I understand your point. You wrote the bus stuff. You think it's right and valid. I happen to disagree on that minor point, but agree in the larger context.

I do believe you that you are self-reflective, and also appreciate it. I don't need you to prove it by agreeing with me in this moment.

I don't know the exact point of your next book, but I hope you touch on these themes: being "right" is "strong" ... and admitting mistakes as "weak." You are one of the few people in the world capable of BOTH redefining poitical discourse, and redefining bullshit traditionalism around gender roles (my words, my summary). I very much want you to be successful in this endeavor ... if I have captured it accurately.

I also hope all of "us" loosen up with the need to be right all the damn time.

you remind me a a good pal of mine ... a unique and amazing man. i like your style.

~ a (white) dude

durianjoe, are you joking?

from wikipedia:

Democrats

January 19, 2004 - John Kerry (38%), John Edwards (32%), Howard Dean (18%), Richard Gephardt (11%) and Dennis Kucinich (1%)

January 24, 2000 - Al Gore (63%), Bill Bradley (37%)

February 12, 1996 - Bill Clinton (unopposed)

February 10, 1992 - Tom Harkin (76%), "Uncommitted" (12%), Paul Tsongas (4%), Bill Clinton (3%), Bob Kerrey (2%) and Jerry Brown (2%)

February 8, 1988 - Richard Gephardt (31%), Paul Simon (27%), Michael Dukakis (22%) and Bruce Babbitt (6%)

February 20, 1984 - Walter Mondale (49%), Gary Hart (17%), George McGovern (10%), Alan Cranston (7%), John Glenn (4%), Reubin Askew (3%) and Jesse Jackson (2%)

January 21, 1980 - Jimmy Carter (59%), Ted Kennedy (31%)

January 19, 1976 - "Uncommitted" (37%), Jimmy Carter (28%) Birch Bayh (13%), Fred R. Harris (10%), Morris Udall (6%), Sargent Shriver (3%) and Henry M. Jackson (1%)

January 24, 1972 - "Uncommitted" (36%) and Edmund Muskie (36%), George McGovern (23%), Hubert Humphrey (2%), Eugene McCarthy (1%), Shirley Chisholm (1%) and Henry M. Jackson (1%)[9]

Republicans

2004- George W. Bush (unopposed)

2000- George W. Bush (41%), Steve Forbes (30%), Alan Keyes (14%), Gary Bauer (9%), John McCain (5%) and Orrin Hatch (1%)

1996- Bob Dole (26%), Pat Buchanan (23%), Lamar Alexander (18%), Steve Forbes (10%), Phil Gramm (9%), Alan Keyes (7%), Richard Lugar (4%) and Morry Taylor (1%)

1992- George H. W. Bush (unopposed)

1988- Bob Dole (37%), Pat Robertson (25%), George H. W. Bush (19%), Jack Kemp (11%) and Pete DuPont (7%)

1984- Ronald Reagan (unopposed)

1980- George H. W. Bush (32%), Ronald Reagan (30%), Howard Baker (15%), John Connally (9%), Phil Crane (7%), John B. Anderson (4%) and Bob Dole (2%)

1976- Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan

from salon's war room:

The Democrats: The winner of the Iowa caucuses has gone on to win the Democratic presidential nomination in four of the last five "normal" cycles. We don't count 1992 as normal because the other Democrats left Iowa to favorite son Tom Harkin, nor do we count 1996 because Bill Clinton ran unopposed. Outside of 1992, the only Democrat to lose in Iowa and go on to win the nomination since 1980 was Mike Dukakis.

The Republicans: With only two exceptions, the winner in Iowa has won the GOP presidential nomination in every cycle in the last three decades -- and George H.W. Bush played a role in both exceptions. Bush finished first in Iowa in 1980, then lost the nomination to Ronald Reagan; he finished third in Iowa in 1988, then went on to win the nomination.

The presidents: Aside from the Harkin anomaly in 1992, no one from either party has lost in Iowa and gone on to win the presidency since George H.W. Bush did it in 1988.

The big losers: Aside from 1992, no candidate in the last three decades has finished worse than third in Iowa and gone on to win his party's presidential nomination.

Obama/Edwards 2008!!!

These are exciting times ... at least for me and my preferences.

I also salute a great leader, Senator Chris Dodd. His fight for taking Bush to task on his unlawful surveillance of American citizens. He is motivated by what is /right/ and is taking on the Washington establishment is a real and important way. If Obama wins, he would be well served by Chris Dodd in his cabinet.

this is the only ticket that will unify the republican party. or maybe mccain/huckabee, but that is not as likely as the former. giuliani is dead as a liar. romney will spend hoards of money, but the pro-business folk have long ago jumped ship. this leaves wackos and other wackos. this is the 30% of our country that remains GOP loyal. there is no need to pander to these people, because facts and reasons don't matter as much as certain unquestioned values or loyalties. i feel sympathy for these folks. obama will easily take 60% of the general election ... with a competant running mate ... i think edwards. they will unite the country.

Carol ...

You have just embodied the polarizing feminism you speak of. Do you have an agenda here? I wonder. Seems others do as well.

I like your writing here more than most others in Broadsheet. Please consider re-writing this.

hey ...

i agree with just about everything you wrote. it is bewildering, and i do feel sad that my hope for "progressive media" can fall into the same trappings the MSM falls into.

and ... yesterday with greenwald i had an back-and-forth with him about the HRC and bus reporters stuff. he made the point that during the primaries many of "us" get hypervigilant and reactive (my words) when "our" candidate is slighted (or we perceive slight). i support obama ... and i am also wanting to learn from him and his campaign about how to address smears, and how to ignore the noise. one of the reasons why i don't support clinton is because i find her style polarizing & reactive ... and i don't want that in the leader of the free world. so, i've decided to tone down my own reactivity (as i can ... i'm human, imperfect) around this.

nonetheless, the site is losing a lot of stock in my book. i wish that wasn't the case. i also don't plan to renew, but i do enjoy the reading & writing the commentary. no other site (that i know of) has as much substance from it's readership.

rock on, a.a.!