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"subscribe_on_post": 2, "moderator_can_edit": false, "is_remote": false, "is_verified": false, "missing_perm": "login"}, "realtime_paused": false, "posts": {"1972224": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>Forgat to refer y'all to an opinion article by Al Calloway in the South Florida Times - \"Obama's 'Elitist' Tag is another word for Uppity (N-word). I found it initially on <a href=\"http://blackpoliticsontheweb.com\" rel=\"nofollow\">blackpoliticsontheweb.com</a>. I don't know how to do the \"link\" thing yet. Sorry. :&gt;(</i><br></br><br>We always knew Elitist was another way of saying 'Uppity'. No shock.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:42:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972225": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "town,<br></br><br>you continue to rock..LOL</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:46:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972226": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Bigassbelle @ 02:21 wrote: <i>i feel so betrayed. it's all of us, betrayed by these fuckheads who are supposed to WORK for us. every one of them is in bed with corporate america</i><br></br><br>See, right there.</br><br></br><br>Supposed to work for us? That's the claim.</br><br></br><br>Here's some of the lies I see flowing in the air around all this: </br><br></br><br>That in this country the default is leaders accountable to \"the people.\" </br><br></br><br>That this nation is about \"the people\" and some benign relationship between \"the people\" and those in power. </br><br></br><br>Except: This nation is built on stolen land, murder, forced assimilation, Manifest Destiny.</br><br></br><br>Except: This nation is built on the backs of slaves.</br><br></br><br>Except: This nation is wreaking horror and havoc around the globe in the name of democracy.</br><br></br><br>But, people will say, isn't that last one the GOP's fault -- Bush, Cheney? </br><br></br><br>In this lie, they are just deviants from the great ideals of this great democracy. Not central actors in a country that has been very consistent in its actions across time.</br><br></br><br>Obama talks about ideals too. But he seems to have a much real-er sense of what he is part of and dealing with. </br><br></br><br>I wish I could better articulate what this thing is I am trying to get at here. It's frustrating.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:49:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "de3917e982ff609a0d6f7fb5e3c8f079", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972227": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'd like to know why the Brother couldn't raise money in Georgia. If you don't have money, then why, if 70% of the Primary vote is Black, why he can't organize the grassroots boots....something's not computing.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972228": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Barack Obama is Bill Clinton 2.0<br></br><br>Is anybody <i>really</i> shocked?</br><br></br><br>Or just gutted because you thought he wasn't a politician really?</br><br></br><br>Barack's FISA statement pisses me off, but I'll live.</br><br></br><br>Let's see how he votes on it next week. Or more accurately, lets see if there actually is a vote.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972229": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "What's with the <a href=\"politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/20/when-the-obama-logo-and-presidential-seal-morph/\" rel=\"nofollow\">new Obama logo?</a> <br></br><br>Is that smart?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:53:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972230": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rikyrah, what Brother in Georgia are you talking about?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:55:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972231": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d.,<br></br><br>That link doesn't work.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:57:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972232": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "craig,<br></br><br>like you, i'm disappointed but bill clinton 2.0...no, i wouldn't even put obama in the same sentence as bill clinton, not even an upgraded version...obama stands on his own, in a different category...let's reserve judgement until his senate vote next week...i knw we'll nt get everything we want but, man, this stings...</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:59:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972233": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Sorry craig,<br></br><br>Sorry, the Sister in Georgia against Barrow. </br><br></br><br>Here's some facts folks. </br><br></br><br>When few others in Georgia were punching Obama's dance card in Georgia, BARROW DID. </br><br></br><br>He did more for Obama than HALF of the CBC. </br><br></br><br>When he needed a voice in February, Barrow stepped up to the plate. </br><br></br><br>And now, Obama's supposed to throw him over because The Sister is in the race? </br><br></br><br>I dunno. She might be who WE would vote for. But, sort of interesting that back when, she didn't sign up against Barrow back when it didn't look like Obama would win it all and bring out record Black turnout. </br><br></br><br>You don't turn away folks who punched your dancecard when you were lonely. </br><br></br><br>I wish her the best, but sorry, I'd have more problems with Obama turning his back on someone who supported him in lean times.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:03:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972234": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/20/when-the-obama-logo-and-presidential-seal-morph/\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/20...</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:05:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972235": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d, from what i see it will only be used for events that, how should I say this, is kinda presidential. Lke giving an economic address etc...if you notice the rising sun is in the center. and, i think the latin words mean yes w can...so the rising sun logo with the red stripes wll not go away...those will be used for rallies etc...<br></br><br>that's it...as far as i know...</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:06:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972236": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>BWA HA HA HA HA HA</br><br></br><br>cracks me up.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:12:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972237": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://hotair.com/archives/2008/06/20/factcheckorg-obama-lies-shamelessly-about-mccains-lobbyist-money/\" rel=\"nofollow\">FactCheck.org: Obama lies shamelessly about McCain\u2019s lobbyist money</a><br></br><br>Know how to tell when Obama is lying? Watch his lips...if they move, then he is probably going to tell another lie.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:25:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3da39b121dc85e9bd8d9f861782bc8b9", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972238": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rikyrah, thanks for that perspective about the Georgia election. <br></br><br>That logo is fine. If America is going to warm up to a Black man as president, may as well give folks the  imagery.</br><br></br><br>How many days before McCain rips off the idea?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:32:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972239": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Found this at The Atlantic Monthly about Obama's ad:<br></br><br><i>Unsubtle? What choice does he have when the opposition is very unsubtly suggesting Obama is an anti-American Muslim extremist who would start a race war and institute sharia law? Obama has no choice but to hammer the American people over the head with the fact he's neither an alien nor a Marxist. That being said, the ad does an excellent job doing just that. </i></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:41:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972240": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/20/1159086.aspx\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br>Michelle Obama speaks to National Partnership for Women and Families in DC today; Deval Patrick too...</br><br></br></a> <br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:42:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972241": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Another response from The Atlantic:<br></br><br><i>For a long time, I used to think it was better to go second when facing off against someone in an argument. Now I think it's much better to go first. I remember several teachers saying that first impressions matter because it is very hard to correct a bad one. There's probably something to that in politics. </i></br><br></br><br>So yes, while the ad is a little forceful in reminding people that he's not an America-hating Muslim, it's probably important. I'd bet that a lot of people don't have firm impressions of Obama, and before we let the Republicans smear him as they undoubtedly will, let's play some offense. Perhaps I won't have to fend off my own mother, who is promising me that she's going to print out e-mails she gets at work that spew the same nonsense we've seen for months on end. </br><br></br><br>The same sort of idea applies for Michelle Obama. The earlier she gets out in front and defines herself, the likelier it is that she'll be more effective in fighting the garbage coming from the Republicans. </br><br></br><br></br><br>Posted by Brian | June 19, 2008 2:23 PM </br><br></br><br></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:45:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972242": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rikyrah,<br></br><br>Yeah, but they were a little snarky about the seal over on the nytimes blog. The last sentence previously said, \"Then again, Mr. Obama is not the president of anything.\" They've since changed it. <a href=\"http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/the-great-seal-of-obamaland/\" rel=\"nofollow\"></a></br><br>See it here. </br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:47:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972243": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Another one from The Atlantic.com<br></br><br><i>I think it's a good ad--and a very necessary one. I'm a white male, and I've been an Obama supporter since February, but even I didn't realize until a month ago that his white Kansas-bred grandparents raised him for many years. Once you realize that, it's much more difficult to paint him as some sort of black radical intent on enslaving the white race and appointing Osama bin Laden to the Supreme Court. It may not be subtle, but he needs to hit this point again and again over the next several months.</i></br><br></br><br></br><br>Posted by Geomancy | June 20, 2008 2:21 PM </br><br></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972244": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "What Obama said in Jacksonville, Florida fundraiser this evening....<br></br><br>\u201cThe choice is clear. Most of all we can choose between hope and fear. It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy. We know what kind of campaign they\u2019re going to run. They\u2019re going to try to make you afraid. They\u2019re going to try to make you afraid of me. He\u2019s young and inexperienced and he\u2019s got a funny name. And did I mention he\u2019s black? He\u2019s got a feisty wife.\u201d</br><br></br><br>\u201cWe know the strategy because they\u2019ve already shown their cards. Ultimately I think the American people recognize that old stuff hasn\u2019t moved us forward. That old stuff just divides us.\u201d</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:52:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972245": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rikyrah,<br></br><br>Which ad?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_18:59:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972246": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "The deeply racially coded one.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_19:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972247": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I wrote about it over at Too Sense, I don't care for it but of course white people like it especially the culturally and racially narrowminded and intolerant. <br></br><br>I heard about the FISA thing.</br><br></br><br>I am also happy that Mr. Dixon took the time out to come and tell us about what is going on in Georgia.</br><br></br><br>You see, I stopped defending Barack Obama in March/ April. As someone on here wrote, \"I learned that there was no Santa Claus\".</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_19:10:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972248": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Last one from The Atlantic:<br></br><br><i>Good for Obama. Don't let the bastards use 527's to slander you while your sitting their without the resources to respond, see John Kerry, and don't sit back and let them say you are un-American when, by any standard, you are as American as John McCain. (Except, of course, from the stand point of private morality the GOP like to talk about, Obama is a lot more moral because he's only been married once and didn't dump wife number one to marry somebody richer and younger). Being a good guy doesn't mean that you aren't tough and don't play to win. No doubt David Broder and his ilk will have trouble with Obama playing hard ball, but the Broder crew will then turn around and say the Democrats just aren't as tough as the Republicans when it comes to fighting in both domestic and international politics. Don't bring a knife to a gun fight. Sorry Republicans, the Democrats are playing to win this year.</i></br><br></br><br></br><br>Posted by RP | June 20, 2008 3:14 PM </br><br></br><br></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_19:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972249": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rhonda,<br></br><br>do you disagree with my assessment of the Georgia situation? </br><br></br><br>You think he should dump someone who came and supported him early for someome else?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_19:17:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972250": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rikyrah,<br></br><br>I thought he endorsed him late..</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:07:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972251": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "truth,<br></br><br>Barrow endorsed Barack on February 28.</br><br></br><br>That's not late.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972252": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://georgiaunfiltered.blogspot.com/2008/02/john-barrow-endorses-barack-obama.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Here's the endorsement</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:17:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972253": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Hmm, I was reading today that he'd done it last month.  Thanks.<br></br><br>The Repub strategists are coming up with more and more bizarre talking points.. They're railing he can't be trusted for opting out of public financing..  Lou said he broke his word..boo hoo.</br><br></br><br>Tara just a second ago said on CNN that Obama should apologize for the injecting the \"epitome of fear\"  in saying the repubs would paint him as black and scary.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:29:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972254": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rikyrah,<br></br><br>What do you think abotu that ad?</br><br></br><br></br><br>Also, I am not sure of my impression in regards to the Georgia race but i will figure it out once I learn more about it.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:29:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972255": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "truthseeker,<br></br><br>He did it in Feb. As I said before, that puts this Blue Dog giving more support to Obama than HALF of the CBC. </br><br></br><br>Damn shame.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:30:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972256": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "T.-<br></br><br>\"They\u2019re going to try to make you afraid of me. He\u2019s young and inexperienced and he\u2019s got a funny name. And did I mention he\u2019s black? He\u2019s got a feisty wife.\u201d</br><br></br><br>\u201cWe know the strategy because they\u2019ve already shown their cards.\"</br><br></br><br></br><br>So he gets it but wants to play the game the old way.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:32:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972257": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rhonda,<br></br><br>I know the purpose of the Ad. Plus, don't forget, we are political junkies here.We're on overdose of Obama. There's a lot of America that doesn't know about Obama. </br><br></br><br>The GOP WILL be running on</br><br></br><br>HE'S BLACK</br><br>HE'S BLACK</br><br>HE'S MUSLIM</br><br>HE'S BLACK</br><br>HE'S BLACK</br><br></br><br>And, if all else fails..</br><br></br><br>You can't vote for him.. he's UPPITY. </br><br></br><br>He's got to get out in front of that. </br><br></br><br>Or, he'll be the Scary Black Muslim that wants to kill all the White people once the GOP is thru. </br><br></br><br>This is to fight back. </br><br></br><br></br><br>I guess I just don't have the qualms with it that other folks do. Plus, it's the truth. His White family IS the one who raised him. I always personally wanted to ask White folks - you DO know who raised him don't you? But, I guess Black is just so overpowering and threatening.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972258": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Truthseeker,<br></br><br>See, she has no credibility.</br><br></br><br>I was like, ' Woman, PLEASE.'</br><br>The GOP has been playing the race card since NIXON.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:37:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972259": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Any Black person, Democrat or GOP, that doesn't admit the GOP has played the race card since Nixon, isn't trying to be credible.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:39:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972260": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I thought about that ad and realized that the black side of Barack's family is in Africa..and he probably didn't spend much time with them growing up.  Really, there's no one else to feature but his mother's side for his formative years.<br></br><br>I saw that seal VERO POSSUMUS = YES WE CAN...cheeky...  I like it lol.</br><br></br><br>and...O makes 22 million for May.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:46:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972261": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "You know, Barack should have just dispensed with all that talking about why he opted out of Public Financing.  He should have just said, \"Do I look like a fool?\"..\"Do you see FOOL written on my forehead?\"<br></br><br>No matter what he says, they'll whine.  He broke his word!!  Horrors!</br><br></br><br>I don't think anyone but Republicans care.  He's not out there campaigning for his health.  The idea is to win!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_20:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972262": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>You know, Barack should have just dispensed with all that talking about why he opted out of Public Financing. He should have just said, \"Do I look like a fool?\"..\"Do you see FOOL written on my forehead?\"</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Say. It. Again.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_21:08:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972263": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Dan Abrams is pushing the media's double standard about McCain's and Michelle Obama's statements.<br></br><br>Good for him.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_21:12:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972264": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>I thought about that ad and realized that the black side of Barack's family is in Africa..and he probably didn't spend much time with them growing up. Really, there's no one else to feature but his mother's side for his formative years.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>According to his memoir, one of the reasons why he refused to return to Indonesia with his mother was because he wanted to learn how to live as a Black man in America.</br><br></br><br>His approach to race in this nation has almost always been the approach of an anthropologist.</br><br></br><br>He's more of his mother than many people realize or accept. I don't mean he's more white than he is African, but she was an anthropologist and its clear her approach to people of different cultures and backgrounds reflects that.</br><br></br><br>Other than from the books he read, the South Side of Chicago is were he learned the most about being Black in America. It's the place that launched is political career.</br><br></br><br>He seems very loyal to Chicago. It's no wonder he moved the DNC operations there.</br><br></br><br>But, yes, Barack was raised by white people and tons of Americans who want to accept him as some radical terrorist simply because they've only been told about his father and his former pastor simply don't know that.</br><br></br><br>I find it ironic that in his first political loss, he was vilified by Black folks who thought he was a front for the monied interests of white leaders and most of the white working-class voters chose him over the former Black Panther who was endorsed by Bill Clinton.</br><br></br><br>In this election, he's being vilified by white people who believe him to be a front for the dangerous issues of radical terrorists.</br><br></br><br>That irony alone is another book.</br><br></br><br>My sister's birthmother is white. She's never met her. Doesn't even know who she is. But even though my sister was raised by our Black parents and only had Black relatives, she has struggled with her racial identity her entire life.</br><br></br><br>I think Barack is comfortable in his own skin.</br><br></br><br>That is no small task.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_21:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972265": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I think that some of you are missing the point and once again getting too literal and personal. The ad has certain coding. It is  for a particular audience. It will work but we must figure out why and what he is trying to do in it. I am not debating who is mother is or why he is like her, and his Africaness nothing like that....onl the message that he is trying to give to the voter and what he is basing off of. The preconceived notions in regards to race that he is basing it off of.  <br></br><br>I am having this discussion over at Too Sense...here:</br><br></br><br>http://halfricanrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/06/is-obama-blowing-dogwhistle-in-his-new.html</br><br></br><br>Not interested in going back through it.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_21:46:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972266": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rhonda,<br></br><br>I feel you on the new ad and the statements for me are:  working hard - no excuses, working and loans for college and finally, working in devastated neighborhoods.....moving folks from welfare to work.</br><br></br><br>It's not coded it's blatant.</br><br></br><br>What's the broo ha over FISA, I haven't heard anything?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_22:13:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972267": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<b>Michelle</b> . . . <br></br><br>I hear what you're saying. Yes, it's supposed to operate \"for the people,\" that's what we were founded on. The reality, of course, is different. Back in the day, it was \"the people,\" meaning white men. That changed over time and now we're at a point where the blatant attempts to disenfranchise voters will at least draw protest, mostly.</br><br></br><br>And yes, this country was founded on theft and violence and blood and the stolen lives and efforts of the enslaved and subjugated. Yes. And what we're seeing since 1980 is a slow process of moving back to the same kind of thing. A kingdom, of sorts, with barons and counts and princes and kings, and with the vast majority of us toiling away to serve our masters, ultimately not achieving anything for ourselves because the system is broken and set up against us, all of us, except the ultra rich. </br><br></br><br>I don't know that the relationship between the people and power was ever expected to be benign. There are provisions in our founding documents for overthrowing a government that's out of bounds. The Bush administration perfectly fits that description, with the excessive grab for executive power making Bush essentially our king.</br><br></br><br>This FISA legislation that has me so fucked up is another example of that: Bush broke the law. He got caught. He then sought to have legislation put into place that would absolve him and any others who participated in his illegal acts retroactively.  The giant telecommunications companies who participated in unlawful wiretapping and eavesdropping on American citizens without permission and in violation of the law could be sued. But King George will now be the sole arbiter of who gets wiretapped and who does not. If the King says it's okay, then it's okay.</br><br></br><br>They used that defense at the Nuremberg trials. If the great Hitler said it was legal, then it was legal. Only it wasn't. The excuse didn't work then, it doesn't hold water now. Except among our bought and paid for \"representatives\" in congress. How I despise them.</br><br></br><br><i>Except: This nation is wreaking horror and havoc around the globe in the name of democracy.</i></br><br></br><br>I agree with you 100% ~ only democracy is the cover story. Global corporate enrichment is the purpose for it all. Our efforts to prevent the advance of communism all around the globe, our unwarranted attacks on other countries for no reason other than that we don't like their governments, our deposing of presidents and prime ministers not to our liking (read opposed to US intervention, not free marketers, usually leaning toward socialism) and the installation of puppet governments that will allow us to steal the riches of countries all around the world . . . all of these efforts are directed to benefit business.</br><br></br><br>And that is tragically what has become of us. We have become a government for the global corporation. What serves the corporatist agenda will win approval of congress. What does not ~ such as telecom companies getting their asses sued off ~ will never survive. </br><br></br><br>By virtue of our trade agreements, we allow the enslavement of working people in other countries.  Those biased trade agreements impoverish millions, all in the interest of improving the corporate bottom line. </br><br></br><br><i>But, people will say, isn't that last one the GOP's fault -- Bush, Cheney? </i></br><br></br><br>It's the fault of every president and congress since Reagan. It started with Reagan, this dangerous rightward shift, and it has continued without ceasing, including Bill Clinton and now, I am certain, Barack Obama. </br><br></br><br><i>Obama talks about ideals too. But he seems to have a much real-er sense of what he is part of and dealing with. </i></br><br></br><br>Indeed he does and I had whispers of it before this FISA statement, my concern about his associating with the Milton Friedmanites out of the Chicago School of economics, taking one of those discredited fools as one of his economic advisors. I was aware that he saw no problem with hedge fund managers paying a tax rate of 15% on incomes in the billions per year. </br><br></br><br>I saw much of this and I didn't want to believe it because more than anything, I want ~ I need ~ to hope that things can get better. So I shut my eyes to all of this and here we are, only a few weeks since he won the nomination and it is apparent that my initial fears were true. </br><br></br><br>At this point, I hope and pray that this country goes to hell and fast. Right now we're like live frogs in hot water, the fire's burning, we're going to die, but we don't know it because it just gets a little toastier, a little warmer, just a bit, every day. </br><br></br><br>I want the fire on high. I want 50% unemployment in this country, $12/gallon gas, 50 million people to lose their homes. Bring it on, wake up this sleeping nation of sheep.</br><br></br><br>I feel like I'm in the back seat of a fast car. We're headed down a winding mountain road and the fuckhead at the wheel is sound asleep. I'm screaming my head off, trying to get the hell out of this thing and my fellow passengers are sightseeing, one shouts \"stop at the mall!\" and the cliff and destruction looms ahead. </br><br></br><br>Hopeless. Even after a nap. Not much feels worse than betrayal.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_22:18:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7f306b3009c480dcd5fc7baf547d1b80", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972268": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "What he is really saying in the ad is come on folks you know I present as black, but let's get real, I was raised by my white mother and white grandparent's so I'm really more like you than a black person.<br></br><br>I worked hard to pay for college and to pay my debt, I went to a black community and helped them to get off welfare and back to work.</br><br></br><br>I remeber seeing a clip of Obama being interviewed while riding through Chicago with a reporter and the reporter asked him if the people treated him any different because he was biracial and he replied \"they\" don't ask what I am.</br><br></br><br>His response didn't bother me, but it was the look on his face that scared me.  He looked very sly, he looked as though he and the reporter knew something \"they\" didn't know.  It reminded me of how I've heard attorneys discuss the ignorance of staff when they thought no one could hear them.</br><br></br><br>I tried to put the image out of my mind, but after the Father's Day speech and this new ad, I do believe some have been hussled with all the MLK speeches, references to the Civil Rights movement and the occassional mention of racism.</br><br></br><br>I think Obama like Clinton believes what ever he says that may offend the black race won't matter and that blacks will vote for him anyway in November.</br><br></br><br>I don't expect he'll be pandering to us much anymore, it's the white conservative turn.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_22:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972269": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rikyrah, I'll disagree with your assessment of Barrow VS Thomas.  I live down here in GA.  I have met Barrow, whom Obama endorses in the Democratic primary, and I will meet his opponent Regina Thomas on July 1.<br></br><br>Regardless of whether or when Barrow endorsed Obama, Barrow also endorsed Bush's war early on, and has never wavered from this position.  His opponent Regina Thomas has opposed it. </br><br></br><br>Barrow crusaded against Nancy Pelosi for the earliest possible surrender date to the demands of the telecom companies for immunity from prosecution as they violated two or three of the first ten amendments.</br><br></br><br>Barrow, like Republicans, calls the estate tax \"the death tax\" and voted against it.  He voted for every one of Bush's tax cuts too.  Every one.  Regina Thomas denounced all this --- she could  not vote against it cause she is not in Congress.</br><br></br><br>Barrow voted against even the feeble health care measure that other Dems supported, SCHIP.  Thomas would  have supported it.</br><br></br><br>Barrow voted for the Patriot Act.  He voted to renew the Patriot Act (so did Obama, after campaigning against it in Illinois --- I was there) and voted for Patriot Act 2 (so did Obama).  Regina Thomas opposed and denounced Patriot Act 1 and 2.</br><br></br><br>Barrow voted for the Military Commissions Act, parts of which have now been overturned by the Supreme Court, but which authorized torture and indefinite imprisonment, and trials with so-called \"secret evidence\".  Thomas opposed and denounced this too.</br><br></br><br>Barrow voted for the credit card bills which removed all ceilings on interest and fees, and he voted for \"tort reform\" to keep ordinary people from suing corporations.  Obama voted for tort reform too, but voted against the credit card bill, after casting a vote in committee against removal of interest ceilings.  Thomas opposed both.</br><br></br><br>One could go on and on.  Barrow's voting record is barely distinguishable from GA Republicans in neighboring districts like  Gingrey.  Thomas has had a steady and largely progressive record in the GA state senate.  And the district is 40% black.  Barrow has $1.3 million on hand, and Obama has more money than God right now.  Thomas is fighting the good fight, but has only modest means. </br><br></br><br>Obama endorsed a warmongering, racist, torture-loving, Bush-enabling white Blue Dog and Bush enabler over a legitimate and credible black challenger.  On the merits of the two candidates, it does not look good.  Put all the makeup on that pig you want.  It still oinks.</br><br></br><br>Email me and tell me where to send that peach cobbler I owe you.</br><br></br><br>bd</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_22:33:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "37b8714289b7cae2f08f81db844a868d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972270": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "About the ad -- I could swear I remember him saying something similar to this during the primaries, in a speech (talking about his mother's family teaching him \"good American values\" or along those lines) ... was it in Kansas, maybe?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_23:10:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "de3917e982ff609a0d6f7fb5e3c8f079", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972271": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>Obama endorsed a warmongering, racist, torture-loving, Bush-enabling white Blue Dog and Bush enabler over a legitimate and credible black challenger. On the merits of the two candidates, it does not look good. Put all the makeup on that pig you want. It still oinks.</i><br></br><br>tell it, honey. it's a nasty stinking thing and further evidence of the heartbreaking truth about obama.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_23:14:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7f306b3009c480dcd5fc7baf547d1b80", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972272": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "About Barrow again: <br></br><br>Politics ain't pretty a lot of times, but should he throw over someone who supported him, ' back when' for someone else. </br><br></br><br>I know it's sorta un-PC, but if this were a credible ' White' challenger, would you feel this sense of outrage? If this were another Steve Cohen, would you be pushing this so much?</br><br></br><br>So, the bottom line here is, someone supported him, when he needed supporting. And now, because you like the politics of his opponent, he's supposed to just ditch this person?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_23:45:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972273": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Let's take your comparison of the Memphis TN race with that in Savannah GA.  White incumbent Cohen opposed the war, black challenger Nikki Tinker refuses to say.  I'll take Cohen any time.<br></br><br>Barrow supports the war, and Barack supports him over the black progressive state senator who opposes it.  What's hard to understand about this?  I am pushing it because it is illustrative of our moral compass at this time.  Not Barack's.  Ours.  Yours, maybe too.</br><br></br><br>The fact that Barrow supports Obama somehow makes it OK to empower a congressman who has long ago sold out to the very worst forces in this country's politics?  When did boosting the career of one man begin to take precedence over whether innocent should be killed, whether prisoners should be tortured, whether citizens should be spied on?  If boosting one man's career is more important than war, peace or justice, where are we?  And what have we become?</br><br></br><br>I'm through asking what HE is.  What are WE?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "37b8714289b7cae2f08f81db844a868d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972274": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"but should he throw over someone who supported him.......\"<br></br><br>I have a feeling we will see a lot more of this from him.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:05:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972275": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ms. martin,<br></br><br>if he had thrown Barrow over for Thomas, that would be ok, because we agree with HER politics?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:07:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972276": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Brother Dixon,<br></br><br>Just email me about the cobbler. I have another idea about it.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:08:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972277": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rikyrah<br></br><br>He's throwing over a lot of people who supported him - why not Barrow too?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:19:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972278": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Do politicians usually endorse other politicians whose politics are in direct opposition to theirs.<br></br><br>Didn't Obama consistently say Clinton voted for the war?  Wasn't that most of his platform?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972279": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rikyrah, I do not have your email address, so you will have to hit me.  Try bruce.dixon(at)blackagendareport.com.<br></br><br>As I recall I made a bet with you and skeptical brotha that the Dem ticket would be Hillary and Barack, in that order, several months ago. Am I mistaken?  </br><br></br><br>bd</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:34:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "37b8714289b7cae2f08f81db844a868d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972280": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama's \"the country I love\" ad is every bit poll-watchin' as people have suggested.  I like his remarks about the Fear & Smear campaign he's up against.<br></br><br>I'm actually laughing my azz off.  I think it's brilliant no matter what that sorry azz Black Republican ostrich (a description of her head in the sand \"without a shred of evidence\" remarks) Tara says.</br><br></br><br>I mean, one of the stories this week was Cindy vs. Michelle aka \"the angry Black woman\" behind the man.  </br><br></br><br>In other cable news, I really got a kick out of the brother who said f-ck the script, hardly said a word about Spike Lee and told Laura Ingram how she (as a collective representative of White women) benefited from affirmative action.</br><br></br><br>In a word... PRICELESS!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:34:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3ecde559248958521e4cb25a77f2ee65", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972281": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<b>someone supported him, when he needed supporting</b><br></br><br>I could swear I saw a thread here on JJP that credited Black voters with being key to Obama's primary win.  Since that point was celebrated, I got to straighten this out:</br><br></br><br><b>And now, because he's gotten the nomination, we're supposed to just allow his to diss and ditch us?</b></br><br></br><br></br><br>Yes.  For so many reasons, Dixon question about US and what we have become is beyond warranted.  It's crucial.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:46:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3ecde559248958521e4cb25a77f2ee65", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972282": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>In other cable news, I really got a kick out of the brother who said f-ck the script, hardly said a word about Spike Lee and told Laura Ingram how she (as a collective representative of White women) benefited from affirmative action.<br></br><br>In a word... PRICELESS!</br></i><br></br><br>Possible Youtube clip?</br><br></br><br>Is there one?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_00:54:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972283": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "And I thought I was cynical.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:03:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972284": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "FISA Bill- If there is anyone that deserves disappointment and blame for the FISA issue, it is President George Bush II. <br></br><br>President Bush broke the FISA law; heck he has seemingly broken America (like every company he has ever owned and/or operated).</br><br> </br><br>Barack comes along and is working against MAJOR obstacles (Main Stream Media, 527s, voter apathy, Powerful Lobbyists, etc.)just to have the potential for oversight and three (3) working branches of government again and I sense distress and despair three (3) weeks into his GENERAL ELECTION.</br><br></br><br>Do not NOT forget that President Bush, is still responsible for everything that goes on regarding this issue (NOT Barack Obama and NOT John McCain).</br><br></br><br>Yes, please call/e-mail Senator Obama and express your concerns, FLOOD the White House Switch Board with calls and contact your STATE representatives to let them know your displeasure.</br><br></br><br>But know this, there is a long time between NOW and November and George Bush will do ALL he can to protect himself and his coterie of friends who GOT us into this 4th Amendment crisis in the first place.  So please expect President Bush to do his best Voldemort impression and pull out \"all of his wizard magic\" to protect himself and to help John McCain and the Neo-Conserative Karl Rove alcolytes.</br><br></br><br>Do not let this singular issue discourage a seemingly politically awakened and aware America.</br><br> </br><br>Whomever your candidate is this election please vote in November in overwhelming numbers, so that we will not have another FLORIDA</br><br> (2000)and/or OHIO (2004) again.  Because, this time the stakes are too high, this time, no matter who wins, if Americans are not proactive and do not use their heads when they pull that voting lever, we will have the president and the America we deserve because of our unwillingness to strategically think long term and unrealistic expectations.  Politics is strategy and patience.</br><br></br><br>Josephine </br><br>P.S. I just came across your blog recently and I enjoy the political analysis and discourse.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:11:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972285": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I wonder if the statement regarding the repubicans reminding people that he is black and Michelle is feisty is an attempt to get us back to fighting over racism and to forget his part in the racial polarizations?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:11:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972286": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>Do politicians usually endorse other politicians whose politics are in direct opposition to theirs.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Yes. Especially if they think it will help them get elected.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:13:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972287": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>I wonder if the statement regarding the repubicans reminding people that he is black and Michelle is feisty is an attempt to get us back to fighting over racism and to forget his part in the racial polarizations?</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>What part?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:19:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972288": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "There is no part. The suggestion is racism.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:21:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972289": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Do politicians usually endorse other politicians whose politics are in direct opposition to theirs.<br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Yes. Especially if they think it will help them get elected.</br><br></br><br></br><br>I guess if the people who would elect them aren't paying attention, that just might happen.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:23:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972290": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "If you meant what his part was in the polarization, it was the Father's Day speech and his new ad.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:24:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972291": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Craig<br></br><br>Regarding politician who would endorse another of opposing politics isn't that the OLD TYPE OF POLTICS THAT HAS WASHINGTON IN GRIDLOCK?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:27:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972292": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ms. martin, all you needed to do is watch The Keebler Elf's show this week...Obama didn't have to remind anyone of anything regarding race. Obama didn't make that up. Or anything on Michelle Obama Watch. <br></br><br>We pick and choose what we put as main posts on JJP, but amongst ourselves, in emails, the past couple of weeks, we've had stories that just seemed to be one on top of the other.Folks send us stuff all the time, and a lot of it raises the blood pressure. </br><br></br><br> So much stuff  that we want to do another Wiki. </br><br></br><br>It's called a pre-emptive strike, and isn't it the campaign we've expected all along from the GOP against Obama? </br><br></br><br><i>He's Black</i></br><br>He's Muslim</br><br>He's Black</br><br>He's Muslim</br><br>He's a Radical</br><br>Oh yeah, he's a Black Muslim Radical fomenting uprising. </br><br></br><br>It's all they have against Obama.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:27:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972293": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ms.martin, I think I'm going to make some chow chow for you after harvest.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:42:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972294": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rikyrah<br></br><br>I know the racism is real and the attacks are vicious (I read things in addition to JJP), but I have to wonder because he never really talked about racism in the campaign aside from non-specific statements regarding racism.  He has even said that race wasn't a factor when we all knew it was.</br><br></br><br>So again, I have to wonder if this is an attempt to bring his minions back to the fold after the Father's Day speech where he talked about Michelle's father working for a living and that ad where he reminds people that he was raised white and right.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:43:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972295": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ms.martin, have you not heard Barack talk about his father-in-law before?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:52:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972296": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "You know ms. martin,<br></br><br>I have to refer to something craig hickman said last night about the exchange between Jonathan Alter and Lars Larson. </br><br></br><br>He thought it was something else to see Alter take Larson on to defend Michelle Obama and wasn't that interesting. </br><br></br><br>I saw his point. </br><br></br><br>I'll couple this with something I read on MyDD last night from one of Obama's biggest critics over there. This person said that one of the things he had most against Obama was that it would infuriate him that Obama would never enter into direct confrontation with the GOP. That he seemed to be doing all that bi-partisan stuff. But, he has watched Obama over these past few weeks, and defended himself accordingly, attacking Republicans, but never calling them by name. That Obama let the press call out the GOP by name. </br><br></br><br>There's no other way to call the GOP racism out. Has to be done directly. Can't tiptoe around it, when it's seeping from every direction in GOP Land towards Obama. Pre-emptive innoculation.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_01:59:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972297": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Craig<br></br><br>Sure I have.  I just think it odd (well not really, I know it was intentional) that he mentions him the day he's reprimanding unknown black fathers.  It was to remind the good folks that Michelle is okay, she was raised right by a good black man.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_02:01:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972298": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rikyrah<br></br><br>If you recall my many posts here, I've never questioned Obama's tactics or his strategy regarding responding to attacks - I trusted him. And, I always thought and believe I stated that he wouldn't fight a Democrat like he would a Republican so I'm not surprised or relieved that he's is fighting the Republicans.</br><br></br><br>That being said, I still have to question his motives for now calling a spade a spade for the reasons I mentioned before.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_02:09:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972299": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I understand people are upset about FISA, but Obama never supported blanket immunity. And it is Bush, the united Rethugs and the cow-towing Dumbocrats that allowed this to happen - and don't forget all the people that voted for Bush in 2004 and/or had not been politically active. So I just think calmer heads need to prevail. It's just a bad situation all around. Apparently  lot of people are going to be disappointed if they think Obama is as liberal as a Bill Bradley or going to be able to please everyone 100%. There are plenty of people who want Obama to denounce marriage being categorized as between a man and a woman. I think it is important to pick one's battles and try to look at the big picture. I know that some polls show Obama ahead and the corporate media is downplaying that. I wouldn't rely on the numbers from any sources inasmuch as this election is not a given for Obama. He has to play to win. He could say everything people want and possibly mean it and still not win - then what? Will the emotional affirmation be enough? I think regardless of these issues an Obama administration WILL be better than a Bush or McCain one so everyone needs to get to working for the campaign and let your voices be heard. Just know that it isn't utopia, perfect or even how you assume it will be. It will be different and still sufficient as long as people remain flexible. Unless some bottom line has been crossed and then you should look into supporting another candidate who can meet those needs.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_02:11:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1572c9b90152e199379cfb228c0cc759", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972300": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ms. martin, <br></br><br>if he ever is this blunt again, I'll be surprised. If you're a Black candidate, you're not given many times to bring this up, no matter how many monkey dolls are created. NO WAY could he have done what Hillary did, and every surrogate she had did. </br><br></br><br>NO WAY. </br><br></br><br>You get one time, maybe two. He's also probably playing on the unackowledged guilt of the MSM, who was 'mum', even though they saw the racebaiting. </br><br></br><br>Anyway you see it, if he brings it up again between now and November, I'll be shocked. </br><br></br><br>Bring it up NOW, just as you're trying to re-introduce yourself, and put the other  side on the defensive. Try and control your own narrative.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_02:37:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972301": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Watching Washington Week tonight, and the lady from <a href=\"http://Politico.com\" rel=\"nofollow\">Politico.com</a> brought up that Obama's 50 State Strategy is an attempt to do to McCAin what he did to Hillary Clinton - bankrupt her.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_02:52:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972302": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Wolf Blitzer has to be on something. It's not humanly possible for him to always be on CNN.....what, seven days a week? He's an experiment, like from The Incredible Hulk. <br></br><br>I know it's 6 because he does that Sunday show. Does he work on Saturday, or is that when they plug him into the electrical unit to charge his batteries for the rest of the week. </br><br></br><br>He's taken over for the hideous Campbell Brown the past few nights.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_02:58:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972303": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "OMG.<br></br><br>I just got it. </br><br></br><br>Watching a piece on Dollar Bill, and the Headlines are  </br><br></br><br>\"Meet the Jeffersons\".</br><br></br><br>and</br><br></br><br>\" Moving On Down\" </br><br></br><br></br><br>I..I....I....</br><br></br><br>I'll just leave it alone.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_02:59:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972304": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rikyrah:<br></br><br><i>About Barrow again: </i></br><br></br><br>Politics ain't pretty a lot of times, but should he throw over someone who supported him, ' back when' for someone else. </br><br></br><br>So, the bottom line here is, someone supported him, when he needed supporting. And now, because you like the politics of his opponent, he's supposed to just ditch this person?</br><br></br><br>No, not if you're the same old crappy politician we've always had. If you're running on a platform of change, then you stand up and tell this guy ~ in private, in public ~ why you cannot support him. This fool in Georgia is a republican ~ a far right republican ~ running on the democratic platform. The challenger is a progressive. </br><br></br><br>Either you stand for something or you don't. Supporting someone because they did something for you is the worst kind of cronyism. It is politics without values. We've got that already.</br><br></br><br>_______</br><br></br><br>heartsandflowers:</br><br></br><br><i>I understand people are upset about FISA, but Obama never supported blanket immunity.</i></br><br></br><br>A few weeks ago, Obama made a principled stand in defense of the constitution and against the bullshit FISA bill the republicans were trying to pass. He was roundly applauded for not buying into the Bush admin bullshit that we've been manipulated with for the last eight years.</br><br></br><br>Yesterday, he just reversed that stand and made a statement which reiterated all of the same old tired Bush crap. <i>\"Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. </i></br><br></br><br>Oooooh, once again, we're being frightened with terrorist threats, and it's coming from, of all people, Obama. </br><br></br><br>The whole issue of FISA makes folks' eyes cross, I know it. It's not a marketable issue, but it is profoundly important to this nation because it is a constitutional issue, and we've had an administration running roughshod over the constitution for eight years.</br><br></br><br>Here's what the republicans are saying about this cave in:</br><br></br><br><i>The proposal \u2014 particularly the immunity provision \u2014 represents a major victory for the White House after months of dispute. \"I think the White House got a better deal than they even they had hoped to get,\" said Senator Christopher Bond, the Missouri Republican who led the negotiations. </i></br><br></br><br>That makes me feel like throwing up. With only 17% of the people thinking we're on the right track in this country, a president with approval ratings in the mid-20s, we have a wildly popular candidate for president who jumps on the republican bus and sells us out. The one man most people listen to right now because of his thoughtful and measured way of examining issues.</br><br></br><br>There's a whole crowd of folks waking up today saying \"well if <i>Barack</i> says it's a good thing, it must be.\"</br><br></br><br>Bullshit. He sold us out. I am still just not believing it. An coupled with the support of that Georgia asshat and his economic policies, it's just too much.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_07:46:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7f306b3009c480dcd5fc7baf547d1b80", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972305": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>There's a whole crowd of folks waking up today saying \"well if Barack says it's a good thing, it must be.\"</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Barack plays chess. Not checkers. </br><br></br><br>I'll withhold judgment about him selling out until he's elected and then we'll see what he does about all these crimes. </br><br></br><br>This much I know: he won't be able to do shit if he's not elected.</br><br></br><br>I believe he's posturing. Telecom companies are not immune from criminal prosecution, even with this bill. That's not a small point.</br><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>rikyrah, </br><br></br><br>I want to make it clear that Alter didn't just defend Michelle. He told Larson that he was using racism in his attacks trying to turn Michelle into an angry Black woman. </br><br></br><br>White people don't say that to white people on cable television.</br><br></br><br>I've always believed that white people need to do anti-racist work with each other. White people simply refuse to hear it when a Black person denounces racism.</br><br></br><br>As I said already many times, I understand the beating Barack is taking about his Father's Day speech. But whether he intended it or not, I think he gave certain white people impetus to go after certain white people for their racism in public.</br><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>About Georgia. It seems to me Barrow's challenger should win the primary if she can get 95% of the Black folks in her district to vote for her.</br><br></br><br>Barack's endorsement, in addition to being cronyism, might simply help him have a better chance of winning Georgia if the conservative Georgia Democrats begin to see that Barack isn't the radical liberal his opponents are painting him out to be.</br><br></br><br>Maybe that's the constituency he's politricking, not Black progressives. He'll take their votes to win the general election and then do whatever he's going to do in the Oval Office.</br><br></br><br>Just a thought.</br><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>I don't think that Barack his taking the Black vote for granted at all. This was confirmed for me when I saw his list of hires a week ago. He had all his constituency outreach coordinators listed and I was wary that it would show that he was taking some of his base for granted. But he's not taking any of his base for granted. He hired an African American outreach coordinator, along with one for Hispanic voters, GLBT voters, and women.</br><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>I guess I just choose not to be cynical about Barack's motives at this point in the election. There's a whole lot more going on than meets the eye.</br><br></br><br>But with the way Barack is being blackened in a negative way by his opposition, it would seem silly for him not to remind people that a big part of him is just like those who are trying to negatively blacken him. If Barack was insecure about his blackness, I see NO WAY that he marries Michelle, whom he obviously adores.</br><br></br><br>I'm not turning a blind eye to anything that Barack is saying or doing. I'm just not taking any of it personally right now. I'm still willing to see where this imperfect politician goes from here.</br><br></br><br>He hasn't sold his soul. Yet.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_10:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972306": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Thank you for quoting Dr. Dorothy Height. She is a role model for us all, and I hope you will write more about her.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-21_11:03:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "176b751a2732c23edea3de9a3518c6e5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972133": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "You know, I'm trying to believe that if the situations were reversed; That if there was some Democrat who said that they'd been involved in an 'Exorcism' and thought <a href=\"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/19/jindal-intelligent-design_n_108147.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">'Intelligent Design is the very best science',</a> that they, too, would be considered for anyone's short list for VP.<br></br><br>But, I doubt it.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:22:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972134": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6464\" rel=\"nofollow\">Emerging Obama Target Strategy</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:23:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972135": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.newsweek.com/id/141507\" rel=\"nofollow\">McCain vs. Obama's 50 State Strategy</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:24:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972136": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/18/cnns-jack-cafferty-rails_n_107925.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">CNN's Jack Cafferty Rails At John McCain's Constant Flip-Flopping</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:25:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972137": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/obama-personally-apologiz_n_108213.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Obama Personally Apologizes to Muslim Women</a><br></br><br>GOOD.</br><br></br><br>it's what he should have done.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:28:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972138": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/mccain-and-obama-tied-in_n_108217.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Obama and McCain Tied in GEORGIA?</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:29:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972139": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-elliott/as-long-as-were-talking-a_b_108060.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">As Long As We're Talking About Michelle Obama, Did you know Cindy McCain Was a Drug Addict?</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972140": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rikyrah,<br>Yes, we know.</br><br></br><br>I actually had work to do yesterday, so I didn't get to say much.</br><br></br><br>But on McCain's \"I was not in love with America until I was deprived of her company,\" and its comparison to what Michelle said: the two aren't the same.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:37:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972141": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<b><a href=\"http://simplifythepositive.blogspot.com\" rel=\"nofollow\">Off The Record</a></b> - a fictional look at what different voices around the country are saying about Obama.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:38:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7742568e575d2a6e3fc095c1ba56f44c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972142": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Ha, I saw that Jindal story yesterday.  A non-scientist declaring what is the best science...amazing.  These fundamentalists want to take the world back to the dark ages.<br></br><br>Did anyone see Elisabeth on Hannity after Michelle's appearance?  I'm pretty sure she said she brought up the Rev. Wright issue in the makeup room before the show and got a frosty response.  She left it open that possibly it was Michelle who froze her out, but I think it was the ladies who put her on lockdown. Notice how uncharacteristically quiet they were on the panel?</br><br></br><br>Then EH blathered non-stop about not bringing people on the show to make them feel uncomfortable(RIGHT!)  Hannity was clearly disappointed she didn't say what he must have told her to(aka Stephanopoulos).  