Hi Joan, I wanted to contact you after I heard you on Hardball yesterday and say that I totally agree with you on trusting Obama. I think he's perfectly capable of deciding who he thinks will best represent his administration to the world and help him accomplish his goals. Thanks for your voice of sanity.

Again, I totally agree with you, Joan. It is crystal clear that any attempt by Obama to try to solve the problems before he takes office will set him up for ownership of any failure. He and those around him clearly know this. I approve everything he is doing. It took eight years or so to get us into this mess, we can wait two months until he takes office. By the way, I was calling for Gore to at least shadow Bush by acting as the loyal opposition and telling the truth during the early years of the Bush administration but only to my friends.

Joan, Thanks for your clarity and sanity. I read a wide range of articles and opinions and try to watch reasonable commentators on t.v. and you are always among the most helpful and clear thinking observers of this political moment. It would be nice if we could experience the Obama presidency without the noisy smoke screen of the media, but reading you helps clear the fog. Or some such metaphor.

Joan, I trust you . . . and Rachel!!!

Yes, Joan, you are exactly right about what Obama needs to do. And can someone please tell him that he needs to make it simple, with no more than 5 clear simple points that people can remember. Things like "portability". I think the reason he isn't calling on supporters to campaign for his reforms is that he doesn't yet know what they are. He is working within the system, which makes sense as he is the president now, but he needs to find a way for those of us who want him to succeed to help him. This has gone on too long.

Joan, How about a September 13th "National Sick-In", with or without a March on Washington, with the uninsured, underinsured, those who have been bankrupted by health care costs and anyone else who is in favor of serious health care reform and a public option peaceably demonstrating outside the country's hospitals and emergency rooms?

This "Zero-Sum" game of those with jobs having health coverage and those without jobs also being without reasonable alternatives makes no sense. Why isn't there something to sign up for when you lose your job? Obama and the Democrats are not only not responding to the Republican lies effectively, they are not explaining the problem simply enough.

I am distraught to be so disappointed in Obama's leadership. He doesn't seem to have his heart in the battle.

Joan, My head is exploding on a daily or hourly basis. Would like to catch your appearances on t.v. without having to watch the other insanity. Someone has probably commented already, but wouldn't people who need insurance tend to migrate to the states that have a public program? That would be good in some senses, increased representation in Congress for Democrats maybe, but it would increase the demand for other services and use of resources. It might even be unconstitional. Are we still the UNITED States of America or not?

Yes, Joan, I agree with you as usual. I would think that the Nobel is more burden than prize, another aspect to consider in every decision President Obama makes. I also think it is recognition for those of us who support him and want to achieve the goals he has set out. There are things I would like him to do differently, of course, but of all the people who could be in the office, I am the most willing to put my trust in Obama.