[Raynor]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

I would also take the statements that The Mouth knew more of the mind of Sauron than anyone else,

Err, the paragraph in The Black Gate Opens says "and knew much of the mind of Sauron".

again the Witch-King may be more powerful but the Mouth of Sauron is higher up in the echelons.

I disagree; in Sauon's hierarchy, I believe that one's power is what defines one's status.

he was second only to Sauron

I don't know of any such evidence; if anything, I am having in mind the passage that he forgot even his own name - now given the importance that names have in these tales (Sauron doesn't allow his right name to be spoken, cf Book III, chapter 1, page416), I believe that the mouthie sort of sank in status. Afaik, this is the only refference in LotR to the mouthie, while there are, altogether, much more numerous refferences in LotR, Silmarillion and UT to the nazgul; the witch-king is reffered to as the most powerful nazgul, and the nazguls altogether are the most powerful, trusted and capable servants. It is also the wikie who leads the main thrusts, he makes Angmar, it is he who reclaims Mordor, he serves Sauron for far longer (from 2251, Secod Age according to the Tale of years) than the mouthie (who rose to Sauron's service at the rebuilding of the Dark Tower, ~2951 Third Age, according to Appendix A).

As I got the impression that the Mouth of Sauron had learned sorcery, it wasn't something that he just had the power to do.

Then again, neither the mouthie (nor Aragorn) are "pure" man, so in his case it is allowed to master magic.

Originally Posted by lmp

My sense is that Bombadil is a creature of a different nature than the Elves. Whereas they held fëar of fire, Bombadil is an entity of Earth.

Hm, I am not aware that there are different types of fea, as you describe; [affinities, maybe, but if anything, Tom is purer than all characters, which would bring him closer to the (purrifying) principle of fire, Imo.]