It's terribly obvious that Ms. Paglia is Salon's Token Conservative, but I can't say I applaud the choice. Her backhanded and nauseatingly passive agreement with the most tawdry smears against Obama (which she cheesily tries to pass off as "calm reason")and her bone-headed praise for Palin are far more hard to listen to than good old bloviated invective. The whole angle of taking every single BS argument and attack that the GOP have been slinging over the last year and repackaging it with a kindly, "I-know-he's-a-good-boy-but-he-needs-to-come-clean" superior grandma attitude is dishonest to the extreme.

.... it is that people will congregate online into communities of "like-minded" individuals, thus making it far easier for some of us to find them and make fun of them. This site's one of the best so far.

Don't kiss him in front of her? Scream at you for "waking her up improperly"? Jesus, red flag after red flag is going up. This girl isn't ruining your home, your husband is. I'm sorry but his behavior is beyond inappropriate. He's letting this girl completely dominate you and acting like your some kind of unwanted guest or interloper. It also sounds, as creepy as it may seem and I'm sorry to say, that he's well on the way to becoming romantic with her. You need to set that dude straight because it doesn't take a genius to deduce that this situation is well on its way to a freaking catastrophe. Holy Christ, how could anyone with half a brain think otherwise? Lady, you either have to get that guy's head on straight or get the hell out of there.

I'm not commenting on this person's letter specifically, but would like to point out a rather problematic possibility (nay, probability) with people writing in and sharing their problems/issues/stories/whatever. Since these are stories told autocratically by individuals, we have only their assertions to indicate whether they are objectively and honestly relating the facts. I have no doubt whatsoever that, since many people (nay, virtually everybody) does things like write letters to advice columns or kvetsch to friends/co-workers/strangers/whomever in an effort to receive validation. Ergo, it behooves those seeking such validation to spin, lie about and misrepresent the facts. It is absolutely, certifiably impossible to know if someone writing such a letter is being (or even able to be) absolutely objective with the facts. Obviously, the columnist has to take it good faith that the writer is honest and respond accordingly. However, when I read letters like this and think of my own experiences with hearing similar complaints from individuals to others regarding occasions at which I was actually present and thus was able to dispute aspects of their story, I can't help but believe that the whole and unvarnished truth isn't always being told and find it difficult to achieve unreserved empathy for the writer.

You supported him in the beginning, then he supported you. You don't make enough to support the both of you now. Dreams are great, but they're not an entitlement. It's awesome that you were able to become a writer, but it's also awesome that you supported your old man until he was able to secure himself into a unionized job (sure wish I had one of those) that provides security for your family. No-one owes anybody else anything in this situation and you both have an obligation to see that your family is provided for. To change the present situation and jeopardize your family's welfare, especially in such economically uncertain times, would be irresponsible and foolish. You express a noble and romantic sentiment, but not one that's terribly realistic.

Limbaugh, O'Reilly and Coulter et al weren't screaming this type of stuff back in 2000 when the Florida general election voyes were being recounted. Funny how that works. Maybe we'll all get lucky and they and their ilk will committ suicide, rather than to have to live in a world in which Al Franken can "steal" an election.

You redeemed yourself at the end, lady, but just barely. I've been in Paul's shoes, so maybe I'm biased, but I can honestly say I'd never abandon my woman if the roles wer reversed. I know that might be easy to say for the one who isn't earning, but it always seems it's the ones who were spoiled as kids who are the most selfish and the quickest to bail out.

I'm pretty sure there are private boarding schools at which teaching kids how to perform basic personal functions and tasks, much like assisted living facilities do for the mentally challenged but for kids who are otherwise mentally sound, albeit thoroughly untrained. Since, it seems, you're rather more than a bit well-off, you should be able to shoulder the expense of what is something absolutely essential to the future survival of your stepdaughter.

....after his ass gets dragged in front of the Supreme Court. Oh yeah, the judges will love to hear "I did what I thought was right at the time". I can anticipate the response: "Well then, sir, perhaps you should learn to think beyond the moment. Forty years!" Bang goes the gavel.

.....when they post this type of story. Validation for being utterly immature and selfish? Forgiveness and understanding? Expressions of joy that they're "finally with the man of their dreams" after their "years of personal Hell"? Oh, she feels guilty. Poor thing. That must be awful, having to feel all that guilt. Jesus, what a total asshole this woman is.

An unequivocally declared standard must be adhered to, no matter the inconvenience. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to state the "no appointing lobbyists" rule in such absolute terms, considering that it appears to be disqualifying some otherwise very qualified people, but the cow's out of the barn.