Your question was so carefully convoluted, that I'm not even sure that there actually was a question, much less a point to your post.

Anyone who argues with you is a fool for falling into your framing of the debate. It the same frame Joan tries to put on the debate. "I'm not bothered by it, but some Americans will be..." Instead of elevating the debate, you wallow in it. Can we have a moratorium on speaking for other people?

I think those are fine questions, but it’s important to know if you see a Barack victory as possible or not. If you don’t, I can’t imagine that it’s a very useful conversation. If, however, you can imagine and think of reasons why Barack could win the general election, then it is worth looking at each other’s reasons, I guess. To me it is not the most significant topic only because I can imagine ways both Barack and Hillary might when and how they each might lose. I am suspicious of anybody who says that either has it in the bag or that either is obviously better posistioned to win. What is the small percentage of those folks who always end up deciding the election? Is it like 5% who actually could really have voted either way? I think Barack would get more of that tiny vote that matters. But since I am of the opinion that both he and Hillary could win or lose in the general, my focus Barack is due to other reasons. But more importantly, do you think they each could win? Do you think one of them has an obvious advantage?

I think anybody who is fairly certain that only Clinton has a real shot would be silly not to be kicking and screaming. But it's not an easy arguement to make, considering that the "data" is...well...it can take oh so many shapes depending who is using it for what purposes...

what's your take?

Ms. Walsh,

You are absolutely right in your analysis of Rev. Wright.

I am no sure of the same (analysis) about Senator Obama.

The way Michelle Obama made the comment (Proud), I won't be surprised that it was a routine dinner table conversation in the Obama Household.

Senator Obama was against the Iraq war, so were many good people but the question is what was the basis of Senator's opposition. Rev. Wright made sermons which are sympathetic to Middle east, AQ and OBL. Has the same sermons affected Senator's opposition to the war.

Peace

I wonder why I still don't care?

To respond to the earlier post.

The Columbia student protests were against, among other things, the location of a proposed gymnasium and Columbia's membership in the Institute for Defence Analyses.

The gymnasium was relocated and Columbia withdrew from the IDA.

The U.S. continued to kill civilians in SE Asia, to be sure, and we don't live in an egalitarian society.

But only an ignorant misunderstanding of the the goals of the protests, and the nature of the ideas that prompted them, could call them a complete failure.

Hmmmm. Seems familiar.

Gross... Joan Walsh is just gross...

Geez... I don't even know where to begin.

I am so disgusted and disappointed by "liberals" like Ms. Walsh. She sounds like another wealthy white American who is completely out of touch with what's really going on with the people of this country.

Look... I am an white man... grew up in an upper-middle class white neighborhood on East coast... now living as a lower-middle class public school special ed teacher on the West coast. I've been across this country many times over the years, and lived in some of the toughest black neighborhoods out there. The kinds of neighborhoods that would have Ms. Walsh quickly hitting the auto-locks on her expensive car as she quickly drives through.

Folks... I think everything Rev. Wright has said is completely valid. He's right! Everything he is saying is spot on... the only problem is that many folks out there are too scared to even hear what he is saying! Especially "Liberals" like Me. Walsh.

I respect the man, I respect his service during Vietnam, I respect everything he has done for other Americans over the course of his career. What do YOU do, Ms. Walsh? You spew your bullshit. Great. You've done a lot for your fellow man. Good one.

Ms. Walsh... I spoke to a very good friend about you... a friend of mine who happens to be black... and we came to the same conclusion...

Until you walk a mile in a Black American's shoes, you should shut your big, fat, white privileged mouth. Until you realize that it's a "crime" to be Black in America, just shut up.

Yes... You have every right to your opinion (which Rev. Wright fought to defend); but in this particular case it is absolutely WORTHLESS, because you have no clue what you're talking about.

Hey... all you white folks out there quaking in your boots! America IS damned! Karma is a bitch, and we've got a big ol' cloud that's been hanging over us since the early 1600's. It's gonna come around!

Yes, of course there is a great deal of good that has been done by America and Americans over the years. But, realize the hypocrisy that accompanies every single thing we have ever done.

People like Ms. Walsh and her ilk make me SO ASHAMED of America, and all the Americans that have stood and continue to stand on the sidelines while so much injustice has been done to our own people for so very long.

Rev. Wright has every right to be as angry as he is. He went to Vietnam to protect YOUR freedom, Ms. Walsh, and what have you done in return?

You make me truly ill... so much so that, after today, I may not return to your website. I think I may have had enough.

You know what... just forget it. I's so disgusted with this garbage. Fuck Salon.com.

GOD DAMN SALON.COM!!!

Ms. Walsh... remember what I said... Karma is a bitch... and some day it's going to get YOU.