Markos writes:

Sullivan links to a reader email that asks:

It also occurs to me that in a way McCain and Rove have actually simply taken over the liberal blogosphere in some way. They are being played. Just a few examples—yesterday Obama gave a fantastic interview at the Service Forum. Did the liberal blogs even cover this? No. He gave a great speech on the trail. Are his town halls even posted or excerpted? No […] The liberal bloggers have become McCain central.

Let me get this straight — if we all sat around and talked about how great Obama’s speech was, then things would be much better for him? Really? People believe this tripe? I’ll give Sullivan a pass. He was a winger not too long ago, so he hasn’t seen, first hand like many of us have, just how effective “ignoring the other side” has worked. Just ask Kerry and the Swift Boat Vets….

To all the concerned people emailing me about “being played”, don’t waste your time. I’m not about to revert to writing puff pieces about Obama thinking that his magic “new politics” bullshit will carry us to victory. He may or may not believe that crap, but I don’t. We’re going to win this thing the way campaigns are won — by playing hardball. Politics is a blood sport. Republicans understand this and never flinch from flinging the shit. We won’t win until we learn to fight back in kind. And I’m more than happy to get down in the mud with our friends on the Right so Obama doesn’t have to.

Recent history vindicates the “tough and aggressive” path. We went toe to toe against Rove and his machine in 2006, and our math beat his. I have no doubt we’re in for a two-peat this year, and it’ll happen because we won’t back off from exposing the GOP for the den of lies and corruption it has become.