Didn't the 'The West Wing's' President Bartlet and Chief of Staff Leo McGary(sic?) order the killing of some international terrorist/leader in direct violation of international law? Didn't Bartlet have to see a shrink over this issue and Leo flirt with renewing his alcoholism? Bartlet could be as ruthless as the situation called for when he wanted to. And therein lay part of the show's genius; characters were flawed in serious ways and still usually chose to go towards their better natures.

Actually, I have had friends who have experienced the kind of doctor Glenn uses as an illustration. What was encouraging was when other doctors begged to testify against his incompetence. What we need now is Democrats willing to hold Bush and cronies responsible for their actions. One asks, if the Republicans were to catch a criminal after some foul fatal crime, would they espouse forgetting about the past and look only to the future? We shouldn't either.

As "science fiction" the series is appalling. One illustration: they can travel between stars yet still use diesel powered trucks planet-side. As for it making biting social commentary, well Rod Serling was there first on TV and there is a long, long tradition of political/social commentary in the literature. Please note, John Brunner's "Stand on Zanzibar" or Frank Herbert's "Dune". Still, I can see why Battlestar would be a critic's darling with the dark overtones and gritty feel. However, it follows rather than leads a great tradition.

Nobody burned a laundry line into a front yard when a housewife moved into the neighborhood. As reprehensible yelling, "Iron My Shirts!" is, the words don't carry the threat of violence and death.

Perhaps, that's where the difference lies.

Again, we are tar and feathering a candidate running for the highest office in the world as an elitist! Again, not only are you but you have to be. If the blue collar workers don't recognize that then they have no concept of what being a leader is all about. Again, we "elected" a common man (multi-millionaire, East Coast born and Ivy League educated) and got an unnecessary war,a drowned city, a sea of red ink and criminals running the government. Maybe it's time for something better.

I can totally understand the Obamas' reluctance to disavow Rev. Wright. They have known him 20 years, worshiped in his church and were married by him. You can have a deep personal relationship with a person and, yet, not share all their views. Right Moms and Dads?! But Wright's sermons were presented to the voting public by his political opponents and tied to him by FOX news and Rethugs. This smells of McCarthy tactics perfected by the Right.

Democrats need to unite behind their candidate and expose the continuing lies about the Iraq war, the economy and government incompetence.

That the Washington Post writers and other opponents kept silent at his funeral is a mark of their civility, rather than approval. We have a tradition of speaking kindly of the newly deceased. I have had to write many an obituary where many people were glad the person died, but wouldn't say so publicly. This I think is to the good generally. But don't mistake good manners for anything but that. Reagan may have been a profound influence but it was to the detriment of our country and world.

I hope I can live a life of which people will speak so eloquently of me when I pass.

Congratulations on such a firm grasp of the obvious.

Olbermann's producer was a TAD arrogant and should be a little more humble about attracting his audience. But, still it's got to be said that Clinton's supporters are behaving badly. My candidate got forced out, my candidate is the only real winner (despite the delegate count) and coronate my candidate or I'm going to vote elsewhere. What is this, the 4th grade? Yes, there was sexism rampanent and Clinton's openly used racism and Republican smear tactics. She lost fair and square. Ladies grow up. Includes you Joan

How do we fight these rumors? I am glad to see at the very least Obama is taking some action. I doubt very highly he will be invited to speak before any Republican gatherings. And I also doubt Limbaugh or Hannity or Malkin will allow any truth telling to occur on their programs or sites.

We need to have something to show the disbelievers and perhaps the format may need tweaking, but we need a site to send people so these ugly rumors can be rebutted.

Yep, we've got our work cut out for us. But we have the issues of the economy, Iraq war,New Orleans,sub-prime mess, $4/gallon gas and the general mess of the government services under a Republican adminstration.

McCain will be engaged. Obama will not take the bitch slapping Kerry and Gore did. He will slap back and he will not be lowered for fighting back. He will show the world what bullies the Republicans are.

I can't speak as effectively about the effects of sexism, but I can speak to those subtle self-defeating little nags that eat away at your confidence and self-esteem. I have had to deal with a lot of family relations where this is the case. You really do blame yourself for everything and even when the person screaming at you for their mistakes, you still blame and second guess yourself. Yea, it will tear you up and leave completely unable to believe anything good about yourself. (On the plus side, I have married well and have created a family that loves and respects me and is willing to tell me to my face.)