For the first time since Bush was elected, I'm feeling optimistic about the future. As Michael Scherer reminds us in "Plame Games," the GOP spin is playing right into the Dems hands and finally, it seems as though this administration is on its way to being hoist on its own petard. But who would have thought it would be a buttoned-down, straight-laced prosecutor who would throw the wrench into the Bush war machine? Let us hope he indicts not just Scooter Libby (seriously, how can anyone trust someone named "Scooter"?) but Herr Rove as well. The RovePublicans are in for a kicking, and none too soon.

Thanks, Salon staff, for creating Broadsheet. Very valuable stuff that the mostly main-stream male-dominated "penis press" won't bother to cover. Now on to the matter of the moment: the Alito nomination. Clearly Alito is a sop to the radical religous right and clearly, as leading women's groups have said, his nomination poses a danger to the health and safety of women everywhere.

Senate Republicans need vote to "NO!" on this jerk, and I have a radical proposal for making sure they do so (actually, it's not so radical, it dates back to the ancient Greeks). Here's my proposal: all women of America who are pro-choice and who have "pro-life" husbands/boyfriends need to refuse sex to their men. That's right; no sex for the ideological right-wingers until they agree to vote "NO!" on Alito.

I know this is rather a drastic idea; and somewhat politically incorrect coming from a man. But I know men; and I know that if women unite in public and refuse to have sex with their Republican-minded men, the men will cave; I'm certain of it. Besides, the media frenzy around it will keep the issue front and center. Women of America, you have the power, join together and use it to defeat Alito!

I don't agree with your recommendation to keep virginity to yourself. Here's why: In college, I had a casual acquaintance with a pretty young woman who eventually asked me out, which turned me on. After dinner we proceeded to have sex at my place. During the act, I recall thinking "she seems awfully tense," but put it out of my mind. I was young and a player and wasn't particularly interested in going out with her more - so I didn't call. A week later, I got a note from her in which she admitted she was a virgin and I was her first. She wanted to do it again but didn't think I wanted to, so she was leaving it up to me to contact her. I never did, mostly because I was annoyed that she hadn't told me she was a virgin beforehand. I honestly feel that if she had told me, I would have done my best to be careful and much more sensitive to her needs. I would have taken more time; lit candles; played soft music and follow her lead. In short - if I'd known beforehand, I wouldn't have said "no," I simply would have tried to make it a very special time for her. That's what a very nice young woman did for me when I lost my virginity; it's the least I could do in return.

"Let Us Prey" is a terrific encapsulation of the religious hypocrisy of the right. But I'm afraid Joe's preaching to the choir. True believers in Delay, Reed and company will not be swayed by all the clear facts assembled in this piece. No, they are the Christian faithful, the same ones who disenfranchised themselves when they voted for Bush, and they will continue to support these dumb ass crooks even after they are convicted. Now if somehow - by the grace of the corporate gods - these facts were repeated again and again on Fox News, then perhaps some right leaning, good Christian minds could be swayed. But then, that would indeed be a miracle!