We're discussing this announcement in Table Talk. I think Karl Northman summed it up perfectly:

"Cindy, meet Ralph. Ralph, meet Cindy. I just want to introduce you two because I think you've got a lot, and are getting more, in common."

The teaser on the front page asks, "Why do reporters get so excited when a candidate tries to look good on TV?"

Bob Somerby answered that one years ago. Because it's so much easier than actually reporting on the issues.

Niall Ferguson also asserts that American workers are more productive than European workers because Americans are more religious (i.e. church-going Christians) than Europeans. (cf. http://theplayethic.typepad.com/play_journal/2004/08/telegraph_opini.html)

Back when I took economics classes in college, the definition of "productivity" was amount of work produced per worker per unit of time. American employers have dropped "per unit of time" from the definition. They claim high productivity, but the reality is that they get more work out of employees by making them work longer hours, with all the resulting ills that entails: physical and mental exhaustion, lack of family time, low morale, etc.

If Niall Ferguson buys into this fraudulent claim that Americans are more productive than Europeans, then he's a crank and nothing else he says should be taken seriously.

"But she said that if she weren't the speaker and weren't in Congress, she'd "probably be advocating" Bush's impeachment herself."

Hello? Considering that Congress does the impeaching, who better than a Congressional leader to declare that it's time to get that impeachment ball rolling?

...Germaine Greer's new book will be mentioned a lot more often because of this quote than it would have been on its own merits.

"When ABC News interviewed Philip Zelikow on August 21, he did not disclose that he was working for Barbour Griffith & Rogers...."

Somewhere, in an alternate reality, journalists wouldn't rely on their interview subjects to disclose significant facts about themselves. The news departments would have researchers on staff who would find these things out. Journalists would be doing real journalism, not just transcription.

"What's wrong with serious women writers exposing their soft underbellies to the world?"

Maybe it's that "exposing one's soft underbelly" is what animals do when they give up the fight and surrender, and so assuming that position even metaphorically sends the same message to one's readers -- and to one's critics.

If you want to maintain a position of strength, don't show the world how weak you are. Not even for the royalties.

The omission of Keith Olbermann and Stephen Colbert from your "Sexiest Man Alive" list renders it meaningless.

It's my fault Table Talk is offline.

I have a deadline at work today. The timing is perfect to give me one less distraction.

Table Talk goes offline, and Henry Hyde dies.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It would be irresponsible not to.

The credit for that entertaining thread goes to Table Talker popinque, who made the original comment on Lieberman's doofusism that inspired it.

Reading his posts is worth the price of admission.

I live and vote in Michigan. I had no say in the legislature's decision to defy Democratic Party rules to schedule the Michigan primary in mid-January.

I voted "Uncommitted" in the primary to show that I believed I should have a vote and that having only one major candidate on the ballot was not acceptable.

Michigan should have a party caucus, paid for by party funds, to allocate delegates to the remaining candidates. Barack Obama should not be punished for respecting those rules and withdrawing from the Michigan primary. Hillary Clinton should not be rewarded for defying those rules by remaining on the ballot. Most of all, Michigan voters should not be punished just because the legislators and party leaders defied the party rules for scheduling primaries.

Unless we're very elderly ourselves, we'll inevitably outlive our pets. If they live to a ripe old age for their species, that doesn't make it easier to say that final goodbye; we just have more memories of their love and loyalty to bind us to them.

It's often so hard to tell whether an elderly pet has merely slowed down and is finding comfort in quiet and solitude, or a change in behavior signals that life has become a burden to the pet. All we can do is give them what they need, and be ready for the day when it's time to help them out of life as quickly and painlessly as possible.

It's clear that Midnight hasn't only had a long life; he's had a good life, with people who have taken good care of him.

"I like the idea of keeping the message nice and simple: McCain = Bush."

Simple and memorable. That'll work.

Why did you include Sean Wilentz in this panel? He's an active partisan for one of the candidates who has frequently attacked the other. He can't be expected to provide an objective opinion on any issue related to the primary.

Senator Clinton, stating, where you know you're going to be quoted, that you'd "consider" being Barack Obama's running mate sends a message to your supporters to expect (read: demand) that you be his running mate.

Senator Clinton, it's not your decision. It's just plain tacky to put public pressure on Senator Obama to make you his running mate. It's impolitic and unwise to raise your supporters' expectations that you will be chosen. If you're not his choice, then even if you're okay with that decision, too many of your supporters will go crazy over the "rejection".

Senator Clinton, it's not about you. It's about what's good for the country. Stunts like this will only hurt our chances of getting the Republicans out of the White House.