THAT'S what makes him stand out from the vast majority of directors (and, frankly, actors) working in American film.

His films may not have an immediately recognizable visual style or an auteur's "tone", but his films, good and not-so, all had ideas and central points of view to communicate. And he was masterful with actors.

And what a great character actor! I put him on the same level as the criminally-underrated, almost-forgotten Kate Reid: Not a tic or mannerism on display, just a vivid presentation of a living being reacting in time and space. And his performance in Tootsie is classic; has there ever been a better portrayal of enraged exasperation when Dustin Hoffman's character hectors him about producing a friend's play about a family moving back to Love Canal and he yells back:

WHO GIVES A SHIT? Nobody wants to pay twenty dollars to watch people living next to chemical waste! They can see that in New Jersey!

He was a true talent and gave us some quality entertainment, and he will be missed.

But come on-- would she have had even the eentsiest chance of running for ANYTHING and WINNING if she hadn't been married to King Triangulator, Slick Willie: Bill Clinton, ex-President?

A very, very small chance, sure-- but approaching zero.

Leaving aside her smarts and drive (which are indisputable), she took advantage of some very powerful connections to get where she is now. Her husband, and his last name, were huge advantages.

And her failure to secure the nomination that so many thought she was entitled to is due to ineptitude. Her team's, and hers. And maybe the nation's fatigue with Clinton drama. Sorry.

Snap!

This, coupled with that USA Today survey just released that shows that a large majority of people want the government OUT of deciding who can and cannot get married, just underscores the simple fact that American society is moving in a progressive direction-- except for the stupid old people trying in vain to hold the reins of power.

But the US overall IS changing for the better. Even in the most socially backward areas of the US. Albeit glacially slow.

People are beginning to get it. Want to protect the "sanctity" of marriage? Outlaw divorce.

Boy, that would shut them up in the divorce-happy Deep South, wouldn't it?!

Yet again, Joan Walsh types another whiny article about the victimization of Hillary Clinton, who did NOT earn the Democratic Presidential Candidacy despite the vast Clinton political machine backing her.

That's right, EARN. She was NOT "entitled" to it. She was not "owed" the Presidency.

Like it or not, Ms. Walsh, that's kind of how the political process is supposed to work in the United States. Granted, we have had eight years of horror thanks to people gaming this imperfect system and manipulating it. But ideally, candidates EARN the right to represent the parties in the November contest. Hillary lost, fair and square. SHE'S the one who tried to change the rules, then cried "I'm being victimized!" when the rules, WHICH SHE AGREED TO BEFORE THE PRIMARIES, were applied. Her campaign assumed the Presidency would be naturally bestowed upon her-- and they had no coherent Plan B when it turned out she'd have to EARN it.

For those idiots who say, "Oh, but Obama's an empty suit, he doesn't have 'experience'"-- your beloved Bill Clinton was the fucking governor of Arkansas, for God's sake. And looking back with the gauzy warmth of nostalgia, you think he did a good job, right? I don't; he turned himself into a Republican Lite, shoving the country into the soft man-boobs of the Right Wing thanks to his craven triangulation and willingness to take increasingly anti-Progressive positions as long as he could call them "Wins". Hillary is nominally more progressive, and very smart and capable (and, one-on-one, a wonderful, warm person), and I would have happily voted for her (but watched her like a hawk for triangulation and betrayal)-- but First Lady is NOT a job title, and I don't count it as experience. Obama has experience on the local, state and Federal level, is smart and REAL, and he's a NEW START. And dammit, that's great as far as I'm concerned.

And anyone who'd vote for McCain is a complete and utter moron. Under ANY circumstances. The man is an embarassment to the United States government, a horrible representative of the American people and absolutely unfit to lead a Tempe Elk's Lodge, let alone this country, even as horribly in decay as eight years of Duh-bya have left it.

People: Get over yourselves. Get over your Identity Politics. This is important. Obama will be a great president for you and your children and your loved ones. And Hillary will tell you the same. Her pride is wounded, but she loves this country, and she'll do what's best for us. And I know she'll make a fine addition to an Obama cabinet-- or, even better, to the US Supreme Court (Justice Clinton-- sounds beautiful to me!).