On the supposition that some|many of 10 million Obama supports will now consider Seppuku. Link for context http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/us/politics/02rezko.html?pagewanted=print

Not speaking for anybody other than myself, I note the following:

• John McCain: Keating Five Savings and Loan scandal survivor, Associated with known felons; cleared of wrongdoing. Recent ties to lobbyists under investigation
• Hillary Clinton: Whitewater survivor, real estate business deal with known felons, cleared of wrongdoing; ties with illegal fundraiser Norman Hsu.
• Barack Obama: real estate deal with alleged (but likely) felon Rezko, case pending. Returned campaign contributions from Rezko.
• Mike Huckabee: heard that his wife got free food when he was gov. Really!

All of the above are known as ambitious politicians. My supposed naivette is not shaken to its core. Another note of historical interest: when the U.S. capitol was moved from Philidelphia to now what is Washington D.C., many of the founding fathers tried to speculate on this information to make a killing in Real Estate. Bad, bad, Founding Fathers. As a U.S. citizen, I don't view my job in selecting a president as akin to being a judge in a virginity contest. I expect my candidates to be flawed human beings. I do find it increasing tedious that proponents of both candidates try to stereotype the opposition supporters using the opposing campaign's demeaning, pre-packaged soundbites. I don't think most people see themselves as guilty self-loathing male female bong smoking cult member feminazi sexist-racists for Barack Hillary.

This story really doesn't say anything beyond that Obama had a real estate transaction with a sleaze ball.

Finally and unfortunately, the New York Times is no longer an unimpeachable source. There's now a long list of bungling, most recently with the McCain story, Judith Miller's Iraq tales, and of course, a topic central to our recent conversations, multiple instances of plagiarism. I will follow this story closely, but I'll also be looking at the Sun-Times and other media sources.

Why do many of the recent pro-clinton posters have handles like Only the Truth, Deeper Truth, and Reality Counts?

What's wrong with Fantasy names, like Uncle Fester? Is this an insidious form of descrimination?

Didn't want to leave you out. Are you subject to the three laws? Maybe we could meet at Hari Seldon conference.

I have absolutely no plans to visit your country. You can have it all to yourselves as far as I'm concerned but you have a terrible habit of poking your noses into the governments of other countries, of deciding who should/should not rule and being in places where you cause more harm than good. Clinton, Obama, McCain...Take your choice.

You'd get a better sense of understanding of us, the Tequila swilling masses. Plus the scenery is pretty cool. You'd find out it's not as cut and dry as it appears at first. Yes, most of us are strangely oblivious of our empire, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary. Back during the apartheid days I worked with some folks from South Africa. Like you, they complained that the U.S. was a meddlesome country. But in their specific case they also complained we weren't meddlesome enough.

I don't see need to spam what looks to be the same exact post across several letter threads. We were getting into quite a thoughtful dustup without it.

but don't equate what our government does with the will of the population at large. I suspect most of us would rather NOT be 'meddling'.

There is a sharp dichotomy between what governments do and what the 'man on the street' wants. Not only here but in MANY MANY countries. After all, we're not all terribly different from each other. Our wants and needs are basically the same.

I agree with some of what you are saying, especially the latter part your post that is omitted here. But unfortunately, in a democracy, I think the buck stops with the citizens, even those who fail to vote. And if and when this country is no longer is republic, it will be because the citizenry failed to act, along the way. Yes, I think we'd rather not be meddeling, but we have accepted the fruits of such meddeling and have been lulled into a consumeristic stupor. I think we have to be held accountable to what is done in our name.

Yes, Barack is running on a mandate of change. But you'll notice that his speechs all say that people need to wake up and hold politicians accountable. Accountability will be needed even more so if he becomes president and he knows that. He's not stupid.