So, someone takes a stand that reflects what Americans actually want, and you can't get over your contempt? Take down your panties and get a spanking. Why would anyone be brave and speak out if this is the reaction of the press? You've got a lot of nerve adopting such a sneering tone. Who the hell do you think you are, a reporter for the New York TImes? Give me a break.

I'm glad to see her picture. If I were sitting next to her on a plane I'd pop her one.

When just the review makes me cry?

she has a husband. HOw can it be that these idiots found someone to marry them?

and a sentimental piece of crap. That's what I considered Atonement to be when I read it. I am sure the film makes full use of these qualities in the novel.

According the the new book, A Farewell to Alms, English people before the industrial revolution owed their relatively high standard of living to the ill-effects of not washing or instituting public sanitation--lots of disease, short life-span for many, long life and high standard of living for those who survived. Conversely, the cleanly haits of the Japanese led to a high population and a lower average standard of living. The author calls this "the Malthusian trap". I take from this the idea that a high level of public sanitation increases the population and therefore lowers wages. A low level of public sanitation lowers the population and increases wages. WHich do you want? It is a luxury to use water in the ways that we do. This luxury will come to an end, along with lots of other luxuries (daily meat-eating, world travel, prolonging the lives of very old or ill people), but don't you enjoy them now? I do.

corporate life is hell. What I get from your letter is that eveyrone is unhappy--you, your bosses, your coworkers. And why not? You are in constant company with a lot of people you don't care mujch about, and the task you are doing is sometimes interesting to everyone, but often not. They are in it for the money. So are you. It's a job. That means you are surrounded by floundering unhappy people with no values. MOdern slavery, Ugh.

Yes, Tim--

We are beginning to get the feeling that your are ignoring us. We really need to hear from you about this National security/human rights thing.

All along, I've been thinking you were on the up and up, TIm, but now I see that your criticisms of the Bush administrations were just insincere complaints. Human rights ARE more important that national security! Human rights are the nation. Without them, we are just a bunch of tribes vying for power. I cannot even describe how disappointed I am to have read your critique of Richardson. At first I thought you were joking, then I was simply astonished and disappointed. I think you should address this issue in some way. If you don't, I'm done with War Room. YOu are WAY off base on this one.

HI, Glenn--

SInce we know you read the responses, please check this out:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/14/dems-set-to-kill-feinstei_n_72727.html

Thanks

idea about Obama. I guess I would call it "using the Clarence Thomas card". That fact that Hillary suggests this shows Penn's tin ear. He is her achilles heel.

read Catch 22 or hear the expression, SNAFU (situation normal, all fucked up)? This is an army expression that always reminds me of the stories I heard from my boyfriend who was in the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. Egomania, fear, stupidity, braggadocio, and institutional incompetence. Where did we get the idea that the army is not a dysfunctional institution? If we had the draft, more of us would KNOW what the army really is. It is Boylan writ large, Boylan all over the place. It the s**tfest that is Iraq. They made it happen, folks. And Col. Boylan, if you read this, know that I am not required to respect you or agree with you or accept your claims of competence, only to pay your salary, which I do.

Today on NPR, I heard Nancy Pelosi energetically defending the Congress, saying that the had accomplished lots of things (she gave a list), but that the Iraq war trumps everything in the mind of the voters. I don't know if they have accomplished what she says, but the Military Commissions Act, The Kyl-Lieberman whatever, and Mukasey do indicate whether COmgress succeeds or fails. This is their last chance. If they let Mukasey through, they will have nothing left to cover their shame.

Let me be clear about this. Hillary is not going to win the presidency. She was never going to win the presidency. The corporate Democrats may think they have this thing locked up, but they don't. Very few thinking Democrats trust either Hillary or her policies. She triangulates just like Bill but she doesn't have any of his charm or his heart. NO ONE THINKS that she is generous or well-intended. If she wins the nomination, the dead will walk (among Republicans) to deny her the presidency. If she wins the nomination, it will be just another way the Democrats have committed suicide, and by the way, it is Mark Penn who is pulling the trigger, because he is a clueless, principle-less opportunist.

Truly Scandinavian to me. The one upping, the teasing, the put downs, the lack of emotional affect. Anyone for Kierkegaard or Laxness? NIce article. Scandinavian literature lives!