This was Johnny Mac's "first" choice to his VP... the mind reels.

COPS! We're supposed to learn how to interact with the police from watching the FOX networks' classist, racist, voyeristic freak show! You lost me there Gene.

Perhaps she wants to take some time off to hike the Appalachian Trail, I understand it's very popular these days among the GOP.

What a joy! I'm sure somewhere Paul Wellstone is smiling taday.

So am I to undserstand that "hiking the Appalachian Trail" is some sort of elaborate euphemism for having a South American mistress... Maybe that explains why when the GOP talks about "Supply Side Economics" I always feel like I'm getting screwed.

Elephantman, I think you boys on the right might want to concentrate a little more on your own asses for a change, after all the American people have just spent the last two years kicking them to the curb.

I just wanted to get in before the rush and say, as a man, alone in his late 40s, I found your essay profoundly moving. I know from where you speak although with some differences. By Tuesday afternoon when I check in to Salon again the boys who hang out over at Broadsheet will have been by to throw mud at you and I’m sorry in advance, try to forgive them, they’re damaged and it comes out as a nearsighted anger.

I think perhaps, life hardens us. It does not have to make us bitter or alienated, or cold, but it does “set” us. It stiffens and ossifies us and makes it more and more difficult to be anything other than what we have become over the years. The effort it takes to move forward, to seek after new lovers or companions, or even the experiences that might lead to them as we grow older becomes a struggle, more often than not with ourselves, than with the quirks and failings of people we meet. In my life I’ve been married and divorced, I’ve been young and single and older and wiser… and single, and in love in so many glorious ways with wonderful, troubled, heart-wrenchingly, deeply beautiful women, many of whom broke my heart to pieces, and more than a few I know I hurt in my turn. Yet, always I recovered and went on, but now… I’m tired and I’m sore and I’ve hardened in so many ways. Perhaps tomorrow, I’ll meet “her” and the world will open like a flower before me the way it did in the past, but I think not. Perhaps there are only so many flowers in one lifetime. Perhaps alone is Ok too.

Thanks Again.

I think you mean "Ernst" Rohm.

Cheers

Here in Virginia we flipped the Senate last year. Also in Virginia Dems have gained seats in both houses in each of the last three cycles. As I told a friend of mine Tuesday who was nervous about Virginia coming in blue... there are more Democrats in Fairfax county than there are people in the south side of the state. An exageration I know, but based on a powerful new truth.

Voted this afternoon in Richmond Va. Turnout is very high and the vibe is very good for an Obama win even with the rain.

Fingers crossed.

There's certainly some combat pay involved here, after all it can't be easy or safe putting lipstick on that pitbull. Snark, Snark, Snark...

Dr. Maddow is a real treasure. I'd been listening to her on Air America for years and always found her work deeply engaging, but I must say she's even better on TV. Cable TV news shows can now and then produce hosts who are clever, or pithy, often masking their relative shallowness. But in Dr. Maddow’s case, we have a rare blend of agreeable good humor and wit harnessed to a manifest intellect. I can see why the Right hates her so much.

Let’s be clear, Noonan and the rest of the conservatives who are presently wringing their hands at the state of the GOP, are distressed not because of the “tone” of the campaign. They’ve spent a generation applauding the coarsening of public discourse at every turn. The problem is that this year it isn’t working. Make no mistake, if McCain and Palin were up in the polls, the Govenor would be “authentic” and “original”, if the smears and the scare tactics were working, we’d be hearing about how the GOP plays hardball while the effete Democrats play… I don’t know, squash. These people never had a problem with where this ship was going, they’re jumping off now, because it’s taking on water that’s all. Go swim with the dolphins Peggy. My bet is you’ll be back after the election good as new, getting paid big bucks to slam us bi-coastal elites and extol the many virtues of the “real”, “normal”, “heartland” Americans of your fevered imagination.

Alex, did you really hust type "His attempt to split the baby..." for this post?

I think Obama did fine, and hit a homer at the end.

Cheers

"And that more or less wrapped up the Senate's share of the 110th Congress, and along with it, the Senate career of either Obama or McCain."

Are you assumeing that the House is going to accept the Senate package? My bet is a messy conference committee to stitch up the details. I wonder if Johnny Mac and Barrack want in on THAT Committee?

National Muffin! That’s brilliant, a massive, high fiber financial bran muffin that slowly passes through the economic system, cleaning our crappy markets out, a sort of creditory high colonic. Unless, of course you’re talking about another kind of national muffin, in which case I’ll stay up late Saturday night to see what Tina Fey does with that.

Cheers

Call me when Buffy shows up with Mr. Pointy. Until then, I'll take a pass.