Maybe that's why Michelle reached over and grabbed her hand(because of the posited beatdown that happened in the makeup room)...Michelle, always classy and kind to the lowlife.  </br><br></br><br>The Obama's make people who insult them look so small.</br><br></br><br>What about the Lars guy raging about how Michelle has a \"do-nothing\" job, being \"extremely fortunate\"..etc?  What is with all the white exploding heads over this black woman with an Ivy League education??!  Where is THAT coming from?  Do they really believe you can coast academically and still graduate from Princeton & Harvard??  Well, not if you're poor!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_08:57:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972143": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/06/the_fairness_doctrine_at_work.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">The Fairness Doctrine At Work</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:09:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972144": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>MCCAIN'S EXACT QUOTES:</br><br></br><br><b>\"I really didn't love America until I was deprived of her Company.\"</b></br><br></br><br><b>\"I was born into America's service.  It wasn't until I was deprived of her company that I fell in love with America.\"</b></br><br></br><br>When someone in the audience at a Town Hall asked how he could be proud of his country.  McCain responded:</br><br><b>\"I\u2019ll admit to you that it\u2019s tough, it\u2019s tough in some respects.\" </b></br><br></br><br>GET IT RIGHT!</br><br></br><br>Here we have 3 separate occasions where McCain expresses ambivalence about his pride in his country.</br><br></br><br>McCain has bragged about his low grades and position 5 from the bottom of his class....citing his poor grades and subsequent status as evidence you can make it in America.  </br><br></br><br>First, his family's wealth, then Cindy McCain's wealth greased his way through life.  John is an entirely unremarkable man who owes his success to Right Wing America's worship of death.  It's no surprise they butt heads with religious fanatics...they are kindred spirits.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972145": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Please check out a blog I wrote yesterday and comment on it, I'm curious to see what everyone thinks. <br></br><br>Happy Friday!</br><br></br><br><a href=\"http://muzikalthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/06/de-blackification-of-barack-and.html\" rel=\"nofollow\"> The \"De-blackification\" of Barack and Michelle Obama </a></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:28:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "b24475dc7f058bb42be5dd891c11a807", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972146": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rikyrah, I am glad you posted the article about Cindy McCain's drug use and Old Man McCain's wishywashy-ness on almost every important issue.<br></br><br>It shows just how much of a double standard there is for Obama and his family.  I have yet to hear on any mainstream media site about her drug issues but earlier this week I was still seeing articles about Obama's \"drug use.\"  Obama decided against public financing and now he is taking the heat for it.  McCain  switches it up on issues that will have an impact for years to come and they are over looked.</br><br></br><br>I know that this is just the beginning but I cannot wait until this is over.  The rules of the game are killing me.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:33:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "04e660e5cc268e5d60d3c11c9ba594d1", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972147": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "truthseeker, <br></br><br>There are certain rules that only apply to Black people. :o)</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "b24475dc7f058bb42be5dd891c11a807", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972148": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Truth,<br>You know when I became as proud of my country as I am now? During my year in Guantanamo. </br><br></br><br>Does that mean I hated America before? No.</br><br></br><br>When you have a life-altering experience-say, being a POW-it alters how you view certain things in life. I think all McCain meant was that his love of country grew a little bit more during his time as a POW, just as mine did among the detainees in Guantanamo.</br><br></br><br>And, yeah, it is tough sometimes to be proud of America. We fuck up sometimes; we're not perfect.</br><br></br><br>I <b>do not believe</b> that Michelle's admiration of her husband's ascendancy is similar to McCain's experience. I <b> do not know</b> whether there's been something that drastic in her life that would cause her to say what she did. That's why I think comparing the two statements is wrong.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972149": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://adage.com/article?article_id=127880\" rel=\"nofollow\">Obama Asks NBC to Draw Up Olympics Ad Packages</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:41:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "d087c5d149453c1db87a76ee583d3b80", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972150": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "It's more than the drug use.  It's the intrigue and criminality of stealing drugs from the organization she ran.  Consider also, that Cindy was the bookkeeper in the Keating five scandal.  For all her privilege, she shows a startling affinity for criminal behaviour...it's not just stealing bread to eat.  Cindy could have easily gotten <i>legal</i> access to prescription drugs.  We hear of stars doing it all the time.   We shouldn't be surprised that she's attempting to fuel the fire against Michelle.  Cindy has money, but no class.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:43:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972151": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "D., <br></br><br>McCain led a privleged life, there's nothing in HIS life that justifies him saying that he didn't really love American until he was a POW. Michelle said she was \"really\" proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. I'm still not \"really\" proud of this country. I think Michelle had more than enough in her life to say what she did.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:43:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "b24475dc7f058bb42be5dd891c11a807", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972152": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Muzikal,<br>Disagree. Someone who's had a privledged life, and is then treated like a common criminal for a portion of that life, is going to come back with a stronger appreciation of life outside of the circles he grew up in.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:49:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972153": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Can someone tell me why a candidate's spouse's actions almost twenty years ago have any relevance or grounds for comparison to the statements made by another candidate's spouse a few months ago?<br></br><br>And after that, I'm done with Cindy McCain.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972154": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>I was willing to cut Cindy McCain some slack on her past, that is until she started casting aspersions on Michelle.  When Mrs. McCain did that she lost the right not to have her past deeds scrutinized.  Forgive the cliche, but people in glass houses really have no business throwing stones.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_09:59:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "d087c5d149453c1db87a76ee583d3b80", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972155": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "D., <br></br><br>The man said he didn't love the country until he was captured and \"tortured\" for 5 years. That is not excusable. </br><br></br><br>But I guess you're willing to make any manner of excuses for McCain on this one, so I'll drop it.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_10:01:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "b24475dc7f058bb42be5dd891c11a807", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972156": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"She also altered the hospital\u2019s research agenda. When the human papillomavirus vaccine, which can prevent cervical cancer, became available, researchers proposed approaching local school principals about enlisting black teenage girls as research subjects.<br></br><br>Mrs. Obama stopped that. The prospect of white doctors performing a trial with black teenage girls summoned the specter of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment of the mid-20th century, when white doctors let hundreds of black men go untreated to study the disease.\" (source: <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/us/politics/18michelle.html?adxnnl=1&amp;adxnnlx=1213970661-8XV+Osd8hPMSv8lQjsAqNQ\" rel=\"nofollow\"> New York Times </a></br><br></br><br>It's \"really\" hard to be \"really\" proud of your country when have a first hand account of black folks being used like Guinea pig ! I think that's pretty TRAGIC!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_10:09:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972157": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Truthseeker,<br></br><br>I watched Elizabeth Hasselback on Hannity & Colmes. I decided to see what she would say.</br><br></br><br>I wanted to choke her through the TV. She was just rambling on and on about garbege while Hannity was congratulating her for asking the tough questions. </br><br></br><br>I don't know why she is so obsessed with TUCC and Dr. Wright. As Tim Wise would say, \"her whiteness is showing\".</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_10:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972158": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Can someone tell me why a candidate's spouse's actions almost twenty years ago have any relevance or grounds for comparison to the statements made by another candidate's spouse a few months ago?<br>---------------</br><br></br><br>Because the right wing and radical feminists are trying to paint Michelle Obama as unfit to be First Lady based on a questionable quote from a few months ago.  They are trying to paint her as an angry black baby mama who shouldn't be held up as a role model.</br><br></br><br>I don't think too many people would want their role model to be a pill popping home wrecking thief, either, so if they're going to go there with Michelle, they also need to go there with Paris Hilton McCain.</br><br></br><br>We talk about how the suburban white women who were Hillary's supporters supported her in part because they saw her in themselves, a long suffering woman who stood by while she was cheated on by her husband, and we're supposed to believe that these same women will cheer on Cindy McCain, the Other Woman?</br><br></br><br>See, the more they demonize Michelle, the more they'll focus on Cindy and that's not good for Cindy.  Already you have people saying \"Wait a minute!  Michelle Obama is college educated, got married and had her kids in wedlock, but people are labeling her a lazy baby mama, wait a minute, this ain't right, it's racist.\"  </br><br></br><br>Lay off Michelle Obama, and people will lay off Cindy McCain.</br><br></br><br></br><br>Muzikal --</br><br></br><br>I have NEVER seen Obama be this champion of blackness, ever.  So I can't say he's running away from blackness when he wasn't running to it in the first place.  The whole premise of his campaign was that he \"transcended race\".  A big part of why so many white people like him is because he's not this angry, black, fist in the air, running down all the black grievances type of guy.  So IMO there's nothing for him to \"deblackify\" because he wasn't \"black\" beyond his skin color to begin with.  </br><br></br><br>As far as the \"softening of Michelle,\" this is nothing new.  I've been seeing articles for MONTHS with her talking about the girls, Malia's asthma, how the girls want a puppy, etc.  All those EBONY \"The Next First Couple?\" and \"Black Love\" articles were nothing but \"soft\" articles.</br><br></br><br>I personally don't think Michelle is this fist in the air, will cut yo' ass, bitch-betta-move-out-my-way, type of woman anyway.  That's something WE project onto HER.  Where we think she looks mean and no-nonsense, she is probably thinking about how she hopes Barack put on a clean undershirt or if the girls are being good for Gramma or she'd like to just go home and take a nice bubble bath.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_10:21:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1cb6140180747707b601ebc52c1fcb5a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972159": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rhonda,<br></br><br>that's just it...she didn't ask any tough questions on camera.  Hannity seemed ticked off that Elisabeth was so restrained which is when she said she asked about Wright in the makeup room and because of the response she got, felt she would be making Michelle uncomfortable.  Of course, making herself seem like the hero...but, I think it's the other ladies who read her the riot act.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_10:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972160": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "D,<br></br><br>Were you not done being Cindy McCain's number one cheerleader on Wednesday? Again.... I'm blown away by a supposedly black man going out of his way to support this woman who has the entire world supporting her (legal system, corporate media, etc) while tearing down a black woman with character and class who worked to get everything she has. You have to be dealing with some serious issues with black women.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_11:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "75dfdb9875b46c184623abcb6df2175e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972161": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Muzikal<br></br><br>I checked out your blog and felt the same way that you did about the ad.  I have to admit that it was more of a feeling (sad, sinking, rejected, neglected, etc.) than a conscious thought.  Then, like you, re-watched the ad 3 times.  Nope, no black people there...besides Obama.</br><br></br><br>A friend talked me back from my disappointment.  (Thanks, Texas Girl)  The verbal message was good and this 1st general ad needed to reach a new audience.  It was helpful to see the target strategy map (earlier in this blog) showing the states where the ad will be placed.</br><br></br><br>My ego is once again in check and my eyes are on the prize.  However, if all of his ads over the next 4 months continue to show no cultural diversity...</br><br></br><br>I'll be a pissed-off-but-still-voting-for-Obama-b*tch come November.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_11:09:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "096358f41d81404ad9105cea56713bb3", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972162": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "This is <a href=\"http://allotherpersons.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/political-miscellany-62008/\" rel=\"nofollow\">political news</a> from All Other Persons.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_11:10:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972163": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "khal,<br>What you've missed is that I've never attacked Michelle. My issues with her have consistently been either:</br><br></br><br>1. Her failure to recognize how certain things she says could be taken out of context,</br><br></br><br>2. Obama's staff's failure to recognize the same, and suggest to her not to say them.</br><br></br><br>Apparently, problem #2 has-or is being-fixed.</br><br></br><br>Have you ever seen me try to defend the things that Cindy McCain's done? Wait, I'll answer that: no. <b>BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DEFENSIBLE.</b> Yes, she had the addiction. Yes, she's been involved in shady fiscal dealings. Yes, the beginning of her relationship with John-on the surface-seems suspect. I could lie and say they didn't, but that would make me ignorant to the facts.</br><br></br><br>My concern-which Kitty and Town both answered-is why this is relevant <i><b>now.</b></i></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_11:12:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972164": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/06/obama_fights_phantom_527_group.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Obama Fights Phantom 527 Groups</a><br></br><br><i>In short, there are presently no 527 groups with prospects dim for the formation of one. Obama is fully aware of this which makes his self serving statement about refusing federal financing the height of cynical lying.</i></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_11:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972165": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "McCain's comments do to the \"patriotism\" debate what Hagee's comments do to the Rev. Wright issue.<br></br><br>It shows just how DUMB and disingenuous these \"issues\" really are.  </br><br></br><br>Yes, McCain most likely mispoke . . . a \"crime\" no more harmful than Michelle Obama's comment (which I feel was never harmful in the first place).</br><br></br><br>McCain had a bad choice of words.  And while conservative talk radio will likely continue beating Michelle about the head for her choice of words:</br><br></br><br><i><b>\"for the first time in my adult life. . . \"</b></i></br><br></br><br>The Dems can do the exact same thing with McCain's choice of words:</br><br></br><br><i><b>\"I didn't really love America until . . . \"</b></i></br><br></br><br>Fact is we all probably have a good idea as to what both McCain and Michelle actually meant when they made those comments.  But partisan politics invites us ignore context, empathy and clarification for cheap political points.</br><br></br><br>Most political \"issues\" are only as controversial as the opposition makes them out to be.  They're in the drivers seat.  It's their call.  </br><br></br><br>For example, Hillary Clinton's Bosnia gaffe would have been twice as deadly if Obama chose to pile on and stoke the flames.  Likewise, Obama's \"bitter\" controversy wouldn't have been half as troubling if Hillary didn't jump at the opportunity to tag-team with McCain and smear a fellow Democrat with a common Republican attack, \"elitism.\"</br><br></br><br>Well, Sean Hannity and Co. had the opportunity to treat Michelle's comment for what it was, a non-issue.  But they didn't do that . . . they chose hyperbole instead.  It was their choice.</br><br></br><br>Well . . . now the Dems have that choice as well.  </br><br></br><br>The Republicans can go there if they want, but McCain has already given the Dems enough firepower to use in retaliation.  It's an insurance policy.  Republicans bring up Rev. Wright's \"God d*mn America,\" and Dems respond with Rev. Hagee's praise of Hitler as an instrument of God.  Attack Michelle's patriotism, and the Dems have two comments to fire right back at the Republicans.</br><br></br><br>It's ALL a distraction.  I'd prefer that neither side feed the fire.  But so long as the Fox News crowd wants to play dirty, it's nice to know that Obama's got some fire power of his own.</br><br></br><br>Bottom line:  There is no singular definition of \"patriotism.\"  Just as there is no singular definition of \"American.\"  </br><br></br><br>McCain's traditional definition is no more \"patriotic\" than Obama's progressive view of the same sentiment.</br><br></br><br>Most people understand this.  My goodness, even Laura Bush and Mike Huckabee can see that a lot of these things are non issues.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_11:24:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "d1a8e45844ef20a90904a65e60371f42", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972166": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>Yes we all know the 527's are coming. McCain insistence early this month that he can't (read:won't) control Rep 527's that will (and have - look at ads run in SC and other southern states attacking other Dems through demonizing Obama)be set up. </br><br></br><br>Is Obama being calculating and cold? Yes. Did he change his mind on an issue? Yes. Is he wrong? Not really. Anyone who's even been near a campaign will tell you this is the right move. Why? Because if Americans really cared about public financing McCain would have won last time. </br><br></br><br>Added to this the Rep. and McCain have shown themselves to be far from honest. He's borrowed money against public money (the case is still pending) and he's flipped in an out of private and public financing during these months of Dem primary battle.</br><br></br><br>My point? I'm glad Obama didn't hand away his huge money advantage which allow him to outspend and bury McCain. Calling this move petty or unimportant displays an ignorance of presidential politics. Anyone who can't see the intelligence in this move is a failing to be objective. Short term bad press in return he gets a tidal-wave of money. </br><br></br><br>Along with this, the transparency of the O-mans fundraising operation and claim to the largest group of donors ever (and an average contribution near $100) allows for even more deflection. That's Chicago style.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_11:44:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972167": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>It's not even the addiction.  It's what she did to get the drugs which could have been obtained \"legally\".  All this is relevant now because when Cindy - who has received tremendous grace - was given a second chance, she chose not to extend that same grace to Michelle.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_11:47:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972168": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "chaz,<br>That article actually says that they're <i><b>not</b></i> coming.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_11:55:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972169": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d, <br></br><br>I think what you mean as that - AS OF NOW, NONE HAVE BEEN FORMED! </br><br></br><br>Who is to say they will not be formed. Is there a guarantee? WHy should Obama take such a risk especially since the RNC has significantly more resources than the DNC to help Bush-McCain.</br><br></br><br>I will argue that Obama has sid he would consider campaign financing if he is assured that Bushh-McCain would ask any potential 527's to stand doown. I believe a few days ago Bush-McCain indicated that he couldn't referee the 527's. What kind of leader is he? IMO, that was enough for Obama to pull the trigger, in a manner of speaking, and reject public campaign financing.</br><br></br><br>For those who don't buy this argument, and chose to refer to it as a reversal, or flip-flop, well boo-hoo to you. All I can say is that it's going to be a long hot summer/presidential election cycle and I will happily buy this flip-flop. All $2,300.00 worth. Now that is true public funds, dontcha, think? </br><br></br><br>Rock on Obama. Cunning and Charismatic! Love this \"ish\". Man, it feels good to be a Democrat!</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_12:09:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972170": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "T.,<br>I'm no strategist, but.....</br><br></br><br>I think that we (conservatives), for the last few years, put most of our resources into the War on Terror, and countering the anti-war crowd.</br><br></br><br>We expected Clinton to be the nominee. We knew that half the country wouldn't vote for her as dogcatcher. We didn't think we would need 527s; the Clintons' dirt was public knowledge.</br><br></br><br>Instead, we got Obama. Who brought a fundraising army, and told dhimmicrat 527s to hold (but still kept them in his pocket, just in case).</br><br></br><br>Unfortunately-or fortunately for y'all-in a battle of 527s this go round, conservatives lose.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_12:14:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972171": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>Cry me a river. LOL!</br><br></br><br>Anyway you still have a chance to join a winning team. There are a lot of unashamed Obamacons oou there.</br><br></br><br>I have a suggestion for ya: Why don't both of us go shopping for $2,300.00 flip-flops, after which we can go out and get ourselves $5.27 pedicures? </br><br></br><br>Peace,</br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_12:23:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972172": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'm not sure what this new fascination with count-up clocks is, on the part of Republicans -- clocks that are meant to show when Barack Obama last visited one particular television program, or last visited Iraq, or refused to respond to McCain's demand for a series of townhall meetings. It reminds me of my daughter -- once she first learned to count, that's all she ever did. She counted everything. She counted how many seconds it took her to run from the kitchen to the living room and back... she counted how long it took her to put her books away... she counted how many peas were on her plate. She was obsessed with counting.<br></br><br>But given the current budget, Republicans still haven't learned to count. So that can't be it.</br><br></br><br>Of course, all the \"clocks\" they've come up with have been, and forgive me for finding this both intriguing and hysterical, demands that Obama pay attention to them. Fox News put up a clock demanding that Obama grace Fox News with an interview -- he did. That acquiescence is likely what led the RNC to the same idea, so now they're demanding both that Obama visit Iraq (with McCain! It's a field trip!) and that he allow McCain to tag along with him on his trips around the country, appearing on the same stage.</br><br></br><br>By all appearances, they're obsessed with trying to get Obama to grace them with his presence. McCain's constant invitations to appear with Obama have been a wee bit pathetic; I've never seen a campaign so insistent on making themselves the opening act for the other party's candidate.</br><br></br><br>At the rate they're going through them, they're going to run out of clocks, but I suppose since they're so concerned about what Obama does, we might as well return the favor and help them out. Here's some alternative clocks the RNC can run on their homepage:</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Dared Obama To Eat A Bug: 54</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Demanded New Policy Of '5 Do-Overs Per Debate': 12</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain \"Forgot\" One Of His Previous Positions: 0.5</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Demanded Obama Get Off His Lawn: 3</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Mentioned He Was a POW In Vietnam: 0</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Mentioned He Doesn't Like To Use His POW Experience As Political Tool: 0</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Last Praised Bush Policy Of Refusing POW Status Or Any Other Legal Recourse To Detainees: 1</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Toured Iraqi Marketplace With 100+ Troops And Air Support, Declaring It Safe: 445</br><br></br><br>Days Since Last Iraqi Marketplace Bombing Killing More Than 50 People: 2</br><br></br><br>Days Since The Republican Party Had An Original Idea: 3,284</br><br></br><br>(source: Days Since I Cared: Umm... Ten. Let's Say Ten. </br><br>by Hunter, Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 07:15:03 PM PDT, Daily Kos)</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_12:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972173": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "T.,<br>And $400 hair cuts. </br><br></br><br>After which, we go dodge sniper fire in Bosnia.</br><br></br><br>Then we can come back and be proud/in love with our country.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_12:43:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972174": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d, <br></br><br>My main point wasn't the 527's. (Though lower level 527's will be attacking and are attacking Dems down ticket). </br><br></br><br>My point was that politically this move was expected and reasonable. As I said, if people cared about campaign financing McCain wouldn't have already broken rules in the primary run up to no fanfare. The truth? This is about Obama's promise to pursue negotiations. </br><br></br><br>What has been very apparent is that neither side wanted these to happen. So, I call it a wash seeing as most Americans won't care in a week and Obama will have a huge money advantage. Maybe enough to blunt the bloated RNC which always has more than the DNC, we'll see. </br><br></br><br>But I'll concede that 537's probably won't be as much of a problem for Obama himself. I think were people aren't focused is down ticket, where if he plays his cards right Obama can bring people along.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_12:53:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972175": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I don't know if this has been posted, but: <a href=\"http://www.angrybrownbutch.com/2008/06/19/latina-teacher-fired-for-not-regurgitating-the-same-old-crap/\" rel=\"nofollow\"> Latina teacher fired for what?</a><br></br><br>I guess teaching critical thinking and inclusive history are out in America. Imperialist: 1 and Truth: 0.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:07:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972176": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Chaz,<br>Most conservatives-whether privately or publically-have already written off 2008.</br><br></br><br>Again, no strategist, but if anyone asked me, I'd suggest that conservatives:</br><br></br><br>1. fight for the House/Senate seats we can win,</br><br>2. wake up on Nov. 5/Jan. 21 and go to work,</br><br>3. hope for an \"told you so!!\" moment between 2009-2012,</br><br>4. retake the Congress in the midterms and-if #3 happens-take the WH back in 2012.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:19:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972177": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Muzikal,<br></br><br>I saw the ad too, but it is his national introduction. </br><br></br><br>I agree with elephantsandflowers:</br><br></br><br><i>A friend talked me back from my disappointment. (Thanks, Texas Girl) The verbal message was good and this 1st general ad needed to reach a new audience. It was helpful to see the target strategy map (earlier in this blog) showing the states where the ad will be placed.</i></br><br></br><br></br><br>As for Michelle's ' image softening', she went on ' The View' because she has to introduce herself to a new general audience. </br><br></br><br>Michelle is no 'Angry Black Woman'. She's a Professional Black Woman, and she's being insulted every which way. She has to be put forth in as many ways as possible.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:19:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972178": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "it's not our imagination, Muzikal,<br>that the right is trying to unfairly paint Michelle Obama as an ' Angry, Militant-Want-to-kill-White-people Black Woman'. </br><br></br><br>The Obamas have to combat that, and programs like The View help with that.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:25:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972179": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d, <br></br><br>Raised in conservative states and among conservative intellectuals I have to wonder why people aren't talking about reforming the Rep. party? What does it mean to be conservative in 2008?</br><br></br><br>I feel like conservatism, and maybe this is reading too much Andrew Sullivan, has lost its compass. It seems like conservative just want to chase the liberal ghost in academia (I'm an academic in training), pretend like the overwhelming opening of my generation is leftist indoctrination, or fight two social issues while selling their other principals to the highest bidder.</br><br></br><br>Maybe it is time to assess what conservatism is given the failures of the recent past. </br><br></br><br>But that's just my $0.02</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:27:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972180": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Why would conservatives \"hope\" for disaster between 2009 & 2012?  That makes sense only if gaining power is the primary goal.  Why wouldn't Conservatives hope for the best that they too would benefit from?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:34:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972181": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/1013609,CST-NWS-mitch19.article\" rel=\"nofollow\">Mary Mitchell of the SunTimes</a> had in yesterday's Column:<br></br><br><i>During the Democratic primary, Barack Obama was subjected to scurrilous rumors. Now, his opponents are trying to use his wife as a lightning rod in the campaign. </i></br><br></br><br>For example, her comments about being proud to be an American for the first time in her adult life quickly became fodder in a GOP attack ad. </br><br></br><br>The latest attack involved a false claim that there is a tape of Michelle using the word \"whitey\" during a speech at Trinity United Church of Christ.</br><br></br><br>No such tape has surfaced.</br><br></br><br>Attempts made to stereotype her</br><br>But that didn't stop legitimate news outlets from allowing the unsubstantiated claim to enter the news stream.</br><br></br><br>\"I mean 'whitey'? That's something that George Jefferson would say,\" Michelle told a New York Times reporter. \"Anyone who says that don't know me.\"</br><br></br><br>I doubt that an unsubstantiated allegation that Cindy McCain used the N-word during a rant would have been handled in the same way.</br><br></br><br>\"I think the over-emphasis on Michelle Obama is truly a hidden bias against Obama,\" said Lee Walker, senior fellow of the Heartland Institute, a libertarian think tank headquartered in Chicago.</br><br></br><br>\"These are personal attacks. They cannot reach him [Barack Obama], so the person they believe they can hurt the most is his wife,\" Walker said.</br><br></br><br>\"Never in history has a candidate's wife been attacked like this,\" he said.</br><br></br><br>Worse yet, conservative pundits are showing an alarming ignorance about the black community.</br><br></br><br>For instance, Michelle Obama an angry black woman?</br><br></br><br>Please.</br><br></br><br>Michelle Obama bitter?</br><br></br><br>Give me a break.</br><br></br><br>What woman, black or white, who is married to a man who has been compared to John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. would be bitter?</br><br></br><br>What woman, black or white, whose husband -- in less than 10 years -- goes from having the family's credit card declined at a car-rental counter to earning $4 million for two books he's written is angry?</br><br></br><br>What woman, black or white, who at 44, has an intact family, two beautiful daughters, a loving mother and an adoring god-mother, a dependable social network, who lives in a mansion in a great neighborhood, would feel anything but blessed?</br><br></br><br>No. This is angry:</br><br></br><br>The black woman who is stuck in a slum building in an unsafe neighborhood, she's angry.</br><br></br><br>The black woman who is dragging her baby's daddy to court once a month trying to get child support, she's angry.</br><br></br><br>The black woman who has to rob Peter to pay Paul and still can't pay the gas bill, she's angry.</br><br></br><br>No one's life is perfect, but the Obamas are living the American Dream. </br><br></br><br>So, it is ridiculous that the mouthpieces for the GOP are having such an easy go of it trying to stereotype Michelle as an angry black woman. </br><br></br><br>That's what it means when conservative columnist Michelle Malkin is comfortable calling Michelle Barack's \"bitter half,\" and when the conservative National Review labels her Mrs. Grievance.</br><br></br><br>What's next? Michelle doing a neck roll with a hand on her hip?</br><br></br><br>Successful black women don't have to walk around grinning all the time to assure white people that they are happy they aren't on food stamps.</br><br></br><br>Michelle Obama has paid her dues by getting a first-rate education, marrying the right man, and making the best choices in her life.</br><br></br><br>Asking her to skin and grin is asking too much.</br><br></br><br></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972182": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Truth,<br>Because-at least to some conservatives-there isn't anything good that can come out of an Obama administration. Taxes will increase, gas will continue to go up, we won't be any safer, and liberalism will run wild.</br><br></br><br>Chaz,</br><br>You're right. Ask 10 different conservatives to define conservative, and you'll get 15 different answers. We're all confused.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:42:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972183": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Anyone else notice the way Barbara Walters silenced Whoopie <a href=\"http://www.womanist-musings.com/2008/06/michelle-obama-on-view-thoughts-and.html\" rel=\"nofollow\"> when she talked about black women and the media.</a> The view is supposed to be about honoring the voices of a diversity of women but when it comes to black women it is time to talk about panty hose.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:45:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1a3c38476e8282656867aba687a1f4a4", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972184": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Forgat to refer y'all to an opinion article by Al Calloway in the South Florida Times - \"Obama's 'Elitist' Tag is another word for Uppity (N-word).  I found it initially on <a href=\"http://blackpoliticsontheweb.com\" rel=\"nofollow\">blackpoliticsontheweb.com</a>.  I don't know how to do the \"link\" thing yet.  Sorry.  :&gt;(", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_13:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972185": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Has anyone been following Judas McClellan's testimony today?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_14:10:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972186": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Renee said... <br>Anyone else notice the way Barbara Walters silenced Whoopie when she talked about black women and the media. The view is supposed to be about honoring the voices of a diversity of women but when it comes to black women it is time to talk about panty hose.</br><br></br><br>--------------</br><br></br><br>Funny how Barbra Walters wanted to discuss her disgusting affair with a black man and all its' intimate detail, but it's pantyhose time when it comes to discussing the black woman.</br><br></br><br>Funny how Barbra Walters wants to discuss the sexism against Hillary Clinton but wants to change the topic to L'eggs or Hanes when it comes to the sexism against Michelle Obama.</br><br></br><br>And Geraldine Ferraro, I See U.</br><br></br><br>I saw your ass last night on Hannity trying to throw salt in Obama's game, trying to whip it back up again.  You ain't fooling nobody.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_14:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1cb6140180747707b601ebc52c1fcb5a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972187": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>Well, Democrats are having an \"I told you so\" moment right now under Bush.  As a matter of fact, I don't think even Democrats imagined it could get this bad.  That's why even Conservatives are voting Democrat for the first time.  </br><br></br><br>The only reason the poor and middle class in the USA are anxious about taxes is because for what they pay, they get little in return:</br><br></br><br>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_economies_compared</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_14:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972188": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Truth,<br>I disagree with you. The only way dhimmicrats could be in a \"i told you so\" moment is if they knew something along the lines of 9/11 was going to go down.</br><br></br><br>Wait, there may be some truth to that.....</br><br></br><br>There's a huge responsibility on the next president-whoever he is-not to \"blow it\" or have another attack on the country under his watch. I think of the two, Obama's target is bigger, because he's been running on the \"change\" platform (let's be honest, there's nothing about McCain that suggests \"change\").</br><br></br><br>If \"change\" doesn't work...</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_14:33:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972189": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "town,<br></br><br>I am no great fan of Barbara, but what Whoopi was saying about black women in media isn't exactly true.  There aren't a whole lot of black women, but the ones there are don't have \"one tooth\"...or look beat up, which is what she was implying.  When it comes to crime reporting, it goes with the territory that many of the women depicted - both black and white - might be poor and not look all that great.</br><br></br><br>Anyway, why would Whoopi complain about this when she virtually brags about not wearing a bra herself.  Isn't she a representative of dark-skinned black women?  A woman past 20 not wearing a bra on television is pretty \"beat up\" if you ask me.</br><br></br><br>I respect Whoopi's body of work, but I don't get what she's trying to say most of the time.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_14:42:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972190": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>Ah...so that's what you meant by an \"I told you so\" moment!  You are saying Republicans should hope for a terrorist attack during Barack's term!  Well, I'll let that speak for itself.</br><br></br><br>I guess the right wing is having the equivalent of an anxiety disorder.  It's when you risk your rights, economy, lives etc to guard against things that are statistically almost impossible to happen, while ignoring the more immediate, likely dangers.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_14:52:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972191": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Anybody here got a clue why Barack Obama has endorsed and cut a radio commercial for 12th district congressman <a href=\"http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/06/19/obama/index.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">John Barrow</a>, in the GA Democratic primary election next month?  Barrow is a retrograde and racist Blue Dog Dem who has supported the war and Bush and his tax cuts at every turn, voted against SCHIP, and much more?  Barrow's opponent is a black woman, Savannah GA state senator Regina Thomas.  The 12th distirct, comprisong Augusta, Savannah and much in between, is about 40% black.<br></br><br>Apparently it's payback for Barrow, a superdelegate, endorsing Obama at the last minute, and to show the Blue Dogs and such that he likes them too.  But  what does that show the rest of us down here?</br><br></br><br>Just wondering how Obama's fans explain his dissing the progressive black woman for the right wing incumbent and stooge of the telecoms...  more of the 50 state stretegy, or  what?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "37b8714289b7cae2f08f81db844a868d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972192": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Truth,<br>I've already seen the \"don't blame me; I voted for McCain\" bumper stickers.</br><br></br><br>Yes, it's a sadistic thought process. And it brings with it no small amount of racism.</br><br></br><br>But as a survival tactic, it would-probably-work. The alternative, though, is that if nothing happens, then there's nothing for Republicans to stand on for 8 years vice 4.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:01:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972193": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Question for those smarter than I...would Obama's \"50 state strategy\" be as effective in a congressional race? And if so, how would you go about putting it in place?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:04:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972194": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/memphis-crime\" rel=\"nofollow\">American Murder Mystery</a><br><i>Why is crime rising in so many American cities? The answer implicates one of the most celebrated antipoverty programs of recent decades.</i></br><br></br><br>A quote of a quote: <i>\u201cCrime is going along with them.\u201d</i> </br><br></br><br>As long as the Democratic Party has any power, things will keep getting worse...simple as that.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:28:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3da39b121dc85e9bd8d9f861782bc8b9", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972195": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "From the <a href=\"http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/06/edwards_nunn_re.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Boston Globe:</a><br></br><br><i>Former vice presidential nominee John Edwards and former Senator Sam Nunn are on a list of potential running mates for Democrat Barack Obama, a congresswoman told the Associated Press today, one day after she met with members of Obama's vetting team.</i></br><br></br><br>Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan said members of the Congressional Black Caucus she heads asked her to suggest Edwards and Nunn when she met Wednesday with Obama's vice presidential search team. The vetting team, Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, indicated the two were on the list, she told the AP.</br><br></br><br>Kilpatrick said she made several suggestions, including former Vice President Al Gore, Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania, and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.</br><br></br><br>If Obama wants a surefire way to lose all his military support, he'll pick Murtha.</br><br></br><br>Just a warning.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:30:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972196": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "D-<br></br><br>Are you talking about a statewide race?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:34:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972197": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&amp;status=article&amp;id=298769662128800\" rel=\"nofollow\">Obama's Back Flips</a><br></br><br><i>Meanwhile, given Obama's radical political roots, his mainstream talk may be a cover for a more leftist agenda that's otherwise unsalable to voters. Whatever the case, we'll grant that this is \"change.\" Just don't call it change anyone can believe in.</i></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3da39b121dc85e9bd8d9f861782bc8b9", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972198": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Anon 12:34,<br>A race for a seat in the House.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:38:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972199": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "D-<br>Wouldn't work for a House seat(either for state legislature or U.S. House)in my opinion...a district isn't large enough to support that kind of strategy; I don't know where this race is taking place, but it'll take more time/money/energy to run the staff than the campaign itself.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:47:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972200": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>one of the reasons behind the 50-state strategy is to increase the Democratic majority in the House(more likely) and Senate. That is why the the Dean's DNC and Obama's campaign is so on-synch...</br><br></br><br>others will come along, i'm sure, to shed more light on  this...</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:48:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972201": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Interesting how the new Republican talking points include the words of Rev. Wright.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972202": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "via TPM:<br></br><br><a href=\"http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/moveon_to_close_its_527.php\" rel=\"nofollow\">At Obama's Request, MoveOne Will Close its 527</a></br><br></br><br>The article says MoveOn will still spend and raise money, but not with the advantage traditionally given to 527s, which means less influence than they could have had if they remained a 527 (somewhat confusing, but interesting nonetheless).</br><br></br><br>TPM's Greg Sargent says:  </br><br><i>\"To put this in perspective, MoveOn's 527 raised $20 million for the general election in 2004 -- and at least half of that came from donations over $5,000.\"</i></br><br></br><br>Given today's news, that's something MoveOn can't do this year.</br><br></br><br>That makes two major third party sources that Obama has shut down in the past month.  Add that to his influence over the Dem. Party to ban the DNC from taking lobbyist money and Obama's creating a favorable narrative . . . he's walking the walk.</br><br></br><br>I'm sure the Republicans will look for inconsistencies.  Perhaps it's all window dressing on Obama's part.  Or, perhaps it's still more than anything McCain has done to limit the influence of conservative 527s in 2008.  We shall see.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:53:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "d1a8e45844ef20a90904a65e60371f42", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972203": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "And d,<br></br><br>We wont just dodge Sniper fire in Bosnia, we will take a trip to Vietnam. You will pilot the aircraft while I strap in real tight. And when YOU crash the aircraft, we will be held as POWs for five years, refusing to return to the US when offered the chance to...</br><br></br><br>Only then my fellow JJP member, will we actually LOVE our country even though sometimes it's so damn hard to be proud of it! </br><br></br><br>LOL!</br><br>T.</br><br>ps. d, I tell ya, there is tell time to jump that sinking ship and come join us...Got a jug of Obambi Kool Aid to cool you down over this long hot summer...</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_15:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972204": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Bruce Dixon, I wish I had an answer.<br></br><br>The deals politicians make can make anyone cringe.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972205": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Hi Mr. Bruce Dixon,<br></br><br>Thank You for informing me in regards to that. That is not good. At the end of the day, it will only hinder those in a district where there is a relatively large black population. </br><br></br><br>I wonder how others fell about that?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:03:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972206": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "T.,<br>Drinking the Kool Aid....</br><br></br><br>My friend, that's not change you can believe in.</br><br></br><br>:)</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:06:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972207": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "d,<br></br><br>Come on d, Join us...YES YOU CAN!</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:11:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972208": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Okay peeps, Obama rolls over in the Fisa compromise...he claims its not perfect but blah, blah, blah.<br></br><br>I'm gonna sit back and think about this one then come back later. He has a press avail at 4.30p in Jacksonvill, FL, so I hope I can hear him defend this...</br><br></br><br>He's my guy, but geez Obama..WTF????</br><br></br><br>http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Obama_backs_FISA_compromise.html#comments</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:14:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972209": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "On the FISA comromise. Reid says they'll try to do something next week to remove the retroactive immunity:<br></br><br>http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/20/155839/542/779/539258</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972210": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "D said...<br></br><br>Question for those smarter than I...would Obama's \"50 state strategy\" be as effective in a congressional race? And if so, how would you go about putting it in place?</br><br>---------</br><br></br><br>I don't see why not.  I know the example I am about to use is not a congressional race, but it still applies:</br><br></br><br>Back in '89, Doug Wilder used a \"95 county Strategy\" (or however many counties are in Va).  He didn't call it that, but he made sure to visit and campaign in every single county in Va.  Remember, he only won by about 7K votes.  It's very likely if he had written off the counties in the Appalachian/mountain region of Va he would have lost.</br><br></br><br>A congressional candidate could do the same thing by all the areas of his/her district and getting to know the people, and not just showing up the Sunday before the election kissing babies and gladhanding in church.  </br><br></br><br></br><br>I remember there was a guy running for State Senate and he was actually walking up and down the street, knocking on doors, telling folks about his platform.  I voted for him because it impressed me that this dude was walking door to door, asking for votes.  He did win the election.</br><br></br><br>I think it can and should be done from the POTUS down to School Board.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1cb6140180747707b601ebc52c1fcb5a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972211": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Town,<br>Thanks for that; '89 was before I moved to VA, and I was too young at the time to know WTH was going on.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972212": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "And from Vets for Freedom:<br></br><br><a href=\"http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/troopblog/blogitem.aspx?id=450\" rel=\"nofollow\">We Don't Want Baby Alex to Go to Iraq</a></br><br></br><br>Personally, I think Alex should be treated as <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta#Society\" rel=\"nofollow\">young childred were in Sparta.</a> But that's just me.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:38:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972213": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama elaborating on Sunday's Father's Day speech with David Brody at CBN. Sorry if this has already been posted.<br></br><br><a href=\"http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/395362.aspx\" rel=\"nofollow\">Obama on absent black fathers</a></br><br></br><br><a href=\"http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/395391.aspx\" rel=\"nofollow\">Obama on America's culture war</a></br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:39:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972214": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'd like to get more info on that Georgia race.  It doesn't look good.<br></br><br>I don't think it has much to do with race (i.e., Obama dissing a black woman), but it definitely looks like political expediency.  Looks like the other guy is just the <i>safe</i> pick for a presidential candidate who's trying to swing Georgia come November.</br><br></br><br>I was talking to my mother about this yesterday; Obama's biggest trap at the moment is over-confidence.  He's gotta be careful.  I like the fact that he's on the offensive rather than the defensive (remember our conversations from a month ago).  But he shouldn't take unnecessary risks.  I don't know local Georgia politics, but this might be an unnecessary political risk when it comes to the black vote in that state.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:50:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "d1a8e45844ef20a90904a65e60371f42", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972215": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "unbelievable. i am done with obama. i'll just vote green or whatever, but never never never for another democrat. <br></br><br>i am so fed up with these sellout bastards. they're just republicans in democrats' clothing. the constitution means nothing to them, none of them. they're corporate owned, corporate operated and fuck the american people.</br><br></br><br>well fuck all of them. and screw obama too. that pathetic excuse he gave for supporting the FISA bill makes me physically ill.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_16:54:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7f306b3009c480dcd5fc7baf547d1b80", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972216": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Some readers have inquired about the Borrow's House election in Georgia.<br></br><br>There is some comment about this plus links to local press in Georgia here: <a href=\"http://allotherpersons.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/political-miscellany-62008/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Political Miscellany 6/20/08.</a></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:06:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972217": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "bigassbelle,<br></br><br>even i dont believe this as i write, but it still has to get to the senate, right? and then they can strip out the retro. immunity, right? right? </br><br></br><br>fuck, but regardless, who will be spying on us come November 5th - Obama or Bus\\sh-McCain?</br><br></br><br>Remember when we found out that Santa Claus wasn't real? This is one of those days. Can't get everything you want in life, but the Constitution? that I thought was a sure bet. Wrong!</br><br></br><br>T.</br><br>The liberal blogosphere is going nuts...wonder what Obama is thinking right about now</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:09:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972218": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Bigassbelle (and anyone else who wants to answer who is going to do the same thing) -- what is the main goal of your choice to vote green (or otherwise not vote Democrat) in the 2008 presidential election? <br></br><br>And, how will your actions get you/us toward that goal?</br><br></br><br>These are serious questions. </br><br></br><br>I am not against such choices at all, but I am extremely interested in explicit clarity about what the actual goal is and how the action moves toward the goal. I've been thinking a lot about this lately.</br><br></br><br>Appreciation in advance for any replies!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:14:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "de3917e982ff609a0d6f7fb5e3c8f079", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972219": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "i can't quit crying. i am just sitting here not believing it. i feel so betrayed. it's all of us, betrayed by these fuckheads who are supposed to WORK for us. every one of them is in bed with corporate america. it just seems so fucking hopeless i can hardly bear it. <br></br><br>you all tell me there's some reason to hope. i'm going to bed. i can't take any more of this bullshit. </br><br></br><br>all week mcclatchy has been telling the truth about the United States of Torture and there's been NOTHING about it on the news.</br><br></br><br>now the democrats AND the man who had me so inspired sell us out to the sorry piece of shit who has the worst approval rating in history. i just can't believe it. i can't.</br><br></br><br>i have been arguing all year as to why people should vote democrat, no matter what. if you don't get hillary, vote democrat anyway. if you don't get obama, vote democrat.</br><br></br><br>but i tell you folks, this just makes me want to give up.  this is the last straw. i give up.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:21:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7f306b3009c480dcd5fc7baf547d1b80", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972220": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Call Obama's campaign and voice you concern with his supporting FISA:<br></br><br>(866) 675-2008 [Dial 6, then 0, on the menu]</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "8f927af6311731fe614ae261f936bf91", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972221": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://www.newsweek.com/id/142465?from=rss\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br>Obama got his big booty bounce baby! 15 point lead over Bush-McCain according to Newsweek.</br></a> <br></br><br>Still got your back Obama but I gotta tell ya - that FISA thingy got me all shook up. Trust.</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972222": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Also on my mind, related to but different from my questions above:<br></br><br>The other night I was in a discussion trying to sort through some of my own (perhaps radically) shifting understanding of what is going on in this country.</br><br></br><br>And I got to this: People who believe that real serious change is going to come through a powerful radical mass movement really dealing with root causes .... have way more faith than I do in this country. And this is a faith that has not yet been shown to be real. Yes we have had movements. And here we still are with what is going on now.</br><br></br><br>The thing about Obama is that his faith in the collective \"we\" of this country seems limited to the kind of change that the collective-we is <b>actually capable of doing in actual practice.</b> </br><br></br><br>I have differed from him on this same issue, faith in the people of this country as a collective group. </br><br></br><br>But the difference between him and those who explicitly or implicitly rely on a not-yet-existent radical deep-root movement is that -- so far he is showing in actual practice that his (limited) faith is actually warranted. </br><br></br><br>So I am considering the possibility that the collective-we of this country is stunted to the point of this being all it is capable of actually <b>doing</b> toward change in a real (non-discursive, solid and grounded) way. And why wouldn't it be? This is the place where I guess I am not as patriotic as people who are relying on a radical mass movement for deep-root-causes change.</br><br></br><br>I am considering the possibility that people who focus more radical are primarily operating on rhetorical ground only -- talking about what the collective-we cannot (because of its actual limitations) actually do in practice.</br><br></br><br>This from me with 2 decades of focus, participation and interest in activist/social change work.</br><br></br><br>This is all unsettled for me, just trying to understand. It's shocking to me, what I find myself thinking these days. But I have to respect where my observations and reflections are taking me, no matter where I end up.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "de3917e982ff609a0d6f7fb5e3c8f079", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1972223": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Craig wrote: <i>\"Interesting how the new Republican talking points include the words of Rev. Wright.\"</i><br></br><br>That's one talking point that will not go away. I think many Americans (whites especially) were shocked at what some black churches teach (BLT). Such teachings of hatred would be expected from \"Black Panthers\" and in many Muslim churches, but not from the BLT church that Obama spent 20 years with.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-20_17:38:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3da39b121dc85e9bd8d9f861782bc8b9", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}}, "integration": {"receiver_url": "", "theme": 4, "reply_position": true, "disqus_logo": false}, "timer": {"timer_url": "http://localhost:8005", "thread_id": "2026134", "user_id": "anonymous", "forum_id": "21630", "hash": -6120225018479695435}, "thread": {"days_alive": 0, "slug": "friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06", "paginate": false, "num_pages": 1, "num_posts": 174, "per_page": 0, "total_posts": 0, "realtime_paused": true, "id": 2026134, "queued": false}, "reactions_limit": 10, "context": {"show_reply": true, "use_fb_connect": true, "forum_facebook_key": "bd6a8bc56f8eb204984f34b6fefe228d", "use_yahoo": false, "subscribed": false, "use_twitter_signin": true, "use_openid": false, "realtime_speed": 5000}, "reactions_start": 0, "settings": {"debug": false, "disqus_url": "http://disqus.com", "media_url": "http://media.disqus.com"}, "media_url": "http://media.disqus.com"};
	/* */ this.jsonData.cookie_messages = {"user_created": null, "post_has_profile": null, "post_twitter": null, "post_not_approved": null}; this.jsonData.session = {"url": null, "name": null, "email": null}; /* */

