...only if they deserve to win. They will earn their victories only by actually representing the will, the needs, the desires, and, yes, the values of their voters.

When, what was it, 60%? 70%? of American voters across the board are polled about Iraq and they support at least a goal-directed (if not a time-tabled, if not an IMMEDIATE) withdrawal from Iraq -- and the Dem "leaders" can't bring themselves to stand for that goal, let alone to vote that way in Congress...

When we see ostensibly-Democratic congress-critters selling us out to banks and credit-card companies (thanks, Joe!), and raising the numbers of H1B visas (thanks, Ted!)...

When we find Democrat names among the supporters of the Bush tax giveaways and other policies that are dramatically increasing income and wealth inequality among Americans, as well as, of course, saddling future generations with more debt than ever (thanks, Mary!)...

When we hear the Dem power structure announce loudly that they're NOT going to get serious about exercising their oversight responsibilities, or holding the Bush administration to account for their violations of US and international law, and for the way they've not only utterly failed at reducing international terrorism, but instead dramatically increased the number and severity of terror attacks worldwide, not to mention single-handedly demolishing our reputation, and our moral stance in the world (thanks, Nancy!)...

...is it really that surprising that so many people still think it WON'T make enough of a difference (if any) if the Dem's were to take over?

If and when the Dem's can make a convincing case that they'll actually be willing to ACT like Democrats again, maybe a few more of them WILL get elected.

But if anyone out there is feeling like putting their money where their hearts are, I'll happily lay some odds on a Dem takeover of either, or both, houses. That way, if my expectations are proven right, I'll at least have something to show for it.

So divorced from reality as to be clinically insane.

But we all have to live (or not, for tens of thousands) in the world that his insanity has brought about.

Will we ever be able to dig our way out of the hell into which this man has plunged us, and everyone else in the world?

(as it were).

I'm with the majority. It's none of the LW's business; kid was apparently prowling where s/he shouldn't have been, and now has to take on a burden that would have been better let lie. But it's not terribly surprising that doing something wrong might bring unpleasant consequences, and LW, at whatever age, had better learn that, if s/he hasn't already. The consequences are the LW's to bear, not the rest of the family members.

This might be unfortunate for the kid, but I just don't see the benefits of whatever horror-shows might possibly ensue from letting this info (to which LW was never sposed to be privy in the first place) out into the family's world.

I also agree with those posters who pointed out that if it were the other way round, and the parents were snooping into their children's stuff, anything short of illegal material or letters from possible sexual predators -- signs of clear and present dangers -- would really be none of their business. Even within families, people still have privacy rights.

Especially given the near-unanimity of the posters here, I'm really surprised at Carey's response. IIRC, he usually gives reasons for his recommendations, so that even if we don't agree wtih them, we can still see where they're coming from. Am I right to think that this time there wasn't so much? Or am I just being slow on the uptake, as I often am?

Thank you so much for your cogent and highly moral input. You are clearly operating on a higher plane than all us reprobates here at Salon. It is so wonderful of you to come and show us the way to live better lives ("I hope the lot of you get horribly deceived by your partner," etc).

But I fear that you are wasting your valuable time. Many of us are no doubt way beyond redemption.

Perhaps your sanctimony might find itself more at home in places like this, where you can be properly appreciated and your time more effectively utilized:

http://www.freerepublic.com/home.htm