GG has hit the nail on the head. Why has no one mentioned the Russian invasion and occupation of Georgia? Putin has followed the Bush doctrine. He will not be the first Autocrat to justify actions based on our own invasion and occupation of a sovereign nation that posed no threat. If we were a third world country - which may not be to far off at the current rate - Bush, Cheny, and Rumsfeld would be on trial in the Hague.

We need to remind the public that oil prices are tied to the falling dollar, which is tied to the huge government debts incurred by tax cut and spend Republicans. Smaller government? How about a new cabinet department, homeland security what a joke! What is the role of the Dept. of Defense if not to defend us?

It ought to be like shooting fish in a barrel. I cringe when I listen to the empty platitudes and the feel good rhetoric. We have been screwed by Republicans and most people either do't know it or don't care.

Many of the most notorious republicans are far from honorable. Indeed, I would characterize them as facists. John Dean had it right in his book. They are ignorant on most issues, they bully the opposition, and they ignore the constitution to further their goals.

How do you debate someone who believes the earth is 6000 years old? That, nothing is more important in a time of war than tax cuts? That, a decorated veteran who volunteered for service is less patriotic than a draft dodging, silver spoon fed frat boy?

We need to hammer Jim's point home so that the red state, fed haters finally realize that the progressive blue states are subsidizing them. Ironic how the shrill anti-tax nuts have no problem accepting our money. If they had any principles, the would give it back. i'm not holding my breath.

Yes, it is a fetus and it is killed. Let's no gloss over that truth. The fact that so many reasonable people can disagree on whether this is morally acceptable argues against a government mediated mandate on how women must deal with their own pregnancies. Abortion should be safe and available early.

Life is not so sacred as pro-lifers love to portray. W execute criminals who pose no threat (they are locked up), we drop bombs on innocent people (collateral damage), we have the right to shoot to kill if we feel threatened in our homes. Abortion policy arose out of a need, as desperate women went to great lengths and risk to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

LASTW WORDS: IF MEN BECAME PREGNANT, THERE WOULD BE NO DEBATE ON ABORTION!!!

Sorry, no nothing. I live in Michigan and the state senate has been Republican for a long time. Problems began long before Granholm, with Republican Engler doing no better. If you want to point the finger, try the CEOs and other corporate clown at Ford, GM, Delphi, etc. They have done nothing but loose market share and ask for government bailouts, interventions, and tax breaks, while fighting CAFE standards and other progressive policies that might actually benefit their industry in the long run.

The matter is relevant only in so far as it exposes the hypocrisy on the right. Despite all the rhetoric about conservative christian values from the right wing and how the secular godless liberals are destroying America's families, it is precisely the lack of liberal thinking that results in tragedies such as the teenage pregnancy. These are the same folks who refuse to send condoms to Africa to help prevent the spread of AIDS.

Anyone who seriously studies these issues knows that abstinence only education has little to no effect. However, comprehensive sex education is effective in reducing unwanted pregnancy and STDs. Instead, the right offers up a marriage between two high school kids as a compassionate, pro-life solution. How long will this marriage last? It is no coincidence that the states with the lowest divorce rate are the most liberal,just as it is no coincidence that countries with the most open and healthy attitudes towards sex have the lowest teenage birth rates.

We all want the same thing, more stable families and less teenage pregnancy. By imposing their orthodox religious views on sex, the evangelicals actually do much more harm than good.

What rock did you crawl out from under? Your ranting on about liberal socialists is tiresome. Ever lived in Europe? Ever seen another part of the world?

Famous liberals in history: Jefferson, Voltaire, Martin Luther, Jesus, etc.

Liberal countries: Sweden, the Netherlands

Countries without liberals: Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea

the choice is yours

Terkoy, consider yourself lucky that you live in a country where progressive, liberal ideas have established some semblance of decency within a society that used to send children to the coal mines and deny education to blacks and working classes. Like it or not, enough of us vote for the Nancy Pelosi's and Ted Kennedy's in congress to make sure that we do not regress.

Do you think people in San Fransisco or Massachussetts are communist crazies? In reality, we are the economic and intellectual driving force of this country. Whether it is Computers, Pharmaceuticals, other high tech industries, the liberal parts of the country lead the way. This is not a coincidence, because unlike you and your ilk, we value education.

You seem to have no clue about what real progress is. I do not for a moment believe that any real data will sway you, because you are under the influence of propaganda. Do you know that over the past 50 years, economic growth under Democratic administrations significantly exceeded that of Republican administrations? See:

http://www.eriposte.com/economy/other/demovsrep.htm

for the actual data. It is also no coincidence that the right paints educated folks as elitists. Gee, I'm sorry I actually took the time to learn something.