To Brian Hubbell II: Yes, you're right, but since when do you find much love of freedom from the Republicans?

Your comments are heartfelt and stated with conviction and sincerity. I happen to agree with a lot of what you say about strong leadership to guide this country in the challenging years after the debacle of the Bush administration.

The truth is, we can't go wrong with any of the leading Democratic candidates for president. Just look at what the Republicans have to offer -Giuliani, who is a Bush wannabe, trying to win the presidency because of his actions on 9/11; then there is Mitt Romney, someone who seems to have as low an i.q. as Bush and who switches positions as the political winds change; next we have Fred Thompson, the phantom candidate, another Bush clone who is just another conservative lackey; last, we have John McCain, whose candidacy has gone up in flames, although he doesn't know it yet.

This is our election to lose and we have to make the right decision. Obama and Edwards are worthy contenders. I am not ready to put Obama in the same category as John F. Kennedy. I was old enough to remember him and I don't think we will see someone like him again in our lifetime. He was a truly extraordinary man of intellect, charm and wit, who inspired a generation of young people.

Obama is bright, articulate, a new face on the scene and someone to watch. I still think his time has not yet come. I think Edwards may be best suited for vice president. An Obama/Edwards ticket is appealing to consider, but I don't think it is a winning ticket. You must win in order to effect change. That is the challenge.

I still have an open mind, although I am leaning toward Hillary at the moment. I think she has experience, pragmatism, strong ideas and the best political adviser of all in her husband. If she can rise above the standard political sound bites, she has the ability to make history and inspire us all as the first woman president.

WOW! Thats worse than Bush.

CNN's response..

OVER THERE, LOOK OVER THERE AT THE LIKABILITY FIGURE.. OVER THERE.

"Watch your kids while you were away"

Between Republican and Democratic candidates, who would you trust to watch your children?

In the opinion of many democrats she's the best chance they have of winning back the White House.

I think Hillary (and any Democrat) would be FAR superior to what we've been living with, but I don't trust someone to lead a major superpower just because he's got a fresh face and bright, sunny ideas. It takes a heck of a lot more, like experience, know-how about the way the world really works (not just how we wish it would work) and high-level connections. I think Hillary has got all of those.

We live in a country where at least 1/3 don't have a clue who the Vice-President is, and you all think that many respondents in these polls don't automatically think "Bill Clinton" whenever they see the name "Clinton" as an option?

Whatever.

I surmise that at least 10-15% of all of Hillary Clinton's support in every poll that doesn't include her full name is support from people who are thinking Bill Clinton, not Hillary Clinton, and another 5% like her just because of Bill Clinton.

Of course "Bill Clinton" is more experienced than the others, considering the fact that Hillary Clinton is a lot less experienced than Dennis Kucinich, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, and no more experienced than John Edwards and Barack Obama.

Unfortunately, Bush is not the communicator that Clinton is so it is more difficult for people to see what he has done. Has he made mistakes? Absolutely. But which president hasn't? However I do believe that we are far better off than we were at the end of the Clinton era. We do not need another era of Clinton inaction.

Here are some facts to consider:
1) War on terror. Clinton did nothing after the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and he did very little after the Cole bombing. He represented the US as the nice guys and didn't pursue the terrorists. Nor did he do anything to solve the problems with interagency communications (FBI not communicating with CIA, etc.). Nor did he do anything to protect our borders. Bush created Homeland Security which, while not perfect, has closed many of the gaps that Clinton left wide open. While there is much debate about whether we should have gone to war with Iraq, there is no question that far more damage has been done to Al-Qaeda's structure than anything Clinton did. Also since we have been in Iraq, raids on terrorist organizations have given us valuable information that we would otherwise not have had access to – all of which has helped prevent additional terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. But, of course, these accomplishments are never mentioned in the media.

2) Honesty. During Bill Clinton's 8 year presidency, he pardoned 396 people, a good portion of which were for drug offenses. During Bush 1's 4 year presidency, he pardoned 74 people, mostly for lesser offenses such as theft and income tax evasion. See http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon. Since Bill and Hillary are similar thinking, I can see how people don't trust her.

3) Global warming. Everyone is scared to death of global warming. Consider that 4 of the top 10 warmest years on record were in the 1930s: 1934, 1931, 1938, and 1939 while only 3 of the top 10 were in the last 10 years: 1998, 2006, and 1999. Don't hear much about this from Al Gore, do you? See http://www.noaa.gov.

