this radical atheist's plugged nickle.

Telling the truth in marriage is generally a good thing, if sometimes difficult, and, surely when it comes to religion one would like to be honest in a marriage. It would hardly seem like much of a marriage at all without blunt honesty concerning religious beliefs, or lack thereof, between partners.

That said, we've all probably learned that intimate relationships come in every flavor under heaven, and I really wouldn't have the faintest idea what'll work for someone else. And, how you define *work* is pretty important too, since that's a word subject to quite varied interpretation.

I wouldn't want to be in Churchgoing Agnostic's shoes though. Sometimes people change so drastically that intimate relationships that formerly were high-functioning, become utterly miserable for the person who has changed.

The issue of being an atheist and having to blend in to a predominently christian society, is another discussion. Christians, and others, come in all degrees of tolerance. But, I tend to keep my atheism to myself, most of the time. It doesn't cost much, and it seems me that if I'm clear to myself, and don't lie to myself, blending in is matter of simple civility, not a matter of compromise.

Doesn't mean I don't get profoundly annoyed with the religious at times. I do. But it's really not all that important in the bigger picture. As long as I'm allowed to know what I know, and I allow others to believe any damned thing they want, so long as they don't try to force me to believe the same.

...on a slight tangent, strikes Jane might be just a tad concerned about her seat in Congress, not to mention the fact that she probably committed at least an indictable offense..

other than snow machines are an abomination from the devil (there is no other way to ruin the pristine quiet and beauty of a winter wilderness quite so thoroughly as with a snow-machine), and the fact that good ol' Todd is addicted to them says just about everything I need to know about him.

I cannot fathom the glorification of someone like Todd Palin. He represents everything I find repellant about America..

it was abundantly clear from Wingnut's first effort that he is a perfect asshat. Is it now Salon's policy to give columns to bigoted, ignorant asshats? If so, you should have given one to Elephantman, who meets the description precisely and would have been more entertaining.

My only hope is that your pet Wingnut doesn't really believe what he's saying, because if he does, he and his party are absolutely un-American, and, in some basic way, have no clue what America stands for. He's a disgrace.

I get where tomreedtoon is coming from, with his rant about Simon Cowell. But I can tell you from experience that if you want absolutely accurate evaluation of a performance, or a talent, just wait for Cowell to open his mouth. His role on the show may be the troll-under-the-bridge, but he is clear, and accurate every time he says something about the performance or talent involved. That takes a lot of practical experience to get right, every time.

The music business is a hard game. The hardest game. Whatever Cowell's role on the show may be, he is also the voice of brutal reality: to make it in the music business, in any part of the music business, you better be good, you better know what you're about, and you better be ready for anything, because it is, without a doubt, one of the toughest, cruelest businesses there is.

G. Gordon Liddy. Right-wing loon. Convicted felon, guilty of subverting our constitution. Un-American freak. Would have been much happier in Stalin's Russia, working for Lavrenti Beria.

Yup. Real credible dude. CNN should be ashamed.

..in a different, better United States, we will simply ignore the juvenile, intellectually bankrupt whining at places like Red State.

Can we start now? Please? These guys are so obviously useless for any productive purpose, let the 101st keyboarders stew in their own stale bile. Ignore them, and their little minds might get bored, and they might spend more time sleeping, eating, wanking themselves, and, in general, maybe they'll stay out of the way of the adults.

is the best the GOP can offer by way of explanation for their current intellectual bankruptcy, then we can only hope it'll be a long time before the GOP ever holds any power again.

the wingnut really is a wingnut. This column is nothing but a bunch of useless, mendacious gabble attempting to disguise itself as serious discussion. He sounds a lot like my crazy Orange County relatives.

Dude, get a clue. You're lying even to yourself. Which is always bad policy.