	
	this.curPageId = 'dsq-comments';

	this.frames = {};
};

var disqus_popup_reference = null;

if(typeof DsqLocal == 'undefined') {
	DsqLocal = {};
}



/**
 * Dsq.Strings: UI strings
 */
Dsq.Strings = new function() {
	this.ADD_NEW_COMMENT = "Add New Comment";
	this.LOG_INTO_DISQUS = "Log into DISQUS";
	this.USE_MEDIA = "Use Media";
	this.LOGOUT = "Logout";
	this.SHARING_OPTIONS = "Sharing options";
	this.SHARE_ON = "Share on";
	this.TWEET_THIS_COMMENT = "Tweet this comment";
	this.SHARE_ON_NEWSFEED = "Share on news feed";
	this.SEND_UPDATE_TO_YAHOO = "Send update to Yahoo!";
	this.REBLOG_ON = "Reblog on";
	this.CONFIGURE_OPTIONS = "Configure options";
	this.POST_AS = "Post as";
	this.SORT_BY = "Sort by";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_BY_EMAIL = "Subscribe by email";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_BY_RSS = "Subscribe by RSS";
	this.POPULAR_NOW = "Popular now";
	this.BEST_RATING = "Best Rating";
	this.NEWEST_FIRST = "Newest first";
	this.OLDEST_FIRST = "Oldest first";
	this.HIGHLIGHTED = "Highlighted";
	this.UNSUBSCRIBE = "Unsubscribe";
	this.REQUIRED = "Required";
	this.OPTIONAL = "Optional";
	this.YOU_ARE_COMMENTING_AS_A = "You are commenting as a";
	this.LOGIN_BELOW = "Login below";
	this.PLEASE_LOGIN_BELOW_TO_COMMENT = "Please login below to comment.";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_TO_ALL_COMMENTS_BY_EMAIL = "Subscribe to all comments by email";
	this.DO_NOT_SUBSCRIBE_TO_COMMENTS = "Do not subscribe to comments";
	this.REALTIME_UPDATING_IS = "Real-time updating is";
	this.ENABLED = "enabled";
	this.PAUSED = "paused";
	this.PAUSE = "Pause";
	this.RESUME = "Resume";
	this.SHOW = "Show";
	this.JUST_NOW = "Just now";
	this.REPLY = "Reply";
	this.EDIT = "Edit";
	this.FLAG = "Flag";
	this.MODERATE = "Moderate";
	this.CANCEL = "Cancel";
	this.REPLYING_TO = "Replying to";
	this.REPORT_MISSING_REACTIONS = "Report missing reactions";
	this.POST_A_COMMENT = "Post a comment";
	this.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT = "Flag inappropriate comment";
	this.FLAGGED = "Flagged";
	this.NO = "No";
	this.YES = "Yes";
	this.NEVER_MIND = "Never mind";
	this.ARE_YOU_SURE_YOU_WOULD_LIKE_TO_REPORT_THIS_COMMENT_TO_A_MODERATOR = "Are you sure you would like to report this comment to a moderator";
	this.THIS_WILL_FLAG_COMMENTS_FOR_MODERATORS_TO_TAKE_ACTION = "This will flag comments for moderators to take action";
	this.TO_RATE_PLEASE_LOG_IN = "To rate, please log in";
	this.JUST_A_MOMENT = "Just a moment...";
	this.GUEST = "Guest";
	this.NAME = "Name";
	this.EMAIL = "Email";
  this.WEBSITE = "Website";
  this.SETTINGS = "Settings";
  this.MODERATOR_OPTIONS = "Moderator options: ";
};
// Dsq.Strings

/**
 * Dsq.FmtStrings: functions that return interpolated UI strings
 */
Dsq.FmtStrings = new function() {
	// Seems we have to use named interpolation for Django to translate. Investigate more.
	this.LOGGED_IN_AS = function(username) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate('Logged in as %(username)s', {username:username});
	};

	this.LOGOUT_FROM = function(disqus) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate('Logout from %(disqus)s', {disqus:disqus});
	};

	this.SHOWING_COMMENTS_FULL = function(total, num) {
		if (num === 1) {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> of <span id='dsq-total-posts'>%(total)s</span> comment", {num:num, total:total});
		} else {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> of <span id='dsq-total-posts'>%(total)s</span> comments", {num:num, total:total});
		}
	};

	this.SHOWING_COMMENTS_WITHOUT_PAGINATION = function(num) {
		if (num === 1) {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> comment", {num:num});
		} else {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> comments", {num:num});
		}
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_COMMENTS = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s comment'
				: '%(num)s comments'
			), {num:num});
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_LIKES = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s like'
				: '%(num)s likes'
			), {num:num});
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_POINTS = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s point'
				: '%(num)s points'
			), {num:num});
	};
};
// Dsq.FmtStrings





Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN = '3a1994e3330279e78957da82fb64f754';
Dsq.COMMENTS_RE = /(<li.*?id="?dsq-comment-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*?)(<\/li>)/gim;
Dsq.POST_RE = /(<div.*?id="?dsq-comment-header-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*?)(<\/div>)\s*(<div.*?class="?dsq-comment-body"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*)(<\/div>)/gim;
Dsq.POST_BODY_RE = /\s*(<div.*?id="?dsq-comment-message-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*)(<\/div>)/gim;
// HACK: Safari ends with "-->" while other browsers end with "--&gt;" as expected.
Dsq.MEDIA_POST_RE = /&lt;!--\[(.*?)\]--(?:>|&gt;)/gim;



var FragmentPacket = function(reader, writer, writer_url, is_child, receiveCallback) {
	var that = this;
	this.reader = reader;
	this.writer = writer;
	this.writer_url = writer_url;

	this.is_child = is_child || false;
	this.receiveCallback = receiveCallback;

	this._lastHash = null;

	this._accumMsg = '';

	this._lastSeqno = 0;

	this.MAX_DATA_LEN	= 1024;

	this.WAIT_TIME		= 10;

	this.READY		= 0x1;
	this.WRITING	= 0x2;
	this.FIN		= 0x4;
	this.ACK		= 0x8;

};

FragmentPacket.prototype.createListener = function() {
	var that = this;
	var listener = function() {
		that.recv();
	};
	return window.setInterval(listener, 10);
};

FragmentPacket.prototype.log = function(msg) {



};

FragmentPacket.prototype.recv = function() {
	var hash;
	if (/MSIE/.test(navigator.userAgent)) {

		hash = this.reader.name;
	} else {

		var hashIndex = this.reader.location.href.indexOf('#');
		if (hashIndex == -1) {
			return;
		}
		hash = this.reader.location.href.substring(hashIndex+1);
	}
	var flags = parseInt(hash.substring(0, 4), 10);
	var seqno = parseInt(hash.substring(4, 24), 10);
	var data  = hash.substring(24);

	if (this._lastHash !== hash) {
		this._lastHash = hash;
		this.log('recv: ' + hash);

		this.log(' flags: ' + flags);
		this.log(' seqno: ' + seqno + ' len: ' + hash.substring(4, 24).length + ' (' + hash.substring(4, 24) + ')');
		this.log(' data: ' + data + ' len: ' + data.length);

		this._lastSeqno = seqno;

		if (flags & this.WRITING) {
			this._accumMsg += data;
			this.sendFlag(this.ACK, seqno);
			if (flags & this.FIN) {
				this.log('recv finished: ' + decodeURIComponent(this._accumMsg));
				this.receiveCallback(decodeURIComponent(this._accumMsg));

				this._accumMsg = '';

				this.sendFlag(this.READY | this.ACK, this._lastSeqno);
			}
		}
	}

	return {
		flags: flags,
		seqno: seqno,
		data: data
	};
};

FragmentPacket.prototype.sendRawPacket = function(packet) {
	if (/MSIE/.test(navigator.userAgent)) {
		this.writer.name = packet;
	} else {

		this.writer.location.href = this.writer_url + '#' + packet;
	}

};

FragmentPacket.prototype.sendFlag = function(flag, seqno) {
	this.sendRawPacket(this._zerofill(flag, 4) + this._zerofill(seqno, 20));
};

FragmentPacket.prototype.send = function(msg) {
	this._send(0, encodeURIComponent(msg));
};

FragmentPacket.prototype._send = function(packetNum, msg) {
	var that = this;
	var recvBuf = this.recv();

	if (packetNum === 0) {

		if (!(recvBuf.flags & this.READY)) {
			this.log('client is not ready, waiting...');
			window.setTimeout(function() { that._send(packetNum, msg); }, this.WAIT_TIME);
			return;
		}
	} else {

		if (!( (recvBuf.flags & this.ACK) && (recvBuf.seqno === this._lastSeqno) )) {
			this.log('waiting for ack from client...');
			window.setTimeout(function() { that._send(packetNum, msg); }, this.WAIT_TIME);
			return;
		} else {
			this.log('received ack: ' + this._lastSeqno + ' ' + recvBuf.seqno);
		}
	}

	var flags = this.WRITING;
	var num_packets = Math.ceil(msg.length / this.MAX_DATA_LEN);
	this.log('num_packets: ' + num_packets);

	if (num_packets === packetNum) {

		this.log('message successfully sent!');
		this.sendFlag(this.READY | this.ACK, this._lastSeqno);
		return true;
	}

	this._lastSeqno++;

	if (packetNum == num_packets-1) {
		flags |= this.FIN;
	}

	var data = msg.substring(packetNum * this.MAX_DATA_LEN, (packetNum+1) * this.MAX_DATA_LEN);
	var packet = this._zerofill(flags, 4) + this._zerofill(this._lastSeqno, 20) + data;

	this.log('sending raw packet: ' + packet);
	this.sendRawPacket(packet);

	return this._send(packetNum + 1, msg);
};

FragmentPacket.prototype._zerofill = function(num, width) {
	var retval = num.toString();
	var retval_len = retval.length;
	for (var i = 0; i < width - retval_len; i++) {
		retval = '0' + retval;
	}
	return retval;
};

var PostMessagePacket = function(receiver, receiveCallback, id, receiverId) {
	var that = this;
	this.receiver = receiver;
	this.receiveCallback = receiveCallback;
	this.id = id;


	this.receiverId = receiverId;
};

PostMessagePacket.prototype.createListener = function() {
	var that = this;

	var listener = function(e) {

		if (!that.id) {
			that.id = e.data;
			return;
		}


		var id = e.data.split(';')[0];
		if (id !== that.id) {
			return;
		}
		var data = e.data.substring(e.data.indexOf(';') + 1);

		that.receiveCallback(data);
	};

	if (typeof window.attachEvent == 'function') {
		window.attachEvent('onmessage', listener);
	} else if (typeof window.addEventListener == 'function') {
		window.addEventListener('message', listener, false);
	} else {
		throw new Error('No method found to create event listener for PostMessagePacket.');
	}
};

PostMessagePacket.prototype.send = function(msg) {



	var needs_reget = false;
	try {
		if (typeof this.receiver.id == 'undefined' || typeof this.receiver.postMessage == 'undefined') {
			needs_reget = true;
		}
	} catch(e) {


	}
	if (needs_reget && typeof this.receiverId != 'undefined') {
		this.receiver = document.getElementById(this.receiverId).contentWindow;
	}

	var packet;
	if (!msg) {

		packet = this.id;
	} else {
		packet = this.id + ';' + msg;
	}
	this.receiver.postMessage(packet, '*');
};

PostMessagePacket._last_unique_id = null;
PostMessagePacket._get_unique_id = function() {
	var id = (new Date()).getTime();
	if (id == PostMessagePacket._last_unique_id) {
		id++;
	}
	PostMessagePacket._last_unique_id = id;
	return id.toString();
};

var JsonRpc = function() {

	this.ids = {};

	this.objectToJSON = function(obj) {
		var json = '';
		var results = [];

		if (obj === undefined || obj === null) {
			return 'null';
		}

		switch (obj.constructor) {
			case Object:
				for (var property in obj) {
					if (obj.hasOwnProperty(property)) {
						results.push(this.objectToJSON(property) + ': ' + this.objectToJSON(obj[property]));
					}
				}
				json = '{' + results.join(', ') + '}';
				break;
			case Array:
				for (var i = 0; i < obj.length; i++) {
					results.push(this.objectToJSON(obj[i]));
				}
				json = '[' + results.join(', ') + ']';
				break;
			case Number:
			case Boolean:
				json = obj.toString();
				break;
			case String:

				var specialChars = {'\b': '\\b', '\t': '\\t', '\n': '\\n', '\f': '\\f', '\r': '\\r', '\\': '\\\\'};

				json = obj.replace(/[\x00-\x1f\\]/g, function(match) {
					var ch = specialChars[match];
					return ch ? ch : '\\u00' + match.charCodeAt().toPaddedString(2, 16);
				});

				json = '"' + json.replace(/"/g, '\\"') + '"';
				break;
			default:

				json = 'null';
				break;
		}

		return json;
	};

	this.createHandler = function(send_func, registered_funcs) {
		var that = this;
		var handler = function(message) {

			try {
				var rpc = eval('(' + message + ')');
			} catch(e) {
				alert('bad JSON: ' + message);
				return;
			}
			if (rpc.method) {

				if (!registered_funcs[rpc.method]) {
					return;
				}

				var retval = registered_funcs[rpc.method].apply(null, rpc.params);
				if (rpc.id) {
					var response = {
						result: retval,
						error: null,	// TODO
						id: rpc.id
					};
					send_func(that.objectToJSON(response));
				}
			} else if(rpc.result) {

				if (!that.ids[rpc.id]) {
					return;
				}

				that.ids[rpc.id](rpc.result);
				delete that.ids[rpc.id];
			}
		};
		return handler;
	};

	this.execute = function(send_func, method, params, response_callback) {
		response_callback = response_callback || null;
		var id = (response_callback) ? (new Date()).getTime() : null;

		var request = {
			method: method,
			params: params,
			id: id
		};

		send_func(this.objectToJSON(request));

		if (id) {
			this.ids[id] = response_callback;
		}
	};
};
JsonRpc = new JsonRpc();

var ParentMessenger = function(childUrl, receiverUrl, container, receiveCallback) {


	if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Safari') >= 0 && parseInt(navigator.userAgent.substring(navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Version/') + 8), 10) == 3) {
		throw new Error("unsupported.");
	} else if (window.opera) {
		throw new Error("unsupported.");
	}



	if (!receiverUrl &&
		navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Gecko') >= 0 &&
		parseFloat(navigator.userAgent.slice(navigator.userAgent.indexOf('rv:') + 3, navigator.userAgent.indexOf('rv:') + 6)) < 1.9) {
		throw new Error("unsupported.");
	}


	if (/msie/i.test(navigator.userAgent) && !/opera/i.test(navigator.userAgent)) {


		if (document.domain == window.location.hostname) {
			receiverUrl = '';
		}
	}

	var that = this;
	this.childUrl = childUrl;
	this.receiverUrl = receiverUrl;
	this.container = container || document.body;

	this.packetHandler = null;


	this._ready = false;
	this._error = false;


	var _createReceiverForFragmentPacket = function() {

		that.receiver = document.createElement('iframe');
		that.receiver.src = receiverUrl;
		that.receiver.id = 'receiver_' + (new Date()).getTime();
		that.receiver.name = that.receiver.id;

		that.receiver.frameBorder = '0';
		that.receiver.frameSpacing = '0';
		that.receiver.style.borderStyle = 'none';

		var receiver_onload = function() {
			var receiver = document.getElementById(that.receiver.id).contentWindow;

			try {
				receiver.document.body.innerHTML = '';
			} catch(e) {

				that._error = true;
			}
			receiver.document.body.style.padding = '0px';
			receiver.document.body.style.margin = '0px';

			var child = receiver.document.createElement('iframe');
			child.id = 'child';
			child.name = 'child';
			child.src = that.childUrl;

			child.frameBorder = '0';
			child.frameSpacing = '0';
			child.style.borderStyle = 'none';
			child.style.width = '100%';
			child.style.height = '100%';
			receiver.document.body.appendChild(child);

			that.child = receiver.document.getElementById('child').contentWindow;
			that.receiver = receiver;

			that.packetHandler = new FragmentPacket(that.receiver, that.child, that.childUrl, false, receiveCallback);

			that._listener = that.packetHandler.createListener();

			that.packetHandler.sendFlag(that.packetHandler.READY, 0);

			that._ready = true;
		};

		that.receiver.onreadystatechange = function() {
			if (this.readyState == 'complete') {
				receiver_onload();
			}
		};

		that.receiver.onload = receiver_onload;







		if (Dsq.Utils.ie) {
			if (that.container.clientWidth === 0) {

				var _waitForWidth = function() {
					if (that.container.clientWidth > 0) {
						Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(that.container.id);
					} else {
						window.setTimeout(_waitForWidth, 100);
					}
				};
				_waitForWidth();

				that._once = false;
				that.receiver.onresize = function() {
					if (!that._once) {
						Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(that.container.id);
					}
					that._once = true;
				};
			}
		}

		that.container.appendChild(that.receiver);
	};


	var _createReceiverForPostMessage = function() {

		var receiver_onload = function() {

			that.packetHandler.send();
			that._ready = true;
		};

		var id = PostMessagePacket._get_unique_id();
		var receiverId = 'child_' + id;


		ParentMessenger['_receiver_onload_' + receiverId] = receiver_onload;

		that.container.innerHTML += '<iframe ' +
			'src="' + childUrl + '" ' +
			'id="' + receiverId + '" ' +
			'name="' + receiverId + '" ' +
			'onload="ParentMessenger._receiver_onload_' + receiverId +'();" ' +
			'></iframe>';

		that.receiver = document.getElementById(receiverId).contentWindow;
		that.packetHandler = new PostMessagePacket(that.receiver, receiveCallback, id, receiverId);
		that._listener = that.packetHandler.createListener();
	};

	if (typeof window.postMessage == 'function') {
		_createReceiverForPostMessage();
	} else {
		_createReceiverForFragmentPacket();
	}

};

ParentMessenger.prototype.sendMessage = function(message) {
	var that = this;
	if (!this._ready) {

		window.setTimeout(function() { that.sendMessage(message); }, 10);
		return;
	}
	this.packetHandler.send(message);
	return true;
};

Dsq.NewFrames = function(url) {
	this.url = url;
};

Dsq.NewFrames.prototype.init = function(onFailure) {
	var that = this;

	try {
		this.messenger = new ParentMessenger(this.url, Dsq.jsonData.integration.receiver_url, this.container, this.receive_callback);
	} catch(e) {
		if (typeof onFailure == 'function') {
			onFailure();
		}
	}

	if (typeof onFailure == 'function') {
		var iId = window.setInterval(function() {
			if (typeof that.messenger == 'undefined') {
				window.clearInterval(iId);
				return;
			}
			if (that.messenger._ready) {
				window.clearInterval(iId);
			} else if (that.messenger._error) {
				window.clearInterval(iId);
				onFailure();
			}
		}, 10);
	}
};

Dsq.NewFrames.prototype._execute = function(method, args, callback) {
	var that = this;
	if (typeof that.messenger == 'undefined') {
		return false;
	}
	JsonRpc.execute(
		function(msg) { that.messenger.sendMessage(msg); },
		method,
		args || [],
		callback);
	return true;
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame = function(container, parent_post_id) {
	var that = this;
	this.container = container;
	this.parent_post_id = parent_post_id;

	var sendFunc = function(msg) {

		Dsq.Debug.log('Dsq.ReplyFrame.sendFunc');
		that.messenger.sendMessage(msg);
	};


	var postComment_onSuccess = function(response) {
		Dsq.jsonData.posts[response.message.id] = response.message.post_meta;
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.users[response.message.post_meta.user_key]) {
			Dsq.jsonData.users[response.message.post_meta.user_key] = response.message.user_meta;
		}


		var reply_position = (typeof(disqus_insert_wrt_sort) == 'undefined' 
			? (Dsq.jsonData.forum.reply_position ? -1 : null) 
			: (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 2 ? null : -1));
		
		if (response.message.post_meta.approved) {
			Dsq.Post.insert(response.message.post_meta.parent_post_id || reply_position, response.message.id, response.message.post_meta.message);
		}

		Dsq.Templates.postComment_onSuccess(response, parent_post_id, response.message.id);
	};

	var postComment_onFailure = function(response) {
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(response.message, 'Error');
		Dsq.Templates.postComment_onFailure(response, parent_post_id, response.message.id);
	};

	var editComment_onSuccess = function(response) {
		var post_id = parent_post_id;
		var message = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + post_id);
		
		message.innerHTML = response.message;
		Dsq.Templates.toggleEdit(post_id);
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};
	
	var editComment_onFailure = function(response) {
		var post_id = parent_post_id;
		
		Dsq.Popup.popModal('Sorry, there was an error editing this comment.', 'Edit Error');
		Dsq.Templates.toggleEdit(post_id);
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};

	var getUserByEmail_onSuccess = function(response) {
		var msg = response.message;
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(parent_post_id);

		if (msg.username) {

			Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(parent_post_id, 'login', {
				'username': msg.username,
				'display_name': msg.display_name,
				'avatar_url': msg.avatar_url,
				'verified': msg.verified,
				'email': fields.email.value
			});
		} else {

			Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(parent_post_id, 'register');
		}
	};

	var validateAuth_onSuccess = function(response, auth_choice) {
		Dsq.Templates.postComment(parent_post_id, null, true, auth_choice);
	};

	var validateAuth_onFailure = function(response, auth_choice) {
		var pid = parent_post_id ? '-' + parent_post_id : '';
		var msg = response.message;

		if (auth_choice == 'register') {
			var fields = ['email', 'username', 'password'];

			for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; i++) {
				var field = fields[i];
				var errorDiv = Dsq.$('dsq-' + field + '-errors' + pid);

				if (msg[field]) {
					errorDiv.innerHTML = msg[field];
				} else {
					errorDiv.innerHTML = '';
				}
			}
		} else if (auth_choice == 'login') {
			Dsq.$('dsq-lightbox-errors' + pid).innerHTML = '<p>We couldn\'t log you in. Please verify your login.</p>';
		}
		
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};

	this.receive_callback = JsonRpc.createHandler(sendFunc, {
		'postComment.onSuccess': postComment_onSuccess,
		'postComment.onFailure': postComment_onFailure,
		'editComment.onSuccess': editComment_onSuccess,
		'editComment.onFailure': editComment_onFailure,		
		'getUserByEmail.onSuccess': getUserByEmail_onSuccess,
		'validateAuth.onSuccess': validateAuth_onSuccess,
		'validateAuth.onFailure': validateAuth_onFailure,
		'reload': function() { window.location.reload(); }
	});

	this.url = Dsq.Urls.REPLY +
		'?' + (new Date()).getTime() +
		'&f=jackandjillpolitics' +
		'&t=friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06' +
		'&ff=' + Dsq.Thread.ff +
		'&default_text=' + disqus_default_text +
		'&ifrs=' + encodeURIComponent(disqus_iframe_css);
	if (this.parent_post_id) {
		this.url += '&parent_post=' + this.parent_post_id;
	}
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype = new Dsq.NewFrames(Dsq.ReplyFrame.url);

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.post = function(author_name, author_email, author_url, authenticate, sharing_services, subscribe) {
	this._execute('postComment', [author_name, author_email, author_url, authenticate, sharing_services, subscribe]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.edit = function(post_id, message) {
	this._execute('editComment', [post_id, message]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.setState = function(parent_post_id, depth) {
	this._execute('setState', [parent_post_id, depth]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.getUserByEmail = function(email) {
	this._execute('getUserByEmail', [email]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.validateAuth = function(auth_choice, email, username, password) {
	this._execute('validateAuth', [auth_choice, email, username, password]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.authenticateFacebook = function(session, forum_url) {
	this._execute('authenticateFacebook', [session, forum_url]);
};

	Dsq.Facebook = function() {
	var that = this;

	var handleSessionData = function(session) {

		var forum_url = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;




		if (typeof disqus_facebook_forum != 'undefined') {
			forum_url = disqus_facebook_forum;
		}
		Dsq.frames.reply_0.authenticateFacebook(session, forum_url);
	};

	var onLogin = function() {
		FB.Connect.getSignedPublicSessionData(handleSessionData);
	};

	this.login = function() {
		FB.Connect.requireSession(onLogin, true);
	};
};
Dsq.Facebook = new Dsq.Facebook();


	






Dsq.Themes = {};

Dsq.Themes.narcissus = new function() {
	this.addPostContainer = 'dsq-form-area';
	this.textareaContainer = 'dsq-textarea-wrapper';



	
	this.header = function() {
		var comments_count, total_posts, num_posts;
		var html = '';
		var missing_perm_tmpl;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.missing_perm) {
			missing_perm_tmpl = Dsq.Templates.missingPermissions();
			if (missing_perm_tmpl) {
				html += '<div class="dsq-missing-permissions">' + missing_perm_tmpl + '</div>';
			}
		}

		total_posts = Dsq.jsonData.thread.total_posts;
		num_posts = Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_posts;

		if (total_posts) {
			comments_count = Dsq.FmtStrings.SHOWING_COMMENTS_FULL(total_posts, num_posts);
		} else {
			comments_count = Dsq.FmtStrings.SHOWING_COMMENTS_WITHOUT_PAGINATION(num_posts);
		}

		html += ' \
		<div id="dsq-comments-title"> \
			<h3>' + comments_count + '</h3> \
		</div> \
		';

		html += ' \
		<div class="dsq-options"> \
			<span class="dsq-item-sort">'
				+ Dsq.Strings.SORT_BY + ' \
				<select id="dsq-sort-select" onchange="Dsq.Thread.sortBy(this.value);"> \
					<option value="hot" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 4 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.POPULAR_NOW + '</option> \
					<option value="best" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 3 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.BEST_RATING + '</option> \
					<option value="newest" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 2 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.NEWEST_FIRST + '</option> \
					<option value="oldest" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 1 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.OLDEST_FIRST + '</option> \
				</select> \
				&nbsp; \
			</span> \
			<span class="dsq-subscribe-email"> \
				<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/email.png" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle"> \
				<span id="dsq-subscribe">'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.subscribed
						? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(0); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.UNSUBSCRIBE + '</a>'
						: '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_BY_EMAIL + '</a>')
				+ '</span> \
			</span> \
			<span class="dsq-subscribe-rss" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle"> \
				<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/bullet-feed.png" alt="" /> \
				<a href="http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06/latest.rss">' + Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_BY_RSS + '</a> \
			</span> \
		</div> \
		';

		
		

		return html;

	};
	
	this.footer = function() {
		var html = '';

		html += Dsq.Templates.pagination();

		
		
			html += Dsq.Templates.realtime();
			html += Dsq.Templates.showThreadSettings();
			html += Dsq.Templates.postBox();

		html += Dsq.Templates.reactions();

		
			html += Dsq.Templates.trackbacks();
		


		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator) {
 			html += ' \
				<div class="dsq-global-moderator-extras">'
					+ '<strong>shortname:</strong> ' + Dsq.jsonData.forum.url
					+ '<strong>thread id:</strong> ' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.id
					+ '<strong>thread slug:</strong> ' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.slug
				+ '</div> \
			';
		}

		return html;
	};
	
	this.realtime = function() {
		var html = '';
		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.realtime_enabled) {
			html += '<div id="dsq-realtime-options" class="dsq-options">'
					 + Dsq.Strings.REALTIME_UPDATING_IS + ' <strong id="dsq-realtime-status" style="text-transform: lowercase">' + Dsq.Strings.ENABLED + '</strong>. \
					 <a href="#" id="dsq-realtime-toggle" style="text-transform: capitalize"></a> \
					</div>';
		}

		if (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
			html += ' \
				<div style="display: none" id="dsq-realtime-alert" class="dsq-realtime-alert"><span id="dsq-realtime-queued"></span> <a href="#" id="dsq-realtime-show"></a></div> \
			';
		}
		
		return html;
	};

	this.showThreadSettings = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '<div id="dsq-thread-settings" class="dsq-thread-settings">' + Dsq.Strings.MODERATOR_OPTIONS;
		html += '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.showSettings(); return false;">' + Dsq.Strings.SETTINGS + '</a>';
		if (Dsq.jsonData.forum.reactions_enabled && Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			html += '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.reportMissingReactions(); return false;">'
						+ Dsq.Strings.REPORT_MISSING_REACTIONS
						+ '</a>';
		}
		html +='</div>';

		return html;
	};

	this.postBox = function(post_id, use_fallback_iframe) {


		var html;
		var display_sharing_options = Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated;

		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled && !Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post) {
			return '';
		}
		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote) {


			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.hasOwnProperty(Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain)) {
				display_sharing_options = false;
			}
		}
		
		if (post_id) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];				
		}
		
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';

		var _requestUserInfo = function() {
			var html;



			var user_has_email = false;

			html = '<div class="dsq-request-user-info"> <!-- // If authenticated --> \
				<a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT + '?ctkn=' + Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN + '" class="dsq-request-user-logout">' + Dsq.Strings.LOGOUT + '</a> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td rowspan="2">'
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '<a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE + '">' : '')
								+ '<img src="' + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR + '" width="48" height="48" class="dsq-request-user-avatar">'
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '</a>' : '')
						+ '</td> \
						<td class="dsq-request-user-name">'
								+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
									 ? '<span class="dsq-badge-small dsq-badge-' + Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain + '">' + Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain + '</span>'
									 : (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_verified
											? '<span class="dsq-badge-small dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span>'
											: '<span class="dsq-badge-small dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span>'))
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? ' <a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE + '">' : '') 
								+ Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username 
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '</a>' : '')
							+  (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote && user_has_email ? ' <small>(<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.remoteAccountSettings(); return false;">change settings</a>)</small>' : '')
							+  (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote && !Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? ' <small>(<a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/info/" target="_blank">change name</a> or <a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/avatar/" target="_blank">picture</a>)</small>' : '')
						+ '</td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-request-user-stats"> \
							<span><big>' + Dsq.jsonData.request.comments_count + '</big> ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.comments_count == 1 ? 'comment' : 'comments') + '</span> \
							<span><big>' + Dsq.jsonData.request.likes_count + '</big> ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.likes_count == 1 ? 'like' : 'likes') + '</span> \
							<span><big>' + Dsq.jsonData.request.points + '</big> ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.points == 1 ? 'point' : 'points') + '</span> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
			</div> \
			';
			return html;
		};

		var _loginOptions = function() {
			var html;
			html = ' \
			<div class="dsq-authenticate"> \
				<p class="dsq-autheneticate-copy">'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
					? Dsq.Strings.YOU_ARE_COMMENTING_AS_A + ' <a class="dsq-help" title="Click for more information" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Guest</a>. ' + Dsq.Strings.OPTIONAL + ': ' + Dsq.Strings.LOGIN_BELOW + '.'
					: Dsq.Strings.REQUIRED + ': ' + Dsq.Strings.PLEASE_LOGIN_BELOW_TO_COMMENT + '.')
				+ '</p> \
				<ul class="dsq-login-buttons">'
					+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-disqus.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Facebook.login(); return false;"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-facebook.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect(); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-twitter.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.requestURL(); return false" ><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-openid.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_yahoo ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Yahoo.startYahooConnect(); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-yahoo.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
				+ '</ul> \
			</div> \
			';
			return html;
		};

		if (!Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {


			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {



				return '<div id="dsq-form-area" style="display:none"><div id="dsq-textarea-wrapper"></div></div>' + _loginOptions();
			} else {
				return '';
			}
		}

		html = ' \
		<div id="' + (post_id 
			? 'dsq-reply-post-' + post_id
			: 'dsq-new-post')
		 	+ '" class="dsq-post-area"> \
			<div class="dsq-dc-logo"> \
				<a href="http://disqus.com/comments" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/disqus-logo.png"></a> \
			</div>'
			+ (post_id 
				? '<h3>' + Dsq.Strings.REPLYING_TO + ' ' + userData.display_name + '</h3>'
				: '<h3>' + Dsq.Strings.ADD_NEW_COMMENT + '</h3>')
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated 
				? _requestUserInfo()
				: _loginOptions() )
			+ '<div id="dsq-form-area' + pid + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-textarea"> \
				<div class="dsq-textarea-wrapper" id="dsq-textarea-wrapper' + pid + '"></div> \
			</div>'
			+ (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated
			? ' \
			<div class="dsq-post-fields"> \
				<form action="." method="GET" onsubmit="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, false); return false;"> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-left"><div class="dsq-input-wrapper"><input id="dsq-field-name' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (disqus_def_name ? disqus_def_name : (Dsq.jsonData.session.name ? Dsq.jsonData.session.name : Dsq.Strings.NAME + '" class="dsq-placeholder')) + '" onfocus="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'name\')" onblur="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'name\')" /></div></td> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-right"><div class="dsq-input-wrapper"><input id="dsq-field-website' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (Dsq.jsonData.session.url ? Dsq.jsonData.session.url : Dsq.Strings.WEBSITE + ' (' + Dsq.Strings.OPTIONAL.toLowerCase() + ')" class="dsq-placeholder') + '" onfocus="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'website\')" onblur="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'website\')" /></div></td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-left"><div class="dsq-input-wrapper"><input id="dsq-field-email' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (disqus_def_email ? disqus_def_email : (Dsq.jsonData.session.email ? Dsq.jsonData.session.email : Dsq.Strings.EMAIL + '" class="dsq-placeholder')) + '" onfocus="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'email\')" onblur="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'email\')" /></div></td> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-right"> \
							<div class="dsq-subscribe"> \
								<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.chooseSubscribe(' + post_id + '); return false" class="dsq-subscribe-menu"><span id="dsq-subscribe-select' + pid + '">' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.subscribe_on_post ? Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_TO_ALL_COMMENTS_BY_EMAIL : Dsq.Strings.DO_NOT_SUBSCRIBE_TO_COMMENTS) + '</span> <small>&#9660;</small></a> \
								<ul class="dsq-panel" id="dsq-subscribe-menu' + pid + '"> \
									<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.setSubscribe(2, this, ' + post_id + '); return false">Subscribe to all comments by email</a></li> \
									<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.setSubscribe(0, this, ' + post_id + '); return false">Do not subscribe to comments</a></li> \
								</ul> \
								<input id="dsq-subscribe-on-post' + pid + '" type="hidden" value="' + Dsq.jsonData.request.subscribe_on_post + '" /> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
				</form> \
			</div>'
			: '')
			+ '<div class="dsq-post-footer"> \
				<div class="dsq-sharing-options" ' + (!display_sharing_options ? 'style="display:none;"' : '') + '> \
					<button class="dsq-button-small" onfocus="document.getElementById(\'dsq-post-button' + pid + '\').focus();"><span>' + Dsq.Strings.SHARING_OPTIONS + ' <small>&#9660;</small></span></button> \
					<div class="dsq-panel"> '
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.twitter !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.twitter.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-twitter' + pid + '"'
								  + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.twitter.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-twitter' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Twitter</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.facebook
								&& (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.facebook.enabled === true ||
										(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote && Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'facebook'))
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-facebook' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.facebook.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-facebook' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Facebook</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.yahoo !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.yahoo.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-yahoo' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.yahoo.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-yahoo' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Yahoo!</label> \
								</div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.tumblr !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.tumblr.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-tumblr' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.tumblr.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-tumblr' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Tumblr</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.wordpress !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.wordpress.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-wordpress' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.wordpress.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-wordpress' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Wordpress</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.movabletype !== undefined
							  && Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.movabletype.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-movabletype' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.movabletype.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-movabletype' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Movable Type</label> \
							   </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.typepad !== undefined
							  && Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.typepad.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-typepad' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.typepad.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
								  <label for="dsq-sharing-typepad' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' TypePad</label> \
							   </div>'
							: '')
						+ '<div><a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/connections/" target="_blank" class="dsq-configure-options">' + Dsq.Strings.CONFIGURE_OPTIONS + '</a></div>'
					+ '</div> \
				</div>'
				+ '<button class="dsq-button" id="dsq-post-button' + pid + '" onclick="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, false)"><span>' + Dsq.Strings.POST_AS + ' '
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username
					? Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username
					: Dsq.Strings.GUEST)
				+ '</span></button>'
				+ (post_id
					? '<button class="dsq-button" id="dsq-cancel-button' + pid + '" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(' + post_id +', this)"><span>' + Dsq.Strings.CANCEL + '</span></button>'
					: '')
			+ '</div>'
			+ '</div>' // end dsq-form-area
		+ '</div> \
		';
		
		return html;
	};




	this.appendPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="dsq-append-post-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.postPrependHeader = function(post_id) {
		var html;
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		
		html = ' \
		<table> \
			<tr> \
				<td id="dsq-header-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-header-avatar" onmouseover="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')"> \
					<a id="dsq-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-avatar" href="' + userData.url + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.show_avatar
					? '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key].avatar + '" alt="" />'
					: '')
				+ '</a> \
				</td> \
				<td class="dsq-comment-header-meta"> \
		';

		
		return html;
	};
	
	this.postAppendHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var html;
		var parent_display_name = '';
		
		if(_meta.parent_post_id) {

			var _parent_meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[_meta.parent_post_id];

			if (_parent_meta) {
				var parentUserData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_parent_meta.user_key];
				parent_display_name = parentUserData.display_name;
			}
		}

		html = ' \
		<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/moderator.png" class="dsq-moderator-star" title="Moderator" /> \
		<span class="dsq-comment-header-time"><a href="#comment-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.permalink(' + post_id + ')" title="Permalink">' + (_meta.is_realtime ? Dsq.Strings.JUST_NOW : _meta.date) + '</a></span> '
		+ (_meta.parent_post_id && parent_display_name
			? '<a href="#comment-' + _meta.parent_post_id + '" title="Jump to comment">in reply to ' + parent_display_name + '</a>'
			: '')
		+ '</td> \
		<td id="dsq-like-pts-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-comment-header-likes">'
		+ (_meta.points
			? _meta.points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(_meta.points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this.'
			: '')
		+ '</td> \
		</tr> \
		</table> \
		';
		return html;
	};

	this.preBody = function(post_id) {
		var html = '';
		return html;
	};

	this.postFooter = function(post_id) {
		var html;
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		if(_meta.killed || !_meta.approved) { return ''; }
		
		html = ' \
		<div class="dsq-comment-footer" id="dsq-comment-footer-' + post_id + '"> \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer-left">'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator
					? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.moderateOptions(' + post_id+ '); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.MODERATE + '</a>'
					: '')
				+ '<a href="#" id="dsq-post-report-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-post-report" onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + post_id + ', false); return false;">' + Dsq.Strings.FLAG + '</a> \
			</div> \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer-right">'
				+ (_meta.votable 
					? '<span id="dsq-like-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-like">'
					+ (!_meta.up_voted
						? '<button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="Dsq.Post.rate(this, ' + post_id + ', 1)" >Like</button>'
						: 'You liked this.&nbsp;&nbsp;')
					+ '</span>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply && !_meta.has_replies && _meta.from_request_user
					? '<button class="dsq-button-small dsq-post-edit" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + ')" >' + Dsq.Strings.EDIT + '</button>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply
					? '<span class="dsq-comment-footer-reply" id="dsq-comment-footer-reply-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(' + post_id +', this)"> \
						<button class="dsq-button-small">' + Dsq.Strings.REPLY + '</button> \
						<button class="dsq-comment-footer-reply-tab">' + Dsq.Strings.REPLY + '</button><span></span> \
					</span>'
					: '')
			+ '</div> \
		</div> \
		';
		
		return html;
	};



	
	this.showRetweets = function(id, limit, element_id /* Optional */) {
		var source, html = '';