4) Healthcare. Lance states that our healthcare is a joke. Ok – it could be better, I'll give you that but next time you are sick, why don't you go to Canada and wait in line to be treated and hope that you don't die first. The U.S. pharmaceutical industry develops more life-saving drugs than any other country. Is our problem really our healthcare system or is it due to the fact that we have become a country of large and obese people which is causing many of our health woes?

As far as Obama goes, I think he is a great communicator which is what draws people to him. I believe he is just another politician that speaks a good game. My vote will go to Guiliani. He cleaned up New York and made it successful. Are his methods unorthodox? Yes, they are. But right now, our biggest threat are terrorists and nations that support them. I'm not convinced that Obama will lead us in the right direction.

But regardless of who you choose, do some research and THINK beyond what the media reports. For example, the war in Iraq is not popular and it appears we are failing but how often do you hear that our military has obtained data from a disk drive that has helped prevent more attacks? It happens a lot more frequently than you hear about.

Think beyond the issue, do some research, and validate what is reported. When you do this, you'll make a truly informed decision. If you listen to what is reported in the media, you are more than likely going to vote for the wrong candidate, whoever he/she may be.

What about the honesty part?

Wouldn't you say that that was a LITTLE important as well?

But you know what, he made a great speech!

Obama for President!

And this is among the CNN AUDIENCE!

Add this nightmare to this past weekend's stories about Democrat's concerns regarding her unprecedented negative ratings and the overall negative effect her campaign will likely have on the Democratic party as a whole and I think the folks over at camp Hill are probably get a little shaky.

Turn out the lights baby, the party will soon be over!

Obama is smart and will learn quickly. He may be a little naive and inexperienced. So much so that he'd likely put America first, rather than the people he "owes".

That's not to say that Clinton would be a bad president. She will most likely win the primaries and I would most likely vote for her in the general election.

I think the best we can hope for is that Clinton doesn't screw up too badly, and then Obama or someone with his vision will follow and really lead the country forward.

I'm still not sure who I'd want as the Democratic candidate, but I hope people will look past how a candidate presents him/herself and look deeper into their past actions and current positions.

Van

I typed the wrong message. If you want four more years of Bush, vote GOP. If you want change, vote DEMOCRAT.

Its really easier.......LOL

Hillary is NOT Paris Hilton or Britney.
She is a strong, intelligent, compassionate, reserved, capable leader.
Why, you got a problem with that?

Anyway if Rudy carries the Republican ticket, the “Right to Life” and the Religious Right will find more harmony, more compassion and more morality in Hillary’s agenda and goals. Compared to Rudy she is much more likeable to mainstream Conservative Ideals! Remember, the Conservatives thought that they had their man under Bush, only to be fully disappointed. When they actually take time to look at the Person and not the adverse ads they will Love Hillary too!

The mortgage debacle is ultimately a result of wealth shifting from the poor to the rich. Sub-prime loans, not good credit, giving poor people the illusion that they had more wealth than they really had...get it.

That is really a function of the control corporate contributors have on our political system. The politicians don't respond to the people, they respond to the money.

Obama, on the other hand gets his money from the people instead of the corporations. It is just more reasonable to believe that Obama (or Edwards for that matter) would have policies that favor natural persons, because that is where they get their money.

P.S.

People have had 15 years to form their opinion of Hillary Clinton. Whether that opinion is bad or good, it isn't going to change now, no matter what.

Too many people are espousing "change" simply for the sake of change. Things may change under Obama, but I don't believe he has the vision or experience to do it in a way that doesn't leave our dear nation in a dire state of system shock.

I believe Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Biden are the only three legitimate candidates.

First of all, if we are going to talk about electability, shouldn't the poll have included people other than Democrats?

Lastly, and most importantly, Opinion Research was purchased last year by InfoUSA. InfoUSA is controlled by a hard-core Clintonista named Vinod Gupta. Gupta is a major Clinton/DNC donor and fundraiser, and Lincoln Bedroom guest.

Please give the Obama plaudits a rest. We get that you like the guy. Every chance you get, you try to make him sound like the second coming. The rest of us would prefer to have Obama himself convince us of his merits, positions, leadership ability and electability.

I admire your allegiance, but it's like hearing the same campaign ad over and over again.