This has been terrific reading. An excellent piece by MJ followed by some really intelligent comments. I have nothing to add except, thanks to you all!

Posted at July 23, 2008 5:39 PM in response to Obama's Overseas Success: What's His Secret?

It was once a wonderful paper. I grew up in the D.C. area and our heroes were Woodward & Bernstein (that's also changed), and the fearless investigating reporter was the romantic ideal.
It's painful for me to look at the editorial pages of the Post these days (which is why I rarely do it). We only get the Post because my husband is a technophobe and doesn't like to get his info on-line. He knows who the good reliable reporters are in the Post, and he loves Meyerson, E.J. Dionne and Colbert King.

Posted at July 23, 2008 12:19 PM in response to Washington Post Editorial Falsely Claims Iraqi Political Leaders Don't Support Obama's Withdrawal Plan

Just donated $20
We need to get rid of the bad Dems now that we are on our way to having a stronger majority.
My neighboring Congressional district just got rid of Al Wynn -- replaced by the very excellent Donna Edwards. So we can do this.

Posted at July 6, 2008 2:44 PM in response to If you are still mad at Obama for FISA , Here's Your Chance To Take Constructive Action

TPM has had something on McCain's flip flops, denials of statements he's made, etc. almost every day and right on the front page. McCain's inconsistencies, weaknesses, misstatements and outright lies get top billing and stories like the anti-FISA movement among Obama supporters is treated as a lesser story. So I don't see the problem.
Those of us who are very strong Obama supporters but are also hoping he will stick to his promise on FISA want this topic covered.
Our family made 3 trips to PA during the primaries and my husband made over 200 calls to Indiana and NC for Obama, but we disagree with his stated view of the FISA bill. However, no matter what happens with that, we will be out working our tails off (and one of us is an actual dog so that has meaning) for Obama in general election.
Actually, showing the commitment and strength of Obama supporters even when it's about a disagreement is not a bad thing at all.

Posted at July 3, 2008 12:11 PM in response to Group Urging Obama To Oppose FISA Cave Now Biggest On His Web Site

Greg: tell Brian we're all rooting for him out here in the blogosphere. He has to recover not only from the physical injuries but also the emotional trauma and I hope he takes it easy on himself.

As for the comment on D.C., usually Adams-Morgan is a pretty safe place -- it's a very lively neighborhood with an ethnically diverse population. People love living there or going to the numerous ethnic restaurants and clubs. My guess is that this was a pretty unusual occurrence for the area.

Posted at July 2, 2008 6:29 PM in response to Well Known Liberal Blogger Shot In Washington, D.C.

Yep -- after all "the right of the people" obviously means that every individual can have as many guns, rifles, assault weapons, or even WMDs as they'd like. I can't find anywhere in the Constitution where it distinguishes between handguns and nuclear warheads.

Posted at July 2, 2008 6:21 PM in response to Well Known Liberal Blogger Shot In Washington, D.C.

It's not his fault that his name is Swindle, but it is his fault that he's living down to it.

Posted at July 1, 2008 12:45 PM in response to Now A McCain Surrogate Demeans Wes Clark's Service

I'm not suggesting, by the way, that I'm overly-optimistic about this, though my last trip there convinced me that, after four disastrous years, things are moving in the right direction.

I'm pretty surprised by this because from what I'm reading, every positive development is paired with a negative one. Seems to me that there is no direction at all, at this point. Maybe your "right direction," is simply a cessation of all movement, which seems "right" in the same way as no longer hitting your head against a wall feels good.
BTW, my husband loved your book. (I bought it for him).

Posted at June 28, 2008 11:59 PM in response to Can the Stain Be Removed?

Actually, I strongly prefer McCain as the one to carry the flag at the Olympics. But only if he forgoes any role in the U.S. government.
McCain for Flag-Carrier!

Posted at June 25, 2008 1:46 PM in response to Focus Group: Pennsylvania Voters Are Suspicious Of Obama -- But Support Him Anyway

I agree -- a huge sample, 12 people! Hmm... maybe a little too much emphasis on focus groups (as you said)?
and there are some focus-group regulars -- people who do multiple focus groups. I don't know if any of them were in this group, but they certainly could have been.
I agree -- as a survey researcher I know that focus groups are interesting and can help in formulating questions for big surveys & polls, and can also help in understanding apparent contradictions in polls. But by themselves, they tell us nothing.

Posted at June 25, 2008 1:40 PM in response to Focus Group: Pennsylvania Voters Are Suspicious Of Obama -- But Support Him Anyway