I watched the whole dinner/roast last night, Alice. Throughout, I watched the dub- I really would like to figure him out. He took the barbs and wielded clubs (subtle, it was not)without visible emotion, and frankly, without apparent understanding. I'll just bet that he later asked Laura, What did Colbert mean? He likes me. Doesn't he?

What IS the matter with him? More to the point, I guess, would be the question: What IS the matter with us? People who voted for him MUST, it would seem, be aghast at his 'accomplishments'. Howver, judging by some people I know, he still has his followers. I suspect that Colbert has it about right: Some poople admire the president for standing fast, for never changing his views. As Colbert said, "Bush NEVER changes his mind. What he thought on Monday is what he thinks on Wednesday. No matter what happened on Tuesday."

Why do some people think of that as a virtue?

The Mudcat has a few Bush supporters. They are not shy about saying so- they're just shy of giving reasons why. I would like to hear their current reasoning.

As for Diebold, if the 2006 election does not reflect the country's current disaffection and alarm then I give up. To me, it would mean that corruption is so well entrenched that there's not much to be done.

** I just realized that I have it completely backward. If the 2006 election does not reflect our country's current disaffection and alarm, it's high time to get busy. There is much to be done.