RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan. 26 2007-- The radical Islamic movement Hamas won a large majority in the new Palestinian parliament, according to official election results announced Thursday, trouncing the governing Fatah party in a contest that could dramatically reshape the Palestinians' relations with Israel and the rest of the world.

Outstanding article, as usual. Is Hamas not the democratically-elected government of Palestine? Or is it a case of Israel being able to disregard election results it doesn't care for?

If you'll recall, McCain's campaign was pretty much dead in the water until Joe breathed life into it.

Think the Vicki Iseman revelation has anything in keeping with Chondra Levy or Monica Lewinsky?

You're expecting change? Expect more of the same and your disappointment will be lessened. Wake me if he goes to war with the Federal Reserve or dismantles the IRS. I'm not going to hold my breath until the last US solider is out of Iraq. And all of that is if he gets into office.

McCain versus Obama. I think I'll plan on drinking heavily later this year.

I found the Krofft shows repulsive in a particularly disturbing way -- the stillborn über-creepy failed-puppet-show designs with nightmarish colors coupled with insipid plots and acting were like some toxic by-product of all that shitty late 60s design, avocado-colored appliances, things like that. Unloved, artificial landscapes and characters produced the feeling that the actors must have hated what they were doing while realizing that television had hit a new low, and an unspeakable one at that.

I agree with an earlier writer that a kid's show like "Wallace and Ladmo" was infinitely funnier and more entertaining during its brief run. It had a kind of self-effacing fun that was never going to be found in any Krofft creation. I feel like taking another shower and changing clothes just thinking about any of that Krofft stuff.

Compare the atrocious Krofft body of work with the beloved Pee Wee's Playhouse from the early 90s.

Podhoretz, Zakheim, hey, go for Bush43 and Cheney while the killer RC plane is fueled up. Eliminate the Neocons and the 'war' is over, is it not? A half-dozen Predators above the Bohemian Grove encampment of the rich and powerful could do a lot to set this world right. We're killing the wrong enemies.

"A Salon exclusive" -- try and avoid glorification of the military. They're an occupying army, a corporate asset used to steal natural resources from third-world peoples.

Did you dodge out on the telecom immunity vote the other day? Can we take a peek @ your tax returns yet?

Her purported temper, her having flatly LOST several primaries, the sense of desperation at what I'm certain she sees as her Mission-From-God campaign -- can you imagine the daily nightmare her staffers are living even as I type this?

The Wicked Witch of the West after meeting the bucket of cold water... melting... angrily... "Oh, what a world, what a world..."

And use it. See if that "legal limbo" bullshit applies to women who don't consent to being raped or abused.

I'm too angry to write more than that at this point.

As far as willfully evil deeds. The Democrats were elected in 2006 with high hopes -- oh how soon those were dashed on the rocks. Sorry, boys, it's business as usual. You understand, of course.

I'm thinking that our own version of the Israeli "containment wall" built around Washington DC might work well for us, seal off every suit in DC, cut their power, destroy the runways at the airports -- trap all of those suits like Hess in Spandau so they can no longer affect the rest of the country. Seal them up and let them rot, like excising cancer.

Lebanese ambulances struck by air-to-ground missiles THROUGH the red crosses on their roofs?! Hey, how about that containment wall? How's the gulag going in Gaza? Collective punishment may be a war crime elsewhere, but not when good old Israel does it.

The "blind giant" needs to lose its golem, needs to lose the insane promises and pledges weak US politicians have made to Israel, needs to lose the 30% of the US foreign aid budget it receives (in a lump sum, in Euros!)...

Why are we fighting a war of occupation in Iraq on behalf of Israel? Why is our overwhelmed dry drunk appointed President still rubbing sticks together trying to find any reason to whack Iran on behalf of Israel?

Israel ought to be isolated like the pariah state it is. A nation that has a secret nuclear arsenal and routinely ignores UN resolutions? "Regime change" is in order for Israel if it was good enough for Iraq. Olmert can look forward to being hanged in a kangaroo court in a war zone, just like Hussein was.

"Fundamental change" is in order, huh? How about pulling back to the 1946 borders..?

You reap what you sow.

If Satan and a black man (mulatto, octoroon, quintroon, whatever genetic division you want to field) were in an election, Hispanics would vote overwhelmingly for Satan.

I mean, do you folks ever set foot in the real world? Hispanics DO NOT LIKE black people. Consider this a free clue. Hillary popular amongst Hispanics? Sure, right, if you say so.

I don't have any credit card debt or a car payment, but I've LOST more than $1200 given the sliding dollar over the past year. I'd love to say that investing $25K in the Rydex "Weakening Dollar" fund paid off, but I cashed out after losing $2300... nice.

$600? Gas for two months? I'll probably stash it in my kids' 529a accounts (one down 2.55%, the other 4.04%). OTOH maybe I'll just trade it for Euros and stick them under my futon.

Maybe getting the fuck out of Iraq would be a brighter idea.