The first gracious thing you've written about Obama in recent memory. Thanks.

Nuthin' could be finer than to win in Caroliner!

This was the first positive piece about Obama on Salon in ages. I was going to switch my news source (and I still might) because of the extensive and evident bias. But I have a touch of hope left.

Has she given a gracious speech acknowledging Obama's win in North Carolina? I didn't think so. Typical. But, thanks, Joan, for removing the blinders and seeing what's there. He's going to be the nominee, and we'd all better close ranks to avert the disaster of a third Bush term, which is what McCain would provide. That, or worse. And two or three more fascists on the Supreme Court, setting its right wing course for decades. Sober up. Vote democratic, top to bottom.

I never get to be the first person to respond to you and it's stupid and not fair. I've been a susbscriber to Salon for over 6 years, but I'm thinking about just giving it up; you always blog but I NEVER am first.

Go ahead and keep talking about the primary without me being the first to respond....jeeez....

Hillary has set a precedent of never publicly congratulating Barack, so we can't really read into it if she ignores him again tonight...

I think she'll have some great things to say this evening...

That's something.

Isn't in Hillary's vocabulary.

Hillary is a bare knuckes brawler who thrists for the fight, for her to ever seem graceful or even gracious, would just make her feel way too uptight.

isn't Sen. Obama ALWAYS gracious?

I thought it was gracious and very skillful to give her credit for Indiana, especially because it was trending towards a tighter and tighter conclusion. I haven't heard his speech yet but it sounds like it might be another trance inducer. But seriously, I have a feeling as he gets closer to winning the primary less democrats will be inclined to label him the "talented" guy who gives good speeches. Hopefully, it will become increasingly obvious that he's proven himself- in many ways- to be a great candidate.

It's hard to imagine that most of the divisive ideas won't melt away on both sides of the fence.

Apparently Barry's grandma never taught him any good manners.

NOBAMA/McAin't 2008

I can already predict the Clinton speech after she was blown away in N. Carolina and won narrowly in Indiana:"I had a huge win today. I surpassed all expectations in N. Carloina, where we were never expected to win, and won Indiana against all odds. I have proved that I'm the best candidate to beat John McCain in the fall. I'm excited about the challenge and I will continue my campaign, and after we include the Florida and Michigan delegates, I will be the nominee".

I think we might get a speech from Clinton that will really begin paving the way for the unity she will demand after she steps out. We shall see...Has she said anything yet...I'm not in a situation that I can check for a couple hours...

that Obama is going to win.

Joan isn't trashing Obama! Pigs are flying! Hell is freezing over!

Because Hillary apologist Joan Walsh has finally managed to begrudgingly issue something remotely positive about Obama. She still manages to of course tuck in her passive-aggressive comment (bad weeks, etc.)

This is as good as an Obama endorsement in the upside down world of Joan and Salon!!!

Do you really think that Joan Walsh's mild-mannered hesitation to fully salivate over Obama, with occasional veering into appearing into support Clinton, counts as some kind of campaign of terror against him? Really? Have you ever read actual negative coverage? You all better prepare yourselves, because the shit the Republicans are going to be spinning about your (and soon mine too) guy is going to make Joan Walsh look like the fuzziest bunny there ever was.

In the meantime, let me offer this salve: head over to Newsweek, because Jonathan Alter can't put pen to paper without slamming Clinton in some way.

You're right Joan. I thought it was a gracious speech. I was proud of Barack Obama - again. I hope with all my heart and will do everything in my power (small though that may be) to make sure he is the next president of the United States of America.

Obama has now given all Democrats a reason to vote for him. He posited the fight as between the American people and the politics that separates people from opportunity, not Hillary Clinton and himself. I predict an uphill battle for Obama, given the nastiness of the primary season, but Obama made the first gesture towards reconciliation. A good move.

Hey anyone - what do the gold stars by names mean?

I am suspicious about this early concession to a tight race in Indiana in which areas likely to be pro-Obama have not yet been counted. Wouldn't it be neat if Obama won, after all? And then he could be like, "Oh gosh, me? I won? And I had already graciously conceded to Hillary! But I guess I won after all. Thanks, Indiana!" He's a politician, after all. No better, no worse.

I'm seriuos:

you know that I have said why I strongly disagree with much of the way Joan has covered this primary, but I still can't get behind the idea that she has attacked Obama. I understand how one can consider her style an "attack" if one (don't ask me why I just turned into Spock here)is convinced she is dying to get Clinton the victory, but I just see no evidence of it.

I think when the smoke has cleared and we get bored reading Joan's continual postive bloggs about Obama, we could go through her blogs on the primary with a fine tooth come and see that, yes, she did indeed hold up Obama weaknesses against Clinton Streagths, but no, she did not say much about Obama that was all too critical and that, yes, she did have plenty of concerns about Clinton.

I'm not saying we will prove that she was perfectly objective or anything like that. But now that everybody wants to jump on Joan for simply complimenting Barack tonight, I want to say that i don't think tonight's blog is out of step with anything she has said this primary.

None of what i have just said should be taken to mean that I am not still furious that I am never the first to respond to her columns. I'm writing an angry email to Joan's bosses as we speak. Who are they, by the way?