Look, sorry, I've just got to get this off my chest. I'm a community organizer. Yes, I can hear the sneers already. But this is the toughest, most comprehensive job I've ever had. It demands more of my time and energy than any job I've ever had, and I've had a lot of jobs, in both non-profit and for-profit settings.

I work on weekends, evenings, late into the night and early into the morning. When my ex husband, the attorney, is leaving his office, I'm still going at full speed.

I have an organization with a budget and staff to maintain and grow, a board to whom I'm directly responsible, members who have a stake in our projects and - believe me - let me know when we are going awry in their eyes, not to mention a community of many thousands of people to whom my work is ultimately dedicated. Talk about accountability? I have more people to whom I am accountable than the mayor of Wasilla. And if I don't do my work right, guess what? our funding gets yanked and I'm out of a job. Wheras I know a number of elected officials who spend their time doing nothing but pander pander pander and manage to stay in office for decades.

Responsibility? If we weren't out there doing what we do, the government would run roughshod over people with limited means and less power. We are the original regulators. When the government abandons its responsibilitiy to oversee the basic necessities of it's people, we're the ones who see the ripple effects that creates in the lives or neighborhoods and families, and we are the ones who make sure that people notice and take action.

Being "in touch" with regular people? We are in the trenches, dealing with day-to-day problems like access to public transportation, affordable housing, and healthcare. From hour-to-hour we might be working closely with media, public officials, unions, churches, and individuals from all walks of life. When something isn't working in our system, I hear directly from the people who are affected. We exist to empower regular people and counterbalance the political influence of big money; that's what "grassroots" is all about.

When Palin sneered at my profession, I sat up, went to my computer, donated a bunch of dough to Obama and signed up to hit the pavement on his behalf in Nevada. We community organizers, we know when it's time to get to work and get something done.

Phew. I feel a little better now.

Look at how the narrative has been over the past week about these candidates: McCain responds emotionally and hotheadedly to crisis, Obama stays cool under pressure. I think the shift in polls this week have supported the argument that this narrative is sticking in the minds of the voters, at least for now. McCain's job in the context of this week should have been to show that he has a steady hand and a cool head. He needed a performance that would change the narrative. Instead, he was rolling his eyes, gesticulating, grinning sarcastically. Obama, on the other hand, did not need to go on the offensive; being cool and collected is what has been winning him the shift in the polls. Likewise, his "I agree" repetitiveness (which, yes, may be used against him too) fits with the narrative of an agreeable person who can accomplish

Then again, if you want to see Obama "put in his place," for whatever reason (and we know that there are a lot of Americans who probably feel that way), you might like the "he just doesn't understand" mantra; this may be one reason why McCain's All Gore "sigh" moments play differently with these two. That would have been a great strategy two weeks ago. To most folks, though, after this week it just reinforces the pugilistic persona that McCain has earned, which energizes his base and makes everyone else nervous.

"an agreeable person who can accomplish something in a bipartison negotiation, rather than blowing it up"

I felt much the same way as the LW, until I decided to make peace with my own shadow side and admit that part of me really likes the gal. I don't want her elected to executive office at a national level. I don't agree with most of her positions. But I like that she's a strong, ambitious, even ruthless woman and I think that, if she'd had the chance to gain success on a national stage on her own terms instead of those dictated by the erratic and incompetent McCain campaign, I might have been happy to see her have some limited success. I would oppose her every decision, but I would appreciate her nonetheless. I like it when the opposition comes in different shapes and flavors.

What I am dealing with instead is sadness watching a woman with charisma and political talent that is substantial but not ready for this big a stage get trotted out and used in the service of a man's career and totally humiliated in the process.