Caped Crusaders

John Stoessel, the REAL consumer advocate, brings an interesting factoid to our attention today:

The Association of Trial Lawyers of America recently changed its name to the American Association for Justice. It may be a smart PR move, because everyone likes the word "justice," and apparently the name "trial lawyers" has acquired a negative tinge. It's good that it has, because although trial lawyers say they "protect the little guy," that's a myth. In truth, for every little guy they help, they hurt thousands.

I don't know if members of the AAFJ will be dressing in colorful spandex tights and donning masks, capes, and utility briefcases. But even if they don't, they'll still come across a lot more like the Legion of Doom.

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I commented last week on the raging civil war in the Democrat Party that the Enemy Media would be all over like white on rice were the protagonists Ken Mehlman and Tom Reynolds. However, here is a detail I didn't notice before:

At a meeting last week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA) criticized Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean for not spending enough party resources on get-out-the-vote efforts in the most competitive House and Senate races, according to congressional aides who were briefed on the exchange. Pelosi - echoing a complaint common among Democratic lawmakers and operatives - has warned privately that Democrats are at risk of going into the November midterm elections with a voter-mobilization plan that is underfunded and inferior to the proven turnout machine run by national Republicans.

The Senate and House campaign committees are creating their own get-out-the-vote operations instead, using money that otherwise would fund television advertising and other election-year efforts. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel (IL) - who no longer speaks to Dean because of their strategic differences - is planning to ask lawmakers and donors to help fund a new turnout program run by House Democrats. He recruited Michael Whouley, a specialist in Democratic turnout, to help oversee it. ...[emphasis added]

I've got two words for ya: "turf war." Or "organizational chaos," which works just as well. Three Donk GOTV efforts will spend at least as much time trying to elbow each other out of the way as they will actually getting out the vote, slashing the tires of Republican Party vehicles, and firebombing GOP offices across the country. The biggest temptation on our side of the aisle will be getting so engrossed in the immense entertainment value of this astonishing intra-Left scrum that we get complacent. For this, at least, thank God for the war.

Dr. Demented's retort was just as hilarious as you would expect:

Dean gave the internal version of "Yeaarrgh!!" in response, telling Democrats that "we have a big secret ... and it's going to help us win."

A "big secret" that he's keeping even from his supposed allies.

Chairman How is obviously focused less on winning itself than on being able to take credit for it if it happens. And he's showing every bit the prowess at that endeavor that he did in winning the 2004 Dem presidential nomination and DNC fundraising since he was named titular head of the minority party - a gift that will keep on giving right through November 7th.

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Here, in case anybody missed it, was Representative Cynthia McKinney's closing statement at her debate with Dem primary challenger Henry Johnson:

Thank you very much. An ordinance which was found unconstitutional written by an attorney. I have a red pencil box. Dr. King reminded us that the measure of a man is where he stands in challenging controversy. I stand. Those are a lovely bunch of coconuts. Alongside our troops and our veterans, working families, and Mr. Clark, who could get no help from Mr. Johnson when his land was swallowed up by a landfill. You smell like a monkey and you look like one too. Eisenhower reminds us that every dollar spent on war is a theft from the people. And I have brought more than $350 million. Four words: Dick Cheney, jungle fever. Send me back to Washington, so I can speak truth to power, and fight to get bananas renamed "yellows." Attica! Attica! Attica!

I added the italicized parts. But without the italics, could you really tell the difference?

(h/t: Powerline)