Romney on 9/11: "Lighten Up"  —  UPDATE: I'm available for comment on my experience with Romney at Jerid@buckeyestateblog.com  —  I got up late; it was a Tuesday in Cleveland and I only had early morning swim practice MWF's.  Showering, I heard Steve, another guy on the third floor of the "Tyler" dorm yell from his room, "holy s**t!"

Poll: Americans Find Bush Unyielding on Iraq  —  Majority Says Congress Should Have Final Say on Troop Withdrawal  —  Most Americans see President Bush as intransigent on Iraq and prefer that the Democratic-controlled Congress make decisions over a possible withdrawal of U.S. forces, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Sheehan Arrested in Impeachment Protest  —  ARLINGTON, Va. — Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan on Monday moved another step _ actually several thousand of them _ toward carrying out her promise to run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi because the California Democrat won't consider impeachment proceedings against President Bush.

CNN's Hype Machine Goes Overboard  —  So have you heard there's going to be a Democratic debate tonight?  And one with normal people like you and me posing questions via streaming video?  You haven't?  Just turn on CNN.  Chances are you'll find out before the next commercial break.

"With us or against us"  —  There has lately been an alarming rise in diaries and comments that seek to impugn (without evidence) the motives of those they disagree with on various issues.  —  Yes, there's the impeachment stuff, but this nasty rhetoric is also rampant in the primary war diaries.

House Committee to Vote on Contempt Charges  —  Conflict Comes as Gonzales Prepares for Senate Testimony  —  The House Judiciary Committee will vote Wednesday on whether to hold current and former White House officials in contempt of Congress, signaling that Democratic lawmakers intend …

A teacher with faith and reason  —  DID YOU hear about the religious fundamentalist who wanted to teach physics at Cambridge University?  This would-be instructor wasn't simply a Christian; he was so preoccupied with biblical prophecy that he wrote a book titled "Observations on the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John."

The Dems, the 'John Does' and the blogosphere  —  Public pressure is mounting on Capitol Hill Democrats to include the "John Doe" provision into a written conference report of the final 911 Commission bill.  —  The provision would protect the public for reporting suspicious behavior …

I Support The Troops  —  There!  I finally said it.  It's something that needs to be said, it seems that no one in American politics is willing to say it, so let the chips fall where they may, I'm taking a stand.  —  For those of you who have a hard time reading, I enclose a video …

Report Card on Prejudice in America  —  New Zogby/GSN Survey Reveals That:  — A Racist Lives Next Door - Most Americans believe they don't make decisions based on race...but think their neighbors do  —  They also think most Americans believe:  —  Most Americans believe …

Christiana Hendrix, 1974-2007  —  Mike's wife Christiana was killed Friday afternoon while riding her Sportster.  Mike was on his own bike and wasn't injured.  Stunned and heartbroken doesn't begin to cover this.  Words always feel so useless and empty when someone you love dies …

Congrats, CNN  —  I'd say it was a big success as a concept, although I wouldn't be as excitable as JPod.  If you're sick of people like me on television, or worse, then the direct questions from regular voters and non-voters must have been a breath of extremely fresh air (there's another asthmatic metaphor).