I'd like to associate myself with Mr. Millstone's remarks.

It's one thing to run a conservative Democrat in Kentucky or Texas; it's quite another to back one in NYC, even in a Republican-held district.

It is something completely different to dun members of Congress for "dues." This is exactly the kind of old-style politics that led me to get involved in order to change. It's why I'm perfectly willing to back the party machine when I feel they're right, but just as willing to tell them to go to hell when I believe they deserve it.

Two more things...

1. While Chris van Hollen is technically running the DCCC, I've been told that Rahm Emanuel is still pulling the strings -- and Emanuel voted for the FISA bill, which Hall, Towns and Clarke (and van Hollen!) rightly voted against. That being said, I believe we can, and should, add Emanuel to the list of "leaders" in the Democratic party who should be purged in the name of truth, justice, and the American way.

2. I may just have to get a letter-writing campaign together from people who worked to put John Hall in Congress in 2006, commending him for falling behind in his "dues."