Obama has earned a lot of respect because he doesn't respond in sound bites.

When I have looked at video clips of Obama with voters and with media interviewers, I try to focus on the expressions on the faces of those who are listening to Obama speak or answer questions. Mostly, those voters or media interviewers have facial expressions of alert attention.

Seems to me that folks appreciate being engaged in thoughtfulness that stretches the boundary of discourse beyond clever one-liners. In fact, I think Obama's style shows a lot of respect for the gravity of issues and for his listeners, and they come away feel a lot more self-respect and respect for him, too.

Posted at May 11, 2008 3:04 PM in response to Obama's Circumlocution

At this moment, with all the recent memories of how Hillary has handled her campaign, I cannot abide the thought of Hillary as VP or even in Reid's Senate leadership role.

Why give manipulative Hillary any role that sets her up with any real power to sabotage President Obama as he works hard to change the old games in Washington?

Posted at May 9, 2008 5:26 PM in response to McAuliffe: Joint Ticket Would Be "A Great Idea"

Here's a suggestion. Someone needs to appoint a Hillary Czar. Hillary needs a keeper about now, and she needs to have a strong mediator stand between her and the public, between her and the super delegates, between her and Obama. She has been wasting out time and bumming us for far too long and simply refuses to give up her limelight manipulations of everyone else involved.

Let that Czar deal directly with her and then interpret her statements for the rest of us, and let us communicate our answers to her via that Czar. Once she loses the direct connection that allows all that manipulation to continue, then she will stop the nonsense.

Posted at May 9, 2008 4:12 PM in response to Hillary Campaign Emails Out "Electability" Power-Point To All House Dems

And Ellsworth's IN district, remember that after the Hillary camp claimed his endorsement, his office took the time to parse that as not necessarily an endorsement.

Posted at May 9, 2008 4:02 PM in response to Hillary Campaign Emails Out "Electability" Power-Point To All House Dems

Thirded.

Posted at May 9, 2008 3:24 PM in response to GOP Launches New Attack Site To Soften Obama For General Election

What a great way to put the choice. Thanks.

Posted at May 9, 2008 10:33 AM in response to ABC: Obama Overtakes Hillary Among Super-Delegates

Well, maybe Eric is stuck back in the prejudice that this contest should focus on race, thanks to Clinton's carefully chosen dog whistles [I have the most 'white supporters'] but that doesn't explain why all those white super delegates are endorsing Obama.

I think Eric just insulted the 'African American' in suggesting that race would be a factor for him, while it wouldn't be a factor for the other endorsers.

In other words, it is the black race which we can assume makes racist decisions, is that right, Eric? Just trying to understand your slant on this, Eric. Care to elaborate?

Posted at May 9, 2008 9:10 AM in response to ABC: Obama Overtakes Hillary Among Super-Delegates

I really like what Bean had to say in response to your question, Greg, i.e., that SD's moved INTO his column after the Wright business. The superdelegates who back Obama are separating themselves from the 'old style' considerations.

It seems to me that the SD's understand the whole thing about swiftboating. They appreciated Obama's abilities to handle what was a guilt-by-association attack manufactured from selected clips and drummed up repeatedly by whomever wanted to take him down [Hillary and Republicans], or wanted to get wider viewer ship [MSM] by airing a tantalizing scandal type focus.

Posted at May 8, 2008 7:11 PM in response to Obama's Super-Del Whip: Wright Makes Super-Dels More Eager To Back Obama

I liked the ad, and I liked his mom. At least with his mom, he didn't keep saying, 'my friend' with each sentence, and he didn't talk in that quite that deadened tone that he uses in public.

Posted at May 8, 2008 6:50 PM in response to McCain Ad: I'm Not That Old -- Meet My Mom!

You are the kamikaze coming here to try to drop a bomb made up of the last remaining damp ammunition wholly concocted in the dark basement of your mind. Only in Hillaryland do folks keep lying to themselves about some faux construct of GE electability, all based upon their own willful desire to negate Obama as a way to magically redeem Hillary's lost cause..... engage in desperate conjecttures and denial in the face of reality....well, that's your shtick.

Posted at May 8, 2008 6:33 PM in response to Dianne Feinstein: I'm Sticking By Hillary