Of course this isn't a done deal, but people are wrong to dismiss it. Don't assume that the other owners (who are, after all, predominantly older rich white males, a/k/a Rush's target market) would block this were he to be successful. And it only takes 24 of the 32 to approve it (count the Rams' current ownership as one vote for, since they would have selected this bid in the first place). The commissioner may or may not step in, given that he is hired by the owners (also a factor, the commissioner's late father was a Republican senator from New York, though he was a moderate).

The player's association has zero say in this, and I'm sure that Limbaugh and Co. will not be frightened off by the handful of players claiming they would never work for him. These guys are generally mercenaries with incredibly short careers in which to make as much money as possible, a fact that this group would be reasonably certain would override any other concern.

One other question that was raised, who would be dumb enough to let Limbaugh into an ownership group? That would be Dave Checketts, an experienced sports executive who (if I'm not mistaken) was responsible for hiring Isaiah Thomas to run the New York Knicks. Limbaugh would merely be one of several investors in the group, Checketts would likely be the "owner" (which usually means the managing partner in an ownership group, the one that represents the team at league meetings).

The real point of this, to me, is the mother's worry (and let's keep it neutral here-dads worry about this, too).

Of course there is no "right" amount of toys, for some kids one is too many and for others a million is not enough. And those who are offering tips on getting toys for cheap or for free, that's great stuff, but also not the point.

The point is the nagging sense that somehow, no matter what choice you make, you might be doing something wrong. You could argue for days and weeks and months why, maybe it's the fault of our culture, placing unrealistic expectations on both parents and children, or maybe it's because people are inherently whiny and insecure, but that sense is always there. What if I screw it up? It's an irrational fear...most people turn out just fine whether they have that cool-looking Fisher-Price bicycle game that hooks up to your TV or not.

My 4 year old has more toys than some, far fewer than others. But his mom and I don't really mind buying them for him, because he's appreciative of gifts, and he gets more mileage out of a toy than you could imagine. We've taught him that when he gets too many toys, or when he loses interest in a toy, he should give it to someone else, either one of our friends' younger kids, or a charity. And yet, not a day goes by when I don't wonder, does he have good toys? The right kind? Maybe we should waive the ban on toy guns, just so they're demystified. Or maybe we should take away the commercial tie-ins.

Or maybe I should just shut up and play with him and enjoy it.

sorry, can't keep it too clean:

Todd Palin, Cindy McCain, and the satellite feed through which Dick Cheney watches...

How on earth did you watch the game without the first down line?!?!?!? I'm completely serious, on those rare occasions when there's a game on with no first down line, I can't handle it.

...the whole "sexism" thing everyone seems to be yakking about now that Hillary Clinton has stepped safely away from the White House.

Actually, I read at least a dozen poitical blogs every day, watch an hour or two of news/politics per day (yes, even some of those dreaded "cable shows"), and listen to NPR for another hour per day. I had stopped reading Salon a few weeks back, just because I couldn't stand the tone anymore. But I came back today to read King Kaufman. And I'm not being hyperbolic, I'm not making this up, but this is the only place that I've seen anyone still talking about this.

Sexism exists. Senator Clinton lost. These two facts are unrelated. I would ask Salon to please move on, but I honestly don't care that much. I'll come back again in a few weeks, I'm sure.

I'm not buying it. I'll believe it when she ends her campaign and releases her delegates.

Not suspends. Ends. I hate that I feel like that about a fellow Democrat, but (news flash to Joan Walsh) there are some bruised feelings on this side of the Democratic party as well that need to be healed.