Bickering publicly between Cheney and Obama has unquestionably started. I just can't see Cheney turning down an opportunity in the future to respond to Obama. This is as much a struggle for independant voters as it is a debate about torture and how the world percieves America.

Obama has the bully pulpit but Cheney has a goading press egging him on. This is far from over.

My mom told me that once years ago. She pointed out 10 years later that sizes don't mean anything anymore because manufacturers put whatever size they want on clothing if they think it will sell. Plenty of women prefer to believe they fit a smaller size and might buy if it fits.

A size zero by this logic would be a 20" waist. Or 30. whatev...

I have to hand it to you...you've put a finger on the problem. This invisible hand job means getting stroked for years to come and it don't feel good one whit. The greasy palms of the bankers need to be washed clean. It seems they had their fingers in all the wrong pies.

Is greed still good?

When Noe uses the analogy of a car, saying "But an engine doesn't "give rise" to driving; driving isn't something that happens inside the engine" he is being a dualist. Where the heck outside of our brains does he think the power of consciousness comes from?

I sympathize with Noe when he alludes to the need to study the whole person in environments outside of the lab (petri dish). Of course the environment is key to how people are shaped! This doesn't mean taking snapshots in a lab is unproductive or disregards context - it just means better tools are needed, better tests designed, a more comprehensive philosophy attained -but why deny the gains made in the last two decades?

Noe seems like all those other philosophers that wish the magic of consciousness remain a mystery and naysay all attempts at understanding it through brain activity. He seems to contradict himself by being a philosopher yet not wanting to "look behind the curtain", as he says of neuroscientists.

What Noe sees as ugly or dangerous I see as fascinating and exciting. Many people are trapped within their minds and discovering a way out will aid in curing mental illness. Even for "normal" people knowing how our minds work may allow us to overcome obstacles to happiness or contentment. What is dangerous about that? Know thyself has long been a path to wisdom - long before neuroscience.

But I don't think it was labelled a NEWS conference.

How about this for news: Obama has to smackdown the librul media. When did the media finally come out of its cave? I mean, no harm in asking tough or rude questions but why wasn't this done around the time the Iraq was was about to begin.

Just sayin'.

I think I answered that in the very next paragraph.

Surely liberals won't stand a chance against such a formidible and cunning mind as Michael Steele.

heh.

Now that Steele knows that most of the Republicans are against him whatever will he do?

Probably.

But I think there will be enough of them to pass a bill anyways. It's sad that the Republicans are so monolithic. Surely there must be some individuals among them with their own goals and perspective. Or maybe not.

Joan made a legitimate point when pointing out the absurdity of Sanfords future child abuse claims vs. current child abuse/neglect at that school.

This shit needs to be taken care of NOW. Do you really want to see those kids become really sick so needless lawsuits can be thrown at schoolboards for outrageous damage sums?

I swear that the Republicans lack empathy. The shameless things they say truly astounds.

Surely the GOP must be kidding. The alternative budget essentially mimics the process which got America in trouble in the first place. If it worked so well then why didn't the Republicans get re-elected. What a farce.

Good for MSNBC. I like Shultz's radio show. But I don't watch TV anymore so I probably won't see his show. Good luck to him and MSNBC.

Is there no individuality in the GOP? Individuality is the hallmark of American liberty. Why do Republicans hate America?

The USA is clearly the scapegoat of the industrialized world. Most countries not only will want America to fund the recovery but will wait for the White House to make concrete, tangible regulation and sacrifice sacred cow banking institutions before they are willing to commit to freestyle economics again.

Stiglitz is right that it will "be bad, very bad" and this is because the USA is a long way from the hurt that the rest of the world expects. China has absolutely no reason to trust the Federal Reserve to not print money and devalue the dollar savings China has accrued. Past experience has shown the Fed to make poor decisions.

It is a dangerous advance of fetuses-as-people politics.

period

I already know how wingnuts think. This guy gave all the expected answers. There is nothing worthwhile in the article and I won't waste my time getting angry reading stupid authors like this again.

Trying to be fair or balanced only means having to read bullshit that I could have gotten from FOX. I have walked away from the wingnut section because the insanity is too frustrating. Bringing it here will only drive me away.

I used to read Camilla Paglia. I stopped months ago, and that includes reading both the funny retorts and right-wing drivel that shows up there. She claims to be a leftie but we know better. This Glenallen Walken claims to be reasonable, but we know better.