I'd like to point out that the most famous drag queen in the world is Dame Edna, played by the heterosexual Barry Humphries. And straight people lap that stuff up - its not just a gay phenomenon.

In a past job I worked for a company that had an annual meeting celebrating the prior year's successes and laying out the next years plans. A part of this process was putting on skits to communicate the changes in an entertaining fashion. I can't tell you how many straight men jumped at the chance to don women's clothing for the skits. It always amazes me how these hyper-masculine arenas seem to have a underbelly of homoereoticism, particularly when they think its safe. The people performing loved it, and so did the audience. No foul no harm as far as I am concerned.

There is a fund raiser in my area called "A Mile in Her Shoes" where men walk a mile in high heeled shoes as a fund raiser for cancer.

I think the essential lesson from "Paris is Burning" is that all of life is drag. Just think of President Bush on the deck of an aircraft carrier in a flight suit. I saw drag when he pulled that stunt. The gay community is going through a period of hyper masculinity, which I see just as another form of drag. I love the juxtaposition of a guy dressed up super macho, in leather and chains opening his mouth and chiffon falling out.

I say let Grover Norquist continue to deify Reagan. The more these so-called conservatives do this the less likely it is that anyone can ever fill the shoes.

"What we have instead are the unrepentant officials of the Bush era, who continue to justify their misconduct as critical to the nation's survival."

They will always stonewall forever in the future, claiming a higher authority rationalization to break the law. They (the republicans) rely on the fact that many people are afraid of confrontation - that's why they come out aggressively and play hardball all the time. They know frequently people will stop then and there.

Some nancy-pants truthiness commission won't cut it.

Daivd is so daring when he has nothing to lose - Jindal's "performance" was largely panned. But the content is pure partisan boilerplate, the same stuff Brooks has been promoting for years.

The smell of mendacity is mighty strong today.

So Jimmy Cayne makes an ad-hominem attack questioning Geithner's masculinity and sexual preference. I think the real problem is he (Cayne) never progressed beyond school-yard bully.

And all this time I thought only gay guys and women were size queens.

IzzyDee,

There were military base closings in the 90's and we did save money as a result. You should take a look at who decided what bases to close where. Dick Cheney was then a congressman and was the (R)committee leader. Most of the bases closed were in (D) districts.

He is the personification of the "Peter" principle. NBC went from the number 1 network to number 4 under Jeff Zucker's leadership. That's real money for NBC and its affiliates. The NBC owned and operated stations are bleeding red because primetime viewership leads to viewers through out the day, especially their local news programs. The only thing Zucker has doen has been to manage cost. Unfortunately when you cheapen the product people lose interest in it. Just look at air plane food.

About a year ago Zucker was courting Jon Stewart to go to NBC. I think Jon Stewart made the right call staying at Comedy Central. He would have been squelched at NBC.

Lieberman has been very quiet.

Is he laying in wait?

Don't misunderstand - I am overjoyed to not hear Sen Droopy Dog's voice on my TV. And I am one of his constituents!

The profits from SUV sales saved Daimler's butt in the oughts. Daimler was losing money in Europe, and had significant product problems. Product development at Chrysler was overseen by Daimler to protect their products, rather than producing a better product. Cheaper finishes were intentional, so no one would think they were getting an inexpensive Mercedes.

Many people I know plan to vote against Dodd, even life-long Democrats. I am pretty sure he's lost the working class democrats.

The local media are not helping him either. They continue to harp on the Countrywide mortgage that he holds, and rationalize it by saying "the controversy will not die down..."

Chris Dodd is not particularly good on TV. If he intends to stay he needs some serious media coaching. I personally would prefer it if he would retire and allow a dem to run. Rob Simmons is not that great of an opponent. So many are just against Dodd giving Simmons an opportunity.

This is as bad as Kristol Meth in the NY Times.

Let's hope it does not last as long as his gig did.

Why is anonymity required for this?

I think the GOP has lost its golden touch. In the past they knew how to roll out a new product. They botched this one big time. I think between the election results and her personal baggage they realize she would be better used by campaigning for the next candidate, rather than being the candidate.

Of course this could all change.

ccatmoon -

How are you screwed?

If I remember correctly she was part of a losing team in November. There are those that believe she is the single greatest reason McCain lost. If she harbors fantasies of another national run, especially with the drips of crap that keep on coming out of Alaska she's crazy.

She's no Nixon.

I canceled my subscription to Car and Driver when they had G Gordon Liddy as a guest columnist.

Thank you Joan for taking him on. I've never understood how people can admire him or Oliver North.