Mousethief,

So much for your treating me with respect

Well, you seem to be right on the edge, but haven't quite earned it yet.

Do you know what "ad hominem" means?

Of course..to the man. Usually refers to a personal attack, something you do a lot. I wish you'd stop it.

Embarassingly, I don't know who Tom Delay is

Whoa! That is embarassing! You didn't know who the Grand Imperial Wizard of the Senate....Billy Jim Bob Byrd democRAT former Klansmen was either. Wasn't your search engine working those days?

I wouldn't trust Gingrich to read a clock to me which was plainly visible to both of us

Why not, you obviously have very limited information and a blatant negative bias. Are you sure you even know who Newt is?

This sounds like a he said/she said problem. Don't see how we can resolve it, seeing as you don't trust my sources and I don't trust yours

Well, since your source is the impeached, disgraced ex-President, convicted perjuror and known pathological liar cLINTON, and mine isn't, I guess you're right.

I think it's a stupid idea -- nay, worse, it's thievery -- to have "republican" or "democrat" primaries that are paid for by a state's taxpayers. If the GOP truly wants to just poll its members to find out who to run for an office, let them do it on their own dime. Why should I pay for it?

Gee, I might actually agree with that, except the state allows anyone to get on the ballot in a given primary whether or not they have the blessing of the their party.

In other words, you could call yourself a dem and actually beat the candidate put up by the local democrat committee if you were well known in your community or worked harder (door to door) than the opponent did.

If, on the other hand, a state is holding a primary to winnow down a set of candidates for its final ballot, why should it take marching orders from the political parties?

It doesn't.

The best suggestion I've heard so far is to have a totally nonpartisan ballot. Throw everybody on there and vote for your favorite. Top 2 winners run off in the final election. Perhaps this will start the process of undoing the stranglehold the GOP and Democrats have on our country?

Well, I don't care who the parties are, as long as there are only 2 of them. (Well I'd actually like to see the Rs and the Libertarians slugging it out).

The reason for that is that in a voting body, 100% divided by 2, is either side of 50% (a majority).

When you divide by 3 or 4 or more parties you have a less well defined decision making concensus (a plurality)

Italy's Parliament is subject to this kind of division and is a total waste and constant melee.

Nah. Special interest groups wouldn't stand for that

Everyone has a special interest group, it's called "free speech". I'll be you have at least two "special interest groups" lobbying on your behalf in Washington, whether you know it or not.

I said: "Shrimp, fettucine and wine awaits"

You said;Subject/verb disagreement. Lose 10 points. Sounds nummy, though. :-)

Hey! It smelled good, I was hungry, the wife was adamant, thus my post was done.

It was great!

mav out