INDC Journal, Myopic Zeal

Update: Brit Hume just mentioned this story in his “Grapevine” segment on Special Report.

Update 2: more from GOP and the City: Conspiracy Theory: Rove Planted CBS Docs

Update 3: Welcome Confederate Yankee readers (please look around): “A Host of Political Dirty Tricks”

Mover Mike, based in Portland, OR has linked to, and quoted from, one of our posts. He’s also added us to his blogroll.

The playhouse post is just a few posts down. Here’s a link to go directly there. Be sure to click the link to Edward’s SafeBuilding article.

Interesting article on whether bloggers are journalists in the context of “freedom of the press” considerations. The Court in the Cooper and Miller case raised the issue. I think at this point the answer to that question is less important than the fact that the question is being asked. Institution by institution, the blogosphere is entering the mainstream.