Glenn: I only ocassionally read your pieces. I am a Yellow Dog Dem at this point, and so my standards are always hopeful and pragmatic. But I too have been concerned by Obama's recent, to me, over the top responses regarding Clark--who's fumble-mouthed, but a very impressive guy--Move On, "the Sixties". Its interesting: Hillary did the same thing and it really turned me off. Its playing the right-wing's game. Its divisive. I thought it was wedge issues when Hillary did it. I really don't like it.

Obama is using wedge issues. Its bad for his karma, bad politics, and bad for us! Still, I am delighted to have the opportunity to elect Obama. Flawed, he is still the American Dream personified. And I remain hopeful that the brighter side will reemerge.

So thank you for seeing and pointing out the pattern to us. Your insight is impressive and a service to this nation.

Perhaps the Communist Party in old Soviet Union and the current Color Red Party in China were(are) on to something after all when all the messy "internal" party business and who is up and who is down stats were(are) done before the Party presented(presents) to those being governed by these one party rulers who the winners are,are not or what will take place or not take place.

Here in Land of 1776 we are given lots of pretense and "choices" going in to these four year WH contests yet much of these "choices" are fully set aside when the final general election picks up. We again seem to be entering the time of WashingtonDC consensus politics.

One sees evidence of "old DC DEM WH players" showing up these days to send message that there is not about to be anything truly "yes-we can" new or changed/changing in how WashingtonDC goes into the world should BA indeed become the next American President.

Having read some recent days Juan Cole views and comments about Iraq and also another piece found at TOMDISPATCH.com regarding a more complete overview of what Americans have been surging and now putting the grab on for in Iraq I do not see how BA will be able to swim against it.

Especially if Iran "gets" what seems to be more and more a very likely special engraved "invite" to be a part of American and Israeli ME driven policies to return the ME to the 19th century when western colonialism,imperialism and militarism were in full bloom across the planet leading to a wondrous 20th century of effect to that preceding century of cause.

The Pentagon surely is the third major American political party in USA these days and shows little sign of not wanting more influence,money and ability to grow American Empire,advance military careers and or to wallow in a gross mixing of corporatist and militarism buy ins and pay outs.

Just try bringing up Johnny "Bomb'em" and saying anything about his military service if you have not been in American military.

Or even if you have an American military record cue Wesley Clark's current plight.

When one reads that we Americans have two parts of a one party set-up it may seem extreme and so terribly American Leftist in theme and view but in the real world we Americans live in it is becoming more and more certain the DC DEMs are on same page with GOPers and B-C regime regarding Iraq,Iran and Israel.

Barack Obama may indeed be the first Black American in Oval Office but it is doubtful Barack is going to unwind Iraq or what is about to fall on Iran or start making AIPAC and Israel abide by fact,truth or regard of human decency in ME.

The Reds were(are) at least honest in how they presented (present)one-party rule and kept(keep) the consensus.

Here in the USA the two 'major'(only?) national American political set-ups tend to try to make it all seem so loaded with choices and alternatives. In some ways they do come thru with some of these. Regarding Iraq,Iran and Israel however one would better conclude it is in practice currently a one-party consensus being served up as a A-B choice that in truth is only choice.

Anyone who still thinks the Americans are the good guys in Iraq anymore or should be in Iraq because Americans are so good hearted and kind spirited may cover over the truth by thinking so but doing so does not make this myth true.

Americans are the war criminals in Iraq and Barack is not going to come out and say just that or unwind the Pentagon/western inroads into Iraq being done now or over past five years.

Barack or John are both going to continue to take Iraq and quite likely Iran into an American embrace of monumental folly,greed and stupidity.

How indeed as Tom Englehardt points out can it end well?

Consider it the American consensus on Iraq,Iran,Israel and oil and where WashingtonDC thinks this comes out at in this 21st century.

I started following Obama as a volunteer for a progressive PAC. I picked him out of all the Dems in the IL Senate race -- because he chose a conservative Dem to in a high level position in his campaign. I thought it showed pragmatism for him to choose a staff for their skills, rather than for their ideology.

I have always been AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ AND WAS IMPRESSED BY THE SPEECH HE GAVE IN A DIFFICULT TIME TO BE AGAINST THE WAR.

I loved his book and loved his speech at the 2004 Convenstion.

I was not going to be a volunteer in this presidential race but after South Carolina, I decided to. I am an unpaid, grassroots volunteer. I live in a "purple" state that NEEDS to become BLUE. Which only Barack Obama can do.

Anyone who doesn't live in a "purple" state cannot understand how important this race -- and Barack Obama are.

I have never received a penny from the campaign. In fact, I was just on TPM reading about the Cornyn staffer who got caught pretending to be a "liberal" on a web site. Idiot. Obama would fire any staffer who lied on a web site!!

But, when I volunteer for a candidate and devote my time and money, I learn about him or her.

I have loved ones in the military and have lost friends in terrorist incidents in the Middle East. Two teen-age sons of dear friends are either in or about to deploy to Iraq. Another loved one is at the Embassy there.

This election is too important to screw up folks. TOO IMPORTANT. If the Left of Center screws this up, God forgive you because I NEVER will.

FISA can be fixed. The lives of our children cannot.