Maybe it would be a good idea follow that thread before attacking one of my comments out of context.

My point was, and continues, that action counts, while talk and commentary is easy, cheap and fast. Encouraging commentators here, many of whom are obviously both intelligent and articulate, to action need not be construed as offense. If you or anyone else here is actively engaged in trying to improve things in our country beyond opining in the blogosphere, great and more power to you.

What I haven't done is single anyone out, go read all their other posts, and then critique them en total in the course of zinging an attack on something to which they are unrelated.

I'm not scoffing at anyone here.

"News," versus opinion, advertising or propaganda, is the accurate and unbiased reporting of fact. Facts are limited to that which have been proven, or can be proven. So if you want to call a blog a news news source, it is so only when its facts check out.

Couldn't agree more - Campaign finance reform, that unsexy sleeper issue, never seems to garner the drama and hype that lights people on fire but it is absolutely essential to making any progress at all.

The last attempt towards reform in my state was reimbursing individuals for campaign contributions up to $50. I'm not sure that was effective at all, but it was something. Our esteemed governor unilaterally did away with it in his "my way or the highway" approach to balancing the state budget recently. He has eyes on the 2012 presidential bid. Watch for Pawlenty - he's a rat in rats clothing.

I also have to agree with what SadButTrue implies about the need for accurate and objective conveyance of information. Currently, most of our "news" sources only serve the interests of the money behind current legislators.

So as far as places in which to make a lot of noise, those are the two areas I support -- campaign finance reform and the wide distribution of independent news.

Glad for your note. Salon has a lot of smart commentators. If only 20% of those posting here do as much, and had your take on participation, I for one, would be much reassured.

It's hard to see how posting comments on blogs is anything like shouldering responsibility. Expressing opinion, yes, but that's all. Shouldering responsibility is where most of us fall pretty sadly flat.

How many erudite commentators here are actually holding those in office accountable -- especially one's own elected officials? How many are voting regularly, participating in party politics, community organizing, demanding reform through direct communication, or heaven help us, running for office oneself?

Frankly, I think action on the part of citizenry in this country is sadly lacking. What I see a lot of, here included, is complaining about Obama as if he's failing his role as the second coming of Christ.

And yes, I do think turning back corruption, correcting the assaults on our constitution, setting the economy back on track, creating a vastly different and fair healthcare system, among the rest of his promises, would be pretty god_amn spectacular, especially if all that could be accomplished in his first year. Oh yeah, and let's not forget pulling out of the middle east, resolving the rather complicated issues of detainees, and righting the judicial system.

In case anyone has forgotten, the problems we have right now were years, if not decades in the making.

You don't think accomplishing all would be spectacular? Well then go ahead and jump in, baby. Roll up yer sleeves and git to it.

It's about time we wake up to the fact that our role as citizens in this country isn't limited to armchair politicking and waxing eloquent in our opinions. If you get some ideas about what to do from reading and writing wonderful comments, more power to ya.

I wonder if we're not overemphasizing Obama in our rush to find explanations for our country's recent and current state of affairs.

He did make a lot of very grand statements, ones which resonated so soundly with the American public that we elected the first black president ever.

And now we wonder why we're coming up empty handed in so many of those issues -- Why isn't he towing the line "upholding the letter of the law"? Why isn't he producing the promised "transparency"? Why is "his" health care legislation so wimpy? What happened to "his" banking reforms and regulation? Why isn't "his" stimulus package finding its way into the pockets of average Americans?

I'd suggest the following:

1. Obama is young. It's easy for a smart person to read the needs of our nation, and easy for a young man to promise them.

2. There is a high level of corruption in our political system - those with whom Obama must work - created by increasing polarization, financial ownership, celebrity (think S. Palin, H. Clinton, and Obama himself for that matter) and increasing separation from responsibility to constituents via capitalization on dramatic single issues as well as public complacency.

3. Obama's amount of life experience is greater in community organizing than it is in politics. Trying to "organize" the Washington political scene... good luck with that!

I think what it all boils down to is that by himself he can't do what he promised even if he wanted to. Certainly not in his first year. If he's successfully made a lame duck early in his presidency, he's not going to be able to do it at all.

What I wonder is why we're getting mad at him for not making spectacular, monumental headway, and not shouldering in ourselves?

GG is right - we need to be stronger in watchdogging, defending our constitution, and demanding appropriate reforms to resolve the insidious and destructive forces unleashed during the last 8 years at least.