Thanks for the links.

Regarding the WSJ's 2+ million readership. Not the audience Obama is shooting for. You took me too literally. Obama's popularity, or support for his programs will not be affected by the WSJ. That is why he is going to the people, not writing editorials in the WSJ (although I wouldn't be surprised to see one soon!)

Regarding Rove. His popularity as stated in the article you referenced obviously had little influence on the last two election cycles, or in my belief, the future of the Republican party. Actually, I think the more the guy talks, the deeper his party sinks.

Again, I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my lettter.

Although I agree with you on Dowd's old characterizations of Obama, the current one seemed to me to be complimentary.

She was comparing Obama's intelligence and willingness to upset his base with Bush's ignorance and unyielding loyalty to his base.

She said Obama, 'has a bit of Spock in him'. Nowhere in her piece did I get that he was 'not a man', or 'totally without emotion'.

So, I think you, in this case anyway are being too hard on Dowd.

Why is Delay, a felon given time to speak. Why does Mathews call him 'Mr. Leader.' Can someone answer this?

On Limbaugh. I came across a great analysis on Limbaugh's '20 million' listeners.

I've included the link below.

All this aside, it's great to watch the republican party self implode. They are truly rearranging the deck chairs.

http://infrared41.tripod.com/blog/index.blog/354814/limbaugh-by-the-numbers/

Preach to your choir all you want Boy Genius. Your years of dirty deeds are finally catching up on you.

The Republicans elect an RNC chair who is a closet democrat. Think about it. Rove's two favorite polarizing, get out the vote, make 'em vote against their own self-interest issues: abortion and homosexuality. What does their leader say? Women should have the right to choose and gays are born gay.

This is a beautiful thing.

Vile creature

Why are you wasting space on this idiot?

IRRELEVANT. Totally.

Here's the deal. Obama could have easily ignored any mention of the marijuana question.

Why then did he bring it up?

My take is that he brought it up, to bring it out. Have you ever heard a president even mention the word 'marijuana' and 'legalize' in the same hemisphere, much less sentence?

No, Obama put it out there, and it's being discussed, and it's going to get legalized in California, the Oregon will soon follow, then federal decriminalization, and eventually this ridiculous prohibition will be a silly memory.

Also, to you hypersensitive stoners. This guy has publicly admitted to smoking dope when he was in college. Not inhaling mind you, but getting shitfaced. So he understands. He's not laughing at you, but with you.

Then I guess we need to worry.

Mr. Pop Sociology still getting quoted? Unreal.

Brave man, posting here on Salon, where he'll get his ass handed to him.

But now they love that don't they. Keeps the name in print.

Guess it's some sort of narcissism, eh Davey?

See her little cartoony picture. Ignore. It's simple folks.

The worst part of this story, and there are numerous parts, is the army chief of staff who blames the suicide on other factors.

Now I may have done the math wrong. But the rate of suicide in the wars is around 2.5%. The rate in the general population is 1.6%.

To arrive at these numbers I used male suicide. I wonder how many of the suicides are women?

Anyway, given the disparity in the percentages it is obvious, if it wasn't before, that this war is taking a huge toll on our young men and women. For the army to ignore this is criminal.

Wow, the hypocrisy never ceases to amaze.

By the way. In a bow, both feet are together.

Sheesh.

Hello, FOX!

How about sponsoring this grassroots anger? Something real!

Seriously, this is where we need to organize!

So far I've heard morons such as Liddy, Joe Scarborough and Huckabee compare the torture of detainees to situations they have been through.

This on top of all their other crap is unconscionable. They are literally chuckling to each other about torture .. torture!

Add to the this the misinformation about the effectiveness of torture, and you have a party slip, sldin' away more, and more each day.

All I need to do is turn on FOX for 2 minutes, listen to Uncle Pat on MSNBC, or any of the dozens of apologists who are everywhere to be found on the airwaves.

I certainly DON'T need to come to Salon for this. I agree with the poster who hoped that his premium payment wasn't going towards paying this guy (gal?), but of course it is. It's a waste of money, and not what I need to read on Salon.

The only reason it's popular is because it pisses readers off, this I feel is above the mission of Salon.

Please respond to the dozens of complaints about this feature.

Please give us Salon's justification.

Thanks.

dick cheney is a sad, tragic figure. His appearances exactly what they appear to be. The ravings of a man trying to save his own ass. To assume he has some master plan, or that his stomping of our Constitution has had some sort of long term effect is absurd. It gives him too much credit. He is a little man, a coward with a huge ego.

History will have it's way with him.

Pundits who are caught up in the day to day news cycles fail to see long term.

Obama has proven that his greatest trait is patience. He knows he's got 8 years. Cheney and the republicans are digging themselves deeper and deeper in a hole with each and every passing day. Obama gives them more rope, they tighten another coil around their necks.

Democrats are going to gain more seats in 2010, and even more in 2012. Obama knows this and bides his time.