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"Tavis needs to get over himself. <br></br><br>I'm telling you, folks LIT HIS #*$% UP this week, telling him to BTFU off of Obama.</br><br></br><br>They weren't having it. </br><br></br><br>Tavis is SUSPECT to me. </br><br></br><br>He's a smart man, who didn't say JACK as Obama was being Dogwhistled by Billary. All those that stayed silent will forever be SUSPECT to me. </br><br></br><br>And, he shows how small he is, by not allowing Michelle to be there. She would be fabulous, and he knows it. But, she won't take his mess or anyone else's. She'd make any of them COME CORRECT.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-15_23:14:00", "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}, "1954877": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I just wanted to say thank you for the link. <br></br><br>But I wanted to address what I think is a growing irrational exuberance concerning Obama. The dream of a black president is so far down on the list of changes I want this country to accomplish that I have a hard time getting excited. There are some things that supersede my desire for a black president and they have to do with the integrity and welfare of this country and our constitution.</br><br></br><br>I would love to see a secure vote. I would love to see the constitution restored. I would love to see the abolition of slavery. I would love to see wage equality between race and gender. I would love to see corporations not treated as persons or citizens. I would love to see citizens treated as persons. </br><br></br><br>Now, concerning Michelle\u2019s attendance in lieu of the rock star. </br><br></br><br>\u201cAllowing her to participate would be the graceful thing to do. It would allow African-Americans and those who love them a chance to get to evaluate her perspective on our issues even more carefully.\u201d</br><br></br><br>Point of order \u2013 the appearance at the State of the Black Union  was for candidates seeking nomination for president. Michelle doesn\u2019t qualify. Charming as she is, she isn\u2019t an elected official, is not running for elected office, and is in no way accountable to the electorate. In this forum, under these circumstances, her opinion is irrelevant. She can make no commitments and can\u2019t be held accountable. </br><br></br><br>If you can\u2019t make it, say you can\u2019t make it. Don\u2019t treat it as though it is insignificant just because your popular. Especially when it was significant enough to get you where you are now. Plainly, Barack thought it was important enough before all the hype. I\u2019m certain he has \u201cbetter things to do than talk to Tavis\u201d just don\u2019t disrespect the forum or the people, or the process. </br><br></br><br>There are two kinds of Black leaders \u2013 those who speak to white folk representing the interest and concerns of black folk; and then, there are those who speak to black folk about the interest of white folk. </br><br></br><br>Just change black and white to poor and rich and you have Obama. </br><br></br><br>I have no faith that he will suddenly get religion once he is in the white house. I have real problems with a man who has no real stake in my history or culture as a descendent of slaves being presented as a model of \u201cBlackness.\u201d </br><br></br><br>Aside from the Joel Osteen, production heavy, speeches; the great camera work and staging; the fantastic branding and marketing campaign financed by Big Energy and Banking \u2013 all innovations in the political process that demonstrate David Axelrod is a real innovator \u2013 I have no reason to feel enthusiastic about an Obama presidency. If I go by his policy or voting record (what there is of it) his position is going to further destroy the middle class, privatize every carbon based product through a felonious cap and trade regime and drive America further into feudalism. Barack Obama is the Black republican Alan Keyes wished he could be. </br><br></br><br>I understand we have to finish this. I understand it is a matter of pride. I just would love for the African American community and Black folk to do this right and not let our emotions cloud our judgment. I honestly fear that the desire for a Black president has caused us to turn off our critical thinking and accept blindly anyone who looks like they might win. This puts Blacks in the position of substituting the judgment of others for our own. Had we done that in any other struggle we would still be in Jim Crow or out right slavery. We have a four hundred year history of political engagement with the idea of America. I find it troubling when Obama can\u2019t even see past to the 60\u2019s. Black folk articulated the platform for human rights out of their struggle for equality and citizenship. Now being black and articulating the political tradition of American liberty that developed out our history is no longer acceptable. Obama wouldn\u2019t exist had our tradition not made it possible. Now he is scared to engage it because it would alienate people. Sounds weak to me. </br><br></br><br>I don\u2019t mean to rant. But I do feel that the community has lost its sense of perspective. We are so drunk with hope and anticipation at \u201cfinally making it\u201d that we are about to sell our soul. I would ask that we remain sober, methodical and rational while we are in the twilight at the crossroads. </br><br></br><br>Respectfully, </br><br></br><br>Xenophon</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_00:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c9e0e43c11397ed4c62c2142ed4a2a4e", "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}, "1954878": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Is that you Tavis?  Or maybe you're Tavis's cousin?<br></br><br>Calling Tavis out on his BS is NOT \"growing irrational exuberance concerning Obama\".  It is what it is: calling BULLSHIT plain and simple.</br><br></br><br>And what is this?</br><br></br><br><b>If you can\u2019t make it, say you can\u2019t make it. Don\u2019t treat it as though it is insignificant just because your popular. Especially when it was significant enough to get you where you are now.</b></br><br></br><br>Tavis Smiley's bullshit marketing conference (sponsored by McDonalds, Walmart, etc.) got Obama where he is now? Riight....</br><br></br><br>Obama did say he couldn't make it because he is not only busy, he is at a CRITICAL juncture in his run with Ohio and Texas on the line and the Clinton's pulling every dirty trick in the book non-stop.  Obama has already escaped being ghettoized once and going to this conference to be set up by a stealth Clinton water carrier (Tavis) is NOT a good move because he is running for President of the ENTIRE country - not just Black America!</br><br></br><br>Long before Tavis's playa-hating, SEVERAL black folks have noted - after watching it on CSPAN for years - that the SOTBU conference is primarily an echo chamber and a marketing force for Tavis and his books. Last year, they spent half of the conference criticizing Barack Obama because he did not announce his candidacy there.  Tavis is full of it and obviously shilling for the Clintons. Even his most ardent fans have noted that.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_01:14:00", "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}, "1954879": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Everybody from John Edwards to Tavis Smiley seems to be threatening to withhold endorsement of Obama if he doesn't give them something in return. <br></br><br>And you know what? It makes me hella more confident in him, that he can stand up and say \"this isn't a high school clique, and your needs - though I do care about them - do not outweigh those of the American public, just because you are famous/rich/influential\".</br><br></br><br>That's how I know he will follow through with what he says about standing up to all the OTHER rich/famous/influential people who are gonna try to sweat him. </br><br></br><br>You go ahead and handle your business, Senator, I'll be making some calls to my friends in Houston and Austin on your behalf.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_01:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9ab741c2bd033cbb231f6ed4462c97ea", "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}, "1954880": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Right On, Right ON @Anon & Rachel,<br><b></b></br><br>Tavis Smiley's bullshit marketing conference (sponsored by McDonalds, Walmart, etc.) got Obama where he is now? Riight....</br><br></br><br>Could not have said that any better...the notion that Tavis is the \"next generation's\" keeper of the brass-ring is total bullshit.  Let me go ebonic, \"Tavis, you ain't got no dayum ring!\"</br><br></br><br>If I here another trifling, Uncle-Ruckus negro tell me that my support is just an \"emotional\" response...people who can neither understand nor embrace the concept of a \"post-racial\" America deserve to keep \"picking the cotton.\"</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_02:11:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "61b38052cdae3077225c223eee4a5ad9", "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}, "1954881": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Found this on <a href=\"http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2008/02/running-into-brick-wall.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">another blog</a>, and thought how it related to Obama/Tavis and the hateration, and what xenophon was saying:<br></br><br><i>Obama is a rock star. Plain and simple. People can sit an analyze the politics and the stances, but most of us don't KNOW any of these people personally, and we make up our minds based on what we THINK we know. And he's a rock star. And he's slick... I agree with Bad Tux on this. But I like that. As a graphic designer, and somebody who spent 7 years in cable television ad sales before being a techie (which was before being a graphic designer), I admire the HELL out of his marketing strategy. It's tight. He got the right people to do the job. They did their research. When they did his logo, they planned it down to the nitty gritty... If you go to his site and click on \"People\", for every group he's trying to talk to, he adapted his logo to represent the target group. As a designer, let me tell you, shit like that thrills me to the bone. Because it means that if he didn't come up with the plan himself, he has the ability to go get the people to make the plan... and recognize a good plan when he sees one. They paid attention to the details. And there's a saying that goes \"God is in the details\". Hillary's site, by comparison, is really old, unimaginative, and completely ordinary. She ASSumed she had it going on. She took her spot for granted. Just like she took her votes for granted.</i></br><br></br><br>Obama has charisma. We haven't seen that kind of charisma in a long long time. We thought we saw it in Bill, but that's cuz we hadn't seen it since JFK, since Malcolm, since MLK. Hell, my 8-almost-9YO kid is flicking the channel to CNN to see what the news is on Obama. This is a kid who's obsessed with Naruto and Comedy Central. </br><br></br><br>Does this mean Obama will be a good president? I dunno. On the one hand, I still firmly believe that it's money what makes our world go round. On the other hand, the man has raised over $30 MILLION dollars in a month. That's big. He gives me goosebumps when he speaks, despite myself. And I trust no one, but I find myself being sucked in. I find it very interesting that he was able to convince \"white\" states like Missouri and Alabama.</br><br></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_02:29:00", "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}, "1954882": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>If I here another trifling, Uncle-Ruckus negro tell me that my support is just an \"emotional\" response...people who can neither understand nor embrace the concept of a \"post-racial\" America deserve to keep \"picking the cotton.\"</i><br><b>\u201cIn politics, when reason and emotion collide, emotion invariably wins. Elections are decided in the marketplace of emotions, a marketplace filled with values, images, analogies, moral sentiments, and moving oratory, in which logic plays only a supporting role. Westen shows, through a whistle-stop journey through the evolution of the passionate brain and a bravura tour through fifty years of American presidential and national elections, why campaigns succeed and fail. The evidence is overwhelming that three things determine how people vote, in this order: their feelings toward the parties and their principles, their feelings toward the candidates, and, if they haven't decided by then, their feelings toward the candidates' policy positions.\u201d</b></br><br></br><br><a href=\"http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-political-brain\" rel=\"nofollow\">Link</a></br><br></br><br>Now would you please be so kind as to define what <i>you</i> mean by \u201cpost-racial\u201d.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_02:44:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c9e0e43c11397ed4c62c2142ed4a2a4e", "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}, "1954883": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Xenophon: your argument is simultaneously condescending and foolish. Intellect and emotion don't exist separately, in a vacuum. You have to know that. <br></br><br>I'm not black, but I have gotten variations of this <i>exact same</i> argument; almost always from people who haven't actually done any research. It boils down to a sort of cynical Occam's Razor: the shittiest outcome is the most likely. The truth is, pessimists are wrong just as often as optimists, but if they are right, the world is shit, and if they are wrong they will still be waiting for that hammer to fall. Forever. </br><br></br><br>It's alright to feel good about this guy, he's not a messiah who will make everything better but all indications are that he'll make a smart, capable, progressive statesman. </br><br></br><br>And frankly, how arrogant it is to think that whether or not he has a stake in your version of blackness is relevant to that? It's not an Oppression Sweepstakes, and he's not running for America's Next Top Black. This is the same exact bullshit Gloria Steinem is pushing, just under a different mantle.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_03:13:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9ab741c2bd033cbb231f6ed4462c97ea", "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}, "1954884": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I am a former fan of Tavis.  Throughout this entire campaign he<br>has attacked Barack weekly on the TJMS.  Never an attack on Hillary.</br><br>I sincerely believe he and Hillary</br><br>came up with this mess together!</br><br>I am so sick of these so called</br><br>advocates claiming they LOVE Black people when all they do is advance their personal agendas.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_06:15:00", "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}, "1954885": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Jill, I have profound respect for your blog but I don't find your distinction between the so-called \"half Kenyan, half Kansan\" and \"regular old slave-descended black folk\" helpful. It will only serve one purpose -- divide, instead of unite us.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_09:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "aea934c04f1ecae2a77fc1827b2b700a", "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}, "1954886": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "As a former long-time DC area resident, I believe it will take a uniter (who also knows how to identify the right people for cabinet posts) to bring about any kind of change.  <br></br><br>Obviously some folks do not seem to understand it is a new day and time to do things a new way.  The hatin is tired Tavis...no one is listening.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_09:53:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "8f96e5ac552758523d509993c00aa0c1", "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}, "1954887": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Webb said:<br></br><br>If I here another trifling, Uncle-Ruckus negro tell me that my support is just an \"emotional\" response...people who can neither understand nor embrace the concept of a \"post-racial\" America deserve to keep \"picking the cotton.\"</br><br></br><br>What the does this \"post racial\" mean?  Surely you don't think America is equal now do you?