Charles Darwin vs. Kirk Cameron. Now there's a battle of intellectual heavyweights! Darwin completely revolutionized our understanding of life and Kirk Cameron appeared on a sitcom. Sadly, for some in our society, the sitcom credential carries more weight.

I certainly didn't naively expect ignorance to disappear with the election of Barack Obama, but the volume of this nonsense seems to have increased. Maybe it's a good sign - the death throes of a dying beast maybe?

We're all busy trying to understand why these specific conservatives (I don't want to overgeneralize the way Malkin does with "liberals") are angry at Michelle Obama's visit to the homeless shelter, but I think that misses the point. They're perpetually angry and it really doesn't matter what that anger is directed at - they will find something every day to justify or validate the directionless anger that defines their outlook on life. They are angry and there must be a "Them" to be angry at, otherwise they will lose meaning and direction. For 4-8 years, they will be angry at President Obama and everything that is even peripherally associated with him, because he has been selected as the "cause" of their discontent and powerlessness. At least that's my humble opinion:)

Scientific literacy is a noble goal and something we should all work toward. An added benefit of teaching the basics of scientific evidence and methodology is that it will greatly diminish conservatives' ability to prey on ignorance of scientifically well-understood issues (i.e., climate change, biological evolution, homosexuality, etc.) for political gain.

Most of us here proudly voted for Gore, Kerry, and Obama. We get the leadership we deserve and, unfortunately, in 2000 and 2004 Bush voters demonstrated that they were easily distractable and not up to the task of selecting competent leadership. We will, and should for the sake of balance, have Republican presidents in the future, but no more George W. Bushes EVER! Choose wisely and you'll never have anything to deny or apologize for.

Joe has his story and he's sticking to it:

"WURZELBACHER: Um, you know, honestly, because the thought of Barack Obama as president scares me even more."

That makes perfect sense because intelligence, competence, intellectual honesty, and ideological compromise are truly scary. President-elect Obama is scary in the sense that Republican teenagers were having a party and giving tax breaks to their rich friends when their responsible Democratic parents returned home unexpectedly. In other words, there's nothing scary about the parents, the kids are just upset that they got caught and are going to be punished. Of course, none of this affects Joe the Plumber, because he never received a tax break anyway, just dreams of one day being one the $250,000+ "cool kids".

Most of us do lots of little environmentally conscious things every day, but the most significant impact we made this year was on November 4th. Soon when we do something trivial, like using re-usable grocery bags, we'll be acting WITH our national leadership, rather than against it. Imagine a non-Orwellian EPA. Now we just have to see how much damage President Bush can do in the next two months.

I suspect sales of Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" will increase as we scramble to better understand how this strategy worked for Lincoln. Throughout the campaign, Obama and his team demonstrated exceptional strategic thinking and trustworty instincts. Let's hope this bold decision is a continuation of that pattern.

Four to eight years of things going relatively well (or as well as can be expected after the Bush Tragedy) will be difficult for Elephantman. Barack Obama will be an effective president, but you have to say something, right? Probably best to just misdirect and say something about "the liberal media". Relative peace and prosperity during the Clinton years did nothing to quiet the right wing noise machine. Nothing is scarier to anti-government types than government that functions like it's supposed to. Barack and Michelle Obama haven't even moved into the White House yet and already they're being criticized for answering questions too well.

I can't stand it when people seek supernatural affirmation for things they plan to do anyway. I'd rant more, but God tells me it's time for dinner. Gotta run...

"As far as we're concerned the past is the past." - Sarah Palin

That's an ironic defense from a representative of the party that seems so eager to carry the past (or at least an idealized, fantasy version of the past) into the future. Despite being a conservative, her comment sounds almost progressive.

"The mainstream media has been liberal since its inception" - Nick Di Paolo

How's that for a simplistic, overreaching claim? Being reality-based is not the same as being liberal. Extremists on all sides should stop portraying the moderation of national media as bias - it just looks that way from the perspective of the fringe.

Bacon and Fries is pretty funny. Maybe someday we'll be lucky enough to get a Burger-Fries matchup.

364!! Just like I Predicted! Fifty for fifty, a perfect call for Cliff in Fayetteville! -- luckycliff1964

Great job, Cliff! I predicted Nevada would go to McCain, but was otherwise 49/50 (assuming MO goes to McCain). Still, having Obama perform better than I predicted is a wonderful thing. Way to go, Nevada and North Carolina!

Remember all of the naysayers we Obama supporters have engaged in these Salon letters and elsewhere. We have won the opportunity to make progressive change and the real job begins tomorrow. All along we have repeated "Yes We Can!" Today we enjoy a moment of celebratory "Yes We Did!" Tomorrow begins "Yes We Will!" Let's roll up our sleeves and create a better nation and a better tomorrow.

The future begins today. Yes We Can!