I think what Glenn Greenwald and a number of PO'ed supporters are missing is that this is a big symbolic gesture with no impact to how the country is actually run.

Do not mistake me -- I was absolutely broken-hearted when Prop 8 passed. My little niece and nephew, whose moms have been in a marriage for 20 years, are directly impacted. I'm disappointed in the pick for the invocation, but I'm thinking that this move may be smarter than we give Obama credit for. For one thing, this does zip, nada, nothing, to actual policy. On the positive side, Warren is one of the more thoughtful and open-minded of the evangelicals -- oh, you can bitch all you want, but I'm very aware of this pack (and I am no fan of them by a long shot) and I can tell you definitively that this is a guy who is willing to give new ideas a fair shake. And like it or not, this guy represents quite a bit to a fair chunk of the country, and you could do worse than have this guy tell his flock and others who listen to his message, "Hey, don't write off the Obama guy. Give him a chance and a listen." In a sharply polarized country ravaged and torn apart by jackals rising to power on our mutual fear and distrust, this is quite possibly the first step in really having coalitions of agreement where agreement is possible.

And, this is a low-risk concession. Again, no policy is affected by this gesture. It's a reaching out to people who you may not want to have come join you, but this is going to be a rough next couple of years, and to be able to grab friends for issues of common cause without getting liberal/conservative labels in the way -- this is smart.

I do *not* think this is the politics as usual caving that we fear with so many Democrats. As for me, I'm saving my outrage for if -- *if* -- Obama reneges on gay rights as a matter of law or policy. For now, I'm going to see how this plays out.

> Then take any word too precious to be changed out of the law.

You all-or-nothing folks would be useless in any kind of meaningful negotiation. Would it be so tough to concede the verbiage to start, and get all the rights as a consequence?

>> Guess how long before Georgie goes on a bender, drives into a tree, and takes a sudden "vacation" at a celebrity detox clinic.

I will take that bet, because it is clear from the interviews I have seen that ole W is in complete and utter denial, and he is damn good at convincing himself he did nothing at all wrong.

Unfortunately. I'd prefer he be haunted with his horrible acts and what they've done to people... and nations... and the world.

Maybe... I'm no Warren fan, but if you look at the chess game Obama is running, he's trading a pretty symbolic olive branch to the righter wings of America, one which they actually find worthwhile, and at the same time beefing up his gay rights agenda (if you take a look at change.gov).

Like not taking hard swings at McCain during the debates, I think we'll all look back on this as an amazingly shrewd move without conceding his core Democratic values.

As for the invocation itself, let me just say this. I'm a pragmatic agnostic, so, not a huge fan of religion in government. But given that we share the country with an 80-90% that do believe in God, from a cultural standpoint, this is a pretty silly hill to choose to make the stand. Humans like ritual and parties and tradition, so this move just looks like atheists are sour spoilers. Yeah, I'll say it... "lighten up, atheists."

I'm rolling up my sleeves, and ready to get the milquetoast Democrats and rabid incompetent Republicans of Congress on board. Because while Obama appeals to the better natures of the American people, you can bet it will be squabbling as usual in the legislative branch.

...as in slang for new inmate. For all his war crimes he needs to serve for.

...but what I would love even more is the phrase "convicted former president".

From the bottom of my heart, thank you, President Obama. I will fight tooth and nail to make damn sure you are in the White House for a full eight years.

That is all.

Screw them. Screw them all. If they f-ed up their job so bad that their company is in a tailspin, and they need to suck off the teat of the American taxpayer, and they can't handle a "mere" half a million dollars in pay, FIRE THEM. Yeah, leave, you fatcat; and let a young, up-and-coming executive with fresh ideas about running a business (who doesn't need a $75K toilet to do their business in) replace your sorry, soul-dead ass.

The government did its job in a crisis. The president set the vision and agenda, the Senate leaders formed negotiation sessions that cut a deal that-- although not perfect-- is a reasonable mix that legislators of good faith can get behind.

The New Deal II is here. Get ready for a long, cold walk in the wilderness, GOP. You could have had place in helping to rebuild the family home, but you chose exile. So be it.

This is fantastic. This cements the title of "GOP leader" onto Limpblob. Now, he is the face of the GOP, and what an ugly, fascist mug it is.

GOP, wave bye bye forever to independents and moderate Republicans, and enjoy the long, cold winter of irrelevance.

Doesn't matter who holds the sceptre -- Joe wants to kiss it. I'm not sure there is a more shameless whore in politics.