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			if (reaction.id === id) {
				source = reaction.retweets;
			}
		}

		if (source) {
			if (limit === 0) {
				limit = source.length;
			}

			for (var j = 0; j < limit; j++) {
				var rt = source[j];
				html += '<a href="' + rt.url + '">' + rt.author_name + '</a>'	+ ((j === (limit - 1)) ? '.' : ', ');
			}
		}

		if (element_id === undefined) {
			return html;
		}

		var element = document.getElementById(element_id);
		element.innerHTML = html;
		return element;
	};

	this.showMoreReactions = function(reactions, has_more, start, limit) {
		var link = document.getElementById('dsq-show-more-reactions');
		var container = link.parentNode;
		container.removeChild(link);

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = reactions[i]; i++) {
			var el = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (el) {
				container.innerHTML += el;
			}
		}

		if (has_more) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = start;
			var l = limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			container.innerHTML += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions" class="dsq-show-more-reactions"><button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</button></li>';
		}
	};

	this.generateReactionHTML = function(reaction) {
		if (reaction.body === null || reaction.body == '') {
			return;
		}

		if (reaction.author_name === '') {
			reaction.author_name = '&nbsp;';
		}

		if (reaction.url === '') {
			reaction.url = reaction.get_service_url;
		}

		var item = '<li class="dsq-comment dsq-reaction" id="dsq-reaction-' + reaction.id + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-comment-header"> \
			<table> \
			<tr> \
			<td class="dsq-header-avatar"> \
			';

		if (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== '') {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="' + reaction.author_url +'" class="dsq-avatar">';
		}

		if (reaction.avatar_url && reaction.avatar_url !== '') {
			item += '<img src="' + reaction.avatar_url + '"/>';
		} else {

			item += '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/noavatar92.png"/>';
		}

		var service_icon = (reaction.get_service_name == 'trackback' || reaction.get_service_name == 'pingback' ? 'rss' : reaction.get_service_name.replace(' ', ''));
		item += (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== ''
				? '</a>'
				: '')
			+ '</td>'
			+ '<td><cite class="dsq-comment-cite">' + reaction.author_name + '</cite> <span class="dsq-comment-header-time">' + reaction.date_created + '</span></td>'
			+ '<td class="dsq-comment-header-likes"></td>'
			+ '</tr></table></div>' // end dsq-comment-header
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-header" \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-reaction-header-left">'
							+ '<img class="dsq-service-icon" src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/reactions/services/' + service_icon + '.png" />'
							+ ' From <a class="dsq-service-name" target="_blank" href="' + reaction.url + '">' + reaction.get_service_name + '</a> '
							+ 'via ' + (reaction.source == 'backtype' ? '<a href="http://backtype.com/">BackType</a>' : '<a href="' + reaction.source_url + '">UberVU</a>')
						+ '</td>'
						+ '<td class="dsq-reaction-header-right">';
			
			if(reaction.retweets) {
				var num_retweets = reaction.retweets.length;
				if (num_retweets > 0) {
					if (num_retweets == 1) {
						item += 'One more retweet from <a href="' + reaction.retweets[0].url + '">'  + reaction.retweets[0].author_name + '</a>';
					} else {
						item += (num_retweets + ' more retweets from ');
						item += '<span id="dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '">';
						var n_tweets = (num_retweets > 3) ? 3 : num_retweets;
						item += Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(reaction.id, n_tweets);
						if (n_tweets != num_retweets) {
							item += '</span> <a onclick="Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(' + reaction.id + ', 0, \'dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '\');'
								+ 'this.parentNode.removeChild(this); return false;" href="#">Show all</a>';
						}
					}
				}
			}	
			item += '</td></tr> \
			</table> \
			</div>' // end dsq-reaction-header
			+ '<div class="dsq-comment-body"> \
				<div class="dsq-comment-message">' + reaction.body + '</div>'
			+ '</div> \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer"> \
				<div class="dsq-comment-footer-left"> \
				</div>'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator 
					? ' \
					<div class="dsq-comment-footer-right"> \
						<button class="dsq-button-small dsq-hide-reaction" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.hide(' + reaction.id + ')">Hide</button> \
					</div>'
					: '')
			+ '</div>'
		item += '</li>'; /* Reaction HTML ends */
		return item;
	};

	this.reactions = function() {
		var html, reaction;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.reactions === undefined || Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '';
		for (var i = 0; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			var item = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (item) {
				html += item;
			}
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.has_more_reactions) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_start;
			var l = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			html += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions" class="dsq-show-more-reactions"><button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</button></li>';
		}

		return '<h3 id="dsq-reactions-title" class="dsq-h3-reactions">Reactions</h3><ul id="dsq-reactions" class="dsq-reactions">' + html + '</ul>';
	};
	
	this._popupGeneric = function(content) {
		return ' \
		<div class="dsq-popup-container"> \
			<table> \
				<tbody> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-tl"></td><td class="dsq-popup-b"></td><td class="dsq-popup-tr"></td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-b"></td> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-body"> \
							<div class="dsq-popup-content"> \
								<div class="dsq-popup-title"> \
									<button class="dsq-button-small" style="float:right" onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true)">Close</button>' 
									+ content['header'] 
								+ '</div>'
								+ content['body']
							+ '</div> \
							<div class="powered-by"><a href="http://disqus.com/comments/">Powered by <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-logo.png" alt="Disqus Comments" style="margin-bottom:-5px" /></a></div> \
						</td> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-b"></td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-bl"></td><td class="dsq-popup-b"></td><td class="dsq-popup-br"></td> \
					</tr> \
				</tbody> \
			</table> \
		</div> \
		';
	};



	
	this.chooseSubscribe = function(post_id) {

		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var menu = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-menu' + pid);
		
		menu.style.display = menu.style.display == 'block' ? 'none' : 'block';
		
	};
	
	this.setSubscribe = function(value, el, post_id) {

		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var input = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-on-post' + pid);
		var select = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-select' + pid);
		var menu = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-menu' + pid);
		
		select.innerHTML = el.innerHTML;
		input.value = value;
		this.chooseSubscribe(post_id);
	};
	
	this.getFormFields = function(post_id) {

		var fields = {};
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var name = Dsq.$('dsq-field-name' + pid);
		var email = Dsq.$('dsq-field-email' + pid);
		var website = Dsq.$('dsq-field-website' + pid);
		var username = Dsq.$('dsq-field-username' + pid);
		var password = Dsq.$('dsq-field-password' + pid);

		fields = {
			'name': name,
			'email': email,
			'website': website,
			'username': username,
			'password': password
		}
		
		return fields;
	}
	
	this.validateFields = function(post_id) {
		
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) { return true; }
		
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		
		var nameField = fields.name;
		var websiteField = fields.website;
		var emailField = fields.email;
		
		websiteField.value = (websiteField.value == Dsq.Templates.placeholder['website']) ? '' : websiteField.value;
		
		var v = [{

			validator: Dsq.Validators.name,
			value: nameField.value
		}, {

			validator: Dsq.Validators.email,
			value: emailField.value
		}, {

			validator: Dsq.Validators.url,
			value: websiteField.value
		}];
		
		return Dsq.Validators.validate(v, function(e) { Dsq.Popup.popModal(e, 'Oops...') } );
	};
	
	this.checkExistingUser = function(post_id) {
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);		
		Dsq.Popup.loading(post_id);
		
		if (post_id) {
			Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].getUserByEmail(fields.email.value);
		} else {
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'].getUserByEmail(fields.email.value);
		}
	};

	this.validateAuth = function(el_clicked, post_id, auth_choice) {
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		var email = fields.email ? fields.email.value : '';
		var username = fields.username ? fields.username.value : '';
		var password = fields.password ? fields.password.value : '';
		
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked, post_id);
		
		if (post_id) {
			Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].validateAuth(auth_choice, email, username, password);
		} else {
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'].validateAuth(auth_choice, email, username, password);
		}
	};

	this.lightboxUpdateEmail = function(post_id, new_email) {
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		fields.email.value = new_email;
	};

	this.lightboxAuthenticate = function(post_id, auth_choice, auth_data) {
		var title, body;
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';

		if(typeof(auth_data) == 'undefined') {
			var auth_data = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		}

		d = auth_data;

		switch(auth_choice) {
			case 'register':
				var suggestedUsername = d.name.value.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9-]/g,'').toLowerCase();
			
				title = Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post ? 'Optional:' : 'Required:';
				title += ' Register a <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-profile.png" alt=Disqus Profile" />';

				body = ' \
				<ul class="dsq-lightbox-register-reasons"> \
				<li>Verify your comments</li> \
				<li>Edit and delete comments</li> \
				<li>Manage comments and replies</li> \
				</ul> \
				';

				body += ' \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-fields"> \
					<table> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Email</td> \
							<td><input type="text" value="' + d.email.value + '" onchange="Dsq.Templates.lightboxUpdateEmail(' + post_id + ', this.value)" /><div id="dsq-email-errors' + pid + '"></div></td> \
						</tr> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Username</td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-username' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + suggestedUsername + '"/><div id="dsq-username-errors' + pid + '"></div></td> \
						</tr> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Password</td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-password' + pid + '" type="password" /><div id="dsq-password-errors' + pid + '"></div></td> \
						</tr> \
					</table> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-switch-auth"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(' + post_id + ',\'login\'); return false">Login instead</a></div> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-lightbox-errors' + pid + '" class="dsq-lightbox-errors"></div> \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-submit"> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-post"><button class="dsq-button" onclick="Dsq.Templates.validateAuth(this, ' + post_id + ',\'' + auth_choice + '\')">Register and Post comment</button></div>'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
						? '<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-skip"><button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, true)">Just post as a Guest</button></div>'
						: '')
				+ '</div> \
				';
				break;
			case 'login':
				title = Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post ? 'Optional:' : 'Required:';
				title += ' Login to your <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-profile.png" alt=Disqus Profile" />';
				body = '';
				
				if(d.avatar_url) {
					body += '<div class="dsq-lightbox-recognized"><table><tr>';
					body += '<td><img src="' + d.avatar_url + '" alt="" /></td>';
					body += '<td><span class="dsq-badge ' + (d.verified ? 'dsq-badge-verified' : 'dsq-badge-registered') + '">' + (d.verified ? 'Verified' : 'Registered') + '</span></td>';
					body += '<td>Hey <strong>' + d.display_name + '</strong>, is that you? Login below to claim this comment.';
					body += '</tr></table></div>';
				}

				body += ' \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-fields"> \
					<table> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Username or Email</td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-username' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (d.avatar_url ? d.username : '') + '" /></td> \
						</tr> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Password <a href="http://disqus.com/forgot" target="_blank">(cannot log in?)</a></td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-password' + pid + '" type="password" /></td> \
						</tr> \
					</table> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-switch-auth"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(' + post_id + ',\'register\'); return false">Register instead</a></div> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-lightbox-errors' + pid + '" class="dsq-lightbox-errors"></div> \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-submit"> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-post"><button class="dsq-button" onclick="Dsq.Templates.validateAuth(this, ' + post_id + ',\'' + auth_choice + '\')">Login and Post comment</button></div>'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
						? '<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-skip"><button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, true)">Just post as a Guest</button></div>'
						: '')
				+ '</div> \
				';
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}
		Dsq.Popup.lightbox(body, title, post_id);
		Dsq.$('dsq-field-username' + pid).focus();
	};
	
	this.buttonsToRestore = [];
	this.setLoadingButton = function(btn, post_id) {
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		if (btn) {

			var loadingBtn = document.createElement('button');
			loadingBtn.id = btn.id + '-loading';
			loadingBtn.innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-lite.gif" alt="" /> Just a moment...';
			loadingBtn.className = btn.className + ' dsq-post-loading';
			btn.parentNode.appendChild(loadingBtn);
			btn.style.display = 'none';
			var cancelBtn = Dsq.$('dsq-cancel-button' + pid);
			if(cancelBtn) { cancelBtn.style.display = 'none'; this.buttonsToRestore.push(cancelBtn); }
			this.buttonsToRestore.push(btn);
		} else {

			var buttons = this.buttonsToRestore;
			for(var i = 0; i < buttons.length; i++) {
				buttons[i].style.display = 'inline';
				Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(Dsq.$(buttons[i].id + '-loading'));
			}
		}
		
	};

	this.postComment = function(post_id, el_clicked, force, auth_choice) {
		var append_id = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);

		if (Dsq.Templates.validateFields(post_id)) {

			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && !force &&
				((!Dsq.Utils.readCookie('skipped_auth') && !disqus_skip_auth && !Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled) || !Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post)) {
				Dsq.Templates.checkExistingUser(post_id);
				return false;
			}
			var params = [];
			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
				params.push(fields.name.value,
					fields.email.value,
					fields.website.value);

				if (auth_choice == 'login' || auth_choice == 'register') {
					params.push({
						auth_choice: auth_choice,
						username: fields.username.value,
						password: fields.password.value,
						email: fields.email.value
					});
				} else {
					params.push(null);
				}

				params.push(null /* sharing options */, Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-on-post' + append_id).value);
			} else {
				var service_checked = function(name) {
					var el = Dsq.$('dsq-sharing-' + name + append_id);
					return (el !== null && el.checked === true) ? '1' : '0';
				};
				params.push(null, null, null, null, {
					tw: service_checked('twitter'),
					fb: service_checked('facebook'),
					tr: service_checked('tumblr'),
					wp: service_checked('wordpress'),
					mt: service_checked('movabletype'),
					tp: service_checked('typepad'),
					yh: service_checked('yahoo')
				});
			}

			var frame = Dsq.frames['reply_' + (post_id ? post_id : 0)];
			frame.post.apply(frame, params);

			if (el_clicked) {
				Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked, post_id);
			}
			
			if (force) {
				Dsq.Utils.createCookie('skipped_auth', true);	
			}
			
		} else {
			return false;
		}
	};

	this.editComment = function(el_clicked, post_id) {
		var edited_message = Dsq.$('dsq-edit-textarea-' + post_id).value;

		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked, post_id);
		Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id].edit(post_id, edited_message);
	};

	this.toggleEdit = function(post_id) {
		var body = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-body-' + post_id);
		var message = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + post_id);

		if (!Dsq.Post.stateEditToggled[post_id]) {


			message.style.display = 'none';
			if (Dsq.$('dsq-edit-' + post_id)) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-edit-' + post_id).style.display = 'block';
			} else {

				var edit_area = document.createElement('div');
				edit_area.id = 'dsq-edit-' + post_id;
				edit_area.className = 'dsq-edit dsq-textarea';
				edit_area.innerHTML = ' \
				<div class="dsq-textarea-wrapper"> \
					<textarea class="dsq-edit-textarea" id="dsq-edit-textarea-' + post_id + '">' + message.innerHTML + '</textarea> \
				</div> \
				<div class="dsq-save-edit"> \
					<button onclick="Dsq.Templates.editComment(this, ' + post_id + ')" class="dsq-button-small">Save Edit</button> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-edit-iframe-' + post_id + '" style="display: none"></div> \
				';

				body.appendChild(edit_area);

				if (!Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id]) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
					Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(Dsq.$('dsq-edit-iframe-' + post_id), post_id);
					Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id].init();
					Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id].setState(post_id, _meta.depth);
				}
			}
		} else {

			message.style.display = 'block';
			Dsq.$('dsq-edit-' + post_id).style.display = 'none';
		}
		
		Dsq.Post.stateEditToggled[post_id] = !Dsq.Post.stateEditToggled[post_id];
	};
	
	this.edit = function(el, post_id) {

		Dsq.Templates.toggleEdit(post_id);
	};

	this.toggleReply = function(post_id, button) {
		
		if(!this.stateReplyToggled[post_id]) {

			if (Dsq.$('dsq-reply-post-' + post_id)) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).style.display = 'block';
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.postBox(post_id);
				var container = Dsq.$('dsq-textarea-wrapper-' + post_id);
				if (!Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id] && container) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(container, post_id);
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].init(function() {

						Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.postBox(post_id, true);
						Dsq.$('dsq-form-area-' + post_id).innerHTML = '';

						var theme = (typeof disqus_frame_theme == 'undefined') ? 'default' : disqus_frame_theme;
						Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(Dsq.$('dsq-form-area-' + post_id), post_id, {theme: theme});

					});
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].setState(post_id, _meta.depth);
				}
			}
			Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).className = 'dsq-append-post';
			Dsq.$('dsq-comment-footer-reply-' + post_id).className = 'dsq-comment-footer-reply-active';
			
		} else {

			Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).style.display = 'none';
			Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).className = '';
			Dsq.$('dsq-comment-footer-reply-' + post_id).className = 'dsq-comment-footer-reply';
		}
		
		this.stateReplyToggled[post_id] = !this.stateReplyToggled[post_id];

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie && this.stateReplyToggled[post_id]) {

		}

		Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED, {
			postId: post_id,
			opened: this.stateReplyToggled[post_id]
		});
	};
	
	this.moderateOptions = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		
		if(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator && !Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator) { return false; }

		var html;
		
		html = ' \
		<div class="dsq-moderate-options"> \
		<table>'
		+ (_meta.email ? '<tr><td>Email</td><td>' + _meta.email + '</td></tr>' : '')
		+ (_meta.ip ? '<tr><td>IP address</td><td>' + _meta.ip + '</td></tr>' : '')
		+ '<tr> \
			<td>Actions</td> \
			<td><ul>'
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.moderator_can_edit
				? '<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false;">Edit Comment</a></li>'
				: '')
			+ '<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.removePost(' + post_id + ', 1); Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false;">Delete Comment</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.reportSpam(' + post_id + '); Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false;">Mark Spam</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.blacklist(' + post_id + '); return false">Block User</a></li> \
			</ul></td> \
			</table> \
		</div> \
		';
		
		html += '<p>Go to the full <a href="http://disqus.com/comments/moderate/" target="_blank">moderate panel</a> for more options.</p>';
		
		return Dsq.Popup.popModal(html, 'Moderate Options', post_id);
	};
	
	this.placeholder = {
		'class': 'dsq-placeholder',
		'name': Dsq.Strings.NAME,
		'email': Dsq.Strings.EMAIL,
		'website': Dsq.Strings.WEBSITE + ' (' + Dsq.Strings.OPTIONAL.toLowerCase() + ')'
	};
	
	this.handlePlaceholder = function(evt, el, key) {
		var placeholder = Dsq.Templates.placeholder[key];
		var className = Dsq.Templates.placeholder['class'];
		
		switch(evt.type) {
			case 'focus':
				if(el.value == placeholder) {
					el.value = '';
					el.className = '';
				}
				break;

			case 'blur':
				if(el.value == '') {
					el.value = placeholder;
					el.className = className;
				}
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}
	};
	
	this.paginate = function(page, el_clicked) {

		var extra_params = '';

		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&per_page=' + disqus_per_page;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_sort != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&sort=' + disqus_sort;
		}

		Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML += '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
		
		if(el_clicked) {
			Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked);
		}
		
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06'
			+ '&p='		+ page
			+ extra_params);
	};
	
	
	this.rate = function(el, id, vote) {


		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_votes) {
			if(vote == 1) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-like-' + id).innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
			}
			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/vote.js'
				+ '?post_id='    + id
				+ '&vote='        + vote);
		} else {
			Dsq.Popup.login('To rate, please log in');
		}
	};

	this.voted = function(post_id, points, vote) {

		Dsq.$('dsq-like-pts-' + post_id).innerHTML = points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this.';

		if(vote) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-like-' + post_id).innerHTML = 'You liked this.&nbsp;&nbsp;';
		}
	};




	this.postComment_onSuccess = function(response, parent_post_id, post_id) {
		var approved = response.message.post_meta.approved;

		if (parent_post_id) {
			Dsq.Post.toggleReply(parent_post_id);
		}

		Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);
		
		if (approved) {
			Dsq.Post.incrementPostCount();
			Dsq.Post.outlineComment(post_id);
		} else {			
			var unapproved_msg = 'Thanks for posting!\
	 Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.\
			';
			Dsq.Popup.popModal(unapproved_msg, 'Comment awaiting approval', post_id);
		}

		var sharing_results = response.message.sharing_results;
		var sharing_errors = '';
		for (var service in sharing_results) {
			if (sharing_results.hasOwnProperty(service) === true) {
				if (sharing_results[service].error === true) {
					sharing_errors += service + ', ';
				}
			}
		}

		if (sharing_results.facebook && sharing_results.facebook.callback) {
			FB.ensureInit(function() {
				FB.Connect.streamPublish('', sharing_results.facebook.attachment);
			});
		}

		if (sharing_errors !== '') {
			var message = 'Your comment was posted, but there were errors sharing with the following connections: ';
			message += sharing_errors.replace(/,\s$/, '');
			message += '<p><a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/connections" target="_blank">Configure your connections here</a></p>'
			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, 'Sharing options');
		}

		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};

	this.postComment_onFailure = function(response, parent_post_id, post_id) {

		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};
};




// TODO: It might be faster to use string methods to find all <li (...) </li> blocks and pass to Dsq.PostHandler manually.
Dsq.CommentsHandler = function(str, head, post_id, content, tail, offset, s) {
	var prepend_post = Dsq.Templates.prependPost(post_id);
	var append_post = Dsq.Templates.appendPost(post_id);

	content = content.replace(Dsq.POST_RE, Dsq.PostHandler);
	Dsq.Templates.postLoopCounter++;
	head = Dsq.Templates.Filters.commentContainer(post_id, head);
	return prepend_post + head + content + tail + append_post;
};

Dsq.PostHandler = function(str, h_head, post_id, h_content, h_tail, b_head, b_content, b_tail, offset, s) {
	var prepend_header = Dsq.Templates.postPrependHeader(post_id);
	var append_header = Dsq.Templates.postAppendHeader(post_id);
	var prepend_body = Dsq.Templates.preBody(post_id);
	var append_body = Dsq.Templates.postBody(post_id);
	var append_footer = Dsq.Templates.postFooter(post_id);

	b_content = b_content.replace(Dsq.POST_BODY_RE, Dsq.PostBodyHandler);
	return h_head + prepend_header + h_content + append_header + h_tail + b_head + prepend_body + b_content + append_body + b_tail + append_footer;
};

Dsq.PostBodyHandler = function(str, head, post_id, content, tail, offset, s) {
	content = Dsq.Templates.Filters.commentContent(post_id, content);
	return head + content + tail;
};

Dsq.MediaPostHandler = function(str, args, offset, s) {
	args = args.split(' ');
	if(args[0] == 'seesmic') {
		return '<br />' + Dsq.Templates.mediaSeesmic(args[1], args[2]);
	}
	return '';
};


/**
 * Shorcuts
 */
Dsq.$ = function(element) { return document.getElementById(element); };
Dsq.$b = document.body || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0];


/**
 * Dsq.Debug: Logging functions.
 */

Dsq.Debug = new function() {this.log=function(s){};this.profile=function(f){if(typeof f == 'function')return f();else return eval(f);};};


/**
 * Dsq.Urls: URL paths
 */
Dsq.Urls = new function() {
	this.LOGIN = '/profile/login/';
	this.LOGOUT = '/logout/';
	this.REPLY = 'http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06/reply.html';
	this.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE = '/AnonymousUser/';
	this.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR = 'http://media.disqus.com/images/noavatar92.png';
};
// Dsq.Urls

/**
 * Dsq.Validators: Validation for form fields
 */
Dsq.Validators = new function() {
	this.VALID_EMAIL_RE = /^[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+(\.[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+)*\@(([a-z0-9\-\_\+]+(\.[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+)*)+\.[a-z]{2,}|([0-9]+\.){3}[0-9]+)$/i;
	this.name = function(name) {
		var error = false;

		if(typeof Dsq.Templates.placeholder !== 'undefined' &&
		   name == Dsq.Templates.placeholder.name) {
			error = true;
		}
		if(name.length <= 1) {
			error = true;
		}

		if(error) {
			return "Please enter a name to comment.";
		} else {
			return true;
		}
	};
	this.email = function(addr) {
		if(Dsq.Validators.VALID_EMAIL_RE.test(addr)) {
			return true;
		} else {
			return "Please enter a valid email to comment.";
		}
	};
	this.url = function(addr) {
		if(!addr || addr.indexOf('.') != -1) {
			return true;
		} else {
			return "Please check your website URL (this field is optional).";
		}
	};

	this.validate = function(bulk_validation, failure_callback) {
		failure_callback = failure_callback || function(e){ alert(e); };

		for(var i = 0; i < bulk_validation.length; i++) {
			v = bulk_validation[i];
			ret = v.validator(v.value);
			if(ret !== true) {
				failure_callback(ret);
				return false;
			}
		}
		return true;
	};
};

/**
 * Dsq.Utils: Generic utility functions.
 */
Dsq.Utils = new function() {
	this.ie = /msie/i.test(navigator.userAgent) && !/opera/i.test(navigator.userAgent);
	this.ie7 = (document.all && !window.opera && window.XMLHttpRequest) ? true : false;
	this.ie6 = (!window.XMLHttpRequest) ? true: false;
	this.webkit = navigator.userAgent.indexOf('AppleWebKit/') >= 0;
	this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache = {};
	this._styleSheet = null;

	this.gebiFromElement = function(el, id, tag) {
		// This only method only helps IE.
		if(!this.ie) {
			return Dsq.$(id);
		} else {
			var cacheKey = el.id + '-' + tag;
			tag = tag || 'div';
			if(typeof this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey] != 'undefined') {
				collection = this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey];
			} else {
				collection = el.getElementsByTagName(tag);
				this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey] = collection;
			}

			for(var i = 0; i < collection.length; i++) {
				if(collection[i].id == id) {
					return collection[i];
				}
			}
			return null;
		}
	};

	this.execOnReady = function(func) {
		var node = document.createElement('document:ready');
		try {
			node.doScroll('left');
			func();
			node = null;
		} catch(err) {
			setTimeout(function() { Dsq.Utils.execOnReady(func); }, 10);
		}
	};


	// Courtesy of http://www.quirksmode.org/js/cookies.html
	this.createCookie = function(name,value,days) {
		if (days) {
			var date = new Date();
			date.setTime(date.getTime()+(days*24*60*60*1000));
			var expires = "; expires="+date.toGMTString();
		}
		else var expires = "";
		document.cookie = name+"="+value+expires+"; path=/";
	};

	this.readCookie = function(name) {
		var nameEQ = name + "=";
		var ca = document.cookie.split(';');
		for(var i=0;i < ca.length;i++) {
			var c = ca[i];
			while (c.charAt(0)==' ') c = c.substring(1,c.length);
			if (c.indexOf(nameEQ) == 0) return c.substring(nameEQ.length,c.length);
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.eraseCookie = function(name) {
		Dsq.Utils.createCookie(name,"",-1);
	};

	this.deleteNode = function(node) {
		if(node) {
			this.deleteChildren(node);
			if(typeof node.outerHTML != 'undefined') { node.outerHTML = ''; }
			else if(node.parentNode) { node.parentNode.removeChild(node); }
			delete node;
		}
	};

	this.deleteChildren = function(node) {
		if(node) {
			for(var x = node.childNodes.length-1; x >= 0; x--) {
				var childNode = node.childNodes[x];
				if(childNode.hasChildNodes()) { this.deleteChildren(childNode); }
				if(typeof childNode.outerHTML != 'undefined') { childNode.outerHTML = ''; }
				else node.removeChild(childNode);
				delete childNode;
			}
		}
	};

	this.findPos = function(obj) {
		var curleft = 0;
		var curtop = 0;
		if (obj.offsetParent) {
			do {
				curleft += obj.offsetLeft;
				curtop += obj.offsetTop;
			} while (obj = obj.offsetParent);
		}
		return [curleft,curtop];
	};

	this.getWindowSize = function() {
		var windowWidth = -1;
		var windowHeight = -1;

		if(typeof(window.innerWidth) == 'number') { //Non-IE
			windowWidth = window.innerWidth;
			windowHeight = window.innerHeight;
		} else if(document.documentElement) { // IE 6+ in 'standards compliant mode'
			windowWidth = document.documentElement.clientWidth || document.body.clientWidth;
			windowHeight = document.documentElement.clientHeight || document.body.clientHeight;
		}

		return [windowWidth, windowHeight];
	}

	this.getScrollPos = function() {
		var scrollWidth, scrollTop;

		if(document.documentElement && (document.documentElement.scrollTop || document.documentElement.scrollWidth)) {
			scrollWidth = document.documentElement.scrollWidth;
			// IE is weird here.  If no doctype is provided, document.body.scrollTop is 0,
			// otherwise document.documentElement.scrollTop is 0.
			scrollTop = document.documentElement.scrollTop || document.body.scrollTop;
		} else if(document.body.scrollTop && document.body.scrollWidth) {
			scrollWidth = document.body.scrollWidth;
			scrollTop = document.body.scrollTop;
		}

		return [scrollWidth, scrollTop];
	}

	this.addEventListener = function(instance, eventName, listener) {
		var listenerFn = listener;
		if (instance.addEventListener) {
			instance.addEventListener(eventName, listenerFn, false);
		} else if (instance.attachEvent) {
			listenerFn = function() {
				listener(window.event);
			};
			instance.attachEvent("on" + eventName, listenerFn);
		} else {
			throw new Error("Event registration not supported");
		}
		return {
			instance: instance,
			name: eventName,
			listener: listenerFn
		};
	};

	this.removeEventListener = function(event) {
		var instance = event.instance;
		if (instance.removeEventListener) {
			instance.removeEventListener(event.name, event.listener, false);
		} else if (instance.detachEvent) {
			instance.detachEvent("on" + event.name, event.listener);
		}
	};

	this.fixIframesIE = function(id) {
		var disqusThread = Dsq.$(disqus_container_id);
		var iframes = disqusThread.getElementsByTagName('iframe');

		if(id) {
			var container = Dsq.$(id);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-content');
		}

		for(i = 0; i < iframes.length; i++) {
			if (container) {
				iframes[i].style.width = container.offsetWidth;
			}
		}
	};

	this.getElementsByClassName = function(oElm, strTagName, strClassName) {
	/* Credit: Jonathan Snook [http://www.snook.ca/jonathan], Robert Nyman [http://www.robertnyman.com] */
		var arrElements = (strTagName == "*" && oElm.all)? oElm.all : oElm.getElementsByTagName(strTagName);
		var arrReturnElements = new Array();
		strClassName = strClassName.replace(/\-/g, "\\-");
		var oRegExp = new RegExp("(^|\\s)" + strClassName + "(\\s|$)");
		var oElement;
		for(var i = 0; i < arrElements.length; i++) {
			oElement = arrElements[i];
			if(oRegExp.test(oElement.className)) {
				arrReturnElements.push(oElement);
			}
		}
		return (arrReturnElements);
	};

	this.postToUrl = function(url, post_data, opt_redirect) {
		var form = document.createElement('form');
		var iframe_container = document.createElement('div');
		var id = 'dsq-temp-iframe-' + (new Date()).getTime();

		form.method = 'POST';
		form.action = url;
		if (!opt_redirect) {
			form.target = id;
		}
		iframe_container.innerHTML = '<iframe style="display:none" name="' + id + '" id="' + id + '"></iframe>';

		for(var key in post_data) {
			if(post_data.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				var input = document.createElement('input');
				input.name = key;
				input.type = 'hidden';
				input.value = post_data[key];

				form.appendChild(input);
			}
		}

		Dsq.$b.appendChild(iframe_container);
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(form);
		form.submit();
	};

	// Strips integer id from id of element in the form ('some-id-###')
	this.extractId = function(e) {
		var chunks = e.id.split('-');
		if(chunks.length <= 1) {
			return 0;
		} else {
			return parseInt(chunks[chunks.length-1]);
		}
	};

	this.getStyle = function(el, styleProp) {
		if(el.currentStyle) {
			var y = el.currentStyle[styleProp];
		} else if(window.getComputedStyle) {
			var y = document.defaultView.getComputedStyle(el, null).getPropertyValue(styleProp);
		}

		if(y == 'transparent' || y == '') {
			this.getStyle(el.parentNode, styleProp);
		} else {
			return y;
		}
	};

	this.execScript = function(url, append_qs, container) {
		var script = document.createElement('script');
		append_qs = typeof append_qs == 'undefined' ? true : append_qs;
		container = container || Dsq.container;

		if(append_qs) {
			var j = (url.indexOf('?') >= 0) ? '&' : '?';
			url += j + (new Date()).getTime();
		}
		script.type = 'text/javascript';
		script.charset = 'UTF-8';
		script.src = url;
		container.appendChild(script);
		return script;
	};

	this.pluralize = function(num, singular, plural) {
		return (num != 1) ? plural || 's' : singular || '';
	};

	this.getRequestParams = function(queryString /* optional */) {
		var pairs, tuple;
		var params = {};

		queryString = queryString || window.location.search.substring(1);
		pairs = queryString.split('&');

		for (var i = 0, pair; pair = pairs[i]; i++) {
			tuple = pair.split('=');
			params[tuple[0]] = (tuple[1] || true);
		}

		return params;
	};

	this.addCssRule = function(selector, styleText, index) {
		var stylesheet;
		index = index || 0;

		if(!this._styleSheet) {
			var styleEl = document.createElement('style');
			document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(styleEl);
			this._styleSheet = styleEl.sheet;
			if(!this._styleSheet) {
				// IE does not like our newly created stylesheet.
				this._styleSheet = document.styleSheets[document.styleSheets.length-1];
			}
		}
		stylesheet = this._styleSheet;

		if(stylesheet.insertRule) {
			var ruleText = selector + ' { ' + styleText + ' }';
			if(index == -1) {
				index = stylesheet.cssRules.length;
			}
			stylesheet.insertRule(ruleText, index);
		} else if(stylesheet.addRule) {
			stylesheet.addRule(selector, styleText, index);
		}
	};

	this.forEachIn = function(obj, callback) {
		for(var key in obj) {
			if(obj.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				callback(key, obj[key]);
			}
		}
	};

	this._interpolateGlobalContext = {
		// values that get used a lot and are global to the request
		'profile_url': Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE,

		'disqus_url': Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url,
		'media_url': Dsq.jsonData.settings.media_url,
		'request_username': Dsq.jsonData.request.username,
		'request_display_username': Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username,
		'forum_name': Dsq.jsonData.forum.name
	};

	this.renderFromContextStack = function(key, contexts) {
		// Returns the first instance of `key` in the array of objects `contexts` or else ''
		for (var i=0; i<contexts.length; i++) {
			if (contexts[i][key] !== undefined) {
				return String(contexts[i][key]);
			}
		}
		throw new Error('key ' + key + ' not found in context');
	};

	var that = this;
	this.interpolate = function(fmt, opt_localContext) {
		// Interpolate `fmt` named-format string with an assumed global context.
		// Based on `interpolate` in django.views.i18n
		var contextStack = [opt_localContext || {}, that._interpolateGlobalContext];
		return fmt.replace(/%\(\w+\)s/g, function(match){
			return that.renderFromContextStack(match.slice(2,-2), contextStack);
		});
	};

	this.stripTags = function(s) {
		// Removes HTML tags from `s`
		return s.replace(/(<([^>]+)>)/g,"");

	};

	this.assert = function(b) {
		if (!b) {
			throw new Error('Assertion error.');
		}
	};

};
// Dsq.Utils

/**
 * Dsq.Popup: Popup helper functions.
 */
Dsq.Popup = new function() {
	this.timeHide = new Array();
	this.timeShow = new Array();
	this.activePopup = {};
	this.profileCache = {};
	this.statusCache = {};

	this.showTimer = function(post_id) {
		// clear the hide timer
		clearTimeout(this.timeHide[post_id]);

		// start the timer
		if(!Dsq.Popup.profileIsOn && !Dsq.Thread.adminIsOn) {
			this.timeShow[post_id] = setTimeout("Dsq.Popup.popProfile(\"" + post_id + "\")", 400);
		}
	};

	this.hideTimer = function(post_id) {
		// clear the show timer
		clearTimeout(this.timeShow[post_id]);
	};

	this.updateProfile = function(username) {
		// Callback from /embed/profile.js
		if (this.statusCache[username]) {
			var statusEl = Dsq.$('dsq-profile-status-' + username);
			statusEl.innerHTML = this.statusCache[username];
			statusEl.style.display = 'block';
		}

		if (this.profileCache[username]) {
			var _cache = this.profileCache[username];

			var _genhtml = function(text) { return '<span><big>' + text + '</big></span>'; };
			var _no_comments = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_COMMENTS(_cache.comments_count));
			var _no_likes = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_LIKES(_cache.likes_count));
			var _no_points = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_POINTS(_cache.points));

			var statsEl = Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-user-stats-' + username);
			statsEl.innerHTML = '';

			if (Dsq.jsonData.users[username].registered) {
				statsEl.innerHTML = _no_comments + _no_likes;
			}
			statsEl.innerHTML += _no_points;

			var activeSites = '';
			for (var i = 0; i < _cache.active_sites.length; i++) {
				var site = _cache.active_sites[i];
				activeSites += '<li><a href="' + site.url + '"> \
					<img src="' + site.favicon + '"/ width="16" height="16"/></a>\
					<a href="' + site.url + '">' + site.name + '</a></li>';
			}
			if (activeSites !== '') {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + username).innerHTML = activeSites;
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + username).innerHTML = 'This site.';
			}

			var moderatedSites = '';
			for (var i = 0; i < _cache.moderated_sites.length; i++) {
				var site = _cache.moderated_sites[i];
				moderatedSites += '<li><a href="' + site.url + '"> \
					<img src="' + site.favicon + '"/ width="16" height="16"/></a>\
					<a href="' + site.url + '">' + site.name + '</a></li>';
			}
			if (moderatedSites !== '') {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-moderated-' + username).innerHTML = moderatedSites;
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-moderated-wrapper-' + username).innerHTML = '';
			}
		}

		// Reposition popup after full HTML is rendered
		if(Dsq.Popup.activePopup && Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el) {
			Dsq.Popup.initPopup(Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el, Dsq.Popup.activePopup.id, Dsq.Popup.activePopup.type);
		}

	};

	this.showCookieMsgs = function() {
		var title = '';
		var message = '';
		var numAlerts = 0;

