As Mr. Shakespeare would say, "A pox on their house !" And in this case, the "pox" cannot come swiftly enough. " Bring it on!"

You are beginning to sound like Bill O'Reilly. Perhaps a bit of Christmas cheer would help to soften your obvious disdain for those of us who are not simply thrilled by the madness which commences the day after Thanksgiving, and lasts until January 2nd. Sure, I appreciate some of the music, the cookies etc, but for you to rant about "getting a life"...an expression which I think is rather cruel, seems quite petty and not at all in the true spirit of Christmas.

With respect to the Bush administration's so-called policy in Iraq one definition of insanity which comes to mind is "doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results." Flexibility is often a sign of maturity and those who tend to see things in black and white while ignoring the lessons of history usually end up paying a huge price. Viet Nam was LBJ's downfall and it appears to a majority of folks that Iraq is now GWB's. It's time for the US to get out of Iraq now !

As the delusional, but deadly pair, Bush and Cheney, continue to be supported by the moral cowards and sycophants in congress who call themselves republicans, I am reminded of how truth is far stranger than any fictionalized account of power corrupting those who are not mentally, spiritually and emotionally equipped to handle it in a judicious manner. Meanwhile, countless Americans and Iraqis continue to die in the bloody abyss that was once a sovereign nation. No one or nothing seems able or willing to stop the madness which began years ago in the warped minds and so-called think tanks of the neo-conservatives who knew they could easily convince the feckless George W. Bush to go to war. What they apparently didn't count on was how incompetent Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney and their cronies are (remember Katrina?)and so now, it is left to the folks in the bowels of the Pentagon to figure out how to "manage" and "spin" yet another G.W. Bush failure. This failure however, will have far reaching and lasting ramifications as it is taking place in a very dangerous neighborhood, the Middle East.

For the atmosphere and dissolute charm of Venice, read any of the excellent mysteries told by Donna Leon. She is an American who has lived in Venice for many years and her characters, plots and vivid descriptions of La Serenissima's faded beauty will transport the reader to that most romantic of cities.

By any account, these guys give a whole new meaning to the word "scoundrel".

When I subscribed to Salon.com, I certainly didn't do so because of G.K. and his phony homilies which are frankly becoming a dreadful bore, not at all upbeat and convivial as he might think. Frankly, he has become like a dog with a bone in his jabs at liberals who, in my experience, make for fine lunch companions and dear friends. I dread to think of what sitting through lunch with GK must be. Give me T.S. Eliot and "Prufrock" any day compared to the treacle of Mr. Keillor.

Kudos to Mr. Fitzgerald and team for a job well done. Now, what America really wants to know is who is Libby protecting with his lies ??? Could it be our VP, Delusional Dick?

On what planet has the senator been living? Doesn't he know that a majority of Americans want to see an end to the misery and the debacle which is Iraq? Doesn't he know that our military is not only stretched to the breaking point and is caught up in a Civil War from which there is no way out, except to actually leave? And most of all, doesn't he also know from his own experience with the Bushies, that there is no sitting down and rationally discussing issues about which the "decider" in the Oval Office has already made up his mind?

Thank you, Joe. Mine was one of the stomachs that turned upon hearing Tom Oliphant declare with baited breath his sickening "solidarity, forever pal" statement. Along with Oliphant are his peers, the other "respected" journalists like David Gregory, Frank Rich, Maureen Dowd etc. who have yet to come forward and take any responsibility for being part of the problem which is ultmately not about Imus, but America and its numerous unsolved social and economic problems. These journalists and politicans who, as regular guests, served as enablers who gave credibility to what would otherwise be just another schlocky and offensive show. Imus provided them with a place to self-promote and yammer on about their books, their political views etc. Everyone benefited, including the networks, the sponsors and Imus himself. In the final analysis, none of this has anything to do with the First Amendment, or freedom of speech, but with the rather quaint concept of ethical behavior. The Imus show was but one of many places in tv land where locker room talk is acceptable, where meanspiritedness and cruelty is considered humorous and a misogynistic, racist and homophobic host is able to spew forth with what many viewers themselves more than likely agree. Getting rid of Imus might be the beginning of a seachange in the media and the culture, but I for one, am not holding my breath.

McCain sure sounds like George W. " the decider" Bush whose ratings, in case the senator from Arizona has not been told, have been in the toilet for some time now and whose policies are utter failures. Just what this country needs, another witless, mediocre and tone-deaf politican who is so out of touch with reality that he actually believes there still remains a chance for the US to achieve victory in Iraq. Then again, when did any of these guys ever care about the common good and or public opinion???

"It ain't over til it's over." Yogi Berra