There was a time when I really admired John McCain. I distinctly remember him standing up to the “swiftboaters,” telling President Bush that they were way out of line, and that Bush should direct his supporters to stop these attacks. Of course Mr. Bush did not do so, in my opinion, to his undying shame.

During the early months of the campaign, I continued to think that McCain was basically an honorable guy. So when did things change for me? It was when Senator Obama made his tour of the Middle-East and Europe.

You will recall that Obama considered making a visit to a military hospital in Germany, but canceled his visit when then the military brass voiced their concern that the visit could wind up being perceived as political, which was against policy. Nobody wants injured veterans to be “used” for political purposes. The McCain camp criticized him roundly for canceling the visit, calling Obama unpatriotic and stating that McCain would never miss an opportunity to visit the troops. And there was a very powerful commercial put out almost immediately that really tore into Obama.

Then came the leak…to me the first and most devastating insight into the Republican strategy for the campaign. It turned out that there were actually two commercials written and produced. One was critical of Obama for NOT visiting the troops. There was a second one however, which had been intended to be critical of Obama if he had actually visited the troops, accusing him of using them for political purposes.

So here’s the point. the Republicans were going to criticize Obama no matter what he did. I realized that they were not just critical of specific positions; they were happy to criticize him for anything! The point was to destroy Obama’s reputation, his character. The plan was simply to criticize and create anger and outrage. It seems to be a failed strategy.

May it rest in peace.

I watched Colin Powell endorse Barak Obama Sunday morning, and I actually cried. After so many weeks of listening to the same old vile attacks by the Republican outrage machine, I had actually given up completely on the idea that a Republican could show even the slightest signs of decency, much less demonstrate any understanding of how this country is SUPPOSED to work.

I was pleased that he came out for Obama, his reasons well considered and compelling. Most of all, I was proud when he pointed out so poignantly that it is wrong to label Obama as a Muslim, inferring that being a Muslim is evil. It is not enough to merely refute such allegations by saying that he is really a good Christian. In our country, it is WRONG to demonize any American simply because of his religious beliefs.

We are ALL Americans. We are ALL equal, when we disagree, we should be considered and treated as a loyal opposition, not as enemies of the state.

So when Republicans fret and wring their hands, wondering what has gone wrong, perhaps they should consider that a majority of the American people, particularly young people,think that the thinly veiled religious and racial attacks devised by the Republican outrage mongers is not merely wrong. Most Americans find these practices and beliefs repulsive, hateful and obscene.

A new generation of Americans will hopefully take the reins in November. Hopefully, they will abandon the politics of ignorance, hate and division. Like children acting badly, it is time to give the Republicans a “time out.” As they build for the future, perhaps they can leave the old Nixonian model behind and find a message to once again make us proud.

I listened to the talking heads after last night’s final presidential debate. I was stunned by their comments. Many of them indicated that Obama seemed off, disengaged. They also uniformly felt that McCain seemed to be the aggressor, and gushed that it was his best performance and finest moment. What were they watching?

I saw a nervous, fidgety old guy who seemed incredibly uncomfortable in the auditorium, in his seat and in his own skin. He appeared angry…constantly searching for opportunities to insert his dozen or so prefabricated talking points and zingers, most of which were awkwardly placed into the conversation.

His comments were largely empty. He said he could balance the budget in his first term, but had no specifics on how he arrived at that conclusion except for, “I know how to do it.” His remarks on health care were off the mark, as were most of his tax ideas and his remarks about the preparedness of Sarah Palin to assume the presidency.

He made it seem that Obama had all the negative campaigning coming to him, because he declined McCain’s invitation to a series of town hall meetings. He vented his hurt about the remarks of Rep. Lewis’ accusing him of “sowing seeds of hatred” and blamed Obama for not rebuking Rep. Lewis (but Obama had distanced himself from certain aspects of those remarks, saying they were not correct). McCain dwelled on the William Ayers connection as Obama effortlessly turned the issue aside…you could just feel McCain’s support fading.

I hope it’s over soon. Perhaps McCain will grasp the inevitable and go out with grace. I doubt Sarah Palin EVER will. We need to end the politics of feigned outrage. We need to resurrect the idea of the loyal opposition. We can all be Americans, even if we have differernt ideas and different politcal persuasions.

Just when you think it cannot get any worse, the McCain campaign comes through and leads the way to new lows.

One thing is sure. Sarah Palin, who should not be too cocky about her role in national politics, based on her recent performances in giving interviews and in the debate. None the less, she seems to have NO RESERVATIONS about going on the attack and spewing vile and even incendiary comments about Barak Obama. But, in a way, I expected it. What else can she offer but shamelessness. If she had any real integrity, she’d would have declined the nomination or already stepped down. She is empty, and everyone knows it, but her. Or maybe dragging the political discourse of the nation into the gutter is her way of being patriotic. Or maybe it’s her way of showing her Christian values.

How people like this can call themselves Christians boggles the mind. But who could have thought that after all these months,  Cindy McCain would become a vociferous cog in the Republican lie machine, or maybe it’s the Republican outrage machine. That’s what it produces, not truth, not fact, just outrage.

She claimed Obama sent a chill down her spine for not voting for a troop funding bill (it did not contain a timetable that he had insisted on), but she omitted to say that her husband voted no a similar bill, because it DID contain a timetable. Not to mention the fact that John McCain is one of the primary reasons that we erroneously sent her son there in the first place. I guess she doesn’t care that Obama’s intent was to do the right thing but to perhaps bring her son home, too.

Cheap lies and half-truths. This is the McCain strategy. Dishonorable, which is why the Senator doesn’t stoop himself. He let’s the women get dirty.

