Pomeranians? I think you're right. With a few chichuahuas thrown in. It's a big tent.

Sounds like you're facing a crisis of vote: which devil's bargain do you make? Do you vote for McCain, knowing he's anti-choice and likely to replicate the last 8 years? Do you vote for McKinney or the Green Party? It's principled, but in a close election, it could throw it to McCain (okay, I'm a pragmatist). Or do you vote for Obama, despite the 'bots, who are fond of rewriting the past, befouling the past (and I recall that you originally supported Edwards), or simply getting votes confused with conversion?

I will probably vote for Obama for several reasons. 1. Another term like the past two is more than I want to tolerate. 2. If he -is- a genuine progressive, we need him. 3. I can differentiate between voting and conversion, and I suspect he's smart enough to, as well.

There is also something else: the nature of power. Our children's crusade in the early 1970s got derailed and used, and now, every time someone wants a good negative example, they go back to a time I lived through, but don't remember given their highly distorted view. I suspect that Obama and his inner circle are sophisticated enough and entitled enough (it's a perk of Harvard Law) to use this ground-roots support, then do whatever it has a mind to.

I don't think Bush gave the dittoheads a whole lot of warm fuzzies, and I don't think the 'bots will get theirs either. I realize that this sort of class analysis is discouraging and more than a little dirty, but it's what I have to go on.

First off, it's "chihuahuas." I cannot answer for my spelling pre-caffeine.

Now, there's that litany, "Hillary voted for the WAR, Hillary voted for the WAR."

And, all by herself, she convinced George Bush to send troops in and turn Afghanistan and Iraq into parking lots. All by herself, she convinced them (and presumably the inept Hans Blix) that yes, Virginia, there ARE WMDs.

All by herself.

Please set it in context. I was IN New York City on 9/11 and evacuated from my midtown office. I will not forget that, ever. I cannot, anymore than I can forget the pictures flapping from every wall: has anyone seen THIS person, that person, people we would never see again.

The City went mad. The State went mad. The country was...not in good shape. As junior senator from the State of New York and a member of the Armed Services Committee, Hillary could have shot herself into the foot (in the most nonviolent way possible) by joining Jeannette Rankin in opposing war, or she could have followed the wishes of her constituency, including -- sorry to say it -- me.

Until I realized that we'd all been lied to.

The litany's a good one, but when you put it into context, it loses some of its righteousness..

(Fanboyz may recall the Minbari after the death of Dukat. JMS was oddly, tragically prescient.)

Do you really think that threat of yours is going to garner votes?

Frankly, I agree with you, but your method of persuasion is so offensive that it's counter-productive.

I can only assume you're getting off on the Big Bad Vision.

Why don't you channel all that anger into more effective advocacy?

What's wrong with being offensive?

Given the number of people, even in this lettercol, who are running from the Kool-Aid, it's counterproductive.

Unless, of course, you're a Republican doing disinformation. Are you?

Which do you want -- an ego-trip or someone's vote, seeing as you probably won't get both?

You know, for an embarrassed politician, Gingrich is a truly godawful science fiction writer.

Up until they pull the lever, they haven't voted for McCain.

Now, you can try to win votes, or you can get your rocks off by enjoying the nastiness you dish out.

I know which one I'd choose. Granted, it's fun to talk about how stupid people are, but it's not giving you and yours a good name, and that could cost you.

When I was in my tweens, I had a friend who had a weekly manicure. Even though her parents could well afford it, it was silly, and we all knew it.

But it cured her of biting her nails.

My mother didn't care much for makeup, but I inherited the lipsticks she was tired of. As a special treat, sometimes I had my hair or nails done. I'd have -loved- going to a spa as a tween. I love it now.

And I can hear what my parents would say. "You want to go? Start saving your money." When it was -my- savings, not my parents' money, I was a whole lot more frugal.

Which brings me to my point: in the current economy, this is an expensive luxury, so it's a good time to scale back. Personally, I don't see a problem with playing dress-up or hairdresser -- after a girl has come in from outdoors and done her homework.

Okay, I read Ann Bauer's article. Okay, it's well-written, which is why I read it to the end.

Now that I've read it, I want to bleach my brain.

Did this need to be written for publication, much less commentary? Or would it have been more useful as the subject of a goodly number of therapy sessions, journal entries, or the nucleus of a short story or novel?

Goody, so Gisele is not her friend's real name. But she's exposing a lot of dirty linen in public, and I've got to say that's both narcissistic and -- to the others in her life -- a profound betrayal.

Sometimes, letting it all hang out is just too much hanging out. We all have Situations in our life. A good writer, or a less self-involved one, tries to make the personal universal. But if Ann Bauer has found her market niche, I daresay she'll stay there: just So sensitive, lyrical, and indiscreet.