Remember how Will Patton professed his love for Gene Hackman in "No Way Out"? This is a perfect illustration of the glass closet -- and from 1987, no less. Even more to the point was how quickly Gene Hackman was ready to throw his gay staffer overboard when the murder of Sean Young was solved by Kevin Costner. (Sorry, don't remember the characters' names.) So now the Republicans are swinging their hatchets, pledged to purge of the GOP of its "gay problem." How obtuse can they be? The idea that it's OK to be gay in Washington, but don't let the folks back home hear about it is insulting on many levels. Gay staffers are forced to play an insulting game; the folks back home are infantilized; and Washington itself is made into a place that by implication is unfit for "real Americans."

Note, please, who the sole beneficiaries of such a system are.

As a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, I thank the heavens that there is someone finally on the horizon that excites me in a way that JFK did for an earlier generation. I like Hillary and think she'd do a great job, but I'm already exhausted by the bashing. If she runs in '08, the Republicans will put such firepower into destroying her that the Swift Boaters will look like playground bullies shouting "cooties." Gore? Great, and on a karmic level deserves to serve in the office to which he was elected, but he is taking too long deciding. Kerry? Only after now saying that he'll kick the asses of those who sowed seeds of doubt about his medals, he only increases my anger that he did not do so in 2004. Edwards? Is there enough there there?

So I think that Obama should run; I do not think that it will decrease his chances, but much like JFK's bid for VP in '56, it may widen his appeal and raise his profile. And you know, after Bush, Harvard owes us something.

So for all the protestations that she was cool about her man and that woman hanging out at Burning Man (still, huh?), the minute she finds out that there might be a continuing relationship the claws come out. She's a stripper -- she believes in aliens -- she can be Googled! Why that Jezebel is nothing but a slut! (And what's with "Anonymous" assuming she has VD?)

I sincerely hope the LW gives us an update somewhere down the road.

Mr Scherer's article is a mighty weapon against those who scream about a liberal media, mocking the values and stature of those on the right. I believe he struck exactly the right tone: while somewhat amused by Harris' quixotic candidacy, Scherer is also sympathetic to a woman who is busting her ass to attain her goal. Yes, I consider Harris somewhat comical (an odd transformation from the evil-doer of yore), but perhaps it is pure cynicism. She is right in that the incumbent, Bill Nelson, is a bit of a non-entity.

Quite frankly, you'd think she had enough on the national party to force them to pile buckets of money into her campaign. The president and the governor both giving her the cold shoulder strikes me as the ultimate illustration of how the Bushes pick others to do their dirty work -- after that, it's back to "not our kind, dear."

I'm 48 now, and my only memories of homework in school are that I only did if for the courses in which I had an interest. I'm sure I handed in the math and chem stuff, but none of that has stuck. I do remember the evenings spent laboriously drawing maps of Africa and Asia, plotting the capitals, choosing colors for the different countries. Flash forward 30 years when I decide to get my Master's and guess what? There still wasn't enough time to get it all done -- the reading, the research, the writing. It's no surprise that I still had the habit of concentrating on the stuff I liked, and paying scant attention to that which bored me.

How about keeping schools open until 5:30? Whatever homework the kid can get done by then is all that he is called upon to do. The kids are supervised, parents don't have to scramble to get out of work early, and the study halls can be monitored by teachers for extra pay, or college or grad school students for experience. It's not a perfect plan, but it could be a start.

Really boring, with the pregnant sense of import that irks me most. Bummer.

Good call, Cary, if necessarily harsh. I am exhausted by the christenings of babies of nonreligious people. What is the point? Almost within a week these sacred oaths (if you're a believer) are forgotten and the family is not in church. My sister calls such events "The 'The' Festival" -- you have to have "the" church, "the" robe, "the" hall, "the" caterer, ad nauseum, because rituals performed for the sake of ritual must follow cookie-cutter patterns. There is so little feeling, emotion, or honesty (shame on the Church for its participation in this sham) that you feel just a bit fraudulent participating.

I say the woman is lucky to get a sneak preview of the hell that may very well be awaiting her come time for a church wedding. Grab the kid and head to Las Vegas, lady, because if your in-laws are this whacked over the christening, imagine the wedding!