More Midday listener comments, delivered by e-mail during today's show. More comments welcome.

Chip:
I was a little surprised at your caller comment that she had not been proud to be an American for some time. Just 'cause we've had a stubborn, narrow thinking leader for some time now wouldn't make me lose faith in the country-only him. But regarding our "knee jerk" reaction to the slaughter of innocents on 9/11, I can only say: "Spoken by a true non-participant."

Brian:
I listen to your station for a lot of its insight. I consider myself a fierce independent. The issue and question I have is why was there not more coverage on the suspicious associations Barack Obama had with various figures in his far and most recent past? I feel that, generally speaking, the media has done a disservice to the public during this campaign, painting Obama as the great white hope (well at least a 40-50-some percent great white hope) and not digging deeper as journalists should. Comparatively, The McCain/Palin ticket have been skewered along the trail on seemingly trivial items. And, unfortunately the public buys into this gross rag journalism. May we see, in the future, a truly more unbiased approach to news coverage and a truly equal approach to the races that inhabit this great country. Why do we pander to people that continue to destroy our cities and the general quality of life?
Sincerely,
Deeply frustrated

Marc:
The problems with Palin were indicative of the Republican view of youth/pop-culture.  They believed, wrongly, that support for Obama was based on some kind of pop celebrity model.  They ignored the fact that Obama's message was content-driven.  Palin was chosen and put forward as a celebrity, but there was no content to drive her message.  The Republicans bought into their own misconceptions about Obama.

Klaus:
In my 58 years of life (maybe 43 of which was as a political animal) I can recall only one event with similar weight as Obama's victory last night (aside from the death of JF and Robert Kennedy, events in the "negative column"). It was back in Germany when Willy Brandt (later Peace Nobel Price winner) was elected as chancellor and ended 18 years of conservative power.
I feel outright exuberant today and felt through the reaction at the MD Democratic Party last night the weight that this event lifted from the minds of so many of us, especially in the African American community.
It is a new day and we need to get to work on the "steep climb" towards recovery.

Tristin:
I am a 25 year old Black male.
There are two ideas that people I have looked up to for guidance have
instilled in me over my lifetime:
1. Education is the only way to get ahead in life
2. There have been sacrifices made by people of all backgrounds who have
come before me that ensured the opportunities I have available to me
today. I should do the same for those who come after me.
Over the past 8 years, I've seen politicians show utter disdain for both
of these premises, whether it's dismissing those with an "ivory" tower
background, identifying people who attempt to compromise with the world
"weak", or rewarding multi-millionaires at the expense of future
generations who will have to service a 50 billion dollar Medicare debt.
The reasons I supported, and continue to support Barack Obama, is
because his campaign platforms do more than endorse the above two
premises; they offer ways to put them into practice.
The fact that he is Black is noteworthy to me on a personal level, but
Alan Keys is Black...and I would have never voted for him.

Howard, in Phoenix:
I'm a registered Republican and have been so since 1988. All Americans are justifiably proud of President-elect Obama's accomplishment, and what it says about how far we've come as a nation. Nevertheless, I think the pundits are missing half the story. Republicans came into this election highly demoralized, with declining registrations, an unpopular President, an equally unpopular war, and an economy in severe recession, and flat-out broke. Democrats had every advantage, and every major story through the election broke their way. Nevertheless, we managed to salvage 44 Senate seats, and may ultimately hold 46 seats when Alaska and Minnesota are settled (a net loss of only 3). We garnered 46% of the popular vote, which is far better than projected. The Republican brand, though tarnished, remains popular with many, and the party retains a sizeable base. This is not the "major national realignment" promised by the media. Democrats will have to lead, and if they fail to govern from the center this will break to the benefit of the GOP. Moreover, I suspect Republicans have learned a thing or two from the spectacular fundraising success of the Obama machine, and that Democrats won't enjoy the same cash advantage next time around. Finally, the Democrats in Congress are an unruly bunch, and President Obama will have difficulty managing Pelosi and Reed.  Democrat Congressmen received most of their late cash support from Pelosi and the DNC, not Obama, and will owe their allegiance to her, not the next President.  Democrats have good reason to enjoy their victory, but so do Republicans, who have survived the high water mark of the Democratic Party with very good prospects for a Republican renewal.

