I think the entire progressive blogosphere is linking to this today, but this post summarizes our current political situation beautifully. It's long, but worth reading the whole thing. Grab a hot toddy and enjoy.

Let me start by analyzing the two other leading candidates:

Hillary is smart and politically savvy, which means she will probably avoid making stupid gaffes like John Kerry routinely did in 2004. But she's so beholden to corporate interests and prone to triangulation that I don't see her bringing about any bold or meaningful change. I also don't see her as quite the inevitable victor that everyone else does. America's aversion to having a lady in charge runs deep.

Obama, I'm sorry to say, has been pissing me off. On his blog, Paul Krugman has been documenting Obama's repeated use of right-wing memes on the campaign trail -- from claiming we have a Social Security "crisis" (we don't, mainly because Reagan and Greenspan raised payroll taxes in the 1980s on working folks), to going squishy on universal health care. He's opposed to mandates, which are necessary for this sort of cost-sharing program, and wants to work with the insurance companies to find a solution that makes everyone happy. Except the kind of health care reform we need isn't going to make the insurance companies happy. Saying so does not make one anti-business. When an industry becomes as inefficient and of as dubious public benefit as the health insurance industry has, then it's good business to create an alternative. I say this as a small businessperson (very small!) who pays through the nose for health insurance.

Repeating right-wing talking points does long-term damage to the cause of solving our health care crisis (and it is a crisis). To invoke them for short-term political gain at the expense of the country is unforgivable.

Edwards rightly regards making a deal that will please the insurance companies as a "complete fantasy." The past seven years of Bush administration's unwillingness to compromise on practically everything tells you all you need to know about trying to find common ground with market fundamentalists/movement conservatives. A true leader goes on the offensive, sets the terms of the debate, and doesn't let the other side define him or her. Edwards is the only mainstream candidate to do this consistently. And his message about the abuses of power that have led to gross inequality in this country needs to be heard. I do worry that the idiotic haircut story will sink him, but he deserves our support for having the courage to say what needs to be said.

Ultimately, I predict it'll come down to Clinton vs. McCain. I can't believe these newspapers in New Hampshire think Mitt Romney is a phony but not McCain. That man is as slick a politician as they come; he always compromises his supposedly "maverick" ideals whenever push comes to shove. A total weasel.

As per usual this time of year, it's a "classic" Slowpoke, as I a) celebrate the holidays, b) work on my book, and c) give the creative nodes of my cerebrum a rest. But I did take the time to color it for you kind readers.

Merry Christmas!

Here's something I drew recently for "The Sex Files" column by Dr. Annette Owens in the C-VILLE Weekly. This week's installment, entitled "Butt Seriously, Folks", is about safe anal play for straight couples. The article recommends lube in ample quantities.

I was not able to post this early Monday morning, as is my wont, because we had a fairly severe windstorm in Virginia on Sunday, which knocked out our power for nearly 24 hours. Actually, it may have been more than that, but I left before the lights came back on. I'm now at my secret underground bunker in the mountains, where I will hopefully be completing work on my new book.

On to the strip: First they were called "enduring bases." Then the name was changed to the even more euphemistic "contingency operating bases." But at this point, there can be little doubt that the super-size military bases being constructed in Iraq are not exactly disappearing anytime soon. Here's a nice summary of what's going on on that front. The Bush administration flatly denies plans for "permanent military bases," which according to the Opposite Rule that applies to everything the Bushies say, means we are building permanent military bases.

Given how the Bushies have crapped all over the national park system, this "cute" Barneycam video (courtesy Think Progress) on the White House website appalls on multiple levels. As the owner of a terrier breed that is a cousin to the Scottie, I am offended by this gross display of dogsploitation.

Don't miss the cartoonish "boy-oy-yoing!" at the end.

Following up on last week's cartoon, I noticed that today's virtual gift on Facebook is a bottle of Clinique perfume called "Happy." This suggests to me that advertisers are now paying to have their products given as virtual gifts. Wow. There's something very weird about that.

When I reloaded the page, a virtual ham hock came up as today's gift. Happy Hanukkah! At least that doesn't seem to be sponsored by Hickory Farms or anything.

I hate these dark days leading up to the winter solstice. I don't think I have seasonal affective disorder per se, but the darkness and gloom do get to me. How you Alaskans and Scandinavians deal with your four-hour daytimes or whatever is beyond me. I guess Finnish saunas and Swedish massages go a long way.

To my Australian readers, many of whom have written me kind emails over the years: please understand I am kidding about your didgeridoos and overall worthiness of your country, even though I am extremely jealous of you right now. To my relief, John in Queensland wrote to say he liked the insult Australia party but that technically, Mel Gibson is not Australian as he was born in Peekskill, New York. He adds, "Thank goodness we don't have to claim ownership of that nut-job." Alas, he's got me there.

After months of telling myself "No more social networking," I recently said "What the hell" and took the Facebook plunge (You can friend me here). There, I was amazed to find hundreds of virtual objects for sale, which users could purchase to give to their Facebook friends. In addition to those mentioned in the cartoon, there are puppies, panties, cupcakes, hamburgers, polar bears... the list goes on and on. I would rather walk down the street singing "Proud To Be An American" in a Smurf suit than be caught paying money for a virtual beaver.

There's something wrong with a web-based business model that has users paying for pictures of balloon dogs, while news and entertainment sites refuse to pay writers and other "content providers" for their talented work.