ME: "The Surge is a lunacy and was from the beginning. It is as if this Administration wants to convince us that throwing a few good men into the Maw of Hell (tm) will somehow miraculously turn things around. But now they've got this neat little mantra going. Four words: the Surge is Working! Repeat till you believe. It's become so typical, that nobody is surprised anymore and nobody really cares, anyway. Blah blah blah, more lies. We're just waiting for the next Presidential election to roll around, anyway..."

FOX NEWS: "'Four Words: the Surge is Working!' exclaims FreeProton, a vitriolic critic of the Bush Administration in what amounts to a radical reversal of his views. Here joining us is a fellow Bush critic Michael O'Hanlon, with a few comments on how this proves that the Surge is, indeed, Working, Michael..."

Okay, all right, yes, men are threatened by female sexuality, mostly because desiring a woman makes a man lose control, and we still have enough ancestral hunter genes that make us value control. And of course, most men like to take the path of the least resistance and rather than learn to maintain control even when your boner says otherwise, they insist on blaming the woman for all their woes. Moreover, there's the whole "male parental investment" thing, which men don't like, which women (let's say wives) insist upon, and which prompts men to complain about the "ball and chain". All right. Now that we've gotten the biology out of the way...

...what gets ME worked up is when people start publishing manuals on what a "good" person "should" or "must" do. And what makes it worse is the sunny-bright, lemming-like religiosity and the air of quiet (or loud) superiority that blankets everyone who thinks they know better because Jesus speaks directly to them. Gah.

But let's state something for the record: did men force these "pure models" to model chaste clothing on this website? Do the caked-on makeup and long sleeves conceal bruises and shackles? Doubt it. I bet you money, these chastely clad girls feel real good about themselves, because they dress like they have a swell relationship with God, and that makes them better than you and I. Never, but never underestimate the power of self-absorption.

Hold on a moment. The JOINT CHIEFS are talking about REDUCING the U.S. military presence in Iraq? Holy smoking turd blossoms, Batman! Aren't these guys supposed to be the most warmongering set of bastards on the planet? That they would at least appear to be more pacifistic than the "leader of the free world" is somewhat earthshattering to me.

But hey, I'm a naive Berkeley liberal. What do I know?

Speaking as a naive Berkeley liberal, I vaguely recall from my high school government class something about the "right of petition for the change of government" as a constitutional right of we, the people. Eh? EH? Catch my drift? Petition! Anyone?

Come on, people, the Congress won't do shit. Apparently, we've elected them to split hairs, mince words and push through obscure pork-barrel legislation. They're carefully pruning a couple of trees while letting the forest burn. No good. So. Are we doing anything about it rather than bitching?

Aiee. Fine. I'll just sit here and growl. I mean, I could send a petition for the change of government to Washington D.C., myself, but the only way it'll be worth more than a two-ply sheet of toilet paper is if we have another million-man march to D.C. demanding Bush's head. (Devoid of brain though it is.)

Anyone? Anyone?

When I read that phrase where Gonzales compares his life experience with his Father's, I had no idea who his Father was, what his days were like or what Gonzales had thought about him. Even so, to say such a thing about your Father, no matter how well-meaning it may be, is a disgusting insult. The real Gonzales, the self-absorbed, petulant jackass, was brought out for all to see.

And when I saw the quote from Leahy featuring the words "old buddy" and "I love you", I wondered about Chairman Pat, and sincerely hoped he was sarcastic. Fervently, sincerely hoped. Because otherwise... crikey.

Vick has actually been tried and convicted. Bush and Gonzales are not on trial right now and believe (possibly with good reason, given the Democrats' wimpiness these days) that they can do whatever they please with impunity. They do not see themselves facing jail time for anything. They can drop a nukular weapun on Nancy Pelosi's house and get away with it. So, they're not going to try and buy themselves any brownie points by apologizing. There is no point.

The message, so far, has been clear: if you're rich and have powerful friends, you will get away with murder (literally) in this nation of ours. Some people are more equal than others, you see. Four legs good, two legs better. Ad nauseum.