It's long been my position that McCain's courage while a POW says volumes about his character but not necessarily a lot about his qualifications for President, so I applaud Clark for speaking out. Also an act of courage.

I join Joan in wishing that the Obama camp didn't think it necessary to disavow Clark's remarks. Clark was not attacking McCain's patriotism or his courage. Obama's spokesman should have emphasized this point rather than apologizing for Clark's remarks. In defending Clark, Joan made the fatal mistake of making an analogy to Clinton. Joan, don't you know by now that if you even whisper the name Clinton, Salon readers are going to go NUTS and ignore your argument. Unfortunately, you are going to have to persuade by not bringing any reference to Clinton into your argument, no matter how valid.

I hope you don't have any influence in this matter. The general public, of which I am a part, knows very little about Kaine. Not an exciting choice. And Bayh has got to be the most wooden member of the Senate. The announcement of Bayh as VP would bring NO EXCITMENT to the ticket. Biden is not dull and he is seasoned whereas Obama is not, so that would help. He has many qualities to recommend him and if he could keep his mouth in control as much as he did throughout the Primary, he could be a good choice . . . but who trusts that he could?

Sebelius might be exciting. She doesn't have Hillary's baggage but she doesn't have her popularity either.

Choose another four . . . please.

For some strange reason, Obama can't seem to get the bounce he should have, given McCain's awful bumbling and Obama's adoring press. Thus, he needs to do better than pick a VP candidate the general public has barely heard of. Even though Bayh has been around for a long time, few outside the beltway know him; and once they get to know him, all would see how mannered and wooden he is. No bounce there! And is Kaine ready? His inexperience only reinforces Obama's. I certainly hope this is not the best Obama can do.

I've read a lot of calls for Richardson. Great resume, but terrible on the campaign trail. Thumbs down on him.

Initially I didn't think Hillary would be a good choice, but she would bring toughness, star power, and experience to the ticket, and she is an excellent campaigner. So, despite her baggage, I hope she's on the short list. I also think Sam Nunn would bring much more to the ticket than either Kaine or Bayh. I don't know enough about the governor of Kansas to comment on her, except that she, too, has no foreign policy creds.

It's kind of crazy to try to figure out who's the more arrogant. As many have noted, some arrogance is required to think you can be President of the most powerful nation in the world. Both make statements that are beyond their power to acheive. It has ever been thus in politics.

I think that Obama's problem is that he is not folksy and that's why an arrogant charge sticks. It's why McCain wants town hall meetings and Obama is not so eager for them. Different styles.

But Bonnie Erb made a good point in a recent column when she wrote that the Democrats have done a good job of deifying Obama; now it's time to humanize him.

That would help.

It's uncler to me what's media hype and what's reality. I have difficulty believing that Democratic Convention planners debated on whether to include a past, two-term Democratic President.

As to giving up on Hillary for VP. Yeah, I guess so. Initially I did not think she would be the right choice. Now I see where Obama is having trouble and what he needs to win. Specifically he needs Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. States where Clinton could really help. So now I wish Obama would choose her. Let some of the smart people decide what to do about Bill but don't forfeit the Election!

Obama did fine and, I think, he did the correct thing by going to Rick Warren's forum. He would have lost more by not going than he did by going. In fact, I don't think he lost at all. But he didn't win either. McCain did much better than expected because this is McCain's forum. It's why he wants townhalls and Obama doesn't. McCain knows how to relate stories that will connect with people. Obama just isn't folksy enough and folkiness is not something he can fake, although he could learn to do better in formats such as this one.

He did come across as thoughtful, and his answers, unlike McCain's were not sound bites or simplistic. Some people will see this.

I'm not sure I agree with Joan that Warren showed a slight bias toward McCain. Clearly he prefers McCain's pro-life views but Warren has said that evangelicals should not be one issue voters: they must care about the poor and the sick as well. He did hurry Obama through some of his answers. Perhaps Obama needs to learn to be succinct. This was one of his problems in the debates during the Primary as well.