I HAVE A GRAND SNEAKING SUSPICION THAT THE REPUBLICANS AND THE FUNDAMENTALISTS AND OTHER ARCH CONSERVATIVES ARE GETTING THEIR SKELETONS OUT OF THE CLOSET NOW BECAUSE TODAYS MEDIA SATED PUBLIC HAS A GLORIOUSLY SHORT MEMORY - COME ELCTION TIME THIRTEEN MONTHS FROM NOW ALL THESE SCANDALS AND SHORTCOMINGS AND OUTRAGES AND GOOFS WILL BE DISTANT MEMORY. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOTHING TO COUNTER THE FAR RIGHT'S SHORTCOMINGS AND SEEM RATHER EMPTY THEMSELVES. IT'S LOOKING LIKE GINGRICH IN '08. NEW ZEALAND IS LOOKING BETTER AND BETTER ALL THE TIME.