But which cat? (Therein lies another column).

Someone should tell the President that we already have a "war czar," and in fact have had one since 1787 or so. He (she) is called the "Secretary of Defense." In fact, until fairly recently, historically speaking, the office was known as the "Secretary of War," the Defense Department as the "War Department" etc.

Do not assume that the commutation of Scooter's sentence is the end of the process. It is still possible (even probable?) that at the close of W's presidency a full pardon will then be forthcoming.

Phred1717

Mr. Speer has taken us to where none of us needed, nor wanted, to go. Unless taken by death or disease prematurely, most of us - almost all of us, in fact -- will suffer through a diminution of our abilities and skills. For those who were gifted with great talent, the diminution is tragic, indeed, for they, and only they,can appreciate the extent that they are a shadow of their former selves. It would be kind, and civilized, to forego such critical analysis and let us remember Pavarotti as he was at the top of his abilities. When a critic, or expert, writes an obituary, and laces it with anecdotes that are, in the final analysis, all about the writer, and his supposedly superior knowledge, it is the writer who is diminished. My feelings about Pavarotti are unchanged by the article. If I had had any good feelings about Mr. Speer, they are gone. FRED HOEFLE

It was good to read the letter from "A J Calhoun." I wonder if this is the same person as that eminent lawyer Algonqin J. Calhoun, who one could hear on the radio in the 40's and early 50's with his friends and sometime clients, Amos 'n Andy. If Lawyer Calhoun had been on the Supreme Court in 2000, we would not be in the fine mess these nutcases in the Administration have gotten us into.

Justice Scalia recently was reported as saying to those who questioned the decision in Bush v Gore, that the decision was over, the election was over, and critics should "get over it." This has become the standard Republican response to almost any criticism of any of the administration's outrageous decisions - "get over it." One wonders whether any of the court's majority contemplates the fact that without the decision, there would have been no Iraq war, the thousands of Katrina victims would not be living today in contaminated trailers, etc. etc. etc. (One wonders whether Ralph Nader has considered these matters as well, given his part in Bush's election in 2000). Do any of them feel even a little responsible? Bush v Gore provides a classic case of "result orientation" which will (or should) be studied in law schools for generations. After all, what sane person would conclude that the way to tell who won an election was NOT to count the votes?

To exactly which "Senate Report" does Mr.Greenwald refer? Please give the date, the substance of the report (as if we didn't know already), and where one can find the report. Mr. G. is performing a public service by documenting the failures of the "Liberal Media".

Since Budweiser is sure to become known as "Belgian Beer," I suggest that Bud Light be renamed, "Luxembourg."

Well, where the hell is it? Can we see too?

AMen! Do we really need to see every dive by every diver, even those doomed to stay at the bottom of the pile, while NBC continues doing its best to conceal the date and time and channel where we can watch US basketball, including, apparently, the basketball gold medal game?

It is amazing that so many intelligent republicans are so gullible that they swallow the party line without thinking. It has been obvious since shortly after 9/11 that Bush needed Bin Laden alive and on the loose, the better to play on the fears of the populace, and to encourage the war on Iraq (which had nothing to do with 9/11). We should have gone in once the Taliban refused to release Bil Laden and pursued him until we had him - dead or alive, and wiping out the Taliban goverment and army along the way. The countries in the region might have disapproved, but they would have understood us, especialy if we quit the region as soon as we caught the bastard. This is what all countries expect of a world power whenever someone strikes such a blow. And they would have maintained a healthy respect for our power and determination to right a grievous wrong done to our citizens. I'm glad Mr. Smerhomish finally saw where the truth lies, tho 6 or 7 years later than any objective person who thinks for himself recognized it. Did he swallow all the other Bush b.s. - the war on terror, the total indifference to the suffering after Katrina (those people are not like us white folk anyway), the fact that the cronies and cronies relatives sent to rebuild the Iraqi economy in the "conservative" tradition screwed that up too, and lost - LOST NINE BILLION DOLLARS - IN CASH - in the process. WAKE UP REPUBLICANS AND TAKE YOUR PARTY BACK, AND GIVE ALL OF US OUR COUNTRY BACK.

To the question he asks "what's Obama hiding about Blago?" Conason supplies his own (and correct) answer: "Probably nothing." Exactly. Then why ask it? To generate fodder for yet another story -- a la Seinfeld -- "about nothing." And, incidentally, to add to the ammo for Limbaugh, Hannity and the other glorified disk jockeys masquerading as "pundits" for the lunatic fringe. Enough of this BS. Let the right make up their own lies, Joe - don't give them more so you can get a story.