Got myself in big trouble last night. Out with a couple couples,

[mr_hat]

the husbands of which are unquestioning repubs. I usually -- no, I've always in the past -- managed to remain civil.

Last night for some reason, though, I was loaded for elephant. I got real ugly and real insistant. The war, the economy, the press, labor, the fundies, the environment, social security, our global reputation, fascism...

One of the guys has made a killing in shorting the dollar against the euro. When I got on him for that, that was it. The whole thing blew up.

I'm embarrassed to have ruined what should have been a pleasant evening out. But damn... It's all RIGHT THERE though; right up in my craw. It's come down to us vs. them at the friendship, even family level.

So here I sit, feeling guilty and ashamed. Thank you, Dubya, for being a uniter.