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_11:50:00", "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}, "1954888": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Xenophon, what election hasn't been emotional (or irrational as you call it)?  I didn't hear people say evangelicals were being irrational when they came out in droves in '04 to vote for George W. Bush because they didn't want to see dudes marrying dudes.  Wake up and smell the coffee, Xenophon.  This is what the establishment wants you to think--that somehow supporting a non-establishment candidate is irrational (emotional).  What do any of the other candidates have to offer the African American community?  Why are you holding Obama to a higher standard than the other candidates?  Why are you willing to throw him under the bus because he won't speak to your specific demands?  To me that's irrational--believing in hope and inspiration <b>is</b> rational.<br></br><br>As for Tavis--in his own words, he better check himself before he wrecks himself.  Barack and Michelle are doing the work of three Clintons (Hillary, Bill, and Chelsea), and Barack has to contend with the Clinton name recognition and established base.  Barack doesn't have time to pander to one demographic--the Tavis Smiley fan club.  If Tavis doesn't accept Michelle's attendance, then it will be to his detriment because blacks will see how he's working to sabotage Obama's campaign.  And in case Smiley didn't know it, blacks are his base.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_12:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6aa3ee71bc9714917dc34dde9e4e2b41", "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}, "1954889": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rachel said<br></br><br>\"And frankly, how arrogant it is to think that whether or not he has a stake in your version of blackness is relevant to that? It's not an Oppression Sweepstakes, and he's not running for America's Next Top Black. This is the same exact bullshit Gloria Steinem is pushing, just under a different mantle.\"</br><br></br><br>Gloria Steinem is a woman's activist and that is her number one above all else is to push womens issues and she makes no apologies for it.  I can respect that.</br><br></br><br>I wish Black people had the same kind of determination to push the Black agenda and make no apologies for it and to see other Black people do well before all else.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_12:02:00", "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}, "1954890": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Why people are attacking Xenophon for expressing his concern about Obama not addressing Black issues baffles me.  He has every right to be a little apprehensive towards Obama because how many times have Blacks been burned by these politicians in the past?  Especially these White liberal politicians?<br></br><br>TLW</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_12:07:00", "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}, "1954891": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Tavis is going to learn that when an African-American gets real power, and I pray Barack does, that the hotairosphere is going to need infinitely fewer bloviasting hucksters and tricksters and their non-stop self-promotion machines.<br></br><br>Don't get me wrong. Guys like Tavis have served a useful purpose as self-appointed spokespersons for black America. And I guess black America still needs Tavis as its Charlie Rose, an interviewer whose romance with his own voice drwons out the person being interviewed.</br><br></br><br>But Tavis, we are heading into a time of new maturity, and -- one hopes -- new and real power. The grown-ups are going to be doing real politics, and they will be making decisions about what to do on a given day and where to campaign based, not on the ego of a of a Tavis Smiley or a Creflo Dollar or an Al Sharpton or a Reverend Ike or a Jesse Jackson, but on what wins.</br><br></br><br>That you should could even suggest that, in the midst of this life and death campaign, a man who could be our next Presdient should come down to add lustre to your punditry machine fully reveals the kind of self-absorbtion that has kepot black America on the margins of power.</br><br></br><br>This is the big time, Tavis. The real thing.</br><br></br><br>Do us a favor and, if you can't get out of the way, at least temporarily shut off the hot-air machine.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_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}, "1954892": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\u201cEverybody from John Edwards to Tavis Smiley seems to be threatening to withhold endorsement of Obama if he doesn't give them something in return.\u201d<br></br><br>You realize this is politics and everything is quid pro quo. If you can\u2019t address my interest you don\u2019t get my vote. Nothing personal just the way the game works.</br><br></br><br>\u201cIntellect and emotion don't exist separately, in a vacuum. You have to know that.\u201d</br><br>You\u2019re ranting not reading. That is why I posted:</br><br></br><br>\u201cIn politics, when reason and emotion collide, emotion invariably wins. Elections are decided in the marketplace of emotions, a marketplace filled with values, images, analogies, moral sentiments, and moving oratory, in which logic plays only a supporting role.\u201d</br><br></br><br>\u201cexact same argument\u201d </br><br></br><br>What argument is that? </br><br></br><br>That because he comes form a different history and background his understanding and experience may be significantly different? Isn\u2019t that what he\u2019s running on? </br><br></br><br>\u201cIt's not an Oppression Sweepstakes\u201d</br><br></br><br>Where do you get these phrases? Is there a book.</br><br></br><br>My experience and history and culture, make me aware and concerned about the increasing inequality in the distribution of wealth and resources in this country. It makes me acutely aware of how the \u201cAmerican\u201d identity is supported through systematic exploitation and discrimination. It makes me take a position that the idea of meritocracy and an egalitarian society (please notice I didn\u2019t say color blind) is a good thing. It also makes me realize that certain forms of exploitation such as corporate corruption and usurpation of the political process prohibit the attainment of that goal. Therefore, my version of  \u201cBlackness\u201d as you call it requires that the interest of human welfare supercede any profit motive. Especially when it is driven by a fictive entity like the corporation. Having a historical chain of memory (read oral tradition) that extends beyond the Mayflower, I have a perspective that is different than Mr. Obama\u2019s. So if I disagree with him, it\u2019s because he articulates a position that in my historical perspective and judgment, which like all is culturally centered,  appears to lead to tyranny and feudalism \u2013 a consolidation of corporate profit and government coercion that widens the gap between rich and not rich. <a href=\"http://www.frbsf.org/publications/economics/letter/2006/el2006-33-34.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Rising Inequality</a></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_12:38:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c9e0e43c11397ed4c62c2142ed4a2a4e", "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}, "1954893": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Why are you willing to throw him under the bus because he won't speak to your specific demands?\"<br></br><br>This is America, still. Why would I vote for someone who can't address my issues and needs. Because he's Black?  Oh hell no. </br><br></br><br>I judge Obama by the company he keeps, his staff, his voting record, and his policy positions. Not out of the well spring of my hopes and desires to see a Black face in the oval office or some urge to be in a \"historical\" moment. I look at what he has done and what he plans to do.</br><br></br><br>Within that framework, he hasn't earned my vote. He has yet to deliver a policy position of substance. Which means no numbers or mechanisms. Change is not a plan it's a platitude.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_12:45:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c9e0e43c11397ed4c62c2142ed4a2a4e", "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}, "1954894": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Anonymous said, \"Why people are attacking Xenophon for expressing his concern about Obama not addressing Black issues baffles me.\"<br></br><br>Yeah--my problem is that folks like Xenophon and Tavis Smiley are holding Obama to a higher standard because Obama's black while giving the Clintons a free ride.  Blacks only make up 13% of the population.  What black candidate will get elected pandering to 13% of the population?  Yet, Sen. Clinton can pander to middle-aged white women and still possibly get the nomination.  Is that fair?</br><br></br><br>My other problem with Xenophon is the latent racism in his/her comments that Obama supporters are irrational.  Krugman and Krauthammer have also touched upon this.  What do these pundits always say?  Obama is a great orator, but he lacks substance.  In other words, Obama's a great activist who inspires people, but it's going to take a white man/woman to get the job.  Does that sound familiar?  Why is it irrational to go with the black man?  How can we say we've progressed as a society when getting excited about the black candidate is irrational, while women getting excited about Clinton (simply because she's woman) is normalized?</br><br></br><br>For those who say they don't know anything about Obama's policies, google his website!  He has a whole sections on his policies.  Saying he lacks substance just proves how lazy one is.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_12:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6aa3ee71bc9714917dc34dde9e4e2b41", "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}, "1954895": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Let Michelle attend!  Hillary Clinton is running on the legacy of her husband's administration, so I think it more than fair that Michelle be allowed to give a vision of a future presidency.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_13:08:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c60cf267cb7a0392bdb4a893a5ee5c7c", "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}, "1954896": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Everybody from John Edwards to Tavis Smiley seems to be threatening to withhold endorsement of Obama if he doesn't give them something in return.\"<br></br><br>I can't believe the number of Black folks who fell for John Edwards' populice bull shit! He went from the poster child of the DLC to Hughey Long in the span of four years.  Please!  As Russ Feingold said, his whole campaign was running away from his entire Senate record.  And now he's poised to ensorse Hillary Clinton whom he called everything but a corporate whore.  John Edwards is showing his true colors.  He's nothing but a damn red neck like Bill Clinton pissed that the colored boy got in his way.  And now he plans to use his 'southern appeal' (telling White folks in OH and PA to stick with White) to sway this election for Hillary Clinton.  Fuck John Edwards and Tavis Smiley!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_13:13:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c60cf267cb7a0392bdb4a893a5ee5c7c", "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}, "1954897": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Xenophon,<br></br><br>What issues do you presume are more important to African Americans than the rest of America?  Black folks have consistently ranked education, the economy, health care and the Iraq War as issues of most concern to them, MAINSTREAM ISSUES.  And Barack can speak to those issues as well as issues of civil rights and justice from Texas, Ohio and Pennslyvania as well as he could sitting on Tavis' stage paid for my corporations like Wal-mart and McDonalds that are union busting poor Black and Brown workers and killing more Black folks than cigarettes, respectively.  We don't have to go through Tavis to get our issues addressed.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_13:19:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c60cf267cb7a0392bdb4a893a5ee5c7c", "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}, "1954898": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Xenophon: you referred to \"growing irrational exuberance concerning Obama\", and said that \"The dream of a black president is so far down on the list of changes I want this country to accomplish that I have a hard time getting excited. There are some things that supersede my desire for a black president and they have to do with the integrity and welfare of this country and our constitution.\"<br> </br><br>Now, I read that same article (Washington Post, I think?) talking about how passion wins and the role of intellect is usually just to justify emotion when it comes to voting.</br><br></br><br>But may I point out, if you want to put that rational impulse to work, the welfare of our constitution would be very well tended to by, say, a constitutional law expert and teacher? I think that's a pretty solid point in his favor, although it has the happy side effect of making me feel good, too.  And I had been waiting and waiting for somebody to talk about infrastructure as a long-term economic solution (which would also address issues like the decimation of the black population of New Orleans due to substandard levees, but more broadly issues of poor people and even more broadly, American people), and Obama unveils a wide-ranging and solid plan to do just that, and it tickles my logical desires pink; that whole economic stimulus bullshit had me worried, you see. I like the guy, he seems to be a really good man with a rock-solid character but what makes me believe in him, believe that he will be an effective leader, is the substance. So I'd appreciate it if you did not make the offensive and unflattering assumption that choosing Obama results from some sort of hysteria.</br><br></br><br>The exact same argument refers to: feminists who have told me that as a feminist, I owe my vote to the woman, regardless of what I think of her politics (hint: not much). The idea that only someone who exactly shares my experiences can govern my country well. Sorry, but that's extra-stupid with a side of WTF. I'm not a man, I'm not black, I didn't grow up in Hawaii, my husband has never been governor or president of anything useful; and as far as I know, neither candidate has a gay southern baptist preacher dad or enjoys painting with acrylics because they lack the patience for oil...identity politics are innately myopic, and leadership of a country as huge and  diverse as this one require seeing the forest AND the trees.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_13:57:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9ab741c2bd033cbb231f6ed4462c97ea", "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}, "1954899": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<b>\"Everybody from John Edwards to Tavis Smiley seems to be threatening to withhold endorsement of Obama if he doesn't give them something in return.\"<br></br><br>I can't believe the number of Black folks who fell for John Edwards' populice bull shit! He went from the poster child of the DLC to Hughey Long in the span of four years. Please! As Russ Feingold said, his whole campaign was running away from his entire Senate record. And now he's poised to ensorse Hillary Clinton whom he called everything but a corporate whore. John Edwards is showing his true colors. He's nothing but a damn red neck like Bill Clinton pissed that the colored boy got in his way. And now he plans to use his 'southern appeal' (telling White folks in OH and PA to stick with White) to sway this election for Hillary Clinton. Fuck John Edwards and Tavis Smiley!</br></b><br></br><br>NMP,</br><br></br><br>Someone on another board wrote this:<i></i></br><br>I never thought Bill Richardson would come out of this with more of my respect than John Edwards.</br><br></br><br></br><br>NMP,</br><br></br><br>I was like, who you tellin'? You know how much I've been down on Richardson, but, he's shown far more character than Edwards, who, if he endorses Clinton, he'll be written off forever for me.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_14:19:00", "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}, "1954900": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Frankly, this is the kind of debate that people use to distract you from what's really important. This echoes the hypocritical criticisms of him throughout his campaigns. \"He's too black\" \"He's not black enough.