You asked that I read your posts thoughtfully. I would ask the same. I clearly said I was not trying to revive the "race" issue thread, though I will clearly state again that I don't think it's a non-issue. Main issue? Absolutely not.

You said: "I don't like McCain's politics, his manners, or his belief system - but I feel more comfortable with the idea of him as President than I do with the idea of Obama as President."

There is no part of me that can understand that position. You don't like McCain's politics, his manners, nor his belief system. Those three items (among others) are rather significant to my vote. You also called him a jerk, but he "works hard." (and to what end?)

I'm at the place of agreeing to disagree with you, or at least acknowledge an impasse. I've stated that before.

Why doesn't everyone who is annoyed (or incited) by Maureen ignore Maureen?

It's like fueling a fire when it's already 130-degrees in the room! Remember the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result? Engaging with her gets worthwhile discussion nowhere.

Don't give up.

Thank you for your post.

The link you sent to the Phoenix New Times article---WOW. I've been an AZ transplant for about six years, after leaving NYC after 9/11, but of course I knew "of" McCain for years before that. Even living here now in Scottsdale/Phoenix, I hadn't seen this article and I'm glad I did and I will be sharing it. Thanks.

"Rat in a drain ditch"...oh yeah.

"Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile..."

That fits the article topic well.

But I hope to get to the main lyric:

"He's gone, gone, nothin's gonna bring him back...He's gone."

I couldn't agree more.

I hesitate to get involved in this discussion because I know I won't be able to participate fully in the next couple of hours. STILL......just saw PUMA PAC representative Darragh Murphy and "Just Say No Deal" representative Will Bower on Hardball, with Schuster hosting, not Matthews, and IMHO, he asked many more direct questions compared to Matthews (and, hey, he actually listened, not just talk over the pundits!). Anyway, SSDD on comments here at Salon, but WOW, hearing Murphy and Bower, I am totally sticking to my Democratic roots. If I have to defend that stance, it will have to be later. Though would it serve any purpose...? Big question marks. SSDD. Never argue with someone else's version of reality.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26208124#26208124

Renegade Iconoclast!

1) Why should any member of the Democratic party have to apologize for choosing Obama over Clinton? (p.s. without being called a Messianic freak?)

2) Why should any member of the Democratic party who chose to promote Obama instead of Clinton be considered anti-feminist?

3) Why does any member of the Democratic party think McCain is a non-repugnant alternative?

Signed (in no particular order),

Age 49. White. Woman. Feminist. Democrat.

First, you said: "I have never seen a single Clinton supporter suggest that they need to apologize [sic: for choosing Obama]. That is absurd. Go fetch a quote or stand defeated on that nonsense."

Well, it wouldn’t take long to find many salon.com comments claiming anyone who is pro-Obama is a stupid mesmerized Obamaton. As if we don’t have a mind for ourselves? If you really want me to give you citations galore, fine, I could do it. But talk about nonsense?!? Just show up every day, there’s plenty of it.

Second, you said: “You [meaning me] seem to forget that people vote on things like experience and character as well as policy.”

Condescending to the nth degree. I don’t forget that at all. My very point is that I have a mind and I am voting for Obama. You don’t have to. And I wouldn't even begin to try to persuade you.

Third, you said: “I don't consider people who voted for Obama as anti-feminists. I consider that many Obama supporters have said some extremely sexist things.”

Fine. Niceties with the former, and I agree with the latter. But I didn’t say the sexist things and yet I’m villified as an Obama supporter.

Fourth, you said: “Unless I like Obama's VP choice very well, I am voting Green for Cynthia McKinnery.”

Go ahead. It’s a vote against the Democrats and thus for McCain. But go for it.

"I don't think it's the end of the world if we go through the motions of a roll call. It'll only be the end of the world if McCain gets elected. Then it'll be time to move out of this country while we're able to...."

And where do we move to...?

You made me laugh! Merci mucho!

You are doing what everybody should be doing---if they care! I applaud you and thank you for putting on those walking shoes.

You defend with: "NEVER ONCE HAS HILLARY CLINTON SAID THAT BARACK OBAMA IS A MUSLIM" when her words "AS FAR AS I KNOW" says it all to the public and the media and, among those, the voters.

Wow! 2 1/2 pages against my response.

"The Clinton-Muslim story was a soggy game of gotcha, and not much more."

It was a sound-bite. Whether or not it should, it matters. So did her sound-bite saying McCain has experience and Obama has a speech, which of course McCain is now using in his ads.

And, BTW, I don't hate Hillary.

With red pen in hand, I'd edit to read: "That says a great deal about you."

In any event, very rude.

I heard, I read, I have a mind, and it's a good one.