Barack Obama dined with several of the nation's most prominent conservative pundits last Tuesday night. The president-elect arrived at the home of syndicated columnist George Will, according to a press pool report. Greeting him at the residence were the most powerful members of the conservative movement, including the Weekly Standard's and NY Time's William Kristol, New York Times columnist David Brooks, Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post and Peggy Noonan of the Wall Street Journal. The Huffington Post also reported that Rush Limbaugh, who said that he was in D.C. for a "secret meeting," was also in attendance.

Ahhh, change we can believe in.

Does anyone out their celebrating victory recall that Obama has already has jettisoned his position on off-shore drilling, a timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq, campaign finance reform, telecom accountability (FISA), NAFTA renegotiation, gun control, late-term abortion, raising the cap on social security taxes, merit pay for teachers, Jeremiah Wright and his own grandmother. Oh, and did I mention he told conservative Rick Warren he was against gay marriage? And that he's asked that same Reverend Warren to pray at his inauguration ceremony?

My oh my. The same misled rabid dogs, who are now wasting their time savaging Bush here at Salon, will be the same crew ravaging their Messiah himself within six months. And as usual, they'll be as as cruel in their attacks as possible. I, for one, want Obama to succeed and will be rooting for him. Even while they rip his flesh off. Sad, isn't it? Here's our chance to come together and the tin-foil hats, lead by tired, sagging partisan hack Joan Walsh, are still behaving like morons unable to shake off their Bush Derangement Syndrome. Pathetic.

"I have no desire whatsoever to "come together" with the likes of George Will, William Kristol, David Brooks, Charles Krauthammer, Peggy Noonan, or Rush Limbaugh. You can add all of the other Bush sycophants to the list of the uninvited."

Golly, isn't it funny that Obama did? Guess he's dreaming much bigger dreams than "Scorpio69er" will ever be capable of dreaming.

Hmmm.... Scorpio69er -- half the name of a serial killer and the other half something a teenage boy loves to fantasize about. Are you still living in your mother's basement?

This "article" only proves once again that Joan Walsh hasn’t even the tiniest shred of class. And that she really doesn’t “get” what Obama represents. The political landscape is changing, Joan. Obama knows that before he can actually bring about real change, he must first change the tone of politics in America. This "article" -- which pisses all over a president as he prepares to leave office -- is EXACTLY the kind of hateful partisan rhetoric Obama will be attempting to stifle. But I really don’t think Joan is capable of getting aboard that train. After all, this is the same woman who just months ago began one of her "articles" by calling John McCain an ass. Well, guess what, Joan? Guess what Obama will be doing for the former POW you blithely dismiss as an ass? He’s throwing him a dinner party tomorrow. That right, throwing him a dinner party. Now that’s class, Joan. That's class.

Honestly, you're such a small, small person.

"And I couldn't help seeing Brooks, singing along with a multiracial youth choir, as another part of Obama's outreach to red America, a real reminder that he doesn't plan to be president of blue America, or red America, but the United States of America. I hope Republicans get the message." -- Joan

Actually, he's talking to ALL intolerant people, Joan. From BOTH parties. Including people like yourself who throw a tantrum when he actually DOES reach across the aisle and include a man like Rick Warren in tomorrow's inauguration. So please, take a long look in the mirror before you start lecturing others.

Rick Warren is not a hater. He simply doesn't believe that the homosexual lifestyle is moral. I, for one, don't agree with him. But I respect his right to hold that belief. That's what America is all about. Differing points of view. Warren's church has done more for aids than any other evangelical group in history. And I really doubt Obama would have asked him to play such a high profile role at the inauguration if he thought he was a hater. Not respecting Obama's choice in this matter is what's intolerant. Which clearly makes Joan intolerant.

"John McCain stood up to Cornyn and demanded a unanimous-acclamation confirmation vote for Clinton. That bold, principled, bipartisan move is a reminder of why McCain is no ordinary Republican." -- Joan Walsh

Why then, Joan, did you say John McCain was "an ass" in your "Cranky vs. Cool" post on September 27th? And why did you also refer to him as hackneyed, condescending, repellent, despicable, grumpy, and finally as a sarcastic put-down artist -- all in that same four-paragraph post? I mean, if he's really SUCH an extraordinary Republican.

Could it be you simply say whatever suits your agenda on any given day? Could it be you actually expect us to accept that kind of transparent schizophrenia as journalism? Or could it be that you're simply an abhorrent partisan hack?

"Good news: The Supreme Court refused to hear the Bush administration's latest appeal of the 3rd Circuit Court's (many) decisions striking down the Child Online Protection Act, an attempt to protect children from online porn." -- Joan Walsh

Golly , that's just great, Joan. Another moral victory for the left. Yippie.