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.