There sure seems to be a lot of sourness expressed in some of these posts. While I'm nearly 60 years old, I don't really think of myself as "old" ... and I'm not. Sure, your body starts to fail - in my case in my 40s - but hell, it's a slow process and one adapts. I don't REALLY need to turn a cartwheel on my birthday anymore; I know what it feels like.

When I heard Roger Daltry sing "I hope I die before I get old" many years ago, I KNEW he wasn't talking about literal aging, but the slow withdrawal, and self imposed isolation of choosing to allow yourself to BE old - mentally and spiritually. And I fully intend to follow that simple advice.

Surrounding yourself with friends and young people that you interact heartily with helps a lot. Laugh. Have a beer. Eat a raw oyster (months with an "r" only, of course).... and don't worry, everything will work out and we're all gonna die, anyway!

Ok... I read it. Obviously the poor man is having a hard time with the collapse of corporate fascism - the sorry end that his brand of "conservatism" drug in from the garbage heap of history. The entire column is one last ditch attempt to plaster yet another smiley face Reagan poster over the sorry mess that self styled "conservatives" have made of EVERY aspect of the governance of this country. Whistling past the graveyard would be far too kind a characterization of what Kristol is attempting here. And yes, he won't be gone. These toads never seem to really go anywhere and they're awfully hard to put away for good. But it's a step in the right direction for the severely discredited NYT as that once august institution attempts to dig its way to survival.

So.... American forever.... just answer the simple question: When did YOU "choose" YOUR sexual orientation?

As a dedicated (perhaps crazed would be a better word to describe my behavior in my long ago youth) heterosexual man, I don't see ANY threat whatsoever from gay people. It's a "who cares?" issue for me. Obviously, "America forever" cares, and cares deeply. Why? The post at the lead of this thread is long on boilerplate but opaque as far as individual motivations behind the screed.

For the life of me, I cannot imagine why ANYBODY really cares who is boinkin' who, when it comes to consensual sex. Not one reason! I am beginning to seriously consider the old bromide that opines that those who are most concerned about other people's sexual activities are indeed the sick ones in this society.

It was a junior college English teacher who damn near killed any enthusiasm I had for reading literature, or even attempting to write anything myself. Thank Dog that people actually survive these anal cranks. Whether you like the protagonist of this particular piece or not, it's the story that was at least mildly interesting to me. Everything doesn't have to pass some English 101 instructor's litmus test of "coherent expository prose" to be readable.

That America Forever is too busy "defend(ing) the gospel of Jesus Christ" to actually offer up any coherent response to the questions that his absurd post raises.

This is mildly amusing. Isn't the most widely cited christian admonition against homosexuality contained in the OLD testament? I don't think that J.C. had much condemnation for homosexuals in particular. In fact, it seems to my Sunday school recollection that he was more angry about people who judged others.

than live on my knees.

(sorry, couldn't help myself)

No... he's just a common jackass who happens to live in Texas for the moment. Joliett, Illinois would be a far more appropriate address.

he knocked Sarah Palin out of the headlines for a few days.

Now, there's a pair to draw to, eh?

I had no idea how absolutely satisfying the schedenfruede of watching the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the idiot right wing fringies would be. Here I thought that Colbert, et al, would be devastated and left bereft of material once O'Bama got into office. But... never fear... the right wing lunatics are all working overtime to continue writing the jokes for an entire army of comics.

That it was Blogo's turn in the bozo spotlight today.

The several National Park jewels out west that I've visited in the last few years are all looking shopworn. One can easily notice many signs of "deferred maintenance" without even looking under the carpet. Closed restrooms. Severely deteriorated pavement. Decrepit facilities. Peeling paint... it's all there, and getting worse. This has been a trend for the last eight years (big surprise there, eh?).

The park staffs are wonderful; helpful, hard working, and severely under appreciated. But you can only do so much with reduced staffing levels, worn equipment, and a lack of funding.

Oh well... I understand that the neighborhood that Bush is moving into is quite nice, and that new expensive gate we're paying for will keep the filthy hordes at bay.

@ Hest88.... Here, let me explain this to you: Tolerating intolerance does not make one tolerant. Being intolerant of intolerance does not make one intolerant.

Go back to third grade and try again.

seriously.

Kowtowing to the corpulent junkie is what has driven the formerly semi legit Republican party into the wilderness. An increasing majority of Americans don't want anything to do with this sort of petulant, crybaby whining; they want results and actual leadership. Obama is playing these fools for what they are perfectly. One needs to ask these venal little men how many votes Rush has... I guess they'll find out the answer to that question soon enough, since they obviously weren't observant enough to figure it out after the last two election cycles.