is that most earmark money is not "wasted" money, that, in fact, most projects, like the study of drosophila, lead to cures, investments, etc. I dearly want Obama to say (but I know he will not) that the wasted money is spent on defense. I want a 66% reduction in defense spending. Part of the reason that this country is fast becoming a Fascist shithole is because of the gargantuan amount of money being spent on the military. When you pump billions into bombs, you throw money down a hole. You can't use a bomb as a tool, to create more wealth, like you can a bridge, a road, a truck, or a university, because its use-value is not realized unless it explodes. The defense industry, of course, loves the money because the bomb does have an exchange value when the government buys the bomb from the manufacturer (Republicans love socialism when it's used to buy bombs). This is just simple economics.

The reason the Europeans and everyone else is kicking our ass technologically in other areas is because of the massive defense spending. It's killing us and the Iraq war is a primary cause. When your treasury is drained and your country is literally rotting inside-out, your people have no health care, and your kids can't get an education, you know you're seeing the end days of Empire.

Palin doesn't understand science, or basic economics, or anything. She's as stupid, ignorant, and uncurious as Bush (maybe even more stupid). She's incompetent, and wouldn't know a competent policy maker if she saw one.

She needs to go back to Alaska where she belongs (they can have her!). Get her off the national stage, as she is an insult to all Americans.

I think the author is describing fruit fly research in general. The author didn't specifically write that the olive fruit fly was the model for genetics research. I think you need to re-read the article, it's a good one and spot-on.

That's where he belongs.

Most of you right-wing nutjobs claim to be Christians. Jesus was a socialist, a "redistributionist". Why do you hate Jesus? Go read the Gospels.

Here in Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Obama has an impressive ground game. The county is split into four sections, each with an office, with armies of volunteers.

The west side of the county is the challenge. We've canvassed for months, made phone calls, put up yard signs, and given money. We are pushing hard. If Obama wins Hamilton County, he will win Ohio.

I went to vote early. The line was an Obama festival, with African American support off the charts. Cincinnati has a large African American population which is very enthusiastic. I have a sliver of hope Obama can pull this off.

By the way two things: Blackwell is a Cincinnati native, a once progressive student at Xavier University who sold his soul to the dark side. Second, most Ohioans regard Cleveland as the largest city in terms of metro area, with Cincinnati, second, Columbus is really the third largest metro area. Population does matter because Cincinnati, as the second largest city, has significant Republican strongholds that Obama is targeting. The city proper is solidly Democratic, but the surrounding cities and villages are Republican. Obama has been targeting the surrounding areas as well.

I could go forever without that one.

Here in Hamilton County, Ohio (Cincinnati), 13,000 Republicans voted in the Democratic Primary on March 4. By that time, the Republicans had already chosen their nominee, and thousands of Republicans across Ohio took up Rush Limbaugh's call for "Operation Chaos." Everyone knew this, since Ohio's primary is open to all voters; all one had to do to vote in the primary is sign a statement that one adheres to the principles of the Democratic Party.

Our scum-bag prosecutor of Hamilton County, Joe Deters, who chaired McCain's Election Committee in Southwest Ohio, refuses to prosecute these voters despite having clearly violated state law, while he disingenuously tried to intimidate newly registered voters by issuing a subpoena to obtain personal information of over 600 voters who registered AND voted on the same day during Ohio's week where voters could legally register and vote at the same time. Fortunately, there was such an uproar over his obvious shenanigans that an independent prosecutor was appointed by the Board of Elections who subsequently found no voter fraud.

The point is that exit poll data from Ohio's primary includes a huge number of Republicans who otherwise would not have normally voted. The other point is that the American people have finally called the Republicans out on their criminal behavior. I surely hope they all burn in a special corner of Hell (honest Republicans excepted).

Joan-

I have to also agree with Bill E. Pilgram. You were over the top with your criticism of Obama while you cheered on Hillary; I too, felt you applied a double-standard, as dozens of others have noted. You should watch the tapes of yourself on TV, it wasn't a pretty performance.

On the bright side, you've come around, and have hit some home runs. You've won a gold medal from me.

I wish the Right would drop this. It makes it sound as if these poor Americans are being worked to death! Poor 5% being discriminated against!

Owning stock is NOT work. Most of the super-rich DO NOT work. The top 5% do not work long hours in hot, sweaty conditions, and are not being robbed of the product of their labor when they pay a higher rate of tax. I wish the Democrats would have the balls to actually say on TV "Ownership of the means of production does NOT produce wealth. Wealth is produced by human labor, not checking your stocks every minute and then deciding when to sell."

Stupid Americans need to be told this.

If you truly take responsibility and acknowledge you have a problem, you wouldn't say shit like this.

Obviously, this guy hasn't hit bottom.