Edie

Edited for space -- whole article here Let's see how many of these come true.

Fred Thompson should stick to acting

BTW -- still looking for the first non-white face at the RNC. I'll let you know how it goes

This is misguided. I think that the government is the only thing that can bring about wholesale changes at the national, state and local levels. Look at the WWII effort here in the US as just one example. I could go on. Clearly. Willy, you are and have been my posting hero for sometime now, even though we are pretty much on opposite ends of the spectrum.

QFT I look forward to watching the RNC tonight.

I agree, and since I think that the messages will tend to be diluted and overlooked, the behavior is somewhat self-defeating.

Yes but I wonder how much federal money was spent on teaching sex ed and birth control. Less than that, I'll wager.

I watched only a few minutes of the convention today -- a couple of observations: 1. Laura Bush reminds me of a Stepford Wife 2. I looked for a non-white face, but didn't see one. I'll keep looking.

I am not a fan of labels.

Willy as usual you are right -- at least as far as McCain is concerned. However, I don't believe anyone's career should limited by the number of kids she/he has. However, I am disturbed that she could be a heartbeat away -- and I don't think that she is in any way prepared to be president.

What gets me is that typically (and I am being general), conservatives have pushed a no sex ed/no birth control (ie abstinence) agenda -- and this is too often the result. Also, after getting this picture in an email from a friend, my liberal husband is now saying he's voting for McCain/Palin

I voted :x

QFT Ha Tracy -- no I hadn't noticed! I did notice the wedding ring twirling, but not the ass checking. Hi-larious BTW -- 40MM people tuned in to see Obama last night, nearly double the 2004 speech by Kerry.

You know that having a child is a huge life changer, right? It makes the ability to choose whether or not you have one a pretty big deal. Trust me on this.

O fer chrissakes BB -- everything does not mean everything. And I don't even know what her "other things" are, tbh. I think very few people outside her/McCain and the population of Alaska do. I just know that in the AP story I read, it said staunchly pro-choice. I take that to mean no room for argument -- which is diametrically opposed to my views on the subject.

Yep -- I don't know about 60-70% of women, but I do know it's 80-90% of women I know (and me). Um, when it comes to Supreme Court nominations, it sure does become a single issue for me. I am no longer affected directly by choice -- I just don't want to see my kids/nieces/nephews affected by it.

Assuming there isn't something catastophic, if the VP dies/leaves office the president names a new VP. And if the president goes first, then the VP moves to president and names a new VP. VPs do need to be approved by congress though. The idea is generally to make all of this happen fast to assure smooth succession. This is why Gerald Ford was the only president not elected to high office.

They were already going to vote for McCain though. This pick preaches to the right wing base -- not to independents who he desperately needs.

Another thing -- McCain certainly didn't run to the center by picking her -- so I don't see him picking up many former clinton supporters who are largely pro-choice and not conservative (i.e. democrats) in the first place. He may get a few, but certainly not a critical mass.

A 4 month old is not a toddler -- especially one with Down's.

To your first point -- agreed, though I harken back to '84 when Mondale picked Ferraro, trying to galvanize/motivate women voters. It basically backfired since Mondale seemed so inept and she was no better (and had her own family ethics issues as I recall). As to your second -- agreed again, though I am thinking that it more likely will turn out to be the latter. It sure will make the VP debate interesting. I can hear the wheels turning in the Obama campaign -- trying to get G2 on her will not be easy, as there just isn't that much to be had.

I have to say that if the intent of the Palin pick was to get people talking about something other than BO, it's working. However, it really won't matter a week or so after the convention.

Tonight it also felt right (to me) for the first time in a long time to feel patriotic. I think we can now safely return the flag back to all Americans, not just those that believe in the Axis of Evil. And tonight another republican icon returned to its rightful place:

$2,442.73