Crossposted at DailyKOS and MyBO

With no power beyond his use of words, the person who will next month become the Democratic nominee for the office of President has caused more action at home and abroad than those who hold the reigns of power in their hands.

Frank Rich makes this point in his article "How Obama Became Acting President":

IT almost seems like a gag worthy of "Borat": A smooth-talking rookie senator with an exotic name passes himself off as the incumbent American president to credulous foreigners. But to dismiss Barack Obama's magical mystery tour through old Europe and two war zones as a media-made fairy tale would be to underestimate the ingenious politics of the moment. History was on the march well before Mr. Obama boarded his plane, and his trip was perfectly timed to reap the whirlwind.

He never would have been treated as a president-in-waiting by heads of state or network talking heads if all he offered were charisma, slick rhetoric and stunning visuals. What drew them instead was the raw power Mr. Obama has amassed: the power to start shaping events and the power to move markets, including TV ratings. (Even "Access Hollywood" mustered a 20 percent audience jump by hosting the Obama family.) Power begets more power, absolutely.

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This is a pretty lame diary, but the latest xkcd seemed apropos.  Is it an evolutionary bug in our brains that we're inclined to be dicks to people we can't see?  Or is it a feature of the internet that we let loose the flames we have to repress in real life?

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What with all the discussion of the word "nigger" surrounding the latest mindless distraction known as Howard-Wolfson-What-Did-He-Say-Gate I was reminded of one of the tiny moments of great courage that happened upon me as I have clung to this big blue orb.

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A mystery has happened. A lot of words, like by a great number of people, have disappeared. Detectives are on the the case.

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It seems that the words of Rev Wright are stirring up a lot of action in the press and on the net.
Just like the words of Barack Obama will stir the action  of the people to take back their government.
We build relationships w/people and accept their views as just that their views, not ours.
If we had to take responsibility for the words of all those we loved, despite their contrary views, we would be all carrying a heavy load.

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