The Foie Gras "controversy" is yet another example of a good idea gone bad. The human treatment of animals is and should be of a concern. The banning of foie gras (when foie gras is banned only criminals will have foie gras) is about as short sided a proposal as I have ever seen. The geese are not harmed and are simply fed too much. Kind of like many of the children in this country. Please take a look at Rick Steves recent show where he highlighted a visit to a foie gras farm. Do you think we could go back and talk about something serious like the FDA and why peanut butter is all of a sudden banned?

This column is great a great idea. As one who has beeen banned from not so Free Republic, actually allowing a free exchange ideas is refreshing.

I believe one of the biggest breaks that McCain received during the campaign was a lack of review of his actual service record. Yes he spent a lot of time as a Prisoner of War but if one was to examine his record, it was clear he was allowed to stay in the Navy on flight status due to his family's name. He piloting skills as well as his judgement were called into question and it was clear that he got a pass. The number of accidents he was involved in wasn't just bad luck and that aspect was never developed by the press.

Why is it we cannot stop digging into every insignificant phase of the Palin's lives? Is this type of article worth the bandwidth and the time? Must we reduce everything to some version of the National Enquirer? I suppose the answer is a yes. Tyra Banks and the Palin Soap opera in one article though? Please make it stop. Really

First capnray, really, do you talk to your mother with that mouth?

Sully was both unlucky and lucky. As I understand it (I am a former Air Traffic Controller) the odds of a two engine bird strike engine failure are huge. Once you lose thrust your options shrink rapidly. The river was clearly his only choice. He knew an smooth "landing" on the river was required and did it. He is a good pilot albeit a very lucky one. There are numerous pilots who perform heroically all the time. Last minute takeoffs to avoid collisons etc. All is not black and white in this world. Sully did a good thing, the big difference is he got a lot of coverage while others do not.

One of the things the GOP has done with some regularity over the years is stay on message and Glenallen does so admirably. To infer the Bachmann is somehow a moderate or preserving kitchen table conservatism is self deception. It's clear to me that a post Bush/Fox media that the need to manitain a presence in the media requires a more and more outlandish comment because the "why do you hate America" approach has long since become ineffective. Beck, Limbaugh and Bachmann are proving that literally on a daily basis. Glenallen infers the media has a liberal bias but pulls up short in making the declaration

Glenallen here does what he is supposed to do as a good conservative and try to make it seem reasonable. We're in the middle of the worst economic crisis in almost a hundred years and these yahoo's are talking about service corps becoming re-education camps and the need to continue you the old conservative Laisse-faire approach to Government that got us here. The panic that is set with the Republicans is actually funny as in the budget proposal with no numbers. Conservatives are in a tizzy because they do not recognize the last gasps of a movement. Bachmann represents the increasing noise and all her party can do is say no. This is not really a plan. It is a death bed confession

Sometimes the offenses are so ergigous that they require prosecution. When the Constitution is so maligned for political puposes, this requires a response that defines the crime. When citizens are attacked for exercising their rights, when the Department of Justice becomes a political arm of the ruler, when the fortunes of not just this country but the entire world are dragged down for short term poltical gain, someone needs to go to jail. I do agree that if we pursue these bastards all else will come to a grinding halt. Bush and company did so much damage on everything they touched we cannot stop to prosecute them and that is too bad.

I want want the punishment to fit the crime and the crime is damned serious. There needs to be an object lesson for history to reflect on. Perhaps the decline and fall of the neo-cons is it, I'm not sure. I am sure that if we focus on Bush, things will get worse and we cannot let that happen.

Garrison you're right, I really hate to admit it but you are right.

you're going to get letters

When you appear on Faux you're going to get railroaded. However it's difficult to let some things pass. I applaude your realization about oxygen. The worst thing that can happen to Bill is no recognition. You can make that happen

One of the many things I like about you Garrison is your ability to bring into focus what is important in a wide range of topics. Sure there are those who are angry political types however when we sit down to eat and share our lives with family and friends its the little things that count and a good potatoe salad, reading a book and observing life with a keen eye count among those things. Thank you