"If you look at states that I have won, they are states that we have to win ... Obviously they include New York, New Jersey, Florida, Michigan, California and Arizona."

New York and California are hardly going to go red in November. But if you look at the broad popular appeal Obama has among Democrats in traditionally "red" states- and the crossover appeal for some Independents and Republicans- his surge is remarkable and important.

The "blue islands/red sea" mentality will fail as it has in the past. Obama's desire to reach out to "red" states is working.

Like the economy, for instance?

If I recall correctly economics is not the strong suit of the Straight Talk Express.

thats a lot of bloviating just to say: "He hasn't decided yet."

Obama's speeches fill me with optimism and hope about our country, and not just a head rush rock star optimism, but an optimism that is based upon a commitment to working out our problems as a nation across party lines. He's firing up American citizens who have grown cynical and complacent and reminding a good many of us that we can actually have a positive impact upon our nation through our deeds.

When I listen to Clinton's speeches they seem like sound bites from 1993. She's a capable and highly intelligent politician but it all seems old hat. Obama is talking about today, and most importantly, where we're going to take the country in the future. The Clinton campaign seems like a long episode of "I Love the 90's" on Vh1.

The politics in our nation has been in a rut for 18 years, where it was Bush/Clinton/Bush and now, perhaps, Clinton again. I'm weary of dynasties. This is a democracy. Time for a fresh start. Time for a change.

Kidding!

"The real problem with TV, and to a lesser extent the Internet, is that while some of it is excellent, much of it is not -- and all of it has become ubiquitous."

So true! But, this has always been the case. I'll explain:

In our post-modern, media heavy culture, it's easy to arrive at the conclusion that all works of art, be they visual, music, film or literature are all handled with the same sense of gravity. That is, everything is presented as being equal, all voices and expressions equal in value and merit and all work neither "bad" nor really "great".

But it's not true. The old phrase "The cream rises to the top" is still very accurate. The great works of art survive decades and generations because of their quality and insight. Great art endures. Don't believe me? Go grab a dozen issues of Art in America from the mid 1980's. Flip through them. How many names do you still recognize? Of all of the artists listed and reviewed within, how many have pieces in major institutions today?

There's also something so wonderful and pleasureable about books, the act of reading, holding and looking, that technology won't erase. Barnes and Noble and Borders have CDs and DVDs but they also seem to have a lot of books in there too.

Wow. That was great!

"Fundamentalism...is the response of stupid people to complex issues."

Brilliant!

"If it is a bad guy, a known terrorist, we can find him,"

How do you know? Who decides? What if you're wrong? Can you be sure your right? Can you be sure the two men were setting up a mortar? How do you know the guy walking his dog is a terrorist?

Who watches the watchers?

Why are questions like this not being asked?

If this weren't the case Obama might not be rising as high as he is.

People on both sides of the "debate" are tired of the childish, schoolyard arguments, the crass and ugly smears and the moronic windbags who are driving the conversation.

Part of Obama's appeal, in my opinion, is the fact that he offers optimism and favors bipartisan solutions to problems. I can't remember a politician running for office recently who wasn't blaming the other side right out of the gate.

And as far as Limbaugh, Time magazine, etc- sometimes people scream and flail the loudest when their influence is waning.

"I think that Obama's approach to foreign policy and Iraq would be to the left of almost any other Presidential candidate from any party. That's based on what Obama has said. That he'd talk to Iran; that he'd begin pulling out of Iraq as soon as he took office; etc., etc."

Why would this be a bad thing? The War in Iraq has been a massive mistake and cost thousands upon thousands of lives. Not to mention that the majority of the American public supports withdrawl in some form or another.

And "talking to Iran"- sorry, but it has to happen eventually. We've gone nearly thirty years with no diplomatic interaction whatsoever with that nation, and as much as some people are just salivating over starting World War Three with the Persian people (*cough* McCain *cough*) I'd rather head off that possibility in a diplomatic fashion.

"Mr. McCain, 71, and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, both say they never had a romantic relationship. But to his advisers, even the appearance of a close bond with a lobbyist whose clients often had business before the Senate committee Mr. McCain led threatened the story of redemption and rectitude that defined his political identity."

Regardless of whether they had a romantic relationship, the close ties to a lobbyist tarnishes his image a bit.

He's nothing more than a warmonger itching to "bomb bomb bomb Iran".

Wasn't there a report a few months back that said Iran had halted its uranium enrichment program?

Can't let facts stand in the way! Bomb 'em all!