I apologize for any appearance of condescension, and also want to avoid the accusation of being a nut-case loony, but has anyone read the Declaration of Independence lately?

This, of course, has no force of law in our country, but at one time it was the clarion call to action by "right-thinking" people -- at least as far as history teaches us about events of that time.

Government derives from the people, not the other way around, and the people reserve the right to change ANY government that is destructive of our rights.

Here's a portion of one version of the Declaration posted on the Internet:

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We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

I've also been fascinated with Condi's Freudian slip years ago, as she caught herself while clearly saying "my husband" when referring to Dubya.

However, THAT little faux pas only brings to mind the archaic term "miscegenation" along with your garden variety adultery. It seems that the moral nannies of the so-called Religious Right have gotten beyond a little race-mixing or heterosexual dalliances -- unless, of course, it's a Democrat like Bill Clinton who's involved. Other than that, it isn't very fertile ground any longer.

Folks like Brownback and Perkins still cling to the belief that they can play the gay card, cultivating enough support among the base to maintain their power and influence. The White House similarly believes it can play terrorism/national security as THEIR trump card during election season -- as I've predicted earlier, we are all but certain to hear claims of a "nearly-successful" plot the week before Election Day next month, with elevation to the Red or severe alert level.

The boy has cried wolf for so long now, you wonder if ANYONE will listen to further shrill cries of "Gay, gay, GAY!!!" or "Terror, terror, TERROR!!!" Let's hope not.

...that Ken Blackwell, the rapidly sinking Republican candidate for Ohio governor, attempted to tar Democrat Ted Strickland by associating him with NAMBLA during their final debate/joint appearance last night.

Yes, you read that correctly -- NAMBLA, the North America Man/Boy Love Association.

Does it get any more pathetic than that? Any more desperate? Hard to imagine how. For the record, this was the response as printed in the Columbus Dispatch:

"Mr. Blackwell, you should be ashamed of yourself," Strickland replied. "Your facts are just wrong, sir."

Probably a more measured and respectful response than Blackwell deserved, to be honest. The memory of attorney Joseph Welch rebuking Sen. Joseph McCarthy with the questions, "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" comes insistently to mind. Republican desperation this year may leave NOTHING out of bounds. Get ready for similar extreme tactics in other races across the U.S., folks!