I really enjoyed reading this. And I believe you are right. Even before I was paying much attention at all to Obama or the election, I always had the sense he was going to surprise everyone. I was sitting her e trying to think back to a year ago and this sense I had that he was going to keep gaining support and that his momentum was going somewhere. I wasn't sure he would win at that point, but I had a feeling he was going to do very well. I hadn't heard or read his speeches, but it was the way people talked about him. I think I just had the sense that they spoke about him differently than I heard them speak about other politicians. People who had heard him reported on it with this strange curiousity, like they just weren't sure what hit them.

And I had decided not to pay attention til the primaries started. And I did, and when they started I read Audacity of Hope and I can't agree more with your reaction to it. Mostly, I expected it would not hold my attention. Not only could I not put it down, but the guy just made so much sense. Much like he did tonight.

When the Obama supporters themselves doubt him I have a certain spin I put on it that helps me make sense of it. After the primary, people started to feel let down by him for moving to the center, and often voiced it, or blogged it, loudly. I found myself looking at it from Obama's perspective and I couldn't be angry at those doubters. Afterall, Obama is the one that listens to all sides. He is the one that invites opposition to be voiced. Mostly, I think people involved in his campaign feel such an ownership over the campaign, I think they felt so much more personally involved with the moves he makes than they would feel with another candidate. It's an interesting dilemma... you say to stop doubting and trust he will do it right... and I don't disagree. But at the same time, Obama is not asking us to blindly trust him. So even if it is just annoying political punditry "he needs to say this to win" I don't think Obama minds. He just closes his eyes and listens, right? Maybe even to CNN and TPM bloggers.

Posted at August 29, 2008 2:25 AM in response to TO THE POUTERS and the DOUBTERS: HE WILL PROVE YOU ALL WRONG

But we are "teaching" it to Iraq right now, don't you think that is going well?

Posted at August 27, 2008 7:32 PM in response to SAY WHAAATTTTTT??????

I am listening to the speech for the second time. What is so powerful to me about this speech, and unique, is how she manages to keep her emotions right on the surface the whole time, but isn't overwhelmed by them. She truly shows emotional strength, because she is clearly feeling so much and communicating her feelings, but doesn't waver for a second in her purpose.

Posted at August 26, 2008 1:59 AM in response to Michelle Obama Will Be Famous Someday - even without Barack

The full quote includes "God Damn American, that's in the bible..." Whether you agree with it or not, he isn't commanding God, he is referring to what God commanded (if you happen to believe that the bible is the word of God, which I assume he does).

Posted at August 24, 2008 12:15 PM in response to Slate: Racism is McCain's only hope

good point... the texting system may not have worked out but you'd think they'd at least send me an email. I got one earlier today about McCain's houses.

That's it, it's all a hoax. I'm going to sleep and when I wake up Hillary will be the VP nominee.

Posted at August 23, 2008 2:27 AM in response to Why Was I the Last to Know?

I just posted somewhere else... maybe the Obama camp doesn't see this as a failure of the texting system. Becuase a lot of people aren't up all night paying attention to this and they really will find out by text wake up call.

Question: What is the history on this? I have no personal memory of the VP announcements in previous elections?

Posted at August 23, 2008 2:22 AM in response to Associated Press Launches Pre-emptive Strike?

Actually though, a lot of people will get the news by text (whatever the actual news turns out to be). Just because we are awake a lot of people aren't. Even my west coast friend I just IMed didn't know. It was only maybe 10pm there but a lot of people don't watch tv or check internet news on a Friday night. People have lives. Some people go to sleep. People don't spend their friday nights sitting at home in front of their TVs or in chatrooms talking to their friends from political blogging sites.

Posted at August 23, 2008 2:20 AM in response to CNN Confirms That It's Biden

I don't know exactly what their thought process was but you definitely get the impression that they were enjoying the moment... all the MSM totally focused on House-gate and Text-Suspense-Gate,and just wanted to drag it out as long as possible. They decided to wait until tomorrow morning but then it was just too long.

Posted at August 23, 2008 2:17 AM in response to CNN Confirms That It's Biden

Obama is head-faking. He's out to prove... if you can beat CNN you can beat any evil entity in the world.

Then again, although the Obama campaign is very omnipresent and all powerful- this wouldn't be the first time someone spoke foolishly "on the condition of anonymity."

Posted at August 23, 2008 2:08 AM in response to Associated Press Launches Pre-emptive Strike?

Have fun in Jamaica! Congratulations! I wish you many years of happiness and that none of your new in-laws are Republican!

Posted at August 23, 2008 2:05 AM in response to I'll be commenting soon...