2002-09-27 - 4:11 p.m.

Tony Blair is pretty sweet. You gotta give him that. He's completely unpopular in his home country right now, not to mention in all of continental Europe. The only thing keeping him company is the courage of his convictions (not to mention the massive, loving arms of the United States).

That Iraq thing. It's weird. The Democrats have no fucking game plan. You got Gore saying we should focus on finding bin Laden ("avenge," he says) rather than fucking with Saddam. You've got Democrats lined up to support whatever policy the President has whispered in his ear, and you've got the Republicans painting the Dems as peaceniks, as appeasers, as lay-down Sallies. But wait, aren't the Democrats in Congress ready to rubber-stamp any type of war plan right now? Yes, they are. Then how are they doves? Confusing.

I'm scared of Saddam being left alone. I'm scared of whoever comes after Saddam. I'm terrified of the inevitable galvanization of the Islamists against us after any war on Iraq. I'm angry at the UN for its do-nothingness.

Politically, man, I'm sitting on the fence. Not because it's easier and safer that way, but because I'm trying to approach every angle of this subject honestly. Every politician right now is approaching this problem as a game. The Republicans, of course, have ownership of the issue, so the ball's in their court. That's why you hear Andy Card talking about bringing the Iraq topic to the table in the fall because "from a marketing standpoint, you don't release new products in August." So they have it easy. Just parrot the party line, and they're safe with the voters.

Democrats are eager to show how willing they are to work with Republicans, but still want the luxury of accusing them of "politicizing" the issue. Republicans, of course, counter with the same accusation. They're both right. The whole debate is politics because the decision's already been made. The only thing up in the air is the midterm elections, and of course, the all-important 2004 elections.

God. I'm glad no one reads this. I never talk politics with anyone and I need to vent.

Fun stuff on Monday, I promise.