It's not "attacks" or "venom" (standard rightwing or otherwise) to point out that Obama is the ambitious empty suit a lot of knew he was from the beginning, a man coasting on highfalutin rhetoric that went unchecked by the press.

That's a rather biased and fact-deficient representation of Senator Obama to begin with. If that's your outlook from the start and which you will conform your commentary to, irregardless of counter-argument and evidence, there really isn't any point to trying to engage you.

But a lot of us knew that from the start. Your butchery of written English is evidence enough of that.

1. Dick Cheney voluntarily left his position as CEO of Haliburton.

Irrelevant to the issue at hand.

2. Dick Cheney purchased an insurance policy to pay him his deferred compensation from Haliburton. This was deferred money he had agreed to prior to becoming VP.

Which he failed, repeatedly, to report properly.

3. Dick Cheney turned his stock options over to an irrevocable trust. To charity.

After their existence was made public knowledge (which was after he lied about it at least twice)?

4. Cheney could have quit as VP after 4 years. His heart is bad. He could have claimed "medical reasons".

He also could have done so after his boss decided on a course of action he'd protested against 12 years earlier.

But, given these facts, which are easily verified to all of you of open mind, how does one conclude that Cheney is acting out of greed?

His various obfuscations concerning his stock options early on, as well as the unpleasant fact his ties to the company are still at issue. Perhaps greed alone isn't the sole motive, but its a strong one to be considered.

Huh? Opinions are not allowed here?

When grounded in something other than bile, certainly. Although we get plenty of those as well.

Oh, English is not my first language, so please forgive any imperfection on my part. Please write your next letter in Dutch, and I'll give you a critique so you can see how it feels.

You failed to appreciate the irony of my comment. Your command of English is (not surprisingly) better than most Americans I know.

It's easy to stack the Amazon listing, just as you can manipulate a Google listing. Sorry to disappoint you.

And given the NY Times list is based on volume sales, as opposed to actual quality of the texts involved, its really not saying much Jonah's latest screed is listed there.

You might also want to check the latest list. I don't see Jonah listed any longer.

And my opinions aren't based on bile. They're based on observation.

Fair enough.

Anyone Glenn doesn't like gets the full treatment.

Why shouldn't they? This is his weblog after all, and thus his forum for his own opinions.

The fact that he has treated Obama with kid gloves and actually defended him against legitimate questioning has tipped his hand.

At the risk of pissing George Orwell off, not all controversies are equal. That one line of Rev. Wright's has gotten more airplay than Brittany Spears; and frankly, it gets only less defensible when you read the entire text it was in, plus factor in the sentiments and history of blacks in this country.

In contrast, you have John Hagee and Rod Prasley making specious religious declarations that receive not a half-sentence of criticism.

He's forever going on about how McCain gets a pass from the press. Obama has gotten multiple passes from the press until recently. Still no Glenn Greenwald once-over.

First, do you dispute McCain's been treated more gently by the press than he warrants? Especially in light of his glaring errors concerning Iraq lately and his ties with lobbying interests he'd previously disavowed?

Second, why should Glenn fill space with criticism of Obama which (presumably in his opinion) isn't deserved or warranted?

You don't have to be an American citizen to have opinions, do you?

Not at all. I find European politics a constant source of amusement.

The Amazon list is also based on volume, not quality.

My point exactly. Its been established the only reason Coulter gets on there is because Heritage and a bunch of other fringe-right outfits buy her stuff in such bulk it just looks like she's flying off the shelves, then pass it out free at their latest confabs. I last heard she was taking them to court for that.

Personally, I'd just wait until the unsold copies are recycled into toilet paper. At least then I'll get some real use out of them.

And you didn't look hard enough for Goldberg's book. It's right there under hardcover nonfiction. Still there, 11th week in the top 10.

Its #6 as of April 6th, actually. Which really doesn't mean much beyond it appears to be moving a lot of copy.(see paragraph above)

Enough with Hagee already. The guy's an idiot, but McCain didn't sit in his church for 20 years listening to his sermons and then lie about it.

I'm at a loss what this has to do with Obama, but it a legitimate point about McCain and Hagee's 'relationship'. Perhaps we should give McCain another pass on it.

All in favor?

John McCain deserves no pass and nothing but the back of our collective hand for his conduct thus far.

Gods and Godesses willing, he'll get it in November.