It looks as if McCain is on a fool's errand in trying to reshape the republican party. The radical wing-nuts have firm control as of now and thankfully their version of leaderless mob is just that, leaderless. Yes he has some clout left to help reshape the edges but the core substance of the party requires more than he can muster. Right now the zealous repubs are still in the purification mode, weeding out the RINO's and those that aren't "true believers". Maybe because of McCain's persona and history or that they haven't gotten to it yet that he still hangs around, but the party purgers will in the future have to send John The Moderate packing. The only thing left is whether it is a retirement ceremony or a walking of the plank.

The infamous AK47 is a sterling example of the definition of an "assault" weapon. A weapon that, when used in en mass, can send thousands of rounds of ammunition towards an enemy. Either causing casualties or forcing a defender to take cover. It is here that accuracy of fire is not as desirable as quantity of fire. And so too the quality of the weapon need not be so high when its main function is to primarily send bullets down range.

Being the smart, intelligent woman that you are, how in the world can you publish an article and try to convince me that you were surprised. Surprised that, while you quasi-argued (there is no debating) with a right-wing-religious-nut-case the subject of "...teaching the values of the Christian right [in schools]" would not come up. Come On!! Only a Christian oriented theocracy ruling this great country will ever satisfy the Terry Jefferys of the world. And it is your responsibility as a journalist to point out these nut-balls and show the America whose military I served that yes there is freedom of religion ALONG WITH freedom from religion.

The Moose Woman of the North being offered "...documentaries and business opportunities"? Pray, just what slice of her life could you do a documentary production on? Her basketball prowess? It certainly would not be her speaking ability. And also, who is the ghost writer of her forth coming literary masterpiece? Heck, even the repubs know that she couldn't put together a table of contents, let alone an entire book.

A fight you want, a fight you get. Go on and filibuster your little hearts out. Only, we the people, need to force Reid to not play the sissy version of filibuster where the minority "threatens" to stall the bill. Reid should lock them in the Senate chamber and not even let them out for a bathroom break until someone gives in. Then America will see who has the nerve to stand up to the populace.

The posting cannot be an original Palin quote, nowhere in the text does the term, "You betcha'", occur.

Kostic is a prime example of false courage bolstered by a gun. He is one of the fringe elements that can only see problem solving involving a bullet because they are too afraid to face their opponents face to face. I hope that he doesn't pull that pistol out and accidentally shoots himself in the vagina.

Sessions needs the extra time to sort through Sotomayor's papers because its so much harder to read documents when a white hood is over your head.

I can only marvel at the courage you displayed while fencing with that mad-man, but when you spar with a fanatic, a rational person cannot see the depths of the madness that motivates them. If you ever get the nerve up to try that stunt again, first practice with one of those semi-psychotic, homeless dudes that walks around wearing a Burger King crown and having an argument with his blanket. Their grasp of reality is only slightly greater than o'riley's.

Keyes quote, "...ever known in US politics to destroying the God given right to life of innocent human offspring."

The blatant and absolute hypocrisy of this statement is just unfathomable! The "conservatives" of keyes ilk think nothing of blasting Iraqis to vapor, allowing entire nations to starve or watching the Israelis flatten a hospital atop children and wounded civilians. Now THAT is a "conservative" value.

I guess that is what the Dred Scott decision was based on.

"in a given circumstance where we believe somebody we've got in our control may have information that could help us stop an attack, an imminent attack on the United States like 9/11 or, god forbid, worse, we ought to be able to use something like waterboarding."

Like this pin head could tell the difference between an attack and a ham sandwich! Maybe the sight of bloody fingernail nail beds would excite his sadistic urges enough to ejaculate on himself. Screw this idiot!

I, in no way want to characterize this article as being of no importance, but as other posters have stated, Mr. Sirota is only publishing filler material. Some of the most difficult questions concerning violence and Americans weren't even asked, let alone discussed. In his defense, I do agree that Americans too often want their views in simplistic bites and not in any detail. And that is something I blame on this modern "corporate" media society that the United States has become addicted to. Sometimes, Salon included.

Those Americans who do care how this great country is represented in the world and want to see a new standards of justice and equality for all citizens, have had their first impression of Sarah Palin, and it ain't good! It seems that her entire approach to any complex or simple situation is to belittle, defame and denounce in a high schoolish manner without presenting an alternative that isn't the usual GOP SOP (standard operating procedures). Her shallowness, pettiness and brashness are not the qualities that Americans look for in a leader.