©Daryl Cagle

As Sarah Palin's vice-presidential nomination continues to energize the religious right, the hypocrisy of right wing authoritarians becomes more apparent than ever.

According to psychologist Robert Altmeyer, authoritarian personalities are characterized by hierarchical submission to traditional authorities, aggression and conventionalism. Altmeyer has done extensive empirical research on the subject, which is summarized in his book, 'The Authoritarians'.

Summary: Gold continued its steady rise from the recent lows below $800 an ounce. The dollar also resumed its rise against the euro.

The recent rise of the dollar has been attributed to evidence that the rest of the world is entering a recession and that the downturn will not be limited to the United States. It has also been fueled by an export-based mini-recovery in the United States. A recent revision of U.S. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) number showing a 3.5% annualized growth rate in the second quarter of 2008 shows the results of both the growth in exports from the United States and the effects of the tax rebate checks being spent in the economy.

Both, however, cannot last, as the checks have already been spent and the dollar is now rising (it was the low dollar that fueled exports). So, while a little good news is always welcome, we're not out of danger, by any means. The drop in the price of gold this summer has made all currencies seem stronger, but what is really behind it all?

Attempting to tease apart the magical thinking surrounding our national tragedy is harder than spotting a white rabbit

It would be so nice if something made sense for a change.

--Alice, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

©unknown

Pet Goat: President Bush listens to Andrew Card inform him of the 9-11 attacks.

We're hurtling down the rabbit hole. Gravity's refuted. Black is white, and white turns bitter, transfigured by a mawkish Mad Hatter blithely chewing up our Constitution, juggling missile-shaped teacups, splashing sweet, light crude and cold blood everywhere. To anyone who's passed through the last eight years believing whatever George W. Bush and his minions have blown their way, well, best of luck to you, because most of it hasn't been true.

Does that mean, then, that W. and his cronies were behind the 9-11 attacks? Of course not. Some say, however, if it looks, waddles and quacks like a duck and lays duck eggs, then perhaps it's time we re-examine it under oath, because it just might be a friggin' duck. (Fact: Nixon White House audiotapes reveal Tricky Dick literally quacking like a duck. Nixon was a lot of things, but ducky wasn't one of them.)

We're all mad here.

--the Cheshire Cat

I've been away for awhile... maybe a month or more... maybe I've always been away and just drop in on occasion with a new personality for the next period of engagement. It's hard to know what's what. Look at the problem people have with reality. They must have a problem with it because they will accept anything but it, and they generally prefer to be told what is happening rather than look into the situation themselves. By the title of this piece and by your own observations, I guess you know I'm talking about significantly more than half of the population.

I've long been of the opinion that all of the great and transformative acts for good that are practiced on this Earth are accomplished by ten percent of the people. I've also felt that the majority of evil is accomplished by another ten percent. The people in the middle are the hamburger meat in the fast food restaurant of the times in which we live. Among this group are thirty six personality types and you meet them all as you go and long before you actually leave. There are a handful of unique characters who exemplify their time and there is a much larger group that plays a tape loop over and over again until it wears out. You could no more talk to these people about what is really going on than you could convince them that they have anything to do with it.