I looked at a blog today that I used to frequent, and the owner's take is that Power is such a brilliant person with such solid work on this important area that she should perhaps have been given a break.  I mean, she apologized, so what's the big deal?  The author, who writes for a living, even suggested that her request for her comment to be off the record should have been honored.

The commenters are beyond help; everything from Power was right, to Hillary's an a**hole to this might make Obama's character shine to hoping Power will be back in the Obama WH.

The commenters I could handle - well, except that all the pro-Obama people chased off everyone else, so now it's non-stop rhetorical Hillary hatred and Obama flattery - but the post itself was just the saddest thing to see.  I could only conclude that (1) the blogger is playing to his audience, and (2) using them in some strange way to support his own opinions.

link

Former State Dept. official James Rubin: In Obama campaign "it's amateur hour on making foreign policy."...

This has gone so far, so fast and Obama himself, seems to not want to do anything about this. I believe he has a responsibility on this score. Does his campaign not see it?

Something terribly bad is happening right now.

We just moved into a new office (county Democratic party) and a neighbor came over to say hello. As soon as I let him know (when he asked) that I was a Clinton supporter he gave me the evil eye.

It was disturbing.

The problem is (and has always been), once you teach someone to hate, it's only a matter of time before he branches out on his own and chooses what to hate, whom to hate, and why to hate, while always adopting the end justifying the means as his salvation.

So, here we see too many bloggers who have been taught to hate, targeting two people who have the courage, the stamina, the determination, the intelligence, and the wherewithal to run for President of the United States.

How many of you -- I'm wondering -- have ever run for office?

I have. Twice.

Small town. Whisper campaigns against me touting the vilest things. Late night breathers on the telephone. Scratches and dings in my car. Complaints against my cat who was too old to leave my porch let alone my yard.

Just before the election, beneath each of the candidates photographs in a local paper was listed their marital status. Each had "married" or "single" except mine. Mine said, "never married."

But I don't regret, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I begrudge the smear throwers nothing.

Because I am who I am. They are who they are. And I'd rather be me.

I am very proud of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

We should all be.

As for those who think they have the right to pass judment through hatemongering, consider this: Until you show the courage of your convictions by signing your name to your words, you don't really understand freedom of speech. Indeed, the anger of your words hidden by anonimity personifies and exemplifies the politics of fear.

Eventually, your hate of Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama, or both boils down to a character flaw that will chew you up and spit you out.

Yes, I voted for Hillary Clinton. But no, I did not vote against Barak Obama.

I voted against George W. Bush.

Twice.

Just a thought.

Since I'm an attorney I make a living looking at issues from many perspectives and I enjoy the back and forth of different positions on the same person, topic or event.  However, when I started reading that the most evil person in the world was Hillary Clinton, that she was a murderer, a whore, a pimp, a lesbian, she alone was responsible for the Iraq War, that there was not one aspect of her personality that had any value, I tuned out and turned away.  

My reasons for not supporting Obama are simple:  I don't think he has enough experience in life, not just as a politician, to be president. I don't think he realizes the power of the Republican machine and how it can slice you up and spit out before you realize what is happening.  I have no personal animosity towards him and I do believe he is a bright, smart, talented man, I just don't think he is anything or anybody special.  I was certainly turned off by the Oprah Winfrey tour and the fact that she anointed him as the "one."  

I am disturbed by the fact that from my perspective I see something of the "old time religion" tent revivals at his rallies.  And I'm one of those "old" baby boomers who has heard enough politicians say they are going to change Washington D.C. and change the way America does business, and represent "the people" and not special interest groups (since some of them represent my interests I'm not so sure I'm totally against them) and do away with lobbyists and bring fresh air to the putrid air of D.C.  

There are ways to say you disagree with people's positions without insulting them. The easiest way when replying to a comment by Jack is to say, "Jack, I disagree." If you say, "Jack, you're a jerk" your comment is going to be deleted.

Calling a progressive blogger "unhinged" or crazy is not cool. Mentioning that you think another blog is overly partisan is fine.

To some it's a matter of semantics. To me, it's not but rather, a reflection of the tenor of the site and level of discourse. And, since it is my site, I get to make the rules.

Right before elections and caucuses, things seem to be relatively civil and then after the results are in, the pot boils right over.   When I hear about the latest outrage, I don't understand what it is about.  If I read comments or diaries, I just get even more confused because it's obvious that parts of the story are missing.

What ever happened to stating the facts first and then discussing the story?  Nowadays, what I see is the narrative laid out and then the facts are made to fit through cherry picking or other means.

You're right of course as far as things are concerned right now.  Everyone's dug in about as far as they can get.

Oh, and I hear even Markos has said Clinton is tremendously likable when you meet her in person.

Former NATO commander Wesley Clark, a Clinton supporter, called the comments "disturbing," and he accused Obama of not being prepared enough to be commander in chief and properly oversee an end to the Iraq war.

I was more offended by