to be truly radical is to make hope possible, not despair convincing.

If my use of the term Idol, especially with a capital "I", has offended some, I regret my in-artful language. The truth is that he has been seen by some more in the terms of a Rock Star Idol than as a religious idol, but I don't place a lot of value on either type of idol. I think the Obamas may have even joked about his "idol" status. That is turning into another of these ugly truths which you would have progressives ignore or refrain from mentioning and from which I would prefer Obama to learn.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."