domini, we had a story about the Russia-Georgia conflict in a skybox yesterday and all day today.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/08/09/caucasus/

It's still in the center story well, and it's in the Most Active stories box, it's number five, which actually isn't so bad. Of course, more people are reading this post on the Edwards mess.

Stonecutter, I'm sorry if I seemed condescending when calling you condescending. I probably shouldn't mention it, but it's hard not to recall that several male commentators compared Hillary Clinton to their former wives. It's kind of a cheap putdown in a political argument, in my opinion.

For the record, I didn't say Obama's Invesco Field extravaganza would scare "us." Here's what I wrote:

I've always questioned the Invesco Field idea, which risks being another Berlin-like extravaganza: one that looks good to those of us who like Obama, and either leaves others cold -- or scares the bejesus out of them.

I talked about "those of us" who like Obama.

I'm sure you have plenty to disagree with, but let's stick to what I actually wrote.

lalucas, I'll be home soon!

Santos L. Helper, I unpublished a really awful letter that was printed under your name, as well as some replies. I hope you'll understand why.

OK, Santos, I didn't mean to be an ass. There are just too many slurs flying around these threads, and yes, that was un-PC and cruel -- and you know that. Let's just try to be asses less frequently, all of us.

Santos L. Helper, I was just checking in before signing off, enjoying the lateagain/Uncle Fester discussion, but I have to ask: Do you think your last comment helped win Obama support? I'm just curious.

stonecutter, you're awfully condescending. Let me just say one thing: I don't expect most of the faces at Denver's Invesco Field to be black. At all. They weren't in Portland, for example. Does that clear anything up for you?

doloresflower, thanks for that observation.

Awww, stonecutter, are you calling me ugly? That's not as bad as racist, but it's still kinda hurtful.

Bad judgment, Faulkner Jr. My opinion of you has taken a hit.

Kidding! Have a great weekend, and you too, maureenodonnell. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that my middle name is Maureen.

Faulkner Jr., I'm enjoying the show today! You have to get to Ireland, it's really incredible. I'd like to go back.

Denise, it's been great to have you!

xufapemu, thanks for your thoughts.

John Anderson, you're entitled to think that. But maybe "people" should think about where we are before they "vent" all over again. Politics takes discipline, along with honesty. It's not for the self-indulgent. I wrote this because I thought it was time to write it. If people continue to demonize the Clintons, Obama will lose. And I say that as someone who will vote for him, no matter what people do to the Clintons. But I know an awful lot of people who won't, and their numbers aren't shrinking the way I expected them to. Sure, blame me, it's apparently hella fun. I wish I wasn't right about this, but I am.

xufapemu, I used to believe that. I don't any more. The allegedly sullen Clintons were THE story today on cable news. I'm really not bringing anything up that isn't already up. And hey, I was a history major; this stuff is going to be around for a while; the sooner we get a jump on digesting it and understanding it, the better. This was epic. It still divides and haunts the party. Please don't blame me.

John Anderson, I criticized Clinton for the "hardworking Americans, white Americans" gaffe. And it was a gaffe, in my opinion. But get it all out there. Let's rehash all the ways the Clintons are racists, I think that will be very healing for Democrats. Republicans don't do this to their former presidents, people.

tangerine, please -- Clinton was being slammed as a racist before he uttered his stupid Jesse Jackson remark the night of the SC primary. I know, because I was on MSNBC that morning defending him; then when I heard the Jackson remarks, I slammed him. Unfortunately, the only person angrier than Bill Clinton about the way his Jesse Jackson remarks were received was Jesse Jackson, who thought it was disrespectful to have his very name listed as a slur on Obama. I can certainly see both sides on that one; Clinton was an ass to negate Obama that way, hindsight shows us. Obama defeated his wife's lackluster, poorly organized campaign. But it remains a sad event in Democratic politics that so many otherwise good people went to such lengths to trash the Clintons as racists. And we're still living with the results.

Xrandadu, with all due respect, I worry that you've gone into a bad place. Your postings lack nuance, compassion, shading. I didn't equate those slurs; I went out of my way to say white people's reaction is a result of their having been sheltered from such exclusion. When you reply to my posts, it's always one-note and tone-deaf, in my humble opinion. I say that as someone who used to pay attention to you. I fear that, officially, those days are over. Yes, I took a risk here. Skewer me for it. I know others are behind you to do so. And yet many, many others will respond in a much, more thoughtful way, and we will all move forward, together.

The great thing about being called a racist so often this year is that there's not much more that can bother me. I am not sure what's happened to you. You used to be open to a little bit more complexity. I hope you're well.

klytus, after all these letters, all this debate, why ask me? I'm not going to even try to rhyme, it's late.