\"<br></br><br>To some people, if he admits that he occasionally plays basketball, he's \"too black.\" To others, anything short of wearing an Africa pendant means that he \"isn't black enough.\"</br><br></br><br>This is how the media pigeonholes all of us, pits us against each other, and keeps us perpetually distracted from actual issues.</br><br></br><br>As a black man yourself, Xenophon, I would think you should be able to empathize with that struggle.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_14:25:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1ff6d3c57025801fd79c1e8770e53dfc", "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}, "1954901": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I don't understand the \"half-kenyan\" \"slave-descended\" distinction.<br></br><br>Any Black person born in America is going to experience the same racism, regardless of where their parents came from. Especially someone born in the 60s.</br><br></br><br>Just like descendants of white immigrants didn't have to have ancestors who owned slaves in order to benefit from white privilege.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_14:43:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9c7e1137d3aca4bd6f9e42ffc38d7e19", "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}, "1954902": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "My definition of \"post-racial\" is simply \"beyond race.\"  That's moving America beyond identity politics.  <br></br><br>An Obama Presidency will not solve all of the ills of our society...but it will move us one-step closer toward achieving the Dream that MLK died for nearly 40 years ago.</br><br></br><br>Apparently, community organizing is not substantive-enough work for some of you.  </br><br></br><br>The idea that *O* can not relate to the suffering of the poor is damn-near sinister.</br><br></br><br>It is essentially swift-boating a war hero while you were either hiding out in the national guard (BUSH), serving on the Board of Walmart (HILLARY), or making millions as a trial lawyer (EDWARDS).</br><br></br><br>I \"double-dog dare\" Edwards to endorse Hillary.  If you think what Ann Coulter said about Edwards was rough, \"he AIN't HEARD nothing yet.\"  </br><br></br><br>John should know by now that Elizabeth doesn't like it when people talk too negatively about her husband...</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_15:20:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "61b38052cdae3077225c223eee4a5ad9", "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}, "1954903": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I stumbled upon this blog today and had no idea I would enjoy so much the first discussion I read.<br></br><br>First, thank you to those people who have called out Mr. Smiley for his self-obsession. </br><br></br><br>Next, thank you to those who keep laying waste to the divisive notion that we can only get behind Obama because we are too stupid, too caught up in the rapture, to know any better.</br><br></br><br>And finally, I want to know one thing. Xenophon, which presidential candidate are you voting for, if any?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_15:39:00", "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}, "1954904": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Next, thank you to those who keep laying waste to the divisive notion that we can only get behind Obama because we are too stupid, too caught up in the rapture, to know any better.\"<br></br><br>-Don't forget the \"C\" word: CULT.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_18:10:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "56f1b58fb6a26c86d03a37c2ea95329e", "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}, "1954905": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"And I had been waiting and waiting for somebody to talk about infrastructure as a long-term economic solution\"<br></br><br>You mean the transportation plan that includes, Job Access and Reverse Commute Grant? That one? Certainly we need to improve our infrastructure. But it seems to me that the welfare to work model on which the original legislation is based is going to end up subsidizing middle class commutes and drive out less educated workers, particularly from urban areas. Here is why. The JARC grant was primarily to assist the newly accountable \u201cwelfare to work\u201d group. It helped them commute eight hours a day in some cases to 8- 10 hour jobs. They had to work, usually I affluent suburbs, where there were jobs. Hard to get to the burbs without transportation, hence the JARC. The problem with the new model is \u2013 you need job creation to help the poor out of poverty. If the only jobs you are creating are \u201cgreen technology and manufacturing jobs\u201d that leaves out most of the poor who are under educated. So what you have is a massive gentrification plan that displaces and relocates the poor from the city to \u2026wherever, and the subsidizes the middle class, as oil and materials makes transportation ever more expensive \u2013 think $10 a gallon oil. So in effect what you have in his transportation policy is a further stratification between educated and less educated; rich and poor based on legislation designed to help people out of poverty. You improve infrastructure and access to transportation and at the same time remove those who are less educated and poor.</br><br></br><br>BTW, if anybody other than the Electoral College voted to elect a president, I would vote for \u2026 Barack. </br><br></br><br>I don\u2019t know; is worrying about the welfare of those displaced by gentrification a racial issue? I learned it from my grandparents who had to migrate from the south during the great migration.  Somehow I thought in a democracy asking a candidate to address contradictions I policy was part of the process. </br><br></br><br>PS</br><br>\"tickles my logical desires pink\"</br><br>desire and sensation (tickles) are by definition irrational. The only way to reconcile a rational operator like logic with irrational   elements like desire and sensation is through an irrational synthesis,  usually through some artistic or phatastic construction ... like an archetype (like a hero), a metaphor (salvation), analogy (titilation).</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_19:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c9e0e43c11397ed4c62c2142ed4a2a4e", "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}, "1954906": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "People who say: \"Obama hasn't mentioned black issues (whatever that is) clearly have not done their research ---or they are waiting CNN (the Clinton News Network) to interview him eating sweet potato pie at a black bakery on 125th in Harlem. Oh wait...I forgot, all of the black bakeries in Harlem went out of business...except for one); while the black gatekeepers stood by in silence or actively aided in their demise.<br></br><br>As Obama has said, this is a movement from the ground up...its up to the people to contact the campaign and/or do their own research for the candidate's views...and not hope the candidate is going to knock on your door.</br><br></br><br>The Tavis Smiley will learn that  the electorate have decided which direction they want the country to take...and resent his threat to Obama -- that his decision to not appear at the BS State of Union -- is a miscalculation --what a crock...and thank you for your support Tavis Smiley</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_19:41:00", "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}, "1954907": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Xenophone said...<br></br><br>\"BTW, if anybody other than the Electoral College voted to elect a president, I would vote for \u2026 Barack.\"</br><br></br><br>Does that mean you aren't going to vote at all? Or you're going to vote for the candidate you think the Electoral College is going to vote for? And if so, who's that?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_19:49:00", "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}, "1954908": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\u201cMy definition of \"post-racial\" is simply \"beyond race.\" That's moving America beyond identity politics.\u201d<br></br><br>In terms of political strategy, yes, I totally agree, Identity politics is long dead. If I had to hear another people of color remark I\u2019d gag. But if \u201cpost racial\u201d were to mean, as some take it to mean, color blind I have to object. I don\u2019t want to be colorless. I don\u2019t want it to be ignored. I don\u2019t want to be homogenized into some mutant form of latte drinking yuppie. My culture has served me well and the people who participate in it are dear to me. (Notice never a word about race). I think the process, the democratic one in which we are so passionately engaged, can handle me not thinking very much of the Pilgrims or any of the colonist that invaded America so long as we abide by the rules of the constitution. They can also hadle me questioning a public servant for dismissing a portion of the constituency on which his success depends. He may not win without Texas; he absolutely will not win without the black vote. We can agree to disagree. We can argue over the issues of allocation of wealth and methods of determining need within the framework of our civil society. That way the cultural identity of Blackness isn\u2019t reduced to the experience of slavery and racism.  Racism is a symptom secondary to exploitation. Let\u2019s end the exploitation and then, I think, racism will be rather easy to relegate to the past.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_19:55:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c9e0e43c11397ed4c62c2142ed4a2a4e", "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}, "1954909": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"and resent his threat to Obama\"<br></br><br>what threat?!?</br><br></br><br>Breath, chill ...</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_19:58:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c9e0e43c11397ed4c62c2142ed4a2a4e", "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}, "1954910": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"As Obama has said, this is a movement from the ground up...its up to the people to contact the campaign and/or do their own research for the candidate's views...and not hope the candidate is going to knock on your door.\"<br></br><br>Does that exempt him from answering questios about his platform? Does it prevet him from better articualting and integrating his information, especialy if it's online? Since he hasn't passed very many bills its kind of hard to figure out which pieces of legislation he is refering to or intended to refer to. Sometimes the details matter.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_20:03:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c9e0e43c11397ed4c62c2142ed4a2a4e", "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}, "1954911": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\u201cDoes that mean you aren't going to vote at all? Or you're going to vote for the candidate you think the Electoral College is going to vote for? And if so, who's that?\u201d<br></br><br>Even though I normally wouldn\u2019t do this (I find something vulgar about violating the sanctity of the voting booth). I have a state that allocates the electoral votes to the winner of the majority of popular votes in the caucus. So yes. I will vote (in spite of the unsecure electronic machines). I cannot vote for president (a little thing like the Constitution of the United States prevents that \u2013 me not being an elector and all). I will vote in the caucus for electoral votes (I suggest you have your state adopt a similar procedure). And finally, I will vote for His Lord and Glory Barack. May Big Pimpin\u2019 rule forever. </br><br></br><br>Now, why does that matter? </br><br></br><br>Some of us have read all the material, understand it and still have questions. Some of us our serious about our democratic system and participation in it. Some of us play to win. So when an employee of mine tells me he has better things to do than worry about my vote ...</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_20:12:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c9e0e43c11397ed4c62c2142ed4a2a4e", "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}, "1954912": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I have a question about Tavis Smiley.  Is there a petition or letter writing campaign going on to encourage him to allow Michelle Obama to speak at the State of the Black (dis)Union symposium?  Perhaps if the black community--the community Smiley\u2019s supposed to speaking for--pushed back on his stance, he would allow Michelle to speak.  If he doesn\u2019t want her to speak as a presidential candidate, at least he could let her sit on one of the panels.  Just a suggestion.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_20:27:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6aa3ee71bc9714917dc34dde9e4e2b41", "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}, "1954913": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "xenophon said...<br></br><br>\"Even though I normally wouldn\u2019t do this (I find something vulgar about violating the sanctity of the voting booth). I have a state that allocates the electoral votes to the winner of the majority of popular votes in the caucus. So yes. I will vote (in spite of the unsecure electronic machines). I cannot vote for president (a little thing like the Constitution of the United States prevents that \u2013 me not being an elector and all). I will vote in the caucus for electoral votes (I suggest you have your state adopt a similar procedure). And finally, I will vote for His Lord and Glory Barack. May Big Pimpin\u2019 rule forever.\"</br><br></br><br>I live in Maine. We elect our 4 electors proportionally. Well, sort of. But that's another story...</br><br></br><br>I abhor the Electoral College.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-16_22:13:00", "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}, "1954914": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Though Barack may have his own reasons for skipping Tavis's SOTBU, this is the second year in a row that obama finds an excuse to skip it. With Hillary accepting the invitation, there's no reason why Barack shouldnt go there. At least no one that I can think of.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-17_00:30:00", "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}, "1954915": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "@anon, I have three reasons why *O* should not be at Tavis' SOBTU also known as \"Tavis Smiley's bullshit marketing conference (sponsored by McDonalds, Walmart, etc.)\"<br></br><br>Reason #1: OHio</br><br>Reason #2: TeXas</br><br>Reason #3: Polls that show *O* slightly behind Billary in both states.</br><br></br><br>*O* needs to be in TX with a sombrero on his head, hollering \"Si se puede!\" until March 4th arrives.</br><br></br><br>@Xenophon, thanks for instigating this debate.  You think that Obama is, \"dismissing a portion of the constituency on which his success depends,\" and what's interesting to me is that I DO NOT FEEL DISMISSED at all...but i'm an AA who has an income that exceeds the poverty level.  </br><br></br><br>Why does *O* have to specifically target AA poverty to make you happy?  Why does *O* have to be the \"black\" candidate for you as opposed to being the \"universal\" candidate?  There are poor caucasians and latinos in this country who need support as much as AAs...should they be ignored too?  </br><br></br><br>There are more NON-AAs on welfare than AAs...it's the Republicans who have traditionally equated being poor to being black...and thus exploited that racist premise to win elections.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-17_01:23:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "61b38052cdae3077225c223eee4a5ad9", "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}, "1954916": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Look at Obama's calendar. <br>Feb 19th Wisconsin and Hawaii primaries.  </br><br>Feb 21st debate with Hillary in TX.</br><br>Feb 26th debate with Hillary in OH.</br><br>Mar 4th four primaries - TX, OH, RI and VT.  </br><br></br><br>Obama doesn't need to discuss policy with Hillary on Smiley's show Feb 23rd, between the first and second debate with her.  </br><br></br><br>I think Hillary may have accepted the invitation to Smiley's show only because she thought Obama would be there.  Now she's pressuring Smiley to make sure Obama shows up so she doesn't sit there alone looking dumb.  That's not Obama's problem, IMHO.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-17_04:07:00", "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}, "1954917": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "yes, not exactly my favorite source nor pundit, but the argument offered makes sense:<br></br><br><i>About a week ago we started seeing references in the national media (ABC, New York Times, L.A. Times) to Mr. Obama spawning a \"cult of personality\" \u2014 a theme that had existed in Illinois for some time but mysteriously didn't substantially appear in the national media until about Super Tuesday. The maxim in political strategy is always go at your opponent's strength.</i></br><br></br><br>If you turn him on that, the battle is over. So, the cult of personality perfectly targets his strength: That Mr. Obama has a wonderful personality. The Clintons (presumably) are suggesting, in effect, that he may be delectable, but he's not electable. That it is unhealthy to adore a leader \u2014 undemocratic, in fact.</br><br></br><br>http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080213/EDITORIAL/381006128</br><br></br><br>contrarian purists like xenophon will never be satisfied. he probably voted for nader.</br><br></br><br>what was the elitist \"mayflower\" quip for? nobody cares about your pedigree.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-17_04:20:00", "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}, "1954918": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<b>Obama doesn't need to discuss policy with Hillary on Smiley's show Feb 23rd, between the first and second debate with her.</b><br></br><br>There is no reason for Obama to walk into the trap that is Tavis Smiley's bullshit marketing conference (sponsored by McDonald's, Walmart, etc.) The primary result of those conferences have been book sales for Tavis Smiley and perhaps a few cruise ship tickets for Tom Joyner's Fantastic Voyage. </br><br></br><br>It is NOT pertinent for Obama to show up to this thing to appeal to MOST black people.  </br><br></br><br><b>I think Hillary may have accepted the invitation to Smiley's show only because she thought Obama would be there. Now she's pressuring Smiley to make sure Obama shows up so she doesn't sit there alone looking dumb. That's not Obama's problem, IMHO.</b></br><br></br><br>Yeah, right.  Hillary Clinton has turned down SOTBU in the past too.  She's only going because she, her husband, Bob Johnson, Andrew Young and other surrogates screwed up South Carolina for her and the Negroes fled.</br><br></br><br>The SOTBU will turn out to be a Hillary Hankerchief Head Conference because the Negroes present will NOT challenge her and WILL GO OUT OF THEIR WAY to avoid making her feel uncomfortable. </br><br></br><br>If Obama's calendar is really open on the 23rd (the campaign does not make every date public) then maybe he and Michelle can catch a breather and spend some quality time together.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-17_11:11:00", "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}, "1954919": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Don't waste any air on Tavis. Tavis is a product of Noel Jones. Noel Jones runs one of those mega oneness churches. As you know...those megachurches do nothing but \"steal in the name of the Lord.\" In other words Tavis is a product of those preachers who are bought and paid to deliver votes. Hillary is more apt than Obama to give NOEL JONES (one of Tavis' mentors) a pass from the likes of Senator Leahy who is investigating these criminals. Tavis=Noel Jones", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-17_17:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "4f6f7879b5703d6664925d2769448aeb", "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}, "1954920": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "tavis isn't suspect to me. I can smell his brand of BS a mile away. I listened to the mess he was talkin on the Tom Joyner show before SC. It was just about as pro-hillary WITHOUT actually saying it as one could get.<br></br><br>I wonder what job she offered him...</br><br></br><br>What we NEED to do is keep an eye on all these sell-out fools and make sure the elected officials end up as greeters at Walmart... like Al Wynn who voters forcefully replaced during the potomac primaries. As for Tavis... I think he will get the picture when those ratings start droppin and he can't GIVE a book away.</br><br></br><br>nuff said.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-17_18:22:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "899b32ea20fd8d6311ab6c14b10a5136", "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}, "1954921": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Nobody has time to play plantation politics.  Leadership is always born on the backs of disenfranchised people.  Its starting to look like the Clintons are calling in markers of some folks that \"owe\" them something.  If Hillary wins the primaries outright and honestly then she will have the support of the black community.  Right now BARACKO is our first choice.  This is why he is my first choice:<br></br><br>Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton.</br><br></br><br>Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.</br><br></br><br>These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress <a href=\"http://www.thomas.loc.gov\" rel=\"nofollow\">www.thomas.loc.gov</a>, but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.</br><br></br><br>1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.</br><br></br><br>2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.</br><br></br><br>3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.</br><br></br><br>4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.</br><br></br><br>5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.</br><br></br><br>6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.</br><br></br><br>7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.</br><br></br><br>8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.</br><br></br><br>9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.</br><br></br><br>10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.</br><br></br><br>11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.</br><br></br><br>12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.</br><br></br><br>13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.</br><br></br><br>14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.</br><br></br><br>15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton's bills are, more substantive.</br><br></br><br>16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.</br><br></br><br>17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.</br><br></br><br>19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.</br><br></br><br>20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.</br><br></br><br>There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record</br><br>Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize.</br><br>During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced</br><br></br><br>233 regarding healthcare reform,</br><br></br><br>125 on poverty and public assistance,</br><br></br><br>112 crime fighting bills,</br><br></br><br>97 economic bills,</br><br></br><br>60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,</br><br></br><br>21 ethics reform bills,</br><br></br><br>15 gun control,</br><br></br><br>6 veterans affairs and many others.</br><br></br><br>His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included **the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law, **The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law, **The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate, **The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law, **The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more.</br><br></br><br>In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096.</br><br></br><br>An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would prefer that this comparison not be made public.</br><br></br><br>He's not just a talker. He's a doer.  Pass it on....It's impressive</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-17_18:47:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "e711b922b861068a4b18b1c682c251c1", "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}, "1954922": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "From a BLACKS 4 BARACK! Commenter:<br></br><br>An Open Letter </br><br>To TAVIS SMILEY</br><br>by: Sheila Price</br><br></br><br>Dear Mr. Smiley,</br><br></br><br>I would like to start out by saying that I am a 45 year old white middle class library professional. I am also a great admirer of yours and listen regularly to your television show and radio broadcasts. I have a lifetime of experiences watching the inequality and lack of empowerment suffered by our African American community and as a result of this I have a deep empathy and passion for the struggles of black people.</br><br></br><br>I felt compelled to write to you concerning not only your lack of endorsement for Barack Obama, but also what appears to be somewhat of a negative doubt-raising tone concerning Barack Obama. I must say I am absolutely shocked and amazed that you, one of the leading African American \"thinkers\" of contemporary culture, not to mention a significant role model for black youths, would even consider not endorsing Barack Obama for president let alone raise doubts about his competency. </br><br></br><br>With all due respect Mr.Smiley, it is because I have read your \"Covenant with Black America\" that I care so deeply for what appears to be a serious contradiction between what you stand for and what you are communicating to the public regarding your lack of support and empowerment for one of, if not the only, seriously credible candidate for President of the United States. I'm especially concerned about the message that sends to the African American youth of today. Surely, you, being a highly intelligent and competant man, are able to easily find the vast amount of information out there concerning Barack Obama's exceptional experience and extremely respectable character not to mention his very effective and credible plans for the future of our country. </br><br></br><br>One only has to visit the Barack Obama website to find these things out or read one of his books or one of the books written about him. Yesterday was an historic day for our nation, for all of our nation, but especially so for our African American population when the Kennedy's stood side by side with Barack Obama at his rally in Washington DC. This was an extremely powerful endorsement for Barack and a source of great pride for African Americans. It is with sincerity and urgency that I implore you Mr.Smiley to stand tall with us for Barack Obama. </br><br></br><br>The time is now for the blinders to come off and to cast off the seeds of doubt. Barack Obama is not only the best candidate for the job of President of the United States, white or black, he is the best person to realize the ideals you put forth in your \"Covenant with Black America\". I'm not sure what the underlying reasons for your lack of support have been. I would be very interested to hear from you regarding them so that we could dispel any further doubt together. Because that's what Barack stands for, bringing people together to gain a better understanding of eachother and to demolish fear and hatred. </br><br></br><br>Thank you for the opportunity to communicate with you. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.</br><br></br><br>Sincerely,</br><br>Sheila Price</br><br>Cleveland, Ohio</br><br></br><br>From a <a href=\"http://www.Blacks4Barack.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">www.Blacks4Barack.org</a> commenter</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-17_23:36:00", "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}, "1954923": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Chris, somebody is investigating the megachurches making money off what amounts to bribes and religious quackery? GOOD.<br></br><br>Those are not churches, those are corporations masquerading as churches for the tax benefits.  Investigate all of them.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-18_12:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "369dd1fe5f49cbfe5e745f45b499d41e", "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}, "1954924": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Please, lets not let anyone divide us like this. Obama can't be everywhere at once. He tried to lend what he could (his very wonderful and smart wife) in his place and they chose not to accept this. I am committed to Obama monetarily, emotionally and mentally. The Clinton campaign and the Republicans want to encourage internal strife in order to divide and conquer our resolve. Let's not let them do it. Keep the faith! Yes we can!", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-02-18_13:51:00", "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}, "1954925": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "xenophon... its apparent that you're very very smart. Though I find it interesting that you spew so much rhetoric about black culture and what Barack needs to do for blacks yet your blog name is that of a Greek scholar. Unless of course you are Greek and if so... I stand corrected.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-04-01_15:18:00", "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}, "1954926": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I stumbled across this website today while looking up info on the Tavis/Obama tiff and found an absolute fountain of intelligence! I read every comment posted and am in awe of the level of intellectual discourse by the readers. No name-calling, no personal attacks and best of all no N-word. I hope th join the great debates soon, thanks for restoring my hope.I knew you were out there and now I have found you!", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-04-11_13:39:00", "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}}, "integration": {"receiver_url": "", "theme": 4, "reply_position": true, "disqus_logo": false}, "timer": {"timer_url": "http://localhost:8005", "thread_id": "1695071", "user_id": "anonymous", "forum_id": "21630", "hash": -42680314927911116}, "thread": {"days_alive": 0, "slug": "we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama", "paginate": false, "num_pages": 1, "num_posts": 51, "per_page": 0, "total_posts": 0, "realtime_paused": true, "id": 1695071, "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"};
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	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=we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama' +
		'&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/we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama/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='	+ 'we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama'
			+ '&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/we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama/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">51</span> Comments\
	 &nbsp;\
	 <span class="dsq-item-feed">\
	 <a href="http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama/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/we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama/">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:1695071" 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/we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama/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:1695071" 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:1695071" 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'				: 'we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama',
			// 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/we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama/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='	+ 'we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama'
			+ '&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='	+ 'we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama'
			+ '&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='		+ 'we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama'
				+ '&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/1695071/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);
	};

