For the history lesson, which is, alas, all too often missing in cable news discourse.

I've posted comments on Salon and elsewhere before, and I'll do it again— at the risk of boring everybody — to say that elected Republicans and others who purport to speak for the party MUST BE FORCED TO EITHER ENDORSE OR DISAVOW THESE RACIST TACTICS.

Sorry for the shouting, but I think it's come to this. This is serious, folks. No more wink, wink. The rhetoric is too ugly, and the stakes are too high.

Republicans, are you men or are you mice?

Now Obama is free to do what he wants. He can say, completely truthfully, that he attempted to reason with the Republicans — but from the moment he was sworn in they've totally rejected his overtures.

Not only that, they've refused to repudiate the outrageous behavior of their nutty base.

And now, this Grassley idiocy.

Amazingly, if the Republicans had even pretended to be interested in bipartisanship, they might have gotten some crumbs from the table. Oh, well!

She's Natasha, from "Rocky & Bullwinkle."

Yes, you meant "its competitors.... didn't FARE much better." Obviously you were channeling the network's bogus "fair and balanced" slogan. But, I must ask — where's your editor?

This guy should have died in jail. Shame on all of these people — especially you, Rahm.

I finally watched the video instead of reading your transcript. Which means I finally understand Representative Frank's "ethnic heritage" reference. He said, "I will revert to my ethnic heritage by answering a question with a question." Can it be that you guys don't know that joke? It's as old as Mel Brooks — older.

Why don't you guys wait until news actually happens before you report it?

You know, if you're so rabid for the public option, why can't you understand that attacking Obama from the left as well as the right doesn't help? You're aiding and abetting the Dick Armeys of the world, and you make me want to gag.

Let history happen before you pass judgment on it, please.

I'm sure that Congressman King feels just as strongly about defending America against domestic terrorism. That's why he's so vociferously condemned his Republican colleague Wally Herger for praising a town-hall attendee who identified himself as a "proud right-wing terrorist." NOT!

And why aren't the media asking every Republican House member to either defend or repudiate Herger? Oh, gee, that would mean you'd be doing your jobs. Sorry.

But it's still hard to believe that he's gone. Ted Kennedy was a public figure all of my life.

All day I've been thinking of an interview that Stephen Frears gave for the DVD release of his film, "The Queen." He said that Queen Elizabeth has been in his life longer than anybody. I guess on this side of the Atlantic, Ted Kennedy is that person for me.

Oh, and thanks, Senator, for COBRA... it's really coming in handy these days.

Many years ago, Senator Culver was one of the first victims of the then-nascent right wing attack machine. How ironic that the Republican who beat him was current Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, whose conduct in the health care "debate" has been so utterly despicable.

Listening to the eulogies and tributes, I was struck by the outstanding caliber of people with whom Senator Kennedy surrounded himself. He was classy enough to do that. Those who are not classy surround themselves with people like — well, like Lee Atwater.

I'm going to write Senator Culver and thank him for making me laugh my ass off. What a great guy.

And why should I care what she thinks?

Why do you think she was forced to leave all those schools?

P.S. Alex, grammar police here. You are being redundant. Facts ARE true.

But he is right about one thing, Glenn. You do go on and on. I've often wondered where your editor is.

I think the point of this post is that we're all supposed to gag at how much money Rush Limbaugh makes.

Pat sure seems to know the mind of Hitler awfully well. Hmmmmm.

After all the accusations thrown at Obama these past seven months, after the none-too-subtle campaign to get the Electoral College to vote against him during the transition, after the Palin rallies where people screamed "Terrorist!" and "Kill him!" — heck, after eight years of watching the right wing try to destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton — why am I hearing Jake Tapper of ABC News say things like "the White House was caught flat-footed on this"?

I worry that the Obama Administration has underestimated the hate. I know he graciously reached out to the lunatics on Election Night — "I hear your voices... I will be your President, too" — but, enough already. These people can't be reasoned with, talked down or accommodated.

Note to the White House staff: Stop being so surprised. Proofread everything you write at least 15 times before you issue it. Give up on Republicans calling the nutjobs out, because they won't. And PLEASE tell Secretary Geithner to make sure the Secret Service is doing its job.

What's a "paranoid cook"? Is that anything like Julia Child?

I guess you don't like President Obama much, but I also imagine he spells a lot better than you do.

Would the lunatics have gone after Obama's school speech anyway? Sure. But did the White House give them an opening? Absolutely. Somebody should have caught that "help the President" line and strangled it in the bathtub before it went out.

I don't know if the Repugs own the mainstream media or not (of course, the right-wing nutjobs think that WE do), but still and all, in an atmosphere filled with such madness and vitriol, proofreading helps. Like Poco should have done.