You probably all know where I stand on Michael Moore. I think the guy's a genius and I'm thankful for his voice in a time of madness.

I loved Bowling For Columbine , and I'm glad it won the Oscar.

But I have to admit, there were a couple of things in the movie that made me uneasy - like the fact that the graph showing numbers of gun-related homicides globally wasn't identified as being all from the same year - in the sort of way that you cringe when someone is making your own case a little too strenuously.

Now - perhaps expectedly given Moore's Oscar acceptance speech, but also beforehand - there seems to be a campaign to discredit the film and its creator.

Problem is, though, beneath the rightwing rhetoric, a lot of the criticisms are based on his use of the medium, specifically relating to judicious editing and scene fabrication; and if proven, could do a hell of a lot of damage to his reputation as a documentary film maker.

I hope he can rebut them and stop this in its tracks.

We all from time to time feel strongly enough about something not to let the facts get in the way of our argument. But, dammit, this argument is important. And his ability to stand up and make it on behalf of those of us who are less eloquent is important too. That's why everything we do in pursuit of that argument absolutely has to be above reproach.

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War. What is it good for....?

As Steve Earle said last night, I believe with all my heart you can sincerely pray for all of those in harm's way and still oppose this war.

Some people aren't so sure.

If I have this conversation one more time.....

Forget whether or not Arnett's firing was fair. Just be glad the Newsday staffers are safe.

But it's not all good news today. Very sorry to hear about the BBC cameraman.

My friend Jim Rupert is in Jordan for Newsday; while another, the Washington Post's Monte Reel is embedded with the 82nd Airborne.

Still another, Dan Ephron, is Newsweek's Jerusalem correspondent.

Needless to say, I hope they're all ok, and I look forward - more than ever, this year - to seeing them in September for our annual reunion.

Yet who knows what might have passed under the bridge before we can all share a beer again? By Labor Day will our forces have subdued Iraq and moved on to Bush's next "crusade"? Will Congress have been forced into yet another 'emergency' military budget bailout? Will any Democrat other than Howard Dean have the guts to take a stand and question the moral, ethical and legal justification surrounding the war?

In any case, it's never too early to think about freezing your ass off in a cornfield. Roll on January 19.

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The real price of everything, what everything really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.

Adam Smith; The Wealth of Nations