Alyson in Towson
I am elated that Obama won the election.
One theme that recurs in media discussions of his win is as a victory for "them," meaning African-Americans.  It certainly is a monumental accomplishment, given how deeply embedded racism has been in American society.  However, that an African American will be president is a victory for all of us of all colors.  Many of us, black and white, wondered if this country were ready for an African American president.  We are, unequivocally!!!  His supporters are all colors and ethnicities.  His presidency presents an opportunity for our country to move beyond the "us and them" framework that divides us.  I hope public conversations will help us get there.

Walter:
I'm a native Washingtonian who grew up on Capitol Hill and worked on the a Subcommittee for a few years. Growing up in a predominantly black neighborhood with family members who were remnants of racial discrimination and the surge of the "Black Power Movement" we would dream of and toy with the idea of a Black President. However we never believed it could happen, because our heads and hearts were filled with images of white supremacy and Kennedy assassination footage. Never the less we still flipped a coin and played the game of "If you had the power what would you do?" Most of us said, put a black president in the White house and create a world of peace. Today the kids from 15th Street N.E. touched a dream, the hope of world peace feels much closer.

Thomas:
We have had a leadership in Washington for the past 8 years that has come into power using fear and maintained power through fear, HOPE has won out this time but if you believe fear has left the nation tune into Fox news and Rush Limbaugh or attend a gun show or an evangelical service over the weekend. There will be a backlash, the old divide and conquer tactics did not work this time, if you really believe the conservative movement is dead or dying, look at the percentage of people who voted FOR McCain and PALIN maybe more for Palin than McCain. Enjoy the moment. Fear has not left the American way of doing politics. Thank the Republican ouster of Tom Daichle for without the demise of Dachle  Barack Obama's star would never have risen. Thank you George W. Bush , thank you Newt Gingrich,and a special thanks to KARL ROVE AND DICK CHENEY for without your fear dominating tactics Hope would not had opportunity to rise.

Chris:
Over the past eight years the destructiveness of an imperial presidency. I voted for Barack Obama and support much of his agenda; however, if he abuses the his presidential power and violates the constitution in order to pass get his through, I hope Congress, Democrats and Republicans, have 
the impeachment. I came to this conclusion after reading John Nichols book, The Genius of
Impeachment.

Susan, a "boomer" who remembers the desegregation of schools and all that happened -- and did not happen -- since:
As we watched last night and my friends became increasingly confident, I still would not believe what was happening.  The reports of the "projected winner" of 2000 was still fresh in my mind (and my gut) and then there was all the potential voting legality challenges.  But when McCain said, "We have come to the end . . .,"  I lost it.  At that moment, I knew what we had accomplished, how people of all colors and ethnicities, age groups, religions, genders, political affiliations, income and education levels, and geographic areas had come together to make history in our resolve to right a nation that had lost its moral, economic, military, diplomatic and political bearings. . . . It's going to be a difficult road, but we have taken the first step by electing intelligent, compassionate leadership.  And we have hope.

Cait at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore:
I am glad that one of your commentators brought up Roosevelt's fireside chats, because I'll admit that I was reminder of that myself. I think that it is imperative for a president to be not oly a familiar figure, but a familial one in whom the ordinary American can trust. Barack Obama's email that was sent out last night to supporters is sort of a 21st century version of the personalized communication that Roosevelt had with the American public. I hope that he continues to use this electronic infrastructure in order to get people involved in the changes that will transform our communities.

Don in Bel Air:
Gee, do you think that Barack Obama's experience as a "Community Organizer" had anything to do with how incredibly well his campaign was run?  You bet your sweet patoot!  So much for sneering derision!  This was the ultimate community organizing effort, done masterfully on a national scale.

Lorene in Towson
After all of the calling, emailing, walking, talking and driving for Obama.
This feels so good. I can say that I've never felt this good after an
election. The only thing that I can say is, "Maybe, THIS is what hope feels
like!" I'm so proud of our new President-Elect.
Peace.