		Dsq.Utils.forEachIn(Dsq.jsonData.cookie_messages, function(k, v) {
			if (!v) return;

			switch(k) {
				// Cookie: Twitter
				case 'post_twitter':
					if (v === 'error') {
						title = 'Twitter Error!';
						message += '<li id="dsq-msg-twitter-error">Oops, we couldn\'t tweet this comment. Please check your <a href="http://disqus.com/account/services">account settings</a>.</li>';
					} else {
						var _msg = v.split(':');
						title = 'Tweeted!';
						message += '<li id="dsq-msg-twitter-success">Your comment was successfully tweeted. <a href="http://twitter.com/' + _msg[0] + '/status/' + _msg[1] + '">Click here to view the tweet</a>.</li>';
					}
					break;
				// Cookie: Unapproved Post
				case 'post_not_approved':
					title = 'Comment awaiting approval by a moderator';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-post-not-approved">Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.</li>';
					break;
				// Cookie: Profile Found
				case 'post_has_profile':
					title = 'Use your existing commenter profile';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-post-has-profile">You have just posted your commment as a <span class="dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span>, but you may already have a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile.<br /><br /><a href="http://disqus.com/claim">Log in and claim this comment!</a></li>';
					break;
				case 'user_created':
					var _data = v.split(':');
					title = 'Profile created!';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-user-created">You have just created a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile, the best way to claim, manage, and track your comments all over the web. \
					<br /><br />A confirmation is being sent to <strong>' + _data[1] + '</strong>. Please check for this email in order to verify your profile. \
					<ul class="dsq-list-tick"> \
						<li>Your username is <strong>' + _data[0] +'</strong>. <a href="http://disqus.com/people/' + _data[0] + '/" target="_blank">Click here to view your public profile</a>.</li> \
						<li>Be sure to set your profile picture, as well as connect your <span class="dsq-badge-facebook">Facebook</span> and <span class="dsq-badge-twitter">Twitter</span> accounts. <a href="http://disqus.com/account/" target="_blank">Click here for account settings</a>.</li> \
					</ul> \
					</li>'
					break;
				default:
					break;
			}
			numAlerts++;
		});

		if(numAlerts > 1) {
			message = '<ul class="dsq-list-bluebullet">' + message;
			message += '</ul>';
			title = 'Thanks for posting!';
		}
		if(numAlerts > 0) {
			if(typeof(disqus_cookie_msgs) == 'function') {
				disqus_cookie_msgs(message, title);
			} else {
				Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
			}
		}
	};

	this.helpBadges = function(post_id) {
		var html = ' \
			<ul class="dsq-popup-help"> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span> has a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile with a confirmed email address.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span> has a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile, but has not yet confirmed his or her email address.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span> is not logged in with any account and has not claimed his or her comments.</li> \
				<li class="dsq-help-otheraccts">Other accounts</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-facebook">Facebook</span> is using his or her Facebook profile via Facebook Connect.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-twitter">Twitter</span> is using his or her Twitter profile via Twitter Sign-in.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-openid">OpenID</span> is using his or her OpenID.</li> \
			</ul> \
		';

		this.popModal(html, 'Help: Types of Commenters', post_id);
		return;
	};

	this.permalink = function(post_id) {
		var header = 'Link to this comment';
		var body = '<strong>You are anchored to</strong>:<br />' + document.location.protocol + '//' + document.location.host + document.location.pathname + document.location.search + '#comment-' + post_id;

		this.popModal(body, header, post_id);
	};

	this.login = function(header, body) {
		var h = header || 'Login or Register';
		var b = body || '';
		b += Dsq.Templates.frameLogin({id: 'dsq-popup-login'});
		b += '</iframe>'; // HACK: Sometimes there is something funky with the IFRAME SRC that causes no end tag
		this.popModal(b, h, null, true, 'dsq-popup-login');
	};

	this.blacklist = function(id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		var title = 'Add to Blacklist';
		var message = ' \
		Adding this person to the blacklist will block him or her from commenting on this site. Check the following types that you would like to add to the blacklist:'
		+ (userData['registered'] ?
			'<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
				<input id="dsq-blacklist-username" type="checkbox" checked> \
				<label for="dsq-blacklist-username"><strong>Username</strong>: ' + userData['username'] + '</label> \
			</div>'
			: '')
		+ (_meta.email ?
			'<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
				<input id="dsq-blacklist-email" type="checkbox" checked> \
				<label for="dsq-blacklist-email"><strong>Email address</strong>: ' + _meta.email + '</label> \
			</div>'
			: '')
		+ '<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
			<input id="dsq-blacklist-ip" type="checkbox" onclick="Dsq.$(\'dsq-blacklist-ip-warning\').style.display=\'block\'"> \
			<label for="dsq-blacklist-ip"><strong>IP address</strong>: ' + _meta.ip + '</label> \
		</div> \
		';

		message += ' \
			<p id="dsq-blacklist-ip-warning" style="display:none">	\
				Note: Blocking this person\'s IP address may also unintentionally prevent others, who share his/her IP address, from commenting on this site. \
				This may include people who are sharing the same computer, living in the same house, or using the same Internet provider. Only block an IP address as a last resort. \
			</p> \
		';

		message += ' \
			<p style="text-align:center"><button onclick="Dsq.Post.blockUser(' + id + '); this.disabled=true; this.innerHTML=\'Just one moment...\'">Add to Blacklist</button></p> \
		';

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
	};

	this.remoteAccountSettings = function() {
		var body = '';
		// Set up IFrame.
		var params = {};
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/_auth/embed/remote_settings/';
		var attributes = {id: 'dsq-popup-account-settings'};
		if (typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}

		body = Dsq.Templates._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
		this.popModal(body, 'Account Settings', null, true, 'dsq-popup-account-settings');
	};

	this.popModal = function(message, title, post_id, use_listener, extra_classes) {
		var container = document.createElement('div');
		var header, body;

		Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);

		if(typeof(title) == 'undefined') { title = ''; }
		if(typeof(use_listener) == 'undefined') { use_listener = true; }

		if(post_id) {
			container.id = 'dsq-popup-message-' + post_id;
		} else {
			container.id = 'dsq-popup-message';
		}

		header = title;
		body = message;

		container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.popupModal(header, body);
		Dsq.Popup.initPopup(container, post_id, 'message', extra_classes);
		if(use_listener) {
			Dsq.Popup.popupListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', Dsq.Popup._closePopup);
		}
	};

	this.popAlert = this.popModal;

	this.loading = function(post_id) {
		var title = Dsq.Strings.JUST_A_MOMENT;
		var body = '<div style="text-align:center; padding: 5px 0 10px 0"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading.gif" alt="" /></div>'
		Dsq.Popup.lightbox(body, title, post_id);
	};

	this.lightbox = function(message, title, post_id) {
		// Wraps Dsq.Popup.popModal

		var overlay = document.createElement('div');
		overlay.id = 'dsq-overlay';
		overlay.className = 'dsq-overlay';
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(overlay);
		
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title, post_id, false, 'dsq-lightbox');
	};

	this.popProfile = function(post_id, userKey) {
		var post = Dsq.jsonData['posts'][post_id];
		if (post && post.has_been_anonymized) {
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('This message was anonymized by its previous owner.', 'Anonymized', post_id);
			return;
		}

		if(post_id) {
			userKey = Dsq.jsonData['posts'][post_id].user_key;	
		}
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][userKey];
		var elId = 'dsq-popup-profile-' + userKey;
		var container = document.createElement('div');

		if(this.activePopup.el) {
			this._closePopup(null, true);
			if(this.activePopup.linkClicked) {
				this.activePopup.linkClicked = false;
				return;
			}
		}

		container.id = elId;
		container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.popupProfile(userKey);

		this.initPopup(container, post_id, 'profile');
		this.popupListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', this._closePopup);

		if(!this.profileCache[userKey]) {
			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/embed/profile.js'
				+ '?username=' + userKey
				+ '&anon=' + (userData['registered'] ? 0 : 1)
				+ '&f=' + Dsq.jsonData['request'].forum);
		} else {
			this.updateProfile(userKey);
		}
	};

	this._closePopup = function(e, force) {
		var activePopup = Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el;
		var id = Dsq.Popup.activePopup.id;
		var link = 'dsq-avatar-' + id; // HACK: Specific to profile toggle target

		// HACK: This event should be gone if there is no active popup.
		if(!activePopup) {
			return;
		}
		if(force || !Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, activePopup.id)) {
			// TODO: This is breaking iE?
			if(Dsq.Popup.popupListener) {
				Dsq.Utils.removeEventListener(Dsq.Popup.popupListener);
			}
			
			// Kill overlay
			var overlay = Dsq.$('dsq-overlay');
			if(overlay) { Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(overlay); }
			
			try {
				Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(activePopup);
			} catch(e) {
				// HACK: IE6 throws an error when using deleteNode() with a node containing a <table> in the html.
				activePopup.parentNode.removeChild(activePopup);
			}
			Dsq.Popup.activePopup = {};
		}

		if(!force && Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, link)) {
 			Dsq.Popup.activePopup.linkClicked = true;
		}

	};

	this.initPopup = function(popup, post_id, type, extra_classes) {
		popup.className = 'dsq-popup dsq-popup-' + type + ' ' + (extra_classes ? extra_classes : '');
		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6 || Dsq.Utils.ie7) {
			// HACK: We can't modify the body before it's ready, so we need
			//       to use an IE-safe "DOMReady" workaround before loading
			//       our popup.
			Dsq.Utils.execOnReady(function() {Dsq.$b.appendChild(popup); });
		} else {
			Dsq.$b.appendChild(popup);
		}

		popup.style.display = 'block';

		var xPos = (Dsq.Utils.getWindowSize()[0] - popup.offsetWidth) / 2;
		var yPos = (Dsq.Utils.getWindowSize()[1] - popup.offsetHeight) / 2;

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) {
			yPos += Dsq.Utils.getScrollPos()[1];
		}

		popup.style.left = xPos + 'px';
		popup.style.top = yPos + 'px';

		Dsq.Popup.activePopup = {
			'el' : popup,
			'id' : post_id,
			'type': type,
			'linkClicked' : false
		};
	};

	this.isClicked = function(e, id) {
		var t = e.target || e.srcElement;
		while(t && t.parentNode) {
			if(t.id == id) {
				return true;
			}

			t = t.parentNode;
		}
		return false;
	};
};
// Dsq.Popup

/**
 * Dsq.Templates
 */
Dsq.Templates = new function() {
	/*
	 * Counter keeping track of the number of posts iterated over.
	 */
	this.postLoopCounter = 0;
	this.filters = {};
	this.addPostContainer = 'dsq-post-add';
	this.textareaContainer = 'dsq-post-add';

	this.registerTemplate = function(name, func) {
		this['$$_' + name] = func;

		if(typeof DsqLocal.Filters != 'undefined'
		&& typeof DsqLocal.Filters[name] == 'function') {
			// Push filters to this.filters to unify code.
			this.filters[name] = this.filters[name] || [];
			this.filters[name].push(DsqLocal.Filters[name]);
		}

		this[name] = function() {
			var ret;

			if(typeof DsqLocal.Templates != 'undefined'
			&& typeof DsqLocal.Templates[name] == 'function') {
				ret = DsqLocal.Templates[name].apply(this, arguments);
			}

			if(ret === undefined) {
				ret = this['$$_' + name].apply(this, arguments);
			}

			if(this.filters[name]) {
				var args = [ret];

				args.push.apply(args, arguments);
				for(var i = 0; i < this.filters[name].length; i++) {
					ret = this.filters[name][i].apply(this, args);
				}
			}

			return ret;
		};
	};

	this.registerFilter = function(name, func) {
		this.filters[name] = this.filters[name] || [];
		this.filters[name].push(func);
	};

	/**
	 * Dsq.Templates.Filters
	 */
	this.Filters = new function() {
		this.commentContainer = function(post_id, s) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			var classes = [];
			if(Dsq.jsonData.request.page > 1) {
				classes.push('dsq-append');
			}

			//
			// Extra classes used for custom themes
			//

			if(_meta.depth) {
				classes.push('dsq-comment-child', 'dsq-depth-' + _meta.depth, 'dsq-parent-is-' + _meta.parent_post_id);
			}


			//

			if(_meta.author_is_creator) {
				// TODO: We need to deprecate the "special" class since it is not properly prefixed.
				classes.push('special', 'dsq-special');
			}
			if(_meta.author_is_moderator) {
				classes.push('dsq-moderator');
			}
			classes.push(['dsq-odd', 'dsq-even'][Dsq.Templates.postLoopCounter % 2]);

			s = s.substring(0, s.lastIndexOf('>'));
			return s + ' class="dsq-comment ' + classes.join(' ') + '" style="margin-left:' + _meta.depth*30 + 'px">';
		};

		this.commentContent = function(post_id, s) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			if (_meta.killed) {
				return '<em>Comment removed.</em>';
			} else if (!_meta.approved) {
				return '<em>This comment was flagged for review.</em>';
			}

			s = s.replace(Dsq.MEDIA_POST_RE, Dsq.MediaPostHandler);
			return s;
		};
	};

	//
	// Thread
	//
	// TODO: These need to be stripped of all Django template tags.

	this.authPost = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {
			return '';
		}
		var result = [];
		result = result.concat([
				'<div id="dsq-auth"',
						Dsq.jsonData.integration.reply_position ? 'class="dsq-auth-bottom"' : '',
						'>',
					'<div class="dsq-by">',
						'<a href="http://disqus.com" target="_blank">',
							(Dsq.jsonData.integration.disqus_logo ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img src="%(media_url)s/images/embed/by-disqus.png" alt="discussion by DISQUS">') :
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img src="%(media_url)s/images/embed/dsq-button-120x19.png" alt="discussion by DISQUS">')
							),
						'</a>',
					'</div>',
					'<div class="dsq-auth-header">',
						'<h3 id="dsq-add-new-comment" class="dsq-h3-addcomment">',
								Dsq.Strings.ADD_NEW_COMMENT,
						'</h3>',
						'<div id="dsq-login">',
						(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
								? '<p class="dsq-login-message" id="dsq-login-message">You are commenting as a <a class="dsq-help" title="Click for more information" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Guest</a>. You may select one to log into:</p>'
								: '')
		]);
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
			result = result.concat([
							Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
								'<a id="dsq-login-toggle" href="%(disqus_url)s%(login_url)s?next=article:%(thread_id)s" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false"><img class="dsq-login-icon" src="%(media_url)s/images/dsq-profile-btn.png" title="%(log_into)s" alt="%(log_into)s"/></a>',
								{login_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGIN, thread_id: Dsq.jsonData.thread.id, log_into: Dsq.Strings.LOG_INTO_DISQUS}
								),
							'&nbsp; ',
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ?
								'<div id="dsq-fbc-login" onlogin="DisqusFbcParentController.onLogin()" size="medium" background="light" length="short" style="display:inline; margin-right:7px"></div>' :
								''
							),
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
									'<div id="dsq-twitter-login" class="dsq-twitter-login" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect();" style="display:inline; cursor: pointer"><img src="%(media_url)s/images/twitter-signin-short.png" style="margin-right:7px" /></div>', {}) : ''),
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
									'<div id="dsq-openid-login" class="dsq-openid-login" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.requestURL();" style="display:inline; cursor:pointer;"><img src="%(media_url)s/images/openid-login-button.png"/></div>', {}
								) : '')
			]);
		}
		result = result.concat([
						'</div>', // dsq-login
					'</div>', // dsq-auth-header
					'<div id="dsq-authenticated" class="dsq-authenticated" ',
						Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated ? 'style="display:block"' : '',
						'>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-pic">',
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">' +
																			'<img class="dsq-post-avatar" src="%(avatar_url)s" alt="" /></a>',
																			{avatar_url: Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR,
																			url: (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
																					 ? Dsq.jsonData.request.url
																					 : Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE) }),
						'</div>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-info">',
							'<ul>',
								'<li>',
									(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(
												Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">%(request_display_username)s</a>', {url:Dsq.jsonData.request.url})
										  )
										: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(
												Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(profile_url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">%(request_display_username)s</a>')
											)
									),
								'</li>',
								'<li class="logout">',
									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img class="dsq-login-icon" src="%(media_url)s/images/dsqicon12.png" alt="%(logged_in_as)s"/>&nbsp',
											{logged_in_as: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username)})
										: ''),

									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="%(logout_from_disqus)s">',
											{logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN, logout_from_disqus: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGOUT_FROM('DISQUS')})
										: ((Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'twitter')
												? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('using Twitter (<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="Logout">Logout</a>)',
												 {logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN})
												: ((Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'openid')
													 ? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('using OpenID (<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="Logout">Logout</a>)',
													 {logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN})
													 : ''
													)
											)
									),

									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote ? Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGOUT_FROM('<span class="logo-disqus">DISQUS</span>') : ''),
									'</a>',
								'</li>',
							'</ul>',
						'</div>',
					'</div>'
		]);
		if (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect) {
			result = result.concat([
					'<div id="dsq-fbc-authenticated" class="dsq-authenticated">',
						'<div id="dsq-fbc-profilepic" class="dsq-authenticated-pic" uid="loggedinuser" type="FB.XFBML.ProfilePic" size="square" facebook-logo="true"></div>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-info">',
							'<ul>',
								'<li>',
									'Logged in as <span id="dsq-fbc-name" uid="loggedinuser" type="FB.XFBML.Name" linked="true" useyou="false"></span>',
								'</li>',
								'<li class="logout">using Facebook Connect <a href="#" onclick="javascript:DisqusFbcParentController.logout();return false;">(Logout)</a></li>',
							'</ul>',
						'</div>',
					'</div>'
			]);
		}
		result = result.concat([
				'</div>', // dsq-auth
				'<div id="dsq-toolbar-items">',
				'</div>'
		]);
		result = result.concat([
					//
					//
					//
				((!Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post && !Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) ?
					// Needs to be translated:
					('<p id="dsq-no-anon-msg">Required: Please log into <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> ' +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ? 'or connect with Facebook ' : '') +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ? 'or sign in with Twitter ' : '') +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ? 'or sign in using OpenID ' : '') +
					Dsq.Utils.interpolate('to comment on <strong>%(forum_name)s</strong>.</p>')) :
					''
				),
				'<div id="dsq-post-add"></div>',
				'<div style="margin:10px 0">',
				((Dsq.jsonData.forum.use_media) ?
						'<a href="#" id="dsq-media-link" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, false, \'media\'); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.USE_MEDIA + ' <small>&#9660;</small></a>' :
						''),
				'</div>'
		]);
		return result.join('');
	};


	this.header = function() {

		var html = '\<h3 id="dsq-comments-count" class="dsq-h3-commentcount">\
	 <span id="dsq-num-posts">174</span> Comments\
	 &nbsp;\
	 <span class="dsq-item-feed">\
	 <a href="http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06/latest.rss"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/bullet-feed.png"></a>\
	 </span>\
	 </h3>\
	 <div id="dsq-options" style="margin:15px 0">\
	 <span class="dsq-item-sort">\
	 Sort by\
	 <select id="dsq-sort-select" onchange="Dsq.Thread.sortBy(this.value);">\
	 <option value="hot" selected="selected">Popular now</option>\
	 <option value="best" >Best Rating</option>\
	 <option value="newest" >Newest first</option>\
	 <option value="oldest" >Oldest first</option>\
	 </select>\
	 &nbsp;\
	 </span>\
	 <span class="dsq-item-cp"><a href="http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06/">Community Page</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>\
	 <span class="dsq-item-subscribe">\
	 <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/email.png" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle">\
	 <span id="dsq-subscribe">\
	 <a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">Subscribe by email</a>\
	 </span>\
	 </span>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-alerts">\
	 <p><a href="http://disqus.com/profile/login/?next=article:2026134" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false">You must log into your Disqus Profile in order to post comments.</a></p>\
	 </div>\
		';

		

		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) { 
			html = ' \
			<div class="dsq-alert-message dsq-upgrade-message"> \
				<strong>Disqus upgrade available.</strong> Hi ' + Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username + ', this message is being displayed to you because you are a moderator of this site. <a href="#" onclick="Dsq.$(\'dsq-upgrade-message\').style.display=\'block\';this.style.display=\'none\';return false">Click here for details.</a> \
				<div style="display:none; margin-top:10px;" id="dsq-upgrade-message"> \
					A new theme is available with added features. <a href="http://disqus.com/comments/settings/' + Dsq.jsonData.forum.url + '/?p=customize">To change your theme, click here</a> and choose the theme Narcissus. \
					If you do not upgrade, you are missing out on features such as: real-time commenting, new sign-in integrations, and an upgrade interface. \
					<strong>This message will automatically go away in one week.</strong> \
				</div> \
			</div> \
			' + html; 
		}
		return html;
	};

	this.footer = function() {
		var html = Dsq.Templates.pagination();

		
			html += Dsq.Templates.authPost();
		

		html += Dsq.Templates.reactions();

		
			html += Dsq.Templates.trackbacks();
		

		return html;
	};

	this.pagination = function() {
		var html = '';
		
		if (Dsq.$('dsq-pagination')) { Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML = ''; }
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.thread.paginate) { return ''; }

		//
		// TODO: num_paginator still uses the template tag for pagination, 
		// 		while append_paginator does it all in JavaScript.
		//		This should all be in JavaScript.
		//

		if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_pages > 1 && Dsq.jsonData.request.page < Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_pages) {
			html = ' \<a class="dsq-paginate-append-text" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.paginate(Dsq.jsonData.request.page + 1, this); return false">Show more comments...</a>\
	 <button class="dsq-button-small dsq-paginate-append-button" onclick="Dsq.Thread.paginate(Dsq.jsonData.request.page + 1, this);">Load more comments</button>\
			';
		}
		
		if (Dsq.$('dsq-pagination')) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML = html;
			return '';
		} else {
			return '<div id="dsq-pagination" class="dsq-pagination">' + html + '</div>';
		}
	};

	this.trackbacks = function() {
		var html = '';

		if(typeof DsqLocal != 'undefined' && DsqLocal.trackback_url && DsqLocal.trackbacks) {
			var trackbacks = DsqLocal.trackbacks;
			var trackback_url = DsqLocal.trackback_url;
		} else {
			var trackbacks = [
			
			
			];
			var trackback_url = 'http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06/trackback/';
		}

		html += '<div class="dsq-item-trackback">Trackback URL&nbsp;&nbsp;<input class="dsq-trackback-url" onclick="this.select()" readonly="true" value="' + trackback_url + '"></div>';

		if(trackbacks.length) {
			html += '<ul id="dsq-references">'
			for(var i = 0; i < trackbacks.length; i++) {
				var trackback = trackbacks[i];
				html += '<li><cite><a href="' + trackback.author_url + '" rel="nofollow">' + trackback.author_name + '</a></cite> \
						<p class="dsq-meta">' + trackback.date + '</p> \
						<p class="dsq-content">' + trackback.excerpt + '</p></li>';
			}
			html += '</ul>';
			html = '<h3 class="dsq-h3-trackbacks">Trackbacks</h3>' + html;
		}

		return html;
	}

	this.showRetweets = function(id, limit, element_id /* Optional */) {
		var source, html = '';

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			if (reaction.id === id) {
				source = reaction.retweets;
			}
		}

		if (source) {
			if (limit === 0) {
				limit = source.length;
			}

			for (var j = 0; j < limit; j++) {
				var rt = source[j];
				html += '<a href="' + rt.url + '">' + rt.author_name + '</a>'	+ ((j === (limit - 1)) ? '.' : ', ');
			}
		}

		if (element_id === undefined) {
			return html;
		}

		var element = document.getElementById(element_id);
		element.innerHTML = html;
		return element;
	};

	this.showMoreReactions = function(reactions, has_more, start, limit) {
		var link = document.getElementById('dsq-show-more-reactions');
		var container = link.parentNode;
		container.removeChild(link);

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = reactions[i]; i++) {
			var el = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (el) {
				container.innerHTML += el;
			}
		}

		if (has_more) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = start;
			var l = limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			container.innerHTML += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions"><a href="#" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</a></li>';
		}
	};

	this.generateReactionHTML = function(reaction) {
		if (reaction.body === null || reaction.body == '') {
			return;
		}

		if (reaction.author_name === '') {
			reaction.author_name = '&nbsp;';
		}

		if (reaction.url === '') {
			reaction.url = reaction.get_service_url;
		}

		/* Reaction HTML begins */
		var item = '<li class="dsq-reaction" id="dsq-reaction-' + reaction.id + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-header">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-header-avatar">';

		if (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== '') {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="' + reaction.author_url +'">';
		} else {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="#" onclick="return false;">';
		}

		if (reaction.avatar_url && reaction.avatar_url !== '') {
			item += '<img src="' + reaction.avatar_url + '"/>';
		} else {
			item += '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/noavatar32.png"/>';
		}

		var service_icon = (reaction.get_service_name == 'trackback' || reaction.get_service_name == 'pingback' ? 'rss' : reaction.get_service_name.replace(' ', ''));
		item += '<img class="dsq-service-icon" src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/reactions/services/' + service_icon + '.png"/>'
			+ '</a></div>'
			+ '<cite><span>' + reaction.author_name + '</span></cite>'
			+ '<span class="dsq-header-meta"><a class="dsq-header-time">' + reaction.date_created + '</a></span>'
			+ '</div><div class="dsq-reaction-body">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-message">' + reaction.body + '</div>'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-footer">From <a class="dsq-service-name" target="_blank" href="' + reaction.url + '">' + reaction.get_service_name + '</a> '
			+ 'via ' + (reaction.source == 'backtype' ? '<a href="http://backtype.com/">BackType</a>' : '<a href="' + reaction.source_url + '">UberVU</a>')
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator ? '&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;<a class="dsq-hide-reaction" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.hide(' + reaction.id + '); return false;">Hide</a>' : '') + '</div></div>';

		if(reaction.retweets) {
			var num_retweets = reaction.retweets.length;
			if (num_retweets > 0) {
				item += '<div class="dsq-reaction-retweets">';
				if (num_retweets == 1) {
					item += 'One more retweet from <a href="' + reaction.retweets[0].url + '">'  + reaction.retweets[0].author_name + '</a>';
				} else {
					item += (num_retweets + ' more retweets from ');

					item += '<span id="dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '">';
					var n_tweets = (num_retweets > 15) ? 15 : num_retweets;
					item += Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(reaction.id, n_tweets);

					if (n_tweets != num_retweets) {
						item += '</span> <a onclick="Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(' + reaction.id + ', 0, \'dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '\');'
							+ 'this.parentNode.removeChild(this); return false;" href="#">Show all</a>';
					}
				}
				item += '</div>';
			}
		}

		item += '</li>'; /* Reaction HTML ends */
		return item;
	};

	this.reactions = function() {
		var html, reaction;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.reactions === undefined || Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '';
		for (var i = 0; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			var item = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (item) {
				html += item;
			}
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.has_more_reactions) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_start;
			var l = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			html += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions"><a href="#" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</a></li>';
		}

		return '<h3 class="dsq-h3-reactions">Reactions</h3><ul id="dsq-reactions" class="dsq-reactions">' + html + '</ul>';
	};
	
	this.missingPermissions = function() {
		return '	<p><a href="http://disqus.com/profile/login/?next=article:2026134" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false">You must log into your Disqus Profile in order to post comments.</a></p> \n';
	};

	//
	// Post
	//

	this.prependPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="comment-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.appendPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="dsq-comment-reply-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.postPrependHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(null, post_id);
			var html = '';
			var hiddenThreshold = 3; // Define # of services to show before stuffing them in hidden div

			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == hiddenThreshold
					? '<li id="dsq-drop-hidden-' + post_id +'" class="dsq-drop-hidden"><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-drop-services"> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank"> \
						<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>';
			}

			if(i >= hiddenThreshold) {
				html += '</ul></li> \
				<li id="dsq-drop-more-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-drop-more"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.dropProfileMore(this, '+ post_id + '); return false"><small>&#9660;</small></a></li> \
				';
			}
			return html;
		};

		return ' \
			<div class="dsq-header-avatar" id="dsq-header-avatar-' + post_id + '" onmouseover="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')"> \
				<a id="dsq-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-avatar" href="' + userData.url + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">'
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.show_avatar
				? '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key].avatar + '" alt="" />'
				: '')
			+ '</a>'
			+ '</div> \
		';
	};

	this.postAppendHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];

		return ''
			+ (_meta.author_is_moderator
				? '<img class="dsq-mod-star" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/bullet-star.png" title="Moderator" alt="" />'
				: '')
			+ '<span class="dsq-header-meta"> \
				<a id="dsq-time-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-header-time" href="#comment-' + post_id + '" title="Permalink">' + _meta.date + '</a> \
			</span>';
	};

	this.preBody = function(post_id) {
		return '';
	}

	this.postBody = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: Deprecate flagging conditional
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		return ''
			+ (_meta.edited
				? '<p class="dsq-editedtxt">(Edited by a moderator)</p>'
				: '')
			;
	};

	this.postFooter = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: Use media should be conditional
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		if(_meta.killed) { return ''; }

		return ' \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer" id="dsq-comment-footer-' + post_id + '"> \
				<div id="dsq-points-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-likedtxt">'
				+ (_meta.points
					? _meta.points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(_meta.points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this comment.'
					: '')
				+ '</div>'
				+ '<ul class="dsq-comment-options dsq-list-style">'
				+ (_meta.votable
					? '<li class="dsq-list-first dsq-rate" id="dsq-rate-cont-' + post_id + '">'
					+ (!_meta.up_voted
						? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.rate(this, ' + post_id + ', 1); return false;">Like</a>'
						: 'You liked this.') + '</li>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-report' + (!_meta.votable ? ' dsq-list-first' : '') + '" id="dsq-post-report-' + post_id + '"><a href="#" class="dsq-post-report" onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + post_id + ', false); return false;">Report</a></li> \
				</ul> \
				<ul class="dsq-list-style">'
				+ (_meta.can_reply
					? '<li class="dsq-list-first"><a href="#" id="dsq-reply-link-' + post_id +'" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(this, ' + post_id +'); return false;">Reply</a></li>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply && !_meta.has_replies && _meta.from_request_user
					? '<li id="dsq-edit-el-' + post_id + '"><a id="dsq-edit-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); return false;">Edit</a></li>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="' + (!_meta.can_reply ? 'dsq-list-first' : '') + '" id="dsq-more-el-' + post_id + '"><a id="dsq-more-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, ' + post_id + ', \'more\'); return false">More <small>&#9660;</small></a></li>'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.use_media
					? '<li id="dsq-media-el-' + post_id +'" style="display:none"><a id="dsq-media-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, ' + post_id + ', \'media\'); return false">Use Media <small>&#9660;</small></a></li>'
					: '')
				+ '</ul>'
				+ '<div id="dsq-reply-bar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar" style="display:none"> \
						<div id="dsq-reply-bar-items-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar-items"> \
						</div> \
						<div id="dsq-reply-bar-auth-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar-auth"> \
							 \
								 \
									<a href="#" class="dsq-help dsq-reply-req-opt" title="You must log into an account in order to comment on Jack and Jill Politics" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Required:</a> \
								 \
								<img class="dsq-login-icon" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/dsq-favicon-16x16.png" alt="" /> \
								<a id="dsq-reply-login-' + post_id + '" href="http://disqus.com/profile/login/?next=article:2026134" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false">Login</a> \
								 \
									&nbsp;or&nbsp; \
									<img class="fb_login_image" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/fbconnect/login-buttons/connect_light_small_short.gif" alt="Facebook Connect"/> \
									<a href="#" onclick="FB.Connect.requireSession(DisqusFbcParentController.onLogin); return false;">Connect</a> \
								 \
								&nbsp;or&nbsp; \
									<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/twitter-signin-icon.png" alt="" /> \
									<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect(); return false">Sign-in</a> \
								 \
								 \
							 \
						</div> \
					</div> \
					<div id="dsq-reply-' + post_id + '"></div> \
			</div> \
		';
	};

	//
	// Iframes
	//

	this._makeAttributes = function(attributes) {
		// Makes a tag attributes string out of an object.
		// Caller is responsible for making sure nothing needs to be escaped.
		var result = [];
		for (key in attributes) {
			result.push(' ' + key + '="' + attributes[key] + '"');
		}
		result = result.join('');
		return result;
	};

	this._frameGeneric = function(base_url, params, attributes) {
		if(typeof(disqus_callback_params) == 'undefined') {
			disqus_callback_params = '';
		}

		var default_params = {
			// TODO: These should be moved to Dsq.jsonData.
			'f'				: 'jackandjillpolitics',
			't'				: 'friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06',
			// Do we need encodeURIComponent here?
			'ifrs'			: encodeURIComponent(disqus_iframe_css),
			'to_redirect'	: encodeURIComponent(window.location),
			'cbp'			: disqus_callback_params,
			'ff'			: Dsq.Thread.ff,
			'fc'			: Dsq.Thread.fc,
			'ac'			: Dsq.Thread.ac,
			'default_text'	: disqus_default_text
		};

		base_url += '?' + (new Date()).getTime();
		// Add params to default_params.
		if(params) {
			for(var key in params) {
				if(params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
					default_params[key] = encodeURIComponent(params[key]);
				}
			}
		}
		// Build querystring.
		for(var key in default_params) {
			if(default_params[key] && default_params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				base_url += '&' + key + '=' + default_params[key];
			}
		}

		return [
			'<iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" frameborder="0"',
			(' allowtransparency="true" src="' + base_url + '"'),
			this._makeAttributes(attributes),
			'</iframe>'].join('');
	};

	this.frameLogin = function(opt_attributes) {
		var params = {};
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/embed/login.html';
		var attributes = opt_attributes || {};
		attributes['class'] = 'dsq-post-login';

		if(typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
	};

	this.frameReply = function(post_id, extra_params, attributes) {
		// Returns the HTML for a reply iframe. Called by Dsq.Iframes.setReplyIframeToContainer
		var _meta = (typeof post_id != 'undefined') ? Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] : false;
		var base_url = Dsq.Urls.REPLY;
		var params = {
			'def_email'		: disqus_def_email,
			'def_name'		: disqus_def_name
		};
		if(extra_params) {
			for(var key in extra_params) {
				if(extra_params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
					params[key] = extra_params[key];
				}
			}
		}
		if(_meta) {
			params['parent_post'] = post_id;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined') {
			params['per_page'] = disqus_per_page;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
			attributes['class'] += '-authenticated';
		}
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
	};

	this.frameEdit = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = (typeof post_id != 'undefined') ? Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] : false;
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/embed/edit.html';
		var params = {
			'p' : post_id
		};
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, {'class': 'dsq-post-edit', 'name': 'dsq-edit_' + post_id + '-frame'});
	};

	//
	// Menus
	//

	this.menuMore = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: "Remove post" button should hide menu.
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		return ' \
			<li><a href="#comment-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.permalink(' + post_id + ')">Link</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">Profile</a></li>'
	+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator
		? '	<li class="dsq-menu-sep"></li>' + (_meta.email ? '<li class="dsq-admin-email">' + _meta.email + '</li>' : '')
		+ '	<li class="dsq-admin-ip">' + _meta.ip + '</li> \
			<li class="dsq-menu-sep"></li>'
		+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.moderator_can_edit
			? ' <li class="dsq-admin-edit"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); return false;">Edit Comment</a></li>'
			: '')
		+ ' <li class="dsq-remove"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.removePost(' + post_id + ', 1); return false;">Remove Comment</a></li> \
			<li class="dsq-report-spam"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.reportSpam(' + post_id + '); return false;">Mark Spam</a></li> \
			<li class="dsq-block-user"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.blacklist(' + post_id + '); return false">Block User</a></li>'
		: '');
	};

	this.menuMedia = function(post_id) {
		return ' \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleMediaReply(this, ' + post_id + ', \'seesmic\'); return false;">Record video</a></li> \
		';
	};

	this.dropProfile = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(null, post_id);
			var html = '';
			var hiddenThreshold = 3; // Define # of services to show before stuffing them in hidden div

			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == hiddenThreshold
					? '<li id="dsq-drop-hidden-' + post_id +'" class="dsq-drop-hidden"><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-drop-services"> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank"> \
						<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>';
			}

			if(i >= hiddenThreshold) {
				html += '</ul></li> \
				<li id="dsq-drop-more-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-drop-more"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.dropProfileMore(this, '+ post_id + '); return false"><small>&#9660;</small></a></li> \
				';
			}
			return html;
		};


		var menu = '<li class="dsq-drop-showlnk"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">Expand &#8663;</a></li>';
		var pointsMessage = '';
		if (userData['registered']) {
			pointsMessage = 'with ' + userData['points'] + ' points (more points are better).';
		}

		if (userData['is_remote']) {
			var domain = userData['remote_domain_name'];
			menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' is a ' + domain + ' user ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
			menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-' + domain.toLowerCase() + '">' + domain + '</span></li>';
		} else if (userData['registered']) {
			if (userData['verified']) {
				menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has a verified commenter profile ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
				menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span></li>';
			} else {
				menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has a registered, but unverified, commenter profile ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
				menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span></li>';
			}
		} else {
			menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has not claimed this commenter profile." onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()"><span class="dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span></li>';
		}

		menu += _includeServices();
		return menu;
	};

	//
	// Popups
	//

	this._popupGeneric = function(content) {
		return ' \
		<div class="dsq-popup-content"> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-top"></div> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-body" class="clearfix"> \
				<div class="dsq-popup-body-padding"> \
					<div class="dsq-popup-header"> \
						<a class="dsq-close-link" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/modal-close.png" alt="" /></a>'
						+ content['header']
					+ '</div>'
					+ content['body']
					+ '<div class="powered-by"><a href="http://disqus.com/comments/">Powered by <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-logo.png" alt="Disqus Comments" style="margin-bottom:-5px" /></a></div> \
				</div> <!-- padding --> \
			</div> <!-- body --> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-bottom"></div> \
		</div> \
		';
	};

	this.popupProfile = function(user_key) {
		var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(user_key, null);
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][user_key];
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var html = '';
			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == 0
					? '<h4>Connections</h4><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li> \
					<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" title="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" /> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>'
				+ (i+1 == userServices.length ? '</ul>' : '');
			}
			return html;
		};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<table> \
				<tr> \
					<td> \
						<a class="dsq-profile-userurl" href="' + userData.url + '"><img class="dsq-popup-profile-avatar" src="' + userData['avatar'] + '" alt="" /></a> \
					</td> \
					<td> \
						<div class="dsq-popup-profile-user"> \
							<h3>' + userData['display_name'] + '</h3> \
							<div class="dsq-popup-profile-user-stats" id="dsq-popup-profile-user-stats-' + user_key + '">Loading...</div> \
						</div> \
					</td> \
				</tr> \
			</table> \
		';

		bodyHtml = ' \
			<div class="dsq-popup-profile-state"> \
				This is a&nbsp;<span class="'
					+ (userData['registered']
						? (userData['verified']
							? ' dsq-badge-verified'
							: (userData['is_remote']
								? ' dsq-badge-' + userData['remote_domain_name'].toLowerCase()
								: ' dsq-badge-registered')
							)
							: ' dsq-badge-guest') + '">'
			+ (userData['registered']
				? (userData['verified']
					? 'Verified'
					: (userData['is_remote']
						 ? userData['remote_domain_name']
						 : 'Registered')
					)
				: 'Guest')
			+ '</span>&nbsp;commenter profile.'
			+ '&nbsp;<a class="dsq-profile-userurl" href="' + userData.url + '"><strong>View more comments </strong></a>'
			+ (!userData['points']
				? '<p class="dsq-popup-notice">If this is you, <a href="http://disqus.com/profile" target="_blank">claim it now</a> to manage your comments.</p>'
				: '')
			+ ((userData['registered'] && !userData['verified'] && (Dsq.jsonData.request.username && (Dsq.jsonData.request.username == userData['username'])) && !userData['is_remote'])
				? '<p class="dsq-popup-notice"><strong>Alert</strong>: You have not verified this account. <a href="http://disqus.com/verify">Verify it now.</a></p>'
				: '')
			+ '</div> \
			<div id="dsq-profile-status-' + user_key + '" class="dsq-popup-profile-status" style="display:none"></div> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-profile-snapshot"> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td> \
							<div id="dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-wrapper-' + user_key + '"> \
								<h4>Most active sites</h4> \
								<ul id="dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + user_key + '"> \
									<li>Loading...</li> \
								</ul> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
						<td>'
							+ _includeServices()
							+ '<div id="dsq-popup-profile-moderated-wrapper-' + user_key + '"> \
								<h4>Moderator of</h4> \
								<ul id="dsq-popup-profile-moderated-' + user_key + '"> \
									<li>Loading...</li> \
								</ul> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
			</div> \
			';

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.popupReblog = function() {
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<cite><span>Reblog this comment</span></cite> \
		';

		bodyHtml = ' \
			<div id="dsq-reblog-form" class="dsq-reblog-form"> \
			</div> \
		';

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.popupModal = function(title, message) {
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<h3>' + title + '</h3> \
		';

		bodyHtml = message;

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.alertContent = function(name, post_id) {
		var alert = {
			'post_not_approved': {
				'title': 'Comment awaiting approval by a moderator',
				'message': 'Thanks for posting. Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.'
			},
			'post_has_profile': {
				'title': 'Use your existing commenter profile',
				'message': 'You have just posted your commment as a <span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span>, but you may already have a <span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span> commenter profile.<br /><br /><a href="http://disqus.com/claim">Log in and claim this comment!</a>'
			}
		};
		return alert[name] || false;
	};

	//
	// Actions
	//

	this.voted = function(post_id, points, vote) {
		// Update number of points
		Dsq.$('dsq-points-' + post_id).innerHTML = points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this comment.';

		// Update link text
		if(vote) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-rate-cont-' + post_id).innerHTML = 'You liked this.';
		}
	};

	this.subscribed = function(status) {
		var title, message;

		if(status) {
			title = 'Subscribed!';
			message = 'You have subscribed to this comment thread. New comments will be sent directly to your email inbox, where you may read and respond by email.';
			Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe').innerHTML = ' \
				<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(0); return false">Unsubscribe</a> \
			';
		} else {
			title = 'Unsubscribed';
			message = 'You have unsubscribed to this comment thread. New comments will no longer be sent to your email inbox.';
			Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe').innerHTML = ' \
				<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">Subscribe by email</a> \
			';
		}

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);

	};
	
	this.highlighted = function() {
		Dsq.Popup.popModal('This comment has been highlighted.', 'Highlighted comment');
	};

	//
	// Media
	//

	this.mediaSeesmic = function(id, thumb) {
		return ' \
			<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_preview" class="dsq-seesmic-preview"><a href="http://www.seesmic.com/video/' + id + '" target="_blank" class="see_link">&nbsp;</a> \
				<div style="display:block;width:160px; height:120px; border:none; background-image:url(http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/' + thumb + ')"> \
					<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_hide" class="seePlayOverlay" style="display:none;"><img onclick="see_play_video(\'' + id + '\',false)" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/seesmic/stopOverlay.png" width="50" height="50" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; padding-top: 30px; padding-left: 50px" alt="" /></div> \
					<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_show" class="seePlayOverlay"><img onclick="see_play_video(\'' + id + '\',true)" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/seesmic/playOverlay.png" width="50" height="50" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; border:none; padding-top: 30px; padding-left: 50px" alt="" /></div> \
				</div> \
			</div> \
			<div id="' + id + '_content" style="display:block; width:100%; padding-top:5px"></div> \
		';
	};

	//
	// Callbacks
	//

	this.postComment_onSuccess = function(parent_post_id) {
		// Increment post count
		var num_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-num-posts');
		var total_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-total-posts');
		
		if (num_posts) { 
			num_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(num_posts.innerHTML) + 1;
		}
		if (total_posts) { 
			total_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(total_posts.innerHTML) + 1;
		}
	};
};
// Dsq.Templates


/**
 * Dsq.Post
 */
Dsq.Post = new function() {
	this.openedMenu = {};
	this.menuEventListener = null;
	this.stateReplyToggled = {};
	this.stateEditToggled = {};
	this.stateRecordLink = {};

	/**
	 * Inserts a new post into the document.
	 *
	 * @param after_id {Number}	Insert a post before specified id.  If after_id
	 *							evaluates to false, then post in the front.  If
	 *							after_id is -1, post at the end.
	 */
	this.insert = function(after_id, id, message, author) {
		// Skeleton template from thread_posts.html.
		var skeleton = ' \
			<li id="dsq-comment-%(id)s"> \
				<div id="dsq-comment-header-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-header"> \
					<cite id="dsq-cite-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-cite"> \
						<a id="dsq-author-user-%(id)s" href="%(author_url)s" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">%(author_name)s</a> \
					</cite> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-comment-body-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-body"> \
					<div id="dsq-comment-message-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-message">%(message)s</div> \
				</div> \
			</li> \
		';
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
		var _user_meta = Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key];
		var markup = Dsq.Utils.interpolate(skeleton, {
			id: id,
			message: message,
			author_url: _user_meta.blog,
			author_name: _user_meta.display_name
		});
		var div = document.createElement('div');
		markup = markup.replace(Dsq.COMMENTS_RE, Dsq.CommentsHandler);
		div.innerHTML = markup;

		if (after_id === -1) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-comments').appendChild(div);
		} else if (!after_id) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-comments').insertBefore(div, Dsq.$('dsq-comments').firstChild);
		} else if (Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + after_id)) {
			// Get next node after "after_id", so we can insert before it.
			// If "after_id" is the last comment, the target node is the
			// last node.
			
