How foolish; how unbelievably naive.

This simply shows those of us who support Hillary Clinton that the absolute hatred directed toward her is real, simply because she will not drop out of a nose-to-nose race and allow the crowning of a completely unvetted, untested candidate.

Yes, you are calling for war alright: but be very careful what you wish for. In your thoughtless analysis, you fail to realize what will happen: Black against white; young against old; male vs. female; establishment vs. "new". This is the worst possible outcome because it does precisely what Sen. Obama insists he does not want to do: set up polar opposites across the country.

This type of argument simply reinforces these polarities in the worst of ways at a time that we cannot afford to let a Republican take control of this country. We will not only have war within the Democratic Party, we will set the stage for class war, race war, gender war from the East Coast to the West Coast, further cementing Republican arguments for diminishing our civil rights.

Dangerous demogoguery from a disenchanted young person is a lit match looking for a fuse.

You're right about the importance of not letting a Republican continue on in the White House. That's why the United States specifically and the world in general is waiting to hear that Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate for president. Hillary is a remnant of our past, as is McCain. Now for something completely different. Obama, has a much better chance of building consensus and comes with a whole lot less baggage than either of the other candidates. Think about it.

To answer your reply: I have thought about it, seriously. I have reviewed both candidates before making a decision. It isn't something I took lightly.

I don't disagree about Obama's vision. And seriously, if he was about 10 years older and had gubernatorial or U.S. Senate experience to back up the vision I would be in his camp in a hot minute.

Also, I can understand the impatience and anger, but I think it is being directed at the wrong people/person here. And I disagree with you about Obama's ability to build consensus. He has not shown that he is able to do this yet in any meaningful way, blowing an opportunity to do it with John McCain on finance reform, for example, and being nowhere in sight on immigration reform, housing finance reform until after the fact, for which he took credit. These examples don't signify a new kind of leadership. He's too young and too inexperienced at this juncture to be POTUS.

I agree that he will be - in four or eight years, but he is not ready at this moment.

Finally, much has been made of his ability to draw Republicans and Independents to him in primaries/caucuses. However, one of the latest Gallup Polls indicates that these very voters who supported him in primaries/caucuses desert him in favor of McCain in a GE matchup - a very worrisome sign (and not unlike what many on the blogs cite as Republican crossovers for Clinton simply to defeat her in November).

"... [Hillary Clinton] will not drop out of a nose-to-nose race ..."

Sorry, but this race is not nose-to-nose. It's nose-to-tail. Hillary Clinton is exhausted (of money) and Barack Obama has an advantage on the home stretch. After the NC primary on May 6 Obama will have an insurmountable lead in pledged delegates.

Obama 08!

"Dangerous demogoguery from a disenchanted young person is a lit match looking for a fuse."

You might take that advice yourself. I mean, we must not, cannot let the evil Republicans take control of our country and freedoms again. We must prevail, overcome the vile and wicked regime established in the name of Republicanism!

You sound like the very person you chastise Slate for being. And here I thought the presidential election was a vote to see which candidate would be the best for running the country - not some tribal warfare campaign carried out with the planning and strategies of a major offensive.

Ah...Clintonite, your candidate has already made this a polarizing race and you can thank her husband for playing the race card. And I don't entirely disagree with this strategy as many of us Obama supporters have long since decided to cast our vote for McCain should she win as we find her despicable and ugly. She STARTED the negativity as the New York Times has illustrated and you wanna fight with someone, fight with them. Though they just printed what was already obvious. As for Obama not being ready, as a Democratic nominee, he's the ONLY candidate thats ready to MOVE OUR COUNTRY FORWARD. Take the blinders off dear, it's just not that sunny out.