Has anyone read anything that explains why Obama didn't want Dean to continue as DNC Chairman? I think he was willing, did a good job, and clearly supported Obama over Clinton.

Dean clearly favored Obama over Clinton. I would have thought Obama had a sense of gratitude. Moreover, Obama is not stupid, so I don't understand why he would snub Dean. I expected him to either put Dean in his cabinet or ask him to stay on at the DNC.

is vote for the lesser of the evils (usually way more than two). Obama WAS indeed a blank slate onto which idealistic democrats, ignorant people just entering the political process, and Caroline Kennedy painted their hopes and dreams. He is cautious and not particularly liberal.

I can stand that. My fear is that he either believes or feels he most follow through on his pledge to work with the Republicans. When you meet the GOP half way they call that the new starting point and demand a new half way point. Witness Obama's desire for a lot of Republicans to sign on to his stimulus package. He has thus apparently agreed to tax cuts that will help the economy little and to hold off on reversing the Bush tax cuts for the rich which will help the deficit. That's bad economic policy and bad politics because the Republicans will never be satisfied.

They want to turn him into a Republican. Remember he praised Reagan and called the GOP the party of ideas over the past 15-20 years without pointing out that they were bad ideas. I fear he will be used unless we keep up the pressure on him. Still he IS better than McCain-Palin. I don't regret voting for Hillary in the primary (who is, as Krugman noted, more liberal) and Obama in the general.

that you could stop the snotty and snide tone in your written voice? Both Clinton's have done more to make the world a better place than 99.9 percent of the people taking up space and oxygen on the planet. You included. The Clinton's tithed before he ran for office and after he left; and he spends most of his time now on a charitable foundation that helps millions Lighten up. Your guy won. Don't be a sore winner. Be gracious in victory. Maybe contribute to the foundation to show there are no hard feelings that your guy won.

He is indeed a giant, gaseous, buffoonish, ignorant, smug windbag. It is devoutfully to be wished that he is defeated in 2 years, but not by the equally giant,gaseous...windbag Chris Matthews.

And, as the press always fails to mention, the money came not from Rich but from his ex-wife and went to the party not to Clinton.

Otherwise the press and the politicians have the story right.

Joe, you are a main reason I subscribe to Salon.

I agree the press was deeply in the tank for Obama and is likely to continue sucking up to him as long as they think he is one of the village, a moderate. That being said, I have trouble reconciling the image of Clinton as the triangulator, the moderate, perpetuated by the left with the viciousness with which the media went after him. After all, JFK screwed around much more that Clinton did. Clinton treated the press well, better than Bush, who lied repeatedly.

I'm curious what Greenwald, and/or the rest of you, think is the answer. Is it that Clinton raised the taxes of the press, the wealthy and Bush cut them? If so, will they go after Obama if their taxes go up under him?

I fear, that Clinton raised their taxes when he cut the deficit in half with his first budget. Obama proposes the same thing, now or in a year or so, so....

The reasons you offer are also right.

Another reason for their hatred of all things Clinton is that they followed the GOP storyline in the 90's and on some primitive level have to know how unfair they were. After all they excused JFK, Martin Luther King, Ben Bradlee, George Will, and other media and political stars they liked for a bit of sex out of school, but Clinton's behavior made him, to them, irredeemably vile, and so too Hillary for not leaving him. Though no one chastised Jackie or Correta for not leaving their straying spouses.

So it has to be fear of the Republicans, greedy desire avoid paying their fair share of taxes, love of scandal (it's so much easier to cover) and class snobbery (though clearly Bill and Barack and Hillary and Michele are so much smarter and more knowledgeable than any member of the media).

I worry about next year not not this month or next month.

one who picked Kirstin G. to run for the house, so if she is anyone's protege she is his. Where did you get your information that Clinton wanted her. I suspect that is a FOX or Rush theory.

want a human for a spouse not weasel. Too bad Armey. We all feel your pain. Joan, you were great. Matthews, as usual, was a weasel too.