In this day and age, members of Congress have to be ready to respond at a moment's notice to an inquiry from the public, and respond appropriately, at all times. Sorry, but as Walter Cronkite would say, that's the way it is.

Elected officials are accountable to the people. If the Republicans had any guts they would turn to the guy from Firedoglake and say whatever talking points they've prepared about these "birther" idiots. Or maybe even respond honestly. The point is, the Republican Party is being held hostage by these fringe elements — that's the story here. WHEN are any of them going to stand up to these nuts? And while we're at it, WHERE are the Republicans on Glenn Beck's latest outrage?

Every Republican on the face of the earth should be asked about this right-wing nutbag stuff, again and again and again. Either agree with it, and marginalize yourself, or disavow it. They can't have it both ways. They can't fan the flames and then run away when they're asked about it

If the MSM won't do what it's supposed to do, then bloggers and websites have to carry the flag. Sad.

Every single Republican should be forced to go on the record: Either they support, or disavow, these nut cases. Whether they serve in Congress, govern a city or state (or just resigned from governing a state), chair a national or state party, head up a think tank, write a column, or are merely considering running for President in 2012.

Every single one.

The right wingers over at Free Republic are commenting on this article, too. Perhaps Mr. Greener would be interested. The tone of their comments neatly captures and illustrates the dilemma of his political party: deep-seated racism.

ttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2296517/posts

I'm waiting for a brave Republican or two to stand up to these folks instead of looking the other way. If that drives them out and to a third party, I can think of worse things that could happen to the GOP.

Mr. Greener acts as if the GOP sat helplessly by as minorities were "jammed" into congressional districts "where they are the overwhelming majority." This is like George W. Bush saying that "Iraq was invaded back in 2003." Hello! Admit Republican responsibility, please! It was the GOP, for example, that put all the minority votes in a few districts in Texas. How does Mr. Greener think the Lone Star State went from a Democratic to a Republican House delegation?

As Bugs Bunny would say, "What a maroon."

How critical Cronkite was of Rather. He didn't like Rather's histrionics. I couldn't agree more.

Do I think Rather got screwed by the National Guard thing? Absolutely. But it doesn't keep me from despising him.

But that's not what you asked us, is it? So here's my thought. We shouldn't be looking for another Cronkite, because there will never be another one. The world has changed too much. I'll settle, though, for someone really smart. I think Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann are really smart. Jon Stewart, too.

The headline in USA Today this morning said it all. Something like, "SOTOMAYOR QUIZZED ON GENDER, RACE." If I were an Hispanic businesswoman walking through the airport this morning and catching sight of that headline on a newsstand — heck, if I were just a woman, which I am — I would be infuriated. You go, GOP! Keep on this road and you'll be out of existence in no time.

Meanwhile, the silence of prominent Hispanic Republicans, like the Diaz Balart brothers and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Florida, is deafening.

WHY is it always guys? I turn on the T.V. and there's an abortion debate going on and it's a bunch of people who never had a uterus. A man assassinates Dr. Tiller. And now, these idiots, disrupting today's hearing. I don't understand why women don't object to this male behavior more than they do. It seems that we just roll our eyes and keep silent, as if to say "boys will be boys." Well, most of the folks who make law in this country are still boys. Speak up, women!

A: Tell John McCain "no" when he calls and asks you to be his running mate.

B: Run an ethical administration in the first place.

Oops, too late!

Gosh, bdop4 took the words right out of my mouth. Yes, the wingnuts are petrified of Al Franken. They should be. Not necessarily because he's #60, although that's nothing to sneeze at. But because he's smart and cares about people's lives. He will be a great Senator.

You should have seen the comments over at Free Republic when Norm Coleman conceded. When the Freepers weren't spluttering furiously at Coleman for throwing in the towel, they were bemoaning the fact that now, with Franken, we're going to get healthcare reform. Can't come soon enough for me!

P.S. As to the timing of the swearing-in, it's supposed to be today at 12:15 EST, live on C-SPAN2.

Some savvier political observers among us have decided that the lawyer's weird statement was a clear signal that Governor Palin has decided to run for President in 2012. Nothing whips up the right-wing nutbase faster than a successfully picked fight with the awful, awful liberal media.

But others among us think that it's a head fake. They're trying to get you to pay attention to "Housegate" when what they're really nervous about is Levi Johnston's upcoming "tell-all book."

Either way, there must be something terrible on the way. Just watch Palin's bizarrely breathless demeanor on Friday, and you know it. It's got to be something so bad that it would turn off her devoted base. But what — besides Levi being the real father of Trig — could that be? (Note that we didn't say Sarah was not the mother.)

Sorry, but these people are so weird that one's mind goes places it's never gone before.