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Dsq.container.innerHTML = ' \
<ul id="dsq-comments">\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954876">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954876" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954876" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954876">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954876" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954876" class="dsq-comment-message">Tavis needs to get over himself. <br></br><br>I\'m telling you, folks LIT HIS #*$% UP this week, telling him to BTFU off of Obama.</br><br></br><br>They weren\'t having it. </br><br></br><br>Tavis is SUSPECT to me. </br><br></br><br>He\'s a smart man, who didn\'t say JACK as Obama was being Dogwhistled by Billary. All those that stayed silent will forever be SUSPECT to me. </br><br></br><br>And, he shows how small he is, by not allowing Michelle to be there. She would be fabulous, and he knows it. But, she won\'t take his mess or anyone else\'s. She\'d make any of them COME CORRECT.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954877">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954877" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954877" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954877">Xenophon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954877" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954877" class="dsq-comment-message">I just wanted to say thank you for the link. <br></br><br>But I wanted to address what I think is a growing irrational exuberance concerning Obama. The dream of a black president is so far down on the list of changes I want this country to accomplish that I have a hard time getting excited. There are some things that supersede my desire for a black president and they have to do with the integrity and welfare of this country and our constitution.</br><br></br><br>I would love to see a secure vote. I would love to see the constitution restored. I would love to see the abolition of slavery. I would love to see wage equality between race and gender. I would love to see corporations not treated as persons or citizens. I would love to see citizens treated as persons. </br><br></br><br>Now, concerning Michelle’s attendance in lieu of the rock star. </br><br></br><br>“Allowing her to participate would be the graceful thing to do. It would allow African-Americans and those who love them a chance to get to evaluate her perspective on our issues even more carefully.”</br><br></br><br>Point of order – the appearance at the State of the Black Union  was for candidates seeking nomination for president. Michelle doesn’t qualify. Charming as she is, she isn’t an elected official, is not running for elected office, and is in no way accountable to the electorate. In this forum, under these circumstances, her opinion is irrelevant. She can make no commitments and can’t be held accountable. </br><br></br><br>If you can’t make it, say you can’t make it. Don’t treat it as though it is insignificant just because your popular. Especially when it was significant enough to get you where you are now. Plainly, Barack thought it was important enough before all the hype. I’m certain he has “better things to do than talk to Tavis” just don’t disrespect the forum or the people, or the process. </br><br></br><br>There are two kinds of Black leaders – those who speak to white folk representing the interest and concerns of black folk; and then, there are those who speak to black folk about the interest of white folk. </br><br></br><br>Just change black and white to poor and rich and you have Obama. </br><br></br><br>I have no faith that he will suddenly get religion once he is in the white house. I have real problems with a man who has no real stake in my history or culture as a descendent of slaves being presented as a model of “Blackness.” </br><br></br><br>Aside from the Joel Osteen, production heavy, speeches; the great camera work and staging; the fantastic branding and marketing campaign financed by Big Energy and Banking – all innovations in the political process that demonstrate David Axelrod is a real innovator – I have no reason to feel enthusiastic about an Obama presidency. If I go by his policy or voting record (what there is of it) his position is going to further destroy the middle class, privatize every carbon based product through a felonious cap and trade regime and drive America further into feudalism. Barack Obama is the Black republican Alan Keyes wished he could be. </br><br></br><br>I understand we have to finish this. I understand it is a matter of pride. I just would love for the African American community and Black folk to do this right and not let our emotions cloud our judgment. I honestly fear that the desire for a Black president has caused us to turn off our critical thinking and accept blindly anyone who looks like they might win. This puts Blacks in the position of substituting the judgment of others for our own. Had we done that in any other struggle we would still be in Jim Crow or out right slavery. We have a four hundred year history of political engagement with the idea of America. I find it troubling when Obama can’t even see past to the 60’s. Black folk articulated the platform for human rights out of their struggle for equality and citizenship. Now being black and articulating the political tradition of American liberty that developed out our history is no longer acceptable. Obama wouldn’t exist had our tradition not made it possible. Now he is scared to engage it because it would alienate people. Sounds weak to me. </br><br></br><br>I don’t mean to rant. But I do feel that the community has lost its sense of perspective. We are so drunk with hope and anticipation at “finally making it” that we are about to sell our soul. I would ask that we remain sober, methodical and rational while we are in the twilight at the crossroads. </br><br></br><br>Respectfully, </br><br></br><br>Xenophon</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954878">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954878" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954878" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954878">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954878" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954878" class="dsq-comment-message">Is that you Tavis?  Or maybe you\'re Tavis\'s cousin?<br></br><br>Calling Tavis out on his BS is NOT "growing irrational exuberance concerning Obama".  It is what it is: calling BULLSHIT plain and simple.</br><br></br><br>And what is this?</br><br></br><br><b>If you can’t make it, say you can’t make it. Don’t treat it as though it is insignificant just because your popular. Especially when it was significant enough to get you where you are now.</b></br><br></br><br>Tavis Smiley\'s bullshit marketing conference (sponsored by McDonalds, Walmart, etc.) got Obama where he is now? Riight....</br><br></br><br>Obama did say he couldn\'t make it because he is not only busy, he is at a CRITICAL juncture in his run with Ohio and Texas on the line and the Clinton\'s pulling every dirty trick in the book non-stop.  Obama has already escaped being ghettoized once and going to this conference to be set up by a stealth Clinton water carrier (Tavis) is NOT a good move because he is running for President of the ENTIRE country - not just Black America!</br><br></br><br>Long before Tavis\'s playa-hating, SEVERAL black folks have noted - after watching it on CSPAN for years - that the SOTBU conference is primarily an echo chamber and a marketing force for Tavis and his books. Last year, they spent half of the conference criticizing Barack Obama because he did not announce his candidacy there.  Tavis is full of it and obviously shilling for the Clintons. Even his most ardent fans have noted that.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954879">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954879" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954879" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954879">Rachel</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954879" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954879" class="dsq-comment-message">Everybody from John Edwards to Tavis Smiley seems to be threatening to withhold endorsement of Obama if he doesn\'t give them something in return. <br></br><br>And you know what? It makes me hella more confident in him, that he can stand up and say "this isn\'t a high school clique, and your needs - though I do care about them - do not outweigh those of the American public, just because you are famous/rich/influential".</br><br></br><br>That\'s how I know he will follow through with what he says about standing up to all the OTHER rich/famous/influential people who are gonna try to sweat him. </br><br></br><br>You go ahead and handle your business, Senator, I\'ll be making some calls to my friends in Houston and Austin on your behalf.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954880">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954880" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954880" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954880">Webb</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954880" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954880" class="dsq-comment-message">Right On, Right ON @Anon & Rachel,<br><b></b></br><br>Tavis Smiley\'s bullshit marketing conference (sponsored by McDonalds, Walmart, etc.) got Obama where he is now? Riight....</br><br></br><br>Could not have said that any better...the notion that Tavis is the "next generation\'s" keeper of the brass-ring is total bullshit.  Let me go ebonic, "Tavis, you ain\'t got no dayum ring!"</br><br></br><br>If I here another trifling, Uncle-Ruckus negro tell me that my support is just an "emotional" response...people who can neither understand nor embrace the concept of a "post-racial" America deserve to keep "picking the cotton."</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954881">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954881" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954881" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954881">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954881" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954881" class="dsq-comment-message">Found this on <a href="http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2008/02/running-into-brick-wall.html" rel="nofollow">another blog</a>, and thought how it related to Obama/Tavis and the hateration, and what xenophon was saying:<br></br><br><i>Obama is a rock star. Plain and simple. People can sit an analyze the politics and the stances, but most of us don\'t KNOW any of these people personally, and we make up our minds based on what we THINK we know. And he\'s a rock star. And he\'s slick... I agree with Bad Tux on this. But I like that. As a graphic designer, and somebody who spent 7 years in cable television ad sales before being a techie (which was before being a graphic designer), I admire the HELL out of his marketing strategy. It\'s tight. He got the right people to do the job. They did their research. When they did his logo, they planned it down to the nitty gritty... If you go to his site and click on "People", for every group he\'s trying to talk to, he adapted his logo to represent the target group. As a designer, let me tell you, shit like that thrills me to the bone. Because it means that if he didn\'t come up with the plan himself, he has the ability to go get the people to make the plan... and recognize a good plan when he sees one. They paid attention to the details. And there\'s a saying that goes "God is in the details". Hillary\'s site, by comparison, is really old, unimaginative, and completely ordinary. She ASSumed she had it going on. She took her spot for granted. Just like she took her votes for granted.</i></br><br></br><br>Obama has charisma. We haven\'t seen that kind of charisma in a long long time. We thought we saw it in Bill, but that\'s cuz we hadn\'t seen it since JFK, since Malcolm, since MLK. Hell, my 8-almost-9YO kid is flicking the channel to CNN to see what the news is on Obama. This is a kid who\'s obsessed with Naruto and Comedy Central. </br><br></br><br>Does this mean Obama will be a good president? I dunno. On the one hand, I still firmly believe that it\'s money what makes our world go round. On the other hand, the man has raised over $30 MILLION dollars in a month. That\'s big. He gives me goosebumps when he speaks, despite myself. And I trust no one, but I find myself being sucked in. I find it very interesting that he was able to convince "white" states like Missouri and Alabama.</br><br></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954882">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954882" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954882" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954882">Xenophon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954882" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954882" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>If I here another trifling, Uncle-Ruckus negro tell me that my support is just an "emotional" response...people who can neither understand nor embrace the concept of a "post-racial" America deserve to keep "picking the cotton."</i><br><b>“In politics, when reason and emotion collide, emotion invariably wins. Elections are decided in the marketplace of emotions, a marketplace filled with values, images, analogies, moral sentiments, and moving oratory, in which logic plays only a supporting role. Westen shows, through a whistle-stop journey through the evolution of the passionate brain and a bravura tour through fifty years of American presidential and national elections, why campaigns succeed and fail. The evidence is overwhelming that three things determine how people vote, in this order: their feelings toward the parties and their principles, their feelings toward the candidates, and, if they haven\'t decided by then, their feelings toward the candidates\' policy positions.”</b></br><br></br><br><a href="http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-political-brain" rel="nofollow">Link</a></br><br></br><br>Now would you please be so kind as to define what <i>you</i> mean by “post-racial”.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954883">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954883" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954883" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954883">Rachel</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954883" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954883" class="dsq-comment-message">Xenophon: your argument is simultaneously condescending and foolish. Intellect and emotion don\'t exist separately, in a vacuum. You have to know that. <br></br><br>I\'m not black, but I have gotten variations of this <i>exact same</i> argument; almost always from people who haven\'t actually done any research. It boils down to a sort of cynical Occam\'s Razor: the shittiest outcome is the most likely. The truth is, pessimists are wrong just as often as optimists, but if they are right, the world is shit, and if they are wrong they will still be waiting for that hammer to fall. Forever. </br><br></br><br>It\'s alright to feel good about this guy, he\'s not a messiah who will make everything better but all indications are that he\'ll make a smart, capable, progressive statesman. </br><br></br><br>And frankly, how arrogant it is to think that whether or not he has a stake in your version of blackness is relevant to that? It\'s not an Oppression Sweepstakes, and he\'s not running for America\'s Next Top Black. This is the same exact bullshit Gloria Steinem is pushing, just under a different mantle.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954884">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954884" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954884" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954884">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954884" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954884" class="dsq-comment-message">I am a former fan of Tavis.  Throughout this entire campaign he<br>has attacked Barack weekly on the TJMS.  Never an attack on Hillary.</br><br>I sincerely believe he and Hillary</br><br>came up with this mess together!</br><br>I am so sick of these so called</br><br>advocates claiming they LOVE Black people when all they do is advance their personal agendas.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954885">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954885" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954885" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954885">Kwame</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954885" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954885" class="dsq-comment-message">Jill, I have profound respect for your blog but I don\'t find your distinction between the so-called "half Kenyan, half Kansan" and "regular old slave-descended black folk" helpful. It will only serve one purpose -- divide, instead of unite us.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954886">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954886" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954886" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954886">DWS</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954886" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954886" class="dsq-comment-message">As a former long-time DC area resident, I believe it will take a uniter (who also knows how to identify the right people for cabinet posts) to bring about any kind of change.  <br></br><br>Obviously some folks do not seem to understand it is a new day and time to do things a new way.  The hatin is tired Tavis...no one is listening.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954887">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954887" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954887" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954887">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954887" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954887" class="dsq-comment-message">Webb said:<br></br><br>If I here another trifling, Uncle-Ruckus negro tell me that my support is just an "emotional" response...people who can neither understand nor embrace the concept of a "post-racial" America deserve to keep "picking the cotton."</br><br></br><br>What the does this "post racial" mean?  Surely you don\'t think America is equal now do you?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954888">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954888" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954888" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954888">Felicia</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954888" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954888" class="dsq-comment-message">Xenophon, what election hasn\'t been emotional (or irrational as you call it)?  I didn\'t hear people say evangelicals were being irrational when they came out in droves in \'04 to vote for George W. Bush because they didn\'t want to see dudes marrying dudes.  Wake up and smell the coffee, Xenophon.  This is what the establishment wants you to think--that somehow supporting a non-establishment candidate is irrational (emotional).  What do any of the other candidates have to offer the African American community?  Why are you holding Obama to a higher standard than the other candidates?  Why are you willing to throw him under the bus because he won\'t speak to your specific demands?  To me that\'s irrational--believing in hope and inspiration <b>is</b> rational.<br></br><br>As for Tavis--in his own words, he better check himself before he wrecks himself.  Barack and Michelle are doing the work of three Clintons (Hillary, Bill, and Chelsea), and Barack has to contend with the Clinton name recognition and established base.  Barack doesn\'t have time to pander to one demographic--the Tavis Smiley fan club.  If Tavis doesn\'t accept Michelle\'s attendance, then it will be to his detriment because blacks will see how he\'s working to sabotage Obama\'s campaign.  And in case Smiley didn\'t know it, blacks are his base.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954889">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954889" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954889" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954889">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954889" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954889" class="dsq-comment-message">Rachel said<br></br><br>"And frankly, how arrogant it is to think that whether or not he has a stake in your version of blackness is relevant to that? It\'s not an Oppression Sweepstakes, and he\'s not running for America\'s Next Top Black. This is the same exact bullshit Gloria Steinem is pushing, just under a different mantle."</br><br></br><br>Gloria Steinem is a woman\'s activist and that is her number one above all else is to push womens issues and she makes no apologies for it.  I can respect that.</br><br></br><br>I wish Black people had the same kind of determination to push the Black agenda and make no apologies for it and to see other Black people do well before all else.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954890">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954890" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954890" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954890">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954890" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954890" class="dsq-comment-message">Why people are attacking Xenophon for expressing his concern about Obama not addressing Black issues baffles me.  He has every right to be a little apprehensive towards Obama because how many times have Blacks been burned by these politicians in the past?  Especially these White liberal politicians?<br></br><br>TLW</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954891">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954891" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954891" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954891">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954891" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954891" class="dsq-comment-message">Tavis is going to learn that when an African-American gets real power, and I pray Barack does, that the hotairosphere is going to need infinitely fewer bloviasting hucksters and tricksters and their non-stop self-promotion machines.<br></br><br>Don\'t get me wrong. Guys like Tavis have served a useful purpose as self-appointed spokespersons for black America. And I guess black America still needs Tavis as its Charlie Rose, an interviewer whose romance with his own voice drwons out the person being interviewed.</br><br></br><br>But Tavis, we are heading into a time of new maturity, and -- one hopes -- new and real power. The grown-ups are going to be doing real politics, and they will be making decisions about what to do on a given day and where to campaign based, not on the ego of a of a Tavis Smiley or a Creflo Dollar or an Al Sharpton or a Reverend Ike or a Jesse Jackson, but on what wins.</br><br></br><br>That you should could even suggest that, in the midst of this life and death campaign, a man who could be our next Presdient should come down to add lustre to your punditry machine fully reveals the kind of self-absorbtion that has kepot black America on the margins of power.</br><br></br><br>This is the big time, Tavis. The real thing.</br><br></br><br>Do us a favor and, if you can\'t get out of the way, at least temporarily shut off the hot-air machine.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954892">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954892" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954892" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954892">xenophon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954892" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954892" class="dsq-comment-message">“Everybody from John Edwards to Tavis Smiley seems to be threatening to withhold endorsement of Obama if he doesn\'t give them something in return.”