tdawnwild, what makes you think any of her pregnancies was unwanted? Although I am reminded of Groucho Marx's dialogue with a guest on "You Bet Your Life" who said that she had seven children. Groucho asked, "How come you have that many children?"

The woman replied, "Well, I love my husband very much."

Groucho exclaimed, "I love my cigar, too, but I take it out of my mouth every now and then."

As for the beauty pageant comment: Joan, if Governor Palin were not an MILF, (as your heroine never was and will never be,) do you think that McCain would have given her a second thought?

given all the past positions that Governor Romney was willing to abandon when he decided to run for president, I am surprised that he hasn't undergone reassignment surgery in order to be named the vice-presidential nominee.

Speaking as one who stongly supports the rights to privacy and personal autonomy, I would appeal to those who share these views to afford this family the privacy we would claim for our own personal decisions.

The young Miss Palin has made choices in her life. Those choices are not the subject of fair comment, and should not be used to attempt to gain a tawdry political advantage.

To quote the candidate for president whom I support: Enough!!

People, leave this family alone. Those of us who support the rights of privacy and personal autonomy should respect the privacy of others. Governor Palin is a public figure; her daughter is not.

Bristol Palin has made choices. The choice to have sex as a teenager proved unfortunate, but sex happens. When sex happens, pregnancy sometime results. I suggest that it speaks well of her family that the young Miss Palin is being loved and supported in her decisionmaking.

In fact, Sarah and Todd Palin are showing a much stronger commitment to family values than John and Cindy McCain. The Palin family values are far and away preferable to the McCain family values.

The Republican at the top of the ticket openly philandered during his first marriage and dumped his first wife (a former swimsuit model) after she became disfigured and crippled, in order to marry 24-year-old Barbie beer heiress, whose family financed his initial political campaign. This prospective first lady became addicted to drugs and has acknowledged stealing from a charity in order to support her habit. John McCain is reported to have called his wife a cunt and a trollop in the presence of reporters. McCain boasted to a crowd of bikers, with his wife present on stage, that he had encouraged her to enter the group's "Miss Buffalo Chip" pageant (past contests had included a "talent competition" wherein contestants had simulated fellatio on a banana).

For that matter, when it comes to family vaules, the Obama family values far surpass the McCain family values. Can anyone imagine Barack Obama addressing his wife as "you cunt"?

George Washington could not tell a lie. Bill Clinton could not tell the truth.

George W. Bush, John McCain and Sarah Palin cannot tell the difference.

Sarah Palin is remarkably unqualified for the job that she seeks. How can one who cannot face Rachel Maddow or Campbell Brown even hope to stand toe to toe with Vladimir Putin?

Of the nominees for president and vice president, however, only one has flown a plane, designed a building or performed surgery. That one lost five planes.

John McCain's association with dishonest people in fact hits a lot closer to home than Charles Keating.

See: http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-09-08/news/opiate-for-the-mrs/

Does anyone other than a diehard Republican want a (diverted) drug thief occupying the White House as First "Lady"?

John McCain does for intellectual honesty what Christian Szell did for dentistry.

Another thing that Bill Clinton had going for him so far as public understanding was the perception that his home life may have been lacking in physical displays of affection. According to the Independent Counsel Report, Miss Lewinsky testified that, just after she first fellated President Clinton, "I think he made a joke . . . that he hadn't had that in a long time."

One wonders whether Mr. Clinton would have behaved differently if Mrs. Clinton had been more accommodating in that regard.

Or perhaps Hillary said "I do", but then didn't.

You are absolutely right. I don't know. That is precisely why I said, "one wonders".