Sir;...How about shirks, and foreskins... I know... Too much imagination, but you can paint the republican party any color you want as long as it is white...The world is becoming browner than UPS, and the Republicans want to be snow white, white bread and mayonase, and vanilla ice cream...I know they have their tokens, but if they are marginalized; it is because they want it that way... That is what ideologies do to people... They forget that winning takes cooperation and bridge building, and they think having God on their side is the ultimate victory... I think they are all preparing for violence knowing they have the guns, and now only have to settle on the point of justification... If they cannot win office, they will not blame themselves, and admit their own corruption brought them to the point of failure..Intead they will blame the people, and attack the democracy...I don't think there is much difference between right and left in this country... But I do think we only need a mad man and a Harpers Ferry to set off our next civil war...There is no kinder way of putting it than that we have all been used by our economy, but on the right, the paranoia has been fed to the point where it sits like a incubus on the heart of the nation...Thanks...Sweeney

The Republicans forgot how the upper classes of the Roman Empire placated the mob in Rome; by providing them bread and circuses. Basically, as long as Americans were reasonably comfortable (employed, in a comfortable dwelling with TV sets to watch cartoons, sports, HGTV and other mindless programming) they were content not to vote or otherwise pay attention to government. It is only when so many suddenly find themselves doing without "bread and circuses" that they rebel and vote democratic. The Romans, at their most depraved, sleaziest, worst, were not so greedy as to take away bread and circuses from the mob. If Republicans would only have been a little less greedy, they could have remained in control forever!

Re: James A, Sweeney: It is true, there is a disturbing thread among some of the right wing mouthpieces that suggests they'd just rather tear the whole thing down and start shooting when they don't get their way through the political process. Those folks ought to take a tour of the former Yugoslavia. Cheers.

I saw you on television last night and the fat on your throat was covering the knot on your tie. Either lose weight or change your photograph on you web site.