has published significant "polling" numbers regarding what military service members think about their revolving hell. They are now right there with the rest of us. Viz: it was a bad idea, and it's a worse idea now. They want out.

The administration is not going to talk about that willingly, and they are actively ignoring the op eds by growing numbers of soldiers and Marines who say enough is enough.

Why isn't the press corp "pressing" the chief spokesnitwit on that very well documented fact? Generals can cover up and pontificate all they want. Petreaus can sniff Bush's behind and prep his resume for a run at being the next President Eisenhower...but the truth is...the majority of men and women who are carrying this war on their backs want out as much as we want them out.

And, since when has the definintion of "grassroots" become "radical"? These groups have focused a light on what's going on behind the curtain around the Wizard of Crawford...and that wasn't in the original game plan. Post Nixon and before George Bush, we didn't need MoveOn and CodePink. Now, if they weren't out there kicking up dust, who would? We'd all be lining up for Kool-aid.

The sad thing is that propaganda techniques like pointing at big bad MoveOn, and hysterical CodePink have resonance with the non-thinking segment of America. The message gets lost in the controversy, and the story becomes: congressional hearing disrupted.

Perino is a featherweight, although a recent Time puff bio tried to paint her as an intelligent PR genius. (cough, sputter) But what about the press? Where are all the Helen Thomas' when you need them? They've all turned into Jeff Gannons.

The circle is complete and the snake is firmly attached to it's own tail. Everything else is superfluous. And expendable.

....."but we can't say we're not enjoying the show"

Tim, while I love your tongue-in-cheekiness, and your smart-ass wit, as well as your ability to say crap without actually using the word....try not to revel in this.

It is not amusing, and it is just the first of what is going to be a campaign to put 2004's "Swift Boating" on the list of old boring news.

The dirty tricks are just getting started and I believe they will be at a level even we maxed-out-of-hope-nicks will find amazing. And if it amuses you, I want some of what you're smoking, drinking, swallowing...because I find it apalling and depressing and would give anything to be "amused" by something again.

...is this constitutional?

First we have administration officials claiming they took an oath to support George Bush, not the constitution or the people, and now the Republican Party is actually requiring party allegiance before conscience or the national good.

I think we all know what kind of regimes require loyalty oaths.

Somebody pinch me. Soon.

of Senator Larry Craig sliding his Senate business card over to the cops and snapping something like "what do you think of this!"

We must remember, rank has its privileges. Did anyone actually think these guys have been fighting like mad dogs for political power just to waste it on us?

Alas, the little weasel gets security coverage for life as a former president. He also gets office help, assistants and office space on the taxpayer dime. All the better to shred documents and write those books and speeches for him that he thinks he is going to cash in on.

He won't have to hire Blackwater. And if he does, you and I will be picking up the tab. We'll also be writing the checks for Karen Hughes to stroke his, er, ego and write his self-aggrandizing memoirs.

Sorry. Transparently veiled crudeness is just the only thing that seems right, sometimes. I apologize, half-heartedly.

Some of us still know how to read and actually like it. And surprisingly, the written pieces are piquant and lively, but when they are spoken by talking heads who aren't what we expected...well...let's just say I like my journalists to be about journalism and commentary not bad, dull video and lifeless personality.

There is a wonderful mistique about writers of things worth reading. Please stop ruining that by dumbing it all down to the need to see their faces.

I wish I didn't feel this strongly, but I had decided this on the day the video "surge" started. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.

Please don't let this unnecessary gimmickry override your mostly impeccable substance. Yes, I can skip over it, but the idea that its presence is a big plus is grating.

Thanks.