Lots of material to mull over:

Katherine: you choice of jewelry is interesting, but have you considered other more scare colored stones? andalusite, indicolite, iolite–there a whole range of colored gemstones that are gorgeous and lend themselves to spectacular settings (and the dont have the artificial mark up that sapphires and rubies have)

DtP: While your analysis is compelling, I dont honestly know believe that total sales amount of the books will really reach a wide swath of the electorate. As to democratic strategy, my watchword has always been “never attribute to malice which is explainable by stupidity alone.” Here the democrats seem to have cornered the stupidty market.

All: it is regretable that the generation the knows about FDR and Churchill is shrinking rapidly–Its almost like an inside joke (and speaking of which, what the hell does “bling-bling” mean?

Catherine: Your proclivites for blogging wardrobe have added a whole new dimension to this blog–a sprightly counterpoint! perhaps you could also discuss for us what are appropriate snacks while one is blogging (but beware DTPs dietary preferences)

I started following this affair almost two weeks ago with an impassioned Email to our host to cover the false booing story the AP fabricated and then buried. He promised to do so; and as it turns out the results were better than I could ever expect–In one short week, the MSM has been reduced to gibbering (where is PeterUK to turn the appropriate phrase). My initial pessimism has given way to optimism–I watch the pundits of the MSM on the shout and rant shows, or meet the press or whatever, and can see their knowledge is days if not weeks behind what is out there. The blogosphere has created a whole new information market and the public is the winner. The success of knowledgeable citizens–each in their own areas of expertise–has been lined electronically. This is the matrix and the hive!