This is quite possibly one of the MOST depressing letters I have ever read in Salon. I find it depressing primarily for the total lack of thought, analysis or research that has gone into it. (I also find it depressing because I am very sorry that CarolH's son has to go back for another 16 month deployment and as a mother of children in their late teens I feel for her. It is disheartening that what was billed as a "cakewalk" 5 (five!!!) years ago has been anything but and that there is no end in sight.)

CarolH writes:

"If Obama wins the nomination I might vote for McCain. I'm a 50-something white woman who supports Clinton. I'm a proud liberal and feminist [emphasis added] who has never voted for a republican but this might be the year. I also have a son in the US Army who has served one 16 month deployment and is scheduled to go back to Iraq in Jan. of 2009. The question I have been asking myself is: Who do I want to be president when my son is deployed? McCain would have us stay in a German-Japan kind of way, Clinton will withdraw the troops in a careful and well-thought out way and Obama...I am worried that he will pull the troops out immediately without a careful plan. My fear is that my son, his fellow soldiers, and the people of Iraq will be caught in a bloodbath if that happens. I would vote for McCain if I felt that the chaos could be prevented. It helps that I live in a very red state with no chance of a democratic win, so I could vote my conscience without the fear to tipping the election."

There are so many reasons I find this letter depressing:

1. CarolH says that "McCain would have us stay in a German-Japan kind of way..." . Setting aside the question of whether or not it is desirable to set up a permanent U.S. military base in Iraq, I'd point out that we did not establish war-time bases in either Germany or Japan. No we set up permanent bases in those countries only after we were 100% at peace with them. Prior to that we fought a long and bloody war against Germany and Japan. We are still engaged in war in Iraq and no one knows how much more blood and treasure we'll have to spend before we get to something that looks even remotely like peace. Or does CarolH think that John McCain has a magic wand? Abracadabra - peace!! Abracadabra - Ramstein!!!! Abracadabra - Okinawa!!!

2. CarolH says "Clinton will withdraw the troops in a careful and well-thought out way and Obama...I am worried that he will pull the troops out immediately without a careful plan." CarolH please, I beg you, before passing judgments on any candidate take the time to research their positions. If you visit either Clinton's Web site or Obama's Web site you will find that their plans are very similar and are BOTH "careful and well-thought out." It is unbelievably unfair and shameless for you to imply that Obama will recklessly withdraw from Iraq and that your "son, his fellow soldiers, and the people of Iraq will be caught in a bloodbath... ." And the fact that you would make such a statement proves that you know nothing about Obama or his positions on Iraq. Obama (along with the rest of us) knows all too well the consequences of taking action with out a "careful and well-thought out" plan. We entered Iraq with out such a plan and look where we are. Senator Obama has no intention of making the same mistake twice. It is your right not to support Obama but for you to imply that he would remove troops in such a way as to allow your "son, his fellow soldiers and the people of Iraq [to] be caught in a bloodbath" well, that is just vile.

Finally, how can a self-described liberal and feminist vote for someone who is neither and then dare to say that she is voting her conscience????

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!?????????

Paris says

"[I]f Clinton is cheated out of this nomination by not giving her the Michigan and Florida votes, me and my family are voting for McCain and registering as Independents."

Cheated by whom? The Democratic National Committee (whose former chairman is now one of Hill's campaign guys) took the position that it would refuse to seat Florida's and Michigan's delegates (regardless of who they were pledged to) to punish those states for moving their primaries. All Democratic presidential candidates pledged not to campaign in those states. Hillary broke that promise. I do not know what, if anything, she did in Michigan but I do know that Obama's name was not even on the Michigan ballot.

If anyone is "cheating" Hill it is the DNC - the upper echelons of which are chock full 'o Clinton loyalists - so I'm quite certain there was no intent to cheat her. At the time the decision was taken Hill's ascension looked like a slam dunk. Now, that it looks like she's close to fouling out someone doesn't like the rules so much. And so we're talking do over. The Obama camp has taken the position that it is between the DNC and the MI and FL Democratic State Committees. The Clinton camp, of course, is desperate for a do over or to find some other way to get those delegates. (Speaking of do-overs - maybe we can have another vote on the Iraq war so Hill can prove that she learns from her mistakes and vote against it.)