"I'm also remembering subsequent discussions, including some of the more recent Democratic debates, where I just flat out disagreed with his take/position on a number of issues."

Well, that I can't argue with at all. If you disagree with him on issues and policy then I can 100% understand that. Makes sense to me.

"Obama has already showed his naivete on any number of international relations questions, so I think the Democrats are in fact left with Hillary in the absence of Gore."

Here I am in agreement with you. I don't think Obama is ready for prime time at all. Let's face it, the next president is inheriting a giant mess left to him or her by the Bush Administration. I don't think Obama is going to be capable of dealing with the shit storm and I am aware that Republicans to win back seats and the White House will look for ways to disgrace and hinder a Democrat if elected. I think Hillary is the favorite target because they have a stockpile of WMD to use on the Clintons but I think they would enjoy Obama as a plaything as well. As I understand things right now Bushco would prefer to make things even messier and push it all off on the next administration...I mean that really is their plan. It's ugly and a disgrace and it's costing lives and piles of cash and they are smiling and looking for ways to make it worse. There is a method to their madness though and Klein's book I think (have not read it but based on what I have I think I understand where she's going) is pointing to that method. Bushco was not an administration that cared about popularity, they came into office with a set of goals (combine Friedman & Machiavelli) and as Bush himself has said they hit the lottery. It's not going to be easy to repair such calculated destruction as the booby traps they took so long in planning will be hard to avoid. I think they expect the next president to spend most of his or her time having to react to the mayhem. There would be great joy in sections of the GOP if that president was named Clinton.

"I think you were the one who called her the "Republican" candidate on the basis of how they would be able to control her by ramping up the anti-Clinton machine if she were to win."

It's the trade 4 for 12 theory. They have a huge head start with the Clintons as there are people from coast to coast who already despise them and if she were elected that in itself would kick start a GOP that has been bleeding disgrace and scandal for quite some time now. The GOP seems to be in ICU and an elixir called Clinton would be a big help. Remember after 8 years of the last Clinton there were people with their panties so bunched they voted to elect the village idiot and to name him king! Republicans are contributing to the Clinton and Obama campaigns. That's not because they have had a change of heart it's because they know what is best for their party and Hillary Clinton is a big 'ol Christmas present with a giant bow. The Republicans have been better at election strategy than the Democrats for far too long now.

"I'd like to think that dissatisfaction with the Bush administration would insulate her from those types of attacks. And if she were more like and old school, cautious-on-spending Republican (at least more so than Edwards) than that would be a good thing, in my opinion. You may disagree."

I don't disagree with you but I don't think there is a chance in Hell that if Clinton is elected they won't unleash the hounds. You gotta admit too, that the term "cautious-on-spending Republican" is about as relevant as 8 track tape decks and a suped up Ford Pinto these days. That's the funny reality that if you want more cautious spending voting Democrat is the way to go right now...except for Ron Paul but him and Kucinich should just team up and run as an independent ticket. They obviously are not using the same playbook as everybody else and that is why they have some appeal. Starting with uncle Ronnie the Republicans wrote a new playbook and trashed "cautious-on-spending Republican" and they have proven they can outspend any Democrat even on their best day. The "spending" discussion is foolish anyway, I think, both parties spend it's what they want to spend it on that differs and that's the selling point. I just can't believe at this stage of the game there are that many voters out there that still buy into "Republican tax breaks are a solution" nonsense. These people are decades behind the times and they need to come to terms with the fact that is just an empty slogan.

"I don't see any Republican challenging her with the possible exception of Giuliani. And while I respect his abilities as an executive, I like many others question whether his style is appropriate for the White House as opposed to a mayorship."

Well, Rudy just doesn't fit the new profile for a Republican president for one thing. Uncle Ronnie and Dubya are now the prototypes. Clueless frontman seems to be what they want while they empty the candy store. Holy shit have they become corrupt. Rudy has an ego bigger than Texas and would not sit around with one thumb up his ass and the other in his mouth like Dubya and Ronnie. He'd want his cut to be rather large or he'd handout a public bitchslapping to a fellow Republican just to satisy his ego. I think that's a little too much of a wild card for todays GOP to have to deal with. Rudy also has one other small issue that we need to cope with...he's insane. I do agree though he's the best they have which means the GOP would prefer Hillary.

"Romney has taken too many positions that I flat out disagree with."

Well, he'd be happy to change his position at any given time to suit any given situation and basically there is no position he does not have. Romney is the everything candidate who is for and against everything at all times so no matter what you are for or against so is he.

"McCain has no shot, and Thompson, while seeming to be a decent man, hasn't really shown anything that might make us think he's presidential material."

Actually, I think McCain is a decent man and his own party, which is now so full of creatures we could not call human (Tom Delay? Duke Cunningham? All of the Bushies, really what are these things claiming to be Republicans?), took a major shit on him and you are right he's done. I mean I know the Republicans would like it if Larry Craig killed himself but what the hell did McCain do to them? Thompson is a Ronnie/Dubya type that they threw up there in the event Clinton loses her shit before the election.

"If the election were this Tuesday, I'd suggest about a 90% probability of a Clinton victory."

I would never have believed it if you said it to me last year but at this point I think you are right. My hope is something changes between now and 11/08.