			// var append_post_id = Dsq.Templates.appendPost(after_id).replace('<div id="','').replace('"></div>', '');
			var append_post_id = 'dsq-append-post-' + after_id;
			var node = Dsq.$(append_post_id);
			while (node = node.nextSibling) {
				if (!node || node.nodeType == 1) { // 1 == Node.ELEMENT_NODE
					break;
				}
			}
			if (!node) {
				node = Dsq.$(append_post_id);
			}
			node.parentNode.insertBefore(div, node);
		}
	};

	this.incrementPostCount = function() {
		
		var num_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-num-posts');
		var total_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-total-posts');

		if (num_posts) {
			num_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(num_posts.innerHTML, 10) + 1;
		}
		if (total_posts) {
			total_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(total_posts.innerHTML, 10) + 1;
		}
	}
	
	this.outlineComment = function(post_id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className += ' dsq-comment-outline';
		setTimeout("(function () { Dsq.Post.clearOutlineComment(" + post_id + ") })()", 3000);
	};
	
	this.clearOutlineComment = function(post_id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className.replace('dsq-comment-outline', '');
	};

	this.showMenu = function(el, id, name) {
		var anchorPos = Dsq.Utils.findPos(el);
		var menu = document.createElement('ul');

		if(this.openedMenu) {
			if(this.openedMenu.linkClicked) {
				this.openedMenu.linkClicked = false;
				return;
			}
		}

		switch(name) {
			case 'more':
				menu.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.menuMore(id);
				break;
			case 'media':
				menu.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.menuMedia(id);
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}

		// Add menu to document body
		menu.id = 'dsq-menu-' + id;
		menu.className = 'dsq-menu';
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(menu);

		// Position and show
		anchorPos[1] += 15;
		menu.style.left = anchorPos[0] + 'px';
		menu.style.top = anchorPos[1] + 'px';
		menu.style.display = 'block';

		// Set global reference
		this.openedMenu = {
			'el' : menu,
			'id' : id,
			'name' : name,
			'linkClicked' : false
		};

		// Set listener
		this.menuEventListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', this._hideMenu);
	};

	this._hideMenu = function(e) {
		var el = e.target || e.srcElement;
		var openedMenu = Dsq.Post.openedMenu.el;
		var id = Dsq.Post.openedMenu.id;

		if(!id) {
			var link = 'dsq-' + Dsq.Post.openedMenu.name + '-link';
		} else {
			var link = 'dsq-' + Dsq.Post.openedMenu.name + '-link-' + id;
		}

		if(!openedMenu) {
			return;
		}

		if(!Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, openedMenu.id)) {
			openedMenu.style.display = 'none';
			Dsq.Utils.removeEventListener(Dsq.Post.menuEventListener);
			Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(openedMenu);

		} else {
			// Hide the menu if a link was clicked inside the menu.  We can't
			// completely remove the menu until the onclick event on the link
			// fires, but the menuEventListener will prevent multiple menus
			// from polluting the DOM.
			if(el && typeof el.href != 'undefined') {
				openedMenu.style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.Post.openedMenu.el = null;
			}
		}

		if(Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, link)) {
 			Dsq.Post.openedMenu.linkClicked = true;
		}
	};


	this.getUserServices = function(user_key, id) {
		if(!user_key && id) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
			user_key = _meta.user_key;
		}
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][user_key];
		var userServices = [];

		// Keep a full list of supported services. This is the order they will display in the drop-profile.
		// Each service must have a corresponding case in _buildServiceUrl()
		var supportedServices = ['blog', 'twitter', 'facebook', 'tumblr'];

		function _buildServiceUrl(serviceName) {
			var data = userData[serviceName];
			var services = {
				blog:		function(d) { return d; },
				twitter:	function(d) { return d; },
				facebook:	function(d) { return d; },
				tumblr:		function(d) { return 'http://' + d + '.tumblr.com'; }
			};
			return services[serviceName](data);
		}

		for(var i = 0; i < supportedServices.length; i++) {
			if(userData[supportedServices[i]]) {
				var serviceUrl = _buildServiceUrl(supportedServices[i]);
				userServices.push({'name' : supportedServices[i], 'url' : serviceUrl});
			}
		}
		return userServices;
	}

	this.dropProfile = function(id) {
		var dp = Dsq.$('dsq-drop-profile-' + id);

		// IE6 needs JS to display/hide. All other browsers use CSS.
		if(dp) {
			if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) dp.style.display = (dp.style.display == 'inline') ? 'none' : 'inline';
			return false;
		} else {
			dp = document.createElement('ul');
		}

		dp.id = 'dsq-drop-profile-' + id;
		dp.className = 'dsq-drop-profile';

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) { dp.style.display = 'inline'; }

		var container = Dsq.$('dsq-header-avatar-' + id);
		dp.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.dropProfile(id);
		container.appendChild(dp);
	};

	this.dropProfileMore = function(el, id) {
		var hiddenItems = Dsq.$('dsq-drop-hidden-' + id);

		hiddenItems.style.display = 'inline';
		el.parentNode.style.display = 'none';
	};

	this._updateReplyLinks = function(el, id) {
		// Update "reply / cancel" links based on state.
		var displayDict = {};

		if(id) {
			if(this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				el.innerHTML = 'Cancel';
				displayDict['media'] = 'inline';
				displayDict['edit'] = 'none';
			} else {
				el.innerHTML = 'Reply';
				displayDict['media'] = 'none';
				displayDict['edit'] = 'inline';
			}
		}

		for(var key in displayDict) {
			if(displayDict.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				var	linkEl = Dsq.$('dsq-' + key + '-el-' + id),
					spacer = Dsq.$('dsq-' + key + '-spacer-' + id);

				if(linkEl) {
					linkEl.style.display = displayDict[key];
					if(spacer) spacer.style.display = displayDict[key];
				}
			}
		}
	};

	this._updateMediaLinks = function(el, id) {
		// Update "use media / cancel" links based on state.
		var appendId = (id) ? ('-' + id) : '';
		var link = Dsq.$('dsq-media-link' + appendId);

		if(this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
			link.innerHTML = 'Cancel Media';
			link.onclick = function() { Dsq.Post.toggleMediaReply(link, id); return false; };
		} else {
			link.innerHTML = 'Use Media <small>&#9660;</small>';
			link.onclick = function() { Dsq.Post.showMenu(link, id, 'media'); return false; };
		}
	};

	this.toggleReply = function(el, id) {
		// Create reply IFrame
		if (window.disqus_use_postmessage) {
			if (!this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				// Create IFrame if it doesn't exist.
				if (!Dsq.frames['reply_' + id]) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-frame-' + id), id);
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id].init();
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id].setState(id, _meta.depth);
				}
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id).style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'none';
			}
		} else {
			// DEPRECATED
			if(!this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				// Reply toolbar
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id), id);
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.Iframes.hideAllInContainer(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id));
				if(this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
					// HACK: Cancel media before canceling self.
					this.toggleMediaReply(Dsq.$('dsq-media-link-' + id), id);
				}
			}
		}

		this.stateReplyToggled[id] = !this.stateReplyToggled[id];
		this._updateReplyLinks(el, id);

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE('dsq-reply-' + id); }

		Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED, {
			postId: id,
			opened: this.stateReplyToggled[id]
		});
	};

	this.toggleMediaReply = function(el, id, xtype) {
		id = id || 0;
		if(id) {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-post-add');
		}

		if(!this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, id, {xtype:xtype}, 'dsq-post-video');
		} else {
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, id);
		}
		this.stateRecordLink[id] = !this.stateRecordLink[id];
		this._updateMediaLinks(el, id);

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
	};

	this.edit = function(el, id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.frameEdit(id);
		el.parentNode.style.display = 'none';
		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE('dsq-comment-message-' + id); }
	};

    this.rate = function(el, id, vote) {
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_votes) {
			if(vote == 1) {
                Dsq.$('dsq-rate-cont-' + id).innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
            }

            Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/vote.js'
                + '?post_id='    + id
                + '&vote='        + vote);

		} else {
			Dsq.Popup.login(Dsq.Strings.TO_RATE_PLEASE_LOG_IN);
		}
    };

	this.report = function(id, confirmed) {
		if(confirmed) {
			Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06/post_report/', {'post_id': id});
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('Thank you. This comment has been flagged for moderator attention.', 'Successfully flagged');
			Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(Dsq.$('dsq-post-report-' + id));
		} else {
			var title = Dsq.Strings.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT;
			var message = Dsq.Strings.ARE_YOU_SURE_YOU_WOULD_LIKE_TO_REPORT_THIS_COMMENT_TO_A_MODERATOR + '? \
			<br /><br /> \
			<button onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true)"><strong>' + Dsq.Strings.NO + '</strong>, ' + Dsq.Strings.NEVER_MIND + '</button>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<button onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + id + ', true);"><strong>' + Dsq.Strings.YES + '</strong>, ' + Dsq.Strings.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT + '</button><br /><br />'
			+ Dsq.Strings.THIS_WILL_FLAG_COMMENTS_FOR_MODERATORS_TO_TAKE_ACTION + '. \
			';

			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title, id);
		}
	};



	this.showAlert = function(id, msg) {
		var msgEl = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + id);
		var alert = '<div class="dsq-comment-alert">' + msg + '</div>';

		msgEl.innerHTML = alert + msgEl.innerHTML;
	};

};
// Dsq.Post


/**
 * Dsq.Thread
 */
Dsq.Thread = new function() {
	this.fc = null;
	this.ff = null;
	this.ac = null;

	
	this.adminIsOn = false;

	
	
	

	this.hlComment = null;
	this.hlCommentClass = null;

	this.getNextComment = function(el) {
		var start_id = el.id;
		while(el = el.nextSibling) {
			if(el.id && el.id.indexOf('dsq-comment-') != -1 && el.id != start_id) {
				return el;
			}
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.getActiveCommentId = function() {
		if (document.URL.indexOf('#comment-') >= 0) {
			var anchor = document.URL.slice(document.URL.indexOf('#') + 1);
			return anchor.replace('comment-', '');
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.highlightAnchor = function() {
		var i = this.getActiveCommentId();
		if (i == null) return false;
		var id = 'dsq-comment-' + i;
		var hash = window.location.hash;

		// Toggle the hash incase the comment isn't available when the page loads
		// for WebKit-based browsers.
		if (Dsq.Utils.webkit) {
			window.location.hash = '';
			window.location.hash = hash;
		}

		this.hlComment = Dsq.$(id);
		// Adding this conditional guard pending #289
		if (!this.hlComment) {
			return;
		}
		this.hlCommentClass = this.hlComment.className;
		this.hlComment.className += ' dsq-hl-anchor';

		setTimeout("Dsq.Thread.highlightClear()", 3000);
	};

	this.highlightClear = function() {
		if (!this.hlComment) {
			return;
		}
		this.hlComment.className = this.hlCommentClass;
	};

	this.login = function(toggle) {
		// toggle id is #dsq-reply-login-[id]
		var postId;
		if(toggle.id.indexOf('dsq-reply-login') != -1) {
			postId = toggle.id.slice(16);
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + postId);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-post-add');
		}

		if(toggle) {
			if(toggle.className == 'dsq-login-active') {
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed(container, postId);
				toggle.className = '';
			} else {
				Dsq.Iframes.showLoginIframeInContainer(container, postId);
				toggle.className = 'dsq-login-active';
			}
		} else {
			Dsq.Iframes.showLoginIframeInContainer(container, postId);
		}

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
	};


	this.paginate = function(page, el_clicked, per_page) {
		// Use extra_params to pass any override parameters that we need to persist.
		var extra_params = '';

		// "Per page" can either be overriden by providing it as an argument
		// (per-call) or setting the disqus_per_page override variable (global).
		if(typeof per_page == 'undefined') {
			per_page = null;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined' && per_page === null) {
			per_page = disqus_per_page;
		}

		if(typeof disqus_sort != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&sort=' + disqus_sort;
		}
		if(per_page !== null) {
			extra_params += '&per_page=' + per_page;
		}

		Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML += '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
		
		if(el_clicked) {
			el_clicked.style.display = 'none';
		}
		
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06'
			+ '&p='		+ page
			+ extra_params);
	};

	this.sortBy = function(sort) {
		var disqus_script = document.createElement('script');
		var disqus_date = new Date();

		if (location.hash != '') {
			location.hash = '#disqus_thread';
		}

		if(typeof(disqus_url) == 'undefined') {
			disqus_url = disqus_href;
		}
		disqus_script.type = 'text/javascript';
		disqus_script.src = 'http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06'
			+ '&sort='	+ sort
			+ '&title='
			+ '&'		+ disqus_date.getTime();

		Dsq.$('dsq-comments').innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading.gif">';
		Dsq.container.appendChild(disqus_script);
	};

	this.subscribe = function(status, email) {
		// `status` is an int -- 1 to subscribe, 0 to unsubscribe
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || email) {
			// If authenticated user OR anonymous email provided

			if(email) {
				Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);
			}

			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/subscribe.js'
				+'?status=' 	+ status
				+ '&slug='		+ 'friday_open_thread8230yeah_it8217s_friday_06'
				+ '&email=' 	+ encodeURIComponent(email));

		} else if(!email) {
			// If anonymous user and no email has been provided yet, prompt for email

			var title = 'Subscribe to this comment thread';
			var message = ' \
				New comments will be sent directly to your email inbox! \
				<div class="dsq-subscribe-submit"> \
					<p><strong>Enter your email address below.</strong></p> \
					<input type="text" id="dsq-subscribe-email"> \
					<button onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1, Dsq.$(\'dsq-subscribe-email\').value)">Subscribe</button> \
				</div> \
			';

			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
		}
	};

	this.showSettings = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) {
			return;
		}

		/* The form has to be re-designed when more options will come out. */
		var html = 'Automatically close comments after <input size="3" id="dsq-thread-days-alive" value="' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.days_alive + '" type="text" /> days. Existing comments will still be displayed.<br /><br />(Using 0 days will disable this feature)<br /><br />'
								 + '<button onclick="Dsq.Thread.updateDaysAlive();" class="dsq-button-small"><span>Save</span></button>'
								 + '<span id="dsq-thread-settings-status" class="dsq-options-status"></span>';
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(html, 'Settings');
	};

	this.updateDaysAlive = function() {
		var days = Dsq.$('dsq-thread-days-alive').value;
		var status = Dsq.$('dsq-thread-settings-status');
		Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/update_days_alive.js', {days:days,thread:Dsq.jsonData.thread.id});
		status.innerHTML = 'Saved!';
		window.setTimeout(function() { status.innerHTML = ''; }, 1000);
	};
};
// Dsq.Thread

Dsq.Events = function() {
	var obj = {};

	// Private
	var handlers = {};
	var getHandlers = function(event) {
		if (handlers[event] === undefined) {
			handlers[event] = [];
		}
		return handlers[event];
	};

	// Public
	// Value keys : postId, node, xtype
	obj.REPLY_IFRAME_CREATED = 1;
	// Value keys : postId, opened
	obj.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED = 2;
	obj.fire = function(event, opt_value) {
		if (!event) {
			throw new Error('Unknown event');
		}
		var value = opt_value || {};
		for (var i=0; i<getHandlers(event).length; i++) {
			getHandlers(event)[i](value);
		}
	};
	obj.addHandler = function(event, callback) {
		getHandlers(event).push(callback);
	};

	return obj;
}();

/**
 * Dsq.Realtime
 */
Dsq.Realtime = new function() {
	var initialized = false;
	var interval = null;
	var last_checked = Dsq.jsonData.request.timestamp;
	var new_posts = [];
	var ongoing_request = false;
	var prev_script = null;

	function updateNewPostCount() {
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-alert').style.display = new_posts.length ? 'block' : 'none';

		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-queued').innerHTML = new_posts.length
		+ ' new '
		+ Dsq.Utils.pluralize(new_posts.length, 'comment', 'comments')
		+ Dsq.Utils.pluralize(new_posts.length, ' was', ' were')
		+ ' just posted.';

		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-show').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.SHOW + ')';
	}

	function insertNewPosts() {
		var post_id = null;
		var after_id = Dsq.$('dsq-sort-select').value === 'oldest' ? -1 : null;

		for (var i=0; i<new_posts.length; i++) {
			post_id = new_posts[i];
			Dsq.Post.insert(after_id, post_id, Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id].message);
			Dsq.Post.incrementPostCount();
			Dsq.Post.outlineComment(post_id);
		}
		new_posts = [];
	}

	this.enableInterval = function() {
		interval = setInterval(Dsq.Realtime.check, Dsq.jsonData.context.realtime_speed);
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-status').innerHTML = Dsq.Strings.ENABLED;
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.PAUSE + ')';
	}

	this.disableInterval = function() {
		if (interval) {
			clearInterval(interval);
			interval = null;
		}
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-status').innerHTML = Dsq.Strings.PAUSED;
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.RESUME + ')';
	}

	this.toggleInterval = function() {
		if (!interval) {
			Dsq.Realtime.enableInterval();
		} else {
			Dsq.Realtime.disableInterval();
		}
		return false;
	}

	this.initialize = function() {
		if (!initialized) {
			initialized = true;
			Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').onclick = this.toggleInterval;
			if (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-show').onclick = this.show;
				updateNewPostCount();
			}
			if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.realtime_paused) {
				Dsq.Realtime.disableInterval();
			} else {
				Dsq.Realtime.enableInterval();
			}
		}
	}

	this.show = function() {
		insertNewPosts();
		updateNewPostCount();
		return false;
	}

	this.check = function() {
		if (!ongoing_request && Dsq.jsonData.realtime_enabled) {
			if (prev_script) {
				prev_script.parentNode.removeChild(prev_script);
			}
			ongoing_request = true;
			prev_script = Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/2026134/realtime.js?timestamp=' + last_checked);
		}
	};

	this.update = function(timestamp, posts, users) {
		ongoing_request = false;
		last_checked = timestamp;

		if (users) {
			for (var user_id in users) {
				if (users.hasOwnProperty(user_id)) {
					if (!Dsq.jsonData.users[user_id]) {
						Dsq.jsonData.users[user_id] = users[user_id];
					}
				}
			}
		}

		if (posts) {
			for (var post_id in posts) {
				if (posts.hasOwnProperty(post_id)) {
					if (!Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id]) {
						Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] = posts[post_id];
						new_posts.push(post_id);
					}
				}
			}

			if (Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
				insertNewPosts();
			} else {
				updateNewPostCount();
			}
		}
	};

}();

// DEPRECATED
Dsq.Iframes = function() {
	// Different style of object from the above. Hoping to switch to this for some reason.
	var obj = {};

	// Private
	var showIframeInContainer = function(container, id, markup) {
		// Look through container for iframes, hiding them, except show one that matches id
		// If none of them matched id, create a new iframe using markup and insert it.
		// Returns the iframe node if and only if it was newly created.
		var found = false;
		for (var i=0; i<container.childNodes.length; i++) {
			var child = container.childNodes[i];
			if (child.nodeName == 'IFRAME') {
				if (child.id == id) {
					child.style.display = 'block';
					found = true;
				} else {
					child.style.display = 'none';
				}
			}
		}
		if (found) {
			return;
		}
		// The iframe wasn't found, so construct it and add it to the container.
		// Don't use innerHTML because it might reload iframes
		var div = document.createElement('div');
		div.innerHTML = markup;
		var iframe = div.childNodes[0];
		div.removeChild(iframe);
		container.appendChild(iframe);
		return iframe;
	};

	// Public
	obj.makeReplyIframeId = function(opt_postId, opt_xtype) {
		var id = 'dsq-post-add-iframe';
		if (opt_xtype) {
			id += '-' + opt_xtype;
		}
		if (opt_postId) {
			id += '-' + opt_postId;
		}
		return id;
	};
	obj.makeLoginIframeId = function(opt_postId) {
		if (!opt_postId) {
			return 'dsq-login-iframe';
		}
		return 'dsq-login-iframe-' + opt_postId;
	};
	obj.makeReplyIframeName = function(opt_postId, opt_xtype) {
		var name = 'dsq-reply-frame';
		if (opt_xtype) {
			name += '-' + opt_xtype;
		}
		if (opt_postId) {
			name += '-' + opt_postId;
		}
		return name;
	};
	obj.showReplyIframeInContainer = function(container, opt_postId, opt_extraParams, opt_className) {
		// Construct the id so we can check if it's already present.
		// Hide any other iframes we find, and show this one if it's found.
		var params = opt_extraParams || {};
		// use xtype in the id and name so we can distinguish media replies from text replies:
		var id = Dsq.Iframes.makeReplyIframeId(opt_postId, params.xtype);
		var name = Dsq.Iframes.makeReplyIframeName(opt_postId, params.xtype);
		var attributes = {
			'id': id,
			'name': name,
			'class': opt_className || 'dsq-post-reply'
			};
		var markup = Dsq.Templates.frameReply(opt_postId, opt_extraParams, attributes);
		var iframe = showIframeInContainer(container, id, markup);
		// It was newly created
		if (iframe) {
			Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_CREATED, {
				postId: opt_postId,
				node: iframe,
				xtype: params.xtype
			});
		}
	};
	obj.showLoginIframeInContainer = function(container, opt_postId) {
		var id = Dsq.Iframes.makeLoginIframeId(opt_postId);
		var markup = Dsq.Templates.frameLogin({id: id});
		showIframeInContainer(container, id, markup);
	};
	obj.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed = function(container, opt_postId) {
		if (Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {
			obj.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, opt_postId);
		} else {
			obj.hideAllInContainer(container);
		}
	};
	obj.hideAllInContainer = function(container) {
		for (var i=0; i<container.childNodes.length; i++) {
			var child = container.childNodes[i];
			if (child.nodeName == 'IFRAME') {
				child.style.display = 'none';
			}
		}
	};

	return obj;
}();

Dsq.Twitter = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.startTwitterConnect = function() {
		var popupParams = 'location=0,status=0,width=800,height=400';
		that._twitterWindow = window.open(Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/_ax/twitter/begin/', 'twitterWindow', popupParams);
		that._twitterInterval = window.setInterval(that.completeTwitterConnect, 1000);
	};

	this.completeTwitterConnect = function() {
		if (that._twitterWindow.closed) {
			window.clearInterval(that._twitterInterval);
			window.location.reload();
		}
	};
};

Dsq.Yahoo = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.startYahooConnect = function() {
		var popupParams = 'location=0,status=0,width=800,height=400';
		that._yahooWindow = window.open(Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/_ax/yahoo/begin/', 'yahooWindow', popupParams);
		that._yahooInterval = window.setInterval(that.completeYahooConnect, 1000);
	};

	this.completeYahooConnect = function() {
		if (that._yahooWindow.closed) {
			window.clearInterval(that._yahooInterval);
			window.location.reload();
		}
	};
};

Dsq.OpenID = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.requestURL = function() {
		var message = '<table class="dsq-openid-form"><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"><img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.media_url + '/images/openid-icon-100x100.png" /></td>';
		message += '<td><label for="dsq-openid-url">OpenID URL:</label></td><td><input type="text" id="dsq-openid-url" /></td></tr>';
		message += '<tr><td><label for="dsq-openid-username">Display name:</label></td><td><input type="text" id="dsq-openid-username" /></td></tr>';
		message += '<tr><td class="dsq-openid-submit" colspan="3"><input type="button" value="Sign in" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.startConnect();" /></td></tr>';
		message += "</table>";

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, 'Sign in using OpenID');
	};

	this.startConnect = function() {
		var isblank = function(str) {
			return /^\s*$/.test(str);
		};

		var openid_url = Dsq.$('dsq-openid-url').value;
		var username = Dsq.$('dsq-openid-username').value;

		if (isblank(openid_url)) {
			return;
		}

		var popupParams = 'location=0,status=0,width=800,height=500';
		var url = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/_ax/openid/begin/' + '?url=' + encodeURIComponent(openid_url) + '&username=' + encodeURIComponent(username);
		that._openidWindow = window.open(url, 'openidWindow', popupParams);
		that._openidInterval = window.setInterval(that.completeConnect, 1000);
	};

	this.completeConnect = function() {
		if (that._openidWindow.closed) {
			window.clearInterval(that._openidInterval);
			window.location.reload();
		}
	};
};

Dsq.Reaction = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.hide = function(id) {
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/hidereaction.js?' + 'reaction_id=' + id);
	};

	this.reportMissingReactions = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || !Dsq.jsonData.forum.reactions_enabled) {
			return;
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.queued) {
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('Your report has been received. The system will automatically search for new reactions; if any are found, they will be displayed on this comment thread.<br/><br/>Thank&nbsp;you.',
												 'Reported missing reactions');
			return;
		}

		Dsq.Utils.execScript(Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/forums/jackandjillpolitics/queueurl.js');
	};
};

Dsq.CNN = function() {
	var obj = {};

	obj.authenticate = function() {
		var url = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + "/saml/cnn/try/";
		Dsq.Utils.postToUrl(url, {'target': document.location}, true);
	};

	return obj;
}();


if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) {
	(function() {
		DSQ_HEADER_AVATAR_RE = /<div class="dsq-header-avatar"(.*?)>/gim;
		Dsq.Templates.registerFilter('postPrependHeader', function(html, post_id) {
			// Add "onmouseout" for dsq-header-avatar for dropProfile
			// functionality since IE6 cannot use :hover.
			function _headerAvatarReplace(content, inner, _unused, html) {
				return '<div class="dsq-header-avatar" '
					+ inner
					+ ' onmouseout="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')">';
			}
			html = html.replace(DSQ_HEADER_AVATAR_RE, _headerAvatarReplace);
			return html;
		});
	})();
}





	// TODO: Move Seesmic code outside of the main script.  Don't let this script clobber the global namespace.
	if(typeof seesmic == 'undefined') { var seesmic = {}; }
	seesmic.widget = new function () {
		this.callback = function (data) {
			playerVersion = data.disqusplayer;
		};
	};

	
	var scriptEl = document.createElement('script');
	scriptEl.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript');
	scriptEl.setAttribute('src', 'http://seesmic.com/version.js?callback=seesmic.widget.callback');
	document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(scriptEl);

	
	var scriptEl = document.createElement('script');
	scriptEl.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript');
	scriptEl.setAttribute('src', 'http://media.disqus.com/javascript/library/swfobject.js');
	document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(scriptEl);

	function see_play_video(_videoUri, _add) {
		var swf = !!playerVersion ? playerVersion : 'http://seesmic.com/embeds/StandalonePlayer.swf';

		flashcontentDiv = Dsq.$(_videoUri + '_content');
		previewDiv = Dsq.$('dsq-seesmic-' + _videoUri + '_preview');
		hideDiv = Dsq.$('dsq-seesmic-' + _videoUri + '_hide');
		showDiv = Dsq.$('dsq-seesmic-' + _videoUri + '_show');
		if(_add) {
			// push flash widget
			var so = new SWFObject(swf, 'sotester', '300', '270', '9', '#000000');
			so.addVariable('video', _videoUri);
			so.addParam('allowFullScreen', 'true');
			so.addParam('allowScriptAccess','always');
			so.useExpressInstall('swfobject/expressinstall.swf');
			so.write(_videoUri + '_content');

