Interesting - we clamor for change and then gravitate toward the same cluster of sociopathic behaviors that have given us our current political environment. Why not just elect Newt Gingrich and forget about it?

I can understand how people who make their choices based on 30-second advertisements are swayed by such a campaign. But when an alleged intellectual makes the argument, it smacks of pandering. How can we ever elevate the political discourse in this country if all we care about is the dog fight?

I view "grace under pressure" as being tough.

Being downright nasty and bitter a la hillary is NOT tough. It's nasty and bitter.
I'd rather have a cool head answering that phone than someone who seems unable to exercise any control of her hateful and vengeful emotions.

Why should Obama change his primary strategy now? It's a winning one. If there's any advice I'd give him, it would be to sharpen his attacks *on McCain*, and if he mentions Hillary! at all, it would only be to tie her to the Republicans.


But you do not need to go negative to win a primary. Hillary! is and it isn't helping her. Obama isn't, and he's in a commanding position. I'd prefer he keeps his powder dry until the general.

Hillary Clinton is tough in the same way Tonya Harding was tough. Can't win fairly, against a more talented rival? Get your group together, and eliminate the rival by any means necessary.

Seems to me that Hillary has shown less backbone than a willingness to be created and presented by people like Mark Penn for a lot of money they will be paid whether she wins or not. They don't give a good GD for the good of the country as far as I can see. I still hang on to a desperate notion that Hillary is a better person than we have seen recently. The one with back-bone is the unflappable Sen. Obama, the one I want to be there to answer that 3 A.M or whenever, phone call. The one who has had the kitchen sink thrown at him with more surely to come, and still acts like a gentleman and a scholar, not a desperate candidate afraid that time is passing hi/ her by (I put Sen. McCain firmly into this category) Sure, he looks naive when you compare him to some of the scum floating around in this campaign. He looks to me as though he would rather think the best of anyone until shown otherwise, a good place to start, as long as there is the understanding, which I believe he has, that not all people are what they would like you to think. That is realism. Remember "Trust but verify"? GWB looked into Putin's eyes and saw his soul? What rubbish, not to mention horrible judgment. Toughness is looking HARD into someone's soul and judging them by their actions, and then acting accordingly: rationally with a clear set of objectives and a good eye to the possible unintended consequences, otherwise known as collateral damage when you don't want to talk about what that really might mean-like lots of civilian casualities, dead American soldiers, ruining countries or scaring them (ours) out of their wits for politcal purposes.

Being positive is tough.

We see it in own lives. When things are down we tend to focus more on the negative than the positive because misery loves company....

So I say those HRC supporters...that's you...misery...miserable...and you're loving that company. You like that nasty fight, but what does it say about you as a person who would support that kind of lack of integrity? Yes, that you too have a lack of integrity; thus the reason you can blindly support such dishonesty in your candidate.

Obama never said he was perfect. And it was the Hillary supporters who started calling him the Messiah, Saint and God-like¦but I see why¦when you"re admiring a person who doesn"t have any scruples as HRC has displayed, Obama or anyone who has ethics, integrity and honor can most definitely seem so angelic.

I see this fight with hillary and Obama as good vs evil. I hope Obama never stoops to Hillary's level .Its not worth it to lose your dignity and self respect to be nominated. If Hillary happens to be nominated so be it,but her reputation as a woman has gone down the toilet and as far as self respect ,she has none. She will never get my vote!

Close proximity to the testosterone fantasies of macho journalists chewing cigars and prowling the news beat must have permanently altered Ms.Dowd's ability to perceive "toughness" through any prism other than that which highlights the dubious virtues of, expediency before principle, barefaced lying as proof of professionalism, smearing opponents as "the fun part", and where the use of thought and restraint is perceived as the quaint practices of wimps. As silly and weak as it obviously must seem to Ms. Dowd many Americans view strength of character in terms other than who has the most gall, and who is best at flinging feces at their political opponents like a bunch of yowling monkeys.

Integrity. Courage. Judgment.

That would be refreshingly "tough" in ANY president.

Does that combination better describe Hillary, McCain, or Obama?

Every time big bad Hillary Clinton attacks him or calls in to question his abilities, his campaign and his supporters whine like a bunch of sniveling children instead of responding back like a mature person would if they were attacked whether fairly of unfairly. If he can't defend himself aganst Clinton who's attacks have been mild, especially in comparison to previous primaries and who's attacks will be nothing in comparison to whay McCain and the Repugs will throw at him then he will very possibly lose the general election. In the general election the American people in addition to voting on political policy are voting on who they think will be the best commander in chief. Though Obama might be likable, if he comes accross as someone who does not exhibit the necessary strength to be commander in chief and stand up to our enemies which means getting tough with them in addition to sitting down and talking to them, the people will likely go with McCain who they may not like or agree with his policies but will safe under!!!

mo has been right on for weeks about this...
barack will go down if he continues in this "milquetoast" mode...

Ms Dowd wrote a column some months ago complaining that the Clinton's pull everyone down to their level. Now she seems to be recommending that Senator Obama descend there to win. By the way, what is the point of the barbecue sauce reference. One of the things that is attractive about Senator Obama is that he is confident, and that his character keeps on the higher ground, and honest.

I would prefer a wise one instead of her anger and misrepresenting what is happening. She really is a lite McBush.

All of you need to grow up. We have been dealing with the worst case of lying, manipulation, destruction of the Constitution, war profiteering, and every crime imaginable and every filthy, dirty manipulation imaginable, as well, by the Republican Congress of the 90's, and the Congress and administration of Bush.

I do not want to see another Republican elected to complete the destruction of this country, because we have a Democratic nominee who caves in like Gore and Kerry caved. I want someone who is seasoned at hitting back, someone willing to pound them over the head, knock them in the mud, and then jump up and down on their head. I want someone who is willing to call them what they are and in the harshest possible terms.

Obama and his Reagan was a visionary thing, his name, which is going to give the PUKES unbelievable leverage, stupidly but truly, and his visions of working with the Republicans when anyone with any sense should be able to realize and admit that working with them is impossible. They are not going to do anything which would assist a Democratic President in anything. Therefore, the Democratic President and, hopefully, Congress better be prepared to not take any hostages, they better be ready, able and willing to roll over them with one of our armored vehicles and not look back. This country is fighting for its' very existence and the can't we just kissy and get along isn't going to do it.

I supported Edwards, but with him gone, I would prefer a Clinton/Obama ticket, because it is going to take more than eight years to even begin to unravel this mess in which the Republicans have placed us. Get Obama as the Vice President and promise and then carry through on having him as a strong, involved Vice-President, as a major, POSITIVE FORCE WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION, unlike Cheney, and utilize he and his positives to help deal with the world which would view him in a positive manner. Let him learn, let him mature, let him season, AND THEN MAKE HIM THE NEXT PRESIDENT, IN EIGHT YEARS. It will take sixteen years of effective, Democratic leadership to get the road started back for this country. Oh, AND MAKE EDWARDS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND TURN HIM LOOSE ON THESE PUKES WHO COMMITTED CRIMES AND PUT EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM IN PRISON FOR A GOOD, LONG TIME.

The fact that republicans admire Clinton's tactics tell you everything you need to know. She's not tough, she's dirty.

Obama '08