Now I see that some Dems are demanding Kerry apologize. We Democrats are such chicken s--ts sometimes! Here's what Kerry should say: "I wasn't referring to the troops. I was referring to the President. It's HIS lack of study, education, and intelligence that has us stuck in Iraq. I have nothing but respect for the troops. They're doing the very best they can with the terrible situation the President has put them in." End of story.

I don't know exactly when our culture decided that it was funny (or, for that matter, satirical) to publicly embarrass and humiliate people, but I guess I'm now officially old-fashioned: I don't find it funny or satirical at all.

Make no mistake: He's losing. I'm a lifelong liberal Democrat, but give me a break. Obama must be living in fantasyland. Not only is he too young and inexperienced, he's also black and has a name that sounds Muslim. Maybe he could get elected President of the United States on his planet, but he's got no prayer on this one.

Leave it to the Democrats, given this golden opportunity, to settle immediately on two front-runners neither of whom has a prayer of being elected President. Personally I'd love to live in a country that's ready to elect a woman or a black man, but the U.S. today isn't that country.

I swear I'm going to go nuts if I hear any more ignorant blather about the "liberal" media. Yeah, the New York Times is really liberal. That's why the paper was so supportive of Bill Clinton and Al Gore, for instance. And why they bought the administration's lies about the war right now the line. You bet. And of course the networks and other mainstream news outlets, all owned by huge corporations, are really left-wing. We all know how the managers of huge corporations usually support left-wing positions. That's why you so often saw Molly Ivins or Jim Hightower on the network talking-heads shows over the last decade or so. Right. Of course, if you define "liberal"--as it so often is nowadays--as somewhere slightly to the left of Atilla the Hun, then, yes, the mainstream media are liberal. Otherwise, such a claim is crap.

I don't think Bush is saying "screw you" by supporting Gonzales. He's simply doing what he always does. If there's a bad decision available to be made, he makes it.

I think it would be worth the loss of a few "smart, semi-persuasive" letters to insist that the abusive cretins out there have to sign their names. Since the people who spew insults are most often cowards as well as cretins, it would eliminate a lot of the abuse.

Alas, the two major Democratic candidates have more than mere "shortcomings." Does no one remember what country we're in and who makes up the voting population? (Hint: the latter is not primarily people from New York and L.A. It's also not people who honestly admit their prejudices to pollsters.) A woman cannot yet be elected President of the United States. A black man cannot yet be elected President of the United States. Nominate either one and the Republicans win no matter who they nominate.

You describe "Friday Night Lights" as showing us "real Americans living regular lives, enduring the indignities of frustrating, dead-end jobs, grappling with narrow-minded co-workers or neighbors, ushering up laughter in spite of family arguments, and doing the best with what they have."

I live that every day. Why in the world would I want to watch it on TV??

I've been an atheist my entire life and if that means I'm deluded, then so be it. I don't, however, think that it does mean that. I think it means, quite simply, that I realized early on there is no god--and so what? This lack of belief in an obviously mythical entity hasn't corrupted me, made me immoral or evil, caused me to harm anyone. I haven't even lost my sense of humor. I don't hold anything against religious believers--at least those few who have no inclination to persecute or otherwise harm those who disagree with them. If you feel that you "need a worldview that is capable of justifying the confidence that we place in our minds, in truth, in goodness, in beauty," then by all means cook one up. Whatever works.

Not good news if you're a lifelong Democrat as I am. Is there anyone, anywhere, who seriously thinks there's even a remote possibility that this country would elect a young, inexperienced black man with a Muslim name to the Oval Office in 2008? The Republicans must be overjoyed at how the primaries are going so far. If Obama is indeed the Democratic nominee, the Republicans could nominate absolutely anyone and win.

I agree that the Republicans are very savvy (as usual) to be hyping Obama for the Democratic nomination. He does seem like a genuine, intelligent, even inspiring fellow...BUT the chances this country will elect a young, inexperienced black man named Barack Obama to the presidency in this next election are absolutely nil. Think about it. President Obama??? Not happening. I'm a lifelong Democrat and I would hate to see us nominate this fine young man. If we do, the Republicans (as they well know) will win no matter who they nominate.

This kind of mindless hype of Barack Obama is insane. There is absolutely no possibility that the American public is going to elect a young, inexperienced black man named Obama to the presidency in the next election. Think about it: President Obama in pursuit of Osama??? NOT HAPPENING. As a lifelong Democrat, I'm used to my party going to great lengths to guarantee victory to the Republicans, but this is ridiculous.