So he got the Republican nomination. So what?

-He represents at least 4 more years of Bush's failures.

-100 Years in Iraq. (American's are sick of this war, in case no one noticed)

-Courting lobbyists in sleek private jets (this from the "Maverick")

-Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran.

-The possibility of his nominating more Supreme Court Justices.

-No clear position against the erosion of our civil liberties.

-Admitted that he "doesn't really know much about the economy".

Either Obama or Clinton can find plenty against McCain.

Nice straw man...er... straw woman argument there.

(sorry, couldn't resist)

Isn't it astonishing that this country has been able to function as long as we have, without all of the neat, designer drugs now available to all of us?

It boggles the mind how America won World War Two, sent men to the moon, and aided in the dawn of the information age without all of the pills we now have. Have trouble sleeping? No problem, here's a pill. Can't get an erection? No problem, here's a pill. Too much mucous buildup during cold and flu season? No problem, here's a pill. Going bald? Yep, we've got one for that too.

I'm incredibly disturbed by the amount of drug advertisements being jammed down our throats in the media. Watch prime time television on any network- every other commercial will be about a new miracle drug to "ask your doctor" about.

This nation has turned into a country of neurotic hypochondriacs who see every little thing as symptom of a terrible disease that needs a medication. The ridiculous lengths the drug companies are going to in order to invent ailments that their drugs will cure baffles the mind - "Restless Legs Syndrome", anyone? You can't make this stuff up.

The rush for profits causes the glut of drugs being forced upon us by the media. The rush for profits also puts pressure on the FDA to rapidly approve drugs whose full affects are not known, leading to preventable side effects and deaths. And the population's dearth of knowledge about drugs, and desperate desire for "symptom" relief, only adds another dangerous element to the toxic mess.

The Clinton "kitchen sink" strategy of negativity is something many Americans (including myself) are sick of in politics.

This tactic is just a re-hash of the same crap that's been infecting Washington politics for far too long. I admire that Obama has led a very positive campaign so far, the Clinton camp has been fighting dirty for a while now.

I understand that politics can be nasty, but what can be said about a politician who acts in such damaging ways to party unity, perhaps giving the Republicans more ammunition?

Hillary- at what price victory?

It's that simple.

"national security and instability in the Middle East are certain to return to the spotlight in the general campaign, as many McCain supporters believe those issues play to his strengths."

What strengths? Being a tempermental war-hawk? Having the strength to spend and overextend our nation into collapse, in order to continue present wars, and push for new ones?

That line almost made me laugh!

"So the Surveillance State just continues not only to grow and grow, but does so without any real attention, oversight, or limitations."

And also, it would seem, no INTENTION. Other than to spy, spy, spy and lie about it while you're doing it. How can I trust the governmental agencies in charge of this not to screw this up, when they've screwed up so much over the past few years? When a toddler gets detained as a suspected terrorist, because his name is similar (not even exact) to a suspected terrorist on the no-fly list, there is no reason to believe that there will be no further mistakes- with much more serious results, such as arrest or jail time.

Or in the words of our super-secret-anonymous official, "It's just another 'trust us, we're the government," he said"

Well, it's because you're the government that I cannot trust you.

Stalin and Hitler must be wet-dreaming together in Hell.

Tucker Carlson and Tim Russert are perfect examples of how shameful and worthless American "journalism" has become. If we had such a jellyfish, lapdog press corps back in the early 1970's, Nixon would have gotten away scott free. Which, given the ideological bent of many in the media, may be precisely the point.

I've been yearning for the past seven years for a reporter - a true reporter and not a human mimeograph machine- to ask difficult and probing questions of our leaders. And not to give up on the half-answers given, but to probe and be relentless until the truth emerges. I've never seen a reporter ask a serious question of George W. Bush who didn't immediately waffle after the "Decider" became petulant.

What American journalism- and more to the point, American society- needs most is interviews in the vein of what was demonstrated in this clip. Russert, Carlson and their ilk have completely forgotten the role of the fourth estate - elected government officials work FOR US, not the other way around.

Imagine how many lives would have been saved had we had dilligent and active journalists in the run up to the disaster in Iraq.

Maybe gas prices have an impact upon the election. Maybe they don't. Why take two pages to make this point? It reminds me of the bizarre "coincidences" people point to as predictors of election outcomes, such as football teams winning or losing and how that predicts results.

Ultimately, gas prices will be important to American voters, as is the exploding cost of living that has happened under the Bush administration. All the Democratic nominee has to do is mention that McCain will continue the disastrous fiscal policies of our current administration. Tie McCain to Bush and that will sink him with many voters trying desperately to stay afloat. The prognostications of the article only weaken the argument, in my mind.