Who really cares about the details of the travels of Leif et al, and Columbus? I suspect not even Mr. Keillor... who merely uses them to serve his own purpose. But-- his brilliant point about how much worse it can be to "win?" That is a lesson for the ages... coming down to us from even earlier sages, and now repeated by Mr. Keillor.

And as a cheerful antidote to commiserating about our current candidate and his campaign to become the WorstPresidentEver, just imagine if Mr. Keillor were to be elected President... something I indulged in shortly after the 2004 election, while casting about for a Shadow Government:

I would like to expand, just a little bit, though, on why Garrison Keillor seems to be such a natural for the role of Opposition President. There are so many reasons, including that he is from the Heartland, and a liberal battleground state. He is also articulate, prolific, witty, lyrical, and has a great radio voice, which should be very valuable for those Saturday morning talks. And, he surpasses GWB in his embodiment of male archetypes. Whereas, GWB appears to embody the virile warrior to many people (don't ask me why!), Keillor consistently embodies the nurturing father, sometimes the doting grandfather, and is a bit like an uncle, as well. As for virility... well, he is an older than usual father of a very young child, and has a wife who is also a bit younger... and that's all I'm going to say on that subject.

As for his experience in other areas relevant to governing, it should be clear to anyone who is able to read that he already has at least as much knowledge in many of those areas as GWB did when he was first elected-- excepting of course, the drinking & carousing & driving areas-- and playing political dirty tricks.

To get back to his other more serious qualifications, though: Keillor's facility with language, music, and voices, as well as the humorous and topical sketches he writes each week, will ensure his popularity with many, both here and abroad, and set a far better example for our young people about the importance of syntax in effective communication. In fact, I have heard from a very reliable source that one of his first major initiatives will be a Defense of Language Act.

...however, there are still considerable risks in donating eggs, given the hormone treatments, etc.

Is that really the kind of risk that someone with type-one diabetes, for example, should be taking?

What's with adopting the Repubs' language and referring to the Democratic Party as "Democrat?" Or is that how it appears in CQ? Either way, it is wrong!

Also, does anyone know what recourse CT voters have if Lieberman does decide to switch parties after the election? So far, he's running on a platform that includes caucusing with the Democrats. If he reneges on that promise, can the voters recall him?

I don't think it compares with (Jeffords') leaving a party to become an Independent, since Lieberman's already left his party to run independently, while promising to vote with his original party.

for his actions in 2000!?

Surely... "Baker, the ultimate cold-eyed realist and authority figure who field-marshaled the strategy in Florida that secured the presidency for Bush, [and] has publicly suggested in the past three weeks that he will offer policy changes."

Imagine trying to work off that Karma in the here and now...

...let's call the Iraq Study Group what it really is: The "Woodshed" Commission.

After all, Bush's last-minute press conference was the equivalent of any juvenile delinquent-- alternately glib and tongue-tied-- trying to worm his way out of what he knows he deserves and is coming: a severe lashing.

Usually, though, there is far less of a lag time... minutes or hours, not weeks.

...some of my favorite writers write about food (among other things).

When one writes about food seriously over time, one writes about history, travel, geography, agriculture & science, psychology, ethics, economics, aesthetics and just about everything else... including politics.

[I've been reading MFK Fisher's "How to Cook a Wolf," which she wrote about coping with food shortages and rationing during the war, and then later updated. What a writer!]

Of course, a proper salon would offer its members some food.

...I only mentioned Fisher because I had read something by her more recently.

As for the venue, where better than a "salon" to read about something reall good to eat? Not just the after-the-fact food writing, but a few examples of some great food?