Retractions
I'm going to retract two statements I've made recently on this blog and another, Media Nation.
First, back on June 16, I stated the following about Katrina Swett and her senate campaign:

... but most of us will remember that she originally supported the Iraq invasion [probably advice from her dad, Rep. Tom Lantos]. As well, Swett was previously a rabid gun control fanatic - in a state where there are liberals who own guns. This position helped contribute to her loss to then-Rep. Charlie Bass in 2002, despite having hundred of thousands of dollars more in funding. She was also the national co-chair of Joe Lieberman's presidential campaign in 2004. All three of these reasons are enough to question her validity to be a Senator representing our state.

Well, while I stand by the tenor of these comments, I'm going to retract two.
First, while she may have supported the invasion of Iraq in the past, she does not now. Her Web site states that she'll "End the war in Iraq by focusing on diplomatic and political solutions." Fair enough. People, especially politicians, should be able to change their minds and reevaluate their positions. Many of us have accepted John Edwards' apology for his vote for the Iraq invasion. In light of how our world is right now, with things ever-changing and evolving, positions will evolve, too. We, as voters and political junkies, need to allow for growth within one's mind about issues. We should allow for some flexibility here.
Second, supporting Lieberman's presidential campaign back in 2004, as reprehensible as that thought is right now, should not be held against her now. We can question her judgment a bit, but it should not disqualify her from being a senator.
The gun control positions, and her understanding of the Bill of Rights, in general, are quite another thing entirely. I really do question this position and her understanding of our rights as Americans. However, if Swett wins the nomination, voters in New Hampshire will have to weigh all of these issues against Sununu's record in the Senate, as well as the record of a potential indie, probably a Libertarian, who will gain ballot access.
Another retraction: In an online debate over Bob Shrum's new book attacking Edwards over at Media Nation, and who would you rather listen to for advice, I defended Edwards. I also challenged some assertions made by some that he was out of touch and aloof, point to time I've spent checking him out on the campaign trail during both 2004 and this time around. I quipped the following statement:

Compare that to Hillary's pseudo "listening" tours - where she doesn't listen at all to any of us. Compare that to Rockstar Obama who may be inspiring but offers little by way of specifics [Frankly, I'm more qualified to be president].

This statement was based on thinking that Sen. Barack Obama had only served two years in the state Senate of Illinois. In fact, he actually served eight years in the state Senate there and has now served three in the U.S. Senate. That is a bit more experience than I previously thought he had. In many ways, I have a lot more diverse life experience and yeah, many of us out here in the real world are more qualified to lead the nation. But, in hindsight, he probably is more qualified to be president than I am and is as qualified as any of them to run.
As writers trying to be pithy and catchy, the smartass in us all sometimes is not on target. I think we have to be both creative and responsible with our comments and that is the purpose of the retractions. While the comments may not be as offensive as recent ones made by Ann Coulter, I would hate it if people reading this blog thought that I was not fair or that I would not give people a fair shot to correct mistakes they may have made - or I may have made.