-- Do leftists have such conniptions over Sarah Palin - so detest her, so see her as a threat - because she does not meet their definition of feminist? That is, because she is a woman who has achieved without sharing their ideologically skewed views?

-- And speaking of Alaska's now former governor: Why so much phony outrage and contrived dismay over Sarah Palin's early departure from office - and so little about the early departure of Florida Senator Mel Martinez?

-- ON cap-and-trade - formerly known as global warming, formerly known as climate change - how much sense is there in betting the future of America on energy renewables (wind, solar, tides) that currently account for just 5 percent of the nation's total power generation?

-- And really: As many European and Asian nations are, why not go proactive about domestically expanding nuclear power - the most environmentally friendly energy source of all?

-- Remember when the Centers for Disease Control cried wolf about SARS, avian flu, and heterosexual AIDS? Similarly, has the World Health Organization panicked in declaring a swine-flu "pandemic" on the basis of 244 deaths around the globe?

-- Two questions about health care legislation: (1) If there's a "public option" funded even partially by the taxpayers, will illegals be eligible for it? (2) Will members of Congress require themselves to participate in the final plan, or will they hold out for the elitist privilege of maintaining their current coverage under the private (and very competitive) Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan?

-- BARACK Obama said repeatedly on the campaign trail that with him in the White House, "You will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime." So what are we to make of proposals partly to finance health-care "reform" through taxes on private health insurers?

-- Further, how does Obama's campaign pledge square with (a) Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's refusal to reject higher taxes to reduce the federal deficit (estimated this fiscal year to reach nearly $2 trillion)? And (b) National Economic Council Director Larry Summers' remark regarding new taxes to finance socialized medicine: "It is never a good idea to absolutely rule (taxes) out"?

-- Is it too much to hope that ObamaCare, cap-and-trade, and card-check (authorization of (1) non-secret union organizing votes and (2) imposition of government-appointed arbitrators), the new administration's principal legislative initiatives since passage of the "stimulus," are in trouble - all three?