sweetheart-mine

some states have little money to accomplish much of anything on several important fronts without matching federal dollars for certain programs or without possible specified federal grants. maine middle-class families have been left out of the bush administration's budget "ideas" ever since he got there. this means that cities, towns, and the people that live in them go without and have seen their services wilt. sometimes state and local governments show better financial judgment than the federal government ever could by itself, but i would never make the blanket statement you make ab

oh sure! if i had kids, as a red sox fan that's surely what i'd have hoped for them.

yes, but federal Waste of billions (and soon possibly trillions) of taxpayer dollars leads to less funding for states and districts, and thus taxpayers and their basic services. "Bye bye post office, library, school and hospital" is not as far-fetched as you so glibly make it sound.

as highlighted in this piece, and in some posts here today, mccain's downfall is that he sees most everything through a militaristic vision, a path of destruction and forceful control. even just as an end unto itself, where does this lead? mccain's view makes him a real throwback in my eyes, and devoid of possibilities for a future world powered mainly by diplomacy and devoid of possibilities for long-lasting communications (even though they might never be complete agreements). no matter what the fallback means are (and they are usually militaristic), if continual, focused, all-out-effor

the snl "debate" was very, very funny -- i lol'd. i thought they caught the politician-essence quirks of them both, in the end demonstrating mccain tailing off into the spin of the other planet he nowadays seems to choose to be on. very well done, and it almost makes me wish the pre-election phase could go on for a bit longer than it will . . . but not quite.

i gave him credit: for being successfully disdainful and for being much more focused than he has seemed of late.

you remind me of one of the best statements i ever heard newman make in an interview (long time ago). although known for refusing to discuss his personal life, newman did finally respond when this interviewer asked why he thought his marriage was so long-lasting. he sighed, paused, and said: "you know, it's such a throwaway society. in our house, when the toaster breaks, we fix it."

it seemed pretty much a wash, except that most of the time mccain was more focused than he has been for some time. he did come across as not civil, which i'd think would not be a plus, but i'm afraid it might have been. that condescension has played well for republicans in national debates as far back as i can remember. on the other hand, obama did much better in his grasp of foreign policy than i think many expected him to. that may have been the main surprise, to some, which of course will work in obama's favor. one thing i look forward to in the v.p. debate is that biden, despite

it had to be some kind of power non-move. not acknowledging obama by looking at him was one of the 7 or 8 repetitive types of disdain mccain showed tonight. i didn't know which mccain would show up, but somehow didn't expect that one. i should have, though -- it was the same tone he and his running mate and guiliani used at their convention. it was ugly, but i'm a bit dispirited by it because i think it will appeal to a lot of people. it could come across as strength, misguided though that is. all this time many of obama's detractors have been calling him arrogant and aloof, and ye

oh, how awful. may the lovable-looking and beloved lilly be home very very soon.

http://www.city-journal.org/2008/18_3_obama.html

yes. (yes, that's why it's a refreshing change of topic.)

lou dobbs just told wolf blitzer he is 100% against the bailout. what a refreshing change of topic.

parasite.

ok, let me rephrase. some people don't like being around people who analyze.

some you listed were personal observations. some were even facts (one dude is in fact blackish). but whatever. i don't think anyone said "all" people not voting for obama are racist or scared of intellect. that would be foolish. if someone did, you'll need to point that out.

a lot of people don't like being around people who think. you'd think that would be less the case when selecting leaders.

maverickosity: stephen colbert is going to be very jealous.

i bet so too. it's on a roll; it won't want to stop now.

right, i think. that may be why he seems numb and a bit robotic, whereas he didn't when he was first running. come to think of it, rove hasn't been himself either lately, has he? what's happening, body snatchers and pod people?

oh yeah. i almost forgot. (i'm so glad you turned maverickness into a better and catchier noun. it needs it.)

it can't happen, i agree -- he's already been so erratic, especially recently. a bit concerning that he seems not "right" and we actually would end up with a president palin if he can't carry on. that reality is seeming way too real right now. p.s. he should pick the "law & order" guy. fred has such broad horizons and the needed sparkling personality.

is mccain really making the decisions and running his own campaign, or is he just following his handlers' orders? either way, it's not good.

maybe. probably. but you know, when he picked palin, which was a pretty crazy move given what we've seen (and not) of her, weren't he and obama basically tied in the polls? i don't understand the desperate moves, when it seemed obama would have a double-digit lead starting a long time ago but has never had it. and during the past two weeks you'd think obama's lead would have jumped more than it did; i don't think mccain is losing supporters, despite some odd and sometimes disturbing behavior.