What kind of alternative universe are you living in? The Obama campaign started the contentiousness in this race? As far as I know, no one has made any threats of violence again McCain or Palin. And yet, they both allow some of the ugliest racist remarks I've ever heard to be yelled out during their rallies while Mr. Obama has been a complete gentleman throughout. You have taken a couple of isolated incidents and tried to make trend out of them. Of course, this election is different than any before. We are a different country than we were "in the good old days." It is typical of conservatives to fondly remember a past that never existed and to try to (re)create it in the present. How sad it must be to constantly fear tomorrow.

Wonderful piece of satire! My guess is that most of these IDJITS who are now invoking the ghost of Karl Marx had never even heard of him until the right wing propaganda machine (yes, I said it!) started throwing his name around. Or, maybe their kollidge-edjeecated minister clued them in. Remember when Chris Matthews asked one of the conservative talk show puppets what the historical significance of "appeaser" was? Not surprisingly, he had no idea. He just kept saying: "They're appeasers! They're appeasers!" until Mattheew cut him off. As a proud Southern progressive, I am glad that the country is finally seeing that not all right-wing nut jobs live below the Mason-Dixon line. Dumb redneck is a state of mind that has nothing to do with geography.

1)In my experience, those who make the most noise about being "Christians" are the very ones who have the worst ethics in business and in their treatment of other people. 2)I'd like to challenge the so-called Christians out there to quote anything from The Gospels that, in any way, justifies conservative political views. 3) Jesus was and advocate for the poor and the outcasts---the consummate liberal! 4)If he were to come back today, he would be appalled by the number of churches that take his name in vain.

The comments by the FEMALE Salon writers on this story are yet another example of "feminism's" complete humorlessness.

I just took my best friend to the hospital. She had blockage in a major artery and it is lucky that she finally agreed to go. I hate to think what would have happened if she had waited much longer. She has been a heavy smoker for more than 15 years. (Her husband died recently of a similar condition.) Didn't you recently say "people leave alcoholics" as if it were an indisputable fact? Cigararettes have proven to be one of the most addictive drugs out there. Why do they get a pass when they are just as destructive, if not more so, than heroine, crack or meth? They may not cause the behavioral issues that some of the other drugs do, but tell that to someone who has lost a loved one to heart disease or lung cancer. And, as with all addictions, the addict's lack of concern for the effect their addiction is having on those who care about them is equally self-centered. It is emotional torture to sit by and watch someone you love commit slow suicide.

Hitchens is getting a little hard to follow himself these days, but I said months ago that John McCain should have a complete neurologiccal exam. I think he is genuinley ill and should retire from public life.

By the way, some of the funniest people I know are women---among them my best (female) friend and my sister. And, anyone who can watch "The Queens of Comedy" without shooting something out of their nose probably needs a neurologial exam too.

Three years and not ONE mention, even in passing, of the most sexist lawS in the USA: the requirment that MALES ONLY register for the selective service draft. For all the yammering about equal rights, Broadsheet is one of the most hypocritical columns on the planet. Best of luck on three more years of "feminist" trivialities!

My whole point is that men and women will never be truly equal--as in exaclty the same. Do we even want that? You can't change centuries of social programming overnight and we are, after all, different sexes. Each gender will always have its strengths and weaknesses. I believe that women should have the same opportunities that men have (and vice/versa). For that very reason, the only way we can approach parity is to have our laws apply equally to both sexes. (Of course, ideally, we would have no draft at all.) But, if women can be firefighters police officers and volunteer soliders there is no reason to believe that they are not capable of serving in combat (as some already are). Still, I think they should know what it's like for the government to have complete control over their lives in times of war. Without this experience, they will never be full citizens. When I hear a major "feminist" leader address this issue, I will take the movement serioulsy again, but not until then.

"Feminism" is based on a flawed precept: the fantasy that men's lives are, somehow, idyllic.

Isn't this the ultimate "feminist" fantasy--to live the utopian life of a man?