I listen to all the Repulican talking heads complimenting Ms. Palin on doing such a great job in the Vice-Presidential debate, and I wonder why they lie to themselves. They couldn’t be serious…

Sure she is perky, charming, very photogenic (even beautiful), but if she were to be required to assume the office of the President, she would have to contend with the very brightest, most shrewd and sophisticated thinkers in the world. She would have to contend with Vladimir Putin, with his vast background in espionage, counter-intelligence and national security. SHE IS SIMPLY OUT OF HER LEAGUE.

She reminds me so much of George Bush, who was also out of his league. I remember thinking from the very outset, that Bush would be “managed” by a board of executives, whose will and ideas he would serve. We cannot risk this again. For me, Sarah Palin is enough of a reason to vote for Barak Obama. First because she is not ready and may forever be lacking the insight and sophistication needed to be President, and secondly because John McCain knew, or should have known that fact.

“Joe Six-Pack” may be a great guy; he might be the buddy we all want to hang out with, but a great President of the United States of America must be more. He or she she be the absolutely exceptional individual we can muster. The stakes are always that high.

I’m just wondering, shy does Sarah Palin get a free pass? All of the other candidates for president (admittedly, she was not among them) had been on the road for weeks, if not months. They had participated in town hall meeting, dabates and given countless interviews. Mrs. Palin has not. She is heavily packaged, sequestered and protected. She does not often answer questions. We have NEVER seen or heard her unscripted.

WHY IS THE MEDIA TOLERATING THIS? If the role of a free press is to seek the truth and protect our democracy, then how can the press allow this to go on without absolutely RANTING about it? Even the right wing media should care enough about the nation and our democracy to stand up to the Republican machine that has stood her up for office.

If Senator McCain should should fall ill or become incapacitated during the early months, or at any time during his presidency, can we really take the risk on having someone whom we know so little about assume the most important and powerful seat in the world?

To all those conservatives who talk about putting country first and talk about patriotism, “Is it really wise and/or patriotic to take such a risk for the sake of the party?” I agree with McCain on the idea of putting country first; so why don’t we do it?

The Republicans always seem to believe that THEY have a lock on patriotism. They seem to equate the concept with sending their children off to war, or in volunteering for other types  of service to the nation. But they are NOT the only ones whose loved ones step to volunteer for the military or other volunteer endeavors. The sons and daughters of thousands of Democrats go to war, too.

But it must be understood that patriotism extends beyond military or other voluntary service. Patriotism is a love, pride and dedication to one’s country. It has many manifestations. JFK said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, rather ask what you can do for your country.” We show our patriotism in many different ways, based on what we are able to do, what we are able to give.

Does it make any sense that we are willing to send our young people off to war, to fight and possibly die for our country, but we are totally unwilling to give a few more dollars taxes? Patriots do what they can. Some volunteer to fight. Some go into politics. Those of us who can, however, should also be willing to reach down and accept that one of the ways that we can show our love of country is to accept higher taxes, PARTICULARLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. We are in crisis, fighting two wars and running up a deficit which we will pass on to our children. Is that patriotism, running up the tab for them to pay later? That is selfish and irresponsible. It is beneath us, and it is anything but patriotic.

Shortly after 9/11, President Bush suggested that we could all do our part by keeping the economy strong and going shopping. Surely we have a higher calling; surely we can do more. Stepping up to pay for the war is something concrete to do and something to be proud of.

One last thing…nothing lasts forever or proceeds in one direction indefinitely. Just as an era of over-regulation gave way to the need for regulatory relief, now the time has come to acknowlege that the pendulum has swung, and regulation of our financial system, imported food, medicine and consumer products is urgently needed. So too, there are times when taxes need to be cut, but there are times when that is no longer possible. This may well be one of those times.

We paid higher taxes during the Clinton years; the Republicans cut taxes so that they are lower today. Personally, I felt better about myself, my country and its future when I paid a little more! Frankly, I enjoyed more prosperity paying higher taxes, too.

For 26 years John McCain has ALWAYS stood for less regulation. Yesterday, he was against supporting AIG, but today did an about face and supported it. Today, he embraced regulation of the corruption on Wall Street…for the FISRT TIME, but he offered no plan or specifics.

First of all, I’m not clear that most of what has brought down the investment banks, Fannie and Freddie was illegal. Most of it was probably legal, but risky and born of greed. This situation is a direct result of inadequate regulation. Big business will ALWAYS move toward uncontrolled excesses that are destructive to the nation and its citizens, unless basic regulations insuring fair and sensible practices.

In Michigan today, McCain attempted to portray himself as a protector of the American worker, again for almost the first time. He has advocated a top-down approach to economics his entire career. Obama, perhaps more than any other Democrat because of his community organizing experience, advocates a bottom-up approach to the economy.

Think about it, if early on the Bush administration had supported home owners and trapped mortgage borrowers, the vast majority of the current wreckage to the economy and its infrastrucure might never have occured. Rebuilding the economic vitality of the middle class from the bottom up is EXACTLY what we need, and NOW!

John McCain may think the economy is fundamentally strong, but most Americans do not. Millions of families are losing their homes, major investment banks are imploding, Fanny and Freddie have essentially been nationalized, jobs are disappearing, gasoline is still over $4 per gallon and our health care system is broken.

The current administration, and Sen. McCain, believe in free markets as though it was their religion, but greed has historically resulted in great damage to the public when markets are totally unregulated. Markets can still be free even while basic oversight has been put in place. After all, it NOT just the corporate executives of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Lehman Brothers who suffer…It is the American people who are damaged and perhaps irreparably harmed.

McCain and advisers like Phil Gramm have been directly responsible for the continued deregulation of the banking and investment industry. That’s what the Republicans continue to stand for, and that’s why we need change.