There are a number of circumstances in which you can request and be granted a new social security number. One of them is identity theft... an unlikely explanation for the timeframe of Obama's new number, but not unheard-of. It's possible that relatives co-opted or misused his prior identification information.

To me, the issue isn't that he has a Connecticut SSN, it's that nobody is explaining why and that they are bashing other people for asking why. It's a reflection of the political climate that sanitizing a person's history is deemed more acceptable than openness.

As for the birth certificate, I remain convinced the reason we've only seen certificate copies is that the original form has something embarrassing on it. And I mean quite simply and personally embarrassing - not the sort of thing that invalidates a candidacy.

On this article, I find it an intriguing theory. While much of it resonates as truthful or likely to be truthful, it is also quite simplistic. I think the social dynamics are far more complex, as are the aspects of the Obama presidency. Those who dismiss legitimate dissatisfaction with this administration as "racists" are also offering a simplistic theory - although theirs is demonstrably targeting the rare exception rather than the rule for most of the disaffected and disillusioned by Obama.

Gosh, I already knew *I* thought of his supporters as slugs, but it's a rare pleasure to learn that he has the exact same opinion of them. For different reasons, I suppose? Either way, a glimmer of honesty amongst the vastness of lies. It's refreshing.

It is up to a jury to convict them, but of course they should be charged. Neglect is neglect and ignorance is no excuse. Long before the baby was skin and bones, they should have recognized it was emaciated and wasting away. Providing basic medical care for a child has nothing to do with them being nutritionists or vegans, it has everything to do with them being attentive and concerned parents. Ask any parent how they would react if their child was constantly losing weight. Would they wait until it could barely move before they sought help? I'm glad they were charged and I'll have to trust the jury to be fair in their sentencing. I suppose sterilization is too much to ask?

Dispatch should be fired. Apparently, the magic words were "This is happening *right now*." But is the caller supposed to be psychic and know the magic words, or is the dispatcher supposed to have enough of a brain to ask. As someone else said "I'm reporting a murder." "I'm sorry, we need to hear from the victim." Fire them.

Politics aside, can we PLEASE distinguish between "political violence" (e.g. coup, social unrest) and "violence that just happens to strike a politician"? The attacks on JFK, RFK, Reagan ....and Gifford had nothing to do with politics. These were all violent acts by nuts that people in society failed to report because it was either deemed impolite or otherwise unacceptable to accuse someone of being dangerous because of their insanity. That's the story. That's a very real and ongoing problem.

"What distinguishes World on the Edge from his dozens of other books is the sense of urgency". How is that any different than his collection of other hysterical tomes? The man is the very definition of a profiteer, and if you aren't scared he isn't profiting. How... or more importantly, *why* are we expected to take people like this at face value when they make a living through grants, direct investment, serving as talking-heads, and selling books from a perspective of fear-mongering?

Might as well get upset that my horoscope sign has changed.

Glad to see that Russia was moved by our decision to abandon missile shields in the former soviet bloc nations. Since we did that, Russia has very graciously... um... oh wait, they haven't done a damn thing differently, have they?

Nations don't have "friends", they have strategic allies. Trying to get nations to "like you" is the sort of folly that Obama sold during years of campaigning. What has it gotten us? Less than nothing. They still hate us as much as ever, only now we are weaker. Was that his plan, or is he incompetent? Pick one, you can't have it both ways.

What's the Impact of financial reform, here?

Bailout on the back of the taxpayers - check!
Increased profits and fees on the backs of customers - check!
Mass layoffs of employees and abandoned buildings - CHECK!!

Thanks, Obama!!!

Free speech, yes! However.... Disrupting the peace is still a crime in most localities. Likewise hostile behavior (including speech) directed at an officer in the conduct of their duties. Since the article doesn't get into the details of the hundreds of cases, there's no way to tell if this is a civil liberties issue or an issue with disrupting the peace and/or interfering with the duties of an officer. Sounds like fun.