Oprah has done some very good things with women's health...even going to the extent of having Dr. Oz discuss "poop" and laying out actual intestines to look at. Creepy but healthy and informative.

However, the Suzanne Somers thing was very disturbing from several points of view. She hawks jewelery on TV, along with her books and the off related product. She got her start as a medical and fitness expert demonstrating the thighmaster in an infomercial. She is a (not very accomplished) actress and huckster (very accomplished.) She was known to have liposuction while she was touting her own fitness and body shaping programs and books. And she never mentions her cancer, trying desperately to sweep it under the rug and forget it, because it will dampen sales of her products.

Her bioidentical custom-formulated hormones are the stuff of Rodeo Drive, and the 60 supplements she lays out every day are the luxury (and unproven regamine) of the wealthy.

The show seemed amazingly inappropriate. And the consequences could be extreme. Suzanne is on a personal quest for her own fountain of youth, and banisher of the spectre of cancer. She shouldn't be given such a huge national platform to preach her scientifically challenged views. It's dangerous and irresponsible. And at the root of it is sales, sales, sales.

Oprah allowed herself to be Somer's shill.

I've never used the term "Rethuglican" or anything approximating it for exactly the reasons I stated. Thank you for your response, it was civilized and respectful, all things considered. And you are right, this is a terrible time to be in charge. But can we handle it...yes we can.

That's Democratic Party. See, this kind of lack of minimum ciivility and respect is what makes the Republican Party what it is. The adoption of "Democrat Party" by Republicans of stature isn't cute nor does it contribute to serious discourse. But then...that rarely seems to be the objective.

Nobody knows what Nancy knew. EVERYBODY knows what THEY DID.

Obama is not morphing into Bush. He's accomplishing an amazing amount, and for the first time in eight years is bringing some energy and focus into the White House.

I have a son in Afghanistan, and he and the other legion of combat troops deployed in the Middle East deserve the sensitivity President Obama is bringing to the table regarding the photos. His reasoning is not an excuse, it is legitimate, as anyone who has family and friends in harm's way knows.

To launch an all-consuming payback on Bush and Co. will distract from all the other desperate issues facing the country right now. (I remember the Clinton years) However, to give these constitution-bashing, treasonous, arrogant fools a free pass is not an option. We need less scurrying, more sword rattling, and a way to shed the light of public exposure on these scoundrels once and for all.

But it's a delicate operation, and I refuse to deny our President and Congress the necessary leeway to bring about accountability without bringing an ambitious agenda to a standstill.

The "rough battle" you mean will be largely more hate-mongering and God-spewing by the far right and its factions of rabid bible thumpers and gun toters, incited by big money interests from behind the curtain. Look for lots more ridiculous and pathetic outbursts from the extremists from Limbaugh to sign-carrying, racist Cletus and Earlenes who can't spell. (I mean the stereotype couple from the Simpsons, if you are not a fan. I saw their dopplegangers in many of the "teabagger" videos.)

They are a dwindling group, and more and more are waving their arms into the role of inarticulate nut jobs whom most people view as ultimately harmless but really annoying...like a sand crab that won't turn loose of your toe. Painful, but hardly life-threatening.

desperate to storm Baghdad

desperate to give George W. Bush hero bonifides

desperate to create a centralized form of control that could not be questioned by Americans

willing to engage in any illegal or clandestined activity to cement their agenda

Hubris and power-hungry incompetence.

when it happens to YOU. This is the true litmus test of your stand on matters of civil liberties. It shouldn't be. But it is.

But how she said it. And suchlike.

"'reasonable facsimiles" are already in a file on Rove's desk waiting to be leaked to FOX.

that we would have "W" if Obama had lost the election. It was just a frame of reference. Mr. emperor-of-the-military McCain who voted against military benefits and support but never missed an opportunity to paint himself a hero would do just as well as a comparison.

Alex:

What is WRONG with you? Pirates board a US ship and threaten. A captain puts himself in harms way for his crew's sake. The navy seals take out the bad guys and the captain is saved.

All day long we have to put up with the seditious rantings of Michelle Bachmann, Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney etc. etc. etc. I know you KNOW what I mean.

Standard procedure or not, President Obama is the commander-in-chief. He'll be hung out for the missteps, he should be allowed to be the man at the top in times of uplifting triumph over the bad guys.

Lord knows we need it. And I for one am going to have a glass of wine and say "Hurray for us...go Seals." And thank you sane and reasonable voters for President Obama. Otherwise, we would have W landing somewhere in his laughable flight suit and declaring "mission accomplished" as he shoved the captain out of the spotlight.

Alex, you are way too bitter and jaded. And maybe a little less than an Obama fan. You're the reason I haven't renewed my premium membership after all these years.

...much less have an audience that will take his "strategies" under discussion. The man is an architect of disaster and death. Where is the accountability for him and his merry band of ideological termites.