I agree with much of what you said, but if you think that Hillary would've voted against FISA if she'd been the nominee, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. I was no fan of Obama's reversal (and that's plainly what it was) on FISA, either, but let's not b.s. each other.

I hope Obama's presidency will be a great success -- even though he faces some of the most difficult circumstances of our time.

If we agree on that, then we agree on the most important thing. The rest is interesting but ultimately secondary. We need this man to succeed in office because we need our country's leadership to succeed!

And personally, if after 8 successful years, HRC ran and won, I'd be even happier. It is my personal hope that she can find a role either ... inside or outside the Obama administration ... where we can all benefit from her talent and energy.

I also agree that he has made the most of the Obambi image ... though again I think this is fabulous. Low expectations is a huge advantage in any poker game and I want a commander-in-chief, not a saint-in-chief. And I totally agree about the media-created drama.

Cheers!

What's a "Stan?"

Insanely obsessed fan

He'll run a "differant kind of campaign" so he smears the Clintons as racist and uses private money after promising he would use only public funds.

He will bring the troops home from Iraq by the end of the year.....well maybe not.

He was against offshore oil driling but changed his position after seeing his poll numbers slip.

He was against taping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve then came out in favor of it.

He pledged to rescind Bush's tax cuts but now says he would delay rescinding President Bush's tax cuts on wealthy Americans if he becomes the next president and the economy is in a recession, suggesting such an increase would further hurt the economy.

He said he was against FISA and then in typical Obama style changed his position.

When Obama promised "change" I didn't realize it meant changing everyone of his positions.

Joan is puzzled at the on-going speculation about the possible nomination of HRC for Secretary of State. She suggests that the Obama team may be letting the media do its vetting.

We had the same kind of rumor mill drama going on for days before Hillary Clinton finally ended her campaign and publicly endorsed Obama last June.

My guess is that it is the Clintons who are being coy about this

Jesu Priest, what politician have you ever known that managed to fulfill every one of his/her promises? Do you really insist on sacrificing the good at the altar of the perfect? Stop your sobbing, as the Kinks and Pretenders sang. Or go hang out at Nader's headquarters.

I mean, really, dude, you sound too naive to vote in adult elections.

unless your joe lieberman

It's fine to criticize Obama, or any politician, based on a reasonable standard, Sonny. As I've said, FISA was nothing less than a reversal. But you and our embittered friend from New York and Rose would have us believe that the brother's McCain with hoop skills, and that's where, in my view, you take a little detour from reality.

Can we at least let him take office before we start bemoaning how he's betrayed us all? I mean, really, can even liberals cease with the bleating for just a couple months more?

When Obama was running for the nomination we were told he was a differant kind of politician, an idealist who promised change and would shake up Washington.

Now these same supporters are spewing forth the idea that we have to be realistic and pragmatic.....as the new boss proves more and more everyday that he's the same as the old boss.

I thought the babyboomers were the fastest, it only took them 20 years to go from hippies to yuppies and 20 more to create this financial nightmare we are in.

Obama managed to sell out before he was even inaugurated.

Your argument would be bolstered greatly if you would perhaps attempt to spell "different" correctly, rather than failing to do so in two separate posts.

Who, pray tell, would be the consistent champion of progressive causes that you'd have preferred? Hillary? I deign to point out that she voted to authorize the very war that you're now attacking Obama for not withdrawing from quickly enough.

Buchanan is concern trolling.

I notice that whenever you and Michelle Bernard are on Hardball together there is a noticeable tension between the two of you. You've even obliquely mentioned it before.

Tonight was no exception. You spoke far longer than Michelle, and were quick to interrupt her and talk over her when she was given the opportunity to express her opinion. She did not do that to you. And that is just the audio. Visually, Joan, you make faces -- almost as bad as John McCain did during the debates with Barack Obama.

I'm not asking you to like Michelle Bernard. Nor agree with her. But just try to contain whatever this disdain is that you feel for her. It's visible, it's visceral and it ain't pretty.

Now regarding Hillary as SecState: the leaks you thinks are coming from Transition Obama may very well be coming from former Clintonites now working inside Team Obama.

It is possible that Obama is publicly, thoroughly vetting Hillary so that when he chooses someone else, there is no question that she completely vetted. We all would have watched it play out on TV.

I'm in the Hillary is wrong for the job camp. Her ego is way too big to take orders from Obama.

I just watched/heard you on "Hardball" and I think you did a terrific job. And BTW, I don't drink Kool-Aid.

With the severity of problems facing Obama and his need to hit the ground running, is it any wonder he's reaching into the Clinton pool for candidates to appoint? Obama can't afford leaders needing time to learn and selecting people who know how government works will serve him well in salvaging the Bush-ravaged agencies. This is a deep hole he has inherited and, while it would have been nice to bring new minds and faces to the fore, the situation is too dire for Introduction to Government 101.

We voted for Obama because we trusted him to do the right thing. Can't we wait until he's in office for at least 100 days before we tell him we can do the job better than he can?