I'm undecided and find the anxiety driven hysterics and poison tips harpoons being thrown between the two camps to be really annoying and what's more; puzzling. Sometime idealists are accused by the more pragmatic conservatives of being overly emotional. The recent antics of the Clinton and Obama campaigns does nothing to quell these accusations. How serious will anyone take the words of those who will be supporting their fellow candidates once the convention is over if they themselves have accused each other in the most passionate tones of being vile beyond reproach? Well, we all will, in all likelihood but it does continue to fuel the politics of personal destruction and reinforces the idea that politics has become an extension of professional sports.

Dowd's remarks will be seen as "catty" no matter who wins and will forever reinforce the notions of those you'd think she was trying to persuade to see reason. Can we not put one foot in front of the other an make real progress? Good grief.

There seems to be some confusion as to what constitutes American journalism. Identifying it in the current environment, or as it's called "the news cycle", is like trying to identify the subtleties of a fine wine after drinking a gallon of rotgut. It might have some but I wouldn't trust the judgement of the drunk that's proclaiming it. On the other hand if one makes a conscienteous effort to turn-off the noise machine, the more subtle tonalities come back into our awareness and the message gets through. In short, turn off the boob tube, even though it makes the advertisers cry.

I recommend anyone who is thinking about children to watch the remarkably funny and subversive movie by Mike Judge "Idiocracy" and then ask the question again. You'll find yourself questioning not just whether to have children, but whether CO2 is not just another form of "electrolytes". Bottom line; the single greatest resource and the one that's dissapperaring faster than polar bears and glaciers combined is the kind of intelligence that questions the accepted wisdom and seeks reality.

Having lived in SF before the days when you needed half of a two job income just to pay the rent, it was wondeful to read your observations, Mr K. If St Francis of Assisi were to be reincarnated (and who's to say he isn't) he no doubt would be trying to connect with the City (see, I capitalized C in city so you know). My friends still beckon me back as much as the weather, but I wonder if they'd be there themselves without it. Fairweather friends? In a city where the residents complain if it gets to warm to wear leather, I just don't know, but to smash n grab a phrase from W.C.Fields, I'd rather be there than here in Atlanta.

I like Malkin. I never listen to her but I think she has a nice smile and beautiful eyes. I know it sounds superficial but really, that's all there is. Oh, and she's right about the AP, by the way, but pretending that her take on reality is somehow more objective is preposterous, as is our own belief in our own. Instead, I'm dissappointed there's not more discussion on the merit of issues...when I do that those with with whom I have my philosopical and political differences, I find more room for common ground and sometimes even progress. But listening to the bloviating interspersed with the eyep-ball rolling and nice haircuts is not really getting us anywhere except more involved with paying attention to the spectacle, which is where the advertisers who actually run our electronic and printed press want us to be. That's how they can afford to pay Katie Couric a bazillion a year..or Bill Hemmer anything at all. They all play golf together on the weekends, travel in the same private jets and, I guess,belong to the same emperors club or ted haggerty mega-church, and then they get on their game faces and get all upset if anyone except they themselves point out the color of their skins or the hypocracy of their foolish religions (poor Mitt Romney). So, next time Michelle is on, turn off the sound and enjoy the visuals, I can tell she has a fiery personality and I'd love to go salsa dancing with her...totally platonic, you understand...and dutch.

Once upon a time, it was the Catholic Church that seemed to occupy this position, since the founding of international banking and genesis of the belief that wealth and power were synonymous with happiness. Well, the Church is still there and now shares the stage with others who upohold the heirarchy even if they don't practice the religion, merely bowing to the philosophy. I rather doubt Osama is in it, but his family is represented, one would think along with the other high princes of the make believe kingdoms of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and the Emirates. I guess Al Gore should be listed too as he's on his way to his first billion. It does seem to be an elaborate game of monkey in the middle and we're the monkeys and the ball keepers are selected for their ability to keep the ball away from us, that ball being the truth and the promise of transparency in government.

Just jokin'...you know they'd never go to a debate where their knowledge of issues on science and technology could be objectively displayed...instead they'll go to a seminary or academic puzzle palace. Pathetic.

...I was hoping he'd announce the success of Chaney's recent trip to the middle east to "do something" about the price of oil...which from the standpoint of Bush and Chaney, you have to admit, was pretty successfull.