American conservatives seem to operate in another realm. What many people would be embarrassed to admit, right wingers brag about in all their self-righteous hypocrisy. Who else would doggedly condone torture as an ethical method for extracting information? They are ignorant, pig-headed, and arrogant, and it is difficult to listen to them pop off without shame. How incredibly stupid Americans must appear to the rest of the world who are willing to be guided by science and a rational approach to the environment and other issues such as health care. Not Inhofe...he thinks he knows it all and is perfectly willing to make an ass of himself for the whole world to see.

Bill Clinton's comments regarding race amd virulent opposition are right on target, as usual. As to whether the race thing is being used by the right wing under cover is another complex issue. Obviously, anyone who has one iota of insight knows that it is something of a factor; however, it is not the only issue for the right. They are nuts on the subject of government, taxation, war mongering, and power...the latter especially is the bone in their craw. They are having a temper fit because they are out of power...someone else is calling the shots and it's driving them crazy; hence, we get outrageous slurs against the president. Of course, the leaders of the party are paranoid themselves and are always inclined to exploit the fears of their members. The Republican party has been taken over by the far right...they refuse to moderate and instead have waged a well-funded, entirely negative campaign to undermine Obama. Being ruthless to the core, they have no qualms about fabricating monstrous lies or waiting for the slurs to take effect over the long haul.

This case is old and stale...the victim wants it dropped...the case was settled for an undisclosed sum...Polanski plead yes for a 42/day sentence, later monkeyed with. Polanski has paid enough...let's get on with more important matters because this man does not pose a threat to our society.

This is a very informative article...my only question remains this: Why is Iran going for nuclear plants when they are sitting on so much oil? Incurring the wrath of the rest of the world and raising fears in Israel is hardly a reasonable, peaceful foreign policy strategy. This fact alone makes me suspicious. However, I am not worried about Iran attacking Israel nor am I convinced that they are trying to make a bomb.

Whether Beck is showing a moment of sanity in the swine flu conspiracy theory is dubious at best. To even be talking about these paranoid delusions, to give them any credence at all, which is what Beck is doing, is totally greedy and opportunistic...he'll do anything to make a buck. These right wingers are gullible victims...poor things to have to live in such a nightmare world!

It is unfortunate that the media are still groveling to the right by printing outlandish and fraudulent lies about health care reform without so much as offering the Democratic response when the claims are initially made. Later, after the negative press has had its way, they may furnish reports from the other side in a limp show of objectivity but by then the damage has been done. Somehow, Obama has weathered the storm with his popularity maintaining a degree of equilibrium but health care reform suffered mightily from media shenanigans, particularly the public option... hopefully, we'll get meaningful reform.

It is impossible not to notice how the media parrot one another...they are unblushing copy cats, mindlessly printing garbage to stay in vogue with current media trends. Some things catch on and they whip it up to a frenzy. It would be laughable if it weren't so destructive.

Debbie wrote: Americans are exhausted having to constantly "read between the lines," having to "separate the wheat from the chaff," and having to listen/read ad nauseum to the bold-faced lies rolling out in all media venues. We are taught to expect better, to demand better, and then we get Sarah Palin with a journalism degree six years in the making and a book that is a best seller before it hits the shelves. Nothing, absolutely nothing, separates her from those journalists/newscasters engaged in bogus reporting for the sole purpose of "bringing someone down" and "causing someone to fail."

I liked this so much I decided to give it another whirl!!!

As I see it, we should be thrilled that Obama won the Nobel...it marks the reentry of America into the world family, a sort of symbolic approval of our country and its path now. Bush was so belligerent, so harsh in attitude and tone and the world was frightened and turned off.

Only the Republicans would take the view that this prize is no prize. It's true it is no prize for Republicans... in no uncertain terms, the Nobel Committee repudiated Bushism with this action.

Elizabeth can still sell magazines with her photographs being prime fodder for aging housewives who want to get a glimpse of what it's like to grow old. I enjoy looking at her photographs (young or old) and am impressed with her indomitable spirit. Even if she is simply just "black Beauty," I find her fascinating for having such a sense of herself.