You think OPPRE (Opposition Research) in the Republican party will go easier on Barack Obama, should he be the Democratic candidate? What have you guys been snorting?

Here's a preview of the G.O.P. vs. Barack Obama this fall:

1)OBAMA IS UN-PATRIOTIC: He refuses to wear an American flag lapel pin. He won't put his hand over his heart when the national anthem/pledge of allegience is delivered. He didn't serve in the military, but, thinks he knows whats best for the military. He wants to overturn "don't ask/don't tell." He wants to pull our brave men and women out of Iraq precipitously without regard for what will happen next. He's soft on terrorism. He wants to talk with our enemies with no preconditions. He would cede GitMo to the Cubans. He would open the floodgates to Cuban emigrees and would end the boycott of traveling to and from there. He would open the borders completely to any and all from Mexico with no regard for our safety. He supports his pastor, the Rev Wright, who proclaimed "God Damn America", and refused to renounce him completely. His middle name is Hussein >>wink, wink<< and we all know where his loyalties are. He attended a madrassa in Indonesia...where terrorists who hate America are trained. His sympathies lie in Africa...because he is an African first and an American second.

2)OBAMA PLAYS THE RACE CARD: He appeals to black "folks" as one of them and disparages whites by saying "typical white people". He attends a church whose pastor, by his videotaped sermon-rants, is violently and vehemently anti-white and racist. He demeaned his own grandmother...who is white...for her white "ignorance". He gives secret winks and nods to black radicals who hate America's whites.

3) OBAMA HAS TIES TO LAWBREAKERS: His ties to Tony Rezko are well-known. he received sweetheart loans and land deals from Mr. Rezko; what did Obama give Mr. Rezko in return? Mr. Rezko gave thousands to Obama's campaign; how much of that money was dirty? What else is there that we don't yet know about Mr. Obama's sleazy friends?

4)OBAMA IS A DRUGGIE: He freely admitted to smoking an illegal drug...marijuana...and snorting an illegal drug... cocaine! What more will we learn about him should he win the Presidency? Will we find that he shoots heroin, drops acid or eats magic 'shrooms? WE CAN'T TAKE THAT CHANCE!

5) JOHN MCCAIN IS A WAR HERO; OBAMA NEVER WORE THE UNIFORM! 'Nuff said about that one; get ready to see a sea of flags with every campaign ad or appearance by McCain.

These are just some of the possible/probable lines of attack by the Republicans against Obama this fall. Remember that John Kerry was doomed by the 527-crowd's "SwiftBoat" attacks; Hillary Clinton has been attacked for her husband's infidelity! Go figure. But, if Obama thinks that the election against the Rovian Republicans is going to be a cake-walk for him versus Hillary, he's going to be submerged in cake-crumbs up to his eyebrows.

So...since you all propound that superdelegates should vote as their constituents voted, may we expect that each of you will vote as your constituents voted? New Mexico, California and Massachusetts all went for Hillary Clinton.

Now...are you men and women of your collective words..or, as I suspect, simply blowhards and bloviators who plan to vote for Barack Obama...in contravention of the wishes of the majorities in your respective states.

I'm starting to tire of the machinations and bullshit rampant in my political party of which the assorted nutballs and fruitcakes listed above are a part...

Some of the most virulent and totally-undeserved racism I've experienced is at the hands of black people. I've been called a "white mother-f*cker", "paleface", referred to as "p.w.t." (poor white trash) and "white preppy scum". Trust me, those were the first words out of black people's mouths...not after some protracted argument or disagreement. The FIRST words.

To be sure, there is racism all around, but, my first words to someone who happens to be black, with whom I may have a disagreement, aren't n-word bombs. I can separate a disagreement from a pejorative or a toxic taunt; why can't they?

When black people complain about racism and racist comments by others, they should first examine their own thoughts, deeds and words.

I'm just sayin'...

When the various media have nothing of solid substance to report from the campaign trail, they invariably incite candidates or their minions to say something rash but "newsworthy". Ask a poisonous question and wait for the answer. Meet "no comment" answers with hostility and derision. Press on until the candidate or minion or spokesperson is sufficiently provoked until he/she/they utter(s) something volatile and a new news-cycle of he-said-she-said-they-said is hatched. Think "The National Review" as run by "The National Enquirer."

James Carville, Tucker Carson and the other nauseating, nattering nabobs of negativity (thanks, Spiro...I owe ya that one!), who are omnipresent on CNN, MSNBC, FOX, BLOOMBERG and even C-SPAN, delight in stirring that bubbling cauldron of controversy. Parsing thoughtful answers from the candidates is boring...at least to these electronic cretins.

Tabloidal television news directors adhere to the precept that "If it bleeds, it leads!"; these talking heads who answer to those news directors think shallow provocation trumps in-depth analysis every single day.

A pox on all their newsrooms.

From a "Bowling With Bubba" campaign appearance in central Pennsylvania (Barack wearing an expensive suit and bowling shoes!!) to grabbing a hotdog at the local D.Q. with the blue-collar set (I kept waiting for him to ask for Grey Poupon mustard!!) to doing the walk-through on an assembly-line in a core-voter factory setting ("Show of hands; how many of you graduated from my school...Harvard?"), Barack Obama looked like the proverbial fish out of water.

I wonder what's next on the campaign trail...John McCain break-dancing? Oy...vey!

Hobbes rulz...always has...always will. I miss seeing that big 'n' fuzzy nutball.

Thanks, Opus, for reminding me just how much I missed him.

You scribbled: "to anahadwolves: The South Side of Chicago is pretty down to earth.You ought to get out of the house now and then. Maybe then you might figure out your constant negative stereotyping is not only erroneous it's not close to witty.-- peeps"

South side of Chi-town was never a part of the discussion; we were talking about Obama campaigning in blue-collar Pennsylvania like one of the locals...which he isn't.

As for "negative stereotyping", I have you pegged as a snot-nosed 20-something pseudo-intellectual; if I have any of that wrong...I'd be surprised.

Now...be a good boy and crawl back into your can of RedBull and leave the adult conversation to adults.

...the voters want a closer look.

I'd bet John Edwards will (1) endorse Hillary Clinton should she do well in PA and IN and, (2) be high on her list of VP candidates should she happen to snag the nomination.

John would be a nice balance to Hillary on the ticket and would bring his populist philosophy to it.

From what I've seen, the vast majority of Obama supporters are young...too young, in most cases...to remember much of the Bill Clinton presidency; those of us who do remember his presidency do so with appreciation. For Hillary Clinton to want to emulate his presidency is admirable... and, I agree with her.

That is the main reason I support her over Barack Obama: I don't have confidence that he has the experience, foresight or vision to be the president we need at this point in out history.

Give him eight years...and, I think he will. Just not today...not this year. Nope.