Submitted by John Spencer Yantiss, Jan 11, 2008 10:13

Once again, Alicia, you cut through all the emotional fog that surrounds virtually every issue of importance in the public domain. Of course, emotional fog or smoke surrounds every issue of importance that involves two or more people, whether private or public, but that is an entirely different issue. I was still a pre-teen youngster when JFK bounded onto the national scene, but I well remember what you are talking about, from the continuation of the "Camelot" story by RFK and his assassination. Yes, it is human nature to become passionate about a charismatic figure, whether or not there is any substance to back up the spell—in fact, even if there is substance, but distinctly counter to that in which the spellbound themselves believe. Indeed, we must be most vigilant and wary when confronted with a charismatic individual, because of that very human propensity. Need I list the myriad catastrophes throughout history, that were a direct result of a given society's love affair with such a person? You are absolutely right in referring to Mr. Obama a "neophyte with poll-driven thought processes." It is apodictic that virtually all politicians have poll-driven thought processes, but when inexperience is added into the mix, it is extremely dangerous. Even JFK was to a certain extent naïve when it came to foreign policy, and things military, as testified to by the Bay of Pigs fiasco. Nonetheless, because of his intense personal military experience, together with his many years as a congressman and senator, he was able to learn extremely quickly. Having said that, if a Bay of Pigs type situation were to obtain in today's world of terrorism and technology, the outcome would be far worse than the still-gruesome consequences of the 60s event. Thank you yet again, Alicia, for daring to speak the truth despite current preoccupation and fascination with the possibility of a woman or an African American becoming president, regardless of who it may be.

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