...THATS the inspiration that can lead a divided and war weary nation!

On a pure political level, he managed to defang the Wright flap by wrapping it into an inclusive message about America--that the country is made of up lots of people with contradictory (and sometimes self-contradictory) views, but that's part of what he loves about it. Nice.

But it's a shame that some Obama supporters take his speech about unity and inclusiveness as another opportunity to slam Clinton. Yes, that's what we need more of.

Like you, I too found the reference to Israel and radical Islam, quite out of synch with the rest of his truly exceptional speech on race, religion and the state of the union.

I hold out the "hope" that at some point in Obama's campaign, or within the first 100 days of his presidency, he will give as powerful a speech on the Middle East, arguably the extended arm of American imperialism, that shamefully watches the slow genocide of the Palestinanian people on live television, as an action film.

For all those lunchpail Democrats and others who are so concerned about this odd notion, despite him continually winning, about his general election chances ask yourself this. How has running the safe choice worked for us so far? How have running the John Kerry's worked?

The Republicans run the people they believe in (Nixon, Reagan, George W. Bush) and you know what: they win! They win because they stand by their prinicples.

The reason we lose is because we don't. The reason they're so scared of Obama, as Rush Limbaugh and other Republicans admit, is because they know he is the far more dangerous GE candidate. They know he stands by his beliefs. They know he can win.

It's time we stand by our principles. For if we don't we will surely lose. But if we do not only will we win but with Senator Obama, as has already been shown with Denny Hastert's old seat, we will have a real, sizeable Democratic Majority in both houses. Nancy Pelosi knows this, Howard Dean knows it, Bill Richardson knows it. It's time we all know it as well. It's time to stop being afraid, run the best candidate and win. That's Obama.

Than Hillary is. Hillary is closer to the center.

So it becomes a "lesser than two evils" kind of thing? Right.... that is so hopeful...

Obama's change meme is banal CFR propaganda, and the people whispering in his ear, his "advisers", are every bit as bigoted as Wright and Hagee, if not against Muslims than against Russians or the Chinese.

If Obama had real balls he would call out the lobbies (and not just AIPAC) and their influence over American Foreign Policy, but he won't, he'll go along with the Big Lie and bomb whatever piss ant country we are in the mood to dominate. This is an admirable trait to you? I'll go along with and turn the other cheek to the War Crimes and atrocities of our "friends" like the Saudis and the Israelis, because I "have to". What a hero...

War is a racket, and like you said, Obama is an establishment man first and foremost, not a black man or a Democrat. Obama isn't antiwar, he is pro-"right war", i.e. his wars. That one line was a wink to the Zionists at AIPAC (which funds candidate of both parties, dems more than repubs) that they can trust him. The agenda won't be changing in Palestine.

George W. Bush has on at least two occasions sent a wreath to be laid on the Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery to honor Confederate soldiers who killed hundreds of thousands of servants of the government of the US in defense of slavery.

Let's ask McCain if he supports this. Come on, Democrats, turn the focus back on the Republicans. Don't let them set the rules.

I was on the fence for a long time, but it's become increasingly clear to me that we may not know everything there is to know about what Barack Obama would be like as a president, but I know enough to know that he's merited the leap of faith that he will be very good indeed. I can't see trusting Hillary Clinton (or John McCain) that way.

...as if they have feet of clay... I mean, compare and contrast with either his rival for the nomination, the Republican nominee, or the current incumbent (Har har!!)

Somewhat off topic, this kind of impressive stuff has, I think, got Rupert Murdoch rather concerned... there have been a suspicious number of nasty columns and editorials in the Times of London labelling Obama a dangerous left-winger... and this for the UK market!! Must be awful to start life with ambitions to be a journalist, get hired by the grandaddy of all newspapers, and then find you're reduced to taking dictation from Rupert!!

Mr. Obama is inspirational... to me a great leader is one who changes our perceptions of possibility... for ourselves and for the world..., all of our actions are predicated on what outcome we believe is possible... in a leader we need the urging towards optimism, the renewal of precisely the message that change IS possible, that we don't need to succumb to helplessness and cynicism. That's what leadership IS... not "just trust me, and I'll do what's best for you". At the very heart of the very American and wonderful (speaking as a Brit who has made his home here) emphasis on self-help is the belief that change is possible, from a national level to an individual level... I have not heard another politician with such a purely and fabulously American message. I hope that he wins the nomination precisely so that America can at least choose between acknowledgment that ideals are really worthless windowdressing and cynicism is all, or embracing the concept that we cherish ideals not as dusty trophies of an earlier life, stuck away in an attic, but as the living, breathing DNA of the country, and of ourselves. The choice needs to be clearly delineated, and he is the only candidate who can credibly and convincingly present that choice.