Reading over at Bob Fertik's swell reporting I see that Senator Joe Biden has decided to support the filibuster.

Once.

He's going to vote once for the filibuster, and then after that, against it. Joe, you'll never get your name inscribed on the Tablet of Presidents ny imitating John Kerry. Surely you remember when John Longshanks had a chance to save the Republic and you did your level best to torpedo him, actually adopting the Rove lie of the day that he voted for the thing before he voted against it.

Take a page from Miguel de Cervantes, Joe. "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Getting elected in a free country is really a romance. You have to seduce the electorate. The voters are fickle, Joe, and easily swayed by overt demonstrations of affection. Show us you really, really, really love us and desperately want us next to you in the great bedstead of Deomcracy, Joe. All of this "I'll do it once, but only once" will not win anyone over. Corrupt election machinery notwithstanding that's why Mr Kerry lost his bid for the brass ring.

I don't expect a lot from Joe Biden though. I did have great hopes for Barack Obama. This guy looked to be an up-and-comer, but even he doesn't want to stand and fight unless he's guaranteed a win. Speaking on George Stepha-whatchamacallit's ABC program today he said he opposed "procedural maneuvers" and really preferred that Dems would create a consistent theme to frame substantive issues.

Great, Senator Obama. We'll do that. Probably be ready by 2040. You gonna hang around? Obviously Barack is a dog guy; he's never tried to heard cats.

Earth calling Senator Obama: We can't even get you mutts to agree to stand on principles. How the hell are we gonna get you to agree on consistent themes? What are we gonna use? "We're not ready today, so cede the game to the opponents and we'll catch up in the playoffs" ?

There. Now I feel better. By all means check out Bob Fertik's corner of Democrats.com. He's got the addresses, phone and fax numbers and the names of the stalwarts, the waverers and the chickenshits. Stalwarts get an "Atta boy!" Waverers and chickenshits get an "I got your back and I want to hear your testicles clank."