"One of the key framers of the war paradigm, who a year ago was arguing vehemently for pushing its boundaries, confesses that he has abandoned his belief in the whole doctrine, though he refuses to say so publicly."

Who the hell is this coward and why is he not speaking out?

This country NEEDS someone in this position to blow the whistle, not only to save lives and end our nation's disgraceful acts of torture, but also to maintain whatever tattered shreds of our Constitution we have left

How much the fundamentalists and right wingers care so much about the unborn, but seem to care so little about children in poverty, or mothers in poverty, or single mothers, etc, etc.

They cry and moan and care so much about an unborn fetus, but once it's born they don't seem to give a damn.

until we as a nation are able to make people passionate and engaged about learning and educating themselves. Education is more than simply reading books and looking at maps, it's a way of training your mind to seek facts and be engaged in the world around you. It is a habit that I am grateful that my parents instilled in me at an early age- a love of reading, knowledge and exploration.

As long as we have a culture which raises children and young adults to tune out the world and seek only those things in life which are pleasureable and reinforce pre-existing concepts or beliefs, we'll have a disconnected society. When we have a culture which currently places American Idol and the public gaffes of people like Paris Hilton as being more valuable and worthy of attention than the actions of our nation in the world, or the genuinely laudable accomplishments of scientists and doctors...sadly, what can we expect?

should be the standard for journalism in this country, especially in regard to the White House. Ms. Thomas is absolutely right- government officials are paid public servants, put in place to execute the will of the people. They often need to be reminded of that, as we all know how insular and detached the world of Washington power can be.

How I miss the days when reporters asked pointed questions that required actual answers, instead of the puffball talking points which now masquerade as journalism.

I hope that the fourth estate remembers its purpose soon- and that it stops being nothing more than a bunch of corporate lapdogs fixating on how candiates smell, and how celebrities are doing their hair.

The President who once decried and bemoaned the presence of "activist judges" has now himself become the nation's most powerful activist judge.

What a hypocrite. What a criminal.

The President who once bemoaned "activist judges" has now himself become our nation's most powerful activist judge.

What a hypocrite. What a criminal.

Impeach him now.

I have always gained the most insight and "help" through my experiences with individuals and works of art which were realistic in their treatment and depiction of the human condition. The capacity for empathy as well as a realization of the vagarities of life is what makes for truly insightful experiences.

I'm wary of the overly-cheery self help books and programs which state that everything is wonderful all of the time and everyone is always special. Not because I don't believe in positive thought, or that I think we can't change things for the better, but because an honest assesment of life- taking the good with the bad- puts us in a better position to assess how we can best change our lives.

Plus, realizing that things can be tough makes us better able to realize and appreciate the truly beautiful moments and events when they happen.

I strongly agree with the arguments posited in this article- mainly, that individuals in their 20's (myself included) and early 30's are so saddled with debt and obligation that activism, development and personal growth are difficult at best to achieve.

The cognitive dissonance is certainly palpable when the majority of individuals I know have bachelors and advanced degrees and yet still live paycheck to paycheck and often have to work two or even three jobs. A degree of cynicism will tend to emerge when one realizes one has done "everything they were supposed to have done" (i.e. good grades, hard work, college, active pirsuit of a career) and still find themselves working mainly to keep the credit cards and student loans at bay.

In my weaker moments I find it an untenable situation and frankly, soul-sucking. I create artwork, and write as well, and know many other remarkably talented and creative people my age who are forced to put creative activity on hold- or abandon it altogether- just to make ends meet. It saddens me that my generation's Dylan or Kerouac might have to stifle their natural creative tendencies because they have to head off to their second shift, thereby depriving us all of their insight.

The reality as I see it, is that my generation is very much engaged and aware of the world around them, but they have been largely marginalized by the older generation, which has a death grip on the status and control that they now wield. When we are not given the opportunity to express our voices, it's easy to fall into the incorrect conclusion that we are indifferent.