Dear Mr. Next President

Sometimes the comments are more interesting to read than the actual piece. Surprisingly, mostly everyone is on good behavior. 

But folks who comment at the NYT typically are. I like hearing or reading what other people have to say. 

It's just disturbing that on some message boards, people feel free to hate in an open manner without any sign of intelligence.
In response to pro-Obama comments, there were a lot of simple "amens," which received hundreds of recommendations. 

I like the one that starts out: "Dear Mr. Next President."
Here's a sampling:

Clearly a product of honest, informed reflection. How refreshing -- after nearly a decade of stubborn, ideologically-driven, "gut" foreign policy -- to possibly have a president who can and will think broadly, deeply, universally, and specifically, attacking a problem from every angle and willing to respond to objective reality rather than denying politically inconvenient truths.

I think this piece is a clear answer to those critics of Mr. Obama who see him as offering empty, vague rhetoric. Here we have specific proposals laid out with clarity and informed by longstanding principles held by Mr. Obama.

As gifted as Mr. Obama is as a speaker, I think he is an even better listener. That is a quality, one of many, that has been painfully absent from the current regime.
— Nathan Marsh, Sarasota, FL

I always enjoy the flat out supportive comments:

Go Barack Go. The world desperately needs you. With your wisdom and cool head we will end this war. Our country is sinking because of it. the huge dept the housing crisis the oil crisis our ruined planet our bridges falling apart failure to succeed in helping the Katrina victims my god it's endless how this administration has treated us. The world is routing for you go Obama go. President Barack Obama
— carmen, westchester

One of Obama's best qualities is he's a thinker. Now, we're really talking refreshing!

Amazing. A politician who knows how to think. He has my vote.
— gulfcoastwriter, Alabama

A reminder that George Bush had zippo military experience and ran away from the military, went to college and didn't even get educated.

Unfortunately, it appears Senator McCain is still fighting the war in Vietnam.

To those who say that Senator Obama doesn't have the qualifications to fight a war since he has no military experience, what military qualifications does the current group of officials who got us into Iraq have? To wit: President(Texas National Air Guard) Bush, Vice-President (5 deferments because he had "Better things to do.") Cheney, Donald ("In war, things happen") Rumsfeld, and on and on. These guys are so out of touch it's bizarre that the American people have not realized that their agenda is OIL and running the country by fear.

John McCain's presidency, by his own admission, is going to be Bush 43 redux.
— ElliottB, Harvard MA

I would also note, Obama's Iraq plan needs to stay somewhat fluid if he doesn't want to be like Bush-McCain. The overarching strategy is get out. The tactics, or the how and how long, are what will change.