There seems to be a general trend developing--and I'm painting in broad, probably unfairs strokes--where the right argues issues and the left argues personalities.

The right talks about freedom, personal and national security, nuclear weapons proliferation. The left talks about how they are being muzzled, and does so by taking out full-page ads in prominent newspapers. I wish my words could be heard by that many people! If they were any more effectively muzzled, we'd all need earplugs to be able to hear ourselves think.

The right is building a persuasive, forward-looking case, based in part on the UN assertion that all nations--including the US--have the right to protect themselves against terrorism.

The left, on the other hand, is getting a little shrill with their pointless and meanspirited attacks on our President. Such childish methods do nothing to further their otherwise very humanitarian desire to avoid war. The assumption by the left that they have the market on compassion cornered, and that the right is heartless, is ridiculously simplistic and as such also very detrimental to their cause. It's a transparent stereotype, and demonstrates extreme bitterness and a willful loss of contact with reality.

My point (and I do have one)...the right is doing a far more credible job. Much of the left is suffering what appears to be an intellectual and ethical meltdown (claiming, in a full-page newspaper ad, that you have no voice is a stunning absurdity). The pity is that so many of them are smart, ethical, outstanding people, and their failure is diminishing the vigor of a remarkable and worthwhile national debate.