" ... we can consider someone other than Mrs. Clinton or Mr. McCain." For example, Mr. Obama.

You ask why criticize someone who changes her mind. Of course there is no reason to do so. The "point" I was making in referencing some of chhabili's earlier letters was not that she is wrong to change her mind. It was that there seemed to be no reasons she gave whatever for doing so, and that it happened virtually overnight; this wasn't a case of rationally looking at opposing views and making a decision to change sides, but at least to me a case of "conversion." I rather suspect you have not bothered in any way to go back yourself and see what chhabili wrote and how strange and sudden the conversion was--from a host of letters attacking Obama in every way both seemly and unseemly, to a host of letters attacking Clinton in the same tone. I remain mystified about her reasons for the radical change; that's fine, but is good to know when one is trying to evaluate her arguements for their credibility.

As to reading carefully as you tell me to do? Yes, dear, thanks for the "gratuitous advice" but I have in fact read carfully every singel letter she wrote in the past 6 weeks, looking for those reasons. They aren't there There are only negative reasons--reasons she has stated as to why she now hates Clinton.

Your "gratuitous advice" (as you so nicely call it in your very first letter on Salon just 6 weeks ago) to so many of us who see things differently from yourself does no one any good. Stop doubting the motives or integrity of others in making your arguements. That's my advice. At 51, you're old enough to know better.

it's the "wonder of emotions" - and it might work like that:

You have two candidates who seem to be in their policies

quite similar - and you have good "reasons" to believe that- and "BANG" "BOOM" I actually like Obama better!

I can't believe you just outed someone's age like that. That is one reason that it was nice to have an anonymous button on salon, so no one could comb back through one's letters and make judgements based on any personal information that one decided to reveal. And calling someone "dear" too. I'm afraid for a Hillary supporter, you're due for some reading from the old the anti-sexism manual. And no, I didn't read all of your old letters to know that you support Hillary. I just remembered. Although if you are still supporting her despite conventional wisdom that she can't win more delegates than Barack, you are a more loyal soldier than many.

he's from the "seemly" and the "unseemly" police and they

are a little "whacky" says my daughter!

"Outed" someone? Good lord, cecilbeanie tells us upfront what her age is, and why it's important in the discussion she was making at the time. You seem to suggest that we are impolite to read others' earlier posts; sorry, but I can't understand why that would be so. I know more about your way of thinking, for example, by perusing things you've said before and it helps see your comments in context sometimes.

I deliberately used the "dear" because I felt cecilbeanie has been more than a little condescending to some others in her recent letters, and was--gently, I thought--giving some of her own back. Same for the mention of age, since I'm considerably older than she. Sexist? I don't think so. Again, you're welcome to read anything I've put here at Salon, should you want to more fairly judge my views in that area. Or if you chose, you could easily note that my journey to Clintonland was a long and gradual one. Oh, sorry; I guess you think it rude to do so. I disagree, and regret the availability of Anonymous as a signature for the very reason that we have less notion of just who we're dealing with.

When I'm wrong in sensitive areas, I apologize. I did so to you not so long ago.

What's the worst that can happen if Hillary loses the nomination? She returns to New York and continues her duties as a U.S. Senator, which, by all accounts, she's quite good at. Sure, her ego is crushed slightly, but she's talented, smart, and will dust herself off and assist our new president, Barrick Obama, turn this country around.

sometimes light teasing on the internet comes across as heavy as boots. I know from your letters that you are generally thoughtful and fair, and I was just prodding you. Thank-you for saying something nice to me a while back. I appreciate it.

But as a thoughtful person--and I don't disparage your support of Clinton nor your reasons for supporting her: what do you think will happen after Tuesday. If there is essentially a tie--with maybe a couple of more delegates won by her side in Ohio and Rhode Island, but not in Texas...as polls at this moment project: what will happen? I don't have a definite opinion on this, so I'm not looking for a standard issue answer...but this draw....will it be good for the party to not be able to make up our collective minds?

I've also watched carefully, and the non-endorsements of Bill Richardson and John Edwards are telling. Whoever thought that we would be in a dilemma like this in such an important election year? And if the only thing that will put one candidate every so slightly forward in the race is more stringent negative campaigning...where will we be in November? We seem to be becoming the three-legged runner in a two-legged race. Maybe McCain has his hobbling issues too....still...

Just wondering what you think.

Thanks for forgiving me. This from someone who just two days ago referred twice to AKASmith as "Dear Mrs. Smith". Gee, I've just been scolded for calling a person 'dear.' So, let's forgive YOU, shall we?

Oh, and for sexist-ageist crimes--"unseemly ones" most would say--here's what your defender said, with no resulting scolding from you:

pieceofcake,

I think you gave AKASmitty a good solid argument against her bankrupt assertions. But why argue with a cranky old contrarian school teacher ... I admire your patience for putting up with such an insufferable, whitebread, whiner. I hope her championing of Hillary Clinton's candidacy makes her so happy she could shit. ... The world doesn't stand still for stuffy old school marms stranded in the Victorian era. manos99

I guess you and Delores forgave manos, too, huh? At least neither of you said a damned thing.

Whacky? Oh, yeah.