And, no, Virginia; the scientific anti-AGW strategists don't believe in forcing people to ride bikes. What they ARE talking about is trying to develop anti-AGW technologies -- in the form of non fossil-fuel energy-production techniques, energy-conserving technologies, or ways to pull CO2 back out of the air and sequester it permanently in solid form -- that won't cost more to humanity than they're worth. Be kind of nice if you actually read a few articles on the subject before shooting off your mouth; but then, after scanning your site last night and running across your straight-faced historical proof that the Democratic Party has always been the party more sympathetic to Southern white racists even since 1964, I'm inclined to forgive you for your reading difficulties.

Alas, we don't -- quite yet -- have more energy-efficient and less CO2-emitting jetliners (although the aerospace companies are working on them busily; see Aviation Week) -- which is why I wouldn't be upset to see Obama switch over to televised campaiging if he could persuade McCain to follow suit. As I say, I wouldn't hold my breath, since McCain keeps changing his mind on alternate days, for no detectable reason, as to whether or not he actually believes in AGW and thinks that something should be done about it.

A classic example. If McCain talks about the issues, he loses. So instead, we are discussing crap like this.

So evidence of a fairly twisted, meglomanical personality isn't a valid issue?

Can you show us where Obama asked people to give up air travel?

So, jet planes are OK... just not SUV's and keeping our themostats at 72, right?

Well, no, Bits. What Gore, Obama, etc. (including McCain, if you catch him on alternate days) are saying is that we need to REDUCE the amount of fossil fuel we're using -- not to "save the planet" (which has survived much worse), but to save ourselves a lot of unnecessary misery from the coming magnified CO2 greenhouse effect, with us making a net gain from the trade-off if we do it right. (I have to say that I'm getting tired of explaining to an adult things that most 12-year-olds already understand.)

The adults, on the other hand, know that the entire gospel according to Gore is a pile of mule fritters. And Obama thinks so too, apparently, else he doesn't figure such calls apply to him... only to the little people...w ho betweenn eating cake, apparently sould ride bikes wherever they go.

"Legal, But Offensively Cocky: It's a free country, and that freedom includes the right to engage in political expression that is crass, tasteless, and irredeemably cocky.

"Us God-loving, bitter, clinging gun-owners in the fly-over country have an expression for the kind of arrogance required to appropriate the seal of a public office to which one hasn't quite yet been elected: 'He's dang sure gotten too big fer his britches,' we'd say.

"In response to which, someone might ask: 'Can you folks usually find a way to deal with young fellas who're too big fer their britches?'

"To which the answer — which I'm sure is spoken confidently and frequently on at least the West Texas prairies of my own birth, and perhaps elsewhere — is surely: 'Vero Possumus!' Which, out here in fly-over land, roughly translates to: 'You bet yer road-kill possum butt we can!' (I'll spare you the photographs of the possums, with or without the surrounding seal.)"
_________________________

Glad that Mr. B. took it so light-heartedly -- particularly since Obama's "seal" consisted entirely of the eagle with the arrows and olive branch, but without calling himself "the President" or including the slogan "E Pluribus Unum" or the shield with the stars and stripes on it. So, which aspect of Obama's "seal" was that infuriating to him? Maybe the eagle should have been featherless? (And -- for the trillionth time -- why does the GOP feel the need to jump up and down hysterically on this utter crap? Shouldn't they be devoting themselves to something more outrageous, such as the Stars and Stripes on Wonder Woman's undies?)

But, isn't that the sacrifice Obama and his supporters are asking everyone ELSE to make

Can you show us where Obama asked people to give up air travel?

"Unrealistic? Sure!

"But, isn't that the sacrifice Obama and his supporters are asking everyone ELSE to make to 'save the planet'? Damn those rich folks, anyway. How is it seen as unrealistic, then for HIM to do what everyone else is supposed to be doing?

"What we're dealing with is Obama is being hypocritical, here, or maybe what they're asking US to do is unrealistic, too, huh? I mean, those are your choices. Which will you have?"

Well, no, Bits. What Gore, Obama, etc. (including McCain, if you catch him on alternate days) are saying is that we need to REDUCE the amount of fossil fuel we're using -- not to "save the planet" (which has survived much worse), but to save ourselves a lot of unnecessary misery from the coming magnified CO2 greenhouse effect, with us making a net gain from the trade-off if we do it right. (I have to say that I'm getting tired of explaining to an adult things that most 12-year-olds already understand.)

As for Obama running his entire campaign by video link: EXCELLENT idea -- provided, of course, he can get McCain to go along with it. Bets, anyone?

Is creating your own seal presidential?

A classic example. If McCain talks about the issues, he loses. So instead, we are discussing crap like this.

Haven't given it any thought

Try.

There was a McCain attack ad ready to go if he had visited that hospital in Germany. None of it is about issues, they just want to take Obama down any way that works.

For what it's worth, I don't have a problem with the chair, and I have gone on record saying that. But I would have mocked the Great Seal of Obama if it had come from anyone, of any race, creed, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, geographic location, blood type, or zip code. It was eminently mockable, without regard to race.

I make fun of John McCain, too, for that matter. He's done lots of things that are eminently mockable. I think it's to his considerable credit that he "gets that," and engages in a fair amount of self-mockery even on subjects that might be politically sensitive ones (e.g., calling himself "older than dirt"). I've seen evidence that Obama has a sense of humor that can be quite droll, but it seems to be in short supply when the target is himself.

I'm pleased, though, that your follow-up response to my comment left out any mention of race, and went to party labels instead. Both parties mock the others' candidates — always have, always will. That's not racist, it's political.

Finally, I don't dispute that there are some genuine racists still out there (e.g., the guy who was peddling the "Black House" buttons at the Texas GOP state convention). They should be called out and humiliated.

I was among those most mocking when it came to the Great Seal of Obama. But I don't have a particular problem with Obama's special chair on his campaign airplane, as shown in this CBS photo (which I've enlarged and enhanced to make the printing on t...

It's a really, really slimy practice.

Not really. I have wondered if it can be rewritten as:

Republicans act "presidential."

Democrats act "presumptuous."

I'd like to go that way. Problem is, I recall a ton of media chatter in re Clinton, Gore and Kerry - hell, back to Dukakis - about whether they seemed "presidential enough" during their campaigns.

You do have to work really hard not to recognize that, traditionally, candidates have been esteemed for "acting like they already have the job." It's always been taken to bespeak the confidence necessary to convince the American people they can trust the candidate with the job. Now, suddenly, it's supposed to be a bad thing.