Why don't we just let Joan have it her way. If this needs to be an issue that causes her to scratch her head and feel sad or concerned about Barack, let her go there.

Joan must scratch her head. She must feel a bit sad and concerned and dissapointed in Barack. There is no other way. That is how she supports him.

After Hillary steps out on June 4th, Joan will focus on Barack's strengths. I promise.

I'm not a huge Wilber fan, but he, Chad, he takes that arguement to town! He does so by massively respecting the fundamental point you are making.

the "norm" is not healthy but

I don't think Joan wants Hillary to be the nominee. In fact, I think if Hillary was in the lead right now, Joan would be blogging as intensely "against" her. She would scratch her head and be sad that more American's are not holding Hillary's feet the fire for her comments about Bosnia because Joan would be sure to point out that those comments can not have anything to do with simple misspeaking. Joan would write "thoughtful" blogs wondering why we refuse to really look at what is behind that kind of comment by Hillary and she would examine issues like privilege, entitlement, out-of-touchness. She would remind us that Hillary has some great qualities, but she would also share her disappointment in Hillary and she would scratch her head in front of us. Joan would be seriously saddened by the way Barack was being discounted for relatively superficial reasons and she would point out that Hillary very well might be too polarizing for the general election. Imagine if Hillary was winning and she had said those recent comments about Iran. Joan would write brilliantly about how that might be a warning signal as to why a President Hillary could put us in more danger because of the pressure she feels to always show how strong she is....

Joan really does think that her constant head-scratching about Barack and all his potential problems is helping him become president. She has said so. She considers it her duty to help him.

As to those of you who think Joan is unaware of American history, I must disagree. But I do think that Joan is of the opinion that you have to consider the American Shadow a result of times we have made mistakes, not as indicative of anything inherent with how collections of massive power function in the world. I think Joan is a firm believer that our darkest hours were mostly a function of misstatements and tactical errors and she would hope that we all see that we have put most of that shadow behind us by now.

I disagree with her firmly, but I do think she is ready to acknowledge we have a much darker legacy than we are typically told to mention. But Joan is fairly comfortable taking the mainstream media's tendencies to heart. I bet Greenwald's work often rubs her the wrong way. She must get fairly sick of him harping that it is a journalists responsibility to dig deeper than the given narratives. Joan is an interesting example of a progressive journalist who will do such digging, but only when it is strategic for her interests. That's why I think when Barack is running for president Joan will be the first to really question the functioning of mainstream media. Except for the sexism, she is currently a fairly accurate reflector of the mainstream narrative machine right now. Not much better, not much worse.

Joan is concerned that Barack has associated himself with a radically “wrong” preacher who is now hell-bent on sabotaging Barack.

What does it say about Barack that this story won’t go away?

What does it say about Barack that people are concerned about his preacher?

What does it say about Clinton that she is NOT a member of Wright’s church?

And what does it say about our concern that it Barack doesn't seem concerned about it?

Joan is simply wondering how badly this might hurt Barack if people keep focusing on it. And she notices that Hillary has not been harmed by this story at all.

Alex, if you must frame the issue in that way, I honestly don't think Barack could give you a satisfying answer. Can you imagine any response that would help you feel at ease?

How in the world is Barack going to prove that he might win?

I'm not sure what is says about Barack, but I honestly don't think he can prove that he won't lose to McCain...and that scares me; just look at what people are going to say about Barack...

Why do you guys think Obama wants to be president with so little experience? What does that say about him? Is he trying to put us in harm or is he just naive?

I bet when he gets older and more presidential, he'll look back and be shocked that he tried to get in Hillary's way. Aren't you concerned that he doesn't even recognize that Hillary is more ready for day one? Why can't Barack see that? I think it points to his child-like eagerness.

What should we think of a guy who doesn't even have enough experience to walk out of his church and denounce his preacher? Hillary has lived her life doing things like that. She has the experience it takes to make the right decision faster than Obama.

Why don't Obama supporters see that he could lose to Mcain? What does that say about him that his supporters think he could win? I'm worried.

If you look at Hillary's strengths and his weaknesses, there is no question who we should all be pulling for!