I've become cynical about a lot of these do-gooder$ with lot$ of dough.

With them it's the art of the deal -- the quid pro quo usually entails them having a hell of a lot more dough falling to their personal bottom line than they'd have without the "humanitarian" effort.

Sure, good for the injured soldiers that they have access to this facility, but why doesn't the government provide the facility?

People will watch whatever "news" is plunked down in front of them.

Whenever we're in the breakfast room at a Residence Inn by Marriott, a Hilton Garden Inn, or any of the other hotels in this market category, my husband routinely (he's not shy) switches the TeeVee channel from the ubiquitous Fox News channel to CNN (which isn't much better, granted). Without exception, at least one or two viewers say something to the effect, "Oh, thanks for changing the channel. I can't stand Fox!"

But, nevertheless, until Bill switched the channel, they watched it with glazed eyes while eating their glazed cinnamon bun.

John Edwards should have just said, "Objection!" And let it go at that. That would have given the media something to chew on and tear apart for days. Edwards would have been "in the news" and yakked about for at least a couple of news cycles.

Instead, Edwards gave the only reasonable answer at this point in the campaign. But, by answering the way in which he did, he (unfortunately) gave the media what they were angling for: an opportunity to pass judgment.

Reporters like to ask these ridiculous questions, so they can provide the answer.

Bush is prepared to deliver some damned insulting comments in New Albany, Indiana today as part of his continuing attack on Congressional spending, he will say that the Democratic-led Congress is "acting like a teenager with a new credit card.''

Well, Mr. Bush, you're using teenagers to fight your War of Choice on Iraq, using their *credit cards* to finance your illegal, mismanaged wars and tax cuts for the uber-wealthy, and telegraphing an important, dismissive message to potential new voters (18-YO teenagers): You don't trust them and you don't give a damn about them!

global warming. It's about friggin' time that candidates talked about the climate crisis.

Lou Dobbs, in story after story after story after story after story, has made a profession on attacking illegal immigration, but I always have the impression that he's really promulgating the same ideas as Pat Buchanan did in his book, State of Emergency, in which Pitchfork Pat pushes the centrality of race to the United States and its culture.

Dobbs is less obvious than Buchanan is in his racism, but he's still a racist, IMO.

In his own words on CNN:

Dobbs: "I support the Minuteman Project and the fine Americans who make it up in all they've accomplished, fully, relentlessly, and proudly."

Some birders just like to have fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBgZaVMDo1s

Of course, that's just a literary device to get our attention.

But, just wait! Next, when Guiliani begins to tank because of the Judith Regan suit and his wider exposure, Thomas Friedman will be yammering about the merits of Darth Cheney becoming the GOP nominee for president.

No. Really. It's coming.

... Hillary has the most experience deflecting (and surviving) personal attacks.

Spot on.

When Bill Clinton made healthcare the cornerstone of his first-term agenda and chose Hillary to head up the effort, they were committed to getting the deal done.

It was probably not a good idea for Bill to have Hillary come up with the comprehensive plan -- because the Repugs played just as dirty then as they do now. The plan she and her staff and committees came up with was a VERY GOOD first-effort, IMO.

Repugs and Dems alike made such a big friggin' deal out of "patient choice" -- ohmigod, we can't choose our own goddamned doctors! Like we have to love our damned doctors! Before the Repug message machine contorted & distorted it into a heinous plan from hell, most Americans were behind it. When the plan was first announced, it was seemingly headed for passage -- then the right-wing "conservatives," libertarians, the insurance industry, and greedy doctors staged their well-organized "hate Hillary/hate the plan" campaign.

Remember those dishonest Harry and Louise ads -- they insinuated that the plan was against middle class values (whatever that is!). Then even some of the Dems started offering competing plans -- and the Repugs were in hog heaven! Their trap worked! The Repugs knew that if a comprehensive plan was passed on the Dems' watch, they would have a tough time regaining control of government -- so they decided to scuttle anything and everything from the Clinton White House.

Newt Gingrich had a field day with "HILLARY'S FAILED HEALTH PLAN" -- and used the momentum to take over the House in 1994. The "GOP Revolution" ended prospects of a Clinton-sponsored health care overhaul. So, here we are....in 2007.

Don't blame Hillary for the "failed health plan" -- the blame rests squarely on the American people for falling for all the spin and hatred generated by the anti-Hillary (anti-Clinton) machine.

This late *newsflash* must explain the New York Post's name:

post = after, subsequent, behind

And I feel compelled to say: quote is a verb;

But, it is also a noun, so......

Quote, "You're wrong." Unquote

Why didn't Miss Townsend put a specific day on her letter?