I loved this debate. I always find Hillary more substantive and clearer, a rare combination in the political world, but Obama uses wit well. The one question I still have for Obama is how, exactly, he intends to make healthcare more affordable if he isn't going to use caps.

Anyway, thanks.

Let's dispel one thing right now, before it gets any legs. About this running mate thing: As I have said before, I will not vote for Hillary Clinton over John McCain, and with Obama as her Vice President that will not change. I very much doubt any other independent or otherwise unaffiliated voters will either, because the Vice President is a nothing job with as much authority as the Prince of Wales. It's a window dressing position. Dick Cheney may be the exception to this, fine, but do you really think that's the way it will be with Clinton? She'll send him off to open shopping malls in Alaska and whatever other unimportant buissness she won't want to do. It's a dumb idea that Hillary might just start floating out there to try to think they can have them both, when all it does is belittle Obama. And I won't buy it.

Barack Obama's Health Care is the Same Universal Health Care but offered by Hillary but with one Major Difference: You Have the Option of Choice! Do you want to be forced to pay for medical insurance like you are mandated to pay your auto insurance now? Or would you rather have the option of CHOICE --to be able to decide whether or not you want to buy your medical coverage at this time? This way Barack Obama's plan does not put another mandated cost, like auto insurance, on the backs of the people, especially the young who already have college costs to contend with. However, the coverage is always there for you, if and when you need it.

Well you may just have to vote for John McCain because I too thought they looked sexy together. No, not porn sexy but co-anchor person sexy, the sort of chemistry we like to see on the morning news. Not enough to distract us from their purpose, but just enough to give the viewers a bit upbeat feeling with their coffeee -- kinda like Regis and Kathy Lee.

(I can't believe I just said that.)

They liked each other once and they can like each other again -- for the good of the country.

As long as the Dems win. That's what matters.

I'd like to see Hillary as pres, Obama as veep, and Edwards as AG.

Of course, I did hear some guy whining on NPR the other day that the exit of Edwards left white males with no place to go. You'd think that they would share a bit in the 21st Century. They've had all the preceding ones.

Mr. Obama would have had a field day yesterday if Ms. Clinton had something about him for the past one week. In spite of tauntings by him and his group with thethe help of the friendly media, Ms.Clinton did not fall for his tricks and did not say anything that he could twist and use to demonstrate the he was a victim of cruel attacks. For the past one month, he was winning votes by projecting himself as the victim of mean attacks with the help of media which helped him not only by not releasing the full interview with comments on Reagan and also by not publishing Ms.Clinton's comments in full. He is adopting the same tactics that President Bush jr. used successfully against Mr. McCain, Mr. Kerry and Mr. Gore: Direct the press on the opponent by giving it interesting titbits now and let the press do his dirty work!

Though I was not one of the fortunate few who nabbed the "hottest ticket in town" to the debate, I was fortunate enough to be able to be at the Kodak Theatre listening to the debate going on inside and the wonderful flowering of political involvement outside. Clearly, the historic candidacies of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have brought forth a passion and energy from many groups of people to the benefit of both candidates. Neither one represents the "past" (please explain to me when a woman as President of the United States occurred in the past); both represent a change in opportunity and sensibility, and clearly people are responding.

I am a Hillary supporter. I am amazed by her detailed knowledge of the issues and what I believe is her passion for those issues. Nonetheless, I still think Obama is an extraordinary candidate-- and therein lies my issue with the posters listed above.

First, I respect that reasonable people can differ. I saw the debate very differently than you did, Xrandadu. I thought Hillary showed poise and exceptional knowledge of the issues. I thought her answers were stronger, clearer and more detailed than Obama's. Though Obama went much further in fleshing out ideas that have remained mostly slogans, to my mind, but I would hardly call him a "policy wonk" on this night. I thought he was, at times, muddled in his responses and more than a little general. Even so, he's head and shoulders above anything I saw the night before from the Republicans, and I would gladly support Obama were he the Democratic candidate. His positions are not substantially different than Hillary's, so it would certainly not be a chore to get behind him.

However, therein lies the difference that I have noted between supporters of the two camps. Where most Hillary supporters I know show very little animosity towards Obama, many Obama supporters seem exceptionally defensive about their candidate and spiteful of Hillary. You may say that you are no "Obama-ite," Xrandadu, but even a cursory view of your prior posts tells a different story. Still, I give you a lot of credit for stating in a different post that you would at least vote for Hillary in November if it came down to it.

As for Number Six, I find your "McCain" statement inexplicable. Given that even the candidates themselves have stated that there isn't substantial difference in their positions, I find it almost incomprehensible that you would state that you would not vote for Hillary over McCain. Since Hillary's and Obama's positions are not radically different, while McCain's positions have very little in common with either, it begs the question as to why you would support Obama, yet would not even consider voting for Hillary. I ask you that respectfully and put that forward to others who share your view.

Finally, I just want to note again the extraordinary and wonderful display of citizen activism and participation I saw on the streets of Hollywood Boulevard tonight. It literally lifted my spirits and bolstered my faith in the very bedrock of this great republic of ours-- the people. There were shouts and chants and cheers, and all were done in a spirit of change and unity. Men and women, black, white, yellow, brown and red were all seen voicing themselves. It was wondrous.

We have an opportunity to make history in November-- with either Democratic candidate-- and I would say that we also have a chance for real change with either one as well. It would be a shame to throw that away through internecine party bickering. Support the candidate of your choice in the primary, but please be willing to support in November whomever comes out on top in the Democratic primaries. Both are amazing and both are what we need to put our country back on track.