...because I do not have much appreciation for the words of Ms. Montana-LeBlanc. Does anybody out there agree with me...that she is part of what is wrong in New Orleans?

...I am plagiarizing Reality Based Lefty. I could not write it better myself:

"Joan,

Please quit, immediately.

You do not get it.

Fundamentally."

Joan Walsh is an embarrassment to women...and an embarassment to Salon.

She is a singer who can only sing one note. And her song is off-key.

...you're fighting the good fight, and you're a decent writer, and your voice is essential these days.

But on Chris Matthews, you are very very wrong. How can I persuade you and other Salon readers that it is (was) people with the thinking of Chris Matthews who decide elections...that Chris Matthews was a Jimmy Carter speechwriter...and that if folks like Chris Matthews hadn't defected (first in the '80s for Reagan) and now with W...if those folks hadn't voted Republican...we would not be in the mess we're in.

And these folks believe that the Democratic Party deserted them. Rightly or wrongly...that is what they believe.

Chris Matthews is NOT a liberal or a conservative. He is a centrist-oriented media personality.

And he is like the coal miner's canary. We should listen to Chris Matthews...for our own sake, and for the sake of our country.

Bravo Camille. I am a Democrat...but share your views. Keep it up.

...on several fronts, in order to enable the country as a whole to see what Sarah Palin is all about. It isn't hard to imagine the Republican strategists using all of the 'tricks of the identity politics trade' that the Dems and feminists have used all these years, on their own behalf now...chortling all along the way.

I am reminded of how the Democratic attempts to get minorities into Congress relied on redistricting, and how the Republicans, years later, used those same strategies IN SPADES.

Be careful what we wish for...

...when you wrote this--"The peculiar thing is that this only applies to politics: voters who would not dream of taking their car to an incompetent mechanic or their body to an unlicensed physician have no problem electing totally unqualified candidates to perform the most difficult and important job in the world, simply because they identify with them."

Gary, a lot of Americans (including some Democrats) are not entirely happy with the giant experiment we are doing with our medical students. In essence (in large part due to affirmative action policies [which in many circumstances I am in favor of]), we are trying to find out how watered-down we can make the science education (and, in some minds, the raw intellect) of those pre-med students who make it onto medical school.

Do not discount the effect of affirmative action...on many swing voters. So, while all physicians are licensed, there is the gnawing thought (in the minds of some) that because of affirmative action, the overall quality of MDs isn't as high as it could be.

This sort of thing is important in the minds of many swing voters.

http://townhall.com/columnists/MonaCharen/2008/09/12/what_obama_could_destroy

...the first 'graph:

"I was polled last night. Yes, it happens. I spent half an hour on the telephone with a representative of the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. The results will be made public in a few days. One question stands out. They asked, "Do you know what Barack Obama's religion is?""

My oh my.

who votes Blue...but also one who thinks that (a) Joan Walsh is full of herself, and often counterproductive; and (b) Sarah Palin is very very dangerous (and, unfortunately, in the current culture wars, is VERY electable).

Here is my read of the venomous responses to your piece, David Talbot. I think the tide is turning, and the conservatives are starting to get worried.

Full speed ahead...the country needs more info about Sarah Palin as a city councilwoman, mayor, governer...and, I think, mother.

I think, at times, that some of her supporters believe that she is running to become 'First Mother'...so yes, info on Sarah, all info that is factual, is useful.

you wrote: "When you are a black man, many people (even other black men, and especially strangers) tend to react to your physical presence as if you are "a black man," whatever that happens to mean to them at the time."

These kinds of statements generate much more heat than light...

...but honestly, keep trying. Nothing that you're writing, David, really surprises me...and I wonder if it surprises many Salon readers.

After muddling around some, Glenn, you nailed this one. Bravo!

...teledildonics is NOT a good idea. The whole HIV/AIDS crisis has turned our youngsters' sex lives all cock-eyed (no pun intended)...and now they will have a choice to get their rocks off that does not involve leaving the house?! I'm serious...this is NOT a good thing.

...that you called the authorities about the folks with the wolf. You did inform the authorities, right?

1. Religious Certainty

2. Unbridled Greed

3. A Stifled and Intimidated Media

...you are going to take some heat on this one. But do not stop. This is an important article...keep up the good work

...does anybody know whether McCain and Palin even like each other?

...good story. Nice job--and do you get the sense that Rachel, on TV, has room to grow and in fact, could get better? After all, she is only a beginner...

"...and there's no doubt he was unfair to both Clintons"

If the Clintons had listened to Matthews and his ilk, Gore would have succeeded Clinton and we wouldn't be in much of the mess we're in.

...would love to discuss it with you sometime. I really don't think you understand, or even WANT to understand...the whole idea of 'Reagan Democrats'.

Obama does...remember his reference to Reagan that Hillary jumped all over?

http://mydellmini.com/