mithros:

...and Johnnie Chung who donated money to her husband directly from the Chinese government..

Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), is that you, posting under the name "mithros"?

I mean, seriously, man...come on. Really? Are we going to do THAT again? What's next, shooting pumpkins in your backyard to "prove" Vince Foster was murdered...

But, all that said (and in the hope of avoiding too much of a flame war, my spin on Barry's (presumably still extant) smoking: Hey, it could end up helping him. Picture it, Barry sneaking out to grab a smoke and hanging out with the only other people around who are also smoking (which, I'm just saying, are not likely to be the young, idealistic Democratic Hope Crusaders of his campaign)...the press. All of a sudden, he's granting them extra access and, in return, they don't mention the smoking. He could end up being as beloved by the press as John "Ask Me About My Secret Sauce" McCain...