I can't believe no one else noted this:

When Sen. Craig walked up to the podium in Boise, his first words were:

"Thank you all for coming out today...."

Freudian slip, or what?

I do computer support for a local school district. When we look at the value of a computer, we look at its lifespan. The average PC remains functional for 3 years; the average Mac remains functional for 5 years. When you plug that into your Total Cost of Ownership calculations, the Mac comes out looking pretty good. Resale value is a reflection of the Mac's greater useful lifespan.

Mr. Burton:

Like so many others, I was excited -- for the first time in a very, very long time -- about the prospect of someone worthy finally being elected President of the United States.

No more.

Barack Obama's capitulation on telecom amnesty and the wholesale gutting of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution is the most craven and unprincipled act I can imagine. He should be ashamed. I know I am: ashamed that I allowed someone to get my hopes up, that I dared to believe, even for a minute, that anyone playing in that corrupt system could ever rise above the muck and imperial power-mongering that is Washington DC.

Several months ago, as Mr. Obama's spokesman, you vowed:

"To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies."

Well?

I trust you will pass on to Mr. Obama my demand that he live up to his word -- and that he live up to the hopes and aspirations of the millions who have come to see him as literally America's last chance to halt our slide into corporate rule and imperial corruption.

Mr. Obama is the leader of the Democratic Party. His demand that this bill be killed -- NOW -- would have a powerful effect on the political system. It would send a message that real change is coming, that there will be a renewed compact between government and its citizens, a renewed respect for our rights under the Constitution, and a new approach to ensuring our security without sacrificing our liberty or our Constitution.

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I sent the above letter to the Obama campaign, and bcc:ed dozens of friends. Each of us should do the same, and help get the word out.

What's with the tombstone labeled "Olympia"? I live in Olympia. Sure, our paper sucks, but at least it's still sucking.