Wow, VirginiaL, can you show me a situation where you set a similar example? I'm not familiar with one. I at least left it as a question, and said I have doubts. But I know that's why Dems are savaged, because they lie on their backs with their necks and bellies exposed. But thanks, VirginiaL, for pretending to set a good example.

Honestly, I'm such a centrist waffler (and many lefties reading Salon have called me out as such.) The fact that I'd love to see Dems thwart the GOP by any means necessary (any legislative means necessary, as Sen. Reid's spokesman said!) is a measure of the GOP and the overall conservative sector's erratic and destructive move to the far right.

Yes, I might start with Rex Rammell...so far that's mainly gotten coverage on liberal blogs...did I miss any MSM coverage today?

fromdabak, yeah, that's part of my problem: So many to censure, so little time!

FaulknerJr, as you know, I don't always follow my own advice, so I don't judge you for getting provoked by certain losers. We all do our best.

doloresflores_d, I share your worries about a mandate without a public option. The LAT and WSJ stories about how insurance companies are preparing for a big Obama windfall earlier this week were really depressing.

But I know our GOP friends who think they're populists are thrilled about insurance gougers making their 30 percent profits on terrible service while Medicare (which isn't perfect, but is decent) makes 2-4 percent overhead. I love these defenders of the wealthy who should clearly support social-justice, because given their deficient spelling and reasoning, they aren't folks who reaped the benefits of our rigged (anti) opportunity society. But maybe people like farragut and bad-dog are faking the factual/grammatical ignorance, and they're Chuck Grassley and John McCain! We just don't know.

Ah, FaulknerJr., step away from the computer. These morons shouldn't goad you into saying things you may regret. You fight hate with facts, and even if we disagree about your one troll-buddy (if you're his friend, why don't you talk to him about pouring his energy into his own work?) you are one of the most effective voices for our side on these threads.

And I don't like the digs at virtue001 as a possible "her." It's kind of dumb to try to defend an ardent feminist with misogyny. And virt has talked about his lovely wife, and doesn't seem like someone who'd get gay-married, so I think it's pretty clear he's a man. So it's insulting, sexist and dumb all at the same time.

Yes, we'll work on moderation, and frankly also banning the people who can't avoid the kindergarten potty talk. It diminishes both sides of the debate.

Thanks, Scott -- to be clear, Dan used phrase "former audience," Jay turned it into "the people formerly known as the audience."

Or as Dan just told me on Twitter: dangillmor@joanwalsh I said "former audience" and Jay expanded to (much catchier) "people formerly known as the audience."

And thank you virtue001 for your nice words. Really. You should start an Open Salon blog, with or without your real name!

OK: back to packing my daughter to return to college. Blogging may be light next couple of days.

dwg, we passed in the ether! Yes, I talked about My Favorite Martian -- also loved "My Mother the Car." Aliens, inanimate animate objects, strange single fathers (Family Affair and Eddie); of course in Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, two of my favorite shows, magic women! We were raised on a wild mainstream cultural diet of "What the hell?" but of course sad, low-ceiling presumptions prevail in our politics. No wonder we're unhappy!

Oh man, this is such a weekend thread, and I promise I am going to bed after this, but...did Harry Nilsson really do the "Best Friend" theme to "Courtship of Eddie's Father?" I did not know that!

Of course, because I'm not a lazy asshole (although I am NOW going to bed) I did Google it and see that it's true. I can't believe I didn't know that, really. I loved both that show (in my little tween wonderland) and later, Harry Nilsson.

And then we all know there's the Bill Bixby/My Favorite Martian connection...

So I know when I wake up tomorrow someone will have drawn really depressing and perhaps perverse connections between me, Bixby, Nilsson-Shmillson, Ray Walston, Barack Obama (Martian alien), dwg, Gandhi, Orly Taitz and...a priest, a minister and a rabbi. That's what makes life worth living!

Oh, and dwg, I am dating myself by replying to your Family Affair remark, but now I will always hear the theme song when I see Glenn Beck - the sad amalgam of those superficially happy but of course TWISTED kids...

Da-da-da-DAH-da-da-da-da-da, Da-da-da-(dah)-da-da-da-da-da-da....Poor Glenn Beck.

I'm watching this thread, I don't know what it takes to organize a March on Washington, and I know I'm not an organizer, but there's a geyser of frustration looking for direction.

Lucy with Diamonds, thank you, that made my day. I'm aware that I mostly address my critics and I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to let me know what you think. You're wonderful!

Hi, Lisa Rathert! I'm going to friend you on Facebook, too!