As Dean recuperates and ponders his next steps in Vermont, as Edwards continues to run for Veep, as Kerry continues not to inspire, as the loyalty oaths in the left-leaning blogosphere continue to mount, as the media debases itself repeatedly, and as Bush continues his assault on my country, I find myself sinking back into what I'll call ABB apathy, similar to what I felt after the midterms and before I knew there would actually be a candidate with a clue.

Several of my friends told me months ago that they were ignoring the primary because they were voting ABB even if the Democrats nominated a turnip. So too, I find my interest in the day-to-day of the campaign waning as the inevitable ping-pong of one poll-tested remark on the 'D' side against the focus-group vetted framing on the 'R' side heats up. This guy, Dubya, is the worst President in modern American history and he still has approximately 50% approval ratings. This should not even be a contest, but it seems it will be. And that depresses the hell out of me.

I remain curious what Governor Dean will do next. I am extremely skeptical of what Joe Trippi is trying to do on his farm. I'll attend my local MeetUp next week, because there are some very interesting people there. But, except for October and November, I feel like the script for this campaign has already been written -- the lines have been tested, the performances rehearsed, and we're all just going through the motions from now until October.

I'll keep posting here, because I haven't been able to completely scratch my weblogging itch for many years, and I doubt I'd be able to stop now. But, I doubt I'll be able to summon up much passion for anything beyond removing the profoundly unAmerican Bush Administration. Someone had a great metaphor the other day: our country has cancer and over the last three years the Bushies have stabbed it and beaten it to a pulp. Electing John Kerry in this election may let us staunch the bleeding and bind up some of the wounds. But the cancer will remain and grow worse without serious and sustained systemic changes. Howard Dean recognized this latter point; I don't think most Democrats want to acknowledge it, if they even believe it.