"I guess now that we can scan someone's brain while showing them an array of racy images, some expect our sexual responses to be politically correct, not only in action but in thought."

Is it politically incorrect to objectify one's sex partner? Isn't objectification (christ what a self-conscious word) exactly what we do with a sex partner? If so, does this mean that sex itself is politically incorrect?

You have done the one thing that affirms Maureen Dowd. You have expressed your disgust, proving to her (and apparently her editor) that she is doing something right. There is only one way to deal with Dowd. Ignore her.

They are not merely cowards though. They are bullies who pick their fight with small, unorganized individual artisanal farmers. They don't pick fights with factory farmers because they fear factory farmers. Picking a fight with the big boys will get them crushed and they know it. Getting publicity by any means is their game. And, to them, publicity is affirmation.

and it extends not just all the way into Washington, but into the new administration as well.

The big NAFTA "free" traders, Summers and Rubin, And their boss, slick Willy, sold us the line that we would indeed lose jobs with the enactment of NAFTA, but that they would be offset with new jobs that would arise after government supported training.

Training for what?, we can now fairly ask.

As for free trade, the term is a mockery of itself. Try to export an American made product into our trading partner countries and see how far you get. They have erected, make that contrived, countless trade barriers that make it impossible, so that now, the only solution is to respond in kind.

Making matters worse are the Japanese auto manufacturers who claim fairness by making cars in the U.S. They contrive (successfully) to export profits, making their U.S. operations free of U.S. corporate income tax. They do this by mandating that all drive trains and drive train components be made in Japan. The Japanese parent sells the components at grossly inflated prices, thus exporting profits from the U.S. operation back to Japan, without having to pay corporate income tax. Nice little scam, and D.C. is fully aware, but apparently unconcerned. If you think D.C. is concerned, tell me who has spoken out about this scam. Name one. I'm waiting.

What makes matters worse for Obama is that he is setting himself up for a big time populist challenge from his left, presumably territory that his Blue-Dog DLC advisors have convinced him he holds.

Since the day it was first revealed that the RNC had paid for clothes and grooming for the Palins and their entourage, the screamingly obvious question has been this: was Levi Johnston paid by the RNC to play the role of loving boyfriend, father and fiance? When will some middling-smart reporter ask it?

Levi truly is the redneck he claims to be on his myspace page? What if he really didn't want kids, but just hung around for the poon tang? And what if, in addition to the clothes provided to him by the RNC, he was also paid to stick around a while longer and play the role of loving boyfriend, father and fiance so that the Palins could spin Bristol's teen motherhood as best they could during the campaign?

And why isn't some smart reporter (obviously not Tyra) asking these questions?

But I'd rather see someone like him challenge the current occupant in the 2012 primaries. In a mere three months, Obama has demonstrated that he has no political courage and will not do anything bold to challenge the status quo. He needs a strong challenge from the left in the 2012 primaries, and it should come from someone like Spitzer.

But the question was would I vote for him. If I were a New Yorker, HELL YES!!! Its clear now that Obama won't take on Wall Street. Spitzer, as Gov. of N.Y. could have his A.G. do it, just as he did when he was the N.Y. A.G.

Run Eliot, Run!!!

What would you have them do with the money when there is no demand for credit? Who's borrowing? Manufacturers? They are currently running well below 80% of capacity and there is no demand. Home buyers? Only bottom feeders and very few others are buying. Car buyers? Please!

This is not asked in defense of the bankers. I believe they are, and always have been, parasites.

The best use of this bailout money is to fix troubled mortgages, the essential problem in the financial sector. This would convert toxic assets to producing assets, halt the slide in real estate prices, and stabilize the housing market.

Probably makes too much sense to the parasites, and certainly too much sense to the cretins who gave them our money.

It is idiotic to spend so much time and effort on discussions centering on Susan Boyle's appearance.

I would recommend doubters read a biography of Ella Fitzgerald. You will learn that, after winning a talent contest at the Apollo theater at the age of 16, most of the leading lights in the jazz world were impressed with her talent but didn't want to put her on stage because they saw her as unattractive.

She soon became the "queen of jazz" and reigned for decades. Take that, all you doubters.