Why is a blanket pardon for Bush and Cheney the right thing for the country? If America wants to be respected again by the rest of the world, I believe that Bush and Cheney must NOT be pardoned. Otherwise, we send the message that the atrocities that they committed in our name (shredding the US constitution, torture, etc, etc) are entirely forgivable and we'll just sweep them under the rug because it's easier. Tonight Obama said that he hopes to work toward a more perfect union. Working towards perfection should not include letting war criminals go free. It should include doing the hard work of exposing the many criminal acts of the current administration.

Garrison, I love your writing but every once in awhile, I wonder if you got a bump on the head!

If you actually researched McCain rather than bought the spin, he seemed like a total shit even back then.

Bailing out California (and not the banks that California is trying to borrow from) sounds similar to bailing out homeowners who cannot pay their mortgage. This still sounds better to me than buying worthless investments from financial firms, so that credit loosens. Trickle down or trickle up? I'd rather try trickle up.

spouse of djr

Larry Flynt needs to find her nudie pix and then maybe her choices, judgement and ambitions can get a real vetting from the media.

What can I say...

John McCain started chasing skirts right after he came back from Vietnam. While his first wife stood by him during his POW time, she was debilitated in a terrible car accident. He came back and his wife was heavier and "uglier", so he started chasing other women and finally set his sights on Cindy Hensley (now McCain). So it's the Cheater/Cheater '08 ticket!

Then we could inundate him with requests to release Palin's nudie photos --- you know they're out there.

More cracker ho's for VP!!

who thought about the "losers" at the games still being among the best of the best. It's sad to read that athletes feel like losers just because they didn't win the gold. I used to love watching the Olympics, but as I get older I've realized that elite sports is a form of self abuse and society puts it on a pedestal where it doesn't deserve to be. I'm sure many of the competitors still love and enjoy their sport, but I can't help but think of how many kids stopped doing what they loved, because they were pushed too hard or made to feel like a loser. I think it's human nature to want to compete, but I wish we could all be better sports.

Voice of Reason, you brought up Ghandi? He led huge civil disobedience actions. He and many others were arrested and jailed many times. Ghandi had a huge following. If Code Pink had the overwhelming following of Ghandi, perhaps they would not need the costumes. There is room in the peace movement for all types, and I think Code Pink is playing an import role.

(spouse of djr)

The american oil companies are small players on the world oil market, compared to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The books I have been read about peak oil say that it is quite likely that OPEC nations have been greatly exaggerating their reserves, so that they could sell more oil. Saudi Arabia may not be able to increase oil production much at all.

Don't blame the oil companies, they are just the dealer. We have a nasty habit, and we had better scale down, drive smaller cars, bicycle more, telecommute more.

The US is wealthy because it cashed in on its oil and gas and coal in the 20th century. We hit our oil-pumping peak in the 1970's, and have been importing fossil fuel ever since. The Saudi's and Venezuela and Mexico found their oil later, so their peak is later.

The fact that this article is getting so few letters, tells me that we are all in deep deep do-do.

husband of djr

The last trimester of my pregnancy I just wanted to see my child and not feel like a beached whale. But the last few days, and during labor, I just felt a little sad that these would be the last moments that I really had my child to myself. And labor (probably thanks to the drugs) was a time I spent worrying how hard it is for my child to come into this world and at least I had the privilege of being with him every step of the way. As much as motherhood can be tedious and hard work -- it has more than it's share of pleasures.

This woman is 26 years old and does not take responsibility for her actions. You or Lisa are expected to bail her out. It seems that Jan is struggling with both alcohol and sex problems. I don't really think you can help her until she decides to help herself. Remove yourself from her life. I would call your local public health department and speak to someone in the STD unit -- they may be able to inform Jan's boyfriend anonymously.

After many years as a loyal Salon subscriber, this commentary has sent me over the edge. Ms Walsh, your magazine used to have such interesting a nuanced views on race, sex, gender. Lately, all I've seen is veiled racism in your posts, on Broadsheet, in the letter thread. I give up.