the niche that DFA must fill

After Cheney attacked Kerry on national television, a chickenhawk daring to question a veteran's fitness to lead our troops, the response from prominent Democrats was... utter silence. Only one person defended Kerry and refuted the notion thta he'd be soft on defense. That person was John McCain!

This led me to wonder just where the heck the Democrats are. A new article in TAPPED says that they are all united, which is fine, but are they doing anything? The Prospect article even credits Dean with the backbone:

It is a revitalized party, taught to walk upright again by Howard Dean and then inherited by John Kerry. But there is still a kind of "Hail Mary" feel to the election. The excitement of the moment can be easily dashed for Democrats, and they know it. The ball is in the air, but it'll take a long eight months to find out the result: touchdown, interception, or dropped pass.

And so the important question is: How long will the unity last?

Given that the unity is largely irrelevant right now, unless they get their act together, my guess is not long at all. What needs to be done is for DFA to assert itself as the glue that binds - not just Democrats, but independents and even conservatives into a broader coalition of principle. That is the route to real change for America.

Admin note: I'll be away for a few days attending my sister's wedding :) Have a good weekend, Dean Nationites ...