The intolerance grows. In recent weeks I've been threatened with violence (an Irish cudgel), told to f??k off several times, and even more recently been told that, as a British citizen, I have no place here. These things I expect from Republican sites. But from MYDD where I have been a member for four years?

I'm not even going to bother with the ad hominems and explain my deep American roots. But I will say this. I'm worried and depressed. Having exhausted racism and religion, this last moment, exploiting class envy among DEMOCRATS, seems to be the end game. And when I mean end game, I'm not talking about the primary chances for Obama to win: but for the US to get itself back where it belongs - as a world leader. As a beacon of hope. Unless something happens soon

This will be the death of hope

You guys know better than I what a parlous position the US is in, economically and strategically. I'll just say Credit Crunch and Iraq. Throughout my lifetime, for good and ill, the US has been the source of a lot of my best friends, ideas, inspiration, even a wife. But it's getting dark now.

Back to the Elitist Liberal accusation. My suspicion is this is the endgame. There are very few strategies left to knock Obama off his pedestal. The cult thing was big when the first Hope speeches kicked in. Then Wright worked for a while, and that was essentially the 'scary black guy' worry.

Of course, Hillary is only using this line of attack because Obama offered an opening. But it is a bit bizarre (Obama is less privileged than HRC or McCain) and it is essentially a modern version of the Checkers speech - Democrats are elitist, wealthy and privileged. Having seen some Hillary supporters trying to mend fences, it's very hard for Obama supporters not to feel that the joint Hillary/McCain attack just feeds a form of republican intolerance, of wedge issues and the politics of personal destruction. I can see why some Obama supporters are very angry just now (just as Hillary supporters have been) - and it really makes me think that Democrats are close to losing the GE. The divisiveness is now really damaging. But for a Brit, this has many repercussions.

By force or imitation, US politics tends to get exported throughout the world. And certainly we've emulated you in the UK: this desire to have someone different, and yet to also knock and denigrate their difference. It's a bit like celebrities. Build them up and then knock them down. Hillary is a victim of this in some way, but she's so experienced she's used to it. But to my mind, the idea that every candidate has to shoot a gun and clutch the bible is deeply depressing.

This Atlantic depression tends to spread across the world because it is precisely this aspect of the US, it's potential insularity and self obsession, which scares us.

Bush is a prime example of what happens when xenophobia, and celebration of ignorance and good ol' boy politics takes hold. Reverend Wright says 'Goddam America' and I feel sometimes that the kind of voter who would be offended by bittergate is exactly the voter who says 'Goddam the World!'

So what am I left with? Democrats saying Obama is unelectable. So called Democrats who say F**k you. And then a republican party ten times worse. And this from the world's sole remaining superpower.