collecting blogging points for some bright shiny toy. Maybe some penny candy.

Beautifully put.

And savagely funny, yet with a hint of pathos.

We all have our demons; some of us are consumed by smallness of spirit.

Pity such people, but you're right, Celia, don't sweat them.

Your indignation is justified and I share it, but please, take care with your rhetoric: I don't think it's fair to say Obama is shooing away Muslims.

Your point is well-taken, but I think this rhetorical turn is hyperbolic and unfair.

I can't say I didn't see this coming. In all the furor about Obama being a "secret Muslim" and the campaign's fervent denials, I always wished that someone would at least have the decency to point out that such accusations, while obviously intended as a smear, should not be considered so even if they are false, because there is nothing wrong with being a Muslim.

A resounding, hearty hear, hear.

I was disappointed as well that he never said, "I happen not to be a Muslim, but so what if I was?"

I have not a shred of doubt that this is Obama's conviction and wish he'd push the envelope a little by making a statement to this effect, but I also understand politics and the reality of the repugnant vultures out there (nice phrase, btw).

But maybe this sort of incident will force his hand, which would be great.

I'd love, love, love to see him denounce this behavior in no uncertain terms. If he could give a major speech about tolerance, I think it could actually help him politically.

The idea, though, that he has to distance himself unnaturally from Muslims (thus selling them out) is deeply troubling to me.

I really hope he can handle this with a deft stroke of Justice.

But he probably wouldn't be able to talk about it without claiming it was the white man's fault. Maybe it is to some extent, but it sure wouldn't be a straight line of responsibility by any stretch, and it probably isn't terribly helpful to say so.

Very well put.

Here's to complexity.

See, the problem is, more cops on the street = more prisoners in prison. That means we have to spend more money on prison guards.

Where will that money come from?

Privatization of prisons, funded I presume in part by prison labor and public monies.

Let's stick to the topic at hand: Fatherhood. Obama's main message is that being a good, present father, a role model, is essential. What could be a more important message than that?

And of course, it might just as well have been not about fatherhood, but citizenship, which is why Obama carries this great potential to revitalize the very ethos of citizenship.

It's just about demanding excellence, period.

In fathers, yes, but mothers, children, leaders, parents, everyone.

It's hard fucking work to maintain the standard he sets and he knows it.

And still, he sets it.

It will take nothing less than a collective pursuit of excellence to rescue this rotting country and save ourselves from the epic catastrophes that threaten us.

Agreed.

He's something special. This is where he shines. It's his vision. His generosity of spirit. His inner strength.

He just needs to hone his chops, and in fact has been doing so these past months.

He really does have the potential to achieve greatness.

And I don't say that lightly.

Btw, I just re-read my first comment and you're right, I did snap.