I think most people chafe sooner or later under the strictures of a two-party system. They're one-size-fits all sort of deals, and that obviously means they don't fit a lot of people.

However, I do respectfully submit that voting Green, in a two-party system, is, in effect, voting for McCain.

Obviously, you have to do what feels right...But politics is about holding your nose more often than not. And while getting Democrats in the WH may not be all that needs to be done, it is a step in the right direction.

Obama is trying to close the deal, but he's getting very little help from his supporters. Why they are unable to acknowledge the win graciously and throw out the welcome mat is beyond me. They should be ecstatic, but they still sound very aggrieved. Why do you think the guy you voted for wants you to change your behavior? Wake up!

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Well, the whole situation has gotten silly. I can't pretend to speak for a lot of Obama supporters, and he wasn't my first choice. I've heard that the animosity predates his taking the delegate lead, and I can't argue.

But it does seem to me that that whole stretch from when he took the delegate lead to HRC's concession is what really cemented people on both sides. And I have to confess, once I invested in Obama, I've been pretty angry with Clinton's campaign tactics. I understand HRC's supporters not being keen with things the Obama campaign did, but as someone who started out neutral between the two (and consulted with my daughter because I didn't want to not support HRC if her candidacy meant something to my daughter), I've come to feel that the majority of the onus for the division does lie at Clinton's feet. And I've not seen her doing a whole lot yet to heal that division.

Not trying to stir things up, but, in my mind, this is what's behind the lingering bad behavior. And I'm not saying it's smart or productive. Obviously, it's not. But I think if people are to come together, the gripes on both sides have to be considered together. The dynamic we're seeing has everything to do with each group's perception of the other's tactics and so on. It's all of a piece, and reconciliation depends on us understanding and "validating" (ugh, I hate the term, but it fits) each side's complaints then moving on.

Dude/dudette: Get a grip and calm down. You sound like the people you're railing against.

Such a treat having the Euro 2008 to forestall the baseball-only days of summer.

As is usual in tournaments, the group stage was a lot of fun, and naturally things tighten up a bit in the knockout stages, but the play remained lively and inventive. My thanks to ESPN for carrying all the games, and so many in HD.

It's a shame the final couldn't have been Spain-Netherlands. But Spain were worthy winners, and it's always priceless to see the Germans disappointed. Plus, getting to see Italy and France walloped is never unwelcome. The final was tense...It could've exploded, and one hoped it would've with Spain scoring first, but the Germans just weren't up to the challenge. As someone else noted, the cupboard there really is fairly bare, but, as always, the Germans can make up for a lot with their approach.

For those who aren't soccer fans, it's like any other sport. A person usually has to have a rooting interest, and then it takes on much more meaning.

"They say that in the real world your principles must bend in order to conform to the agenda of the malevolent morons that control the status quo. That is called being a team player, as opposed to being a non-centery radical leftist."

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The problem here is that Greenwald is not running for office, doesn't apparently even vote very often, and is staking out his turf as the grand objective arbiter who is all principle, 24/7.

Which is fine. But that's a luxury for talking heads.

Actual politics is a sausage grinder, and it's awfully easy to stand on the sidelines and scream about screech about all kinds of stuff, draw the most apocalyptic conclusions possible.

I don't usually disagree with Glenn's "analysis", per se. It's the shrill and hysterical conclusions he draws that become boring and ridiculous after a while.

Instead, Glenn fails to see that Obama is trying to move past partisan divisiveness, get into office, and then govern. If anyone hasn't noticed, Obama's doing just fine in the polls. If he followed all the left-wing blogobloviating advice he'd be trailing right about now. Seems like Obama has done pretty well for himself without Greenwald up until now.

I suggest Glenn run for president, or any elected office, and then he can report back to us on exactly how efficacious his prescriptions turn out to be.