I really fear for the sanity of people who continue to obsess over the birth certificate. Did you ever stop to wonder how Obama got security clearances if he had a fake birth certificate or wasn't born in the U.S? I think the story has legs because a minority of rapid wingers who hate Obama want to believe any bullshit conspiracy that rears its head, just like they did with Clinton. Let's say a long form birth certificate (whatever that is) was released, the same people would call it a fake or find some other reason to dismiss it. Nothing short of travelling back in time to witness the birth in person would satisy them. Naw, what am I thinking, they wouldn't trust that either. The media HAS looked into the issue and determined its a non-issue. That is why it only remains relevant for a few bloggers and writers like Paglia who for whatever reason seem to enjoy appealing to people's baser instincts.

Now I wait with anticipation for the inevitable follow up article where Paglia responds to the gushing letters from her devoted conservative fans. bigguns, if you're still reading, I too have curiously noticed the many Paglia fans who come out of the woodwork when one of her articles is posted and register for the first time in order to praise her genius.

It took a while, but new subscriber mhynes was first to post the "your jus jellus" response to liberal women who don't like Palin. Congratulations, mhynes, for seeing through the hidden jelousy that liberal women must surely feel towards her royal hawtness, Sarah Palin.

Camille, how can you say that we don't know anything about Obama. He's written two books (oh wait, Ayers really wrote those, right?) and there have a multitude of articles written about him. Nearly every aspect of his life has been examined. If you don't know anything about Obama, you really aren't trying very hard.

This is for the folks braying about Obama the Marxist. Actually, I'm not even sure they know what Marxism means, but what the hell, we'll run with it. Do you understand the part about the three branches of government? Just because Bush acts like a despot doesn't mean that Obama will follow suit. And, do you really believe that the Congress and the American people would blindly stand by while Obama, apparently using some kind of mass hypnosis, implements a Soviet style system? Do you really believe that there are enough indoctrinated (by Ayers, I suppose) socialist-leaning legislators and American citizens to go along with a complete overhaul of our system of government? If so, I pity you.

With lines like these, hontzas might have a new career writing for the Onion.

"self-absorbed Marxism"

"feel soiled when some bawd describes Paglia as having her panties wet for Palin"

"I like Palin, too, as a potential President or whatver she wants to be, although she is my intellectual inferior"

"As we write and read here, Ayers is probably cavorting with his newest comrade-in-arms, Hugo Chavez, and helping that moron dictator fine-tune his "anti-American revolution."

Because predominantly black churches didn't initiate nor bankroll the Yes on 8 campaign.

Also, let's put the vote into perspective. Even if every black voter had voted No, prop 8 would have passed. New voters who turned out in droves for Obama also voted No. So, to blame blacks who turned out for Obama for Prop 8 passing is way off base. See this analysis for more information: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/prop-8-myths.html

I cannot believe that people are still harping on Obama's birth certificate. The media DID cover it and found nothing to the story. Why should they keep reporting on something that has no merit. Obama was born in Hawaii, end of story. We all know that for the fringe who are convinced Obama was born in Kenya (hilarious), no amount of evidence will suffice. So, good luck to Mr. Berg in his quest. Everyone needs a hobby, right?

Caroline Kennedy has lived a charmed existence. The press have pretty much left her alone throughout her life, particularly as she's raised her own family. She seems like a very private person and Joan has a right to wonder what her position on abortion is. I would also like to know her positions on a slew of issues. If she is selected for the Senate seat, I have to wonder how she will perform when she becomes a much more public figure and can't hide behind mouthpieces and avoid answering difficult questions from the press and her constituents.

I find it amusing when people essentially post CK's Wikipedia entry as proof of her overwhelming qualifications for the position. As someone else said, I wonder if they read the books on the constitution. They were written almost 15 years ago, by the way. As for the other books she's edited, the subjects don't seem like much of a stretch. But, she does seem like an intelligent person. She went to law school. Like lots of other people. She appears to have done some fine volunteer work and it's nice that helped lead that public school group for a year and a half. Her speeches at the DNC were lovely, but were essentially issue-free. I know that there are a lot of people who love JFK and RFK. I think that some part of the fawning over CK comes from the love affair that some people seem to have with the Kennedy family.

Bottom line, based upon the credentials of the other potential nominees, I just don't see why she'd be the favorite.