This is a partial answer to a couple points that GhostWriter brought up in a previous blog.  He asked why the mainstream news seems to have abandoned the story of the remarks of Obama's pastor.  Between the hours of 4 PM & 7 PM today, 03.17.08, it has been maybe not the main story, but has been a sizeable topic of conversation on Fox, CNN & a continuing thread on CNN Headline News.  It seems that they are not ignoring it.  In fact, all three of them ask a very pertinent question.  How, if at all, will the main stream press handle this topic 8 months from now?  Will people remember it?  Will they care?  I think that important.  Obama is supposed to give a press conference tomorrow.  Should be interesting.

I wholeheartedly agree with GW when he says that someone sitting in a pew for 20 years, could not help but hearing & understanding what his pastor, his mentor, was saying.  I haven't had  a chance to do the research on anything that resembles a complete text of what he said, so I will reserve my opinion. 

A number of comments have been in the negative over this situation, mostly centering on the religious views of Obama.  I agree, of course.  But I find it interesting that only now are some of the more main stream comments getting interested in the religious views, current & possibly future, of a political candidate.  Could it be because of the accusations of his being connected to Islam?  Maybe it's something else.  One has to wonder after so many have defended not only main stream religious views, but also, main stream religious actions. If religious viewpoints have such reactions, perhaps the separation principle, for which our the founding fathers provided, is starting to seem like the good idea it is.

Also in the news was the research done by two different authors.  One has to do with the war actually costing @ 3 TRILLION dollars, not the billions told us by the administration, and @ Achmed Chalabi, generally considered to be the main figure, with some reservations, of being behind the scenes, pushing America into war with Iraq.  Hillary & McCain barely made a blip on the radar today.  The financial problems of Bear Stearn/J.P. Morgan, of course was the topic du jour, that might very well hit all of us taxpayers in the wallet, the head & the tush.  But we are all still here, still breathing & enjoying the weather.  Maybe this monday wasn't so bad after all. Time will tell.   JATFUR.

RichK

PS.  As I am finishing this, the tale of Obama, his pastor & his comments are being discussed on NPR.  GW, I don't think this is being ignored by the media.

RK