He mispronounced DeGette's mane? If you're going to make a thing of his slips, then you need to get a proofreader.

Never mind. A few months (I think) ago you predicted the DJA would go to 7500 or 7000. This afternoon on the radio I heard 7499. I don't know how it closed, but you by god sure called that one, Ross, and you deserve to have your perspicacity acknowledged. The which I herewith do.

I think you are starting to grasp at straws with the ad hominem attacks. I enjoy your economic perspecitves and for the most part I agree with them, but when you start making these kind of posts it lowers you into Rush territory. I know you can't stand the guy--which is fine--but I think you are above that, and frankly, you are at your best when you stay above it.

Also, I know that early on I made the assumption that you were a Libertarian, which you actually aren't, but for all the attacks on Obama as he enters his second month of the presidency, I would think that as you champion all these Republicans who take such a "huge stand" against the stimulus, that you would also acknowledge their complicity in building up record deficits with record spending during the Bush years. If Obama takes us toward socialism, does GWB not have responsiblity for 8 years of ridiculous spending that got us to this point? I say this, because I don't necessarily think that the current Republicans in congress are innocent of enabling our last president. When I see a new group of Republicans who tout their fiscally conservative credentials and not their socially conservative credentials enter Congress....THEN I will start to take them seriously.

Finally, would you entertain a third party or are you going to continue to hold on to the pipe dream that the Republicans will adopt your economic philosophy? At some point, I think that people like you and I, and your readers are going to have to embolden a third party in order to break the the dominance of the two-party system and the gridlock that it incurs upon our country.

Before you get upset and insinuate that I'm not a ever going to see your point---let me just state the facts:

I voted for Obama
I have been a registered Independent for the majority of my voting life.
I read the Huffington Post and all the other blogs you despise.
I engage in conversations with you and your readers and for the most part agree with 90% of your economic ideals.

Ross--you and I are a lot closer to coming to consensus and making real change happen than Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner are. Can we agree on that?

Ross:

I think you should go back and re-read the column that you wrote that led me to your blog concerning getting rid of the social issues. Until the republicans decide to get off that topic, lose the evangelicals, and get back to fiscal conservatism, then I believe they will continue to be a marginalized party.

I thought we came very close to a legitimate third party in 1992 with Ross Perot. Obviously that guy had his flaws; however, there was a significant movement and it had legs until his campaign imploded. I bring this up because the reality is that Americans are currently faced with two choices these days. That is not enough. I, and nor do millions of Americans, feel that I adhere to the ideologies and platforms of just two groups. It's as if I have to decide every other year whether I'm a round peg or a square peg. I understand why you feel that the Republican party is your best hope--you are a fiscal conservative and that is near and dear to your heart. But for me, and many others like me, I am completely turned off by the evangelical rhetoric that threatens my personal liberty that the republican party can't seem to quit like it's a bad heroin addiction.
You and others on this board have lectured me that the choice I made in supporting a Democrat has far worse ramifactions on my future than had I supported a republican--despite the consequences of social conservatives having an over-represented seat at the table. But I believe that is a matter of opinion. While you are extremely disturbed by your perception of Obama's socialistic policies (not without merit), my views on what I am extremely disturbed with in the republican party should not be dismissed. There are many people who are tired of the rhetoric of James Dobson and Jerry Falwell. Also, there are many people who are equally tired of the culture of fear created by GWB and his flag-waving, jingoistic sycophants of Hannity, Limbaugh, Coulter, etc. My challenge to the fiscal conservatives out there is this: stop paying heed to these people and I believe that the republican party is back in business. I am saying what I'll bet Newt Gingrich says in private...or maybe not.

And I'll end on a rossputinesque note--I loved your analogies about the mortgage bailout concerning the people going to dinner. Don't I wish that I could get some money to reimburse me for the equity that I've lost in my house...oh wait, I have to be fiscally irresponsible and fall behind on my mortgage payments to qualify.