I hope you're wrong about the legal wrangling. Who will they hire: James Baker? Geez Louise. I, too, mulled my choices after Edwards' departure. Richardson and Biden had several times the real experience Hillary claims. I went with Obama for the upside. Experience does not trump vision and the ability to inspire. It's been so long we've forgotten what it looks like. I remember. He's close. we'll see. I pray. With McCain, you know what you get. War with Iran for a starter.

I, too, get that sense of introspection, of a calm center, of reflection from Obama. I've not seen it in a candidate in a very long time. the problem, if it is that, is that introspection is little valued in American public life. bombast, phony patriotism, a permanent salesperson's grin- you know, Ray-gun, the fascist Idol, the prototype of politics for the last 25 years. It doesn't have to be that way. Hillary seems to be tempering her rhetoric. That would be a blessing, and a credit to her. Let's see if she can bank her fire without bursting into flames. I hope so.

considering our demographic, about average. My wife is getting over extensive shoulder surgery, which will take six months or so to get past; my dad continues to disappear down the well of Alzheimer's; my wife's mom is wheelchair bound. But we all have health coverage, complete and lifelong, our children and grandchildren are close both geographically and emotionally, and we are, beyond doubt, blessed. Seeing pictures of Burma or whatever they're calling it these days, or Darfur, or Iraq, and we know how well we are off. Many Americans cannot say the same. The election is about starting to change that. No one should have to choose between a mortgage payment and an operation, between food and medicine. It's criminal. thus, deluded as I am, I intend to vote Democratic from the top of the ticket to the bottom. That goes for everyone in our extended family. thanks for asking. Hope that all is at least tolerable with you and yours. jeff.

dick cheney was the most vetted member of any ticket in history. go vet yourself. I say this as a vet myself. Obama has been under a microscope for a year. Hillary lost because she ran a crappy campaign and got whipped, straight up. deal with it.

yep, them commies is everywhere. go tend your geese and work on your goosestep. Idiot.

Jeffersonian comes from my father's career as a history professor, and particularly of American history. He was fond of talking about the Jeffersonian ideal,which is someone grounded in working the land, or doing a trade, or pursuing commerce, but at heart a well educated, curious, involved citizen. Jefferson thought the future of the republic was centered on such men (now women, thank God). So, it's a nod to that philosophy, not an aspiration to model myself after the man. I'd stand no chance. But, thanks, ethics professor, for seeing the literal and psychological pain with which I am currently dealing. But, I'm not in Burma, or Darfur, and my children are not in Iraq, so I have much to be grateful for.

Regarding the grill, I"m afraid tonight will be cobbled together of leftovers from yesteday's BBQ, since we have to be babysitting two of our grandchildren by seven. On mother's day, however, teriyaki pork tenderloin, seared ahi with wasabi mayonnaise, coconut rice, a stir fry with boy choy, spring garlic, sweet red peppers, peruvian onions, and a dash of hosin and sesame oil. Mothers day, and I still have my mother, 87 and coping with dad's haunting decline better than I am by far, and my wife, mother of our four amazing men and women, and our daughters, each a mother of two (one a boy and then a girl, the other just the other way 'round. Sounds so symmetrical, yet it's all so random. Our family planning oft times consisted of a glass of Mateus, some Herbie Mann or Hubert Laws, and a dash to the bed room; or the kitchen. Whatever. Hey, it was the seventies. Behind all this, we retain the

cockeyed optimism of progressives, believing against all evidence that this country, and this world can be better, and we can be, in our own modest ways, instruments of that change. The spring garlic doesn't hurt, either. Probably a local Savignon Blanc and maybe a Jadot Beaujolais for old time's sake. best, jeff

I think that Louisiana seat had been rethug for 33 years. That the Mississippi seat is even in play shows just how deep is the doodoo in which the fascisti find themselves.

Speaking of doodoo, nice to see Brother Shawn show up and plop a steamer on the thread. The heart's gone out of the pathetic little dweeb, but he still has a turd or two in him. For the record, you moron, Dean did not every say, or even imply, that we'd take 50 states. What he said is part of the truth under what Obama has done: you have to compete everywhere. No write offs. Make the thugs spend resources defending "safe" seats. Be aggressive, but stay positive. That's what the fifty state strategy means, drooler. It's why Shawn and the other trolls have been denigrating any Obama win in a state that is usually republican in a general election.

As far as what billary oughta do, since she won't face reality, is stock up on Old Sweatsock bourbon, busch barbarian "beer" for some boilermakers, have a lot of Kleenex handy, and watch the super delegates leave your sorry ass in droves. It's over. time for Kamp Klintoon to pack its tiny tents and shove off.

Thanks, Frito Shawn, for sharing your ethnicity. That's the funniest thing I've heard in days. Almost as funny as billary saying last tuesday led to the white house. whorehouse, maybe, white house, nunca. besa me culo, senor NM.