Chris Edelson

President Bush never asked millions of Americans to sacrifice. Instead, he sent a small percentage of the population to fight and die in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he asked these troops, and their families and loved ones, to bear the burden. If we really have a compelling reason to be in Afghanistan, then President Obama ought to present that case and ask all Americans to participate in some way. A military draft might be part of that solution. If staying in Afghanistan is indeed a compelling mission, then I believe Americans will respond to the call. If it is not, then I think Americans will let President Obama know that it is past time to end the war in Afghanistan and focus on priorities, domestic and foreign, that really do implicate our core national interests.

Here's how false right wing persecution memes spread, aided by the right wing media echo chamber.

Why does the Catholic church deem politicians who support abortion rights unfit for communion while politicians who take positions contradicting church teaching on war and the death penalty are excused?

Mika Brzezinski explains why substance doesn't matter when it comes to making decisions about the economy.

It's ironic to see right wingers like Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and their followers thrive on a culture of victimhood. After all, as I have noted in the past, the right wing spent years deriding liberals for supposedly building a culture of victimhood. This was a convenient way for rightwingers to dismiss legitimate complaints African-Americans, women and others had about inequality and discrimination.

Does Joe Scarborough think the best hope for failed public school systems is the possibility of natural disaster?

Wolf Blitzer questions the need for a trial in the Ft. Hood case--would he prefer to simply call out a lynch mob and skip the legal niceties?

Bachmann and Cantor think a sign comparing health care reform to Nazi genocide is "inappropriate." Inappropriate is when someone wears white to their friend's wedding or breaks a dish without offering to pay for it. Comparing the public option to mass murder is foaming at the mouth, unhinged crazy.

Some critics of the Republican party see the party's failure as a good thing, but I think it's not going to be good for anyone. I'd much prefer to see a rational, functioning Republican party than today's embarrassing irrelevancy--even if means the party is more viable electorally.

Mainstream media types love two things: (1) a horse race and (2) the false idol of "balance". They see yesterday's election results as a way to serve both "ideals", by choosing slogans over substance and facts. The front page, above the fold headline in today's Washington Post reads "Republicans Reclaim Virginia". Gov-elect McDonnell did score a big victory over Creigh Deeds, but the Post headline suggests the whole state has gone red. Not quite. Both U.S. Senators are Democrats, and the Democrats control the state Senate.