This has turned into the lead story on CNN's U.S. Web site. Is it really a bigger deal than the current Isreali/Lebanon violence? I mean, they ARE connected, but I just find it odd.

is that with Republicans, it always comes down to their bottom line issue: taxation. In a primary, it's "who has the best chance of beating the Democrat, so my taxes won't get raised." The Democrats don't have an issue that hits so close to home with it's base supporters in that regard. But taxations is THE common denominator issue with all conservatives. It unites the Libertarians and the Republicans, too.

the object of Bush's (in)famous "one finger salute" video shot right before a debate while running for Governor of Texas?

http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dw_bylg-Jjz8

I agree with you 100%,chas. It's utterly shameful how they've been able to frame the issue of taxation for generations. I'm 43 years old and it goes way, way back before my time. I also think it's shameful that these issues aren't "sexy" enough to draw many reader letters here at Salon. That fact is incredibly telling not just about Salon readers, but with liberals in general. Hey all you liberals out there, don't fear the wonk!!

So how come AC doesn't have a really creepy, persistent stalker? I mean, I KNOW why, but wouldn't it be great? That's the sort of Ann Coulter news I could enjoy reading every day!!

So if I were at a fundraiser and met the president face to face and said, "I'm going to kill you, you prick." Do you think he and the secret service would think it's funny? I mean, it clearly would be a joke, because I'm a pacifist, and don't believe in killing. Funny, ha ha ha. I'd be laughing all the way to jail.

So after reading, and re-reading the MemoPad story, here's my interpretation:

1) Yes, I believe Ann Coulter was joking.

2) Yes, I believe she seriously wants someone to bomb the NY Times, and is seriously inciting such an action from her readers. She clearly wants blood.

3) If someone actually did bomb the Times, she would laugh and think it was funny.

So that's my interpretation. Seriously.

In fact, I'm ready for a complete fire sale. If the Giants aren't going to win the World Series this year, why not? The farm system is bone dry. Let's sell off the vets and stock the tank with the type of talent that will pay off in the future. If we don't, best-case-scenario is that the Giants make the playoffs and get swept in the firt round by some more deserving team, who will go one to get trounced by some American League team.

I was just agreeing with a co-worker that the Tour is actually more exciting this year now that Lance is out of the picture. And I'm a Lance fan! However, that doesn't mean it's necessarily interesting to write about. If King doesn't want to write about cycling, that's fine with me. If I want to read about the tour, I'll do a google and find someone who's writing about it. But I'm not going to get on King's ass and complain just because he's not writing about whatever it is that interests me that day.

"it doesn't take much to conclude that SF Giant fans are the most vulgar, bitter, vile pieces of fecal debris ever to root, root, root for the home team."

You say that like it's a bad thing!

"Altemeyer estimates that between 20 and 25 percent of Americans might be categorized as right-wing authoritarians."

That number is awfully close to Bush's approval ratings.

"Thursday was one of the quietest days in one of the year's bloodiest weeks," the Washington Post reports, "with no single reported attack in Iraq claiming more than 13 lives."

With friends like the Washington Post, who needs Karl Rove?

"Does that mean that now when the INTELLIGENCE CZAR has uncomfortable information, he just ignores it?"

yes

The POINT is, that Bush is stacking that department with "Christian" lawyers who are helping whites at the expense of other minorities--and then calling it "civil rights." Does that make sense? It is called "reverse discrimination" because it reverses the advancement of minorities--what little advancement they've been able to make.

Most of the comments sound more like something Chaffee would say. The stem cell and Gay marriage quotes sound like Santorum. Another clue is that I can't imagine Frist ever calling Chaffee "the best," but I've heard a lot of amazing stuff come out of senators' mouths before.

Potential Santorum voters can hardly read, much less have any interest in following the "Letters" section of War Room. It's a story some of us find interesting. It's not like Chris Matthews is going to begin his show tonight with, "Guess what I read the liberals saying on Salon.com today!!!"

And don't fool yourself into thinking there's no way for this to backfire on the candidate. If he says one thing publicly, and another "off-the-record," potential voters will be confused as to where he truly stands, and that's never good for a Republican or a Democrat.

This story, even though it's making today's rounds on the liberal blogoshpere, is wonkish beltway fare of the most trivial order. Swing voters couldn't care less.

Rice is one of the more "competent" members of this administration. How do you justify firing her? Besides, isn't Bush the "decider"? I thought she was more or less his puppet, anyway. Same thing with Rumsfeld. Sure he's an idiot, but at least he has the resumé. You can't say that for many other people in the White House. Especially the president. How does someone so supremely unqualified for his job fire an employee for incompetence?