I think Democrats in Orbit would be included in Democrats Over Seas, depending on where they are in their orbit.

As the bumper sticker says, Focus On Your Own Damn Family.

"Mr. Graham won't, of course, tell us that the only reason things have calmed down somewhat in Iraq is that the ethnic cleansing in Sunni and Shia neighborhoods and towns is more or less complete."

Very good point, but if I'm not mistaken another reason for the relative calm is that Muqtada al-Sadr, our Hitler du Jour some time ago, has had a cease-fire in effect for about six months. He's just extended it six more, which will be helpful to McCain (or as I've seen him referred to, "McW").

The cease-fire benefits McCain so much, I wouldn't be surprised if some neocons found a way to get al-Sadr to extend it (more weapons?). In fact, about the only thing that keeps me from believing this conspiracy theory is that, at least in the short term, it also benefits American troops and Iraqi civilians, neither of whom the neocons have shown much concern for up to now.

It's surprising the Clinton campaign isn't griping about Frank Rich's column too...or maybe they don't want to draw attention to it.

"The Audacity of Hopelessness"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/opinion/24rich.html

WTF? After complaining that Obama is ducking more debates, Clinton then complains that she always gets the first question. Isn't she the tested and prepared candidate?

I'm starting to think that when we finally do elect a woman to be President, it'll be in spite of, not because of, Clinton's campaign.

I have to say that everyone's avoiding other vital issues. Where do Clinton and Obama stand on:

Joel or Mike on MST3K?

Kirk or Piccard?

Ice cream or frozen yogurt?

Ford or Chevy?

Another old, rich, white guy will become President? You think the Supremes will appoint Ralph Nader?

I haven't really followed Carlin in a long time (no HBO, for one thing) but I lost whatever respect I may have had for him (I'm sure he's losing sleep over it) years ago (2004?) when I found out he didn't vote, thought it was a waste of time, said it made no difference, etc. This was AFTER the invasion of Iraq and all the other Bushie disasters were in full view. I figured he was either cynical beyond belief or a complete idiot.

It's pretty easy to stay "uninvolved" when you've had 70 good years and made tons of dough. I imagine it's a bit more difficult if you're a parent whose 18-year-old is in constant danger in Iraq - or an Iraqi wondering if you'll live to see the next day.

Carlin may or may not still be funny, but he's definitely a world-class asshole.

PS: Heather said "You've divested your interests in this world." She's just talking about his detachment from caring about anyone, right? Or did I miss the news when he renounced (or denounced/rejected/dejected) worldly goods and moved into a cardboard box?

... there was more attention paid to the fact she voted to give Dubya a blank check on Iran.

Again Hillary Clinton is forced to go first! Not just with one of her ads but with BOTH! Could you be any more blatant in your hatred of Hillary??!!

(Yes, that was supposed to be sarcastic.)

I was about to respond with Jimmy Buffett's "Smart Woman (In a Real Short Skirt)" but then I remembered this is about Fox.

Quoting you out of sequence:

1. "... but I have no interest in being a good Democrat if it entails putting up with a constant barrage of sexist crap that Democrats suddenly don't seem to care about."

I won't argue about the "sexist crap", though as others have said I bet it's coming from the media a LOT more than from Obama's campaign. At any rate, being a male I'm sure some of it doesn't register with me, so for argument's sake I'll agree.

I do prefer Obama but I'm voting for the Democratic nominee whoever it is; the implications of another four or eight years of Republican appointments to the Supreme Court and thousands(?) of environmental and other regulatory positions are too disastrous to contemplate. (Don't kid yourself that the Senate Dems will actually stand up to McCain.) IMNSHO even Hillary "Here's a blank check on Iran, Dubya" Clinton, determined to prove her toughness, won't be quite as likely to start wars as McCain. So it's an easy decision for me.

2. "... And if my vote helps McCain into the presidency, I just don't give a damn. If this country survived eight years of Bush, it can survive McCain."

Was anyone you know or care about a casualty in Iraq? If so, I doubt that you'd say "this country survived eight years of Bush". (Not to mention another country that really didn't survive it.) And you just don't give a damn if the economy, health care, and everything else continues going into the toilet under John "McW".

But go ahead and help McCain because the Democrats are hypocrites, while at least the GOP is up front about their misogyny. Do you have any daughters or nieces? Be sure to tell them, and any other girls and women younger than you, how you helped McCain put more young Scalias on the Court because you took a stand against the sexism of (some) Democrats.

This means that his campaign is still hanging on! According to Howard Wolfson, Obama is now one-fourth of the way to narrowly escaping oblivion.

Right. Because everyone knows how Texans are highly influenced by the opinions of Vermonters.

It's interesting how Vermont is unimportant but influential at the same time.