C'mon folks, I may just be a dumb Minnesotan out here in the hinterlands, but the head-pounding and hand-wringing of Dems and pundits alike about the meaning of this primary is boring me already. My impression is that Ned Lamont is far less important for who he is than for what he represents, which is outrage and exhaustion in the electorate from witnessing our ill-conceived and well-deceived misadventure in Iraq. Lamont is to Iraq what Gene McCarthy was to Vietnam, notice to the elected officials that we're tired and angry about losing American lives in the cause of God-only-knows-what. Like Vietnam, this war has long since become a hopeless quagmire, and the only way we'll get out is by sending messages like Ned Lamont's. Even, I might add, if Joe Lieberman wins the general election.

I'm with those who are Netflix true believers. I became so tired of standing in video stores and dealing with snot-nosed, moronic 18 year old clerks that I would slit my wrists before walking into a store ever again. Netflix is one of the few companies in this country that genuinely improved my life with its amazingly simple idea, and I will remain steadfastly loyal.

Hey Poco, I remember "Death Wish" and its numerous lesser sequels, and I also remember the infinitely superior "Straw Dogs", probably the finest cinematic expression of the notion that any of us can rise up or fall down into a cataclysm of violence if the right buttons are pushed. Still a minor classic.

These letters are so wonderful that I'm putting away the vodka for the rest of the day and enjoying the Bush Administration with only a jar of olives.

"...would have given his left nut to capture the interplay of light and shadow"

While Holbein did paint several portraits of Anne Boleyn, he was never fascinated by the interplay of light and shadow like Rembrandt, Frans Hals or Caravaggio.

This would be less damning if Hillary also took credit for Whitewater, Travelgate and the many questionable pardons.

Maybe Joe hopes to find himself McCain's Vice President, so the chairmanship means very little to him.

My impression is that all of Judd Apatow's work has received far more praise than it is due. His body of work is reminiscent of Porky's or Revenge of the Nerds:some funny stuff, but hardly life-changing or great film-making. Judd would do well to take his money and run now, before churning out even more versions of the same rehashed garbage.

Catherine:

I don't intend to sound sexist, but the bottom line is that uncontroverted demonstrative evidence usually carries more weight than impeachable testimony. The decision is not surprising.

The only ticket I'd like to see Hillary associated with is the one that carries her on a train to obscurity. This claim in recent weeks that she is a great fighter for the masses and a working class hero is some of the worst pap ever served up. After $109M over the last five years it is safe to say Hillary has no clue how Middle America really lives. Witness her failure in Iowa to tip the waitress at the burger joint. The gas tax holiday is more of the same. The bottom line is that Hillary is all about Hillary.

In the midst of the silly season's posturing and pontificating, this news brings tears to my eyes.

Superb letter that captures my feelings to a T. Even though I'm a 56 year old man. I need not read any further. Thanks!

Thanks to the author and to Tim for his poignant view on what life is like both generally and on Father's Day for the subsequently divorced stepfather. I married a woman in 1991 who had two small boys, 5 and 1. I raised them for nine years, during which time my in-laws would frequently thank me for being a better father than the boys' natural father had been. That fellow, to his credit, was still around and saw the boys every other weekend like clockwork.

In 1999, my wife had an affair and I left her. Even now, as I recall the moment that I told the boys (then 14 and 10) I was leaving, I tear up. At the time, I sobbed.

After our divorce, my ex married the other guy, who became the boys' third father figure. They remain married and I give him great credit for being a solid stepfather.

The elder boy, soon to be 23, has not spoken to me in maybe seven years. I used to feel a strong sadness about the loss, but I realized that the kid had gone through two divorces by 14 and needed to do whatever gave him a sense of stability. His brother(whom I raised from age 1) and I remain close. We saw each other every week until he left for college last September. I told him not long ago that I understood his decision not to spend the summer here, as each vacation becomes an ordeal of obligation. See me, see his dad, spend time with my ex and husband #3. None of us should have to balance that ever, yet he has done so since age 10. He's a magnificent kid and remains the love of my life, and my proudest accomplishment.

He hasn't acknowledged my presence in his life on Father's Day since I moved out. But today is only a day created by Hallmark. What's important to me is that the other 364 days of the year he still knows I'm here.

Minnesota's roads and bridges have suffered during his Administration because he was beholden to his no new taxes pledge. The 35W collapse was, at the very least, an indirect result of this Governor's benign neglect. Still, it seems likely he and his friends in Washington have been massaging the NTSB to manipulate the timing of its bridge collapse report and to soften any criticism of him and his do-nothing Lieutenant Governor who masqueraded as Commissioner of Transportation.