It's certainly everybody's right to have their own opinion of Tom Cruise, both as an actor and as a person. And there are certainly plenty of things that can be legitimately criticized with regard to what we know of his personal life, many of them arising from his devotion to Scientology. But the degree of vitriol exhibited in some of these comments seems to me to be rather over the top. I don't believe myself to be in a position to judge him on a personal level, since so much of what I know about him comes through the filter of a sensationalist and celebrity obsessed media. However, when it comes to acting, I find it hard to believe that someone who has done the work he has done in films such as 'Born on the Fourth of July', 'Rain Man', and 'Jerry Maguire' can be described with seriousness as having no talent. It may well be that he is seriously miscast in this latest film. I haven't seen it and probably won't, but the reviews seem to indicate that. And, like any actor, his performances can vary widely in quality depending on the suitability of the material, the direction. etc. But seeing the terms that some people have used about his acting in these letters does make me suspect that their reaction to his work is being dictated by their personal hostility toward him...whatever that may be based on.

I was also a little nonplussed at the Mr. Mambo tag. What's up with that, Garrison? And what about "comeuppance"? "Chopfallen"? It almost sounds as though you are passing judgement on Obama before he actually has the chance to do anything. And that doesn't seem like you.

Excuse me, but mambo isn't quite an anagram of Obama. The first has two "m"s and one "a". The second has two"a"s and one "m". And even if it were a proper anagram, would that make the use of "Mister Mambo" sound any less disrespectful?

All I can say is - thank heaven I missed it! Coulter oozes so much malice that I find it difficult to look at her at all.

Anyway, based on reading this item, I'm glad that Lauer challenged her on the use of "B. Hussein Obama". Anybody who makes such a point of insisting on emphasizing that middle name...as if simply having that name actually revealed anything about his beliefs, positions or loyalties...is simply displaying their bigotry.

Sounds like very bad theater to me. Does he really expect people to believe that the legislature is entirely composed of people bent on blocking anything to help families and the basic reason they're impeaching him is because he wants to improve health care, etc.? Come to think of it,he seems to be delusional enough that he probably does.

So then what accounts for the results of the exit polls?

Not that it makes any real difference, but with regard to the amount of cash involved in this sordid deal, was it meant to be $1,600 or $16,000? Just curious.

I'll bet some of these people are approving of the fact that he's finally leaving. It lets people look at him a little more kindly. And the fact that he has, by all indications, been pretty cooperative with regard to the transition probably helps some too.

In all the discussion of the new First Lady's outfit I haven't seen much mention of how great the Obamas' daughters looked. I especially liked the blue coat that Malia was wearing. That girl is going to be a beauty.

I also saw Beyonce's statement about how Obama made her want to be smarter and better and more involved. And I couldn't help thinking what a wonderful statement that was about our new president. People are not just looking to him to fix things, but they are being inspired to think of what they can do to contribute to the renewal of America. That is exactly what we are going to need to pull ourselves out of the difficulties we face. And it gives me hope that we can actually do it.

While it seems very clear that he has done some pretty sleazy things, and while the comparison to the Pearl Harbor attack, implying a totally unproboked sneak assault, is pretty delusional, I have to wonder about one thing. Doesn't he have a point with regard to not being able to call witnesses? What's that all about?

Joan quotes Limbaugh' remarks complaining about Republicans/conservatives being expected to bend over to coperate with Obama because he's black. But that's not the reason that some cooperation is in order. It's because the welfare of the country is at stake. With his widely reported remarks about hoping Obama fails he proves undeniably that he actually cares nothing about the country, but only about his ideological "side".

I don't believe that the things revealed when Blagojevich was charged or some of his bizarrely over-the-top recent appearances and statements(not to mention the imputations of corruption that have been attached to him for some time)will have so faded from public consciousness that one apparently earnest speech will change perceptions of him that much. This speech is far from being all that people have been hearing about the governor and the controversies surrounding him.

This whole obsession with how much some celebrity weighs is just absurd.

. Day 3 of the Jessica weight watch!!!

. The controversial photos!!!

. Her VERY FIRST appearance since the story broke!!!

Given all that is going on in the world it is disgraceful that the media are magnigying this non-issue to such a ridiculous extent. as though it were of genuine major significance.