The ability to hold two opposing and contradictory ideas in your mind at the same time is a basic human characteristic.

Logic and consistency don't come naturally. That's why they (ought to) be a fundamental part of school curriculum, from kindergarten on up. Because it takes awhile to really sink in and become a part of your mental equipment.

The Madison Ave component of the right wing has used this fact - and the reality that, for most Americans, logic is an unfamiliar skill - for many decades to sell us trillions of dollars of fried dough scraps and tap water in expensive litgtle bottles. But selling today's Republican Party may be their high point.

Mr. Sulzer said "I think of bottled water as a soft drink with the bad stuff removed."

And I, personally, thought the switch from corn syrup-laden, caffeinated fizzy water to plain old water was a good thing, too.

What I object to is marketing this stuff, basically straight from the tap, at prices even higher than Coke. That's a rip off, and what with all the disposed-of bottles, a drag on the environment. There was even an article in Salon about it.

A sane society would be encouraging people to buy water bottles and make it easy/cheap for them to fill them up. Again and again. Even at the airport - you bring it through security empty, then you fill it at the water fountain.

I'm envisioning a Clinton vs. McCain election. The right wingnuts are out there, stoning the Republican candidate; the left wing is stoning the Democrat; Ralph Nader is back in the race...

Believe me, it will all end in tears.

al loomis, I don't mean to just ignore your "and didn't regard political power as a license to do as he liked", but as far as Republicans who fought for their country after Eisenhower, don't leave out Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush (the greater), and of course, Richard Nixon.

That is, all of them excluding Saint Reagan and the Current Occupant.

First off, it's great to see younger voters getting involved. This said, do they actually stay involved?

I recall the excitement in 2000 and 2004, when young people were caught up in the (Democratic) campaigns. What happened to these people, after their candidate lost? Did they stay active in politics? Did they give up entirely? Do they still vote? What are some percentages?

When the Democratic candidate loses again*, what will happen to all the Obama supporters? How many of them will keep up the fight?

Personally, I hope it's all of them, or at least a high percentage, but I've never come across any follow-up on this. Do any of you have any references, or links?

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* You know it'll probably go down that way. Admit it.

If McCain somehow ends up being the nominee, in spite of the right wing noise machine, just watch Limbaugh and his ilk spin on a dime and insist they've always been for him.

They'll expect their ditto-heads to buy it - and they'll be right.

Republicans are big on blubbering when things go badly for them. Did Mitt Romney cry while delivering his speech?

Inquiring minds, you know.

As many others have been pointing out, this isn't your ex-husband's call. It's his new wife's. I'm assuming that you don't have much - maybe no - contact with her, because you haven't mentioned her opinion on the matter. If the four of you were dear friends, you would already know what she thinks about it.

Your ex has implied, by his offer, that he wants your family (the one he left behind) to move to a new level of intimacy with his new (improved!) family, so-that gives you an implied invitation to call his new wife. You don't need to ask his permission or go through him in any way.

So call her up. "Louis wants my daughter to be in the delivery room with you and watch you give birth - is this okay with you?"

The response should be enlightening.

"Valentine's Day has everything to do with women's rights and freedoms."

More than you realize. Feb. 14th, 1920 was the day the League of Women Voters was founded.

I don't think this guy ever existed. It's just a slogan that has nothing to do with the actual product.

Mr. Tennis writes "If [your breasts] get augmented, they are still your breasts. They still feel the same. They are just a different size."

That's not really true, is it? The bags of silicone or saline or whatever they're pumping in these days do not "feel" the same. A person handling your breast will be able to feel the implant. You will probably also be aware of it, embedded in your chest - particularly when another person handles it. Implants are no more "your breasts" and "a part of you" than your glasses are.

And you can't just take them off at night.

When others have already posted and said what I wanted to say, I generally restrain myself and don't put in my redundant $0.02.

However, this is more like a vote than a discussion, and I want to weigh in:

Thank you, Ms. Walsh!