two mcdonald's happy-meal toys, a stuffed animal that used to be on someone's desk 'til coffee got spilled on it, and a few of those stress-relieving squeeze balls. . .

*squeeze balls*?!. . . what the hell was the logic behind that one?. . . other than some sexually-molested, physically-abused 8-year-old who dreams of growing up to be another ken lay, what the *fuck* kind of glue-sniffing, brain-damaged kid would want a fucking used squeeze ball sporting the corporate logo of some defunct dotcom?

I get the picture here of old grandpa over there sounding off in the corner, right when the rest of the family has gotten together to try to make a decision – he's got some mighty strange views, and he's sure to express them in his cranky way, but as long as you are polite and say "Yes, grandpa" you can otherwise pretty much ignore him.

As much as anything, Klaus reminds me of the opportunistic Commies who have the “guts” to speak out for the pensioners and the out of work but have no credible plans to do anything about it. With this particular target group as your demographic, you don’t have to say anything specific or constructive. Just voice your doubts, feel their pain, criticize those actually making decisions, and you’re home free.

I don't want to say this closes the door on a link between Saddam Hussein and the attack on the World Trade Center; the door wasn't open in the first place. There was only one dubious report from Czech intelligence that was hyped by the likes of Jan Kavan. Those who have been pimping this story, including Roger Simon, The Weekly Standard, and the Times' own William Safire, should explain why they were so gullible. I'm not betting that they will.