Obama wasn't elected because he's black. He was elected because he is intelligent, charismatic, articulate, empathetic, reasoned, ethical and altogether superior to any other choice.

It isn't surprising that there is talk of Jindal being the Republican Obama. Not surprising. Nonetheless, ridiculous. It's sad that the GOP is still looking for the magic personality (Palin, McCain) but now they think the formula is ethnicity. Holy bowls of green curry!

of a sophomore high school project.

And Ms.Pelosi seems desperate to make her name by being the only impartial and insightful one out there. In truth, the media gave McCain and Palin a whopping pass, and plenty of coverage. The media (with just a couple of exceptions) has become grossly conservative. It's a Limbaugh world. And I saw plenty of footage of McCain rallies spewing hatred, while Obama crowds waved Obama signs. For everyone who invited her home to "discuss it", there were thousands who would have spit in her face and then trampled her. She should visit Free Republic some time.

I'm not sure what her point was. But I somehow got the impression that my hand was slapped for being an East Coast liberal.

And when she chastises the rest of us over the 58 million people didn't want Obama...she should remember how many of us have been grieving for 8 years while the choice of conservatives destroyed everything we cherish in this country.

Whatever she was smoking during the election, maybe I should try some.

...much less have an audience that will take his "strategies" under discussion. The man is an architect of disaster and death. Where is the accountability for him and his merry band of ideological termites.

Alex:

What is WRONG with you? Pirates board a US ship and threaten. A captain puts himself in harms way for his crew's sake. The navy seals take out the bad guys and the captain is saved.

All day long we have to put up with the seditious rantings of Michelle Bachmann, Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney etc. etc. etc. I know you KNOW what I mean.

Standard procedure or not, President Obama is the commander-in-chief. He'll be hung out for the missteps, he should be allowed to be the man at the top in times of uplifting triumph over the bad guys.

Lord knows we need it. And I for one am going to have a glass of wine and say "Hurray for us...go Seals." And thank you sane and reasonable voters for President Obama. Otherwise, we would have W landing somewhere in his laughable flight suit and declaring "mission accomplished" as he shoved the captain out of the spotlight.

Alex, you are way too bitter and jaded. And maybe a little less than an Obama fan. You're the reason I haven't renewed my premium membership after all these years.

that we would have "W" if Obama had lost the election. It was just a frame of reference. Mr. emperor-of-the-military McCain who voted against military benefits and support but never missed an opportunity to paint himself a hero would do just as well as a comparison.

"'reasonable facsimiles" are already in a file on Rove's desk waiting to be leaked to FOX.

But how she said it. And suchlike.

when it happens to YOU. This is the true litmus test of your stand on matters of civil liberties. It shouldn't be. But it is.

desperate to storm Baghdad

desperate to give George W. Bush hero bonifides

desperate to create a centralized form of control that could not be questioned by Americans

willing to engage in any illegal or clandestined activity to cement their agenda

Hubris and power-hungry incompetence.

The "rough battle" you mean will be largely more hate-mongering and God-spewing by the far right and its factions of rabid bible thumpers and gun toters, incited by big money interests from behind the curtain. Look for lots more ridiculous and pathetic outbursts from the extremists from Limbaugh to sign-carrying, racist Cletus and Earlenes who can't spell. (I mean the stereotype couple from the Simpsons, if you are not a fan. I saw their dopplegangers in many of the "teabagger" videos.)

They are a dwindling group, and more and more are waving their arms into the role of inarticulate nut jobs whom most people view as ultimately harmless but really annoying...like a sand crab that won't turn loose of your toe. Painful, but hardly life-threatening.

Obama is not morphing into Bush. He's accomplishing an amazing amount, and for the first time in eight years is bringing some energy and focus into the White House.

I have a son in Afghanistan, and he and the other legion of combat troops deployed in the Middle East deserve the sensitivity President Obama is bringing to the table regarding the photos. His reasoning is not an excuse, it is legitimate, as anyone who has family and friends in harm's way knows.

To launch an all-consuming payback on Bush and Co. will distract from all the other desperate issues facing the country right now. (I remember the Clinton years) However, to give these constitution-bashing, treasonous, arrogant fools a free pass is not an option. We need less scurrying, more sword rattling, and a way to shed the light of public exposure on these scoundrels once and for all.

But it's a delicate operation, and I refuse to deny our President and Congress the necessary leeway to bring about accountability without bringing an ambitious agenda to a standstill.

Nobody knows what Nancy knew. EVERYBODY knows what THEY DID.

That's Democratic Party. See, this kind of lack of minimum ciivility and respect is what makes the Republican Party what it is. The adoption of "Democrat Party" by Republicans of stature isn't cute nor does it contribute to serious discourse. But then...that rarely seems to be the objective.