			previewDiv.style.display = 'none';
			hideDiv.style.display = 'block';
			showDiv.style.display = 'none';
		}
		else {
			flashcontentDiv.innerHTML = '';
			previewDiv.style.display = 'block';
			hideDiv.style.display = 'none';
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<ul id="dsq-comments">\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972133">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972133" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972133" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972133">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972133" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972133" class="dsq-comment-message">You know, I\'m trying to believe that if the situations were reversed; That if there was some Democrat who said that they\'d been involved in an \'Exorcism\' and thought <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/19/jindal-intelligent-design_n_108147.html" rel="nofollow">\'Intelligent Design is the very best science\',</a> that they, too, would be considered for anyone\'s short list for VP.<br></br><br>But, I doubt it.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972134">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972134" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972134" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972134">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972134" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972134" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6464" rel="nofollow">Emerging Obama Target Strategy</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972135">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972135" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972135" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972135">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972135" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972135" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/141507" rel="nofollow">McCain vs. Obama\'s 50 State Strategy</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972136">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972136" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972136" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972136">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972136" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972136" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/18/cnns-jack-cafferty-rails_n_107925.html" rel="nofollow">CNN\'s Jack Cafferty Rails At John McCain\'s Constant Flip-Flopping</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972137">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972137" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972137" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972137">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972137" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972137" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/obama-personally-apologiz_n_108213.html" rel="nofollow">Obama Personally Apologizes to Muslim Women</a><br></br><br>GOOD.</br><br></br><br>it\'s what he should have done.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972138">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972138" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972138" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972138">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972138" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972138" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/mccain-and-obama-tied-in_n_108217.html" rel="nofollow">Obama and McCain Tied in GEORGIA?</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972139">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972139" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972139" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972139">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972139" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972139" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-elliott/as-long-as-were-talking-a_b_108060.html" rel="nofollow">As Long As We\'re Talking About Michelle Obama, Did you know Cindy McCain Was a Drug Addict?</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972140">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972140" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972140" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972140">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972140" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972140" class="dsq-comment-message">Rikyrah,<br>Yes, we know.</br><br></br><br>I actually had work to do yesterday, so I didn\'t get to say much.</br><br></br><br>But on McCain\'s "I was not in love with America until I was deprived of her company," and its comparison to what Michelle said: the two aren\'t the same.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972141">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972141" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972141" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972141">Brown Man</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972141" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972141" class="dsq-comment-message"><b><a href="http://simplifythepositive.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Off The Record</a></b> - a fictional look at what different voices around the country are saying about Obama.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972142">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972142" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972142" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972142">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972142" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972142" class="dsq-comment-message">Ha, I saw that Jindal story yesterday.  A non-scientist declaring what is the best science...amazing.  These fundamentalists want to take the world back to the dark ages.<br></br><br>Did anyone see Elisabeth on Hannity after Michelle\'s appearance?  I\'m pretty sure she said she brought up the Rev. Wright issue in the makeup room before the show and got a frosty response.  She left it open that possibly it was Michelle who froze her out, but I think it was the ladies who put her on lockdown. Notice how uncharacteristically quiet they were on the panel?</br><br></br><br>Then EH blathered non-stop about not bringing people on the show to make them feel uncomfortable(RIGHT!)  Hannity was clearly disappointed she didn\'t say what he must have told her to(aka Stephanopoulos).  Maybe that\'s why Michelle reached over and grabbed her hand(because of the posited beatdown that happened in the makeup room)...Michelle, always classy and kind to the lowlife.  </br><br></br><br>The Obama\'s make people who insult them look so small.</br><br></br><br>What about the Lars guy raging about how Michelle has a "do-nothing" job, being "extremely fortunate"..etc?  What is with all the white exploding heads over this black woman with an Ivy League education??!  Where is THAT coming from?  Do they really believe you can coast academically and still graduate from Princeton & Harvard??  Well, not if you\'re poor!</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972143">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972143" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972143" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972143">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972143" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972143" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/06/the_fairness_doctrine_at_work.html" rel="nofollow">The Fairness Doctrine At Work</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972144">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972144" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972144" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972144">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972144" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972144" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>MCCAIN\'S EXACT QUOTES:</br><br></br><br><b>"I really didn\'t love America until I was deprived of her Company."</b></br><br></br><br><b>"I was born into America\'s service.  It wasn\'t until I was deprived of her company that I fell in love with America."</b></br><br></br><br>When someone in the audience at a Town Hall asked how he could be proud of his country.  McCain responded:</br><br><b>"I’ll admit to you that it’s tough, it’s tough in some respects." </b></br><br></br><br>GET IT RIGHT!</br><br></br><br>Here we have 3 separate occasions where McCain expresses ambivalence about his pride in his country.</br><br></br><br>McCain has bragged about his low grades and position 5 from the bottom of his class....citing his poor grades and subsequent status as evidence you can make it in America.  </br><br></br><br>First, his family\'s wealth, then Cindy McCain\'s wealth greased his way through life.  John is an entirely unremarkable man who owes his success to Right Wing America\'s worship of death.  It\'s no surprise they butt heads with religious fanatics...they are kindred spirits.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972145">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972145" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972145" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972145">Muzikal203</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972145" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972145" class="dsq-comment-message">Please check out a blog I wrote yesterday and comment on it, I\'m curious to see what everyone thinks. <br></br><br>Happy Friday!</br><br></br><br><a href="http://muzikalthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/06/de-blackification-of-barack-and.html" rel="nofollow"> The "De-blackification" of Barack and Michelle Obama </a></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972146">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972146" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972146" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972146">Nicole</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972146" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972146" class="dsq-comment-message">rikyrah, I am glad you posted the article about Cindy McCain\'s drug use and Old Man McCain\'s wishywashy-ness on almost every important issue.<br></br><br>It shows just how much of a double standard there is for Obama and his family.  I have yet to hear on any mainstream media site about her drug issues but earlier this week I was still seeing articles about Obama\'s "drug use."  Obama decided against public financing and now he is taking the heat for it.  McCain  switches it up on issues that will have an impact for years to come and they are over looked.</br><br></br><br>I know that this is just the beginning but I cannot wait until this is over.  The rules of the game are killing me.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972147">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972147" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972147" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972147">Muzikal203</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972147" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972147" class="dsq-comment-message">truthseeker, <br></br><br>There are certain rules that only apply to Black people. :o)</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972148">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972148" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972148" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972148">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972148" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972148" class="dsq-comment-message">Truth,<br>You know when I became as proud of my country as I am now? During my year in Guantanamo. </br><br></br><br>Does that mean I hated America before? No.</br><br></br><br>When you have a life-altering experience-say, being a POW-it alters how you view certain things in life. I think all McCain meant was that his love of country grew a little bit more during his time as a POW, just as mine did among the detainees in Guantanamo.</br><br></br><br>And, yeah, it is tough sometimes to be proud of America. We fuck up sometimes; we\'re not perfect.</br><br></br><br>I <b>do not believe</b> that Michelle\'s admiration of her husband\'s ascendancy is similar to McCain\'s experience. I <b> do not know</b> whether there\'s been something that drastic in her life that would cause her to say what she did. That\'s why I think comparing the two statements is wrong.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972149">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972149" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972149" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972149">Kitty</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972149" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972149" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://adage.com/article?article_id=127880" rel="nofollow">Obama Asks NBC to Draw Up Olympics Ad Packages</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972150">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972150" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972150" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972150">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972150" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972150" class="dsq-comment-message">It\'s more than the drug use.  It\'s the intrigue and criminality of stealing drugs from the organization she ran.  Consider also, that Cindy was the bookkeeper in the Keating five scandal.  For all her privilege, she shows a startling affinity for criminal behaviour...it\'s not just stealing bread to eat.  Cindy could have easily gotten <i>legal</i> access to prescription drugs.  We hear of stars doing it all the time.   We shouldn\'t be surprised that she\'s attempting to fuel the fire against Michelle.  Cindy has money, but no class.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972151">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972151" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972151" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972151">Muzikal203</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972151" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972151" class="dsq-comment-message">D., <br></br><br>McCain led a privleged life, there\'s nothing in HIS life that justifies him saying that he didn\'t really love American until he was a POW. Michelle said she was "really" proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. I\'m still not "really" proud of this country. I think Michelle had more than enough in her life to say what she did.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972152">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972152" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972152" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972152">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972152" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972152" class="dsq-comment-message">Muzikal,<br>Disagree. Someone who\'s had a privledged life, and is then treated like a common criminal for a portion of that life, is going to come back with a stronger appreciation of life outside of the circles he grew up in.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972153">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972153" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972153" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972153">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972153" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972153" class="dsq-comment-message">Can someone tell me why a candidate\'s spouse\'s actions almost twenty years ago have any relevance or grounds for comparison to the statements made by another candidate\'s spouse a few months ago?<br></br><br>And after that, I\'m done with Cindy McCain.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972154">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972154" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972154" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972154">Kitty</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972154" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972154" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>I was willing to cut Cindy McCain some slack on her past, that is until she started casting aspersions on Michelle.  When Mrs. McCain did that she lost the right not to have her past deeds scrutinized.  Forgive the cliche, but people in glass houses really have no business throwing stones.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972155">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972155" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972155" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972155">Muzikal203</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972155" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972155" class="dsq-comment-message">D., <br></br><br>The man said he didn\'t love the country until he was captured and "tortured" for 5 years. That is not excusable. </br><br></br><br>But I guess you\'re willing to make any manner of excuses for McCain on this one, so I\'ll drop it.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972156">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972156" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972156" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972156">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972156" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972156" class="dsq-comment-message">"She also altered the hospital’s research agenda. When the human papillomavirus vaccine, which can prevent cervical cancer, became available, researchers proposed approaching local school principals about enlisting black teenage girls as research subjects.<br></br><br>Mrs. Obama stopped that. The prospect of white doctors performing a trial with black teenage girls summoned the specter of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment of the mid-20th century, when white doctors let hundreds of black men go untreated to study the disease." (source: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/us/politics/18michelle.html?adxnnl=1&amp;adxnnlx=1213970661-8XV+Osd8hPMSv8lQjsAqNQ" rel="nofollow"> New York Times </a></br><br></br><br>It\'s "really" hard to be "really" proud of your country when have a first hand account of black folks being used like Guinea pig ! I think that\'s pretty TRAGIC!</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972157">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972157" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972157" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972157">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972157" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972157" class="dsq-comment-message">Truthseeker,<br></br><br>I watched Elizabeth Hasselback on Hannity & Colmes. I decided to see what she would say.</br><br></br><br>I wanted to choke her through the TV. She was just rambling on and on about garbege while Hannity was congratulating her for asking the tough questions. </br><br></br><br>I don\'t know why she is so obsessed with TUCC and Dr. Wright. As Tim Wise would say, "her whiteness is showing".</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972158">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972158" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972158" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972158">Town</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972158" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972158" class="dsq-comment-message">Can someone tell me why a candidate\'s spouse\'s actions almost twenty years ago have any relevance or grounds for comparison to the statements made by another candidate\'s spouse a few months ago?<br>---------------</br><br></br><br>Because the right wing and radical feminists are trying to paint Michelle Obama as unfit to be First Lady based on a questionable quote from a few months ago.  They are trying to paint her as an angry black baby mama who shouldn\'t be held up as a role model.</br><br></br><br>I don\'t think too many people would want their role model to be a pill popping home wrecking thief, either, so if they\'re going to go there with Michelle, they also need to go there with Paris Hilton McCain.</br><br></br><br>We talk about how the suburban white women who were Hillary\'s supporters supported her in part because they saw her in themselves, a long suffering woman who stood by while she was cheated on by her husband, and we\'re supposed to believe that these same women will cheer on Cindy McCain, the Other Woman?</br><br></br><br>See, the more they demonize Michelle, the more they\'ll focus on Cindy and that\'s not good for Cindy.  Already you have people saying "Wait a minute!  Michelle Obama is college educated, got married and had her kids in wedlock, but people are labeling her a lazy baby mama, wait a minute, this ain\'t right, it\'s racist."  </br><br></br><br>Lay off Michelle Obama, and people will lay off Cindy McCain.</br><br></br><br></br><br>Muzikal --</br><br></br><br>I have NEVER seen Obama be this champion of blackness, ever.  So I can\'t say he\'s running away from blackness when he wasn\'t running to it in the first place.  The whole premise of his campaign was that he "transcended race".  A big part of why so many white people like him is because he\'s not this angry, black, fist in the air, running down all the black grievances type of guy.  So IMO there\'s nothing for him to "deblackify" because he wasn\'t "black" beyond his skin color to begin with.  </br><br></br><br>As far as the "softening of Michelle," this is nothing new.  I\'ve been seeing articles for MONTHS with her talking about the girls, Malia\'s asthma, how the girls want a puppy, etc.  All those EBONY "The Next First Couple?" and "Black Love" articles were nothing but "soft" articles.</br><br></br><br>I personally don\'t think Michelle is this fist in the air, will cut yo\' ass, bitch-betta-move-out-my-way, type of woman anyway.  That\'s something WE project onto HER.  Where we think she looks mean and no-nonsense, she is probably thinking about how she hopes Barack put on a clean undershirt or if the girls are being good for Gramma or she\'d like to just go home and take a nice bubble bath.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972159">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972159" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972159" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972159">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972159" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972159" class="dsq-comment-message">rhonda,<br></br><br>that\'s just it...she didn\'t ask any tough questions on camera.  Hannity seemed ticked off that Elisabeth was so restrained which is when she said she asked about Wright in the makeup room and because of the response she got, felt she would be making Michelle uncomfortable.  Of course, making herself seem like the hero...but, I think it\'s the other ladies who read her the riot act.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972160">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972160" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972160" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972160">khal02</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972160" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972160" class="dsq-comment-message">D,<br></br><br>Were you not done being Cindy McCain\'s number one cheerleader on Wednesday? Again.... I\'m blown away by a supposedly black man going out of his way to support this woman who has the entire world supporting her (legal system, corporate media, etc) while tearing down a black woman with character and class who worked to get everything she has. You have to be dealing with some serious issues with black women.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972161">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972161" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972161" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972161">Elephants&amp;amp;Flowers</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972161" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972161" class="dsq-comment-message">Muzikal<br></br><br>I checked out your blog and felt the same way that you did about the ad.  I have to admit that it was more of a feeling (sad, sinking, rejected, neglected, etc.) than a conscious thought.  Then, like you, re-watched the ad 3 times.  Nope, no black people there...besides Obama.</br><br></br><br>A friend talked me back from my disappointment.  (Thanks, Texas Girl)  The verbal message was good and this 1st general ad needed to reach a new audience.  It was helpful to see the target strategy map (earlier in this blog) showing the states where the ad will be placed.</br><br></br><br>My ego is once again in check and my eyes are on the prize.  However, if all of his ads over the next 4 months continue to show no cultural diversity...</br><br></br><br>I\'ll be a pissed-off-but-still-voting-for-Obama-b*tch come November.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972162">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972162" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972162" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972162">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972162" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972162" class="dsq-comment-message">This is <a href="http://allotherpersons.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/political-miscellany-62008/" rel="nofollow">political news</a> from All Other Persons.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972163">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972163" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972163" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972163">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972163" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972163" class="dsq-comment-message">khal,<br>What you\'ve missed is that I\'ve never attacked Michelle. My issues with her have consistently been either:</br><br></br><br>1. Her failure to recognize how certain things she says could be taken out of context,</br><br></br><br>2. Obama\'s staff\'s failure to recognize the same, and suggest to her not to say them.</br><br></br><br>Apparently, problem #2 has-or is being-fixed.</br><br></br><br>Have you ever seen me try to defend the things that Cindy McCain\'s done? Wait, I\'ll answer that: no. <b>BECAUSE THEY\'RE NOT DEFENSIBLE.</b> Yes, she had the addiction. Yes, she\'s been involved in shady fiscal dealings. Yes, the beginning of her relationship with John-on the surface-seems suspect. I could lie and say they didn\'t, but that would make me ignorant to the facts.</br><br></br><br>My concern-which Kitty and Town both answered-is why this is relevant <i><b>now.</b></i></br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972164">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972164" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972164" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972164">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972164" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972164" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/06/obama_fights_phantom_527_group.html" rel="nofollow">Obama Fights Phantom 527 Groups</a><br></br><br><i>In short, there are presently no 527 groups with prospects dim for the formation of one. Obama is fully aware of this which makes his self serving statement about refusing federal financing the height of cynical lying.</i></br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972165">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972165" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972165" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972165">B-Serious</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972165" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972165" class="dsq-comment-message">McCain\'s comments do to the "patriotism" debate what Hagee\'s comments do to the Rev. Wright issue.<br></br><br>It shows just how DUMB and disingenuous these "issues" really are.  </br><br></br><br>Yes, McCain most likely mispoke . . . a "crime" no more harmful than Michelle Obama\'s comment (which I feel was never harmful in the first place).</br><br></br><br>McCain had a bad choice of words.  And while conservative talk radio will likely continue beating Michelle about the head for her choice of words:</br><br></br><br><i><b>"for the first time in my adult life. . . "</b></i></br><br></br><br>The Dems can do the exact same thing with McCain\'s choice of words:</br><br></br><br><i><b>"I didn\'t really love America until . . . "</b></i></br><br></br><br>Fact is we all probably have a good idea as to what both McCain and Michelle actually meant when they made those comments.  But partisan politics invites us ignore context, empathy and clarification for cheap political points.</br><br></br><br>Most political "issues" are only as controversial as the opposition makes them out to be.  They\'re in the drivers seat.  It\'s their call.  </br><br></br><br>For example, Hillary Clinton\'s Bosnia gaffe would have been twice as deadly if Obama chose to pile on and stoke the flames.  Likewise, Obama\'s "bitter" controversy wouldn\'t have been half as troubling if Hillary didn\'t jump at the opportunity to tag-team with McCain and smear a fellow Democrat with a common Republican attack, "elitism."</br><br></br><br>Well, Sean Hannity and Co. had the opportunity to treat Michelle\'s comment for what it was, a non-issue.  But they didn\'t do that . . . they chose hyperbole instead.  It was their choice.</br><br></br><br>Well . . . now the Dems have that choice as well.  </br><br></br><br>The Republicans can go there if they want, but McCain has already given the Dems enough firepower to use in retaliation.  It\'s an insurance policy.  Republicans bring up Rev. Wright\'s "God d*mn America," and Dems respond with Rev. Hagee\'s praise of Hitler as an instrument of God.  Attack Michelle\'s patriotism, and the Dems have two comments to fire right back at the Republicans.</br><br></br><br>It\'s ALL a distraction.  I\'d prefer that neither side feed the fire.  But so long as the Fox News crowd wants to play dirty, it\'s nice to know that Obama\'s got some fire power of his own.</br><br></br><br>Bottom line:  There is no singular definition of "patriotism."  Just as there is no singular definition of "American."  </br><br></br><br>McCain\'s traditional definition is no more "patriotic" than Obama\'s progressive view of the same sentiment.</br><br></br><br>Most people understand this.  My goodness, even Laura Bush and Mike Huckabee can see that a lot of these things are non issues.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972166">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972166" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972166" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972166">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972166" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972166" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>Yes we all know the 527\'s are coming. McCain insistence early this month that he can\'t (read:won\'t) control Rep 527\'s that will (and have - look at ads run in SC and other southern states attacking other Dems through demonizing Obama)be set up. </br><br></br><br>Is Obama being calculating and cold? Yes. Did he change his mind on an issue? Yes. Is he wrong? Not really. Anyone who\'s even been near a campaign will tell you this is the right move. Why? Because if Americans really cared about public financing McCain would have won last time. </br><br></br><br>Added to this the Rep. and McCain have shown themselves to be far from honest. He\'s borrowed money against public money (the case is still pending) and he\'s flipped in an out of private and public financing during these months of Dem primary battle.</br><br></br><br>My point? I\'m glad Obama didn\'t hand away his huge money advantage which allow him to outspend and bury McCain. Calling this move petty or unimportant displays an ignorance of presidential politics. Anyone who can\'t see the intelligence in this move is a failing to be objective. Short term bad press in return he gets a tidal-wave of money. </br><br></br><br>Along with this, the transparency of the O-mans fundraising operation and claim to the largest group of donors ever (and an average contribution near $100) allows for even more deflection. That\'s Chicago style.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972167">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972167" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972167" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972167">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972167" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972167" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>It\'s not even the addiction.  It\'s what she did to get the drugs which could have been obtained "legally".  All this is relevant now because when Cindy - who has received tremendous grace - was given a second chance, she chose not to extend that same grace to Michelle.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972168">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972168" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972168" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972168">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972168" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972168" class="dsq-comment-message">chaz,<br>That article actually says that they\'re <i><b>not</b></i> coming.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972169">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972169" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972169" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972169">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972169" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972169" class="dsq-comment-message">d, <br></br><br>I think what you mean as that - AS OF NOW, NONE HAVE BEEN FORMED! </br><br></br><br>Who is to say they will not be formed. Is there a guarantee? WHy should Obama take such a risk especially since the RNC has significantly more resources than the DNC to help Bush-McCain.</br><br></br><br>I will argue that Obama has sid he would consider campaign financing if he is assured that Bushh-McCain would ask any potential 527\'s to stand doown. I believe a few days ago Bush-McCain indicated that he couldn\'t referee the 527\'s. What kind of leader is he? IMO, that was enough for Obama to pull the trigger, in a manner of speaking, and reject public campaign financing.</br><br></br><br>For those who don\'t buy this argument, and chose to refer to it as a reversal, or flip-flop, well boo-hoo to you. All I can say is that it\'s going to be a long hot summer/presidential election cycle and I will happily buy this flip-flop. All $2,300.00 worth. Now that is true public funds, dontcha, think? </br><br></br><br>Rock on Obama. Cunning and Charismatic! Love this "ish". Man, it feels good to be a Democrat!</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972170">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972170" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972170" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972170">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972170" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972170" class="dsq-comment-message">T.,<br>I\'m no strategist, but.....</br><br></br><br>I think that we (conservatives), for the last few years, put most of our resources into the War on Terror, and countering the anti-war crowd.</br><br></br><br>We expected Clinton to be the nominee. We knew that half the country wouldn\'t vote for her as dogcatcher. We didn\'t think we would need 527s; the Clintons\' dirt was public knowledge.</br><br></br><br>Instead, we got Obama. Who brought a fundraising army, and told dhimmicrat 527s to hold (but still kept them in his pocket, just in case).</br><br></br><br>Unfortunately-or fortunately for y\'all-in a battle of 527s this go round, conservatives lose.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972171">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972171" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972171" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972171">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972171" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972171" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>Cry me a river. LOL!</br><br></br><br>Anyway you still have a chance to join a winning team. There are a lot of unashamed Obamacons oou there.</br><br></br><br>I have a suggestion for ya: Why don\'t both of us go shopping for $2,300.00 flip-flops, after which we can go out and get ourselves $5.27 pedicures? </br><br></br><br>Peace,</br><br>T.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972172">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972172" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972172" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972172">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972172" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972172" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'m not sure what this new fascination with count-up clocks is, on the part of Republicans -- clocks that are meant to show when Barack Obama last visited one particular television program, or last visited Iraq, or refused to respond to McCain\'s demand for a series of townhall meetings. It reminds me of my daughter -- once she first learned to count, that\'s all she ever did. She counted everything. She counted how many seconds it took her to run from the kitchen to the living room and back... she counted how long it took her to put her books away... she counted how many peas were on her plate. She was obsessed with counting.<br></br><br>But given the current budget, Republicans still haven\'t learned to count. So that can\'t be it.</br><br></br><br>Of course, all the "clocks" they\'ve come up with have been, and forgive me for finding this both intriguing and hysterical, demands that Obama pay attention to them. Fox News put up a clock demanding that Obama grace Fox News with an interview -- he did. That acquiescence is likely what led the RNC to the same idea, so now they\'re demanding both that Obama visit Iraq (with McCain! It\'s a field trip!) and that he allow McCain to tag along with him on his trips around the country, appearing on the same stage.</br><br></br><br>By all appearances, they\'re obsessed with trying to get Obama to grace them with his presence. McCain\'s constant invitations to appear with Obama have been a wee bit pathetic; I\'ve never seen a campaign so insistent on making themselves the opening act for the other party\'s candidate.</br><br></br><br>At the rate they\'re going through them, they\'re going to run out of clocks, but I suppose since they\'re so concerned about what Obama does, we might as well return the favor and help them out. Here\'s some alternative clocks the RNC can run on their homepage:</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Dared Obama To Eat A Bug: 54</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Demanded New Policy Of \'5 Do-Overs Per Debate\': 12</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain "Forgot" One Of His Previous Positions: 0.5</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Demanded Obama Get Off His Lawn: 3</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Mentioned He Was a POW In Vietnam: 0</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Mentioned He Doesn\'t Like To Use His POW Experience As Political Tool: 0</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Last Praised Bush Policy Of Refusing POW Status Or Any Other Legal Recourse To Detainees: 1</br><br></br><br>Days Since McCain Toured Iraqi Marketplace With 100+ Troops And Air Support, Declaring It Safe: 445</br><br></br><br>Days Since Last Iraqi Marketplace Bombing Killing More Than 50 People: 2</br><br></br><br>Days Since The Republican Party Had An Original Idea: 3,284</br><br></br><br>(source: Days Since I Cared: Umm... Ten. Let\'s Say Ten. </br><br>by Hunter, Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 07:15:03 PM PDT, Daily Kos)</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972173">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972173" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972173" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972173">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972173" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972173" class="dsq-comment-message">T.,<br>And $400 hair cuts. </br><br></br><br>After which, we go dodge sniper fire in Bosnia.</br><br></br><br>Then we can come back and be proud/in love with our country.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972174">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972174" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972174" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972174">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972174" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972174" class="dsq-comment-message">d, <br></br><br>My main point wasn\'t the 527\'s. (Though lower level 527\'s will be attacking and are attacking Dems down ticket). </br><br></br><br>My point was that politically this move was expected and reasonable. As I said, if people cared about campaign financing McCain wouldn\'t have already broken rules in the primary run up to no fanfare. The truth? This is about Obama\'s promise to pursue negotiations. </br><br></br><br>What has been very apparent is that neither side wanted these to happen. So, I call it a wash seeing as most Americans won\'t care in a week and Obama will have a huge money advantage. Maybe enough to blunt the bloated RNC which always has more than the DNC, we\'ll see. </br><br></br><br>But I\'ll concede that 537\'s probably won\'t be as much of a problem for Obama himself. I think were people aren\'t focused is down ticket, where if he plays his cards right Obama can bring people along.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972175">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972175" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972175" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972175">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972175" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972175" class="dsq-comment-message">I don\'t know if this has been posted, but: <a href="http://www.angrybrownbutch.com/2008/06/19/latina-teacher-fired-for-not-regurgitating-the-same-old-crap/" rel="nofollow"> Latina teacher fired for what?</a><br></br><br>I guess teaching critical thinking and inclusive history are out in America. Imperialist: 1 and Truth: 0.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972176">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972176" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972176" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972176">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972176" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972176" class="dsq-comment-message">Chaz,<br>Most conservatives-whether privately or publically-have already written off 2008.</br><br></br><br>Again, no strategist, but if anyone asked me, I\'d suggest that conservatives:</br><br></br><br>1. fight for the House/Senate seats we can win,</br><br>2. wake up on Nov. 5/Jan. 21 and go to work,</br><br>3. hope for an "told you so!!" moment between 2009-2012,</br><br>4. retake the Congress in the midterms and-if #3 happens-take the WH back in 2012.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972177">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972177" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972177" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972177">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972177" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972177" class="dsq-comment-message">Muzikal,<br></br><br>I saw the ad too, but it is his national introduction. </br><br></br><br>I agree with elephantsandflowers:</br><br></br><br><i>A friend talked me back from my disappointment. (Thanks, Texas Girl) The verbal message was good and this 1st general ad needed to reach a new audience. It was helpful to see the target strategy map (earlier in this blog) showing the states where the ad will be placed.</i></br><br></br><br></br><br>As for Michelle\'s \' image softening\', she went on \' The View\' because she has to introduce herself to a new general audience. </br><br></br><br>Michelle is no \'Angry Black Woman\'. She\'s a Professional Black Woman, and she\'s being insulted every which way. She has to be put forth in as many ways as possible.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972178">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972178" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972178" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972178">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972178" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972178" class="dsq-comment-message">it\'s not our imagination, Muzikal,<br>that the right is trying to unfairly paint Michelle Obama as an \' Angry, Militant-Want-to-kill-White-people Black Woman\'. </br><br></br><br>The Obamas have to combat that, and programs like The View help with that.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972179">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972179" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972179" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972179">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972179" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972179" class="dsq-comment-message">d, <br></br><br>Raised in conservative states and among conservative intellectuals I have to wonder why people aren\'t talking about reforming the Rep. party? What does it mean to be conservative in 2008?</br><br></br><br>I feel like conservatism, and maybe this is reading too much Andrew Sullivan, has lost its compass. It seems like conservative just want to chase the liberal ghost in academia (I\'m an academic in training), pretend like the overwhelming opening of my generation is leftist indoctrination, or fight two social issues while selling their other principals to the highest bidder.</br><br></br><br>Maybe it is time to assess what conservatism is given the failures of the recent past. </br><br></br><br>But that\'s just my $0.02</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972180">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972180" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972180" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972180">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972180" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972180" class="dsq-comment-message">Why would conservatives "hope" for disaster between 2009 & 2012?  That makes sense only if gaining power is the primary goal.  Why wouldn\'t Conservatives hope for the best that they too would benefit from?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972181">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972181" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972181" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972181">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972181" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972181" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/1013609,CST-NWS-mitch19.article" rel="nofollow">Mary Mitchell of the SunTimes</a> had in yesterday\'s Column:<br></br><br><i>During the Democratic primary, Barack Obama was subjected to scurrilous rumors. Now, his opponents are trying to use his wife as a lightning rod in the campaign. </i></br><br></br><br>For example, her comments about being proud to be an American for the first time in her adult life quickly became fodder in a GOP attack ad. </br><br></br><br>The latest attack involved a false claim that there is a tape of Michelle using the word "whitey" during a speech at Trinity United Church of Christ.</br><br></br><br>No such tape has surfaced.</br><br></br><br>Attempts made to stereotype her</br><br>But that didn\'t stop legitimate news outlets from allowing the unsubstantiated claim to enter the news stream.</br><br></br><br>"I mean \'whitey\'? That\'s something that George Jefferson would say," Michelle told a New York Times reporter. "Anyone who says that don\'t know me."</br><br></br><br>I doubt that an unsubstantiated allegation that Cindy McCain used the N-word during a rant would have been handled in the same way.</br><br></br><br>"I think the over-emphasis on Michelle Obama is truly a hidden bias against Obama," said Lee Walker, senior fellow of the Heartland Institute, a libertarian think tank headquartered in Chicago.</br><br></br><br>"These are personal attacks. They cannot reach him [Barack Obama], so the person they believe they can hurt the most is his wife," Walker said.</br><br></br><br>"Never in history has a candidate\'s wife been attacked like this," he said.</br><br></br><br>Worse yet, conservative pundits are showing an alarming ignorance about the black community.</br><br></br><br>For instance, Michelle Obama an angry black woman?</br><br></br><br>Please.</br><br></br><br>Michelle Obama bitter?</br><br></br><br>Give me a break.</br><br></br><br>What woman, black or white, who is married to a man who has been compared to John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. would be bitter?</br><br></br><br>What woman, black or white, whose husband -- in less than 10 years -- goes from having the family\'s credit card declined at a car-rental counter to earning $4 million for two books he\'s written is angry?</br><br></br><br>What woman, black or white, who at 44, has an intact family, two beautiful daughters, a loving mother and an adoring god-mother, a dependable social network, who lives in a mansion in a great neighborhood, would feel anything but blessed?</br><br></br><br>No. This is angry:</br><br></br><br>The black woman who is stuck in a slum building in an unsafe neighborhood, she\'s angry.</br><br></br><br>The black woman who is dragging her baby\'s daddy to court once a month trying to get child support, she\'s angry.</br><br></br><br>The black woman who has to rob Peter to pay Paul and still can\'t pay the gas bill, she\'s angry.</br><br></br><br>No one\'s life is perfect, but the Obamas are living the American Dream. </br><br></br><br>So, it is ridiculous that the mouthpieces for the GOP are having such an easy go of it trying to stereotype Michelle as an angry black woman. </br><br></br><br>That\'s what it means when conservative columnist Michelle Malkin is comfortable calling Michelle Barack\'s "bitter half," and when the conservative National Review labels her Mrs. Grievance.</br><br></br><br>What\'s next? Michelle doing a neck roll with a hand on her hip?</br><br></br><br>Successful black women don\'t have to walk around grinning all the time to assure white people that they are happy they aren\'t on food stamps.</br><br></br><br>Michelle Obama has paid her dues by getting a first-rate education, marrying the right man, and making the best choices in her life.</br><br></br><br>Asking her to skin and grin is asking too much.</br><br></br><br></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972182">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972182" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972182" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972182">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972182" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972182" class="dsq-comment-message">Truth,<br>Because-at least to some conservatives-there isn\'t anything good that can come out of an Obama administration. Taxes will increase, gas will continue to go up, we won\'t be any safer, and liberalism will run wild.</br><br></br><br>Chaz,</br><br>You\'re right. Ask 10 different conservatives to define conservative, and you\'ll get 15 different answers. We\'re all confused.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972183">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972183" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972183" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972183">Renee</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972183" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972183" class="dsq-comment-message">Anyone else notice the way Barbara Walters silenced Whoopie <a href="http://www.womanist-musings.com/2008/06/michelle-obama-on-view-thoughts-and.html" rel="nofollow"> when she talked about black women and the media.</a> The view is supposed to be about honoring the voices of a diversity of women but when it comes to black women it is time to talk about panty hose.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972184">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972184" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972184" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972184">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972184" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972184" class="dsq-comment-message">Forgat to refer y\'all to an opinion article by Al Calloway in the South Florida Times - "Obama\'s \'Elitist\' Tag is another word for Uppity (N-word).  I found it initially on <a href="http://blackpoliticsontheweb.com" rel="nofollow">blackpoliticsontheweb.com</a>.  I don\'t know how to do the "link" thing yet.  Sorry.  :&gt;(</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972185">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972185" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972185" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972185">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972185" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972185" class="dsq-comment-message">Has anyone been following Judas McClellan\'s testimony today?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972186">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972186" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972186" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972186">Town</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972186" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972186" class="dsq-comment-message">Renee said... <br>Anyone else notice the way Barbara Walters silenced Whoopie when she talked about black women and the media. The view is supposed to be about honoring the voices of a diversity of women but when it comes to black women it is time to talk about panty hose.</br><br></br><br>--------------</br><br></br><br>Funny how Barbra Walters wanted to discuss her disgusting affair with a black man and all its\' intimate detail, but it\'s pantyhose time when it comes to discussing the black woman.</br><br></br><br>Funny how Barbra Walters wants to discuss the sexism against Hillary Clinton but wants to change the topic to L\'eggs or Hanes when it comes to the sexism against Michelle Obama.</br><br></br><br>And Geraldine Ferraro, I See U.</br><br></br><br>I saw your ass last night on Hannity trying to throw salt in Obama\'s game, trying to whip it back up again.  You ain\'t fooling nobody.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972187">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972187" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972187" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972187">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972187" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972187" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>Well, Democrats are having an "I told you so" moment right now under Bush.  As a matter of fact, I don\'t think even Democrats imagined it could get this bad.  That\'s why even Conservatives are voting Democrat for the first time.  </br><br></br><br>The only reason the poor and middle class in the USA are anxious about taxes is because for what they pay, they get little in return:</br><br></br><br>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_economies_compared</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972188">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972188" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972188" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972188">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972188" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972188" class="dsq-comment-message">Truth,<br>I disagree with you. The only way dhimmicrats could be in a "i told you so" moment is if they knew something along the lines of 9/11 was going to go down.</br><br></br><br>Wait, there may be some truth to that.....</br><br></br><br>There\'s a huge responsibility on the next president-whoever he is-not to "blow it" or have another attack on the country under his watch. I think of the two, Obama\'s target is bigger, because he\'s been running on the "change" platform (let\'s be honest, there\'s nothing about McCain that suggests "change").</br><br></br><br>If "change" doesn\'t work...</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972189">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972189" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972189" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972189">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972189" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972189" class="dsq-comment-message">town,<br></br><br>I am no great fan of Barbara, but what Whoopi was saying about black women in media isn\'t exactly true.  There aren\'t a whole lot of black women, but the ones there are don\'t have "one tooth"...or look beat up, which is what she was implying.  When it comes to crime reporting, it goes with the territory that many of the women depicted - both black and white - might be poor and not look all that great.</br><br></br><br>Anyway, why would Whoopi complain about this when she virtually brags about not wearing a bra herself.  Isn\'t she a representative of dark-skinned black women?  A woman past 20 not wearing a bra on television is pretty "beat up" if you ask me.</br><br></br><br>I respect Whoopi\'s body of work, but I don\'t get what she\'s trying to say most of the time.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972190">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972190" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972190" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972190">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972190" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972190" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>Ah...so that\'s what you meant by an "I told you so" moment!  You are saying Republicans should hope for a terrorist attack during Barack\'s term!  Well, I\'ll let that speak for itself.</br><br></br><br>I guess the right wing is having the equivalent of an anxiety disorder.  It\'s when you risk your rights, economy, lives etc to guard against things that are statistically almost impossible to happen, while ignoring the more immediate, likely dangers.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972191">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972191" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972191" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972191">Bruce Dixon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972191" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972191" class="dsq-comment-message">Anybody here got a clue why Barack Obama has endorsed and cut a radio commercial for 12th district congressman <a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/06/19/obama/index.html" rel="nofollow">John Barrow</a>, in the GA Democratic primary election next month?  Barrow is a retrograde and racist Blue Dog Dem who has supported the war and Bush and his tax cuts at every turn, voted against SCHIP, and much more?  Barrow\'s opponent is a black woman, Savannah GA state senator Regina Thomas.  The 12th distirct, comprisong Augusta, Savannah and much in between, is about 40% black.<br></br><br>Apparently it\'s payback for Barrow, a superdelegate, endorsing Obama at the last minute, and to show the Blue Dogs and such that he likes them too.  But  what does that show the rest of us down here?</br><br></br><br>Just wondering how Obama\'s fans explain his dissing the progressive black woman for the right wing incumbent and stooge of the telecoms...  more of the 50 state stretegy, or  what?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972192">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972192" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972192" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972192">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972192" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972192" class="dsq-comment-message">Truth,<br>I\'ve already seen the "don\'t blame me; I voted for McCain" bumper stickers.</br><br></br><br>Yes, it\'s a sadistic thought process. And it brings with it no small amount of racism.</br><br></br><br>But as a survival tactic, it would-probably-work. The alternative, though, is that if nothing happens, then there\'s nothing for Republicans to stand on for 8 years vice 4.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972193">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972193" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972193" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972193">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972193" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972193" class="dsq-comment-message">Question for those smarter than I...would Obama\'s "50 state strategy" be as effective in a congressional race? And if so, how would you go about putting it in place?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972194">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972194" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972194" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972194">KarmiCommunist</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972194" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972194" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/memphis-crime" rel="nofollow">American Murder Mystery</a><br><i>Why is crime rising in so many American cities? The answer implicates one of the most celebrated antipoverty programs of recent decades.</i></br><br></br><br>A quote of a quote: <i>“Crime is going along with them.”</i> </br><br></br><br>As long as the Democratic Party has any power, things will keep getting worse...simple as that.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972195">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972195" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972195" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972195">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972195" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972195" class="dsq-comment-message">From the <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/06/edwards_nunn_re.html" rel="nofollow">Boston Globe:</a><br></br><br><i>Former vice presidential nominee John Edwards and former Senator Sam Nunn are on a list of potential running mates for Democrat Barack Obama, a congresswoman told the Associated Press today, one day after she met with members of Obama\'s vetting team.</i></br><br></br><br>Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan said members of the Congressional Black Caucus she heads asked her to suggest Edwards and Nunn when she met Wednesday with Obama\'s vice presidential search team. The vetting team, Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, indicated the two were on the list, she told the AP.</br><br></br><br>Kilpatrick said she made several suggestions, including former Vice President Al Gore, Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania, and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.</br><br></br><br>If Obama wants a surefire way to lose all his military support, he\'ll pick Murtha.</br><br></br><br>Just a warning.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972196">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972196" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972196" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972196">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972196" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972196" class="dsq-comment-message">D-<br></br><br>Are you talking about a statewide race?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972197">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972197" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972197" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972197">KarmiCommunist</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972197" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972197" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&amp;status=article&amp;id=298769662128800" rel="nofollow">Obama\'s Back Flips</a><br></br><br><i>Meanwhile, given Obama\'s radical political roots, his mainstream talk may be a cover for a more leftist agenda that\'s otherwise unsalable to voters. Whatever the case, we\'ll grant that this is "change." Just don\'t call it change anyone can believe in.</i></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972198">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972198" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972198" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972198">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972198" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972198" class="dsq-comment-message">Anon 12:34,<br>A race for a seat in the House.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972199">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972199" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972199" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972199">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972199" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972199" class="dsq-comment-message">D-<br>Wouldn\'t work for a House seat(either for state legislature or U.S. House)in my opinion...a district isn\'t large enough to support that kind of strategy; I don\'t know where this race is taking place, but it\'ll take more time/money/energy to run the staff than the campaign itself.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972200">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972200" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972200" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972200">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972200" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972200" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>one of the reasons behind the 50-state strategy is to increase the Democratic majority in the House(more likely) and Senate. That is why the the Dean\'s DNC and Obama\'s campaign is so on-synch...</br><br></br><br>others will come along, i\'m sure, to shed more light on  this...</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972201">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972201" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972201" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972201">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972201" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972201" class="dsq-comment-message">Interesting how the new Republican talking points include the words of Rev. Wright.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972202">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972202" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972202" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972202">B-Serious</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972202" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972202" class="dsq-comment-message">via TPM:<br></br><br><a href="http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/moveon_to_close_its_527.php" rel="nofollow">At Obama\'s Request, MoveOne Will Close its 527</a></br><br></br><br>The article says MoveOn will still spend and raise money, but not with the advantage traditionally given to 527s, which means less influence than they could have had if they remained a 527 (somewhat confusing, but interesting nonetheless).</br><br></br><br>TPM\'s Greg Sargent says:  </br><br><i>"To put this in perspective, MoveOn\'s 527 raised $20 million for the general election in 2004 -- and at least half of that came from donations over $5,000."</i></br><br></br><br>Given today\'s news, that\'s something MoveOn can\'t do this year.</br><br></br><br>That makes two major third party sources that Obama has shut down in the past month.  Add that to his influence over the Dem. Party to ban the DNC from taking lobbyist money and Obama\'s creating a favorable narrative . . . he\'s walking the walk.</br><br></br><br>I\'m sure the Republicans will look for inconsistencies.  Perhaps it\'s all window dressing on Obama\'s part.  Or, perhaps it\'s still more than anything McCain has done to limit the influence of conservative 527s in 2008.  We shall see.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972203">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972203" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972203" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972203">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972203" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972203" class="dsq-comment-message">And d,<br></br><br>We wont just dodge Sniper fire in Bosnia, we will take a trip to Vietnam. You will pilot the aircraft while I strap in real tight. And when YOU crash the aircraft, we will be held as POWs for five years, refusing to return to the US when offered the chance to...</br><br></br><br>Only then my fellow JJP member, will we actually LOVE our country even though sometimes it\'s so damn hard to be proud of it! </br><br></br><br>LOL!</br><br>T.</br><br>ps. d, I tell ya, there is tell time to jump that sinking ship and come join us...Got a jug of Obambi Kool Aid to cool you down over this long hot summer...</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972204">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972204" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972204" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972204">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972204" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972204" class="dsq-comment-message">Bruce Dixon, I wish I had an answer.<br></br><br>The deals politicians make can make anyone cringe.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972205">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972205" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972205" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972205">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972205" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972205" class="dsq-comment-message">Hi Mr. Bruce Dixon,<br></br><br>Thank You for informing me in regards to that. That is not good. At the end of the day, it will only hinder those in a district where there is a relatively large black population. </br><br></br><br>I wonder how others fell about that?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972206">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972206" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972206" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972206">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972206" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972206" class="dsq-comment-message">T.,<br>Drinking the Kool Aid....</br><br></br><br>My friend, that\'s not change you can believe in.</br><br></br><br>:)</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972207">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972207" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972207" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972207">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972207" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972207" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>Come on d, Join us...YES YOU CAN!</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972208">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972208" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972208" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972208">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972208" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972208" class="dsq-comment-message">Okay peeps, Obama rolls over in the Fisa compromise...he claims its not perfect but blah, blah, blah.<br></br><br>I\'m gonna sit back and think about this one then come back later. He has a press avail at 4.30p in Jacksonvill, FL, so I hope I can hear him defend this...</br><br></br><br>He\'s my guy, but geez Obama..WTF????</br><br></br><br>http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Obama_backs_FISA_compromise.html#comments</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972209">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972209" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972209" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972209">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972209" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972209" class="dsq-comment-message">On the FISA comromise. Reid says they\'ll try to do something next week to remove the retroactive immunity:<br></br><br>http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/20/155839/542/779/539258</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972210">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972210" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972210" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972210">Town</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972210" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972210" class="dsq-comment-message">D said...<br></br><br>Question for those smarter than I...would Obama\'s "50 state strategy" be as effective in a congressional race? And if so, how would you go about putting it in place?</br><br>---------</br><br></br><br>I don\'t see why not.  I know the example I am about to use is not a congressional race, but it still applies:</br><br></br><br>Back in \'89, Doug Wilder used a "95 county Strategy" (or however many counties are in Va).  He didn\'t call it that, but he made sure to visit and campaign in every single county in Va.  Remember, he only won by about 7K votes.  It\'s very likely if he had written off the counties in the Appalachian/mountain region of Va he would have lost.</br><br></br><br>A congressional candidate could do the same thing by all the areas of his/her district and getting to know the people, and not just showing up the Sunday before the election kissing babies and gladhanding in church.  </br><br></br><br></br><br>I remember there was a guy running for State Senate and he was actually walking up and down the street, knocking on doors, telling folks about his platform.  I voted for him because it impressed me that this dude was walking door to door, asking for votes.  He did win the election.</br><br></br><br>I think it can and should be done from the POTUS down to School Board.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972211">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972211" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972211" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972211">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972211" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972211" class="dsq-comment-message">Town,<br>Thanks for that; \'89 was before I moved to VA, and I was too young at the time to know WTH was going on.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972212">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972212" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972212" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972212">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972212" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972212" class="dsq-comment-message">And from Vets for Freedom:<br></br><br><a href="http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/troopblog/blogitem.aspx?id=450" rel="nofollow">We Don\'t Want Baby Alex to Go to Iraq</a></br><br></br><br>Personally, I think Alex should be treated as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta#Society" rel="nofollow">young childred were in Sparta.</a> But that\'s just me.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972213">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972213" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972213" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972213">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972213" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972213" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama elaborating on Sunday\'s Father\'s Day speech with David Brody at CBN. Sorry if this has already been posted.<br></br><br><a href="http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/395362.aspx" rel="nofollow">Obama on absent black fathers</a></br><br></br><br><a href="http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/395391.aspx" rel="nofollow">Obama on America\'s culture war</a></br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972214">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972214" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972214" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972214">B-Serious</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972214" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972214" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'d like to get more info on that Georgia race.  It doesn\'t look good.<br></br><br>I don\'t think it has much to do with race (i.e., Obama dissing a black woman), but it definitely looks like political expediency.  Looks like the other guy is just the <i>safe</i> pick for a presidential candidate who\'s trying to swing Georgia come November.</br><br></br><br>I was talking to my mother about this yesterday; Obama\'s biggest trap at the moment is over-confidence.  He\'s gotta be careful.  I like the fact that he\'s on the offensive rather than the defensive (remember our conversations from a month ago).  But he shouldn\'t take unnecessary risks.  I don\'t know local Georgia politics, but this might be an unnecessary political risk when it comes to the black vote in that state.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972215">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972215" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972215" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972215">BigAssBelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972215" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972215" class="dsq-comment-message">unbelievable. i am done with obama. i\'ll just vote green or whatever, but never never never for another democrat. <br></br><br>i am so fed up with these sellout bastards. they\'re just republicans in democrats\' clothing. the constitution means nothing to them, none of them. they\'re corporate owned, corporate operated and fuck the american people.</br><br></br><br>well fuck all of them. and screw obama too. that pathetic excuse he gave for supporting the FISA bill makes me physically ill.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972216">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972216" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972216" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972216">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972216" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972216" class="dsq-comment-message">Some readers have inquired about the Borrow\'s House election in Georgia.<br></br><br>There is some comment about this plus links to local press in Georgia here: <a href="http://allotherpersons.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/political-miscellany-62008/" rel="nofollow">Political Miscellany 6/20/08.</a></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972217">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972217" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972217" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972217">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972217" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972217" class="dsq-comment-message">bigassbelle,<br></br><br>even i dont believe this as i write, but it still has to get to the senate, right? and then they can strip out the retro. immunity, right? right? </br><br></br><br>fuck, but regardless, who will be spying on us come November 5th - Obama or Bus\\sh-McCain?</br><br></br><br>Remember when we found out that Santa Claus wasn\'t real? This is one of those days. Can\'t get everything you want in life, but the Constitution? that I thought was a sure bet. Wrong!</br><br></br><br>T.</br><br>The liberal blogosphere is going nuts...wonder what Obama is thinking right about now</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972218">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972218" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972218" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972218">Michelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972218" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972218" class="dsq-comment-message">Bigassbelle (and anyone else who wants to answer who is going to do the same thing) -- what is the main goal of your choice to vote green (or otherwise not vote Democrat) in the 2008 presidential election? <br></br><br>And, how will your actions get you/us toward that goal?</br><br></br><br>These are serious questions. </br><br></br><br>I am not against such choices at all, but I am extremely interested in explicit clarity about what the actual goal is and how the action moves toward the goal. I\'ve been thinking a lot about this lately.</br><br></br><br>Appreciation in advance for any replies!</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972219">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972219" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972219" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972219">BigAssBelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972219" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972219" class="dsq-comment-message">i can\'t quit crying. i am just sitting here not believing it. i feel so betrayed. it\'s all of us, betrayed by these fuckheads who are supposed to WORK for us. every one of them is in bed with corporate america. it just seems so fucking hopeless i can hardly bear it. <br></br><br>you all tell me there\'s some reason to hope. i\'m going to bed. i can\'t take any more of this bullshit. </br><br></br><br>all week mcclatchy has been telling the truth about the United States of Torture and there\'s been NOTHING about it on the news.</br><br></br><br>now the democrats AND the man who had me so inspired sell us out to the sorry piece of shit who has the worst approval rating in history. i just can\'t believe it. i can\'t.</br><br></br><br>i have been arguing all year as to why people should vote democrat, no matter what. if you don\'t get hillary, vote democrat anyway. if you don\'t get obama, vote democrat.</br><br></br><br>but i tell you folks, this just makes me want to give up.  this is the last straw. i give up.