Seems that bread and circuses have finally entered the presidental race.

Yes Obama is charismatic, but will vision carry him through the daily realities of being President? Trade negotiations? Borders?

Tangled strands of Middle Eastern cultures?

Military solutions vs political or economic or

cultural approaches? Or already established contacts with international leaders?

Does Obama have the grasp of international history and politics? Has he already talked eye to eye with foreign leaders as Hillary has?

What is most troubling in Bush is that he has no grasp of the spectrum of international issues.

Charm is not going to steer Obama through those

most important and delicate negotiations.

One writer noted that Mrs.Obama will be the most

gracious first lady since Jackie Kennedy. This is not the Easter Parade.

No, Hillary's answers may seem to be dodging

questions, but it could just as well be that she is processing her answer through her depth of experience that produces no simple, clear cut answers.

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Ebonics?

What's with the put-on "black" English when Oprah and Obama were addressing the crowds in South Carolina? Okay, Oprah is reaching back for her roots, but Obama??? Was he being black or was he being southern or was he just being phoney? He sure didn't sound like the man I heard in Iowa.>>

I agree. While watching and listening to her speech in Iowa, she sounded to me a lot like Martin Luther King!! I wondered what was going on?? I was waiting for the "I Have a Dream" speech at any minute..and Obama did the same thing.

Why do they think they have to talk "black" to get a black person to vote for him?? Oprah's audience is white, middle-class women...and the people that come to her show in Chicago are hoping against hope that there will be a wonderful gift under their seat..FREE! (never mind they pay 'gift' tax on the 'free' gift!)

Hmmmmm.

Why in blessed creation would Thomas Schaller- author of 'Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without The South'- be published to comment on Barack Obama's amazing South Carolina event?

His vehemence for poor, black, and/or southern people is palpable in his tone; Schaller's background would seem to fortell the cut-short syntax he uses to mock everything about the event.

Why, oh why, was he chosen to comment here? It seems to be a dismissal of the candidate, of the endorsment of 'the most famous black woman on the planet', and of Obama's recent resurgence in the polls- hardly subtle in its purpose or intent.

Seriously, 'the most famous black woman on the planet'?? Not 'the most successful' or 'most business-savvy' or 'most cross-culturally relevant' black woman?

Silly black, southern, floppy-hatted voters: don't you know that you don't matter? Haven't you learned that this isn't your time? And you hopeful, listless white-boys- don't you know this is all a hoax? A distraction? And please, please, you dedicated poor- keep your multiple offspring at home where they belong. There's nothing to see here, nothing of consequence, anyhow.

Get F*cked, Schaller.

Thank you also for your comments regarding what I said. When I hear Bush/Cheney lite it makes me think of FOX "news". Just another smear and unwarranted sound bite. I know sound bites like this gets passed around without sometimes any support. I want people to express what they think and not what the press puts out there, and I'm not saying I'm attacking anyone...maybe he press for making everything just a sound bite.

Thanks AJ for all you've said and stating what you believe. I've never been for the Iraq War....might not have made that clear. I was disappointed because as I saw it Obama actually told the press, the NY Times among them that he was going into the first debate to attack Hillary and then he creates a website saying she's attacking him.

I read, and of course what you read isn't always true, that Obama was not going to use the negative card and then first change he got he did. It made me think his word wasn't something I could support or believe.

I did want to say that a lot of what you said I agreed with and I appreciate you time in answering my post and putting your two sense worth in...in a very non-combative way I must say.

I've read your posts before and think you have some very good points. Who do you support? You asked me this question. We just get press on the front runners when in actuality I respect some who are behind in the poll. I wish they too had more press space so I can see what and where they stand for.

Thanks AJ

"A man is not honest simply because he never had a chance to steal." ~Proverb

He never took a vote for or against the war and when he had the opportunity to do so on the Iran question, he was a "no show".

I'm no Oprah fan, but yesterday when I read about her appearnces I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Seeing the footage of it last was a completely different story. Same old Oprah. That woman is completely without talent save one: self promotion. I don't think Obama did himself any favors. He certainly didn't look presidential kissing her queenly ass. Not a good move.

Obama has a real shot to get the nomination and win the election. He really didn't need Oprah. My guess is that she saw a great opportunity to hitch herself to his wagon then wrap herself in the credit if he's successfull. She looked self serving and contrived.

I can make up my own mind, thank you.

I don't need a "celebrity" telling me how to vote.

I am more concerned if my vote will be counted when I cast it for the candidate of MY choice, not the person chosen by a billionaire, a campaigner who can't seem to grasp enough power.

...and that's what all this is about....power.

Power to the people!

With enthusiasm, my daughter, her husband, and their young daughter attended the Obama/Oprah rally in Columbia. They weren't impressed. In fact, they may have been convinced to vote for any one other than Obama.

The speakers yelled into the microphone -- annoying and unnecessary, but forgiveable. The speeches lacked substance. There was much yelling of "CHANGE" but not much about public policy. But the real deal breaker was the following. My daughter wrote,

"There was one thing that left a bad taste in my mouth. They set up the stage toward the media. The crowd sat BEHIND the stage so no one had a good seat. Every once in a while they would turn around and speak to the crowd but mostly they just faced the cameras. I felt kind of used in a way. 30,000 people make the trek out there, stood in line for hours, and sat waiting for hours for what? It's all a show for the mass media. It was all just for a good photo op for Barack's camp."

If Obama wins the national Democratic primary, he'll have to do better than that to win the Presidency.