Now if Condeleeza could only be persuaded to stand against Barak then... America needs a new generation of politicians and I really can't see any of the Republicans as suitable, or any of the Democrats other than Obama as 'clean'.

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It's actually totally inaccurate to blame Biden for allegedly plagiarising Kinnock's speech; he had previously used it, giving credit to Kinnock; it was only on the second occasion that he forgot to credit Kinnock, and within 15 minutes he had released a press statement admitting the omission.  Without that press statement, it may have gone un-noticed.

I agree that Richardson as VP to either Clinton or Obama, with Biden as Secretary of State (or National Security Advisor) is an ideal scenario.

It is vital to keep Edwards away from the nomination though, as he would drive every moderate Republican and most Independents away from the Democrats, and almost certainly presage a Bloomberg candidacy, which would destroy Democratic hopes of securing the Presidency.

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I don't think you're seeing the whole board.

By the same standard that Hillary's plan is universal - so is Mitt Romney's which is to make coverage as it stands compulsory for certain workers and employers.

That's not good enough when something like 46m are uninsured and vastly more "insured" Americans have expensive policies not worth the paper they're written on.

The cost of these usless premiums vary slightly of course but if you can get insured, proper coverage (not even equivalent to treatment we'd enjoy on the NHS) can cost $1,200 a month which is clearly disgraceful.

Obama's plan will cover every American without compelling them to the crap system that exists. His plan incorporates guaranteed eligibility (not turned away as uninsurable because your granny had cancer), reducing costs through simplified paperwork (insurers' first tactic is to make it almost impossible for a normal person to wade through the application forms) and portability to other jobs.

His plan also aims to tackle the glaring gap of prevention. He makes the economic argument for reducing the number of people with diabetes for example and demonstrates how prevention now will pay off several times over in the future.

I don't see that Clinton can credibly claim to be the experienced candidate. Dodd, Biden and even Richardson have her hands down on that. She's been in the Senate a term longer than Obama. She can't say she's an 'Agent of Change' when her experience claim comes as unelected First Lady. Remember aswell that few people had more experience for the White House than Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.

While one may only need 51% of America to become President - you need far more to govern. I couldn't disagree more that it is acceptable for one half of the electorate to hate the President. I care very much because the more entrenched that half becomes from the other - I shudder to think who or what the Republicans will throw up when it's their side's next turn.
 
It's hard to argue with someone's impression but I have the opposite opinion on their foreign policy positions. Clinton voted with Republicans for a resolution designating Iranian military as terrorists - the price of Oil immediately shot up and the liklihood of a confrontation increased.

She berated Obama for saying that he'd committ to talking to Cuba, Syria and Iran saying she wouldn't want to be used for propaganda. I think that was hawkish and reeked of US pigheadedness when those countries will say black is white anyway for propaganda.

He has pledged no more unilateralism. She hasn't. He has the courage to say that is an unashamed liberal. She hasn't. He came out immediately, openly and frankly about drug taking in his youth. She hasn't been open, courageous or honest about anything. To me - she is the embodiment of a typical, calculating politician in an age when typical, calculating politicians flourish. Although he too is a politician - as a person he is a great deal more.

I don't want to kick her as any Democrat would be far better than any Republican - but she appears to have to de-toxify her brand for Republicans and she seems a pretty wooden fake while she's doing it.

Obama - if you read his book, speeches or track how he legislated in the Illinois and US Senate - you'll see a long-term thinking, massively intelligent, fair dealmaking pragmatist who is above sniping. I think that's what's most needed in their entrenched, guttersnipe system.

I have never been as impressed with someone in politics as him in terms of extolling what leadership and intelligence actually are and I am certain he will make a wonderful President.

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