If the President's team can't arrange a brief but respectful visit (photo op) to the Wall, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Al-Aqsa within a couple hours, then they're incompetent.

If he wants to tip his hat to the West Bank, he should, but not try to cover it up with a visit to Bethlehem.

Thomas Edison was way out of line. How dare he innovate without a net?

I was fourteen, and had followed NASA since Mercury. Gus Grissom grew up not too far. We were all camped out in our living room staring at a black and white set.

When Armstrong first stepped off the LEM, I  could hear my Dad repeating over and over to himself (as if he was alone), "I can't believe it... I can't believe it."

He had worked at a hangar as a teenager patching and doping canvas patches on Jennies.

Peter,

I feel your pain, but I'm so happy for my Alma Mater. It's a perfect match--right center state, right center alums, right center student body, slightly left center faculty. With the Governor's business and political savvy, he'll be a President for the history books--Boilermaker history books that is.

If anyone can burst the higher ed bubble, Governor Daniels can, and he'll strengthen the already very strong outreach to business (and jobs for grads).

Parents, don't let your babies grow up to be Hoosiers (of the IU variety).

Hail Purdue!

 Never trust. Always verify. I always assume that the federal government is staffed by mendacious incompetents, and I'm frequently right. If the President were the CEO of a publicly traded company and hadn't produced a budget in two years meanwhile laying on enormous debt with no return on investment, he'd have been canned immediately after Obamacare passed.

I'd agree to debt ceiling increases in three month increments so long as verifiable spending cuts in the next twelve months were at least 500% of the increase. No revenue increases even considered until GDP growth exceeds 5% and unemployment falls below 5%.

Peter said:  "The thing represents an extended exercise in servility."

Peter, be kind. It may be the only exercise the author gets.

The media will hate Gov. Perry--Eagle Scout, Aggie, veteran, Christian, long term stable marriage, father, rancher, successful governor.And they will be afraid of him.

 Pigboy,

You can't judge a film on its merits that never gets made--that's the issue.

Shapiro's obvious point is that the industry politicizes the supply side of the equation, regardless of demand. They lose upside money for political bona fides.

The behavior is tribal for the most part, but sure they are pushing an agenda. Is it a political weapon? Of course. What to do? Spend your entertainment buck politically if you want to. Or pony up and compete. That effort is underway.

It's the age old story. Getting share in the market is hard and expensive. Should righty entertainment take a bite in the lefty share, watch the industry turn a little right.

 I find Hitchens always interesting, witty and honest, but he's not careful, a trait which suits a hired gun. His review of Mamet is honest (he's irritated) but not serious.

I found Mamet's latest to be honest, serious, but odd. While it's primarily a polemic, it's also a memoir. In this instance, I don't think the blend is well crafted. Regardless, Mamet's voice is engaging throughout. He leaves little doubt about what he thinks. I recommend the book.

I'd love to see these two square off in a real debate.

 What if we prefer a narcissist? Or a manic depressive? Or an alcoholic?