Could this march to madness have been stopped in 2003 if highly regarded public figures had taken unequivocal stands against it? If Colin Powell, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and others had publicly supported the anti-war effort before the invasion could it have stopped the war machine? I have just lost any respect for David Gergen. He seemed like a even-handed commentator and a man of public spirit. Here's his interview on CNN:

Start of transcript:

Meanwhile, as the nation mourns the death of former President Gerald Ford, we are now learning he strongly disagreed with President Bush on the war in Iraq. And in a never before published interview, he bluntly called the administration's justification a big mistake.

CNN's Brian Todd has been following that story all day. Brian, what's the scoop?

   

[A]s Bush hunkers down in Crawford for an extended Thanksgiving vacation, protestors can be hauled off by the police:        

A dozen war protesters were arrested Wednesday for setting up camp near President Bush's ranch in defiance of new local bans on roadside camping and parking.

   As Vice President Cheney reminded us this week "disagreement, argument, and debate are the essence of democracy." Just don't let your disagreement get too close to the ranch.

if bush was a REAL president, he would see that the protestors had what they needed to be comfortable and then send over thanksgiving dinner... it's honorable to honor disagreement...

BostonJoe, a regular diarist over at Booman Tribune, has quickly organized a grassroots protest that will target a couple of the Chickenhawk Republicans who slandered Rep. Murtha's military service last week.

Operation Yellow Feather is in full swing!

Click this link for more information, including downloads for faxes or mailings you can send to Rep. Jean Schmidt and State Rep. Danny Bubp of Ohio.

It is time to stop this new era of McCarthyism where the Chickenhawks in power question the patriotism of any American who disagrees with the lies and horrendous leadership provided by the Bush War Council.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Please spread the word and let me know if you participated so I can alert BostonJoe and the rest of the BooActivists.

Excerpts from BostonJoe's diary below the fold...