Amy,

thanks for sharing your deep intellectual reasons why you are a committed leftist..because "Obama looks more likeable"...

Plus President Obama looks more intelligent, honest, credible, and has more integrity than your cynical political hack, Romney, and your hypocritical religious extremist, Santorum.

Northstar -There are some amongst the losers in these races who are already bringing out the conspiracy theories that Mitt has done just that. While I do not agree with them, I think the mishandling of this primary in some states opens up the Republicans to this kind of charge.

Katheryn,

thanks for the update. I really do not want to fuel any conspriracy theories out there. I was being sarcastic.

But those who go looking for conspiracies usually find them. They have a hard time with the distinction between fact and fantasy... and their critical thinking skills are less than stellar.

There are allegations about the Alaska caucuses by the Paul campaign this morning. Have to wonder with all the shenanigans that have gone on in the GOP this year if that isn't where some of the Super PAC money has gone.

so north, then you think Obama should refuse any help from a Superpac?

Steeler - all of these accusations of shady dealings seem to be coming out of the Ron Paul camp. I really think it is just a lot of young voters who are new to the political process. They thought they were at the leading edge of a revolution,but change is a slow - slow tide at times. I really feel for them, they just seem so disillusioned.

If anyone should be squacking,it should probably be Santorum. None of the candidates themselves are saying this stuff and it's their own party, so really I discount it.

Katheryn---I think whatever went on in Iowa hurt Santorum. To his credit he has moved on from it.

A sad state the GOP/TP finds itself in. All of the smart ones left the party and the inept are the ones running what's left of it and then with the introduction of Super Pacs doing their own thing the candidates have even less control. You reap what you sow.

dirt,

I know Obama has superpacs that will be used in the general election. do I like it? NO.

But those are the rules given us by the SCOTUS. Unlimited money for superpacs. While the nominee's campaign committee can only accept $2500. per individual donor. The RNC and the DNC can also run ads for candidates.

I believe that campaign fiance reform is needed again. but I am not that naive to think that the big money guys will find a loophole. The best I can hope for is transparency so we know who is giving and the amount.

I do give donations to Obama and to local candidates in htis election year.

Actually, to me, the point is, Democratic leaders don't check with Bill Maher before they make a comment, but Republican leaders live in fear of Rush's wrath. Rush is a political kingmaker and Maher is...a cable TV comedian.

Ms. Fluke, a private citizen, was making a statement before representatives in Congress and was villified (falsely) for three days by Rush Limbaugh, a public figure.

I don't agree with Bill Maher's statement about Sarah Palin but it was said on a private cable news show about a public figure. Bill Maher has guests from the right on his show--why don't they boycott it? That is what we are doing with Rush---boycotting the show (not that most of us watched it) but we are also boycotting his advertisers. I've given up my local Clear Channel radio station as well. So I'm waiting to hear what conservatives have cancelled their HBO subscriptions.

Steeler Fan

The newspapers in Maine are reporting that local small businesses are also asking to be dropped as advertisers on Rush Limbaugh's show. The community is outraged by Limbaugh's personal attacks on this young woman.

The Republicans can't make a rhyme about that....or beat a drum....or divert attention.

Regardless of how one views Maher's comments, there is a big difference in the nature of Limbaugh's attack and Maher's cracks. The distinction between Ms. Fluke and Sarah Palin is that Palin is a public political figure with a political organization to back her up and the ability to attract massive media attention with which to respond and present her side of the issue. She is by no means helpless. Ms. Fluke, on the other hand, is a private citizen who voiced a reasonable, thoughtful opinion on an important topic and she was subjected to vicious public character assassination by a media personality to which she lacks the formal ability to respond or resist. In other words, Maher and Palin's conflict was waged on much more equal terms than that of Limbaugh's assault against a voiceless private individual. Strong vs. weak. The public perception grew to regard Limbaugh as a bully who lashed out at a defenseless citizen. Maher may have been out of line by his remarks but he wasn't beating on someone who was not without recourse to respond in kind.

makes no difference if one is a "private" citizen. NO woman should be talked about in that way. But it's ok in the liberal world if you call an opponent filthy names. And, while Obama will call that fluk girl and apologize, he doesn't do it for others. And, he'll even take a million dollars from a foul-mouthed man who insults conservative women. Yep, that's our Hypocrite in Chief!

That is exactly the narrow, hypocritical view the right wing lunatic fringe takes on these matters. Obviously, the rest of the country disagrees with your point of view and that is why Rush is missing seven or eight big-money advertisers.

Mrs Fluke is not a private citizen, she's an activist, a plant, a hack. She spent the last three years lobbying for contraception at the school.

She is a student, JFK. She is not a paid lobbyist, so stop lying to support your untenable position.

But drive-by - you're doing the same thing! Urg!! Both sides have got to stop denigrating women.It's just not right! (granted I like Theory of a Deadman - but now,that's good music,so it's different)

So if she was a paid lobbyist it would be ok. Really?

It's real, real simple, people:

The Obama campaign took a $1 million contribution from Bill Maher, who called Gov Sarah Palin a "cun t" and a "twa t". And many other names thrwon out at Bachman.

Obama wouldnt return the money...

Wasserman Schultz the DNC chairwoman, appeared on Maher's show. Axelrod is scheduled to appear.

Democrats == total phonies.

Katheryn- you got me fair and square, and I need to recall the last 5 words, but the rest of the idea remains quite valid.

Doesn't it, Bob Virginia?

One was trying to help another, one was 'tearing down.'

As usual.

Wait a minute. Where did Obama apologize? My understanding was that he called out of concern for her and to check on how she was doing. That and to tell her that her parents should be proud. How did it get to Obama apologizing?

And lets be clear I think it was a classy thing to do.

There is a difference in what Rush said about Miss. Fluke and unkind remarks that left leaning so called comidians have said about Pailin etc... While not excusing anything off color Bill Mahr may have said in his monologe or on his show it is far different than spending three days lying and passing it off as the truth the way Rush Limbaugh did. I think that Rush should have been removed after the awful things he said about Clinton's daughter when she was something like 13 or 14.

As to weather or not the others like Mahr should get the boot I can't say because I did not hear any of it and don't choose to watch. If I had I would agree but the way stuff on these boards gets twisted around I'm not going to make a judgement unless I hear it for myself.

You used the term lobbying and that indicates their must have been a lobbyist, JFK. Try to stay focused, okay?

The fact that you condone vicious personal attacks on private individuals who have no means to protect themselves says far more about you than it does about anything else. You are a coward.

Drive by - you are gracious.I wouldn't have you take anything else back either ;~))

I have let Rush's employer know that I demand he be fired. I would do the very same thing if Rush were a Democrat attacking a PRIVATE CITIZEN. Sure Maher may have gone over the top and deserves a degree of criticism but making comments about politicians is nothing new. Andrew Jackson and Grover Cleveland both endured such nastiness. They both won their election. They were public figures and I doubt that John Q. Adams nor Benjamin Harrison or media people would have been so nasty as to attack private citizens.

Sailcat you big dumbazz, nowhere did I say I condone this type of behavior. However you do condone it as long as its from Bill Maher or some other leftist attacking a conservative. Oh and by the way she put herself out there, so she's not so private now is she.

She voiced a thoughtful opinion in front of congress, JFK. She represented no one but herself. Limbaugh used the well funded platform of his media organization to launch a personal attack on her and to tell lies about her for the sake of entertainment. If you have no problem with that, then it says far more about your poor character and lack of integrity than it does about anything else.

You first.