New Jersey isn't listed in any almanac as being part of the South, but the hospitality and congeniality Garrison describes is easily ascribed to New Jersey, my adopted home state. Here, I'm regularly addressed as "honey" or "sweetie" by women and "pal" or "buddy" by men -- friends are made easily. Yes, Jerseans can be blunt (honest), yes, they do swear as if they're playing an extra from the Sopranos but, honestly, Jerseans (on average) are well-adapted social creatures.

As in NYC, Jerseans seem to understand personal/social boundaries better than most, awkward personal questions don't come up often. Celebrity may be acknowledged, with a nod or a smile, but Jerseans, who often frequent NYC, find nothing remarkable in spotting a celebrity on a street, in a restaurant or hotel lobby.

Yes, we're the butt of many jokes. When you drive down the NJ Pike south of NYC, with the refineries belching fire and smoke, the ports, the airport, you can't help thinking that there's a lot to make fun of (don't get me started on Atlantic City). But, in a strange way, that makes us better social creatures, we don't get credit like others for having Hollywood glitter, NYC culture, Boston sophistication -- we can't claim to be down-to-earth farm country, God-fearing or down-trodden... we're, you know, like from New Jersey!

I'm inclined to agree with Mr. Shapiro's thesis and offer an expansion on it -- namely, Bush's circumstances will now force him to do his best. Mr. Bush now owes no favors, is "debt free" -- he seeks no reelection for himself, nor any favors to his Republican party.

You know the maxim, "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts, absolutely", has certainly been operative here, especially with Bush's Brain, Karl Rove, wheeling and dealing influence in congressional districts, bridges-to-nowhere, tax breaks to oil companies, legislation on Terri Schiavo (for God's sake!). Consider this, what incentives remain for Bush to sign into law something like the Alaska bridge-to-nowhere? The most reprehensible legislative acts commited in the last Congress would have been impossible without the collusion of the Republican-owned government. Our constitution defines our governmental checks and balances, I propose that has been restored.

Consider this also -- Bush's presidency is defined by his advisors, much like Reagon's was, and unlike that of Clinton or Nixon who defined their own. One can expect that if James Baker is successful (by all accounts, a very smart and capable man) at influencing the president (and Condelezza Rice), we shouldn't be surprised to see solutions to problems in the Middle East.

Finally, time is on his side -- think of Ebeneezer Scrooge -- when Scrooge got his "thumping", he re-made himself. Bush is lucky that his "thumping" should happen 2 years before leaving the White House.

The newspaper, for men, is best used for reading in the place where no one will see you. The laptop, especially with bare thighs, gets too hot.

I think I understand the StarBucks thing, but have stronger memories of the company washroom, 2 feet below the stall door with trousers collapsed around the ankles -- and the telltale sound of those big pages being turned.

As an non-Jewish American visitor to Israel, I have to say Mr. Levey's article corresponds well my observations of the country. Israel, like most all countries, is diverse and supports many lifestyles and ideologies; that said, collectively, Israeli Arabs are treated as bad as the US has treated African Americans.

For some reason, some Israelis felt free to tell me how much they disliked the Arabs, how the Arabs are "inferior". Shockingly, I also learned that "most" Israelis hate the Hasidim, too. Ironically, they too are exempt from compulsory service in the army.

For me, I loved going to the Arab restaurants (as do many Jewish Israelis), loved going through the streets of Old Jerusalem with my Arab guide, observing a lesbian couple walking hand-in-hand in Tel Aviv and got a kick out of seeing camels in the desert. Of course, the underlying tension is palpable, the assault rifles at the airport, the antipathy towards the Arabs, the 18 year old IDF inductees at the beach or the bus stops, half-way out of their uniforms sloppily carrying their rifles.

I believe Israel must come to terms with it's relationship to it's Arab citizens. They should examine how the US has made slow advances towards enfranchisement of African Americans and select their own way forward.

...Dan

PS: I think Jimmy Carter has a good, valid point with his new book. Mr Levey's article has touched on the subject, I was wondering why I don't remember seeing Salon review the book or interview President Carter with regards to the latest book -- did I just miss that?