Which is our more timely and needed next president - Obama or Clinton?

As I watch them each cope with the lengthy and grueling process of the primaries, I increasingly wonder about their styles, values and ways of being in the world.

I notice how much Barack seems to listen carefully, pausing to reflect before responding. I admire how he writes his own speeches, and seems to speak from the heart. I feel enthused at how much he points the way toward true innovation, while she seems to focus on returning to the democracy we 'used' to have. Ironically, as a deeply committed feminist, I find myself far more inclined toward his 'feminine' originality, relationalism and thoughtfulness, whereas she seems to come across in a much more traditionally 'masculine' way. Check out Linda Burnham's article on this, noting the challenges each is facing, as the 'firsts' in their perspective ways.

Then I read Alice Walker's great posting, where she speaks of the value of Obama's sense of being a global citizen, reminds us of the recentness of our race history and the inequities that persist, and lauds his lack of privilege as the immense asset it would be in healing our international relations.

Foreign relations experts note that the first thing we'll need to do, to repair our global relations, is admit how wrong our actions have been, these past years. Then, llisten respectfully to others' grievances with the US. I can far more readily imagine Obama doing this effectively than Hillary, given her behavior in recent months.

And then there's the everpresent issues of how our next president may handle the challenge of corporate power. With Obama so much more financially supported by the populace, and Hillary's ties to corporate allies throughout her adult life, I'm more inclined to believe in his capacity to challenge the status quo.

What do you think?