Kerry should leave the jokes to the professionals. Clearly irony does not work for the masses, and, though not running, he appears to be hell bent on losing the election again. Hillary is proving to be her opportunistic self.

One question- where were the other Republicans Senators apologizing when-

-Ted Stevens had his "shut up" meltdown on the congressional floor?

-Santorum equated consensual gay sex to bestiality?

Where was the Republican Senator apologizing for-

-Terry Shiavo?

-Tom Delay?

-K Street Project?

-Jack Abramoff?

-Mark Foley?

The Republicans know not to criticize their own, and that to criticize your own only extends the pain to another news cycle.

And finally, media outlets, would any professional politician really call soldiers in the field "stupid"? Likely only after they spit on babies and killed puppies. Get real and start broadcasting matters of significance!

In my experience, the average Academy member watches two films per year (because they just don't make them like the "Sound of Music" anymore, and ohhhh, the language!). They give their "For your consideration" DVD's to their grandchildren, domestic help or hairdressers, and then ask them who to vote for (if they remember). I would like to think that they surf the internet and read Salon, but...... I think these facts speak volumes about the films that are nominated and winners every year. For me, "Half Nelson" was the film of last year. The chances of it winning an Oscar are only a bit more likely than it winning a People's Choice Award.

...Is getting to read idiotic statements issued by both Republicans and Democrats on a seemingly daily basis telling us that we are not worthy of participating in this democracy in a equal manner. It must be just so horrible and degrading for them to take my tax dollars. It must make them feel so DIRTY!

What is ultimately depressing is that in this theatre everyone wins....

Chris Matthews who promoted having Ann Coulter on for the last week, likely got good ratings, and then got to go on (NBC's!) Today show and fret about how awful it all was.

Ann Coulter continues to be the sexy iconoclast for whoever represents her fan base.

Elizabeth Edwards gets to take the high road and immediately commodify it.

And the American electorate becomes a little more cynical, more disengaged, and less likely to engage in the election.

Winners-

Matthews

Edwards

Coulter

Losers-

Democracy

Well I guess not EVERYONE won!

I think many of the weary travelers are in the same boat as myself. I work for large multinational company that requires I fly, not just coach, but the lowest cost provider, for all flights. In fact, every company I have worked for in the last 20 years has required use of the lowest cost provider. I would LOVE if the airlines increased their ticket prices and reduced the masses. In the meantime, lacking the million flying miles necessary to get an upgrade these days (hard to consistently fly one airlines when forced to use the lowest cost provider), I take the modern equivelent of the greyhound bus, except for with less friendly service.

The saddest part about the Craig discussion thus far is the lack of gay voices. The reason men choose men's room, rest stops, etc. to have sex is all about the closet, but is also about liberty, and is always about consenual. Men who are in the closet need the anonymity of these situations. Unfortunately, in this discussion, even the progressives are using this situation as a reason to be critical of homosexual behavior (sex in the public restroom is "icky"). Ultimately, in the eyes of the general public, gay sexuality is a sin, or is okay, but only if it mirrors straight hetro monogamous sexual norms. Listen men (including Tucker Carlson, Dan Abrams, etc.), in a likelihood this behavior has been going on around you for years, and in all likelihood no men are going to be molested. Children are molested by pedophiles, not grown men in public restrooms looking for some consensual action. Even after this, a lot of closeted, married men will continue to cruise public restrooms, as well as some others who fetishize this behavior. If you want these men out of the restroom, let's start by making it acceptable to be out of the closet.

Joan, isn't there some queer writer you can call on to write about this much better than I can? ie. Paglia, Savage or Sullivan