“ Because if (assuming Obama is the nominee) he's wrong in these assumptions, then you're looking at President John McCain for the next four years -- with all of the disasters that brings with it.”

I don’t see it as big a risk as you do and Obama certainly would have been worse off if he had taken the safe route and separated himself from Wright. Americans like politicians with courage and that may offset some of McCain’s courage advantage. So too will the number of times McCain has filp-flopped and didn’t hold on to the courage of his convictions. I don’t see how anyone could have written and delivered a better speech with the tough goal Obama set for himself.

The one thing that the people I talk to are consistent about is how mad or sad they are about where our country is headed. Everyone knows the man who led us into our nightmare has now endorsed McCain. The economy and the war are not in McCain’s favor even if people believe the war is finally headed in a better direction.

What you may be forgetting is what the debate between McCain and Obama will look like. Just today, it was reported that McCain foolishly thought that al-Qaeda was being trained in Iran and we saw Lieberman correcting him. There will be no one on stage to help McCain when the going gets tough and Obama will have no problem winning every debate. The contrast of the two together can significantly offset the dirty politics and tactics.

I sense a lot of Americans are really tired of the old politics and Washington and do want a change. You have good reason to be relatively pessimistic, but I think you may be surprised. And don’t forget the number of new people that are getting into politics and voting in the primaries and general elections.

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard."

H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)

"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."

George Bernard Shaw

"Every country has the government it deserves."

-Joseph de Maistre

"In a Democracy, the people get the government they deserve." Alexis de Tocqueville

[rejecting Wright's comments] "A view the sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical islam"

That is a musty and manipulative tactic if I ever heard one, and I am sure, given his evolution on this issue from being pro-Palestinian to viewing Israel as our "stalwart ally" and Palestinians as perverted and hateful, this obviously came from a political strategist.

Just for the record.

-- omooex

but I don't take the reference to be directed specifically at Palestinians. I know the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is at the root of much of the problem in the ME, but it is not the only problem.
Just for the record: Since my childhood I have never understood why the Palestinian side of the conflict seems to be underrepresented in the United States. I just seem to see both sides and wish an end to the strife.

I thought the speech was well done and it hit the points in such a way that it promoted them for discourse.

The analysis put forth by Mr Greenwald was also spot on regarding the dangers and risks.

I enjoyed reading it and listening to the speech today.

As I've come to expect. I have to admit that I'm not convinced that America is ready to actually listen to what people are saying, if the country has the ability to get past the noise generated by the media dogs.

Every time I think "just maybe" I'll come to Salon, read an interesting article, then watch it devolve into shouting matches about Israel, drugs, or something else that isn't the current topic. If the level of discourse is higher here, I can only imagine what it's like in some corners of the USA.

When it's good, it's good. When it's bad, it's really depressing. I hope Obama is right, because I don't think the world wants to deal with President mcCain, let alone America.

As I've come to expect. I have to admit that I'm not convinced that America is ready to actually listen to what people are saying, if the country has the ability to get past the noise generated by the media dogs.

Every time I think "just maybe" I'll come to Salon, read an interesting article, then watch it devolve into shouting matches about Israel, drugs, or something else that isn't the current topic. If the level of discourse is higher here, I can only imagine what it's like in some corners of the USA.

When it's good, it's good. When it's bad, it's really depressing. I hope Obama is right, because I don't think the world wants to deal with President McCain, let alone America.

That this speech will probably become extremely popular, especially if Obama wins. He makes an inspiring speech, breaking all these taboos, yet sticks to the script when it comes to Foreign Policy, the taboo his Pastor was saying, you now "Black Peopole stay silent about it". Obama claims that it is "a profoundly distorted view of this country... ...a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam." In Dream World the CIA and other secrets do not exist. Allies Like? Like who? Is he really that naive? Politicians seem to be pros at not paying attention. Did he put that in himself or did some bigot who has his ear slip that in for him? In 100 years chidren can read the Big Lie in their history textbooks. "We have to stand united and overcome Divide and Conquer, so that we can 100% support Israel's Divide and Conquer policy in Palestine". No hypocricy there or anything, we just can't mind our own damn business.

Or maybe I'm just too cynical? I wasn't the only one that saw his wink and nod to all of the Zionists out there.