The point is and I hope this doesn't zoom completely over your pointed little head, that simply not having done something does not automatically disqualify one from expressing an opinion or taking a position on something.

No one I know of argues that this is the case. It doesn't disqualify anyone from speaking on the subject at all.

What it DOES do is identify that person as a hypocrite. Being a hypocrite doesn't disqualify anyone from speaking on a topic, nor does it make him or her wrong about that topic. It just means he or she is a hypocrite. If a guy who smokes two packs a day scolds other people for smoking because it's bad for them, it doesn't make him wrong, just a hypocrite.

And if someone wants to disqualify the opinion of a hypocrite, that's up to each individual. But it's not up to YOU to assume WE have ALL done so.

Is that clear enough?

and blaming Clinton. It's all they have left. Well, out and out lies. They've always had that...

I genuinely thought your post was funny. Only thing is, there aren't many Democrats with any sort of power who are advocating an immediate pullout. Not Harry Reid, not Hillary, not Obama, etc.

But your post WAS funny nevertheless. Maybe you should have substitued "leftists" for "Democrats"? But that's part of the problem. It's hard to define those of us who aren't Republican and fit us into a neat group that makes for pithy, clever jokes.

I LOVE how supporters of this administration thinks it's fine to be as vocal as they please in support of the Iraq occupation, but the minute somebody offers any sort of criticism, all of sudden we have entered the realm of "partisan bickering."

Support = "balance";

Dissent = "unfair partisan gamesmanship."

In a 9th grade JV football game, I was returning a kick-off and put a Vince Young-like fake on a would-be tackler that was so awesome, that he actually fell down without touching me. Problem was, the same guy got back up and caught me and tackled me anyway. That was my last season in football! I've been a distance runner ever since.

Now you're creeping me out: it's gonna rain here cats and dogs in about 5 minutes. (check the radar for Austin, Texas if you don't believe me.) Man, this is weird...

You mean something like, "Overthrow Saddam now, or forever hold your peace"?

You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow.

--To Have and Have Not, 1944

@Robert Bohdan

I think we know how jurors will feel about the veracity of the testimony from whistleblowers who have been paid millions for their "evidence." Nice thought, though.

What would a Republican want with any type of government loan--federal, state or local? I mean, they're the last people to suck from the government teat, right? They should be HAPPY that the Bush Administration is denying those loans.

Yeah, I thought that in the Republican world:

"Anyone stupid enough to live in an area vulnerable to hurricane disasters is too stupid to deserve government charity. Instead, they should turn to the church for handouts while they're standing around waiting for some generous soul to build a new house for them."

Why should anyone pity "those people," right?

It's already well-established that shooter is a liar. Why keep flogging a dead horse?

on the irony of Mr. Hagee's views being aired on a program called, "Fresh Air"?

it's a great idea for media outlets like the LA Times to do features on the bottom tier candidates as a way to spice up a boring campaign season, as opposed to crap like stories on $400 haircuts and who wearing the what sort of make-up.

He's always seemed more like Goering to me, but I'm splitting hairs, aren't I?

Yeah, that quote is what I was talking about, alright. Man, that could have come right out of Rove's mouth if I didn't know better.

Thanks for posting the excerpt of Joe Klein's piece from this morning. In my mind Klein has hit a new low. While I was reading his infinitely lame excuse and rationalization, I kept hearing the famous voice of the young John McEnroe in my head, bellowing at the referees at Wimbledon...

"You CANNOT be SERIOUS!! You CANNOT be SERIOUS!!"

going to be if all the administration officials are going to do is stonewall and plead the 5th? Sound bites for Democratic campaign ads next year. If nothing else. You Tube, baby. You Tube. An endless stream of Republicans stammering on camera again and again will resonate with voters eventually.

It's hard to follow, for one thing, when there's more than one commenter using "Anonymous," sometimes with competing opinions. Secondly, it would further reduce cowardly personal attacks, for sure. I also like the idea of letter writers having to "own" their past letters/opinions and have to answer for them when necessary, in cases where folks choose to dig back in a letter-writer's history for inconsistencies or evidence.

Occasionally there are topics which warrant the use of anonymous letters. In those cases, there could be instructions for the potential letter writer to email the letter to a set "editor" email address, and the editor could post it for the letter writer without attribution.

It's not just shooter's need to be the center of all things. There's also his pathological need to be persecuted for his beliefs. Why else would he come here day after day, knowing full well he doesn't have the goods to convince anyone here that what he types on his keyboard has any validity at all. He blathers nonsense and untruths so he can kick up dust, grab some desperately needed attention, and feels righteously persecuted for steadfastly supporting his King George. The worse things get for George, the more persucuted he feels. It's actually getting better for him with each passing year, and each percentage drop in the polls.