CosineMkt, it's people like you that make me breathe a sigh of relief that someone out there is more interested in calm dialogue and common sense than hysterical, partisan arm-waving. Thank you for a sane post.

I hope our legislature is able to approach the coming budgets based on conservative projections of revenue and come up with humane and fiscally responsible actions. At this stage, I'd rather they underestimate the revenue than overestimate it. I am deeply concerned that the elected officials tend to react more in response to their own district polling for their reelection campaigns than they do on setting up the State budget in a manner that best serves the residents.

I would possibly argue your statement to a certain degree. With the information provided, we know nothing about the parents, their involvement in their son's life, their parenting techniques or any other circumstances. The boys are 100% responsible for their own actions at 16 and 14. It is too often shifting the blame for children's actions onto the parents that absolves them of facing their own consequences and choices. Might the parents be culpable? Sure. Are the boys responsible? Yes, absolutely. Can all of them face what has happened and find better ways to meander through life in the future? I sure hope so - and also that the injured girl fully recovers and can feel safe again at some point.
I know families, as probably all of us do, where out of a bunch of kids raised by the same parents, in the same way, under same circumstances - all but one turn out great. Sometimes it is just the kid.

I'm not sure that I understand... The gentleman was shot and killed. How and why should that be dismissed as even possibly acceptable under a different "social culture?"

It's Obama's fault. It's Bush's fault. It's Granholm's fault. It's Wall Street's fault.

Global economic crisis. Michigan hard-hit due our manufacturing base. Hmmm... how about less energy on the finger-pointing and more on finding solutions, and helping out with a can of soup or a loaf of bread to your neighbors when you're able. Without calling them deadbeats, losers, failures and whatver other assorted must-be-thier-own-doing-so-it-couldn't-happen-to-me logic.

Anyone catch the national news coverage on this? Cringe-worthy. Apparently most (I hesitate to say all because I wasn't able to catch every station's coverage) of those attending this book signing couldn't even put a coherent reason together on why they were there, and thought Palin voted/supported/stood for the exact opposite of her reality. The reporters were struggling to not laugh outright, and to come up with verbiage that wasn't outright mocking at what they were seeing. <sigh>

Ah, well. She's gone. Maybe it'll be quiet around here for the next week while those thousand folks huddle in and read their new books.

The Republicans outnumber the Democrats in the Alaskan legislature. She quit after the election. The DNC was not a part of that equation. Her quick-jump into National politics jaded her future sitting in Alaska's governor's chair. Palin saw an opportunity to cash in on her exposure and ran with it. I think a lot of people would choose the same thing. But saying she quit for the good of the Alaskans? Not buying it.

And the RNC hired scores of lawyers to investigate all of their Democratic opponents - it isn't a one-sided action. It's actually pretty much SOP.

Palin continues to get attention because she is waving her arms about asking for attention. And there is a mix of amusement that Conservatives point to her with such enthusiastic seriousness while she continues to present herself on a national scene as a lightweight, and confusion that Conservatives point to her with such enthusiastic seriousness. I agree that she should be ignored. I also agree that she is insignificant and an incompetant buffoon. Curious... you've listed every national television media except for one. I take it that you believe Fox News is the only media outlet that tells you the truth? Do you realize that one man named Rupert Murdoch owns Fox News (as well as some newspapers and magazines) and that he has his own stated agenda to advance Conservatism and his own bank account? The State does not run ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN or MSNBC. I figure you won't believe that, but feel it's necessary to say.

Logic and facts disputing hype, name-calling and forays into fantasy land cannot really be described as fear.
Biker7,do you even have a definition for Marxism? And you're still harping on the birth certificate thing? The only fear Liberals should have is that there are a handful of citizens who agree with what you believe. No Liberal thinks Obama is the Messiah. Most of them are disappointed that he isn't pushing their agenda harder. This story is about Palin. In my opinion, she is in it for the money. She's allowed - this is America, and she's taking advantage of her Golden Ticket. But those same folks accusing others of believing Obama is messianic seem to want to put her in the role of Mother Mary.... and I find that more than a bit disturbing. She's pretty, can hold a casual conversation, but she's not above average in smarts, she has a cruel streak, is overtly ambitious, and really does not seem to want to entertain other viewpoints as being possibly valid. All fine traits for a commentator - not so good for a person elected to represent everyone.

Outside of some late arrivals just hoping to get their faces on the 6:00 news... Are the wristbands really necessary, or just part of the "excitement?" I'm thinking those who slept on the frosty pavement are probably the only ones who are going to be standing in any lines. And since they obviously aren't worried about reporting to jobs, you have to wonder why they are spending money on a book they should be able to pick up for free from the library and read in an afternoon. Or do they not know she won't see them unless they buy her book?
Embarrassing. Like her because she is "hot" and may be a famous Fox News commentator some day. Like her for knowing how to exploit those dazzled by her bs and loving how she viciously attacks anyone that disagrees with her. But don't give her credit for truly being smart or wanting the best for her fellow man. And why you'd want to donate to her coffers...? There are Republicans out there more deserving of your wallet's contents.

The comments here sum it all up nicely. Democrats and Republicans can't get along - all the way up to the highest levels of State and Federal office. Rather than working together to strengthen our State or our Nation (hopefully including the actual human beings that make those States and our Nation), we'd rather all fight and point fingers and do whatever has to be done to stop the "other side" from scoring a good point, and to make any mistakes instantly epic and everlasting...

Ten years from now, China and Europe will be laughing their butts off as they buy up all of what's left of our assets for half-pennies on the dollar. Anyone remember the story in the Bible where the king was going to cut the baby in half to settle the argument? Guess what... if it was up to our two major parties, that baby would be a goner. Substitute Michigan and the USA for that baby, if you don't get the metaphor.