No President can possibly know everything; that's why he, or she, should have political, military and economic professionals to advise him, or her, on those complex issues. Building a consensus based on an intelligent discussion of ALL the facts is what makes the final decision so important: having a moral compass to guide what flows from that consensus is, therefore, absolutely essential.

George W. Bush is driven more by idealogy than fact, governing more by hubris rather than a measured tone and triangulating for political advantage rather than dealing with differences honestly and forthrightly.

For Mr. Bush to have pursued a war based on egregious propaganda, bastardized rhetoric and totally-fabricated intelligence, is a moral and ethical failure of monumental proportions. In short, George Bush is a liar.

When the truth comes out about what really happened in the Bush White House...and it will...the historians will not be kind.

Count me as disgusted with my own political party. I mean, giving up any hope of turning the Iraq juggernaut toward a sensible resolution by giving away the farm beFORE sitting down to negotiate is akin to showing your two hole-cards in Texas Hold 'Em!

I had a great deal of respect for Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi at the outset, but...their tenure, so far, has ranged from fealty to Bush to obeisance to special interests to outright mismanagement of their own caucus.

Looks like I'll be voting twice in '08: once to smoke the Bush Repooplicans from office and once to elect Democratic leaders who actually possess a backbone.

Bringing opera to the masses has been the goal of composers and performers for centuries; the idea that opera is only for snooty folks is an idea foisted on the rest of us by snooty folks themselves.

Mozart's singable melodies in "Marriage of Figaro" and "Magic Flute" endeared him to the masses in Austria. Puccini's lyrical melodies in "La Boheme" and "Madame Butterfly" gave all shower-singers great material. The same can be said about Pavarotti.

He sang grand opera at La Scala in Milan. He sang it at The Met in New York. He also sang with Bono and others to bring his wonderful talent and superlative voice to...the masses.

Who knows how many young people first heard an aria when it was sung by Pavoratti? How many people were inspired to study voice when they heard him sing? And, how many people were simply entertained by this gracious bear of a man who loved singing simply for singing's sake? Thanks to years of being recorded, his voice will go on for years. People not even born yet will be able to enjoy it and be inspired by it.

For all that: Bravo, Luciano...bravo!

Senator Craig's "I-didn't-do-it-and-I-swear-I-won't-do-it-again" mea culpa notwithstanding, I hope the good Senator from one of the reddest-neck states ever sticks (bad choice of words) around. His contortious discomfiture makes for great comedy material at the same time it causes major agita for his fellow Republicans. That's always a good thing.

Of course, the total disconnect and hypocrisy between the GOP Senator Craig's imbroglio and the GOP Senator Vitter's moral turpitude for using the services of a prostitute (while contemporaneously espousing "family values") is glaring. The only differences between the two are the facts that Senator Vitter's sexual proclivities were heterosexual and that the state of Louisiana has a Democratic Governor. She, as governor, could appoint a Democrat as Vitter's replacement; the Republicans would lose a seat in the US Senate as a result. The Governor of Idaho, a Republican, would most likely replace Craig with another Republican. (Whether that replacement Republican would be yet another pervert is unclear.)

So, Senator Craig, I beg you to stay and fight! God knows, after Bush & Company, we need the comic relief that only a merry band of Republican misfits can bring.

Hemmorhoids are real, too; but, that doesn't qualify them to be President.

Why would a six-foot, six-inch hemmorhoid with baggy eyes think HE'S qualified, either?

Dear Mr. Breathed:

With this latest so-called "comic" strip, we just wanted you to know that you are now on the Homeland Security Traitor List...permanently!

No need to wish you a good day, sir, because we will KNOW (through various means) whether you are having a good day or not!

Sincerely,

Michael Jerkitoff, Skeletor-In-Chief

I do feel sorry for General Petraeus: a good and loyal soldier who has been tasked with putting lipstick on the pig which is Iraq. His little puppy-and-Palamino show before the House committee yesterday was painful to watch. I've not seen anyone appear to parse, prevaricate and pander this much since this ungodly and unnecessary war began.

Ambassador Crocker fared no better...looking like somewhere between a Cocker Spaniel who had just peed on the carpet and a surprised squirrel. Those wet 'n' watery brown eyes of his made him look only slightly less goofy than Alfred E. Neuman on quaaludes. Only just slightly.

Defending the indefensible is the only way to describe both their testimonies yesterday. The only thing missing from the show yesterday was the guy who spins plates on the ends of sticks.

OK, so maybe Dubya has a "certain charm" for a few folks. Even an ugly dog will find SOMEone to pet it. Bush may even be able to chew gum and walk upright simultaneously. Bravo!

No, my problems wih Dubya are based on his official policies and practices as President. I don't care for the direction of the country under his alleged leadership, I don't care for his partisan manner in EVERYthing he does and I find his choices of members of his administration to alternate between truly disgusting and outright frightening.

Whether he a drunk, a coke-head, AWOL during his military service or makes his dog Barney play with him is immaterial to his Presidency; how he conducts the business of State IS, however, totally material.

I find him to be a failed President based on his performance...or, his abysmal lack thereof!