Hypomaniac's Comments (12)

“Misleading title... and misleading argument. While some of the one in five unemployed may take on the attributes of the lower class, at least temporarily, there are still a whole bunch of people who haven't done much more than worry.”

“I like suggestion #1: let's hail out Main Street!”

“Some valid points here-- definitely electioneering is at the core here, which is why I don't anticipate a real ground invasion and repeat of the Lebanon debacle. The only other piece to remember is that they also had the incentive to get this done in the waning days of the Bush administration (22 days and counting), when they knew they'd have full support and thus tie the next president's hands as well-- and aspect that needs to be explored further!”

“As someone who was horrified by the Sarah Palin interviews-- more each time I saw them-- I have to say, she is more qualified than Caroline Kennedy, if for no other reason than she was ELECTED and SERVED as EXECUTIVE of a state. If Maureen Reagan or the equivalent of cK ran on the Republican side Dems would have hammered her too,

As far as becoming NY senator, Dems need to remember that this job requires experience and know how that makes raising money for skools or being mayor of Wasilla-- heck, being governor of ALASKA-- look like heading the local PTA.

If cK wants it, let her earn it. Someone born with a silver spoon in her mouth should at least have to polish it occasionally.”

“I agree with the opening statement-- but purely on the basis of art.”

“A clear sign that Obama is NOT putting politics ahead of "victory" or at least the "facts on the ground," which, while not perfect, have undoubtedly improved..­. it might not help him win, but it shows that he is yet to sell his soul as so many HuffPost readers would like him to do.”

“... but does he have any black friends?”

“A legitimate point-- whether intentional or not, it does continue the tradition. They were probably trying to distract from his overseas trip as well. Watch for the follow-up with an Obama sound byte from France, where he said, "I don't know anybody who doesn't want to spend more time in Paris."”

“Duly noted-- and right on-- but we all know he never could have gotten away with it. He could have added that one of the earlier steps of the FInal Solution was to build walls around ethnic "ghettos," too-- but he can't, given the politicial realities, and it is incredibly naive to suggest that he could.

Hopefully those who need to connect the dots will and those who don't won't. The gane-changing will have to wait until he is in office.”

“The media seemed to be on top of the parallels between Maliki and Obama's visions for Iraq-- once the White House tipped them off about it. The opening "tease" misleadingly frames what is otherwise a legitimate point about the double standards that are out there.

McCain has thus far gotten away with repeated blunders that Obama would not have. Some of this may just have been ascribed to old age-- for example, I am willing to give him a pass on his amalgamating the Czech Republic with Slovakia again. To blur Sunnis and Shiites and now Iraq and Afghanistan, however, should point to a more fundamental flaw that does not bode well for his foreign policy. Not only doesn't he know the difference, he doesn't seem to care. Neither, it seems, does the mainstream media. That's where the story is.”

“Two words: lighten up. It is funny. albeit inappropriate. The bigger point is that, for better or worse, it is not presidential, and is the best example yet of how this presidential race is suffocating the man they once called a maverick. Even when he did "talk straight," or at least in directions other than exclusively to the right, it was a losing proposition. To watch him wrestle with cue cards these days is a sad, sad, sad, and this was probably just the alien beneath his chest bursting through for a brief appearance.

In the end, I do reach the same conclusion as Cesca: this is just one more reason why McCain should just retreat to his porch with some old-timer's lemonade, where his remarks will be out of earshot and just be those of someone who "ain't going to change his ways" and "doesn't mean no harm."

The suggestion to that Obama would have been pounced upon for saying the same thing, however, completely misses the point. Number one, Obama would never say it. Number two, disparaging remarks about Jews are always going to register more here than similar ones towards Iranians or Arabs in this country.

It's time to move past viewing every development in a purely partisan fashion. To talk straight, as it were. While such an option might be off the table for a presidential candidate, it should not be so for those of us covering it.”

“Let's face it, the role of press secretaries is to be a stooge for whatever administration they serve, which requires them to parrot whatever talking points the powers that be have handed down to them. In that role, McClellan should be given a bit more of a pass for not speaking up or even resigning at the time, unlike, say, Colin Powell.”