stand around flogging a dead horse? Obama betrayed everything we stand for, threw us into the garbage once our funds and help were no longer needed. What can possibly make you think that he;s gonna listen to us about anything, after a flip-flop this monumental?

If we want to put pressure on the campaign, we need to let Obama know that we're not tied to his election. As for me, I'd rather see an evil old reactionary like McCain win than see our causes sold out by the very candidate we counted on, sweated for and supported. If McCain wins, at least we can plan for a total disaster. If Obama wins, we'll never know when another of our hard won civil rights will get in the way of politics as usual and be tossed onto the trash heap.

Want to make a difference? Withdraw from the Obama campaign, with a note telling the staff exactly why you've decided that a man who will sell us out once will do it again, and that better the evil we know than evil we thought was a friend. Get in touch with Dean and the DNC, DEMAND a reopening of the delegate count. Pull all support from the Democratic committees to elect new Dems from the Congress and Senate, call the names of the traitors that voted for FISA in the letter you send telling them why you're withdrawing. Do your best to make sure that the only way they raise another dime is if they find it laying on the asphalt.

This is important, people. Warrantless wiretapping and eavesdropping attacks the Constitution in a way no one has tried since Nixon. No matter what, we HAVE to bring this to an end now, before the inteligence community in the US makes the KGB look like a kids game. Whatever it takes, that's what we need to do.

No, we don't get that around here. I was the last practitioner, and I gave it up about a year ago because I was tired of getting stared at.

Old movie paraphrases aside, it most likely should be pointed out that the Telecoms got everything their hearts desired courtesy of Pelosi, Obama and company earlier this month in the FISA debacle, so it's hard to see the sponsorship as a bribe. I'd call it more of a thank you gift for a job well done, a civil liberty surrendered forever, and an American people shot in the rear by it's own elected officials.

Over most of the country, AT&T retains monopoly status as the only source of telecommunications, Comcast is still a monopoly cable provider in most of it's service areas, and with the "Justice" Department's current staff, the mergers are unimpeded. What else can they be given?

And, of course, the truly hideously terrible thing is, I have to choose one of the two if I want broadband net access. Either AT&T or Comcast, but it must be one of them because they have a two way monopoly over highspeed data lines in the area where I live.

Thinking of the vote I cast for Obama, and his current treachery in FISA and other areas, then reading your post regarding the convention, has made me consider a third party vote for the first time in my life. While it's hard to see how the Democratic Party COULD worsen the situation, I'm having a really tough time seeing how they WILL improve it.

The talking head who was moved from reporting the latest about Britney and Tom Cruise into the slot unjustly taken from a seasoned investigative reporter like Rather, and this mindless idiot has the audacity to allege sexism?

Mediocrity is mediocrity, whether male or female, and Couric has to struggle to reach mediocre as a journalist. Maybe she should move into the slot vacated by Big Bill O'Reilly over at Inside Edition and use her talents, such as they are, to their real advantage. Sexism in television is real and pervasive, but it just makes sense to give some consideration to the "journalist" doing the talking. Instead of pitying Couric, let's mourn the forced departure of Mary Mapes.

or not, shouldn't the question be whether or not the woman can actively and productively assimilate herself into French culture while wearing a veil? Isn't that why we allow immigration in the first place? Joining Western culture is going to necessitate some sacrifices, and the use of a veil may be one of those sacrifices.

As Americans we are outraged when American citizens are expected to enter purdah (or something like it) because their spouses are assigned to live and work in the Arab world but we accept it as a cost of doing business with the Islamic world, yet I see little difference in the expectation of the Moslem world that American women will accommodate Arab beliefs during their stay in Arabia, and the French expectation that someone who is requesting permission to become a member of French culture will accommodate French beliefs. Just as Arabic nations and companies expect compliance from American employees, the French should be allowed to expect the same compliance from someone who is asking, not temporary compliance with custom, but permanent status as a full fledged member of French culture. When it becomes accepted for Western women to walk down a street in Saudi Arabia alone, unfettered and dressed in typical Western clothing, then, and only then, should we be unfavorably viewing an attempt by the French to enforce a Western dress code on prospective citizens.