I'm really surprised that Chuck Todd said something so editorially predictive, especially given the glaring inaccuracy. I have come to welcome him on Meet the Press second only to David Gregory, as he typically comes across as insightful and candid. I am really disappointed to learn that he made such a prediction based on the loaded assumption that the public would lash back once Pelosi became Speaker.

But I guess it just shows that political prediction is a dodgy game, especially when trapped by conventional wisdom. Shame on Todd, but I still find him one of the better NBC analysts.

Here's to hoping that Gore and Bloomberg run as a third-party ticket! They have similar views on social and environmental issues, and more than enough difficulty with current party politics.

This crap has got to stop, and on every issue since the Dems have taken "control" - right up to SCHIP and FISA - they have proven to simply be GOP-lite. With SCHIP, once I learned that tobacco interests were at stake, I fully expected the hot air of bipartisanship to end with a Bush veto. It almost seems like the whole issue was stage-managed to end just as it did. I never though I'd see a "funding for healthy kids and puppies" bill die for such evil profiteering, but well, this is Mr. Bush's America.

Arkansas Ranger

"See, when a Democrat has a "nuanced" explanation for something, that's bad. When a Republican is "nuanced," he or she's just being reasonable."

Sigh. You are sadly correct.

If my math is correct, $1.2 billion could mean $1200/yr for 100,000 families. In other words, conrasting SCHIP, that would buy at least the equivalent of government workers' BlueCross health care for 100,000 families.

I read Salon everyday, especially Keef's comics, and merely click through the ads.

However, I do have each of the last two years' K Chron calendars. I love that sick bastard.

The Pianist-of-State could have described herself as working "a cappella", as in, Cheney isolates her and any chance of actual diplomacy.

The adiministration as a whole brings to mind musical terms like "dissonance", "dirge", and "minimalism"

This says it all: From booze, to his presto-changeo Christianity, to invading sovereign nations, Bush clearly believes in easy, rapid solutions, without understanding that more is required to reach REAL WORKING solutions.

I laughed my ass off at this.

I believe Mr Manjoo gave a pretty good account of fair use. One issue to note is that facts and characters are not copyrightable, indpendent of fair use protection. The reasoning derives from the same sources in promoting the public interest, but these are independent grounds to challenge the suit.

Also, I believe the Twin Peaks case can be distinguished because a plot summary is a closer taking of "story" and "expression", which are copyrightable elements of creative works. So long as an encyclopedia does not take too much and replicate in too much story detail, the fan should win.

Of course, the legal world is dominated by money, and JK and corporate backers have boucoups.

Journalists have to get bored of hoary rhetoric, and this piece is just the kind of insight into how journalists come to view that stuff. Nice work Walt.

Reminds me of some of Hunter S's less insane insights into campaigns.

So does this piece illustrate a real issue? No. Does it give us a relevant insight into a candidate? Probably not. But that doesn't mean it is without value.

the "chased through a Sudoku" line killed me.

seriously Rudy

I think the real dude might actually have taken some swings at lots of GOPers and christian Conservatives, beginning with their tax policies and ending with their hypocrisies

Good point about people being possibly much less trusting of direct money issues given Fox's overall biases. Just wish people would have realized long ago how f***ed the GOP can make national finance.

As wrong as Karl has been about trying to beat Dems, let's give him the Superdelegate vote taken from Joe Lieberman under the Zell Miller rule! Rove would probably, if unintentionally, pick the more likely winner in the general.

I'd like to send this letter to the Prussian consulate in Siam by aeromail. Am I too late for the 4:30 autogyro?

From the previews, it looks more like Downey is doing late-era Pacino doing blackface. Not Russell Crowe. But that's just my impression. Seems to make more sense if another character's name is a nod to Pacino.

for making racist comments stereotyping the abilities of black quarterbacks?

What no "This Used to Be My Playground" by Madonna for 'A League of Their Own'? JK.

The 'Wildcats' theme song from the 80s football movie of the same name (feat. Goldie Hahn, Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrleson) is a pretty sweet parody of the Super Bowl Shuffle.

But a fave comedy song is "Me Like Hockey" by the Arrogant Worms:

Me work Hard five days a week,

sweeping garbage from the street.

Come home not one book to read,

not 'nuff pictures for me see.

Sit right down in favorite chair,

wearing only underwear.

Favorite night is Saturday night,

'cause me can watch hockey fights.

Me like hockey

Me like hockey

Me not like pro basketball,

'cause me short and they all tall.

Baseball slow like Forrest Gump,

'cept when Robbie spits on ump.

Wrestlemania not so great,

Me like to see Hulk Hogan Skate.

TV socccer not that hot,

you play bad and you get shot.

Me like hockey

Me like hockey

Swedish players must be geeks, haha

'cause they still got own real teeth. hahaha

Not like Finnish players names,

what's a Teemu anyway? hahaha

Russians worst in history,

got stupid names like Valeri. hahaha

Me like Sergi Federov,

Me like him more if head were off. hahaha

Me like hockey

Me like hockey

Me like hockey

We like hockey