<br></br><br>You realize this is politics and everything is quid pro quo. If you can’t address my interest you don’t get my vote. Nothing personal just the way the game works.</br><br></br><br>“Intellect and emotion don\'t exist separately, in a vacuum. You have to know that.”</br><br>You’re ranting not reading. That is why I posted:</br><br></br><br>“In politics, when reason and emotion collide, emotion invariably wins. Elections are decided in the marketplace of emotions, a marketplace filled with values, images, analogies, moral sentiments, and moving oratory, in which logic plays only a supporting role.”</br><br></br><br>“exact same argument” </br><br></br><br>What argument is that? </br><br></br><br>That because he comes form a different history and background his understanding and experience may be significantly different? Isn’t that what he’s running on? </br><br></br><br>“It\'s not an Oppression Sweepstakes”</br><br></br><br>Where do you get these phrases? Is there a book.</br><br></br><br>My experience and history and culture, make me aware and concerned about the increasing inequality in the distribution of wealth and resources in this country. It makes me acutely aware of how the “American” identity is supported through systematic exploitation and discrimination. It makes me take a position that the idea of meritocracy and an egalitarian society (please notice I didn’t say color blind) is a good thing. It also makes me realize that certain forms of exploitation such as corporate corruption and usurpation of the political process prohibit the attainment of that goal. Therefore, my version of  “Blackness” as you call it requires that the interest of human welfare supercede any profit motive. Especially when it is driven by a fictive entity like the corporation. Having a historical chain of memory (read oral tradition) that extends beyond the Mayflower, I have a perspective that is different than Mr. Obama’s. So if I disagree with him, it’s because he articulates a position that in my historical perspective and judgment, which like all is culturally centered,  appears to lead to tyranny and feudalism – a consolidation of corporate profit and government coercion that widens the gap between rich and not rich. <a href="http://www.frbsf.org/publications/economics/letter/2006/el2006-33-34.html" rel="nofollow">Rising Inequality</a></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954893">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954893" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954893" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954893">xenophon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954893" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954893" class="dsq-comment-message">"Why are you willing to throw him under the bus because he won\'t speak to your specific demands?"<br></br><br>This is America, still. Why would I vote for someone who can\'t address my issues and needs. Because he\'s Black?  Oh hell no. </br><br></br><br>I judge Obama by the company he keeps, his staff, his voting record, and his policy positions. Not out of the well spring of my hopes and desires to see a Black face in the oval office or some urge to be in a "historical" moment. I look at what he has done and what he plans to do.</br><br></br><br>Within that framework, he hasn\'t earned my vote. He has yet to deliver a policy position of substance. Which means no numbers or mechanisms. Change is not a plan it\'s a platitude.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954894">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954894" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954894" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954894">Felicia</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954894" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954894" class="dsq-comment-message">Anonymous said, "Why people are attacking Xenophon for expressing his concern about Obama not addressing Black issues baffles me."<br></br><br>Yeah--my problem is that folks like Xenophon and Tavis Smiley are holding Obama to a higher standard because Obama\'s black while giving the Clintons a free ride.  Blacks only make up 13% of the population.  What black candidate will get elected pandering to 13% of the population?  Yet, Sen. Clinton can pander to middle-aged white women and still possibly get the nomination.  Is that fair?</br><br></br><br>My other problem with Xenophon is the latent racism in his/her comments that Obama supporters are irrational.  Krugman and Krauthammer have also touched upon this.  What do these pundits always say?  Obama is a great orator, but he lacks substance.  In other words, Obama\'s a great activist who inspires people, but it\'s going to take a white man/woman to get the job.  Does that sound familiar?  Why is it irrational to go with the black man?  How can we say we\'ve progressed as a society when getting excited about the black candidate is irrational, while women getting excited about Clinton (simply because she\'s woman) is normalized?</br><br></br><br>For those who say they don\'t know anything about Obama\'s policies, google his website!  He has a whole sections on his policies.  Saying he lacks substance just proves how lazy one is.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954895">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954895" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954895" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954895">NMP</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954895" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954895" class="dsq-comment-message">Let Michelle attend!  Hillary Clinton is running on the legacy of her husband\'s administration, so I think it more than fair that Michelle be allowed to give a vision of a future presidency.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954896">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954896" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954896" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954896">NMP</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954896" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954896" class="dsq-comment-message">"Everybody from John Edwards to Tavis Smiley seems to be threatening to withhold endorsement of Obama if he doesn\'t give them something in return."<br></br><br>I can\'t believe the number of Black folks who fell for John Edwards\' populice bull shit! He went from the poster child of the DLC to Hughey Long in the span of four years.  Please!  As Russ Feingold said, his whole campaign was running away from his entire Senate record.  And now he\'s poised to ensorse Hillary Clinton whom he called everything but a corporate whore.  John Edwards is showing his true colors.  He\'s nothing but a damn red neck like Bill Clinton pissed that the colored boy got in his way.  And now he plans to use his \'southern appeal\' (telling White folks in OH and PA to stick with White) to sway this election for Hillary Clinton.  Fuck John Edwards and Tavis Smiley!</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954897">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954897" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954897" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954897">NMP</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954897" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954897" class="dsq-comment-message">Xenophon,<br></br><br>What issues do you presume are more important to African Americans than the rest of America?  Black folks have consistently ranked education, the economy, health care and the Iraq War as issues of most concern to them, MAINSTREAM ISSUES.  And Barack can speak to those issues as well as issues of civil rights and justice from Texas, Ohio and Pennslyvania as well as he could sitting on Tavis\' stage paid for my corporations like Wal-mart and McDonalds that are union busting poor Black and Brown workers and killing more Black folks than cigarettes, respectively.  We don\'t have to go through Tavis to get our issues addressed.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954898">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954898" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954898" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954898">Rachel</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954898" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954898" class="dsq-comment-message">Xenophon: you referred to "growing irrational exuberance concerning Obama", and said that "The dream of a black president is so far down on the list of changes I want this country to accomplish that I have a hard time getting excited. There are some things that supersede my desire for a black president and they have to do with the integrity and welfare of this country and our constitution."<br> </br><br>Now, I read that same article (Washington Post, I think?) talking about how passion wins and the role of intellect is usually just to justify emotion when it comes to voting.</br><br></br><br>But may I point out, if you want to put that rational impulse to work, the welfare of our constitution would be very well tended to by, say, a constitutional law expert and teacher? I think that\'s a pretty solid point in his favor, although it has the happy side effect of making me feel good, too.  And I had been waiting and waiting for somebody to talk about infrastructure as a long-term economic solution (which would also address issues like the decimation of the black population of New Orleans due to substandard levees, but more broadly issues of poor people and even more broadly, American people), and Obama unveils a wide-ranging and solid plan to do just that, and it tickles my logical desires pink; that whole economic stimulus bullshit had me worried, you see. I like the guy, he seems to be a really good man with a rock-solid character but what makes me believe in him, believe that he will be an effective leader, is the substance. So I\'d appreciate it if you did not make the offensive and unflattering assumption that choosing Obama results from some sort of hysteria.</br><br></br><br>The exact same argument refers to: feminists who have told me that as a feminist, I owe my vote to the woman, regardless of what I think of her politics (hint: not much). The idea that only someone who exactly shares my experiences can govern my country well. Sorry, but that\'s extra-stupid with a side of WTF. I\'m not a man, I\'m not black, I didn\'t grow up in Hawaii, my husband has never been governor or president of anything useful; and as far as I know, neither candidate has a gay southern baptist preacher dad or enjoys painting with acrylics because they lack the patience for oil...identity politics are innately myopic, and leadership of a country as huge and  diverse as this one require seeing the forest AND the trees.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954899">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954899" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954899" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954899">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954899" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954899" class="dsq-comment-message"><b>"Everybody from John Edwards to Tavis Smiley seems to be threatening to withhold endorsement of Obama if he doesn\'t give them something in return."<br></br><br>I can\'t believe the number of Black folks who fell for John Edwards\' populice bull shit! He went from the poster child of the DLC to Hughey Long in the span of four years. Please! As Russ Feingold said, his whole campaign was running away from his entire Senate record. And now he\'s poised to ensorse Hillary Clinton whom he called everything but a corporate whore. John Edwards is showing his true colors. He\'s nothing but a damn red neck like Bill Clinton pissed that the colored boy got in his way. And now he plans to use his \'southern appeal\' (telling White folks in OH and PA to stick with White) to sway this election for Hillary Clinton. Fuck John Edwards and Tavis Smiley!</br></b><br></br><br>NMP,</br><br></br><br>Someone on another board wrote this:<i></i></br><br>I never thought Bill Richardson would come out of this with more of my respect than John Edwards.</br><br></br><br></br><br>NMP,</br><br></br><br>I was like, who you tellin\'? You know how much I\'ve been down on Richardson, but, he\'s shown far more character than Edwards, who, if he endorses Clinton, he\'ll be written off forever for me.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954900">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954900" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954900" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954900">dearmurray</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954900" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954900" class="dsq-comment-message">Frankly, this is the kind of debate that people use to distract you from what\'s really important. This echoes the hypocritical criticisms of him throughout his campaigns. "He\'s too black" "He\'s not black enough."<br></br><br>To some people, if he admits that he occasionally plays basketball, he\'s "too black." To others, anything short of wearing an Africa pendant means that he "isn\'t black enough."</br><br></br><br>This is how the media pigeonholes all of us, pits us against each other, and keeps us perpetually distracted from actual issues.</br><br></br><br>As a black man yourself, Xenophon, I would think you should be able to empathize with that struggle.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954901">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954901" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954901" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954901">Juan</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954901" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954901" class="dsq-comment-message">I don\'t understand the "half-kenyan" "slave-descended" distinction.<br></br><br>Any Black person born in America is going to experience the same racism, regardless of where their parents came from. Especially someone born in the 60s.</br><br></br><br>Just like descendants of white immigrants didn\'t have to have ancestors who owned slaves in order to benefit from white privilege.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954902">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954902" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954902" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954902">Webb</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954902" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954902" class="dsq-comment-message">My definition of "post-racial" is simply "beyond race."  That\'s moving America beyond identity politics.  <br></br><br>An Obama Presidency will not solve all of the ills of our society...but it will move us one-step closer toward achieving the Dream that MLK died for nearly 40 years ago.</br><br></br><br>Apparently, community organizing is not substantive-enough work for some of you.  </br><br></br><br>The idea that *O* can not relate to the suffering of the poor is damn-near sinister.</br><br></br><br>It is essentially swift-boating a war hero while you were either hiding out in the national guard (BUSH), serving on the Board of Walmart (HILLARY), or making millions as a trial lawyer (EDWARDS).</br><br></br><br>I "double-dog dare" Edwards to endorse Hillary.  If you think what Ann Coulter said about Edwards was rough, "he AIN\'t HEARD nothing yet."  </br><br></br><br>John should know by now that Elizabeth doesn\'t like it when people talk too negatively about her husband...</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954903">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954903" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954903" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954903">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954903" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954903" class="dsq-comment-message">I stumbled upon this blog today and had no idea I would enjoy so much the first discussion I read.<br></br><br>First, thank you to those people who have called out Mr. Smiley for his self-obsession. </br><br></br><br>Next, thank you to those who keep laying waste to the divisive notion that we can only get behind Obama because we are too stupid, too caught up in the rapture, to know any better.</br><br></br><br>And finally, I want to know one thing. Xenophon, which presidential candidate are you voting for, if any?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954904">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954904" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954904" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954904">Admiral Komack</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954904" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954904" class="dsq-comment-message">"Next, thank you to those who keep laying waste to the divisive notion that we can only get behind Obama because we are too stupid, too caught up in the rapture, to know any better."<br></br><br>-Don\'t forget the "C" word: CULT.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954905">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954905" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954905" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954905">Xenophon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954905" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954905" class="dsq-comment-message">"And I had been waiting and waiting for somebody to talk about infrastructure as a long-term economic solution"<br></br><br>You mean the transportation plan that includes, Job Access and Reverse Commute Grant? That one? Certainly we need to improve our infrastructure. But it seems to me that the welfare to work model on which the original legislation is based is going to end up subsidizing middle class commutes and drive out less educated workers, particularly from urban areas. Here is why. The JARC grant was primarily to assist the newly accountable “welfare to work” group. It helped them commute eight hours a day in some cases to 8- 10 hour jobs. They had to work, usually I affluent suburbs, where there were jobs. Hard to get to the burbs without transportation, hence the JARC. The problem with the new model is – you need job creation to help the poor out of poverty. If the only jobs you are creating are “green technology and manufacturing jobs” that leaves out most of the poor who are under educated. So what you have is a massive gentrification plan that displaces and relocates the poor from the city to …wherever, and the subsidizes the middle class, as oil and materials makes transportation ever more expensive – think $10 a gallon oil. So in effect what you have in his transportation policy is a further stratification between educated and less educated; rich and poor based on legislation designed to help people out of poverty. You improve infrastructure and access to transportation and at the same time remove those who are less educated and poor.</br><br></br><br>BTW, if anybody other than the Electoral College voted to elect a president, I would vote for … Barack. </br><br></br><br>I don’t know; is worrying about the welfare of those displaced by gentrification a racial issue? I learned it from my grandparents who had to migrate from the south during the great migration.  Somehow I thought in a democracy asking a candidate to address contradictions I policy was part of the process. </br><br></br><br>PS</br><br>"tickles my logical desires pink"</br><br>desire and sensation (tickles) are by definition irrational. The only way to reconcile a rational operator like logic with irrational   elements like desire and sensation is through an irrational synthesis,  usually through some artistic or phatastic construction ... like an archetype (like a hero), a metaphor (salvation), analogy (titilation).</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954906">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954906" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954906" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954906">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954906" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954906" class="dsq-comment-message">People who say: "Obama hasn\'t mentioned black issues (whatever that is) clearly have not done their research ---or they are waiting CNN (the Clinton News Network) to interview him eating sweet potato pie at a black bakery on 125th in Harlem. Oh wait...I forgot, all of the black bakeries in Harlem went out of business...except for one); while the black gatekeepers stood by in silence or actively aided in their demise.<br></br><br>As Obama has said, this is a movement from the ground up...its up to the people to contact the campaign and/or do their own research for the candidate\'s views...and not hope the candidate is going to knock on your door.</br><br></br><br>The Tavis Smiley will learn that  the electorate have decided which direction they want the country to take...and resent his threat to Obama -- that his decision to not appear at the BS State of Union -- is a miscalculation --what a crock...and thank you for your support Tavis Smiley</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954907">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954907" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954907" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954907">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954907" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954907" class="dsq-comment-message">Xenophone said...<br></br><br>"BTW, if anybody other than the Electoral College voted to elect a president, I would vote for … Barack."</br><br></br><br>Does that mean you aren\'t going to vote at all? Or you\'re going to vote for the candidate you think the Electoral College is going to vote for? And if so, who\'s that?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954908">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954908" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954908" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954908">Xenophon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954908" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954908" class="dsq-comment-message">“My definition of "post-racial" is simply "beyond race." That\'s moving America beyond identity politics.”<br></br><br>In terms of political strategy, yes, I totally agree, Identity politics is long dead. If I had to hear another people of color remark I’d gag. But if “post racial” were to mean, as some take it to mean, color blind I have to object. I don’t want to be colorless. I don’t want it to be ignored. I don’t want to be homogenized into some mutant form of latte drinking yuppie. My culture has served me well and the people who participate in it are dear to me. (Notice never a word about race). I think the process, the democratic one in which we are so passionately engaged, can handle me not thinking very much of the Pilgrims or any of the colonist that invaded America so long as we abide by the rules of the constitution. They can also hadle me questioning a public servant for dismissing a portion of the constituency on which his success depends. He may not win without Texas; he absolutely will not win without the black vote. We can agree to disagree. We can argue over the issues of allocation of wealth and methods of determining need within the framework of our civil society. That way the cultural identity of Blackness isn’t reduced to the experience of slavery and racism.  Racism is a symptom secondary to exploitation. Let’s end the exploitation and then, I think, racism will be rather easy to relegate to the past.