The problem with the economy? Quite simply, the billions spent on the "war on terror."

Enough already with the vitriol and mudslinging. All it proves is that we Democrats--and this country--haven't moved past the issues of gender and race. That's frightening. Even more frightening is the prospect of another Republican administration. Yes, both Clinton and Obama are vexing candidates, but the goal is the Presidency. Focus your energy on defeating the Republicans, not ourselves.

...the more we bicker about Clinton versus Obama, Latino voters versus African American voters, gender versus race, ideas versus inspiration, experience versus change. Clinton and Obama are both popular AND vexing, but one of them will be our candidate. One of them will try to defeat McCain, who now only has to sit back and enjoy the earlier naysayers (Karl Rove: $2,300 for a guy you tried to destroy in 2004 and 2000?) flocking to his side.

Enough already with the war of words and hate. To paraphrase two Kings, keep you eyes on the prize and let's all get along.

And to the Salon editors--it is completely beyond you to find an objective journalist? You might as well have Cary Tennis covering the campaign.

You are so right. I had hope for a Democratic victory earlier in the primary season, but as of late I feel exactly like you.

The vitriol of the so-called debate in these letters will also help McCain.

The question is: Who will help us when McCain is elected?

Amen. Coudn't have said it better myself.

Why are you not monitoring this board?

These letters do not constitute intelligent discourse and do not contribute to anything but the promotion of hate and fear. This kind of debate festers and grows, as we've seen over the past few weeks when articles are published on the Democratic campaign.

And to those letter writers engaging in this uncivil debate, please harness your energy for something good. Go out and volunteer in your communities or use your voices to write to Congress. Anything is better than this war of words.

Thanks for reminding us about the issues we should be debating. What a refreshing post.

You've hit the nail on the head for many Democrats at this point, regardless of which candidate we support.

This primary season has taken the wind out of our sails. The vitriol, energy, and millions wasted on a convoluted nominating process is completely disheartening. Who needs Rove conspiracy theories when we are defeating ourselves?

I, too, feel dispirited and may have to sit this one out.

Thank you for addressing vitriol of the letters.

I concur with everything you said.

McCain will win if Obama is the nominee.

It's too bad most Democrats are blind to that. We Democrats in California weren't; nor were voters in MA, NY, NJ, MI, and FL--all crucial for winning in November. Maybe the good folks in TX, OH, and PA will see the light before it's too late.

*sigh*

I couldn't agree with you more. It's the same old Republican tactics at work.

The sad thing is, the things that have been said so far (e.g., anti-patriot, Muslim terrorist) pale in comparison to what will come Obama's way if he is the nominee. I don't think anyone, not even Obama, will survive the attacks.

It's time we Democrats change our strategy in the campaign for the White House.

of many of my fellow Democrats in California and Arizona have all of us voting for McCain over Obama.

and start leading the DNC. He may have helped during the last midterm elections, but he's done nothing to encourage party leaders in Congress to accomplish anything substantial, he's done nothing to promote unity within the party, and he's done nothing to rectify the primary fiascos in Michigan and Florida.

P.S. Hillary should stay in the race.

Thanks for the laugh!

You realize, of course, that many people on this board have not heard of that very real breed you mention, so be prepared to take some undeserved flak.

You are right, but Obama's spin doctors are talented. Heard a piece on NPR yesterday about his PR firm--very corporate and political. I'm sure they're already spinning...

Looks like it might just happen...

Al Gore on the second ballot is what a lot of us are hoping for. It might just happen.

It's a very real possiblity that Gore will be nominated on the second ballot at the Convention, with good reasons and with good results in November.

Your insistence on tax returns is a talking point from the Obama campaign. Enough. We get your (I mean the campaign's) point.

Most of us agreed with you when you deleted the anonymous option for the letters. Most of us were happy to see that you were trying to monitor the boards to improve the discourse.

So, what happened?

Some of these letters are foul. There's even one person who keeps calling HRC a *itch in the different threads. How does this improve deliberation? Are the editors secretly hoping the two Democratic camps will destroy each other with their vitriol--last camp standing gets the nomination?

P.S. For any of you who will malign me and cite your First Amendment right to freedom of speech, it doesn't apply here.

"I will vote for her in November, if it comes to that, but it will be with no joy or enthusiasm. " --Tom Payne

If you hate women so much that you would refer to KateTex as "Ko-Tex," then why on earth would you vote for a woman?

Do us all a favor: Keep your misogynistic vote to yourself.

A glimpse of Obama's foreign policy if elected? Heaven help us.