Joan,

I saw you on MSNBC this morning and wanted to voice my concern about your comments comparing McCain's performance at Saddleback versus Obama's. Why is it that no one is pointing out that McCain was using his same old tired anecdotes and one liners on the campaign trail that Rick Warren warned about not using. Obama played by the rules laid down by Warren and was appropriately reflective about metaphysical topics. Most of this religious dogma is unknowable and Obama's answers while lengthy were more accurate than McCain's one word answers. McCain also came off as flippant while Obama took the topics seriously. Obama also gave a better answer on the question of evil. Personally I am offended by all this intermixing of religion and politics. Religion used to be private affair and wasn't anybodies business. It's was kind of nauseating to watch the pandering that went on at Saddleback but at least Obama tried to be responsive to Warren.

I don't get the animosity toward the media and Obama by many Hillary Clinton backers. Sure there was sexism on the cable news channels, but to me the more scary element was the covert racism that was at least as bad as the sexism. The Reverend Wright episode was the 21st century version of "Joe McCarthyism" at work. I don't recall Clinton being exposed to anything as nasty as that. The only media outlet who got it right was PBS with Bill Moyers. Personally I would have been very happy with Clinton, Obama, Edwards (not now of course), and Biden as president. Hillary also ran a poor campaign and was badly served by her advisors but the buck stops with her. Obama took advantage of the caucuses, but she had the same opportunity. She also had the opportunity to come to Obama's defense about Rev. Wright but became coy about the issue. She also hammered Obama on the "experience" thing knowing full well that experience is way overrated - just look at Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld who had plenty of experience, but lousy judgement. Clinton also hurt herself among Democrats by not reversing her position on her vote on the Iraq war. That will haunt her the rest of her career. Lastly Bill did not do her any favors with his "loose cannon" off the cuff remarks that sounded racist even though we know he isn't racist. Perception became reality among black voters. This became a nasty campaign that did not serve Democrats well overall; it reminded me way to much of the Republican way of politicking.

My feelings exactly and you stated them well. The stakes are too high in this election to take our ball and go home. This is either the most important election since 1968 or even possibly 1932. John McCain is a hard liner on foreign policy, panders to right wing evangelicals even though he hardly attends church, would try to overturn Roe vs. Wade via Supreme Court appointments, find a way to keep our troops in Iraq, and cater to the needs of corporate interests at the expense of the working class. The McCain maverick image is a "myth". He voted against a minimum wage increase for heavens sake, and was against giving additional education benefits to veterans. And I am concerned about McCain's age, even though I am of his generation. Becoming president would age McCain dramatically. Eisenhower believed no one over the age of 70 should run for president. I think that still holds true. McCain is also out of touch with average folks - he was brought up in a privileged lifestyle, got into Annapolis because of his father, was a poor student (like Bush!), a womanizer in his youth, and prone to major gaffes, such as "Bomb Bomb Iran". And look at the way he treated his wife at the Sturgis biker rally, offering to have her enter the topless beauty contest. McCain just doesn't sound like a candidate a Democratic woman would vote for.

Michelle gave a beautifully crafted well delivered speech that hit all of the themes that will set the stage for Barack on Thursday night. She dispelled any thoughts that she is somehow radical or and "elitist". She came across exactly how she came across on "The View" and on the stump for Obama. She is intelligent and charasmatic and loves her family and her country.That came through loud and clear tonight. A home run for the Democrats.

Hillary is a very impressive speaker and delivered big time tonight. She managed to unite the delegates and hopefully those Hillary supporters sitting at home watching. It is great to have so many good speakers in the Democratic Party. Senator Warner and Rep. Kuchinich also delivered top notch speeches. So now we have had at least six great speeches in two nights and two nights to go. President Clinton and Biden will also deliver, and Obama will deliver the knockout punch on Thursday. By Monday we should see the polls start to break for Obama by at least 5-10 points.