If you're just joining me, I'm quoting some moments from last night's debate as I read through the transcript (I didn't see it -- I was in class... and then I watched Queer Eye for the Straight Guy).

You knew I was going to quote this:

COOPER: All right, we are getting a lot of e-mail pouring in. Probably a predictable question just got asked. It is an e-mail from a viewer: "Which of you are ready to admit to having used marijuana in the past?"

And they want us to go around and ask each of you.

Governor Dean?

DEAN: We'll all keep our hands down on this one.

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: John--Senator Kerry? Yes or no?

KERRY: Yes.

(APPLAUSE)

COOPER: Congressman Kucinich, yes or no?

(APPLAUSE)

KUCINICH: No, but I think it ought to be decriminalized.

(APPLAUSE)

COOPER: Reverend Sharpton?

SHARPTON: I grew up in the church. We didn't believe in that.

COOPER: OK. Senator Edwards?

EDWARDS: Yes.

(APPLAUSE)

COOPER: Senator Lieberman?

(APPLAUSE)

LIEBERMAN: Well, you know, I have a reputation for giving unpopular answers in Democratic debates. I never used marijuana, sorry.

COOPER: General Clark?

CLARK: Never used it.

COOPER: Ambassador Braun?

MOSELEY BRAUN: I'm not going to answer.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

COOPER: And Governor Dean?

DEAN: Yes.

COOPER: Yes, all right.

(APPLAUSE)

What are you hiding, Carol? Are you paranoid?

Seriously, everyone except for Carol handled this properly in Arlo's America. Ever since "I didn't inhale," every presidential election is going to have the drug question. I, for one, think it's a relevant one. George Bush had well publicized alcohol and cocaine problems. I'm glad that the President is over his cocaine problems, as he should be. However, he won't discuss it. The air of secrecy raises suspicion.

In everyone else's America, how do you answer this question? Will everyone who said yes now be attacked by the neopures* of the nation? I think everyone who said yes is going to be attacked by the neopures anyway, so you might as well be honest.

Oh, and I bet Sharpton is lying.

*Like my new word? "Neocon", for neo-conservative, has been bandied about -- ahem -- liberally (wink). And Atrios is fond of "conservatarian," the ultra-conservative, borderline libertarian. So if you like this blog, start dropping "neopure" in your political debates. As you figured, it's short for "neo-puritans," like the Christian Right or the 700 Club, who think gays are going to hell and yet skipped over that whole "rich man passing through the eye of a needle" thing.