Humans crave "leaders," and hold them in the highest esteem.

Yet, there is almost universal disdain among people for the main qualities required to be a "succesful" leader: egotism, connivance, selfishness, personal ambition that overrides family relationships and friendships, etc.

I'll never understand it.

I forgot to include this quote from another writer that prompted my last letter, to put my thoughts in context:

Like John McCain, Warren can be a likeable guy -- and, in fact, is generally likeable and not prone to the insane outbursts McCain has exhibited over the years. Still, he is interested in control, in power, and in herding his flock (or should we just call it a herd?) of unusually well-educated and generally upper-middle class Orange County professing Christians. But his ambitions no doubt exceed his current reach. This could be a good thing (or at least not the frightening thing Billy Graham has represented to me for nearly my entire life)

This "event" can be compared analogically to the president of the NRA inviting a gun control advocate to appear with a staunch pro-gun advocate in front of an NRA member audience. The NRA president would do anything in his power to trip the gun control advocate and make it very easy for the pro gun person. The playing field has been tilted all along in favor of McCain by his close buddy and life long Republican Rick Warren. I'd bet the farm that McCain was given way ahead of time all the questions and talking points. Comments by people who actually watched this thing indicate that McCain seemed extremely comfortable as if he had been given the playbook weeks before the event.

You said - It's beyond me...How anyone can say McCain "did pretty well."

But the problem is, he did well among the yahoos. WE (generally fairly thoughtful, mostly non-religious Salon posters) didn't think so...but are there enough of us?

I don't think that Obama's crew of advisors have underestimated McCain as much as some of Obama's followers have. McCain's performance last night should have disabused anyone of the notion that there was going to be some dithering old man stumbling on the stage in upcoming debates with Obama. I trust the Obama people will watch the replay of last night and get themselves into a proper Stephen Colbert "Formidable Opponent" frame of mind.

Obama had to show them that he wasn't the antiChrist

I have a relative in Kansas who literally believes that he is the antichrist ... and this person is (supposedly) educated and works in a medical lab. But apparently she will believe any disgusting, sub-mental anti-Obama rumor that comes to her on the internets, so long as it supports her Republican politics. Another one I heard from a Central California Republican is that Obama is a plant in a Muslim conspiracy to take over the U.S. I have never heard any rumor about McCain on the left that comes close to this kind of willfully vile stupidity.

I respect Obama for his efforts last night to show that it is possible for Christians to think intelligently and critically and to have the humility to understand that they don't always have all the answers. Unfortunately, too many people who call themselves Christians would rather be "certain" than be right; they are perfectly willing to be wrong, to believe the most scurrilous rumors, to give in to their basest fears, to forsake the brain God gave them, in order to feel 100% "certain." This is an abuse of faith; surely faith does not mean allowing one's own worst instincts to take over one's reason.

Even though I think Rick Warren is mostly a self-promoting shill, I hope his friendship with Obama will show a more enlightened side to American Christianity than this.

I expected Obama to shine at Rick Warren's church. After all, Warren is probably one of the best religious con-men around, applying marketing and sales techniques to religion and embracing liberal political issues.

It was perfect for Obama, the dicciple of Alinsky, who "preached" joining the socialist agenda to liberal religous churches in order to "Change" society. Using "faioth based organizations" for political and governmental purposes is a hallmark of Obama's "community" organizing experience. Reverend Wright's church is the "perfect" example.

That's the kind of expose of Obama the McCain campaign should be going after. This was the perfect forum to do so, but of course not the kind of thing Rick Warren, surely an Obama supporter, wanted to hear.

Dick Morris is right, August, not September and October, is the time to undo Obama's carefully crafted facade. And therefore beat him.

I don't think that Obama's crew of advisors have underestimated McCain as much as some of Obama's followers have.

Good point. Plus it is time for Dems to realize that no matter who debates a Repub the pundits will, overall, declare the Republican the winner. The RW media will always declare victory and the LW media will always criticize any flaws they see, real or imagined, and though while honest instead of just being cheerleaders, it equates to a win for McCain.

We can't freak out when it's inevitable.

If it had been Hillary up there, we'd be hearing that she was shrill, her voice would be either to high or too low, she'd be accused of pandering or laughing inappropriately. Oh, and look at the color of her suit, was there cleavage?

Because it's Obama, it's he too nuanced, not direct enough, not as "comfortable" as McCain was. Why does he pause when he's thinking? Why is he mentioning his wife? He's accused of pandering.

I can do the same thing with any of the earlier Democratic candidates against McCain who is seen as doing so much "better" than anyone expected, just like Bush was before him.

If you look at the actual state polling, not the contrived national polls (that had Guiliani being the Repub nominee) it's not looking bad for Obama at all. In fact, it looks pretty good. Cheer up.

Oh God (I say, despite being an atheist) I hope you're right.