"The normally nonchalant Barack Obama looked nonplussed, as Nancy Pelosi glowered behind. Surrounded by middle-aged white guys — a sepia snapshot of the days when such pols ran Washington like their own men’s club — Joe Wilson yelled “You lie!” at a president who didn’t. But, fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: You lie, boy! The outburst was unexpected from a milquetoast Republican backbencher from South Carolina who had attracted little media attention. Now it has made him an overnight right-wing hero, inspiring “You lie!” bumper stickers and T-shirts. The congressman, we learned, belonged to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, led a 2000 campaign to keep the Confederate flag waving above South Carolina’s state Capitol" - Myrna from Bookmarklet

Myrna, Thanks for posting. I cannot tell you how incensed I am at Wilson's behavior and what it represents. There is no respect for the office or the context anymore. It's like all old rules of respect and propriety do not apply since we now have a non-white leader. I am wondering if the same would have happened if we elected a woman? There was little respect for Bush in a lot of quarters, but no dem would have shouted " You lie! " to Bush in the middle of an address to congress and the nation -- even though they had plenty cause. They still had respect for the position. - Karma Martell

Good for Dowd. - John (bird whisperer)

I saw this on twitter and am still wondering why person who tweeted would say Dowd sunk to her lowest. I think it was nicely written. - Myrna

Karma, at least he didn't throw a shoe. LOL! It's individual people who don't know how to restrict their nervousness/fear. And some do hate that this smart, intellectual, cool, black person is in charge of 'them' and especially since he's not in 'their camp'. And he accepts apologies from them..that kills them inside. Not very many human beings are as non reactive as Obama. He's a real prince in this respect(in comparison to the rest of us.) Oh, there are a few others like Doris Kearns Goodwin, Gandhi, Moses, etc. - Myrna

Oh CNN is talking about this now. :) - Myrna

Myrna, agreed on your assessment and remarks on Obama - Karma Martell

"For two centuries, the South has feared a takeover by blacks or the feds. In Obama, they have both." An astute summation, but a fear not entirely limited to the South. - Marvin Smith

It's an exciting time if you want to choose to think positively. - Myrna

There seems to be a higher concentration of racist politicians in the South, but the fears of blacks and the federal government are definitely not limited to that region. I've heard stuff like that from people in New Jersey. - John (bird whisperer)

Why do I find a commonality in Obama's ability to not over react to the uglies across the aisle or across the ocean. It's his talent. - Myrna

Agreed, Myrna - it is a very exciting time in our history in many ways. It's also frightening on many different levels (particularly depending on where one lives). - Prosey BUTTONS!

Obama knows the difference between reacting and responding. - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

Perfectly said Mahendra! - Myrna

True, Mahendra. Do you know what that is called. It is called being an ADULT, something that is rarely seen in or out of politics. It is indeed a very exciting time to have enlightened, level-headed non-reactional leadership. - Karma Martell

Karma, agreed! Exciting probably for Americans. It might be useful to see how the rest of the world sees his enlightened, level-headed, non-reactional leadership. For starters, how about US aid to Pakistan meant for anti-terrorist activities that is being diverted to anti-India preparations? I better not start off in that direction... - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

Mahendra, do you think Obama knows where money goes? - Myrna

Nope, he doesn't. And that's part of the problem with the rest of the world with the US. - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

On the other hand, I have seen reports on Indian television of how Obama has opposed the bill in Congress for conditional aid to Pakistan. No one in India knows why Obama opposed that. Everyone in India wants to see aid to Pakistan being conditional - either for humanitarian purposes or for fighting inborn terrorism. Musharraf just admitted publicly that he was perfectly willing and had diverted US aid for other purposes like fighting India. - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

Myrna: And as the US President, if he doesn't know where his country's aid money goes, it's a BIG problem. - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

How horrible. Wish we could be flies on the wall at the white house. We'll just have to wait for 'leaks' to tell the truth. - Myrna

Horrible indeed. - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

I think there is behind the scenes stuff that we don't know - and I think Pres O is very much aware of the powderkeg that is Pakistan and what it means to India, I think they have a lot of intelligence on Musharraf. - Karma Martell

BTW, many US intelligence and "think-tank" reports have already established that US aid to Pakistan doesn't go towards the "war on terror", and is instead diverted. But the US dare not stop the aid. Why? - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

Karma: you're absolutely right, again. The behind the scenes "stuff" is China. - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

Economics rules everything on planet Earth. Terrorism, diplomacy, democracy, human rights, etc. are all secondary. - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

An Indian like me gets involved in the topic of Obama's speech to school children and discusses the reactions in the US with my family in India during dinner time. That's the power Obama has in the world. Sadly, does he or other Americans know it? - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

Hey, I didn't mean to turn you off...sorry if I did. Peace. - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)

Who do you think you turned off? - Myrna

Myrna, thanks. I usually don't get into commenting about other nations' politics as it can easily be misunderstood and distance people. Don't know why I went off here! :) - Mahendra (SkepticGeek)