Thank you for a very good article and your selecting what you thought to be a cross section of thoughts on Obama.

I grew up in Colorado in a Railroad, Agricultural Community of 7.500 people.

I've voted Democrat since my first vote in 1960. I've thought about sitting out this year voting for President as I don't have any real feeling for either Candidate. Keep in mind, I was for Hillary and gave money to her campaign.

McCain is 8 years to late. I chose to believe that this Country would be in a much better position in the World if he had been elected 8 years ago. His selection of Vice President is a slap in the face to Romney and others who would have been legitimate running mates.

Obama's selection of Biden has made the difference for me. I will not sit out this election I will vote for Obama; as I chose to believe that the Democrats will give the best counsel to Obama and he will listen.

disagreement, with one reprimanding the other "Take that stuff off! You look like a politician". The pigs probably like Barack quite well as, at the moment, he's not "bringing home the bacon" if the polls are correct. They're not too keen on Sarah Palin, however, because her religious beliefs don't bar her from eating them. Heavens above, she even eats moose stew! Shudder. I have to admit that the European "elite" have grown quite fond of venison, as intensively-reared animals (the gloop in burgers) don't have the flavour or health-benefits for humans of those which live in the wild.

Sarah is tactile, warm, and even imperfect so that gives her the edge over Barack. She didn't know the Bush Doctrine(s) so she hasn't studied her catechism carefully enough Boo-hoo. BUT she wears "Naughty Monkey" shoes, now experiencing a sales surge, and would probably have bought the fabulous Rouge Allure lipstick in Enthusiast "a bullet of pure, unapologetic red" except that it's made by Chanel. We know how you all feel about the French and almost everybody else in the universe unless they're your clones, the Kay Scarpettas (vide Patricia Cornwall) of language, forever using your scalpels on religion and race.

Obama is well on his way to the White House. He embodies John Kennedy's famous line "...ask what you can do for your country." by devoting his career to public service. Obama has spelled out specific plans to jump start economic relief for small town America and deal with the housing crisis. None of us can take a passive approach to this years' election, we all need to educate ourselves on the candidates positions and vote!

>I listened to working-class people try to make sense of a black president named Barack.

Obama is a currently a presidential candidate, not a president. It's inexcusably sloppy journalism not to get a basic premise correct.

But the roof over His head didn't top a Southside mansion, did it?

And He didn't fly over to Rome to get a bunch of beside the point Europeans to stage Big Brother rallies for Him, did He?

If Obama was such a memorable community organizer, how come we haven't heard all that much about the success of His projects? What exactly did His organizing end up doing for that community, anyway? Who are these workers that witnessed His organizational triumphs? Who in the end benefited most from His community labors?

And more to the current point, Obamabots, who is this majority that is going to be voting for him? And why would they? Based on what?

Where exactly are they supposed to be coming from?

If this majority was really there, would articles like his one even be necessary?

Instead of delusionally partisan reporters give you the Happy Spin Cycle, maybe you could step away from your computers long enough to drive a few hours outside city limits and ask any small town cafe waitress just how many people there are supporting Obama. But that's really not what you want to hear, is it.

You don't want information. You need affirmation. All zealots are more gullible than logical.

You insisted on foisting Obama onto the ticket. But it sure doesn't mean we have to vote for him.

Or McCain either. But, unfortunately, in times of crisis, the stressed skew to the familiar. And that's precisely why today you know so much about Sarah Palin. Instead of Hillary Clinton. And if you think that last sentence is irriatating now, just keep it in mind over the next four years.

Tough luck, Democrats. When we who are now Independents and will write in our choice told you that this was a bad idea, all you could do was insult us.

And now you think somehow there is going to be enough of a majority to share your Kool-Aid. Why would they do that?

Change is built on incremental trust. There is nothing at all reassuring about either Obama, McCain or Palin. But most Americans will relate least to Obama. Palin was hand-picked for exactly that reason and you know it.

The only possible way a GOP candidate could win this election would be to run against a completely unelectable Democratic candidate after eliminating any viable contenders.

And, such a Rovian coincidence. That is just what has happened.

Many of the same salonistas here who are now out of the closet Republicans were here hurling the same insults at Hillary. I told the kool-aide drinkers that was the case but as you know they believe what they wish to believe to hell with all reality.

Reports have it Rove was instrumental in paving the way for Nobama to win the Ill. Senate seat and run for Prez and that RR repugs were registering Dem and organizing efforts to vote against Hill in the primaries as far back as a 1.5 years ahead.

They knew they couldn't beat Hillary, and much as with Gore the only way to clear the election was to capitalize on the ever stupidty of the lefty-left wing (and black population too in this case).