"Which "skeptics" would those be? I'm a skeptic of Obama's whom you might label as on "the left". Do I count as someone Obama needs to prove himself to?"

- Well, yes, apparently, although for different reasons. If Obama lurches (too far) to the Left, with a Democratic Congress in tow, then kiss it all goodbye in 2010 when the Republicans re-take Congress in retaliation for its radical leftward shift.

"If by "skeptics" you mean followers of Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Rielly or even, for that matter, followers of Rick Warren, how much chance do you think there is that Obama can "prove himself" do many of those "skeptics"?"

- Sure, half of them are a lost cause. However, some of the more moderates among them might be convinced with a few years of relatively competent governance.

"I think that people who are concerned about Gay rights are aware that the country has other or bigger problems. That does not mean that anyone who is concerned with the rights of Gays or any other minorities should be holding their tongues. Not right now, not ever."

- Nor should they hold their tongues. Nor should they expect dramatic changes overnight. Do you really think McCain/Palin would have been better for the gay community?

Let's not forget that about a third of this country actually believes that Obama is a Secret Muslim sent here to destroy the American Way of Life.

Also, to anybody who has paid any attention at all during the last two years, this is in keeping with Obama's strategy of keeping his friends close, but his enemies closer. (Note the "Team of Rivals" approach he has taken to naming people to his cabinet.) Not to suggest that Warren himself is an enemy of Obama, but there are probably a lot of people who put (way too much) stock in what Warren has to say and who are at the very least suspicious of Obama. Politically speaking, Obama's choice of Warren for this event was brilliant.

Those of us on the Left sometimes tend to imagine that the political center is further to the left than it actually is. (The Right just did this to a greater degree and it cost them dearly - see Caribou Barbie.) As others have pointed out, Warren, for better or worse, is actually fairly mainstream. These are tough times for way too many people in America. Obama needs to prove himself capable to his skeptics and, frankly, America has bigger problems to tackle right now than to fret over gay marraige rights and the like. The Left should Obama build some genuine political capital before it submits it's wish-list.

To Republicans, any sort of bailout that might help working Americans is a bad thing because it "redistibutes wealth," but using taxpayer dollars to subsidize foriegn-owned manufacturing facilities in America is a good thing because it helps to supress wages (bear in mind that the Republicans would do away with minimum wage requirements in a heartbeat) while sending the profits overseas (redistributing wealth). Brillilant!

My previous comment regarding "EVERY" is in response to:

"I mean, how would you women like it if you walked down the street every day and EVERY MAN who saw you acted with sheer malice and hatred toward you?"

Your previous comment linking liberalism, feminism, and the entire Northeast as if those three entities somehow conspired against you was pretty lame too. You sounded like Sarah Palin.

If you spend your time looking for asshole women, you will find no shortage of them and you will (if you haven't already) delude youself into thinking that women in general are assholes. Try specifically looking for women who are more open or who have the traits that you find attractive - there's no shortage of them either if you bother looking for them (they turn up in the most surprising places, sometimes).

One other thing - sometimes there's a HUGE difference between Beautiful and Attractive.

If a few women dis you for no reason at all, you can safely call them assholes. If EVERY woman disses you, the problem doesn't lie with the women...

"Americans must consider every purchase of a foreign-made product when an American-made alternative is available to be an act of economic treason -- like every other country does."

This begs the question - just what does America make any more? In many cases now, there are no alternatives. Even the products you think are American are full of foreign-made components, if they're not assembled outside the US.

If we only bought American, Wal*Mart would go out of business overnight - and Americans love their cheap Chinese-made shit from Wal*Mart.

But, hey, that's what "free" trade is all about. Wheeee!

Anybody who actually paid attention over the last few years knows that Obama never said that he was aginst any and all war for the sake of being "anti-war." The only people who believe that he was always anti-war just for the sake of being so are the far right wingnuts who want to believe that he is a weak-kneed peacenik and maybe a few ultra-lefties who habitually project thier visions of world peas onto their candidates of choice.

Obama has always said that Iraq was a mistake and that he was aginst what he called "stupid war." He has also always said that Afghanistan has been neglected by the Bushies. That he has talked about reducing our presence in Iraq and beefing up our presence elswhere in the ME (like where the people who attacked us live) should surprise nobody.

What, exactly, makes you think Obama's presedency will be a disaster? Can you be specific? You are aware that Obama is not the President yet, aren't you?