the plot just gets thicker and thicker...

news of iraq vet paul hackett's withdrawl from the OH senate race due to disgust with a manipulative dscc came as no big surprise -- but it should give the "band of brothers" something to think about.

the bob is comprised of 56 veterans (3 of them sisters, oops!), who have been recruited by the dccc to run for congress -- no kidding, they even have their own website. but are the bobs just so much fodder for democratic party ambitions, rather than standard-bearers for the cause of democracy? the party wants to pick, if not manufacture, its own candidates...then it supports them regardless of party primary rules to the contrary, until someone better comes along. yep, i bet the bobs have now figured out that they are totally dispensable -- so no marching to different drummers, boys!

still, the bunch that gave a press conference on the national mall last wednesday scored big style points with me. most looked like they'd rather be anywhere else than in front of c-span trying to put together a few lines of campaign-speak. but in just about 60 minutes, those naive, well-meaning vets upset some political groundrules that have been around for too long. 40 bobs just went out there and looked like...well, like everyman -- all shapes, sizes, and sensibilities. if everyman is ok with the d party, then every woman who ever thought about running for congress can now feel free to think again -- and anyone who demands rainmaking, cookie-cutter candidates can just put his or her viability-meter away!

"We don't need a female Eistein. We just want a female schlmiel to get promoted as quickly as a male schlmiel." Bella Abzug

thanks, bobs -- and we're really sorry about your friend paul hackett.