...gets what some consider to be frivolous FOIA requests. Some states even have their own FOIA laws on the books, in addition to the federal Freedom of Information Act. Staff is hired to process them. It's their job. Unless they're putting in overtime on Paln ethics ones, and/or they're neglecting requests on other material, staff time involved shouldn't be separated out.

And, of course, the charges made to those requesting records through the FOIA should also be taken into consideration with regard to the bottom line.

However, to repeat myself once again: The reason Sarah quit is because she threw a tantrum about the Vanity Fair article and said "That's is! I'm done!!" without thinking the process through. Then, being the publicity hound that we all know she is, she held a press conference to announce it...and now she's stuck.

...for the great comments! I guess the world still has lots of old chauvanists hanging around the corporate board rooms. That's unfortunately because they make enlightened men look bad.

Without it, despite my then-religion's ban on birth control, I would never have had children beyond the first---whose birth weight was the smallest of the three at one ounce short of 9 lbs.

I've never quite understood the younger generation's fascination with childbirth pain. Moreover, who wants to jump up and get back to work immediately after giving birth? Heck, they've spent at least a third of the previous 9 months feeling like crap. Why not give the body a bit of time to recuperate?

As to that nutsy midwife, until the man can become pregnant and give birth, he should just keep his silly opinions to himself.

But who listens to old folks these days?!!?

...but I'm having a hard time trying to erase from my brain his comments about Clarence Thomas' great mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then again, I suppose Thomas may, indeed, have greater intellectual abilities than Todd Tiahrt. But, heck, that ain't sayin' much, is it?

At least two recent town meetings held by Congressman Harry Teague has been attended by these kooks, who have shounted down any attempts Teague has had to interact with his constituents at town meetings here in southern New Mexico. I haven't attended them, but the situation has gotten a lot of ink in the local papers.

...but here in Southern New Mexico, there is no rowdiness going on here tonight!

If Obama's health care bill includes a directive that end-of-life counseling should occur, I hope the final bill goes farther to make it a crime for an arrogant doctor to decide to ignore the directive of the patient who has made a well-thought-out decision and produced a valid living will.

Let's face it folks, there are doctors who have ripped up living wills and taken end-of-life decisions out of the hands of patients and his/her family. There are doctors who continue to order tests, perform unnecessary and costly procedures, and keep a patient alive for no reason at all (except their own egos) who would rather not continue living, suffering and placing enormous financial burdens on family members.

Then there are the clergy who say it's god's decision on when a person's life is over. Darned if I find it hard to believe that a loving god wants someone to suffer horribly after living a decent and productive(even a religious)life. That sounds like a sadistic god to me.

Lying in a bed, being fed intervenously, in diapers, semi-conscious (or even in a coma), in horrible pain, faced with the reality that there's no hope of recovery and that death is certain, wracked by guilt at the costs in both finances and emotions of loved ones----is that life?

I'm at that age where I'm on Social Security and Medicare (which is a great program) so I've not only faced up to my own eventual demise (have had a living will for years now) but have dealt with the end of life of my parents and family members and seen what can occur. So, I happen to be pleased at the idea of end-of-life counseling. It would be nice if everyone was sufficiently educated on these issues, the choices they have, and the outcome, but they are not. But, as I said, counseling and education MUST follow with assurances that end-of-life decisions have teeth and that my wishes are honored.

(Oh, as an aside, I'm amused that the Sarah Palin - who admitted she had a brief moment where she thought about aborting Trig - has now found how useful he is in promoting her image.)

Er...another example of the stupidity of some folks. The incident (whatever happened) occurred in St. Louis---that's in MISSOURI, not ILLINOIS. Moreover, Chicago is 300 miles north of St. Louis.

They were just where they are now---being manipulated, frightened, lied to, controlled, refusing to become educated, watching reality shows on TV rather than face the reality that was going on around them....

...which shows he'll work with anyone, unfortunately, no matter how much of a slimeball.