I'll just figure this is more of your usual make-it-up-as-you-go bullshit, especially since Iran has been working to thwart us on every front. Why would they cooperate with us on Afghanistan?

Umm, 'cause they hate the Taliban, a creation of ISI (of their regional rival,Pakistan), worse than we do? (You know, it's what they call overlapping interests...the principle that underlies agreements between any two countries?)

Whatever the reason, as our invasion of Afghanistan commenced, Iran announced that American military pilots in distress were welcome to use their airfields for emergency landings. Surprisingly helpful of them, I thought at the time.

Of course, Dubya the Idiot King declared Iran a charter member of the Axis of Eeeevil a couple of months later, thereby putting an end to that thawing of relations.

(Oh, and I agree with the others: better trolls, please.)

I have my complaints about Clinton and how she ran her campaign, but y'know what? I can let it lie, if for no other reason but for the sake of (ahem!) amity within the Democratic Party. She strove her entire political life to reach this point; if she wants a little breathing space before she starts working to get Obama elected it's fine by me.

On the other hand...can I please please pretty please trash Mark freaking Penn? "Being human is overrated," he says. What a thoroughly tone-deaf douchebag. Dude, are you even aware that your client just got her ass kicked, in no small part thanks to your (lack of) strategy, and your big mouth?

Christ. Just shut up and go away, Penn. Isn't there a bunch of mercenaries or death squads you should be prettifying somewhere?

There's a thread heard on the left that plays down the importance of the Bush era by pointing out that these sort of depredations are common in American history. However, on the other side of the coin, the right uses that same history to dismiss these sorts of acts as something "Presidents have always done during emergencies." (See: every third post by shooter.) This ignores the scale of the Bush actions and, perhaps more importantly, their intended permanence.

Yes, Lincoln suspended habeas corpus. FDR interned people without trial. Adams signed dictatorial omnibus laws. Wilson suppressed dissent. LBJ waged undeclared war.

Bush, however, did all of the above.

Bravo Comrade ModerationInAll! All good patriots is supporting Glorious Leader Clinton in Michigan primary! Counterrevolutionaries and imperialist spies claim is not real election with only Comrade Clinton. Edwards and half-black foreigner Obama should be on ballots too, they say. Clearly, is devious Trotskyite plot to weaken Motherland. Why should anybody vote for other persons?

Democrat running dogs beware! Let all votes (by TRUE patriots) count (for COMRADE CLINTON ONLY)!

should quit beating around the bush, and give her money directly to the McCain campaign instead.

It'd be great to have some actual numbers on how much coverage was biased against either candidate, and documentation on which publications/websites/shows focussed on BS, and when.

I say this because so much yowling from either side takes the form of, "Oh, the coverage has been TOTALLY biased against Senator XXX," and, "YYY's campaign started the racism/sexism first!" I'd like to see some real documentation about how much TV time was spent on bowlingate or (God help us!) orange-juice-gate, or the arguably more important preachergate or snipergate.*

But it should be done by neutral parties. Ferraro's the last person that should be funding this.

*(I don't like the exponential rise in numbers of "-gates," either; I'm just repeating the terms here.)

I second the idea of giving Bob a "snitch and die" T-shirt.

Scott doesn't exactly impress me with his new-found rectitude, either, but better late than never, y'know? I sympathize with Bayard's point of view, yesterday, that McClellan is trying to reclaim his soul. Loyalty to one's employers is one thing, but what about the American people having a right to know?

So how about it, Mr. Dole? Does Omerta override loyalty to one's country?

Very interesting explanation for the name. I appreciate that.

And now, to paraphrase The Princess Bride, let's get back to killing each other like civilized people!

What other poster? Perhaps you should read the screen names just...a...little....more carefully before you spout off.

I was assuming your name referred to erstwhile Obama supporter Xrandadu Hutman (spelled differently, I know, but still...), because I'd seen your posts responding to his/hers before.

If not, and it refers to (an awful Olivia Newton-John movie? Bad times at Kubla Khan's stately pleasure dome?) something else, I'm sorry. My bad.

There should be a price for hate...If there is any healing in this party, it will come when Obama has the guts to stand up to his own supporters and stop the hate that pours from them.

Nothing is so edifying as a lecture on hate from someone with a screen name like "damnthat[other poster's name here]."

Oh, and this is good too, from ShanwWM: "Well, scew you toad...You will pay dearly for your hate and lies."

Feel the love!