Dear Dr. Democrat:
The Republican Tea Party scares me. I worry that the Democrats won’t be energized enough to re-elect Obama. Could there be a third way? I’ve heard of this group, Americans Elect, that’s trying to nominate a centrist candidate over the Internet. Do you think that’s possible?
— Worried in Weehawken

Dear Worried:
Movements like Americans Elect [...]

Dear Dr. Democrat:
I find that since the election I am just really feeling defeated. Reading the news is so painful right now.
Things in Florida are beyond bad. The legislature has no brakes and is loaded with everyone aboard and steering right over the side of the mountain. They have two priorities right now: overriding all [...]

Should Tea Party patriots boycott the 2010 Census? Their hero Rep. Michele Bachmann has proposed it, saying she is concerned that the Obama White House might misuse the data, which could end up in the hands of ACORN.

Dear Dr. Democrat:
You have been very cautious about Barack Obama’s chances this year. In fact, you predicted that John McCain would win with 51 percent of the vote. With just one day before voting, do you think he will win handily, with, say, over 311 Electoral College votes?
Second question: And if so, will you [...]

Dear Dr. Democrat:
I’m scared. Is John McCain going to win the election?
Worried in Walla-Walla
Dear Worried:

If John McCain loses, in his post-campaign career he could be the next George Burns. Like Burns, he’ll probably live forever and could be wheeled out to do his schtick on important occasions.
What’s going here, of course, is two things and [...]

Dear Dr. Democrat:
I’m confused by this whole economic bail-out deal. How did we get here? What can we do to fix it? Should I be burying my cash in coffee cans in the backyard?
Befuddled in Biloxi
Dear Befuddled:
The coffee can idea is probably not a great long-term solution due to the risk of forgetting where you [...]

Dear Dr. Democrat:
I don’t know how thinking people can go along with the lies McCain is spitting out — Weather Underground, black liberation theology, etc. The extent of the unrecognized racism in this country (all 50 states), and how easy it is to tap, and how easy it is to manipulate people with it, is [...]

Dear Dr. Democrat:
What is your take on Hillary Clinton’s performance at the Democratic Convention last night?
Hoping for Hillary
Dear Hoping:
I think Hillary hit it out of the park last night. She certainly won me over. I’m prouder now of the vote I cast in February than any primary vote since 1976. I can’t resist indulging in [...]

Dear Dr. Democrat:
Is it just me, or is John McCain making mincemeat of Barack Obama? How would you assess the Democrat’s chances in the prez election?
Queasy in Quincy

Dear Queasy:
I share your growing sense of unease.
Obama’s performance at Saddleback is getting a big thumbs down in the media. If you watch it on YouTube, you [...]

Dear Dr. Democrat:
I keep hearing references in the conservative media about Barack Obama’s alleged use of drugs, but I read his book, “Dreams of My Father,” and though it seemed his friends were getting caught up in drugs, he went another way, though he did admit to drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. What’s the truth? [...]