Duh

WaPo suggests Democrats are making a mistake, something that ought to be lead-in fodder for every network news agency:

Democrats fumed last week at Vice President Cheney's suggestion that criticism of the administration's war policies was itself becoming a hindrance to the war effort. But a new poll indicates most Americans are sympathetic to Cheney's point.

Seventy percent of people surveyed said that criticism of the war by Democratic senators hurts troop morale -- with 44 percent saying morale is hurt "a lot," according to a poll taken by RT Strategies. Even self-identified Democrats agree: 55 percent believe criticism hurts morale, while 21 percent say it helps morale.

The results surely will rankle many Democrats, who argue that it is patriotic and supportive of the troops to call attention to what they believe are deep flaws in President Bush's Iraq strategy. But the survey itself cannot be dismissed as a partisan attack. The RTs in RT Strategies are Thomas Riehle, a Democrat, and Lance Tarrance, a veteran GOP pollster.

Their poll also indicates many Americans are skeptical of Democratic complaints about the war. Just three of 10 adults accept that Democrats are leveling criticism because they believe this will help U.S. efforts in Iraq. A majority believes the motive is really to "gain a partisan political advantage."

A week ago, I posted the opinion that the Bush administration's strategy to finally confront their critics, with piss and vigor and righteous anger, was a solid one:

... join me in hoping this verbal barrage, aimed not just at the enemies abroad but the enemies in Congress, the enemies in the media and the enemies on the left that are either ignorantly or wilfully aiding and abetting those our men and women are fighting, continues until it has the desired effect.

If this poll is any indication, then we're getting closer to the desired effect.  But now's not the time to let up.  As I said a week ago:

Keep it coming President Bush.  Keep it coming Vice President Cheney. Keep it coming Karl Rove.  It's not time to stop when you have them on the ropes.  It's time to finish them off.  Keep up the pressure, keep this issue in the limelight.

I see no reason to change that advice now.