You're losing me, sorry if you can't respond any further. The only reason Miss California got in the news in the *first* place is because she claimed she lost because of her answer, and conservatives rushed to say that was an outrage (which I think is a fair point, by the way). Who are you blaming for this? The media, for investigating this outrage? That's their JOBS, and that's what they DO.

Or are you blaming whatever twerps that kept the story alive by releasing semi-nude photos of her? Note that even so, she is at least partly responsible for them.

Or are you just blaming liberals in general, because Perez Hilton is a (somewhat deranged) liberal who shouldn't be allowed to ask questions that have little to do with, uh, whatever Miss USA is supposed to be?

Alas, you are not the Left, the Democrats, or whatever label you deem appropriate for the segment of the political class marching in lockstep to a progressive agenda, or at least pretending to in an historic power grab of legendary proportions.

There seems an inconsistency here...I suppose Democrats and liberals should follow the advice given on some of the comments here and ignore the above statement...

First off you are making some mistaken assumption about who I am.

But I'm just curious, how exactly did the left ask Miss California to record a commercial against gay marriage? No one has explained how this doesn't make her the face of a movement.

With regards to Joe the Plumber, he was brought up at a debate, but I actually don't remember if it was by McCain or the moderator. If it was the moderator, and you remember which one and it's a bonafide lefty, you may have an argument that it was pushed by the left.

Regarding your silly notion that only the left makes fun of people, holy crap are you blinded by partisanship. Ever heard a conservative talk about Al Gore or any Hollywood character, or for that matter any other liberal? It's not pretty and it's often far worse. I've heard my share of extremely violent racist jokes about Obama. Just because these jokes aren't on the Daily Show doesn't mean people aren't telling them.

Spoken like a true David Letterman fan."

Your comment about Milton Friedman's ideas being simplistic is puzzling. Clearly the subject is far too complicated to resolve in a series of short posts.

Before you disagree, does the left admire, or at least respect someone like, say, Milton Friedman?

Charles, can we agree to just drop this "the left" and "the right" bullshit? It obscures more than it illuminates. As for Friedman, well, as I think I posted here some time ago, I had the great good fortune of having a long conversation with him and wife many years ago in connection with an article I was writing for a magazine. I respected him, deeply. I disagreed with his view of things, but never for one moment thought that his positions, philosophically speaking, were indefensible. I thought, and still think, that his views were simplistic, but not, I repeat not, simple-minded. I still cherish my meeting with him. He was one of the nicest men I've ever met. And he was intellectually generous to his opponents, a trait not much in evidence these days, alas. My one regret was that I never asked him about his view of Rawls.

Limbaugh******* Cheney***** Palin****

Democrats certainly hope so, as this triumvirate will do wonders for the Dem's electoral chances...

"face" of the party...but who really is?

Limbaugh******* Cheney***** Palin****

As for the Republican party, hah! I've been in better organized riots.

lol, i'll bet you have........