Hey, no fair!

Some of us are just choosing the lesser of two evils.

Mike Huckabee also smells funny and eats boogers.

Thanks for raising the level of discourse, Dan Bartlett.

Based on his answer, Ron Paul is the only candidate on that panel fit to serve as President.

Serve being the key word. The President is supposed to serve the Constitution and the people, not be a dictator. The notion that the President should be sitting in the Oval Office playing real-life war games and "letting Congress in" if he/she "has time" would be laughable if it weren't so friggin' scary.

Why couldn't any of the candidates just say what's in the Constitution--Congress has the power to make war.

Yep, Ron Paul, fringe nutjob who actually believes in the Constitution.

Yet the media talking points were all about Thompson's debut, Romney's joke about Thompson and Guiliani and Romney's one-on-one.

Also, Ron Paul was the only one on the panel that called the economy like it is--great for big corporations and the top 10% but crappy and precarious for everyone else. Which is why 2/3 of the country is actively worried about the economy. If you can't see that, you shouldn't be President.

I don't disagree with you. My point was more about how unsuitable the other Republicans candidates are regarding matters of war and the economy. Scary stuff.

His unwillingness to run for president is simply another indicator of his common sense and intelligence.

Well put.

With your mom? I don't think even the Dungeons & Dragons crowd would go for that.

And I can't help but think they could have still referred to this as "Purity Ball" if they just pluralized "ball." And I've seen other places refer to these events with a certain combination of "blue" and "ball."

But in all seriousness, mothers and sons spending time together is a good thing. You can tell a lot about a man by his relationship with his mother. Sending both boys and girls the message to wait to have sex is a good thing (for how long to wait and what to say to those who won't wait is another matter).

I consider myself a feminist and I also think some modern-day chivalry is a good thing. Boys should be taught to respect and value women and to treat them with kindness. Too many people, male and female alike, think femininism gives license to treat people harshly and with vulgarity--I don't know how that interpretation arose.

I can't tell if this event is actually teaching boys this or if the whole "knight" thing is just a convenient theme. But if the boys are learning some manners and respect while spending some quality time with mom, then great.

Note: I am Jewish and circumcised, the above was a demonstration of the value of making opinions about other people's private religious behaviors and then covering yourself by saying you aren't making any proposals, just expressing an opinion

Thank you for the "demonstration of the value of making opinions about other people's private religious behaviors."

The value is in the discussion. Different people from different positions sharing information and experiences. We all incorporate outside information and experiences into our decision making (or should. That's how learning occurs.). This sort of discussion can prompt parents (Jewish and gentile) to think about whether or not to circumcise. And in general it can encourage people to think about the medical and religious decisions we make and why we make them.

If you want to discuss, discuss. If you want a purely activist forum, this isn't it.

Motherboy? I am cracking up. Oh, Arrested Development you left us too soon...

I love that. That's hilarious. Terwilliger is merely a liaison, not someone hired to protect Gonzales from being found guilty of something.

So does this mean that Terwilliger is not Gonzales' lawyer? Not duty-bound to protect Gonzales' interests but bound to the interests of the country? If what Terwilliger were saying were actually true, he'd have been a better AG than Gonzales.

Meanwhile, Gonzo. Better get a new lawyer. If what Terwilliger says is true, he's about to sell you down the river.

I love the imagery. Just wish I didn't already know they meant "Clearinghouse for information."

I'm on their mailing list. They had a hilarious t-shirt in their online store...

http://www.abstinence.net/store/

Agreed. One issue where many conservatives and liberals agree is that there has been an overall coarsening of culture. Empowering yourself shouldn't mean treating others badly.

The Marines are designed to be a more agile force whereas the Army is more about high numbers and heavy equipment. Rumsfeld's big mistake (well, one of many) was thinking Iraq could be managed with a small, light force.

This also reinforces the realities of the "War on Terror"--Iraq requires a heavy troop presence to maintain stability among the various sectarian and ethnic factions. But the real threat is in Afghanistan, which requires more stealth and ingenuity to fight Al Qaeda.

Are they just now realizing this?

when asked whether certain concerns that have been raised about particular candidates are a factor that keeps them from supporting those candidates:

Bill Richardson would have a harder time getting elected because he is Latino

• Major Factor: 7%
• Minor Factor: 20%
• Not a Factor: 72%
• Not Sure: 1%

Hillary Clinton would have a harder time getting elected because she's a woman

• Major Factor: 14%
• Minor Factor: 28%
• Not a Factor: 56%
• Not Sure: 2%

Barack Obama would have a harder time getting elected because he is African-American

• Major Factor: 9%
• Minor Factor: 23%
• Not a Factor: 67%
• Not Sure: 1%

Of course, what people say and what they actually feel and do are separate matters. But I'm not sure their responses are too different from what the country as a whole would say.

By the way, other interesting poll data also available at http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071007/NEWS/71005054/-1/caucus