Central Scrutinizer

I did it with my first child. You know if a man bleated this sort of narrow-minded crap he'd be ganged up upon. Such insults against men would be passed off natural response to men.

Neither party will directly attack this. It will be interesting what dummy organizations develop in order to put out ads that beat these extremist views over the head.

It was a joke. Ya think?

Why is that weird. It's about as far away from Louisiana as you can get while still being in the country.

I think NPR made the biggest deal during the primaries about people voting for Obama because he's black or Clinton because she's a woman. I found that frightening. If that's a person's main reason for voting for either, THAT person is racist or sexist.

Just so long as it's American Pie.

I had to look at a few of the ads. One has a picture -- I kid you not -- of a woman holding an apple pie.

I was just playing. Great references!

I think that is the case for most metro areas -- certainly with a few exceptions. And it is the exceptions that cause the distortion of the way things are because that's what people focus on in order to reinforce their beliefs. Wouldn't that make McCain ... gay?

They've certainly showed they can do it. I've never really been a fan of Ron Santo -- even when I was a kid. That whole heel-clicking thing, plus he was very hot-headed as a player. (EDIT: I think it would be more likely that failing to get into the Hall on this next vote will do him in before the Cubs losing would.)

My baked potatoe is smarter than Dan Quayle.

My family went without power for five days in the aftermath of Charley. I didn't sleep in that time, worrying about every car that crept slowly through the neighborhood in the middle of the night -- windows open, exposed because of the heat. We certainly saw the worst of society in New Orleans, so I'm conflicted on this issue.

Technically she has more "influence" as a Senator (one vote) than as pro tem.

Ron Paul had the right idea -- Nader before him. If you create a strong enough approach, get 5 percent of the result, you guarantee yourself federal funding the next year. Problem is, campaign funding, through special interests, is so over the top in this day and age that a 3rd party taking on the 2 parties would be like a mom-and-pop company trying to take on Microsoft. The libertarians have the most advanced organization, but hasn't made much traction. It couldn't be a single candidate running, it would have to be an organized approach, so that you could sliver into government through a se

Sharpton is calculating, self-promoting. Looney? Perhaps. Savvy? Definitely. One of our writers ran into him in the National Press Building. They talked about 10 minutes about the industries we cover, the writer ran back to the office and grabbed him a sample magazine. He said Sharpton took it between his fingers and gave him a look as if questioning if he was supposed to wipe his butt with it.

No Neil Young for you!! Two weeks!

I don't mean this to be negative, but to defend my point: Maybe last night happened because we're farther along than you think. Celebrate it? Sure. But to be amazed by it ignores the advancement of our society to enable it to happen. I would venture further that if not for Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson -- for better and worse -- last night wouldn't have happened. The cynic in me would question whether this same group would be celebrating it if the black candidate accepting a presidential nomination was Condoleezza Rice. Your response about Pulin says the answer would be yes.

I oversimplified, but it greatly impacts the approach of each side towards its opposition. That's my point.

Indeed. My point. Affirmative action draws opposition through exception. Regardless of countless valid candidates who deservedly advance, the one unqualified person passed along is a lightning rod for criticism. Same with welfare and social programs. Regardless of the intrinsic value, just one "welfare mother" (makes better lovers) draws derision.

But isn't that the goal, not to pretend race wasn't an issue but for race to no longer be an issue because it is not a factor. In other words, when "little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." It's the argument almost simultaneously for and against affirmative action -- that the pendulum of prejudice swings only because someone exerts pressure on it. The goal is to have no reason to apply momentum.

There's certainly the irony of outsider vs. Washington insider. McCain touts experience and reaches out for a newbie -- with "traditional, value-based" approach. Obama, who runs as one above the Washington fray (experience in Washington is not necesessary) goes after one of the ultimate Dem insiders. It sort of cuts the whole argument out from under each side -- can't knock Palin as an outsider and hold Obama up as one. Can't tout McCain's experience and overlook Biden. Bigfoot better not try that in Georgia ...

I'm not from his generation, but with a daughter a few years younger than b2, I would venture his viewpoint is very much the norm of his generation.

FEMA suffered from a well-documented brain drain and severe cut in funding and organization post-2004.

Who do you have to wrestle to win a belt like that?

It was 3 years ago, but IIRC, it was the flooding after the levees failed that caused more of the deaths and maladies. in some cases after the all clear was given to return. Many of the post disaster concerns center on questions of equitable and adequate relief efforts, upon returning.