Up front I have to admit I've been working up a fury after the Nevada caucus.  All reports indicate that Clinton and Obama caucus-organizers did a great job intimidating and preventing Edwards supporters from finding each other when they showed up so those campaigns achieved their long-sought after goal of making it appear that Edwards' support had diminished.  Very nice old-school political arm-twisting.  But after tonight's debate I think the whole country knows which candidates are pretty much losing sight of what this election is all about (HINT: NOT THEIR AMBITION).  Let's just review how the cult of personality candidate's did tonight:

Truth in advertising, I'm an Edwards supporter.  That said, deep inside I desperately want to believe Barack Obama's message of hope, faith and change is for real.  But there is no contradicting the fact that his record betrays his message.  And I will not compromise the truth of what challenges face America for the promise of "hope" and a good vibe.

From my perspective, we just lost sight of the forest through the trees and it cost us the Webb Amendment.

It may be a little early but based on the dabates I've seen and the words written by and about our current crop of candidates, none are ready to be President.  I know some would have had my support in a pre-Cheney as Dr. Evil, Bush as mini-Me messed up world, but today nobody inspires confidence that they have what it takes in this very dark hour for humanity.  From Iraq, to the nickel & dimed working class to climate-change and our suicidal energy policy we need and deserve better than what the system is giving us.  Why aren't we demanding it?

Unfortunately, when it comes to ethnic identity and bigotry my observations point to a very detrimental trend that makes improving the situation much more difficult.  Stated plainly, it is the encouragement in each group of a knee-jerk resentment toward and stereotypical profile of another.

With StopIranWar.com Wes Clark did something the political establishment rarely has time to do; namely "do something."  But besides the very public nature of that effort, Clark has for many months increased his networking among influential people in Middle East.

I can't help but wonder if Wes Clark is beginning to make more of an impression on the Democratic base than all the declared candidates combined.  The recent interview with Amy Goodman and his teaming up with John Stolz to launch StopIranWar.com are such unfamiliar examples of a leader that walks the walk that it must be making some waves.

I don't mean this to sound cynical because I realized long ago that you can take Wes Clark at face value when he says he's able to be more effective on the issues he cares about by not declaring an intention to run for President.  BUT, his genuine effort with StopIranWar.com to use grass-roots activism to change US policy is also a test with the large segment of the Democratic base that in theory would not support him.