Florida did have a full slate of candidates, but with no campaigning and people thinking their votes wouldn't count, it wasn't a real race. Michigan had Hilary and "Uncomitted" on the ballot. Plus Michigan was an open primary and the Republican vote did count (for half, I believe). So lots of independants that might have voted for Obama probably went and voted for McCain.

But, another option that's been suggested (assuming this is still a toss-up) is to seat all their delegates with the understanding that they will vote in proportion to the rest of the delegate count. They get represented but cannot change the result.

I think the DNC has to basically stand firm. Everyone knew the rules going in (candidates and states) and to change it now would just encourage other states to disobey the rules in four or eight years. These states decided to go ahead because they though their early vote, even if it didn't "count" would be a beauty contest kind of like Iowa and NH (with their small delegrate counts) so they would still have some influence. They guessed wrong.

"...that Clinton should didn't suggest that Clinton should release her tax returns, "

"Treat others as you wish to be treated." and "You've done it to the least of these, my brethren, you've done it unto me. "

Sounds like Huckabee is for single payer healthcare and free post-secondary education, huh?

Maybe he finally realized that Jesus was a communist.

Wait Wait is a comedy show, so I'm not sure how seriously I'd take this comment on "It has something to do with Cuba and missles, right?" I heard her appearance. I think it's pretty clear she didn't know as much about the missle crisis as she should, but she was trying to be funny. They were playing up her youth; she told a story about visiting the White House when she was 7 (I think) during the Carter administration.

Can a checkout worker at Target refuse to ring up condoms for a customer? Can they refuse to ring up cigarrettes? What about laundry detergent with phosphates?

http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org/collection/event.php?id=3456967&lid=1

Before "computer" was synonymous with a bunch of circuits, there were people trained as "computers": Humans who did mathematical computation. The interesting thing is, they didn't have know any advanced math. The alogorithms were pretty repetitive but the inputs changed, so someone who had a complex job would break it up into small portions with arithmetic tricks (kind of like a computer works today) and give each person a part of the problem.

This way you could do complex calculations (like taking square roots) but only need "computers" that knew how to do simple things like add and subtract. (Again, kind of like today's computers.)

During WWII there were groups of primarily women that did this work. It sounds like those first programmers answered an ad for this kind of job.

A couple of points about cost that I figured out on my foray to get a front loader.

First, you don't have to spend $900 for an LG washer. LGs are expensive and loaded with features. They may be a good value, but I got a $600 Maytag from Home Depot. It does steam clothes, doesn't heat the water again, and doesn't have room for a king sized comforter, just a queen. Maybe it's not enough washer for a family of four (but that $400 top loader probably isn't either, then). But for me, it is more than enough.

Second, getting a dryer to match the look of the washer (circular see through door) adds about $100-200 to the price for the same basic dryer.

Third, get a gas dryer if you can. It's probably cheaper to run and I'm pretty sure produces less carbon emissions than electric.

Because I don't support this war. I never have and never will.

But I also do like to know the facts, unlike our current administration. I consider myself a proud member of the reality based community. It pains me when I see people on the other side also ignoring inconvenient facts.

You will notice that I didn't list what I thought the reasons were that casualties are down for the last two months, didn't say anything about whether I thought this would continue, and certainly didn't claim we were making "progress" in Iraq, whatever that might be.

US casualties ARE way down for the last couple of months. What Tim didn't say is that the October numbers are lower still. Much lower. Less than 1/3 of the peak month: http://icasualties.org/oif/US_chart.aspx

Reports from non-U.S. sources also indicate that Iraqi casualties are down significantly in the last couple of months.

My guess is the same as when Bush repeatedly says "Democrat Congress" and such: this is an inside joke, a name they use inside and away from the public. The problem with those is that you eventually slip up and use the "nickname" when you shouldn't. Same with Maccaca too, obviously.

But I doubt he did it intentionally. Obama is not the nominee and is not likely to be. The damage to Romney for doing this is larger than the benefit. If this was said in a general election between the two, I'd have a different opinion.

somthing like 50% of people believe aliens have visited Earth, maybe this is a good demographic for Kucinich to go after.

Maybe the aliens will agree to take over for us in Iraq. I make this comment because everytime Kucinich is asked for his plan for Iraq, it is the U.S. gets out and other countries and the U.N. send in peace keepers. WHAT countries!?! What country would be stupid enough to do that? No one ever seems to follow up with "And if they won't?"

41% cannot