Well, I finished STATE OF DENIAL on tape last week, and of course I am disheartened by it. I read a Buchwald article (he just passed away yesterday) on this book, and he puts in well - its a book about a dysfunctional family. His title really got me to read it. I was incredibly upsed when Gore lost in 2000, but came to accept that there was a purpose to Bush's winning. Now I don't know what to think. I was watching an old WEST WING yesterday and I had to look up this quote and find out when it aired. Turns out it was early 2004, year after we had "mission accomplished." Here is a quote from a previous prez talking to Bartlett about middle east - "

Newman says. "You start saddling up camels in every country in the Middle East then you better be prepared to spend the next 50 years sifting through sand because this isn't a quick run on the beach, Jed. This is the new world order."

my worry is that it will be longer than 50 years.