Well Dave, much of the problem is that there has been no debate on Afghanistan. Had there been, my quite obviously brilliant notions would now be policy. Instead, those close to the President - a man whose intellect I greatly admire and who's many burdens I would willingly help lift - are (perhaps unwittingly, perhaps not) leading him down a path that will lead to outcomes detrimental to the future of our nation and further violence in the Middle East.

Sunny is not in the forecast. Dave, I can't tell you how much I dread the day when I publish my lengthy reminder that I saw this coming - perhaps that's a dread you share.

Don't read too much into the "beat goes on" concerning the debate - just that the "beat goes on"... My feeble attempt at some light heartiness concerning this issue - bada bing…

Best of luck on your lengthy reminder brilliant, underappreciated scholar. As far as dread, the only thing that comes to mind is driving on I-95 North in Virginia during rush hour and trying to avoid the text-messaging / cell-phone using aggressive drivers... Other than that, the beat goes on... La de da de de, la de da de da...

--Dave

I fear you may come to rue the day when you opened the door to application of obscure Sonny and Cher references to our efforts to secure a land of gypsies, tramps, and thieves.

Fortunately for you I'm above all that.