Joan-

You seem to admire Hillary Clinton for her ability to lay out specific plans and details (which probably wouldn't even make it out of her legislative assistants' office to the Congress)! Specificand detailed proposals are, to my mind, not the job of the President--broad outlines, yes. But the devil is in the details, and that is what legislative experts and capable assistants are for, in each specific field! No Presidential candidate can know what exactly is needed and will be able to be delivered to Congress in the kind of detail that Hillary Clinton puts forth. I see this focus on detail as a cover for her inability to inspire and wake up the people! Instead, she tries to "talk her way out of things" and puts us to sleep with all of the minutae--which is truly meaningless! And she knows it. This is not really her fault; it is her worldview and her style! She is a manager--and I am sure a good one. She is NOT a visionary, nor an empathizer. She is an excellent senator, possibly even a potential Supreme Court justice (that would take care of her Bill problem, wouldn't it)? But a leader who inspires and gives hope to the people--no she isn't! Obama may not be a detail person--he doesn't have to be! I am confident he will recruit the best people possible to work out the details of the many liberal programs he champions! And then he will use his gifts to convince the people and the Congress to make change happen! Just wait and see! I do believe this man has the potential of FDR--and that is exactly what he did!!!

Kate Madison

Depoe Bay, Oregon

Ah Joan............You talk about Clinton and Obama as if this is just a choice of two different constituencies! I cannot believe that you do not see the chasm between their campaigns and the basic integrity that Obama brings to the table--totally absent in Hillary (and Bill) Clinton! It is not about the issues, really! They are not that far apart--except on the basic issue of the war, actually war in general. Hillary is instinctively bellicose, and lets slip that she would "obliterate" Iran if they dared to attack Israel--which, of course, would not happen, though the opposite might. And she does not mention that, in fact, Israel DOES have a nuclear bomb!

Obama, on the other hand, is instinctively a diplomat. I don't think he would shrink from necessary conflict--but it is not his first reaction, thank God!!! He is not a fear-monger, and does not attempt to appeal to the lowest common denominator in the electorate. Let's face it--as bright and capable as Hillary Clinton is, she does just that! This glorification of herself as "a fighter!" What is that about? What is so admirable about a leader being a fighter? It seems to me, more and more, that Hillary Clinton is the town bully! She is in denial of her vulnerability and her probable loss, and it will be very difficult for her to "go gentle unto that good night!" I think if Barack Obama were in this position, he would be much more likely to concede gracefully and to become a team player. Hillary Clinton has made that position all but impossible for herself. What a shame! I think it makes a McCain victory in November much more likely!!!

Kate Madison

Depoe Bay, Oregon

Dear Joan-

I have always liked your journalistic approach and admired your intelligence. I have especially liked you in your appearances on Bill Maher. HOWEVER, I must take issue with your analysis of this most horrendous "pretend" ABC debate--where the questions were crazy-making, adolescent and obviously crafted to appeal to the lowest common denominator. I felt especially sorry for the poor woman who was set up to ask the "flag lapel pin" question! She kept glancing to her side, as if to ask whether she was doing it "right!" She obviously had some kind of coach!

I think all the more highly of Barack Obama that he was annoyed and irritated at the low level of this "debate" and seemed hesitant to become involved. Hillary Clinton showed her usual "wooden soldier" persona, and I wondered if Mark Penn had entered the picture again!

Do you not get that Obama wants to change the nature of these foolish "debates" and get down to real issues? Do you not understand that the audience picks up on the "character" issue, and that is why Obama is winning nationally in ever wider numbers? Hillary Clinton is losing, and she is not going "gentle unto that good night!" I do not admire her for her "fighting spirit," because I think it is phoney and disingenuous. It is impossible to know who is the "real" Hillary Clinton and who Mark Penn and Bill Clinton tell her she needs to be!

Conversely, Barack Obama possesses a true voice. It has been evident from his first book "Dreams From My Father"--which he wrote himself and continues today. His speaking and writing voice are clearly his own. This is such a relief to one who notices these things, which I think many voters intuitively do too! On the other hand, I never know which Hillary Clinton will show up. I believe she is a real person with a real voice, but she has not respected herself or the voters enough to let us see her! Very sad.

Kate Madison

Depoe Bay, Oregon