MSGOP just reported that tomorrow will be a day of "frank discussions" in the Romney camp.

A Thursday speech to CPAC is still on, but a Friday appearance in Kansas ahead of caucuses there is "in doubt."

So, how long will Willard's self-financed venture endure?

David Brooks's column in today's New York Times is one of the more interesting pieces he's written in his tenure at America's Newspaper of Record.  It's not that he breaks any new ground, it's that he discusses a cultural shift that is interesting and perhaps definitive of a gap between the generations.

I know about the "quarter life crisis" and I have heard friends in their early- and mid-20s explain that they don't have to know what they're doing in life until they're 30, because "thirty is the new twenty."  Brooks describes the "odyssey years" as a sojourn between adolescence and adulthood.

Whether the 20-something odyssey years are past, present, or future for you, I think it's interesting to reflect on the increasingly common experience of a distinct developmental phase between "college" and "career."

An alarming thing happened in a worship service I attended this morning.  It was not my own church; I was visiting a friend.  If a discussion of religion & abortion or church & politics is not what you had in mind for a autumnal Sunday evening, you may want to skip this.

I worked in a church for a few years, after earning two degrees in religion and theology.  These days, my path forward is a bit more uncertain.  It's different sitting in the pews, rather than leading the people in them.

The experience has resonated with me throughout the day, and I just felt compelled to offer a reflection on my experience.

I have been fortunate to have two great jobs that I loved.  I have also had a couple of jobs that objectively sucked and I really hated.  Probably most people can relate to this sentiment.  Some jobs amount to little more than wage slavery.  But other jobs are so great, we often don't even think about the connection between the work we do and the paycheck we get.

At the moment, I'm transitioning from a job I loved to looking for a job I'm almost certainly going to hate.  The reasons are complex, personal, and not especially relevant.  From the fact that I'm sitting here ruminating about such things, though, you can clearly assume that I'm presently unemployed.

Take a moment to tell us what your work means... and take the poll!

Most of us, surprisingly enough, are not lawyers.  We're not experts in constitutional law.  But we do have our personal pet issues about which we care passionately.  And, for many of us, that is where our interest in the Supreme Court enters into our political understanding.

I make no claim to be an expert, or even amateur, court observer.  But I do know we have a problem.  Through a lengthy profile of Justice John Paul Stevens in last Sunday's NY Times Magazine, Jeffrey Rosen offers a helpful analysis of the present and future dynamics of the Supreme Court.

In short, another 4- or 8-year Republican administration could easily wreck much of the process we've made on your most important issues.

Some may read the title of this diary and think, "Unsubstantiated speculation."  Others may think, "Duh."

Either way, it is clear that the GOP's largest constituency, evangelical and fundamentalist Christians, are dissatisfied with this cycle's crop of presidential candidates, particularly the frontrunners.  In spite of a year filled with scandal and death for many of the Christian right's prominent leaders, James Dobson is still perhaps the most influential (partly because it's true, and mostly because the media says it's true).

Most Christian right activists are hostile to McCain (who they don't like), Guiliani (who they don't agree with), and Romney (who they don't trust).  Huckabee and Brownback speak their language, but can't break into even the second tier.  They staked their hopes on Fred Thompson, who is bombing out day by day.

What's a Christian right kingpin to do?  Dobson flirted with Newt Gingrich, then snubbed Fred Thompson as other conservatives touted him as their savior, and is apparently on fire for Gingrich again.

Dan Wakefield
The Hijacking of Jesus: How the Religious Right Distorts Christianity and Promotes Prejudice and Hate
New York: Nation Books, 2006
This review refers to the paperback edition.

If you have read any of the several dozen major books on the Christian right, this book will tell a story with which you are already familiar.  Wakefield, a Protestant layman and a journalist by training, investigates some of the social, cultural and political forces that led to the ascendancy of the Christian right and the decline of the influence of mainline Protestantism.  Wakefield is not afraid to say why this trend dishonors the life and ministry of Jesus and mocks his message.  But Wakefield undertakes his investigation a bit too late, portraying as novel mainstays such as megachurches and failing to express the meaningful distinctions between various Christian right leaders and personalities.

This diary is not intended to be a Hillary love-fest.  I have no particular affection for her; like many people, I was groomed from childhood to loathe her.  While I have given to Obama, Edwards, and even Richardson (many months ago), I have not given Sen. Clinton a dime and do not intend to unless she is the nominee.

However, I am so freaking tired of the Hillary Hate that is so rampant among the VRWC and that is just as vitriolic among what appears to be the overwhelming majority of the progressive movement.  I am sick of the "Republicans want Hillary" meme from the right, the left, and the media.

I'm sick to death of candidate diaries and have enjoyed a day with relatively few of them, no need to rec this. Just hear me out.  I just think Sen. Clinton should know that if she prevails, we will work tirelessly to elect her President.  I know I will.

It looks like the traditional media have the wrong back story on the Mukasey nomination.  For several days, we have heard about conservative opposition to the highly regarded retired judge.  With Federalist Society types and the Christian right united in anticipation of Ted Olson, the Mukasay nomination is a slap in the face to the hard right.

On the surface, it was a concession by the White House in an attempt to avoid a fight.  But make no mistake, there will be a fight.  Maybe several.

