Huh. Generals opposing torture, and three Repubs opposing Gitmo. Bravo!

A step in the right direction?? maybe, but i cannot help wondering, was the plight of these victims the whole driving force behind the change , or was it also a golden opportunity to change your tune to suit the electorate without seeming to loose too much credibility

Yet Huckabee supports the death penalty and claims Jesus Christ supports it also.

Huckabee would be a difficult person to beat in the general election. Only Edwards can.

The Rolling Stone Magazine had a revealing article on Huckabee and his unethical tenure in Arkansas. Once people know more about him I am not sure he would win in a general election outside his party.

Four years ago I really liked Edwards but now he seems almost as driven as Hillary to acquiring the White House. Even though he came out and admitted his error he showed lack of judgment in voting for the Iraq War Resolution. I have a hard time figuring out how anyone could have voted for that resolution. That's a big minus to me.

Why would Obama be unelectable?

Why would Obama be unelectable?

Many reasons but basically I don't think the nation is ready to elect a person of color to the presidency. (not me, the nation). If he is chosen for the Democratic ticket you will see a horse race in the media until about a week or two before the election. Then you'll start to hear the comments. "Not sure if he is experienced enough", "uncomfortable with his background". He'd get trounced in the general election. My guess in the 40% range (+-5%). As for Clinton, if there is one lesson from the last two general elections it is this, Republicans win close races.

Here is to a Giuliani v. Edwards general election.

Watching Edwards and Obama from my Iowa perspective, I like Edwards' positions just a tad more, but I think Obama brings an rare ability to communicate respect to people and nations. His support is more broad-based than Edwards, his finances are much stronger, having not taken gov't funds. I was for Edwards, but I think Obama is more electable and much more likely to craft win-win solutions to American problems at home and abroad. Beating back the bad guys - Edwards' approach - feels good but doesn't result in sustainable direction changes.

If my dreams could be reality... But alas, I am trained to look at facts, be they ugly or otherwise.

I do believe Edwards would handily beat Giulani. As to the race question, it just beats me. I don't sense any anti-black sentiment toward Obama, but that's not too surprising, prior to the run-up to the general election. My hunch is that a win by a person of color is do-able, that Obama has a cross-cultural knack for developing credibility broadly, and that the time will never be better in terms of the Republicans' lack of winsome candidates. Huckabee looks like a nice guy now, but he's got his own rack of weaknesses.

All very good comments. However, I fail to see how Edwards rates as more experienced than Obama.

Which rates lower with voters, a candidate of mixed ethnicity or a former trial lawyer. Each and every candidate has weaknesses that can and will be exposed.

I forget the poll, but Obama faired better than Edwards as less polarizing (I don't think there was a very large difference however). Obama was also the least polarizing of all the candidates, Republican and Democratic.

Right on Obama as less polarizing - here in Iowa, early-on, Obama was attracting 7% of Republicans, more than most of the Repub candidates. He has run an effective TV spot featuring a Republican legislator from the Illinois statehouse, commending him for his ability to work with people of both parties.

...and so the Democrats tried their best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I certainly hope that what you feel works out. I think otherwise. I'll be very happily wrong and very unhappily correct.

I don't trust polls to capture the hesitation that some will have when they "reach for the lever" in the polling booth come next November.

You're right, of course, about the polls inability in that regard. Here's hoping enough enthusiasm can be generated to overcome it.