Thers of Whiskey Fire, February 2, 2008:

"Civility" is typically taken to constitute a virtue in and of itself when it is obviously no such thing. Chamberlain was by all accounts quite civil during his chat with Hitler at Berchtesgaden.

Truth and honesty are virtues. Civility is a mechanism that facilitates conversation among individuals or groups who have some sort of commitment to such virtues: if this is not the case, "civility" itself becomes an instrument of viciousness. See as reference the last eight years of American history.

Andrew Ratner in the Baltimore Sun, February 10, 2008:

When Red Maryland, a conservative blog, offered up its endorsements recently, it broke down how its contributors made their choices (including one who was "anyone but McCain") and published their comments. It was a little more transparent than the united front that newspapers like to project in their political endorsements - even if, behind the scenes, publishers and editorial page editors many times don't see eye-to-eye on politics.

A cool video is not enough to get my vote, let alone my "endorsement."

I made the decision to vote for Obama because I think he is the least embarrassingly imperfect among the Democratic candidates, and also because I relish the chance to backhand the O'Malley-Mikulski-KKT machine of arrogant stupidity, hard. I predict that Obama will win Maryland in nine days, but close.

Somebody needs to tell Casper the Well-Coiffed Ghost that American white people are supposed to be 2-3 years behind in their understanding of Black culture, not a full decade out of touch. This blog loves old-school rap - and plays it at any excuse - but we do in fact know that it's an antique collectors' item.

Apparently John Boehner is miffed that the House Cafeteria has changed its caterer and menu:

Members of Congress returning to the Capitol this week are being confronted by transformational happenings that have shaken the building to its foundations: Democrats have hired a new company to run cafeteria services. Naturally, this has caused an outbreak of partisan skirmishing.

"I like real food," proclaimed Republican leader John Boehner when asked about the new menu by a producer for another cable news outfit. "Food that I can pronounce the name of."