Don't know what you're smoking dude. Heather Havrilesky is on maternity leave and back May 10TH.

It's understandable that people who've heard of or have had bad things happen to them as kids would be sensitive about dangers to kids. As a kid, my friend's Mom was murdered. An adult. That hit home for me even more. But I really think raising sensible kids involves exposing them to the world more. Like others stated, it depends on the maturity of the child. The world can be dangerous. That danger never goes away. Better to be prepared than completely fearful and unable to know what to do.

I'm pregnant with my first child. I know I'll have all these fears. I hope I won't burden my child with them.

Look out! He's holding free Health Care! For the love of God, don't enrage him, he'll provide universal pre-K! Won't someone think of the children???

Maybe it's because of the last 12 years, but I really don't care who he appoints so long as they see the reality in front of them, have good judgment, and make good decisions. Ideology in any form has become tiresome. I'm sick of hearing someone's party label before I can hear his or her ideas, as if to tell me I will or won't like them based on their affiliation. I don't live my life that way, pausing before every decision to see if it lines up with certain ideals. I wouldn't want my president to do that either.

The only invasion of Canada by Americans the LW will see is the exodus of Americans fleeing this country if the Republicans win again through lies, deceit and theft.

We have Bill and Hillary Clinton to thank in large part for the division and animosity. Obama and more mature Clinton supporters, seem to be aware that this election is about larger, more important issues than whether their particular Dem is the candidate.

There's misogynists out there and some have commented on Clinton's campaign. But the vast majority of the negative reaction against Hillary stems from her really underhanded behavior and sense of entitlement. It really pisses me off, as a feminist thank-you-very-much, that Hillary USED women, used that whole Sister shtick, to deflect attention away from her own short comings and misfires (or misspeaks and sniper fires). Don't conflate the genuine irritation and outrage at her with misogyny and I won't assume you're a racist for not voting for Obama, mm 'K?

has a "whiff of sadness" for me? People who are so completely unable to be the unique individual they really are that they must construct an artificial self reflected to them from all their cool, hip shit.

Here's the thing: We get blasted with the message that America is great, perfect blah blah blah, while this Administration is simultaneously waging a horrible misbegotten war and other lies, high crimes and misdemeanors. If anyone tries to go against that, resist the deification of this country, or, God forbid! forget to balance their criticism with praise for Good Things America Has Done (which we all have heard about endlessly. The opposite of the most under reported story of the year, Ok?) then they are seen as some fringe element. Radical, dangerous, delusional. But Joan, it's actually people like you who are out there. Wright doesn't have to be correct about everything (hell, you're not) to be listened to. That interview was wonderful. A breath of fresh air after 7 years of lies and fear mongering.

When I lived in Portland and Berkeley much of the left was still founded on the principles of the sixties, though that is beginning to shift some. Social action and self indulgence are often conflated.

Groups like Code Pink are a prime example of this. The fail at what they do because they are ridiculous. They, like other protest groups, often use the platform of a serious issue for "self work". It becomes about them when yoga classes are offered at the start of an anti-war protest. And the protest itself is undermined by the approach. If I were an Iraqi I'd be offended that people in pink unitards dragged a pink mattress through the street "in my name". I mean, who the hell would want their tragedy represented that way?

The sixties gave us great ideas and ideals, but little in the way of how to achieve that. Those idea ls are being re-examined and reshaped with a more pragmatic eye now.

This is because the Clinton campaign has systematically smeared a truly good candidate. He's a really good guy and will make a great president. I can't believe people can't see how Clinton is running such a nasty and dishonest campaign. What a shame. I suspect one day this %25 will regret they bought into it.

It's all about fearing the "angry black man". See when white people are angry it's "righteous".

At least, I think it's her. First Read said as much at 11:50 am.

My group can kill a goat in 10 minutes. But we're beyond that beginner crap. We've bigger targets now.

Signed,

PNAC

p.s. The Star Gnomes are coming.

This past weekend's back and forth over race made me ill. I'm glad the candidates came to their senses and pulled back. There are so many issues we need to deal with. Global warming, terrorism, and recessions don't discriminate.

The whole Michigan primary thing is going to generate a lot of lawsuits. Regardless if Michigan "broke the rules" to say they won't get delegates, which causes the other candidates to not be on the ballot, thereby leaving only one candidate, deprives others of their vote. Then to cave on that and give that single candidate all the delegates will cause all hell to break loose. Whether she is to blame or not, Hillary will come off looking like G. W. Bush- "stealing" an election. It will taint her and turn the tide against her even more.