Jeffersonian wrote: "Part of me fears for his life if he gains a significant lead in the polls come October. Living through '68 gave me that knot in the stomach, but I still believe this country can turn toward its destiny as the last best hope of earth."

I would hate to say that we turned down this chance out of fear of what the bigots might do. That's no way to live and it's no way to run a country.

You know, I have been just as irritated at the HillaryTrolls as everyone else (LOLCAIT): Screeching, fearmongers that they are. And, yes, the kitten analogy is perfect.

But, in Hillary's defense, I think she's practical if nothing else. She must eventually face her own downfall. I think she is angling for something more, although we, the voting public, probably will not know right away, if ever. Maybe she wants an appointment? Money to dig herself out of debt?

Whatever it is, I have no desire to gloat over her loss. It seems as if Obama will be the new nominee. He's one step closer to the presidency and, by extension, history. That is good enough for me.

Yesterday I realized that Obama never mentions gender; He's not giving secret signals to the MEN about his MANLY decisiveness. He's not talking about how he would never cry, not like that girly Hillary. What he's not doing is playing on the sympathies of male America.

Now it could be argued that he doesn't have to. Politics is already such a man's game to begin with and, besides, there will always be the likes of Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson who do that FOR him.

Playing "What if?" can be a useful tool in politics. In this instance I think it shows the politician that Obama could have been but is not. If anything, I think he is more respectful to Hillary than she has earned. She's played dirty, talking about race at every opportunity. She's not afraid to use every trick in the book as long as it takes her where she needs to go in this election.

Her run (for office) reminds me more and more of the failed campaigns of Al Gore and John Kerry; Lazy, uncreative, establishment campaigns without a backbone. They failed because they were reading from a script.

"Here's who we want politicians pandering too. Way to find the bottom of the barrel Salon."

I think I understand what you are saying. But if we learned one lesson from 2000 and 2004 it's that what we think of as "right" doesn't necessarily make us the winner. The democratic party can be as right as rain, but if we don't find ways to reach out to the nation as a whole, we will still lose. I actually think that Obama's message has gone a long way. A lot of Americans from all walks of life are behind him.

But I don't think that because Madden quoted a man who was making racist statements, that that makes this a bad article. I've never in my life wanted a candidate to win more than Obama. But I also realize the necessity of a sober assessment of the nation at large. And you know what? There are racists in this country. They vote. And pretending otherwise doesn't really help the situation. I'd like to find a way to reach out to those people, because they're probably not any different than my own relatives, meaning they're not beyond listening to reason. They're not monsters, but treating them as if they ARE is one sure-fire way to insure that they don't vote for Obama. I think if Karl Rove taught us anything it's that Democrats and liberals can't afford to be uppity about the "flyover" states.

And, for what it's worth, I think THAT is why Obama's message is so attractive to so many people; He's not an "us and them" kind of guy.

Brilliant but emotionally retarded just about sums it up for these men. I'm going to buy this book for my ex-boyfriend. The irony is that he will NOT be able to identify his own behavior within these stories.

Why do all Carey Tennis letters page begin and end with pious statements that the letter writer needs to dump their partner? It's deeply troubling. You don't know these people and you don't have to live with the fallout of a broken marriage. It's just so creepy.

"Maybe the morning after the June 3 primaries, Hillary and Bill Clinton will realize that it is finally time to pull the curtain down on the road show called "'Return to the White House.'"

This is it! It has finally dawned on me what it is that keeps Hillary going. The White House! There must be something in that job and that place that Hillary loved so much. Maybe those were the best years of her life! Maybe the mints that the cleaning crew left on her pillow were really delicious. Maybe she enjoyed the formality or the runner's high that she got from outmaneuvering her opponents.

Maybe it's like when I worked every year to be able to afford band camp. It was unthinkable NOT to go.

Comic Relief *is* a great shop. It's roomy and diverse. I hope it sticks around a few decades longer. Thanks for the eulogy.