While most of the country spent Monday night killing babies, hating God, and furthering the homosexual agenda, the theocratic non-top-tier GOP presidential hopefuls had a Values Voters Debate Christian Right PanderFest in Ft. Lauderdale.

Although there was the predictable traditional media coverage and even some commentary by kos, I thought I'd try to dig a little deeper and find out what really went on.  When we're dealing with Christian right leaders and activists, the back stories are often more insightful that what gets reported.

I investigated the so-called Values Voter 2008 Presidential Debate (brought to you by the reactionary American Family Association).  Once I located a transcript, I read it so you don't have to.

Take the jump.  And the poll!

Imagine your dad promising you that if you do all your chores, then he will give you a new bike for Christmas.  He gave you a bike once before, and sometimes gives you nice things, but you always feel like what you get is always kind of crappy, considering what you give.  You keep on doing all your chores for Dad.  And you really believe you're going to get that new bike.  Times get tough, though, and you dutifully keep on working hard for your dad.  You defend him, working even harder for him as if to make your sacrifice somehow worthwhile.  And Christmas is coming, so you get excited about that bike again.  But then one day he tells you he can't afford a bike, so you'll have to settle for a crappy knitted sweater this Christmas.  Dad needs the money to buy himself a bike.  You can try on your new sweater as soon as you finish your chores.

This what it's like to be a Christian conservative these days.  In my little analogy, Ted Olson is the bike you wanted, and Michael Mukasey is the sweater you have to settle for.  But you can't really question Dad's judgment.  It would be wrong.

Take the jump to see how to make Dad happy by pretending to be excited about your knit sweater.

Yesterday, I was sitting in a Starbucks reading a book and contemplating the redundancy of ordering a nonfat hot chocolate but saying "Yes" when they asked if I wanted whip cream.  Outside the store, a guy with a microphone and recorder was attempting to question passersby.

When one of the employees went out for a smoke break and came back inside, he told me that the reporter was asking people what they knew about Freddie Thompson and what they think of him.  I grinned momentarily, but contentedly remembered that I have no dog in this fight.

Then, a few minutes later, I couldn't resist, so I went on the radio.

Take the jump to see just how bad the media sucks.

Like many people here, I have not actively engaged in the debate about whether pursuing acts of impeachment against President Bush represents good leadership, good governance, good strategy, or good politics.  I just see it as so far off the table, and so late in the game, that it just isn't worth talking about.

It seems to me that many here are beating the drum for impeachment, others are hesitant, and others are opposed altogether.

Putting all those debates aside, how does the Libby pardon commutation today affect your view of impeachment.

I am no expert on health care policy, nor do I follow the advocacy of Michale Moore very seriously.  Yet I am aware that his new film is likely to engage millions of people in talking about national health care policy for the first time in years.

Who's seen the documentary?  Any sense about how people are reacting?  What impact do you think the film will have?

Post your comments about the movie here...
More importantly, use this as a forum to tell us YOUR health care stories... Oh, and take the poll.

We have been treated to an onslaught of books condemning the religious right this past year.  This, against the backdrop of Delay, Foley, Haggard, et al.  If ever there was a time for introspection within evangelicalism, surely it is now.  Even if they remain on their ruinous, theocratic course, they will have to come up with new leaders and a new strategy.

As progressives, all of us have experienced the frustration and futility of attempting to dissuade religious right enthusiasts.  So who will convince them?  Who will compel them?  Who can speak to them authentically, without bias, and in a way that honors their traditions?

I am more and more convinced that voice will have to come from within.  Enter Randall Balmer, author of the (relatively) new book, Thy Kingdom Come: An Evangelical's Lament.

For a summary of his argument, read on.  Take the jump.  And take the poll.

Every few months, Mrs. Lucky Ducky and I get into a serious discussion about our future: vocation, further education, when to start a family, and when and where to move.  To make a long story short, I want to go to Boston for my PhD but she finds Boston a little overpriced.  I say it's worth every penny, but the truth is, it's a few more pennies than what we have.  Lately, we've tried to come up with a compromise.  Over the weekend, she suggested Providence as a possibility.

I haven't written anything about Yearly Kos yet, because I've been busy and furthermore, I'm still processing what happened.

But I'd like to start a discussion about some of the issues raised in a panel about the importance of the South in U.S. politics.  For those of you who did not attend the panel, it featured Tom Schaller, Mudcat Saunders, and Joe Trippi.  The moderator was Jerome Armstrong.

Below the jump you will find a summary of both major arguments, but what I'm interested in seeing is a discussion of the pragmatism and importance of involving the South in the electoral calculus for the next few presidential cycles.

Come on in an' sit a spell.

As a Central Florida native with the attendant love-hate relationship (mostly hate...) with all things Disney, I recently had an opportunity to think about Disney's role in our political culture.

I live about 10 miles from the Disney resort area in Orlando.  I've been to the theme parks more times than I care to remember (though I've never paid admission because many of my friends are "cast members.")  My wife and I are celebrating our 4th anniversary this week, but I will be away at a conference.  So last night we took the opportunity to stay at a Disney resort and go to EPCOT this morning.

What follows are my reflections on the politics of Disney.  Feel free to take the poll and add your views, as well.