The "Progressive" Dumb

Elaine Sciolino/IHT: By talking to Iran, U.S. budges in nuclear impasse:

A determining factor in the American decision appeared to have been the positive Iranian reaction to the fact that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was one of the signatories of a letter that was part of a proposal of broad political and economic incentives presented by the six powers in Tehran last month.

Rice, with more than a little help from Gates, has now begun to prove the value of diplomacy over sabre-rattling in yet another baby step back-from-the-brink. Yet all I've read on the larger "prog-blogs", as well as in media analysis, characterizes the gain as a loss for the Bush administration. Why is that?

Well, if you read this blog you'll have pages - nay, books - worth of answers. But if you're part of that 43% of Americans who intend to vote for McCain because of his support for current national security policy, you might just think the opposition is incapable of anything but criticism. You'd be right.

If for any reason Rice's mission is a success - even marginally - make damn sure to slam that as well. The Reeps need the money.