I'm as white as they come and am also uninsured; I'm sure I'm not the only one. I DO want universal health care of the single-payer variety so that everybody can be treated the way Bob the Carpenter described the illegal immigrant being treated and sent on his way.

I seem to recall a few years ago he said something that seemed to indicate he'd be open to universal coverage.

These guys must have figured since the DOJ was essentially a WH arm in the previous administration it would be in this one too.

...how he responds to those who believe that public option IS the compromise vis-a-vis single-payer and that further compromise goes into sell-out territory.

In fact, don't we still have bases in Germany? The final settlement of the German question actually didn't come until 1989 and was prompted by moves toward reunification.

I'm not surprise Limbaugh got cheered on Leno. I don't know if potential audience members get to pick dates for attending based on guests, but it's often seemed that his audience very much favors the particular guest on a given night. Bill Maher will be on next week and probably say a lot of very different things and will likely be cheered by that audience just as loudly. Though I will say, opposition to bailouts is not limited to the right, but on the other hand public option polls well.

I do find Leno funny, but Barney Frank had the best line on the show the other night, speaking of Limbaugh. Leno asked Frank which rightwing personality he'd rather have dinner with - Limbaugh, Beck, or Coulter. Frank settled on Limbaugh because either way it would be a painful experience, but at least Rush could be counted on to bring the painkillers!:)

My understanding is that he's been hanging out in Europe and still working, thus not exactly hiding. I assumed being such close allies all European nations have extridition treaties with us. Why is he just now finally being brought back?

...when having the Olympics in your country meant you got to show off to the world. As such, having a President lobby to bring the Olympics here would be seen as a very patriotic thing to do. I thought the conservatives were all about patriotism, so why are they objecting?

The President absolutely should sell his country. It's good for business, which leads to my other question. Why are so many opposed to hosting the Olympics? How can you say no to all the visitors, and all the money they bring, boosting the local economy?

Aside to the editors: Do you not regularly peruse the comment threads and delete obvious spam? I'm really getting tired of the "gobuyvogue" comments that have appeared in so many threads.

When he was Leader he unfortunately caved to the base, but now that he's out of politics he has no motive to say something other than what he truly believes. He does have an MD after his name after all, so probably is a voice worth considering.

Every year the CPAC annual meeting in DC gets huge coverage. Where is the liberal equivalent? We on the left need to have our own network of media personalities and outlets as well as organized communication strategies. That's the only way we can fight this garbage. As for the VRWC I'm not advocating bearing false witness. Soros may have as much money as Scaife, but he never funded a magazine accusing Bush of murder. The difference is that we criticize for actual policies where they criticize based on fantasy. I can vouch for Joe Conason's "Hunting of the President" (co-written with Gene Lyons) and recommend it to anyone interested in the background of the VRWC.

I never thought we'd be discussing her again! She was exposed by an overzealous prosecuter who wanted to expose pillowtalk about a land deal which turned out to be legal then wanted to establish a pattern relative to Paula Jones, as if somehow a consensual relationship with Lewinksy was evidence of harassment of Jones. It's not the VRWC's fault that Clinton fooled around with Lewinsky, but it absolutely IS the fault of that crowd that the rest of us found out about it! The ironic thing is Clinton was impeached for telling a little white lie about a personal relationship whereas Bush and Cheney didn't get impeached for so many unconstitutional activities and policies.

"Obama was already in New York when he went on the Tonight Show."

The Tonight Show is taped in Burbank and Obama appeared on set rather than via satellite, so you either got your cities confused, got your shows confused, or were refering to another TV appearance entirely.

...I don't understand the whole make-up thing either, but I don't think that makes me sexist/misogynist. I know plenty of men and even some women who share that view.

Location does, and Obama was born in Hawaii. As such, he is a natural born citizen per the 14th amendment which automatically confers citizenship on "all persons born or naturalized in the US". He would have had to be a citizen to be a Senator too, but since we wasn't naturalized for that the assumption must be natural-born. Incidently, the same goes for McCain, not because of his parentage, but because he was born in the Canal Zone, then a US territory. I join those who are confused by long-form. I know some things require a raised seal rather than a photocopy, but I had never heard of a long form either.

...if that's what it will take to force the election of a different Majority Leader.

Reid should insist that every member vote for cloture or face consequences, while allowing a few to vote no on final passage. Also, cut Snowe loose; one GOP vote isn't really bipartisan anyway so why bend over backwards for it?