"She is also an equal opportunity bomb thrower, hammering away at republicans and democrats alike."

No, no, no. That's what Dowd has claimed in almost exactly those words, but anyone who checks her columns on a regular basis (if only out of morbid curiosity) knows that she has bashed Democrats far more consistently this campaign season, and left McCain's erratic comments and behavior basically untouched.

I'm an author, reviewer, and a fan of Austen. I'm not an Austen geek or English lit geek or any kind of geek. But I've read Pride and Prejudice several times and Dowd has completely misread the book if she thinks Darcy and Obama have anything remotely in common. Like so much of the press, she misreads Obama's calm, his comfort in his own skin, his equanimity as arrogance, haughtiness and pride--all of which Darcy exhibits. If she were a student of mine, I'd give her a "C" for false analogies and quoting out of context. What's sad is that her smarmy columns influence so many people who think she's a wonderful writer. She's not. She's superficial, glib, and exhibits strange obsessions like the consistent need to paint Democrats as unmanly.

Let's not forget that the pundits like Dowd who are recycling GOP talking points about Obama are also the same people who for years told us how strong, inspiring, fun, charming, and just plain likable George Bush is. Some last words on Dowd, from the book she claims to comprehend: "She [is] a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper."

Joan, who are these people? Do they exist anywhere but in the minds of the MSM? I suspect they're like the Hispanics, women, and white males who would never vote for Obama: a chimera.

The rightwing attempts to turn Obama into Hitler are studied, false and cynical. They're not remotely scared of Obama being Hitler, they're scared of him winning.

Trying to make his attracting large crowds something negative only risks further solidifying his image as popular. Americans eat that up.

--The MSM pundits who keep regurgitating the same question: Why hasn't Obama done better than he has when the real question is why isn't a multi-term Senator, former presidential candidate, and war hero blowing Obama out of the water.

--The MSM pundits that seem to talk only to themselves and so continue to claim that Obama can't get the votes of Hispanics, Jews, women or working class white men despite polls showing otherwise.

--The MSM pundits who insist the race is very close when four recent polls show Obama with an average 100 electoral vote lead.

--The MSM pundits who still have trouble admitting that McCain is contradicting himself, acting like a fool (cf. the bikers' rally), and running a lousy campaign--just like Dole did-- because they have such fondness for some image of him long since exploded by the man's words and deeds.

Woodruff asked the stupidest, most self-righteous, most juvenile question imaginable when he said, "How could you have done this?"

First, it's none of his or anyone else's business. Second, it's trash sheet journalism unworthy of Woodruff. Third, the answer is exactly the same as in the case of Elliott Spitzer, as pungently explained by Bill Maher: "He wanted to get laid."

Meanwhile, the entire country goes berserk, including, sadly, the blogosphere (check out the anti-Edwards vitriol on Daily Kos or Pam's House Blend).

What is it about America, even progressive Salon-niks, that makes them freak out and become obscenely judgmental about other people's sex lives?

Married people have affairs. Even married people whose spouses have cancer.

Get over it.

Remember Dukakis? He was ahead of Bush Senior by 33% during that summer, and how did that work out? I don't think any polls add up to much before the conventions and before the campaign has started.

But since McCain is a war hero, renowned senior senator, former presidential candidate, and a darling of the press which covers him with great kindness, why isn't he crushing Obama? Why isn't he breaking out of the mid-40s if polls are supposedly so revealing and his resumé is so stunning?

Hollywood has produced so many turkeys loud, roiling turkeys over recent summers--like Wanted--that I find myself burned out and suspicious, parsing reviews, canvassing friends and ultimately seizing on almost anything not to go because I'd rather stay back, enjoy our home theater and catch up with old films newly released on DVD or see what's on IFC on Demand because films like those don't make it to our town. I did catch Iron Man because of Robert Downey, and Wall-E and one or two others this summer, but the continued letdowns have made me a much more conscious consumer, unwilling to be stampeded. Years ago, we would cross movies off our summer list, eager to see almost everything that was big and talked about.

This item is disgusting.

What possible political news is there in how much or when Elizabeth Edwards knew about her husband's affair? This isn't Iran Contra or Watergate.

Salon has completely lost its sense of proportion. Way to go.