Blayney Colmore, Jacksonville, Vermont:
I would liken the fever burning in our body politic at the moment to the fever that often spikes in a bout of flu, or malaria; it is the body's natural defense against a malicious organism that can to do grievous harm. The fever is frightening, and in extreme cases can even kill the body before it kills the virus. But if the body has sufficient staying power, it will burn out the virus and the temperature will return to normal. Although I find President Obama a cautious moderate -- sometimes annoyingly so -- it seems his identity has aroused latent infections that have lingered in our nation since her beginnings. Until and unless those infections finally surface, no longer latent, the uneasiness that has always sullied our national public persona, will be a vexing reminder that we are not yet the nation we like to portray to the world. I am not clever enough to know whether this fever raging at the moment is decisive enough to burn out the disease (or, alas, to bring us to our demise), or, as with malaria, another episode in the illness on the way to the final climax. I feel pretty certain the process is beyond rational explanation or management, and must be borne.
Jim Gualdoni, Commerce Twp., Michigan:
That's a lot of Latin for an Anglican. But fun and enjoyable. You are a treasure: noble, humane, sensitive, smart. How refreshing and uplifting you are.
Robert Halsey, Bibra Lake, Western Australia:
Here in Australia we love to follow your domestic and foreign policies and how they are being carried out. What has Obama done so badly that the country is aching to hang, dry and quarter him. What a shame. It seems as if personal issues have been involved and Americans are prepared to overlook the great needs of the poor and disadvantaged. This can't be true surely. Must be something else. Where are those who supported him? He looks like a man who has become sadly disillusioned. A sorry sight.
Warren Webster, Urbana, Illinois:
I fear, dear sir, that you were a little over the top with your new mass. It's one thing to be upbeat and quite another to see flowers where there is only underbrush. I devoutly hope your surmise is correct, but I wouldn't put a dime in your collection plate. I think we are done for as a democracy.
Nan Barbour, Helena, Montana:
Out here where the wind blows and the snow falls and the Republicans run the show, I can tell you that your optimism, while refreshing and hopeful, is unrealistic. My eyes sometimes look northward to the Canadian border, but I am too lazy to move -- again. I am a recent refugee here from California. What was I thinking?
Brian McHugh, Silver City, New Mexico:
I shall watch from my South American barrio. I do not expect to see much but will remain open to surprise!
Tracey Martin, Southfield, Michigan:
"Requiem for a Presidency"? Then last night Barack played the part of Lazarus. Momentarily, surely. But he has as well important court nominations the current Democratic majority should also have the courage to approve. Hopefully, he and Elizabeth Warren are not the only ones yet willing to defy Republican cant anent bipartisanship. The next two years must, unfortunately but hardly unrealistically, be devoted to finding some way for Vox Populi to be made aware of the actual responsibility for D.C. deadlock -- beyond the smooth but malifluent stated intent of the GOP leadership to work with a president who is willing to work with them. They already have one of those that they won't acknowledge. We can as a result only define/clarify the issues that matter for the future of our republic and force the
August Koehler, Cincinnati, Ohio:
Remember that radio voice: "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. The Shadow knows." When I watch the Republicans whetting their appetites for the political flesh of Barack Obama, I realize clearly what Lamont Cranston meant.
Richard Schrader, Jacksonville, Florida:
Presently, this country, a democratic republic, is going through a social, ethical and political catharsis. We, living in the United States, are just now becoming aware that the events of 50 years ago can no longer be treated as current events. The scientific and technological changes that have taken place, from the birth control pill to governments' electronic snooping, have changed our society, our ethics, and our outlook. Human decency will prevail. Remember Lincoln's prophetic closing of this Gettysburg Address: "That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth."
Robert Causley, Roseville, Michigan:
I truly believe your essay should have been entitled "Requiem for Our Country." Those of us who have been fighting, yourself included, are truly getting more and more pushed into a box. I was, as I have stated many times forced to leave my government position, as I could no longer work in the corrupt system. My six-figure income was not enough compensation to relieve me of my conscience. I attempted a Snowden to stop what I saw as improper actions within our government. I was voting in my capacity to stop activities and in-house retirements that cost both monetary and human injury to our country. I am in agreement with you about our need to help those that for many reasons cannot help themselves. I feel we need to stop the profiteers that make a living on fanning flames of hatred and get people together.
Gloria Holzman, Southfield, Michigan:
We need voices of encouragement as we watch our country under siege by a group unparalleled in their vitriol and hate for anything but their self-interest. They are trying to dismantle all the good that has been achieved in the past and any that might be achieved by this President. I am personally ashamed at the way my country has handled the past many years. But now that we have a man with black skin in the White House, it seems aptly named. Was it only built to house white people? Weren't we the country that welcomed the tired, the poor, the helpless, yearning to be free? We have forgotten our roots. You and others who work so hard to shine a light on the truth are our only hope. Thanks for what you do. 
