Methinks the lady reads too many romance novels or something.

"I am so enraged by your bourgeois nature and the candidate that you support that after I have sated myself with violence I'm going to put my hand up your blouse and squeeze one of your breasts. Just one, methinks squeezing them both would be excessive, don't you?"

Not to mention

"Pardon me, ma'am, while I put away my mugging knife to get out my scratching knife so I can leave you with a mark that'll remind you clear to election day who's the best candidate"

Her "attacker" seems to be extremely considerate, more like a drunken frat boy than a desperate inner city mugger. Maybe that's it, it was more like

"Damn, I don't have a sharpie. Anybody got a sharpie? Damn, I'll have to mark her with this butter knife instead"

The only other detail that I haven't seen discussed is, why would someone mark someone on the cheek? Maybe I'm overthinking this, but if I wanted to carve a recognizable shape on someone's face I'd pick a smoother, flatter, area like the forehead. On the cheek, you've got the cheekbone, then the unsupported cheek, then chin to work with. She'd be screaming and moving her mouth all around. You'd need to be either very careful (as our "mugger" seems to have been) or very reckless.

All caveats apply, if this is true, etc, but this stinks like last week's halibut. I'll believe it when I see the police and doctors say this was not self inflicted and/or makeup. Makeup and make believe.

"What else could he do"

He could stand up like the man of honor he pretends to be and tell his people to cut it the hell out. If people start the two minutes hate at a rally where he's speaking he can stop them and say "I don't agree with Obama's choices or plans, but he's an honorable man and if he should be lucky enough and strong enough to beat me in this election we all need to support him as our president."

But I guess that's asking a bit much.

we really should elect Obama if he's prescient enough to start an investigation months before anyone knew Palin was going to be nominated.

We like to think we're immune from another depression, hateful mobs, risk of fascism.

We're not immune.

I'm getting scared.

On the other hand, if we can't defeat these homegrown bullies by holding to our principles of justice, freedom, and peace, what chance do we stand against the bullies in the wider world?

Hold fast

Totally agree with Amerigo. Any moderate* should require ground rules before appearing on any Faux News show. If the rules are violated, one warning. After that, they get up and walk out.

The warning: "I agreed to appear on this show because you agreed to discuss the issues with me responsibly and respectfully. You are not doing that. If this continues, I will leave, as I said I would"

Then do it.

*There is no left in American politics today, the "extreme liberals" would be counted moderates in any other political environment and "conservatives" in some. I consider myself a moderate, shading towards conservative (deficit hawk) on any "normal" political spectrum.

the last time people associated with our government talked about "taking the gloves off" we ended up violating interntaional law by torturing war prisoners. BTW, boxers wear gloves to protect their hands, not to limit damage to their opponents. Taking the gloves off is stupid, you ruin your weapons that way.

but is it just me or does Paulson look a little too much like Daddy Warbucks? It's really creeping me out.

almost 2 years ago when he came out pandering to the religious right. When he gave big wet smooches to Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and James Dobson, the maverick independent story was all over. The funny thing about it was, it didn't even play to the base. Those of us who thought he might be a real moderate lost trust in him and the religious right didn't buy it. That was when his popularity really started to slide.

John McCain has decided to do whatever it takes, to say whatever needs to be said, kiss whatever needs to be kissed, and act as though he believes whatever needs to be believed to get elected. Yet he wants us to believe that if he gets to the White House he'll be that maverick, that staunch independent.

Anyone who believes that is a fool.