Okay, it's fairly official now: John Kerry is going to be the Democratic Nominee for President.

All week long I have watched Republican attacks on this man and said nothing. I have listened to the tirades of vindictive and reprehensible men and women attack his voting record, his decision making ability and of all things, his appearance.

It's time to fight back, and to do so without regret.

Because here's the deal: The only way we're going to beat George Bush in this upcoming Presidential election is to start giving as good as we get. The Republicans have become masters of the nasty attack. They pull no punches and say what they want to say and damned the consequences.

All you Democrats out the who believe in clean campaign tactics, I have one word of advice: Leave your sense of fair play at home.

The Republicans are the masters of the cheap shot. It doesn't matter if it's the direct assault of George Bush or the knife-with-a-smile of Ronald Reagan, they play mean and they play for keeps.

And I hate to tell you this, but it works.

The time for clean campaigns is over. The Republicans deserve every cheap shot they get.

They've eroded our social liberties, they've imprisoned hundreds of human beings without so much as the benefit of a charge (illegal detainment) on the grounds of intelligence that told us Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. They've lied to us to start a war. Bush is actually using the needless loss of life from 911 as a campaign tactic.

We need more of this:
John Kerry made this remark about the Republican while he thought his microphone was off: "These are the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen, it's scary."

Marc Racicot, the chairman of Mr. Bush's campaign, said in a statement that Mr. Kerry's comments were "unbecoming of a presidential candidate," and asked him to "apologize for this negative attack."

Fuck you, buddy. Don't you dare apologize, Mr. Kerry. For once someone is starting to speak the truth. For once, someone is starting to say what we've all been thinking.

No shit they are scary.

We're sliding slowing into an Orwellian pit of Machiavellian origin and you still want to play nice?

To all you Democrats out there, I say this:

Get some balls.

Attack with everything you've got. Go after the moron in office and get in his face. Don't be nice. The fucking bastard doesn't deserve it.

Yell. Scream. Tie his name forever with a convicted murderer and then apologize on your death bead. Hey, it worked for Strom Thurmond.

It's time to bite, kick, scratch and eye gouge.

And if you're too squeemish for the job, sit down and shut up and let the rest of us take this country back from the assholes who won't stop until every single one of you lives the moral life they dictate.

If you want this country to stay free, and by that I mean free to ALL its citizens, get ready to fight.

Hey! George Bush! Get ready my man. No one treats this country like you have and gets away with it.

You're on notice.

Joseph Haines, signing off from The Edge of the Abyss.