At the risk of alienating some of the hardcore Bushies, I confess that I like Teresa Heinz Kerry. She's unscripted, bold, and outspoken--maybe, judging from comments she made at a Washington state fundraiser, a little too outspoken. "Two brothers own 80 percent of the [election] machines used in the United States," Heinz Kerry complained, tellingly, on Saturday night. According to a Seattle Post-Intelligencier columnist, she labeled the election-machine company owners "hard-right" Republicans. She also noted that it is "very easy to hack into the mother machines." In other words, she believes her husband may have been cheated out of the Oval Office.

Seven weeks ago, I introduced readers to several memorable characters charging Republicans with a massive election-day conspiracy to steal the presidency. "I think they stole Ohio," one activist theorized. "I think the exit polls were correct." A Lincoln, Massachusetts woman, citing the pro-Kerry views of friends and neighbors, believed vote fraud denied John Kerry the presidency too: "I believe that the Republican party has consistently used fraud to get into office and to stay in office." It's mildly disturbing that a woman who harbors the same views as these fringe types was a hundred-thousand or so votes from becoming the First Lady. On the other hand, politics would be so much more interesting with Teresa Heinz Kerry in the White House.

It's great to have some nutcases running around, makes the news more interesting. This was the only silver lining I could find to the return of Mayor-For-Life Former-Mayor Marion S. Barry, Jr.

Theresa Heinz Kerry is the Wendy-O Williams of the Democratic political arena.

Theresa Heinz Kerry is the Steven Segal of the democratic political arena

She's the kind of 'nuts' that being a billionaire allows. Entertaining in a scary kind of way.

Heinz-Kerry told a reporter from my hometown of Pittsburgh, to "shove it".

She also stuck her foot in her mouth more than once on the campaign trail, and made a complete a** out of herself.

The simple fact is, first ladies should be seen and not heard. This is not a sexist statement. I am not voting for the spouse of a candidate, therefore I expect that he/she will stay out of policy decisions and not bring on attention.

When Hillary runs in 2008, and if she gets elected, we will not have one President in office, but two dictators pushing their agenda on the people. Is this what we really want?

Laura Bush is a wonderful first lady. She exhibits something that Heinz-Kerry and Hillary do not have; Grace! She's a woman, the wife of the President, and she knows her role. Look how much a distraction Hillary was in The White House. Do we want that again?

Politics should NOT be entertaining. Too many of these clowns consider themselves celebrities and not public servants. A little less showtime, and a little more work, please.

Actually Nightfly I would like more showtime and less work from pols as their "works" are overwhelmingly bad for us.

T.H.K. is a spectacular lady, I dig her. I really enjoyed how she was too honest with herself to ever really succeed at being publicly pro-abortion. She consistently put the lie to the pro-abort stance by not being able to internalize their specious reasoning and sophistical rhetoric.

Brian,

The first lady is not running for office. Therefore, we don't care what her policies are. How complicated is that? If she wants to support her husband in policy, fine, but i'm generally not basing my decision on the woman behind the man, or the man behind the woman, for that matter.

I didn't know that I had suggested that you vote based on who the first lady is or will be CJD? I don't have a problem with why you vote.

Brian - you make a good point. Let's get the "part-time Congress" movement started.

On the other hand, it is nice to know a little bit about who has the ear of the president. For instance, it would be better to know that the president wasn't married to a tree-spiker or some sort of radical like that. It doesn't say something directly about the candidate, but it might give add to a overall sense of who the candidate is.