When Bush marched into Baghdad the terrorists probably could not believe their good fortune. "We don't have to attack America because America has come here!".

We made their day with our incompetent war management, mistreatment of prisoners, and civilian destruction and deaths.

The Bush mideast policies have given the terrorists exactly what they needed (and Bush believes that he did the right thing by invading Iraq).

The future of democracy in Iraq is uncertain. Many believe that the conflicts between the Sunnis, Kurds, and Shiites will never end.

Bush's legacy lies with the blood of over 30,000 Americans and the blood of countless Iraqis in Iraq's soil.

Perhaps we should say that all life is sacred, since we are but a part of an ecological system not fully understood by anyone.

Actually, a world totally devoid of humans would be better off but that is yet to be determined. Let's hope humanity survives itself long enough to figure it out.

The word "sacred" is meaningless unless you are a Believer in a devine being that writes messages on stone tablets and speaks only to official, ordained representatives wearing robes, crosses, and fine jewelry.

I am sending this letter in an oversize, lead-lined envelope weighing in excess of 250 pounds. This is my attempt to rise above the mountain of the skinny #10 envelope mail you will receive from the other 950,000 folks.

I don't think former officeholders can be "impeached" but they can be prosecuted under criminal law for crimes committed while in office.

Nothing immunizes anyone from the Constitution.

"Justice is subjective in the US, as it is in the rest of the world. Which of the two Presidents mentioned above deserves to be behind bars most? It's hard to say. Bush had the decency to have his attorney general say that torture was legal. Then again, Clinton had the decency to commit the rape himself, rather than delegating it to others".

Bush can have the Pope declare torture legal but it doesn't matter. The problem with that is explained pretty well in Glenn's column.

Clinton left office with a 60+ percent popularity rating. Compare that to Bush. The American public has made its decision as to what is more important - Thousands killed and wounded in an unecessary war or an unproven rape rumor.

but I don't see how one person can effect meaningful change in a government that is so infiltrated and entrenched with special interests and greed.

For example, our banking industry is in great peril. Some people wonder if there is enough taxpayer money left to fix the banking problem. Some wonder if all of the money in the world will fix the problem because the rot in our system may be too systemic.

If Obama can steer Congress towards his goals is the question. Otherwise we'll be back in the muck and mire for another four years.

Obama became President. It's automatic, oath or not.

Is epidemic in this country. How else can one explain a twice-elected Bush?

How else can one explain the profusion of right wing hate-radio and the popularity of buffoons like Hannity and Limbaugh?

You posted, "I will go see this movie anyway. I like it when the Jews, or anyone for matter, kills the Nazis. The only thing better is killing the Islam-o-scum-bags."

You are in partnership with the Nazis but the sad thing is that you don't realize it.

After the Republican losses in the last two (2) elections they are a glum bunch indeed.

They contain individuals at least as dangerous as any terrorist and we're not very concerned about that, public safety-wise, because escapes are very rare.

and they hate abortion.

Anyone see a mental problem here?

Offer exile to any Afghan wanting to leave their country and then withdraw all of our forces.

It will be far cheaper in the long run and, who knows, it can't be any worse than what we are doing now.

D'ever notice that ideas pop in to one's head while taking a shower? Why is that?

While looking down at the shower drain ("down" is redundant because one doesn't look up at shower drains.) I'm seeing a connection between political and social conservatism and the water flowing down the drain.

As long as the human population keeps growing (and it will) there is no hope for a sustainable ecology.

People do not change unless change is forced upon them. How many people living in earthquake zones carry earthquake insurance? How many of these folks have their homes' foundations properly reinforced?

Fewer than one third of homeowners living in western Washington carry earthqwuake insurance. Is it any wonder, then, that folks are not reacting to the threat of global climate change?

In any event, nothing we do will be effective as long as the human population keeps growing.

It is a long article, but worth a read:

http://www.climatechangefacts.info/

I've seen this before. During my working days I was an industrial engineer, commonly known as an "efficiency expert(?)" and I saw executives that were managing failing companies continue extravagant spending in spite of layoffs and bankruptcies.

One company, in Fresno, sent its executives to South America to shop for rare wood to be used for doors and doorframes in a new office building. Almost immediately after completion of the building the company filed for Chapter 11 protection.

Another company, in Walnut Creek, redecorated its executive office suite complete with curved walls and hand-textured wall surfaces. The division was closed down shortly after the office remods were completed, and the executive was fired.

These are merely examples. More was spent on a list too long to post here but the point is clear that hard times do not seem to register with these people until the roof literally comes down on their heads.