Why are so many four-year-olds and fourteen-year-olds making comments on blogs?

Four-year-olds see their preferred politicians as god-like fathers (or mothers) whose virtuous character will guarantee good judgment. If a judgment looks questionable to you, then it's because you don't know all the facts that mommy and daddy know, or it's because you aren't as wise as them.

Fourteen-year-olds have had their illusions shattered about those devilish politicians so now they perceive the TRUTH - - that mommy and daddy make bad judgments because mommy and daddy are utterly corrupt.

to my enthusiasm for an Obama administration is low expectations. I never had any illusions that he was going to waltz into the White House and drive all the snakes out of Washington in one glorious televised event.

I have been supporting Obama not because I thought he was all that different from Clinton ideologically or policy-wise, but because I feel fairly certain that he's more electable.

That being said, I find this news very disheartening. Thanks Glenn, for keeping an eye on this matter and for calling out Obama.

Thank you for maintaining your integrity, Glenn. There may time for the Obama campaign to recognize the political ramifications of supporting the Bush-enablers in the Democratic party. Those guys are dinosaurs and there's no political currency to be gain from supporting them. Making a correction now would minimize the damage. It's useless to wait until after the election and then find excuses to hate him.

Throw in a nasty divorce, and you've got yourself a complete psychological profile of the angry, embittered, politically aware Internet user.

You ask why Obama supports Blue Dog incumbents. The reason is simple - there is perceived to be a choice between a Blue Dog who supports many Democratic positions and a Republican who supports none. The white voters in these southern districts probably will not elect anyone who is not conservative on certain issues.

There is a chance that this may change if Obama can inspire increased turnout among black voters, but at present this is hypothetical.

Also, you seem to forget that incumbents have an enormous advantage, which is to a large extent is independent of issues and party - look at the re-election statistics.

It would be wonderful if Democrats could always field bona-fide liberal candidates, but that's not now things work in a two-party system.

I'd stipulate he may have been more inclined to support Barrows opposition had that opposition been White. When there's already fears, particularly in The South and Appalachia, that Obama only wants to help black people, it looks bad if Obama starts deposing white moderate Democrats and championing their black opposition.

Furthermore, Georgia is potentially on the map for Obama. It's a long shot, but the possibility of Barr on the ballot and strong African American voter registration efforts, there's a chance Georgia may turn blue this year. Obama knows he can't shake up the state's Democratic establishment when he may depend on it to deliver the Democrats the White House, which is a far more valuable to progressive causes than a dozen state representatives.

I registered with Salon just so I could say that.

adnoto, I might be "down with" the Revolution...

...but what, exactly, ARE you advocating? I mean, if you have actual ideas, I'd like to here them. More specific than [paraphrasing] "take a bodily stand". No snark, I just have no idea what you're suggesting. -- bamage

What did Gandhi do? What did MLK do? I mean we have some precedents to work with right?

I think what I am advocating is that we come to a loose consensus on what we want done and then act to get them to do it. A list of demands. What do we want? What has to be done first? For instance: No telecom amnesty. Period. OK what else? Think of it now because once this gets going we will want to have something to tell them other than "No Blood for Oil". So, what do we want?

Immediate appointment of a special prosecutor to look into all of BushCo's evil? Out of Iraq within 6 months? Closure of Gitmo immediately or ASAP. No lobbyist money period? A run off style election system? A computer with a Glenn Greenwald screen saver for every household? etc. etc. Everyone is going to have their preferences about demands but we would need at least a few.

I think the bottom line is we ask these modern day leaders of ours, these intelligent bloggers such as Glenn and others to put their heads together and come up with a plan. They could use this very coalition they are working with now. They could continue to use the attack ads if they think that is working but they could also come up with a plan for some direct action, running it by us as a sounding board and for ideas, and then put out calls to action. Strikes, sit-ins, boycotts, speaches.... hell all of it. Pick a week and just do it once a plan is finalized. And keep doing it until we are dealt with one way or another.. that is the key.

It could be local too. I mean we would probably want a significant presence in DC eventually but intitially marching on and sitting in the local offices of our respective congresspersons would be very effective IMO.

To be honest with you I don't have a good handle on how it would all shake out. I am not a planner. I am reasonably intelligent and I don't bullshit myself -- I can see the true problem for who and what it is and I would be a good asset and a more than willing participant, but you wouldn't want me as a planner.

Which is, in part, why I come to a blog such as this. Looking for leaders. I realize my limitations. I am sure there are plenty of former DFH's who were really in the thick of it back in their day that could assist with do's and dont's and organizing and planning. I am willing to do whatever I need to do but what we would need initially is some organization and that only comes with leadership. Glenn has shown he is a leader. He has raised over 100 grand from you all in a few days and without much detail as to what he is going to do with it. We all trust him. He is a leader almost by default at this point. He and others like him may not want that label or responsibility but it is theirs if they willing to take it.