The left fights back -- with words

Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce the stars of the New Angry Left: Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, Bill Maher and Jon Stewart.

Comedian Franken and actress Garofalo have become increasingly visible on the multitude of point/counterpoint programs that dominate the all-news channels, and they're slated to star on a new national radio network described as an outlet for "liberal daily talk." Maher's "Real Time" on HBO and Stewart's Emmy-winning "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central are often highly critical of the Bush administration.

The ranks of the New Angry Left are bolstered by a growing army of partisan authors whose books now populate the best-seller lists: Molly Ivins, Paul Krugman, Joe Conason. Even the world of cartoons has produced a new generation of guerrilla-style political commentary -- Aaron McGruder's "Boondocks," carried by about 350 newspapers, takes regular aim at the White House's current occupant.

During the '90s, when President Clinton's many peccadilloes gave Republicans a plethora of targets, the power of conservative media entities and personalities rose to unparalleled heights. Now, after a period of relative civility following the events of 9/11, their opponents from the other side of the ideological aisle are taking the gloves off.