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 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?

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.