"Have you listened to the speech? Did Obama not answer and refute the issue?"

He repudiated the statements while not really repudiating the man. That'll be enough for some, not for others. The fact is this is still being discussed and pontificated about. Hence, it's not over yet.

Nothing is ever "over". Surely you've learned that by now. Whether Obama's refutation satisfies everyone or not is not at issue. That he took action is.

"We'll see in coming months. And I'm sad to see you think everything is driven by political calculation alone. Makes me wonder what your values are (if you have any)."

Well, you are happy to think of that of Republicans. I just believe it equally of Republicans and Democrats. It's the difference between a realist and a wide-eyed partisan.

Perhaps I'm simply old fashioned enough to believe in things like 'ideals'. Although I'm as cynical as the next on some things.

Like I said, he had 20 years to do this. He's doing it now; go figure. If you can't join the dots on that one, you don't deserve help.

Do you read minds now, or are you just presuming motives? Perhaps its you who needs 'help' if your starting to think you're telepathic.

"Am I? Have I actually said "Rev. Wright is correct"?"

You defended him as a 'decent man'. Is it possible for a decent man to hold indecent views? I suppose so,

Very good. Perhaps you are learning.

but for the purposes of this dicussion his indecent views and the manner in which he propogates them are what matters.

Will you say the same for Hagee and Parsley and McCain? Somehow I doubt it.

The idea that we should engage in a holistic assessment of the person (are they nice to children and animals etc) before condemning them for holding their views is rather strange to hear from a Greenwald acolyte - Greenwald being a man who has scarcely a good word to say about anyone or anything and has made a career out of seething bitchery.

A strange characterization, especially since you presume much of Glenn's character. And for the record, Glenn doesn't dictate what I think or feel on any given subject. Calling me an 'acolyte' presumes much more than is either warranted or deserved.

"No. It really is with those who refuse to actually think and prefer to insist the Earth is flat."

That, my friend, is boilerplate. I'm all for insults, but if you are just going to unhook some lefty cliche off the peg and recycle it as though it were insight, I'm not going to bother talking to you any more.

How is it "boilerplate"? The Flat Earth Society still exists, as does The Rapture Index, the 700 Club, talk radio, and reprints of "The Late Great Planet Earth". Hardly a 'lefty cliche' when you consider these things in total, never mind their continued popularity.

Insist upon your own interpretation of events as you wish. Just be aware you'll be called upon them in due course. Whether you can deal with such critiques is a matter between you and your own soul.

"Perhaps I'm simply old fashioned enough to believe in things like 'ideals'. Although I'm as cynical as the next on some things."

Well, your ascribing of ideals or cynicism to a given situation seems to split pretty much down party lines. Hence,you are a partisan.

And when did I do this?

"Do you read minds now, or are you just presuming motives? Perhaps its you who needs 'help' if your starting to think you're telepathic."

This isn't telepathy. It's basic political analysis. A results in B. You'd be well-served if you boned up on it. You don't seem to have the vaguest clue.

My Master of Arts is in Political Science, emphasis in Public Policy, with research done in eastern Ohio. If I've learned anything from wading through that moral and ethical swamp, its that things are never as simple as your 'basic political analysis'.

"Will you say the same for Hagee and Parsley and McCain? Somehow I doubt it."

If it becomes an issue - eg. if there evidence a substantial enough number of people are bothered by that endorsement/relationiship - then I wouldn't try to offset it by pointing to what a swell guy Hagee is outside of his looney-tune pronouncements.

Little chance of that anyway; Hagee is a huckster and snake oil salesman. He has no record of either public service or charitable acts.

The contrast with Wright, who does, couldn't be more clear.

"A strange characterization, especially since you presume much of Glenn's character."

I'm not presuming anything. I read his joyless, humorless, plodding bitchy diatribes all the time.

How sad that's all you see. Still, can't be helped.

"How is it "boilerplate"?"

It's been used a hundred thousand times before (as has the 'people who refuse to think for themselves' meme) and never to less effect.

Must've touched a nerve. Probably hit some truth without realizing it.

"Whether you can deal with such critiques is a matter between you and your own soul."

Oh God, he's talking about my soul. Don't worry. I'm sure Barack and Michelle will be ready to mend any deficits my soul might suffer come November.

That's between you and the gods, friend. I'm sure the Obamas will have more important things to deal with after November.