Just saw that "body-piercing latte drinkers" ad on CNN [View All]

[Zomby Woof]

And all I can say is :wtf:

What a piece of _____. :hurts: Plus, seeing Paula Zahn's ignorant smirk afterwards just made me :puke:.

Now, my opinions of Howard Dean are well-known. Also, I have warned more than once that he needs to prepare for this kind of ugliness from the criminal Bush-leaguers and their sympathizers, and this ad is a prime example.

Many Dean supporters argue that Dean has the money to counter this kind of dung, but I don't think money alone is going to save his butt. Since he has so much money, he better start spending it on some counterpunches, and spend it soon. Surely Dean, who has a vaunted staff and creative talent at the ready, can fight back. But how soon? To what effect?

I'd like to think most Americans, even the conservatives targeted in this ad, would have more sense than to fall for the crass ignorance celebrated in that ad, but alas, I am a cynical misanthrope who knows better. We have a populace more receptive to propaganda than ever. Blame the culture of fear, blame consumerism, blame Wal-Mart or your Aunt Fanny for all I know, but this ad may just solidify some negative perceptions about Dean that even I don't subscribe to, and you all know how pungent and direct some of those perceptions are.

Nonsense, you say? Think the ad will have no effect? Anyone remember Willie Horton in 1988? How about Harry and Louise and their derailment of the Clinton Health Plan in 1993? There are many more examples, going back decades and more, but those are the two that first came to mind, because they worked, and they too, were equally slimy, vile, and pernicious.

Folks, Dean supporters and non-Dean people alike, we have seen the first shot across the bow from the opposition. After all the hand-wringing we have done about in-fighting, this has been due for some time.

My opinions about Dean, my doubts about his qualifications for office, my questions about his potential to beat Bush, and my misgivings about his character and his platform remain intact.

But if you despised the ad as much as I did, you have my complete agreement and solidarity. It wasn't just anti-Dean, it was anti-American, and the worst kind of insidious propaganda.

Peace.