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954909">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954909" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954909" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954909">Xenophon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954909" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954909" class="dsq-comment-message">"and resent his threat to Obama"<br></br><br>what threat?!?</br><br></br><br>Breath, chill ...</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954910">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954910" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954910" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954910">Xenophon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954910" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954910" class="dsq-comment-message">"As Obama has said, this is a movement from the ground up...its up to the people to contact the campaign and/or do their own research for the candidate\'s views...and not hope the candidate is going to knock on your door."<br></br><br>Does that exempt him from answering questios about his platform? Does it prevet him from better articualting and integrating his information, especialy if it\'s online? Since he hasn\'t passed very many bills its kind of hard to figure out which pieces of legislation he is refering to or intended to refer to. Sometimes the details matter.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954911">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954911" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954911" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954911">Xenophon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954911" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954911" class="dsq-comment-message">“Does that mean you aren\'t going to vote at all? Or you\'re going to vote for the candidate you think the Electoral College is going to vote for? And if so, who\'s that?”<br></br><br>Even though I normally wouldn’t do this (I find something vulgar about violating the sanctity of the voting booth). I have a state that allocates the electoral votes to the winner of the majority of popular votes in the caucus. So yes. I will vote (in spite of the unsecure electronic machines). I cannot vote for president (a little thing like the Constitution of the United States prevents that – me not being an elector and all). I will vote in the caucus for electoral votes (I suggest you have your state adopt a similar procedure). And finally, I will vote for His Lord and Glory Barack. May Big Pimpin’ rule forever. </br><br></br><br>Now, why does that matter? </br><br></br><br>Some of us have read all the material, understand it and still have questions. Some of us our serious about our democratic system and participation in it. Some of us play to win. So when an employee of mine tells me he has better things to do than worry about my vote ...</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954912">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954912" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954912" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954912">Felicia</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954912" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954912" class="dsq-comment-message">I have a question about Tavis Smiley.  Is there a petition or letter writing campaign going on to encourage him to allow Michelle Obama to speak at the State of the Black (dis)Union symposium?  Perhaps if the black community--the community Smiley’s supposed to speaking for--pushed back on his stance, he would allow Michelle to speak.  If he doesn’t want her to speak as a presidential candidate, at least he could let her sit on one of the panels.  Just a suggestion.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954913">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954913" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954913" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954913">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954913" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954913" class="dsq-comment-message">xenophon said...<br></br><br>"Even though I normally wouldn’t do this (I find something vulgar about violating the sanctity of the voting booth). I have a state that allocates the electoral votes to the winner of the majority of popular votes in the caucus. So yes. I will vote (in spite of the unsecure electronic machines). I cannot vote for president (a little thing like the Constitution of the United States prevents that – me not being an elector and all). I will vote in the caucus for electoral votes (I suggest you have your state adopt a similar procedure). And finally, I will vote for His Lord and Glory Barack. May Big Pimpin’ rule forever."</br><br></br><br>I live in Maine. We elect our 4 electors proportionally. Well, sort of. But that\'s another story...</br><br></br><br>I abhor the Electoral College.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954914">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954914" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954914" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954914">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954914" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954914" class="dsq-comment-message">Though Barack may have his own reasons for skipping Tavis\'s SOTBU, this is the second year in a row that obama finds an excuse to skip it. With Hillary accepting the invitation, there\'s no reason why Barack shouldnt go there. At least no one that I can think of.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954915">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954915" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954915" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954915">Webb</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954915" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954915" class="dsq-comment-message">@anon, I have three reasons why *O* should not be at Tavis\' SOBTU also known as "Tavis Smiley\'s bullshit marketing conference (sponsored by McDonalds, Walmart, etc.)"<br></br><br>Reason #1: OHio</br><br>Reason #2: TeXas</br><br>Reason #3: Polls that show *O* slightly behind Billary in both states.</br><br></br><br>*O* needs to be in TX with a sombrero on his head, hollering "Si se puede!" until March 4th arrives.</br><br></br><br>@Xenophon, thanks for instigating this debate.  You think that Obama is, "dismissing a portion of the constituency on which his success depends," and what\'s interesting to me is that I DO NOT FEEL DISMISSED at all...but i\'m an AA who has an income that exceeds the poverty level.  </br><br></br><br>Why does *O* have to specifically target AA poverty to make you happy?  Why does *O* have to be the "black" candidate for you as opposed to being the "universal" candidate?  There are poor caucasians and latinos in this country who need support as much as AAs...should they be ignored too?  </br><br></br><br>There are more NON-AAs on welfare than AAs...it\'s the Republicans who have traditionally equated being poor to being black...and thus exploited that racist premise to win elections.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954916">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954916" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954916" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954916">D</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954916" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954916" class="dsq-comment-message">Look at Obama\'s calendar. <br>Feb 19th Wisconsin and Hawaii primaries.  </br><br>Feb 21st debate with Hillary in TX.</br><br>Feb 26th debate with Hillary in OH.</br><br>Mar 4th four primaries - TX, OH, RI and VT.  </br><br></br><br>Obama doesn\'t need to discuss policy with Hillary on Smiley\'s show Feb 23rd, between the first and second debate with her.  </br><br></br><br>I think Hillary may have accepted the invitation to Smiley\'s show only because she thought Obama would be there.  Now she\'s pressuring Smiley to make sure Obama shows up so she doesn\'t sit there alone looking dumb.  That\'s not Obama\'s problem, IMHO.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954917">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954917" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954917" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954917">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954917" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954917" class="dsq-comment-message">yes, not exactly my favorite source nor pundit, but the argument offered makes sense:<br></br><br><i>About a week ago we started seeing references in the national media (ABC, New York Times, L.A. Times) to Mr. Obama spawning a "cult of personality" — a theme that had existed in Illinois for some time but mysteriously didn\'t substantially appear in the national media until about Super Tuesday. The maxim in political strategy is always go at your opponent\'s strength.</i></br><br></br><br>If you turn him on that, the battle is over. So, the cult of personality perfectly targets his strength: That Mr. Obama has a wonderful personality. The Clintons (presumably) are suggesting, in effect, that he may be delectable, but he\'s not electable. That it is unhealthy to adore a leader — undemocratic, in fact.</br><br></br><br>http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080213/EDITORIAL/381006128</br><br></br><br>contrarian purists like xenophon will never be satisfied. he probably voted for nader.</br><br></br><br>what was the elitist "mayflower" quip for? nobody cares about your pedigree.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954918">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954918" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954918" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954918">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954918" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954918" class="dsq-comment-message"><b>Obama doesn\'t need to discuss policy with Hillary on Smiley\'s show Feb 23rd, between the first and second debate with her.</b><br></br><br>There is no reason for Obama to walk into the trap that is Tavis Smiley\'s bullshit marketing conference (sponsored by McDonald\'s, Walmart, etc.) The primary result of those conferences have been book sales for Tavis Smiley and perhaps a few cruise ship tickets for Tom Joyner\'s Fantastic Voyage. </br><br></br><br>It is NOT pertinent for Obama to show up to this thing to appeal to MOST black people.  </br><br></br><br><b>I think Hillary may have accepted the invitation to Smiley\'s show only because she thought Obama would be there. Now she\'s pressuring Smiley to make sure Obama shows up so she doesn\'t sit there alone looking dumb. That\'s not Obama\'s problem, IMHO.</b></br><br></br><br>Yeah, right.  Hillary Clinton has turned down SOTBU in the past too.  She\'s only going because she, her husband, Bob Johnson, Andrew Young and other surrogates screwed up South Carolina for her and the Negroes fled.</br><br></br><br>The SOTBU will turn out to be a Hillary Hankerchief Head Conference because the Negroes present will NOT challenge her and WILL GO OUT OF THEIR WAY to avoid making her feel uncomfortable. </br><br></br><br>If Obama\'s calendar is really open on the 23rd (the campaign does not make every date public) then maybe he and Michelle can catch a breather and spend some quality time together.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954919">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954919" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954919" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954919">chris</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954919" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954919" class="dsq-comment-message">Don\'t waste any air on Tavis. Tavis is a product of Noel Jones. Noel Jones runs one of those mega oneness churches. As you know...those megachurches do nothing but "steal in the name of the Lord." In other words Tavis is a product of those preachers who are bought and paid to deliver votes. Hillary is more apt than Obama to give NOEL JONES (one of Tavis\' mentors) a pass from the likes of Senator Leahy who is investigating these criminals. Tavis=Noel Jones</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954920">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954920" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954920" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954920">Mixedbrotha</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954920" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954920" class="dsq-comment-message">tavis isn\'t suspect to me. I can smell his brand of BS a mile away. I listened to the mess he was talkin on the Tom Joyner show before SC. It was just about as pro-hillary WITHOUT actually saying it as one could get.<br></br><br>I wonder what job she offered him...</br><br></br><br>What we NEED to do is keep an eye on all these sell-out fools and make sure the elected officials end up as greeters at Walmart... like Al Wynn who voters forcefully replaced during the potomac primaries. As for Tavis... I think he will get the picture when those ratings start droppin and he can\'t GIVE a book away.</br><br></br><br>nuff said.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954921">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954921" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954921" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954921">Janann</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954921" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954921" class="dsq-comment-message">Nobody has time to play plantation politics.  Leadership is always born on the backs of disenfranchised people.  Its starting to look like the Clintons are calling in markers of some folks that "owe" them something.  If Hillary wins the primaries outright and honestly then she will have the support of the black community.  Right now BARACKO is our first choice.  This is why he is my first choice:<br></br><br>Let\'s take a closer look at who\'s really qualified and or who\'s really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton.</br><br></br><br>Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.</br><br></br><br>These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress <a href="http://www.thomas.loc.gov" rel="nofollow">www.thomas.loc.gov</a>, but to save you trouble, I\'ll post them here for you.</br><br></br><br>1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.</br><br></br><br>2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.</br><br></br><br>3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.</br><br></br><br>4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.</br><br></br><br>5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.</br><br></br><br>6. Name post office after Jonn A. O\'Shea.</br><br></br><br>7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.</br><br></br><br>8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.</br><br></br><br>9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.</br><br></br><br>10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men\'s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.</br><br></br><br>11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men\'s Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.</br><br></br><br>12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.</br><br></br><br>13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.</br><br></br><br>14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.</br><br></br><br>15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton\'s bills are, more substantive.</br><br></br><br>16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.</br><br></br><br>17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.</br><br></br><br>19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.</br><br></br><br>20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.</br><br></br><br>There you have it, the fact\'s straight from the Senate Record</br><br>Now, I would post those of Obama\'s, but the list is too substantive, so I\'ll mainly categorize.</br><br>During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced</br><br></br><br>233 regarding healthcare reform,</br><br></br><br>125 on poverty and public assistance,</br><br></br><br>112 crime fighting bills,</br><br></br><br>97 economic bills,</br><br></br><br>60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,</br><br></br><br>21 ethics reform bills,</br><br></br><br>15 gun control,</br><br></br><br>6 veterans affairs and many others.</br><br></br><br>His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These included **the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law, **The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law, **The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate, **The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law, **The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more.</br><br></br><br>In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096.</br><br></br><br>An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would prefer that this comparison not be made public.</br><br></br><br>He\'s not just a talker. He\'s a doer.  Pass it on....It\'s impressive</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954922">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954922" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954922" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954922">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954922" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954922" class="dsq-comment-message">From a BLACKS 4 BARACK! Commenter:<br></br><br>An Open Letter </br><br>To TAVIS SMILEY</br><br>by: Sheila Price</br><br></br><br>Dear Mr. Smiley,</br><br></br><br>I would like to start out by saying that I am a 45 year old white middle class library professional. I am also a great admirer of yours and listen regularly to your television show and radio broadcasts. I have a lifetime of experiences watching the inequality and lack of empowerment suffered by our African American community and as a result of this I have a deep empathy and passion for the struggles of black people.</br><br></br><br>I felt compelled to write to you concerning not only your lack of endorsement for Barack Obama, but also what appears to be somewhat of a negative doubt-raising tone concerning Barack Obama. I must say I am absolutely shocked and amazed that you, one of the leading African American "thinkers" of contemporary culture, not to mention a significant role model for black youths, would even consider not endorsing Barack Obama for president let alone raise doubts about his competency. </br><br></br><br>With all due respect Mr.Smiley, it is because I have read your "Covenant with Black America" that I care so deeply for what appears to be a serious contradiction between what you stand for and what you are communicating to the public regarding your lack of support and empowerment for one of, if not the only, seriously credible candidate for President of the United States. I\'m especially concerned about the message that sends to the African American youth of today. Surely, you, being a highly intelligent and competant man, are able to easily find the vast amount of information out there concerning Barack Obama\'s exceptional experience and extremely respectable character not to mention his very effective and credible plans for the future of our country. </br><br></br><br>One only has to visit the Barack Obama website to find these things out or read one of his books or one of the books written about him. Yesterday was an historic day for our nation, for all of our nation, but especially so for our African American population when the Kennedy\'s stood side by side with Barack Obama at his rally in Washington DC. This was an extremely powerful endorsement for Barack and a source of great pride for African Americans. It is with sincerity and urgency that I implore you Mr.Smiley to stand tall with us for Barack Obama. </br><br></br><br>The time is now for the blinders to come off and to cast off the seeds of doubt. Barack Obama is not only the best candidate for the job of President of the United States, white or black, he is the best person to realize the ideals you put forth in your "Covenant with Black America". I\'m not sure what the underlying reasons for your lack of support have been. I would be very interested to hear from you regarding them so that we could dispel any further doubt together. Because that\'s what Barack stands for, bringing people together to gain a better understanding of eachother and to demolish fear and hatred. </br><br></br><br>Thank you for the opportunity to communicate with you. I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.</br><br></br><br>Sincerely,</br><br>Sheila Price</br><br>Cleveland, Ohio</br><br></br><br>From a <a href="http://www.Blacks4Barack.org" rel="nofollow">www.Blacks4Barack.org</a> commenter</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954923">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954923" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954923" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954923">Nita</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954923" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954923" class="dsq-comment-message">Chris, somebody is investigating the megachurches making money off what amounts to bribes and religious quackery? GOOD.<br></br><br>Those are not churches, those are corporations masquerading as churches for the tax benefits.  Investigate all of them.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954924">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954924" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954924" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954924">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954924" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954924" class="dsq-comment-message">Please, lets not let anyone divide us like this. Obama can\'t be everywhere at once. He tried to lend what he could (his very wonderful and smart wife) in his place and they chose not to accept this. I am committed to Obama monetarily, emotionally and mentally. The Clinton campaign and the Republicans want to encourage internal strife in order to divide and conquer our resolve. Let\'s not let them do it. Keep the faith! Yes we can!</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954925">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954925" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954925" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954925">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954925" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954925" class="dsq-comment-message">xenophon... its apparent that you\'re very very smart. Though I find it interesting that you spew so much rhetoric about black culture and what Barack needs to do for blacks yet your blog name is that of a Greek scholar. Unless of course you are Greek and if so... I stand corrected.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1954926">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1954926" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1954926" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1954926">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1954926" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1954926" class="dsq-comment-message">I stumbled across this website today while looking up info on the Tavis/Obama tiff and found an absolute fountain of intelligence! I read every comment posted and am in awe of the level of intellectual discourse by the readers. No name-calling, no personal attacks and best of all no N-word. I hope th join the great debates soon, thanks for restoring my hope.I knew you were out there and now I have found you!</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 </ul>\
';

