Joan, I wanted to comment on your excellent article. In it you mentioned that one of the things that seemed to seperate Mr. Bonds from Mr. Kent (besides their skin color & I acknowledge that in the U.S.A. that's a big 'besides') was that Mr. Kent cultivated the press, while Mr. Bonds disdained them.

I certainly agree with your observation in that regard. I would like you to know that since I can never get into a press conferance & ask my own questions (believe me, they'd be more entertaining if I could), I do rely on the press to ask questions on my behalf.

True, they don't ask (in many situations) the questions I would want asked & I know that there are personal histories & antipathies that come into play & can influence the amount of info a player may want to give to a specific reporter. But when a player pretty much totally stiffs the media & will not give any germane info, I consider that he is stiffing me as well.

The reporters are trying (or should be trying) to get information for the people who read their newspapers, etc. I am one of those people. That said, the reporters should never try to bait a player, as that is totally unprofessional.

Mr Humidity expressed surprise at Ms. Malkin's ode to internment being written by someone of Asian extraction.

Ms. Malkin is Filipino & we put Japanese citizens in camps in WW II. Never be surprised by a Filipino having antipathy towards the Japanese.

P.S. Happy Holidays & Happy New Year to all the posters who frequent Glenn's site!

Gad, what a bunch of wankers we have infesting public life at this point in time. Shailagh Murray makes me long for the days of Elizabeth Bumiller (she's that much of a tool).

As for Willard, his 'right to be kept alive' quote has already been skewered by Jon Stewart, who opined that it would go over great in NH, where the state motto is 'Live free or Do Whatever the Hell You have to to Keep Me Alive'.

My condolences to her family. It took alot of guts (more than I have) to go out there campaigning day after day, when you know 100% that they are gunning for you.

She knew that & still soldiered on. That's one tough lady.

appreciate your post reminicing about a relative of Mrs. Bhutto you met years ago. That's a brief glimpse of a lifestyle that probably has more in common with English nobility circa 1300 than with mine (meaning all the precautions against violent attacks, etc.)

I pray that Pakistan doesn't fall into civil war.

I agree with poster up above that said that it seems the 'serious' people are scared of an Edwards candidacy. Makes me like him more.

Amity commented up above (referring to Mrs. Bhutto): 'Her party was murderous and corrupt and if she escaped being implicated directly it was only because she was cleverer than her father or any of her siblings.'

IMO, all the political parties in Pakistan are 'murderous and corrupt', if you're not, then all your political party members will soon be dead & destitute ;-)

On a more serious note, she was the most democratic option for Pakistan (and it says alot about the situation over there to have her & her party be the 'reform' party in their political equation).

But, it is what it is & Pakistan will miss her.

on the death penalty is that it should remain an option for punishment. It deters no other murderer from commiting their crime (they never think they'll be caught, anyway).

Since I don't believe in an afterlife, I think there is no 'divine' punishment to be met out. Some people commit crimes where the only fitting punishment is death, IMO.

I would like them to either remove pancurium bromide from the drug mix & just go with a barbituate overdose or return to hanging. They could also do what the Elves in Middle Earth did as a means of execution (pushing you off a high cliff to fall to your death).

The main thing is that capital punishment should only be used on those where we are 100% convinced (thru videotape or person leading us to the bodies, etc.) that they are in fact guilty of the crime. If there is any doubt, then LWOP.

don't forget Texas Tech - Virginia game. Pretty exciting 4th quarter, IMO.

Also, in answer to Big Paulie's above question: Barry Bonds (as far as I know he's a steroid popping melgomaniac, not a drunk).

Happy New Year to all!

In a happy marriage, generally the stress levels will be lower.

I wonder how much money the researcher was paid to uncover that?