First off, some responses to this week's series of special guest posts on the politics of race in America:

Reader destor23 argues that Americans should be focused on civil rights, rather than race per se. G. Ken Patton critiques the skewed handling of the Rev. Wright question. And, in a very insightful post, reader bulawlefty discusses "Obama's Vision of a Different Progressive Discourse."

Robert Feinman has an interesting post up on the strange state of class relations in America.

More after the jump. . .

In case you're sick of the constant bickering between Clinton/Obama partisans, Timothy V. Gatto explains why he doesn't much care for either of 'em.

Reader Jason asks whether Bush's calls for Ukranian NATO membership are not meant simply to provoke Russia.

Hilary makes an articulate argument in defense of young voters. Also see Hilary's post on "the media's" new habit of criticizing itself in the third person.

Allison Kilkenny takes a look at the growing tendency among American corporations to become involved in one way or another in domestic surveillance.

Finally, reader CampaignTactician proposes the "Grandpa Simpson" method of beating John McCain.