You know, "caving on the Telecoms" just doesn't bother me that much, if that really means not allowing them to be retroactively sued for something that they thought, at the time, they were legally required to do. In fact, I don't see any of the three issues that Stringsinger mentions to be all that important as far as defining Obama is concerned. I don't see him as especially preoccupied with politico/military issues in the Stans, but I'd be concerned if he wasn't concerned with that problem. And as for "faith-based initiatives"? Guess what - the churches, synagogues, temples, etc. are the ones on the ground helping others, primarily through volunteers. Why should they be excluded?

He is a politician, and that means (by definition) that he has to respond to various constituencies - call it "pander" if you'd like. Not taking positions on issues that are important to many citizens is just stupid, and concedes those to the opposition. As the election approaches, his public pronouncements get closer to the Center, which is just fine with me, especially as Bush McCain moves further to the Right. Personally, my own important issues are more focused on the economy - present and future - and global warming, and I think he has had more reasonable positions on these...and has had them longer...than McCain.