The conservative Center for Security Policy will begin airing a new television commercial criticizing those who might oppose [Bush's proposed legislation on show trials for terror detainees].

Some in Congress think "that if we retreat our terrorist enemies will leave us alone," says the ad that will run in Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont and New York. "They say we should close Guantanamo, where captured foes are kept from waging war against us. ... They seem to think we'll be safer if we cut and run."

With menacing music in the background, the commercial ends with an admonition: "Vote as if your life depended on it. Because it does."

The Center for Security Policy website, by the way, has a link where you can watch the ad in all its nefarious glory. It begins with a view of the Two Towers before their collapse on 9/11, still burning after the planes had hit, with columns of smoke rising into the air. Believe me, its worse than I can begin to describe.

The sponsor of the ad, this so-called "Center for Security Policy," is a right wing organization that counts among its current and former members such luminaries as Dick Cheney, Elliott Abrams, Richard Perle, James Woolsey and Doug Feith, neocons all. Donald Rumsfeld is a past recipient of the group's "Keeper of the Flame" Award. In other words, its a group so entangled with the Bush administration that its difficult to determine where one begins and the other ends. In short, a perfect vehicle for Karl Rove to use to spread his lies message of fear.

Well, can any of us say we are surprised by this? Because we do need to vote as if our lives depend upon it. Just not the way the Center for Security Policy thinks we should, however. Because a vote for Republicans this Fall is a vote that will result in the deaths of more people, and may even open the door to the use of nuclear weapons against targets in Iran. A vote for Democratic majorities in the House and Senate may not stave off more illegal and aggressive wars, nor will it eliminate the assault on our civil liberties, nor will it necessarily put an end to the continuing loss of American and Iraqi lives, but its the best hope we have to begin the process of reversing the mess George Bush's failed presidency has created for our country.

So, I have a suggestion for Moveon, or whomever is thinking about running ads in support of the Democrats this election season . . .

(cont.)