I watched the show and never felt you backed off at all. The problem for ANY guest is that the hysteria levels are off the charts. So the question becomes -- do you join into the insanity or try to be the voice of reason? I thought you handled yourself very well.

There is a factor about NH and maybe in the electorate that I don't believe has had enough consideration: the Barak campaign's not always so subtle disdain of baby boomers, of "old people." Joan did address this to some extent in the article. But the boomers and even older Democrats are the people who worked for civil and women's rights. Now we've been told that we are old news. Or, as I saw on one message board, coming from a young independent Obama supporter: "STFU and get out of the way."

I wonder if some of those last minute votes came from people -- women and men alike -- who were not quite ready to get the boot from the party they built.

That tactic is not helpful to the campaign, and since if my candidate doesn't get the nomination, I want Obama to win the general I hope they are very careful. And frankly, I don't know if those young, independent supporters will stick around and do the work if we did lose in the general.

I've about had it with the Obama campaign assigning race to any question about his votes or any historical realities. He's got me so paranoid I hesitate to even speak of the presidential "race."

Why hasn't he had to explain his use of Jay Z's incredibly sexist "I got 99 problems and a bitch ain't one" in his campaign?

Despite the strong arming. Buy a clue Obama supporters. He started out by telling baby boomers to get out of his way. Then he played "I got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one" when he accepted his Iowa win. THEN he says Ronald Reagan is God and the Republicans have had better ideas than Democrats. And you morons wonder why some of us are a little concerned? If he loved Reagan (who set this country on the corporate takeover path) then he should have run as a Republican. Maybe you haven't been Democrats long enough to remember why those words were disgusting.

When that rap story came out I emailed the Post and protested it because I didn't believe it was true. They emailed back and said it damn sure was. There have been other things Barak did that gave me pause including referring to "some peoples" experience being tea parties.

No outrage about blatant sexism. No media questions. He is much like Reagan. He's teflon.

But if he's the candidate, I'll contribute, work for him and do whatever it takes. I truly don't think these indies and Repubs he's got will stick with the Democrats no matter what -- if Edwards was winning they'd be screaming "trial lawyer!" They have started some sort of quasi-religion. And I believe that he will "work" with his pal Lieberman to our detriment. For God's sake, he's said he'll consider Arnold Schwarzenegger as an advisor.

And I am sick to death of an Obama win being described in the media as a win for "the dream" while a Clinton win is "politics."

that a phony like Joe Klein made even one dime off the name of a man like Woody Guthrie.

And Walter Shapiro's head is stuck in his butt.

Joe must be doing something right. I find myself thinking he's either brilliant or a stupid jerk depending on whether or not I agree with him.

SHOOTS and SCORES!

"So, this ridiculous and non-stop assault on the Clintons proves that the right-wing's effort to destroy actually works."

What a crock. I fear that message of "hope" is that the young senatr "hopes" that Republicans will hug him and play nice just because he talks like a preacher.

What's the matter with Jesse Jackson?

I haven't lived in my homestate in years, but keep in touch with many friends and relatives. JPETTY is spot on. Kansas will remain red. Although I do know of one elderly farmer, a rock ribbed Republican, who says he'd vote Democratic for the first time in his life if Hillary Clinton is the nominee. He likes her farm policies. Who'd a thunk it?

"I hope people begin to recognize the difference between the Midwest and the South.

-- aafmuller"

All the while I grew up in Kansas, I assumed the state was a "Midwest" state. Much later I realized that in fact, it is not. Ohio is a Midwest state. Kansas is a Prairie state. It has a great history of progressive thinking on many issues. Especially if you believe in the Frontier Theory. Unfortunately, too many clowns have destroyed our public image. A remain a proud Sunflower, despite this revoltin' development.

My sister,a Republican Hillary supporter, has switched back to watching Fox News because she can't listen to the constant bashing on MSNBC. She says at least Fox is halfway fair.

We muzzle a husband, ex-president or not, because he defends his wife against smears from a thin-skinned opponent. We hold caucuses where thugs can take over and destroy the ballot system. Goodbye Democracy.

Just wait until the slime machine gets through with him, starting with outright lies, then moving on to some sleaky politics he played in Illinois. And in debates, it won't matter that McCain is a crazy old war monger, Barack will look like a young, green and yes -- arrogant -- guy trying to go after a "war hero." By the time they punk him out, that thin skinned temperment of his will be apparent. He won't stand a chance.

And they keep buyin' it....

Why does it not surprise me that Obama's young punk squad was trying to shout down another candidate at a major Democratic dinner? No wonder these thugish tactics work at caucuses.

Who wants a weird old cootess writing in Salon?