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972220">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972220" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972220" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972220">Blkberi</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972220" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972220" class="dsq-comment-message">Call Obama\'s campaign and voice you concern with his supporting FISA:<br></br><br>(866) 675-2008 [Dial 6, then 0, on the menu]</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972221">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972221" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972221" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972221">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972221" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972221" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/142465?from=rss" rel="nofollow"><br>Obama got his big booty bounce baby! 15 point lead over Bush-McCain according to Newsweek.</br></a> <br></br><br>Still got your back Obama but I gotta tell ya - that FISA thingy got me all shook up. Trust.</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972222">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972222" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972222" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972222">Michelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972222" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972222" class="dsq-comment-message">Also on my mind, related to but different from my questions above:<br></br><br>The other night I was in a discussion trying to sort through some of my own (perhaps radically) shifting understanding of what is going on in this country.</br><br></br><br>And I got to this: People who believe that real serious change is going to come through a powerful radical mass movement really dealing with root causes .... have way more faith than I do in this country. And this is a faith that has not yet been shown to be real. Yes we have had movements. And here we still are with what is going on now.</br><br></br><br>The thing about Obama is that his faith in the collective "we" of this country seems limited to the kind of change that the collective-we is <b>actually capable of doing in actual practice.</b> </br><br></br><br>I have differed from him on this same issue, faith in the people of this country as a collective group. </br><br></br><br>But the difference between him and those who explicitly or implicitly rely on a not-yet-existent radical deep-root movement is that -- so far he is showing in actual practice that his (limited) faith is actually warranted. </br><br></br><br>So I am considering the possibility that the collective-we of this country is stunted to the point of this being all it is capable of actually <b>doing</b> toward change in a real (non-discursive, solid and grounded) way. And why wouldn\'t it be? This is the place where I guess I am not as patriotic as people who are relying on a radical mass movement for deep-root-causes change.</br><br></br><br>I am considering the possibility that people who focus more radical are primarily operating on rhetorical ground only -- talking about what the collective-we cannot (because of its actual limitations) actually do in practice.</br><br></br><br>This from me with 2 decades of focus, participation and interest in activist/social change work.</br><br></br><br>This is all unsettled for me, just trying to understand. It\'s shocking to me, what I find myself thinking these days. But I have to respect where my observations and reflections are taking me, no matter where I end up.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972223">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972223" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972223" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972223">KarmiCommunist</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972223" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972223" class="dsq-comment-message">Craig wrote: <i>"Interesting how the new Republican talking points include the words of Rev. Wright."</i><br></br><br>That\'s one talking point that will not go away. I think many Americans (whites especially) were shocked at what some black churches teach (BLT). Such teachings of hatred would be expected from "Black Panthers" and in many Muslim churches, but not from the BLT church that Obama spent 20 years with.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972224">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972224" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972224" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972224">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972224" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972224" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>Forgat to refer y\'all to an opinion article by Al Calloway in the South Florida Times - "Obama\'s \'Elitist\' Tag is another word for Uppity (N-word). I found it initially on <a href="http://blackpoliticsontheweb.com" rel="nofollow">blackpoliticsontheweb.com</a>. I don\'t know how to do the "link" thing yet. Sorry. :&gt;(</i><br></br><br>We always knew Elitist was another way of saying \'Uppity\'. No shock.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972225">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972225" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972225" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972225">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972225" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972225" class="dsq-comment-message">town,<br></br><br>you continue to rock..LOL</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972226">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972226" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972226" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972226">Michelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972226" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972226" class="dsq-comment-message">Bigassbelle @ 02:21 wrote: <i>i feel so betrayed. it\'s all of us, betrayed by these fuckheads who are supposed to WORK for us. every one of them is in bed with corporate america</i><br></br><br>See, right there.</br><br></br><br>Supposed to work for us? That\'s the claim.</br><br></br><br>Here\'s some of the lies I see flowing in the air around all this: </br><br></br><br>That in this country the default is leaders accountable to "the people." </br><br></br><br>That this nation is about "the people" and some benign relationship between "the people" and those in power. </br><br></br><br>Except: This nation is built on stolen land, murder, forced assimilation, Manifest Destiny.</br><br></br><br>Except: This nation is built on the backs of slaves.</br><br></br><br>Except: This nation is wreaking horror and havoc around the globe in the name of democracy.</br><br></br><br>But, people will say, isn\'t that last one the GOP\'s fault -- Bush, Cheney? </br><br></br><br>In this lie, they are just deviants from the great ideals of this great democracy. Not central actors in a country that has been very consistent in its actions across time.</br><br></br><br>Obama talks about ideals too. But he seems to have a much real-er sense of what he is part of and dealing with. </br><br></br><br>I wish I could better articulate what this thing is I am trying to get at here. It\'s frustrating.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972227">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972227" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972227" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972227">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972227" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972227" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'d like to know why the Brother couldn\'t raise money in Georgia. If you don\'t have money, then why, if 70% of the Primary vote is Black, why he can\'t organize the grassroots boots....something\'s not computing.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972228">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972228" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972228" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972228">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972228" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972228" class="dsq-comment-message">Barack Obama is Bill Clinton 2.0<br></br><br>Is anybody <i>really</i> shocked?</br><br></br><br>Or just gutted because you thought he wasn\'t a politician really?</br><br></br><br>Barack\'s FISA statement pisses me off, but I\'ll live.</br><br></br><br>Let\'s see how he votes on it next week. Or more accurately, lets see if there actually is a vote.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972229">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972229" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972229" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972229">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972229" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972229" class="dsq-comment-message">What\'s with the <a href="politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/20/when-the-obama-logo-and-presidential-seal-morph/" rel="nofollow">new Obama logo?</a> <br></br><br>Is that smart?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972230">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972230" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972230" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972230">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972230" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972230" class="dsq-comment-message">rikyrah, what Brother in Georgia are you talking about?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972231">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972231" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972231" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972231">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972231" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972231" class="dsq-comment-message">d.,<br></br><br>That link doesn\'t work.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972232">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972232" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972232" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972232">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972232" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972232" class="dsq-comment-message">craig,<br></br><br>like you, i\'m disappointed but bill clinton 2.0...no, i wouldn\'t even put obama in the same sentence as bill clinton, not even an upgraded version...obama stands on his own, in a different category...let\'s reserve judgement until his senate vote next week...i knw we\'ll nt get everything we want but, man, this stings...</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972233">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972233" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972233" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972233">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972233" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972233" class="dsq-comment-message">Sorry craig,<br></br><br>Sorry, the Sister in Georgia against Barrow. </br><br></br><br>Here\'s some facts folks. </br><br></br><br>When few others in Georgia were punching Obama\'s dance card in Georgia, BARROW DID. </br><br></br><br>He did more for Obama than HALF of the CBC. </br><br></br><br>When he needed a voice in February, Barrow stepped up to the plate. </br><br></br><br>And now, Obama\'s supposed to throw him over because The Sister is in the race? </br><br></br><br>I dunno. She might be who WE would vote for. But, sort of interesting that back when, she didn\'t sign up against Barrow back when it didn\'t look like Obama would win it all and bring out record Black turnout. </br><br></br><br>You don\'t turn away folks who punched your dancecard when you were lonely. </br><br></br><br>I wish her the best, but sorry, I\'d have more problems with Obama turning his back on someone who supported him in lean times.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972234">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972234" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972234" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972234">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972234" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972234" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/20/when-the-obama-logo-and-presidential-seal-morph/" rel="nofollow">http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/20...</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972235">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972235" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972235" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972235">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972235" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972235" class="dsq-comment-message">d, from what i see it will only be used for events that, how should I say this, is kinda presidential. Lke giving an economic address etc...if you notice the rising sun is in the center. and, i think the latin words mean yes w can...so the rising sun logo with the red stripes wll not go away...those will be used for rallies etc...<br></br><br>that\'s it...as far as i know...</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972236">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972236" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972236" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972236">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972236" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972236" class="dsq-comment-message">d,<br></br><br>BWA HA HA HA HA HA</br><br></br><br>cracks me up.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972237">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972237" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972237" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972237">KarmiCommunist</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972237" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972237" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2008/06/20/factcheckorg-obama-lies-shamelessly-about-mccains-lobbyist-money/" rel="nofollow">FactCheck.org: Obama lies shamelessly about McCain’s lobbyist money</a><br></br><br>Know how to tell when Obama is lying? Watch his lips...if they move, then he is probably going to tell another lie.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972238">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972238" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972238" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972238">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972238" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972238" class="dsq-comment-message">rikyrah, thanks for that perspective about the Georgia election. <br></br><br>That logo is fine. If America is going to warm up to a Black man as president, may as well give folks the  imagery.</br><br></br><br>How many days before McCain rips off the idea?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972239">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972239" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972239" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972239">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972239" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972239" class="dsq-comment-message">Found this at The Atlantic Monthly about Obama\'s ad:<br></br><br><i>Unsubtle? What choice does he have when the opposition is very unsubtly suggesting Obama is an anti-American Muslim extremist who would start a race war and institute sharia law? Obama has no choice but to hammer the American people over the head with the fact he\'s neither an alien nor a Marxist. That being said, the ad does an excellent job doing just that. </i></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972240">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972240" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972240" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972240">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972240" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972240" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/20/1159086.aspx" rel="nofollow"><br>Michelle Obama speaks to National Partnership for Women and Families in DC today; Deval Patrick too...</br><br></br></a> <br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972241">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972241" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972241" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972241">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972241" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972241" class="dsq-comment-message">Another response from The Atlantic:<br></br><br><i>For a long time, I used to think it was better to go second when facing off against someone in an argument. Now I think it\'s much better to go first. I remember several teachers saying that first impressions matter because it is very hard to correct a bad one. There\'s probably something to that in politics. </i></br><br></br><br>So yes, while the ad is a little forceful in reminding people that he\'s not an America-hating Muslim, it\'s probably important. I\'d bet that a lot of people don\'t have firm impressions of Obama, and before we let the Republicans smear him as they undoubtedly will, let\'s play some offense. Perhaps I won\'t have to fend off my own mother, who is promising me that she\'s going to print out e-mails she gets at work that spew the same nonsense we\'ve seen for months on end. </br><br></br><br>The same sort of idea applies for Michelle Obama. The earlier she gets out in front and defines herself, the likelier it is that she\'ll be more effective in fighting the garbage coming from the Republicans. </br><br></br><br></br><br>Posted by Brian | June 19, 2008 2:23 PM </br><br></br><br></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972242">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972242" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972242" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972242">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972242" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972242" class="dsq-comment-message">rikyrah,<br></br><br>Yeah, but they were a little snarky about the seal over on the nytimes blog. The last sentence previously said, "Then again, Mr. Obama is not the president of anything." They\'ve since changed it. <a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/the-great-seal-of-obamaland/" rel="nofollow"></a></br><br>See it here. </br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972243">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972243" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972243" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972243">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972243" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972243" class="dsq-comment-message">Another one from The Atlantic.com<br></br><br><i>I think it\'s a good ad--and a very necessary one. I\'m a white male, and I\'ve been an Obama supporter since February, but even I didn\'t realize until a month ago that his white Kansas-bred grandparents raised him for many years. Once you realize that, it\'s much more difficult to paint him as some sort of black radical intent on enslaving the white race and appointing Osama bin Laden to the Supreme Court. It may not be subtle, but he needs to hit this point again and again over the next several months.</i></br><br></br><br></br><br>Posted by Geomancy | June 20, 2008 2:21 PM </br><br></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972244">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972244" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972244" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972244">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972244" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972244" class="dsq-comment-message">What Obama said in Jacksonville, Florida fundraiser this evening....<br></br><br>“The choice is clear. Most of all we can choose between hope and fear. It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy. We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run. They’re going to try to make you afraid. They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black? He’s got a feisty wife.”</br><br></br><br>“We know the strategy because they’ve already shown their cards. Ultimately I think the American people recognize that old stuff hasn’t moved us forward. That old stuff just divides us.”</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972245">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972245" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972245" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972245">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972245" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972245" class="dsq-comment-message">Rikyrah,<br></br><br>Which ad?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972246">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972246" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972246" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972246">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972246" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972246" class="dsq-comment-message">The deeply racially coded one.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972247">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972247" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972247" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972247">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972247" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972247" class="dsq-comment-message">I wrote about it over at Too Sense, I don\'t care for it but of course white people like it especially the culturally and racially narrowminded and intolerant. <br></br><br>I heard about the FISA thing.</br><br></br><br>I am also happy that Mr. Dixon took the time out to come and tell us about what is going on in Georgia.</br><br></br><br>You see, I stopped defending Barack Obama in March/ April. As someone on here wrote, "I learned that there was no Santa Claus".</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972248">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972248" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972248" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972248">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972248" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972248" class="dsq-comment-message">Last one from The Atlantic:<br></br><br><i>Good for Obama. Don\'t let the bastards use 527\'s to slander you while your sitting their without the resources to respond, see John Kerry, and don\'t sit back and let them say you are un-American when, by any standard, you are as American as John McCain. (Except, of course, from the stand point of private morality the GOP like to talk about, Obama is a lot more moral because he\'s only been married once and didn\'t dump wife number one to marry somebody richer and younger). Being a good guy doesn\'t mean that you aren\'t tough and don\'t play to win. No doubt David Broder and his ilk will have trouble with Obama playing hard ball, but the Broder crew will then turn around and say the Democrats just aren\'t as tough as the Republicans when it comes to fighting in both domestic and international politics. Don\'t bring a knife to a gun fight. Sorry Republicans, the Democrats are playing to win this year.</i></br><br></br><br></br><br>Posted by RP | June 20, 2008 3:14 PM </br><br></br><br></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972249">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972249" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972249" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972249">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972249" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972249" class="dsq-comment-message">rhonda,<br></br><br>do you disagree with my assessment of the Georgia situation? </br><br></br><br>You think he should dump someone who came and supported him early for someome else?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972250">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972250" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972250" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972250">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972250" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972250" class="dsq-comment-message">Rikyrah,<br></br><br>I thought he endorsed him late..</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972251">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972251" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972251" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972251">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972251" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972251" class="dsq-comment-message">truth,<br></br><br>Barrow endorsed Barack on February 28.</br><br></br><br>That\'s not late.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972252">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972252" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972252" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972252">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972252" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972252" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://georgiaunfiltered.blogspot.com/2008/02/john-barrow-endorses-barack-obama.html" rel="nofollow">Here\'s the endorsement</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972253">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972253" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972253" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972253">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972253" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972253" class="dsq-comment-message">Hmm, I was reading today that he\'d done it last month.  Thanks.<br></br><br>The Repub strategists are coming up with more and more bizarre talking points.. They\'re railing he can\'t be trusted for opting out of public financing..  Lou said he broke his word..boo hoo.</br><br></br><br>Tara just a second ago said on CNN that Obama should apologize for the injecting the "epitome of fear"  in saying the repubs would paint him as black and scary.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972254">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972254" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972254" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972254">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972254" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972254" class="dsq-comment-message">Rikyrah,<br></br><br>What do you think abotu that ad?</br><br></br><br></br><br>Also, I am not sure of my impression in regards to the Georgia race but i will figure it out once I learn more about it.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972255">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972255" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972255" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972255">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972255" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972255" class="dsq-comment-message">truthseeker,<br></br><br>He did it in Feb. As I said before, that puts this Blue Dog giving more support to Obama than HALF of the CBC. </br><br></br><br>Damn shame.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972256">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972256" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972256" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972256">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972256" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972256" class="dsq-comment-message">T.-<br></br><br>"They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black? He’s got a feisty wife.”</br><br></br><br>“We know the strategy because they’ve already shown their cards."</br><br></br><br></br><br>So he gets it but wants to play the game the old way.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972257">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972257" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972257" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972257">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972257" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972257" class="dsq-comment-message">rhonda,<br></br><br>I know the purpose of the Ad. Plus, don\'t forget, we are political junkies here.We\'re on overdose of Obama. There\'s a lot of America that doesn\'t know about Obama. </br><br></br><br>The GOP WILL be running on</br><br></br><br>HE\'S BLACK</br><br>HE\'S BLACK</br><br>HE\'S MUSLIM</br><br>HE\'S BLACK</br><br>HE\'S BLACK</br><br></br><br>And, if all else fails..</br><br></br><br>You can\'t vote for him.. he\'s UPPITY. </br><br></br><br>He\'s got to get out in front of that. </br><br></br><br>Or, he\'ll be the Scary Black Muslim that wants to kill all the White people once the GOP is thru. </br><br></br><br>This is to fight back. </br><br></br><br></br><br>I guess I just don\'t have the qualms with it that other folks do. Plus, it\'s the truth. His White family IS the one who raised him. I always personally wanted to ask White folks - you DO know who raised him don\'t you? But, I guess Black is just so overpowering and threatening.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972258">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972258" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972258" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972258">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972258" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972258" class="dsq-comment-message">Truthseeker,<br></br><br>See, she has no credibility.</br><br></br><br>I was like, \' Woman, PLEASE.\'</br><br>The GOP has been playing the race card since NIXON.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972259">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972259" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972259" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972259">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972259" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972259" class="dsq-comment-message">Any Black person, Democrat or GOP, that doesn\'t admit the GOP has played the race card since Nixon, isn\'t trying to be credible.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972260">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972260" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972260" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972260">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972260" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972260" class="dsq-comment-message">I thought about that ad and realized that the black side of Barack\'s family is in Africa..and he probably didn\'t spend much time with them growing up.  Really, there\'s no one else to feature but his mother\'s side for his formative years.<br></br><br>I saw that seal VERO POSSUMUS = YES WE CAN...cheeky...  I like it lol.</br><br></br><br>and...O makes 22 million for May.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972261">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972261" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972261" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972261">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972261" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972261" class="dsq-comment-message">You know, Barack should have just dispensed with all that talking about why he opted out of Public Financing.  He should have just said, "Do I look like a fool?".."Do you see FOOL written on my forehead?"<br></br><br>No matter what he says, they\'ll whine.  He broke his word!!  Horrors!</br><br></br><br>I don\'t think anyone but Republicans care.  He\'s not out there campaigning for his health.  The idea is to win!</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972262">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972262" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972262" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972262">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972262" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972262" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>You know, Barack should have just dispensed with all that talking about why he opted out of Public Financing. He should have just said, "Do I look like a fool?".."Do you see FOOL written on my forehead?"</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Say. It. Again.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972263">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972263" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972263" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972263">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972263" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972263" class="dsq-comment-message">Dan Abrams is pushing the media\'s double standard about McCain\'s and Michelle Obama\'s statements.<br></br><br>Good for him.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972264">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972264" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972264" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972264">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972264" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972264" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>I thought about that ad and realized that the black side of Barack\'s family is in Africa..and he probably didn\'t spend much time with them growing up. Really, there\'s no one else to feature but his mother\'s side for his formative years.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>According to his memoir, one of the reasons why he refused to return to Indonesia with his mother was because he wanted to learn how to live as a Black man in America.</br><br></br><br>His approach to race in this nation has almost always been the approach of an anthropologist.</br><br></br><br>He\'s more of his mother than many people realize or accept. I don\'t mean he\'s more white than he is African, but she was an anthropologist and its clear her approach to people of different cultures and backgrounds reflects that.</br><br></br><br>Other than from the books he read, the South Side of Chicago is were he learned the most about being Black in America. It\'s the place that launched is political career.</br><br></br><br>He seems very loyal to Chicago. It\'s no wonder he moved the DNC operations there.</br><br></br><br>But, yes, Barack was raised by white people and tons of Americans who want to accept him as some radical terrorist simply because they\'ve only been told about his father and his former pastor simply don\'t know that.</br><br></br><br>I find it ironic that in his first political loss, he was vilified by Black folks who thought he was a front for the monied interests of white leaders and most of the white working-class voters chose him over the former Black Panther who was endorsed by Bill Clinton.</br><br></br><br>In this election, he\'s being vilified by white people who believe him to be a front for the dangerous issues of radical terrorists.</br><br></br><br>That irony alone is another book.</br><br></br><br>My sister\'s birthmother is white. She\'s never met her. Doesn\'t even know who she is. But even though my sister was raised by our Black parents and only had Black relatives, she has struggled with her racial identity her entire life.</br><br></br><br>I think Barack is comfortable in his own skin.</br><br></br><br>That is no small task.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972265">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972265" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972265" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972265">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972265" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972265" class="dsq-comment-message">I think that some of you are missing the point and once again getting too literal and personal. The ad has certain coding. It is  for a particular audience. It will work but we must figure out why and what he is trying to do in it. I am not debating who is mother is or why he is like her, and his Africaness nothing like that....onl the message that he is trying to give to the voter and what he is basing off of. The preconceived notions in regards to race that he is basing it off of.  <br></br><br>I am having this discussion over at Too Sense...here:</br><br></br><br>http://halfricanrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/06/is-obama-blowing-dogwhistle-in-his-new.html</br><br></br><br>Not interested in going back through it.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972266">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972266" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972266" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972266">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972266" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972266" class="dsq-comment-message">Rhonda,<br></br><br>I feel you on the new ad and the statements for me are:  working hard - no excuses, working and loans for college and finally, working in devastated neighborhoods.....moving folks from welfare to work.</br><br></br><br>It\'s not coded it\'s blatant.</br><br></br><br>What\'s the broo ha over FISA, I haven\'t heard anything?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972267">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972267" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972267" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972267">BigAssBelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972267" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972267" class="dsq-comment-message"><b>Michelle</b> . . . <br></br><br>I hear what you\'re saying. Yes, it\'s supposed to operate "for the people," that\'s what we were founded on. The reality, of course, is different. Back in the day, it was "the people," meaning white men. That changed over time and now we\'re at a point where the blatant attempts to disenfranchise voters will at least draw protest, mostly.</br><br></br><br>And yes, this country was founded on theft and violence and blood and the stolen lives and efforts of the enslaved and subjugated. Yes. And what we\'re seeing since 1980 is a slow process of moving back to the same kind of thing. A kingdom, of sorts, with barons and counts and princes and kings, and with the vast majority of us toiling away to serve our masters, ultimately not achieving anything for ourselves because the system is broken and set up against us, all of us, except the ultra rich. </br><br></br><br>I don\'t know that the relationship between the people and power was ever expected to be benign. There are provisions in our founding documents for overthrowing a government that\'s out of bounds. The Bush administration perfectly fits that description, with the excessive grab for executive power making Bush essentially our king.</br><br></br><br>This FISA legislation that has me so fucked up is another example of that: Bush broke the law. He got caught. He then sought to have legislation put into place that would absolve him and any others who participated in his illegal acts retroactively.  The giant telecommunications companies who participated in unlawful wiretapping and eavesdropping on American citizens without permission and in violation of the law could be sued. But King George will now be the sole arbiter of who gets wiretapped and who does not. If the King says it\'s okay, then it\'s okay.</br><br></br><br>They used that defense at the Nuremberg trials. If the great Hitler said it was legal, then it was legal. Only it wasn\'t. The excuse didn\'t work then, it doesn\'t hold water now. Except among our bought and paid for "representatives" in congress. How I despise them.</br><br></br><br><i>Except: This nation is wreaking horror and havoc around the globe in the name of democracy.</i></br><br></br><br>I agree with you 100% ~ only democracy is the cover story. Global corporate enrichment is the purpose for it all. Our efforts to prevent the advance of communism all around the globe, our unwarranted attacks on other countries for no reason other than that we don\'t like their governments, our deposing of presidents and prime ministers not to our liking (read opposed to US intervention, not free marketers, usually leaning toward socialism) and the installation of puppet governments that will allow us to steal the riches of countries all around the world . . . all of these efforts are directed to benefit business.</br><br></br><br>And that is tragically what has become of us. We have become a government for the global corporation. What serves the corporatist agenda will win approval of congress. What does not ~ such as telecom companies getting their asses sued off ~ will never survive. </br><br></br><br>By virtue of our trade agreements, we allow the enslavement of working people in other countries.  Those biased trade agreements impoverish millions, all in the interest of improving the corporate bottom line. </br><br></br><br><i>But, people will say, isn\'t that last one the GOP\'s fault -- Bush, Cheney? </i></br><br></br><br>It\'s the fault of every president and congress since Reagan. It started with Reagan, this dangerous rightward shift, and it has continued without ceasing, including Bill Clinton and now, I am certain, Barack Obama. </br><br></br><br><i>Obama talks about ideals too. But he seems to have a much real-er sense of what he is part of and dealing with. </i></br><br></br><br>Indeed he does and I had whispers of it before this FISA statement, my concern about his associating with the Milton Friedmanites out of the Chicago School of economics, taking one of those discredited fools as one of his economic advisors. I was aware that he saw no problem with hedge fund managers paying a tax rate of 15% on incomes in the billions per year. </br><br></br><br>I saw much of this and I didn\'t want to believe it because more than anything, I want ~ I need ~ to hope that things can get better. So I shut my eyes to all of this and here we are, only a few weeks since he won the nomination and it is apparent that my initial fears were true. </br><br></br><br>At this point, I hope and pray that this country goes to hell and fast. Right now we\'re like live frogs in hot water, the fire\'s burning, we\'re going to die, but we don\'t know it because it just gets a little toastier, a little warmer, just a bit, every day. </br><br></br><br>I want the fire on high. I want 50% unemployment in this country, $12/gallon gas, 50 million people to lose their homes. Bring it on, wake up this sleeping nation of sheep.</br><br></br><br>I feel like I\'m in the back seat of a fast car. We\'re headed down a winding mountain road and the fuckhead at the wheel is sound asleep. I\'m screaming my head off, trying to get the hell out of this thing and my fellow passengers are sightseeing, one shouts "stop at the mall!" and the cliff and destruction looms ahead. </br><br></br><br>Hopeless. Even after a nap. Not much feels worse than betrayal.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972268">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972268" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972268" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972268">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972268" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972268" class="dsq-comment-message">What he is really saying in the ad is come on folks you know I present as black, but let\'s get real, I was raised by my white mother and white grandparent\'s so I\'m really more like you than a black person.<br></br><br>I worked hard to pay for college and to pay my debt, I went to a black community and helped them to get off welfare and back to work.</br><br></br><br>I remeber seeing a clip of Obama being interviewed while riding through Chicago with a reporter and the reporter asked him if the people treated him any different because he was biracial and he replied "they" don\'t ask what I am.</br><br></br><br>His response didn\'t bother me, but it was the look on his face that scared me.  He looked very sly, he looked as though he and the reporter knew something "they" didn\'t know.  It reminded me of how I\'ve heard attorneys discuss the ignorance of staff when they thought no one could hear them.</br><br></br><br>I tried to put the image out of my mind, but after the Father\'s Day speech and this new ad, I do believe some have been hussled with all the MLK speeches, references to the Civil Rights movement and the occassional mention of racism.</br><br></br><br>I think Obama like Clinton believes what ever he says that may offend the black race won\'t matter and that blacks will vote for him anyway in November.</br><br></br><br>I don\'t expect he\'ll be pandering to us much anymore, it\'s the white conservative turn.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972269">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972269" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972269" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972269">Bruce Dixon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972269" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972269" class="dsq-comment-message">Rikyrah, I\'ll disagree with your assessment of Barrow VS Thomas.  I live down here in GA.  I have met Barrow, whom Obama endorses in the Democratic primary, and I will meet his opponent Regina Thomas on July 1.<br></br><br>Regardless of whether or when Barrow endorsed Obama, Barrow also endorsed Bush\'s war early on, and has never wavered from this position.  His opponent Regina Thomas has opposed it. </br><br></br><br>Barrow crusaded against Nancy Pelosi for the earliest possible surrender date to the demands of the telecom companies for immunity from prosecution as they violated two or three of the first ten amendments.</br><br></br><br>Barrow, like Republicans, calls the estate tax "the death tax" and voted against it.  He voted for every one of Bush\'s tax cuts too.  Every one.  Regina Thomas denounced all this --- she could  not vote against it cause she is not in Congress.</br><br></br><br>Barrow voted against even the feeble health care measure that other Dems supported, SCHIP.  Thomas would  have supported it.</br><br></br><br>Barrow voted for the Patriot Act.  He voted to renew the Patriot Act (so did Obama, after campaigning against it in Illinois --- I was there) and voted for Patriot Act 2 (so did Obama).  Regina Thomas opposed and denounced Patriot Act 1 and 2.</br><br></br><br>Barrow voted for the Military Commissions Act, parts of which have now been overturned by the Supreme Court, but which authorized torture and indefinite imprisonment, and trials with so-called "secret evidence".  Thomas opposed and denounced this too.</br><br></br><br>Barrow voted for the credit card bills which removed all ceilings on interest and fees, and he voted for "tort reform" to keep ordinary people from suing corporations.  Obama voted for tort reform too, but voted against the credit card bill, after casting a vote in committee against removal of interest ceilings.  Thomas opposed both.</br><br></br><br>One could go on and on.  Barrow\'s voting record is barely distinguishable from GA Republicans in neighboring districts like  Gingrey.  Thomas has had a steady and largely progressive record in the GA state senate.  And the district is 40% black.  Barrow has $1.3 million on hand, and Obama has more money than God right now.  Thomas is fighting the good fight, but has only modest means. </br><br></br><br>Obama endorsed a warmongering, racist, torture-loving, Bush-enabling white Blue Dog and Bush enabler over a legitimate and credible black challenger.  On the merits of the two candidates, it does not look good.  Put all the makeup on that pig you want.  It still oinks.</br><br></br><br>Email me and tell me where to send that peach cobbler I owe you.</br><br></br><br>bd</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972270">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972270" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972270" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972270">Michelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972270" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972270" class="dsq-comment-message">About the ad -- I could swear I remember him saying something similar to this during the primaries, in a speech (talking about his mother\'s family teaching him "good American values" or along those lines) ... was it in Kansas, maybe?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972271">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972271" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972271" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972271">BigAssBelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972271" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972271" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>Obama endorsed a warmongering, racist, torture-loving, Bush-enabling white Blue Dog and Bush enabler over a legitimate and credible black challenger. On the merits of the two candidates, it does not look good. Put all the makeup on that pig you want. It still oinks.</i><br></br><br>tell it, honey. it\'s a nasty stinking thing and further evidence of the heartbreaking truth about obama.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972272">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972272" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972272" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972272">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972272" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972272" class="dsq-comment-message">About Barrow again: <br></br><br>Politics ain\'t pretty a lot of times, but should he throw over someone who supported him, \' back when\' for someone else. </br><br></br><br>I know it\'s sorta un-PC, but if this were a credible \' White\' challenger, would you feel this sense of outrage? If this were another Steve Cohen, would you be pushing this so much?</br><br></br><br>So, the bottom line here is, someone supported him, when he needed supporting. And now, because you like the politics of his opponent, he\'s supposed to just ditch this person?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972273">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972273" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972273" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972273">Bruce Dixon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972273" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972273" class="dsq-comment-message">Let\'s take your comparison of the Memphis TN race with that in Savannah GA.  White incumbent Cohen opposed the war, black challenger Nikki Tinker refuses to say.  I\'ll take Cohen any time.<br></br><br>Barrow supports the war, and Barack supports him over the black progressive state senator who opposes it.  What\'s hard to understand about this?  I am pushing it because it is illustrative of our moral compass at this time.  Not Barack\'s.  Ours.  Yours, maybe too.</br><br></br><br>The fact that Barrow supports Obama somehow makes it OK to empower a congressman who has long ago sold out to the very worst forces in this country\'s politics?  When did boosting the career of one man begin to take precedence over whether innocent should be killed, whether prisoners should be tortured, whether citizens should be spied on?  If boosting one man\'s career is more important than war, peace or justice, where are we?  And what have we become?</br><br></br><br>I\'m through asking what HE is.  What are WE?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972274">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972274" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972274" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972274">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972274" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972274" class="dsq-comment-message">"but should he throw over someone who supported him......."<br></br><br>I have a feeling we will see a lot more of this from him.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972275">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972275" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972275" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972275">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972275" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972275" class="dsq-comment-message">ms. martin,<br></br><br>if he had thrown Barrow over for Thomas, that would be ok, because we agree with HER politics?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972276">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972276" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972276" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972276">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972276" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972276" class="dsq-comment-message">Brother Dixon,<br></br><br>Just email me about the cobbler. I have another idea about it.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972277">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972277" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972277" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972277">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972277" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972277" class="dsq-comment-message">rikyrah<br></br><br>He\'s throwing over a lot of people who supported him - why not Barrow too?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972278">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972278" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972278" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972278">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972278" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972278" class="dsq-comment-message">Do politicians usually endorse other politicians whose politics are in direct opposition to theirs.<br></br><br>Didn\'t Obama consistently say Clinton voted for the war?  Wasn\'t that most of his platform?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972279">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972279" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972279" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972279">Bruce Dixon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972279" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972279" class="dsq-comment-message">rikyrah, I do not have your email address, so you will have to hit me.  Try bruce.dixon(at)blackagendareport.com.<br></br><br>As I recall I made a bet with you and skeptical brotha that the Dem ticket would be Hillary and Barack, in that order, several months ago. Am I mistaken?  </br><br></br><br>bd</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972280">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972280" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972280" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972280">Nquest</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972280" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972280" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama\'s "the country I love" ad is every bit poll-watchin\' as people have suggested.  I like his remarks about the Fear & Smear campaign he\'s up against.<br></br><br>I\'m actually laughing my azz off.  I think it\'s brilliant no matter what that sorry azz Black Republican ostrich (a description of her head in the sand "without a shred of evidence" remarks) Tara says.</br><br></br><br>I mean, one of the stories this week was Cindy vs. Michelle aka "the angry Black woman" behind the man.  </br><br></br><br>In other cable news, I really got a kick out of the brother who said f-ck the script, hardly said a word about Spike Lee and told Laura Ingram how she (as a collective representative of White women) benefited from affirmative action.</br><br></br><br>In a word... PRICELESS!</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972281">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972281" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972281" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972281">Nquest</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972281" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972281" class="dsq-comment-message"><b>someone supported him, when he needed supporting</b><br></br><br>I could swear I saw a thread here on JJP that credited Black voters with being key to Obama\'s primary win.  Since that point was celebrated, I got to straighten this out:</br><br></br><br><b>And now, because he\'s gotten the nomination, we\'re supposed to just allow his to diss and ditch us?</b></br><br></br><br></br><br>Yes.  For so many reasons, Dixon question about US and what we have become is beyond warranted.  It\'s crucial.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972282">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972282" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972282" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972282">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972282" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972282" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>In other cable news, I really got a kick out of the brother who said f-ck the script, hardly said a word about Spike Lee and told Laura Ingram how she (as a collective representative of White women) benefited from affirmative action.<br></br><br>In a word... PRICELESS!</br></i><br></br><br>Possible Youtube clip?</br><br></br><br>Is there one?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972283">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972283" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972283" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972283">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972283" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972283" class="dsq-comment-message">And I thought I was cynical.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972284">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972284" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972284" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972284">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972284" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972284" class="dsq-comment-message">FISA Bill- If there is anyone that deserves disappointment and blame for the FISA issue, it is President George Bush II. <br></br><br>President Bush broke the FISA law; heck he has seemingly broken America (like every company he has ever owned and/or operated).</br><br> </br><br>Barack comes along and is working against MAJOR obstacles (Main Stream Media, 527s, voter apathy, Powerful Lobbyists, etc.)just to have the potential for oversight and three (3) working branches of government again and I sense distress and despair three (3) weeks into his GENERAL ELECTION.</br><br></br><br>Do not NOT forget that President Bush, is still responsible for everything that goes on regarding this issue (NOT Barack Obama and NOT John McCain).</br><br></br><br>Yes, please call/e-mail Senator Obama and express your concerns, FLOOD the White House Switch Board with calls and contact your STATE representatives to let them know your displeasure.</br><br></br><br>But know this, there is a long time between NOW and November and George Bush will do ALL he can to protect himself and his coterie of friends who GOT us into this 4th Amendment crisis in the first place.  So please expect President Bush to do his best Voldemort impression and pull out "all of his wizard magic" to protect himself and to help John McCain and the Neo-Conserative Karl Rove alcolytes.</br><br></br><br>Do not let this singular issue discourage a seemingly politically awakened and aware America.</br><br> </br><br>Whomever your candidate is this election please vote in November in overwhelming numbers, so that we will not have another FLORIDA</br><br> (2000)and/or OHIO (2004) again.  Because, this time the stakes are too high, this time, no matter who wins, if Americans are not proactive and do not use their heads when they pull that voting lever, we will have the president and the America we deserve because of our unwillingness to strategically think long term and unrealistic expectations.  Politics is strategy and patience.</br><br></br><br>Josephine </br><br>P.S. I just came across your blog recently and I enjoy the political analysis and discourse.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972285">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972285" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972285" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972285">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972285" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972285" class="dsq-comment-message">I wonder if the statement regarding the repubicans reminding people that he is black and Michelle is feisty is an attempt to get us back to fighting over racism and to forget his part in the racial polarizations?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972286">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972286" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972286" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972286">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972286" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972286" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>Do politicians usually endorse other politicians whose politics are in direct opposition to theirs.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Yes. Especially if they think it will help them get elected.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972287">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972287" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972287" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972287">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972287" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972287" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>I wonder if the statement regarding the repubicans reminding people that he is black and Michelle is feisty is an attempt to get us back to fighting over racism and to forget his part in the racial polarizations?</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>What part?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972288">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972288" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972288" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972288">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972288" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972288" class="dsq-comment-message">There is no part. The suggestion is racism.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972289">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972289" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972289" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972289">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972289" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972289" class="dsq-comment-message">Do politicians usually endorse other politicians whose politics are in direct opposition to theirs.<br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Yes. Especially if they think it will help them get elected.</br><br></br><br></br><br>I guess if the people who would elect them aren\'t paying attention, that just might happen.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972290">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972290" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972290" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972290">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972290" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972290" class="dsq-comment-message">If you meant what his part was in the polarization, it was the Father\'s Day speech and his new ad.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972291">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972291" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972291" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972291">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972291" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972291" class="dsq-comment-message">Craig<br></br><br>Regarding politician who would endorse another of opposing politics isn\'t that the OLD TYPE OF POLTICS THAT HAS WASHINGTON IN GRIDLOCK?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972292">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972292" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972292" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972292">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972292" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972292" class="dsq-comment-message">ms. martin, all you needed to do is watch The Keebler Elf\'s show this week...Obama didn\'t have to remind anyone of anything regarding race. Obama didn\'t make that up. Or anything on Michelle Obama Watch. <br></br><br>We pick and choose what we put as main posts on JJP, but amongst ourselves, in emails, the past couple of weeks, we\'ve had stories that just seemed to be one on top of the other.Folks send us stuff all the time, and a lot of it raises the blood pressure. </br><br></br><br> So much stuff  that we want to do another Wiki. </br><br></br><br>It\'s called a pre-emptive strike, and isn\'t it the campaign we\'ve expected all along from the GOP against Obama? </br><br></br><br><i>He\'s Black</i></br><br>He\'s Muslim</br><br>He\'s Black</br><br>He\'s Muslim</br><br>He\'s a Radical</br><br>Oh yeah, he\'s a Black Muslim Radical fomenting uprising. </br><br></br><br>It\'s all they have against Obama.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972293">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972293" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972293" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972293">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972293" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972293" class="dsq-comment-message">ms.martin, I think I\'m going to make some chow chow for you after harvest.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972294">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972294" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972294" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972294">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972294" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972294" class="dsq-comment-message">rikyrah<br></br><br>I know the racism is real and the attacks are vicious (I read things in addition to JJP), but I have to wonder because he never really talked about racism in the campaign aside from non-specific statements regarding racism.  He has even said that race wasn\'t a factor when we all knew it was.</br><br></br><br>So again, I have to wonder if this is an attempt to bring his minions back to the fold after the Father\'s Day speech where he talked about Michelle\'s father working for a living and that ad where he reminds people that he was raised white and right.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972295">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972295" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972295" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972295">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972295" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972295" class="dsq-comment-message">ms.martin, have you not heard Barack talk about his father-in-law before?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972296">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972296" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972296" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972296">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972296" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972296" class="dsq-comment-message">You know ms. martin,<br></br><br>I have to refer to something craig hickman said last night about the exchange between Jonathan Alter and Lars Larson. </br><br></br><br>He thought it was something else to see Alter take Larson on to defend Michelle Obama and wasn\'t that interesting. </br><br></br><br>I saw his point. </br><br></br><br>I\'ll couple this with something I read on MyDD last night from one of Obama\'s biggest critics over there. This person said that one of the things he had most against Obama was that it would infuriate him that Obama would never enter into direct confrontation with the GOP. That he seemed to be doing all that bi-partisan stuff. But, he has watched Obama over these past few weeks, and defended himself accordingly, attacking Republicans, but never calling them by name. That Obama let the press call out the GOP by name. </br><br></br><br>There\'s no other way to call the GOP racism out. Has to be done directly. Can\'t tiptoe around it, when it\'s seeping from every direction in GOP Land towards Obama. Pre-emptive innoculation.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972297">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972297" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972297" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972297">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972297" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972297" class="dsq-comment-message">Craig<br></br><br>Sure I have.  I just think it odd (well not really, I know it was intentional) that he mentions him the day he\'s reprimanding unknown black fathers.  It was to remind the good folks that Michelle is okay, she was raised right by a good black man.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972298">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972298" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972298" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972298">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972298" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972298" class="dsq-comment-message">rikyrah<br></br><br>If you recall my many posts here, I\'ve never questioned Obama\'s tactics or his strategy regarding responding to attacks - I trusted him. And, I always thought and believe I stated that he wouldn\'t fight a Democrat like he would a Republican so I\'m not surprised or relieved that he\'s is fighting the Republicans.</br><br></br><br>That being said, I still have to question his motives for now calling a spade a spade for the reasons I mentioned before.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972299">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972299" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972299" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972299">heartsandflowers</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972299" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972299" class="dsq-comment-message">I understand people are upset about FISA, but Obama never supported blanket immunity. And it is Bush, the united Rethugs and the cow-towing Dumbocrats that allowed this to happen - and don\'t forget all the people that voted for Bush in 2004 and/or had not been politically active. So I just think calmer heads need to prevail. It\'s just a bad situation all around. Apparently  lot of people are going to be disappointed if they think Obama is as liberal as a Bill Bradley or going to be able to please everyone 100%. There are plenty of people who want Obama to denounce marriage being categorized as between a man and a woman. I think it is important to pick one\'s battles and try to look at the big picture. I know that some polls show Obama ahead and the corporate media is downplaying that. I wouldn\'t rely on the numbers from any sources inasmuch as this election is not a given for Obama. He has to play to win. He could say everything people want and possibly mean it and still not win - then what? Will the emotional affirmation be enough? I think regardless of these issues an Obama administration WILL be better than a Bush or McCain one so everyone needs to get to working for the campaign and let your voices be heard. Just know that it isn\'t utopia, perfect or even how you assume it will be. It will be different and still sufficient as long as people remain flexible. Unless some bottom line has been crossed and then you should look into supporting another candidate who can meet those needs.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972300">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972300" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972300" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972300">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972300" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972300" class="dsq-comment-message">ms. martin, <br></br><br>if he ever is this blunt again, I\'ll be surprised. If you\'re a Black candidate, you\'re not given many times to bring this up, no matter how many monkey dolls are created. NO WAY could he have done what Hillary did, and every surrogate she had did. </br><br></br><br>NO WAY. </br><br></br><br>You get one time, maybe two. He\'s also probably playing on the unackowledged guilt of the MSM, who was \'mum\', even though they saw the racebaiting. </br><br></br><br>Anyway you see it, if he brings it up again between now and November, I\'ll be shocked. </br><br></br><br>Bring it up NOW, just as you\'re trying to re-introduce yourself, and put the other  side on the defensive. Try and control your own narrative.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972301">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972301" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972301" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972301">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972301" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972301" class="dsq-comment-message">Watching Washington Week tonight, and the lady from <a href="http://Politico.com" rel="nofollow">Politico.com</a> brought up that Obama\'s 50 State Strategy is an attempt to do to McCAin what he did to Hillary Clinton - bankrupt her.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972302">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972302" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972302" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972302">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972302" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972302" class="dsq-comment-message">Wolf Blitzer has to be on something. It\'s not humanly possible for him to always be on CNN.....what, seven days a week? He\'s an experiment, like from The Incredible Hulk. <br></br><br>I know it\'s 6 because he does that Sunday show. Does he work on Saturday, or is that when they plug him into the electrical unit to charge his batteries for the rest of the week. </br><br></br><br>He\'s taken over for the hideous Campbell Brown the past few nights.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972303">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972303" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972303" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972303">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972303" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972303" class="dsq-comment-message">OMG.<br></br><br>I just got it. </br><br></br><br>Watching a piece on Dollar Bill, and the Headlines are  </br><br></br><br>"Meet the Jeffersons".</br><br></br><br>and</br><br></br><br>" Moving On Down" </br><br></br><br></br><br>I..I....I....</br><br></br><br>I\'ll just leave it alone.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972304">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972304" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972304" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972304">BigAssBelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972304" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972304" class="dsq-comment-message">Rikyrah:<br></br><br><i>About Barrow again: </i></br><br></br><br>Politics ain\'t pretty a lot of times, but should he throw over someone who supported him, \' back when\' for someone else. </br><br></br><br>So, the bottom line here is, someone supported him, when he needed supporting. And now, because you like the politics of his opponent, he\'s supposed to just ditch this person?</br><br></br><br>No, not if you\'re the same old crappy politician we\'ve always had. If you\'re running on a platform of change, then you stand up and tell this guy ~ in private, in public ~ why you cannot support him. This fool in Georgia is a republican ~ a far right republican ~ running on the democratic platform. The challenger is a progressive. </br><br></br><br>Either you stand for something or you don\'t. Supporting someone because they did something for you is the worst kind of cronyism. It is politics without values. We\'ve got that already.</br><br></br><br>_______</br><br></br><br>heartsandflowers:</br><br></br><br><i>I understand people are upset about FISA, but Obama never supported blanket immunity.</i></br><br></br><br>A few weeks ago, Obama made a principled stand in defense of the constitution and against the bullshit FISA bill the republicans were trying to pass. He was roundly applauded for not buying into the Bush admin bullshit that we\'ve been manipulated with for the last eight years.</br><br></br><br>Yesterday, he just reversed that stand and made a statement which reiterated all of the same old tired Bush crap. <i>"Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. </i></br><br></br><br>Oooooh, once again, we\'re being frightened with terrorist threats, and it\'s coming from, of all people, Obama. </br><br></br><br>The whole issue of FISA makes folks\' eyes cross, I know it. It\'s not a marketable issue, but it is profoundly important to this nation because it is a constitutional issue, and we\'ve had an administration running roughshod over the constitution for eight years.</br><br></br><br>Here\'s what the republicans are saying about this cave in:</br><br></br><br><i>The proposal — particularly the immunity provision — represents a major victory for the White House after months of dispute. "I think the White House got a better deal than they even they had hoped to get," said Senator Christopher Bond, the Missouri Republican who led the negotiations. </i></br><br></br><br>That makes me feel like throwing up. With only 17% of the people thinking we\'re on the right track in this country, a president with approval ratings in the mid-20s, we have a wildly popular candidate for president who jumps on the republican bus and sells us out. The one man most people listen to right now because of his thoughtful and measured way of examining issues.</br><br></br><br>There\'s a whole crowd of folks waking up today saying "well if <i>Barack</i> says it\'s a good thing, it must be."</br><br></br><br>Bullshit. He sold us out. I am still just not believing it. An coupled with the support of that Georgia asshat and his economic policies, it\'s just too much.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972305">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972305" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972305" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972305">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972305" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972305" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>There\'s a whole crowd of folks waking up today saying "well if Barack says it\'s a good thing, it must be."</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Barack plays chess. Not checkers. </br><br></br><br>I\'ll withhold judgment about him selling out until he\'s elected and then we\'ll see what he does about all these crimes. </br><br></br><br>This much I know: he won\'t be able to do shit if he\'s not elected.</br><br></br><br>I believe he\'s posturing. Telecom companies are not immune from criminal prosecution, even with this bill. That\'s not a small point.</br><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>rikyrah, </br><br></br><br>I want to make it clear that Alter didn\'t just defend Michelle. He told Larson that he was using racism in his attacks trying to turn Michelle into an angry Black woman. </br><br></br><br>White people don\'t say that to white people on cable television.</br><br></br><br>I\'ve always believed that white people need to do anti-racist work with each other. White people simply refuse to hear it when a Black person denounces racism.</br><br></br><br>As I said already many times, I understand the beating Barack is taking about his Father\'s Day speech. But whether he intended it or not, I think he gave certain white people impetus to go after certain white people for their racism in public.</br><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>About Georgia. It seems to me Barrow\'s challenger should win the primary if she can get 95% of the Black folks in her district to vote for her.</br><br></br><br>Barack\'s endorsement, in addition to being cronyism, might simply help him have a better chance of winning Georgia if the conservative Georgia Democrats begin to see that Barack isn\'t the radical liberal his opponents are painting him out to be.</br><br></br><br>Maybe that\'s the constituency he\'s politricking, not Black progressives. He\'ll take their votes to win the general election and then do whatever he\'s going to do in the Oval Office.</br><br></br><br>Just a thought.</br><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>I don\'t think that Barack his taking the Black vote for granted at all. This was confirmed for me when I saw his list of hires a week ago. He had all his constituency outreach coordinators listed and I was wary that it would show that he was taking some of his base for granted. But he\'s not taking any of his base for granted. He hired an African American outreach coordinator, along with one for Hispanic voters, GLBT voters, and women.</br><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>I guess I just choose not to be cynical about Barack\'s motives at this point in the election. There\'s a whole lot more going on than meets the eye.</br><br></br><br>But with the way Barack is being blackened in a negative way by his opposition, it would seem silly for him not to remind people that a big part of him is just like those who are trying to negatively blacken him. If Barack was insecure about his blackness, I see NO WAY that he marries Michelle, whom he obviously adores.</br><br></br><br>I\'m not turning a blind eye to anything that Barack is saying or doing. I\'m just not taking any of it personally right now. I\'m still willing to see where this imperfect politician goes from here.</br><br></br><br>He hasn\'t sold his soul. Yet.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1972306">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1972306" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1972306" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1972306">Ro</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1972306" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1972306" class="dsq-comment-message">Thank you for quoting Dr. Dorothy Height. She is a role model for us all, and I hope you will write more about her.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 </ul>\
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