I'm beginning to doubt there are any sensible, thinking persons left in Washington. And I'm not too sure about the rest of the country, either.

The police trusted the dad not to give the guns back to the son. Unbelievable. And Congress is unwilling to protect Mueller. I keep thinking things can't get much worse. And yet ....

I think I'm happier with Trump backing off. The thought of Trump and Kim standing face to face arguing "my missile is bigger than yours" is very, very scary.

I am heartened by the reaction of the Parkland students, our next generation of voters. I understand their planned nationwide demonstration on March 25 (?) has drawn the active support of the organizers of the Women's March. I hold out little hope that any meaningful legislation will result from all this, but I applaud the students in their efforts, even as I grieve their losses.

You may get your wish. I saw a story somewhere about how now the kids are marching in protest, asking why adults and/or the government didn't protect them better, act sooner, have better security measures in place at the school, etc. It was heartening. Maybe when they are old enough to vote, they'll be able to do something. I've less than no sympathy for lawmakers who, with all the mass shootings we've had, still sit on their hands and say there's nothing they can do (Second Amendment, you know) while pocketing millions from the NRA.

Winter got a lot better after I retired and didn't have to drive in it anymore. But I still don't like the pressure of the holidays or the very short days. Darkness at 4:30 is absurd and depressing. Like you, fall has always been my favorite season.

I didn't watch the SOTU. He is a loathsome creature whose every word and gesture sickens me. I give him no credit for being able to read a Stephen Miller speech from a teleprompter.

Amen to all that.

Moore's losing would give me hope that there are still some sane people left on the right side of the aisle. If he wins, it will confirm my worst fears. It shouldn't matter to me one way or the other. And yet, it does.

There were already plenty of accusations against Moore. Now there's a big one against PV. I do worry, however, about all the accustions of sexual misconduct flying around, but no charges, no trials, no convictions. Yes, "believe her," but follow up. An unproven accusation or two or a dozen should not be enough to ruin a career. And it sets a dangerous precedent for future elections. "Trust but verify" was good advice.

Please let there be a sanity clause! And let it be invoked immediately. In Washington and across the nation. If we must live under an ugly black cloud of suspicion, hate, and dread, it should at least be a cloud cast by our enemies abroad, not by our fellow Americans.

So I take it you are upset with our Dear Leader?

Problem is, the media seem to be willing hostages. Trump hollers "squirrel" and they all jump. (And he constant uses that to his advantage.) Then they spend hours in "what does this mean?" mode. After all, if the president says it, then it must be important. They need to stop feeding the man's egomania.

I confess I've nothing at all kind to say about the man. He is such a boorish narcissist that I'll settle for hoping the country survives his presidency without too much damage. My mother's teachings aside, I hope to see the man utterly humiliated, taught that he is not omnipotent and is not above the law (although he'll probably go to his grave thinking he is).

We can only hope ...

He was just itching to do something like this. It falls right in line with his desire for a Russian- or Chinese-style military parade at his inaugural. He thinks flexing military might is the best way to look like a strong leader. I can't really argue against a targeted strike in this particular case, but I certainly hope our military leaders are running the show and not our deranged president.

I'm proud to say my Dem senator is the last and only Dem standing in opposition to a filibuster, though not yet saying if he'll vote Gorsuch up or down. But maybe he doesnt' deserve that much credit since Gorsuch is a fellow Coloradan. Frankly I think the Dems should go along with the man who seems to be the most qualified of the conservative judges. They should hold their fire this time and go all out against the next nominee, if Trump gets to name a second justice, because it's that justice who will unbalance the court to the right.

I agree wholeheartedly. I cringe at the very thought of Democrats announcing (proudly, even) that they intend to "Resist!" and replace the Republicans as "The Party of 'No.'" That's precisely the attitude that gridlocked the nation for eight years. And yet that's the path they want to choose? Better they look for common ground wherever it can be found; create, offer, and support compromises, options, and alternatives. It's not about party, dammit! It's about doing what's best for the country. And where there's disagreement about that, be adult enough to work out compromises that will at least allow a bit of forward progress.

I flounder when trying to think of the single best word to describe him, but certainly "delusional' is near the top of the list. No, he's not lying if he actually believes what he's saying, even when all the evidence shows that he's wrong. If his aides can't even keep him from obsessing about crowd sizes and voter numbers for weeks after he's won the election, I can't imagine what he'll do when some crisis occurs. I keep hoping someone will find a way to remove him from office before he does something truly awful to the country. (Remember, he now controls the nuclear codes.)

Nothing here but acute anxiety about the future and deep disgust that a man who so craves the spotlight has managed to capture the greatest spotlight of all.

Milbank's headline sums up my feelings. To date I've seen nothing from the man deserving of respect. Nor do I expect to in the future unless something changes drastically. To date, utter disdain is the best I've been able to do.

Anything is possible, but I'm certainly not holding my breath. Trump may be a shrewd (and ruthless) businessman and that might help solve some problems. But the office also requires political and diplomatic expertise and he lacks both. Still, we can hope that on occasion he will butt heads with his Republican collegues and give us some kind of acceptable compromise. I agree that Dems should not become the same kind of blind obstructionists that the Republicans have been for 8 years. When it's necessary, of course, but there should be ongoing efforts to cooperate and compromise, offering worthwhile alternatives, etc.

A person must earn my respect through word and deed. Trump has done nothing to earn my respect ... and a great deal to earn my disdain. As for the media, it's not their job to "respect" anyone. It's their job to report the truth, something for which Trump has no respect.

Persuade? Educate? Realize that preconceptions aren't a sound basis for governing? Can a tiger change its stripes? And who would fire him? A Republican-controlled Congress? I'm still in a state of disbelief and horror and don't expect that to change.

Yes, for sure, this year more than ever. It's been one of the longes, darkest years I can remember.