(function() {
	
	





Dsq.Debug.profile(function() {
	if(Dsq.jsonData.request.page == 1 && Dsq.jsonData.request.is_initial_load) {
		Dsq.container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.header() + Dsq.container.innerHTML + Dsq.Templates.footer();
	}
	Dsq.$(Dsq.curPageId).innerHTML = Dsq.$(Dsq.curPageId).innerHTML.replace(Dsq.COMMENTS_RE, Dsq.CommentsHandler);
}); // Dsq.Debug.Profile

// HACK: Resetting cache because we're done with.
Dsq.Utils.gebiFromElementCollectionCache = null;


	
	
	var dsq_styleEl = document.getElementById(disqus_container_id);
	var dsq_anchorEl = document.getElementsByTagName('a')[0];
	
	Dsq.Thread.fc = Dsq.Utils.getStyle(dsq_styleEl, 'color');
	if(dsq_anchorEl) { Dsq.Thread.ac = Dsq.Utils.getStyle(dsq_anchorEl, 'color'); }
	Dsq.Thread.ff = Dsq.Utils.getStyle(dsq_styleEl, (Dsq.Utils.ie || window.opera ? 'fontFamily' : 'font-family'));
	// For Safari / Opera: strip quotes.
	Dsq.Thread.ff = Dsq.Thread.ff.replace(/['"]/g, '');
	Dsq.Thread.fc = encodeURIComponent(Dsq.Thread.fc);
	Dsq.Thread.ac = encodeURIComponent(Dsq.Thread.ac);
	Dsq.Thread.ff = encodeURIComponent(Dsq.Thread.ff);

	
	
	
	if(Dsq.$(Dsq.Templates.addPostContainer)) {
		// TODO: Check to see if theme uses postmessage.
		if (window.disqus_use_postmessage) {
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(Dsq.$(Dsq.Templates.textareaContainer));
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'].init(function() {
				// Use fallback iframe
				Dsq.$(Dsq.Templates.addPostContainer).innerHTML = '';
				var theme = (typeof disqus_frame_theme == 'undefined') ? 'default' : disqus_frame_theme;
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(Dsq.$(Dsq.Templates.addPostContainer), null, {theme: theme});
				// if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
			});
		} else {
			// DEPRECATED
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(Dsq.$('dsq-post-add'));
		}
	}

	
	

	
	if(document.location.hash != '') {
		document.location.hash = document.location.hash.substring(1);
	}

	Dsq.Popup.showCookieMsgs();

	
	if(document.location.search != '' && location.hash != '#disqus_thread') {
		var reply_id = Dsq.Utils.getRequestParams().dsq;
		if(reply_id) { document.location.hash = 'comment-' + reply_id; }
	}

	
	if((typeof OB_Script != 'undefined') && (typeof OB_versionNum != 'undefined')) {
		if(navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Firefox") != -1) {
			if(window.frames['dsq-reply-frame']) {
				window.frames['dsq-reply-frame'].location = Dsq.Urls.REPLY + (new Date()).getTime() + '&f=jackandjillpolitics&t=we_received_a_nice_note_from_tavis_smiley_about_barack_obama&to_redirect=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location) + '&ifrs=' + encodeURIComponent(disqus_iframe_css);
			}
		}
	}

	if (Dsq.jsonData.integration.theme == 4) {
		if (Dsq.jsonData.realtime_enabled) {
			Dsq.Realtime.initialize();
		}
	}

	



	window.ExecuteWhen = (function () {
	var obj = {}
	
	// Private
	var running = false;
	var timer = null;
	var pending = [];
	var startTimer = function() {
		running = true;
		timer = setInterval(obj.heartBeat, 100);
	};
	var stopTimer = function() {
		running = false;
		clearInterval(timer);
	};
	
	// Public
	obj.add = function (condition, code) {
		pending.push([condition,code]);
		this.heartBeat(); //!
		if (!running) {
			startTimer();
		}
	};
	obj.heartBeat = function() {
		if (!pending.length) {
			stopTimer();
		}
		var newPending = [];
		for (var i=0; i<pending.length; i++) {
			var cond = pending[i][0];
			var code = pending[i][1];
			// FIXME: if cond or code throw an error, they never get removed from pending
			if (cond()){
				code();
			}
			else {
				newPending.push([cond, code]);
			}
		}
		pending = newPending;
	};
	return obj;
})();

// also used in embed_thread.js:
window.fbIsReady = function () {return window.FB && FB.init;};
// NOTE: This script gets executed again without threadEl
//       set when we are loaded again as the fbc_receiver.
//       In this case, we don't need the hidden container.

if(!window.FB || !FB.init) {
	if(window.Dsq && Dsq.container) {
		// container is not present when init.js is loaded from an xd-receiver iframe; in this case,
		// we don't need the FB_HiddenContainer anyway.
		var fbDiv = document.createElement('div');
		fbDiv.id = "FB_HiddenContainer";	// Required or else FeatureLoader will execute a document.write.
		fbDiv.style.position = 'absolute';	// This is intentionally not setting display to none as this breaks
		fbDiv.style.top = '-10000px';		// Flash in Safari.
		fbDiv.style.left = '-10000px';
		fbDiv.style.width = '0px';
		fbDiv.style.height = '0px';
		Dsq.container.appendChild(fbDiv);
	}
	var fbJS = document.createElement('script');
	fbJS.type = "text/javascript";
	fbJS.src = "http://static.ak.connect.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php";
	document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(fbJS);

	ExecuteWhen.add(window.fbIsReady,
		function () {
			// HACK: This is a workaround FBC's single domain limitation by
			//		 allowing sites to create multiple forums with different
			//		 Facebook API keys.  This must be used in conjunction with
			//		 disqus_facebook_forum (see authenticateFacebook).
			var facebook_api_key = 'bd6a8bc56f8eb204984f34b6fefe228d';
			if (typeof disqus_facebook_api_key != 'undefined') {
				facebook_api_key = disqus_facebook_api_key;
			}

			FB.init(facebook_api_key, window.facebookXdReceiverPath || null,
				{fetchSignedPublicSessionData: true});
		});
}


	


if(typeof(disqus_callback) == 'function') {
	var callback_params = Dsq.Utils.getRequestParams()['dsq_cbp'] || null;

	// We don't care about any errors in third-party code
	try {
		disqus_callback(callback_params);
	} catch (x) {
		if (typeof(console) != 'undefined' && typeof(console.log) == 'function') {
			// But it would be nice to let developers know about them
			console.log(x);
		}
		// pass
	}

	// HACK: We don't know if the callback wraps our container, which may
	// possibly result in a new DOM element.
	Dsq.container = document.getElementById('dsq-content');
}

})();




