I'll Bet They Are!

This Reuters headline kind of says it all:

European Socialists eager to work with U.S. Democrats

OPORTO, Portugal (Reuters) - European Socialists promised on Thursday to work to rebuild Europe's strategic alliance with the United States now that the Democrats control Congress after last month's elections.

Socialist leaders attending a meeting of the European Socialist Party pledged that with the Democrats on the rise, strong ties could be renewed with the United States after years of cool relations with Republican George W. Bush.

Howard Dean, chairman of the national committee of the U.S. Democratic Party, is attending the two-day conference together with the leaders of leftist governments of several countries and party leaders from across Europe.

Can't you just feel the surge of excitement and anticipation? The writer at Reuters saved the best for last.

Socrates said Dean's Democrats "should know that they can count on European Socialists" for support.

Puzzling. The Democrats have the support of European Socialists? I can't imagine why that would be the case? On the other hand, haven't they been receiving that support all along?

Isn't there an old joke about socialists, that a socialist is just a Marxist without the homicidal streak.