It is very hard for Obama do deal with the slime, but he is doing pretty well. And Joan gets the difficulty and nuance just right in this posting.

McCain could have done what Obama did and start pulling to the middle after gaining the nomination. But he decided to use the Rove Play Book instead.

It's so sad, really. I remember thinking that, even though I really didn't like McCain, if he were the GOP candidate, at least the campaign would be civil.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

The letter chosen was terrible and an insult to all of your readers who support Obama as well as to Obama himself. It is full of a lot of accusations that are simply not credible.

It, unfortunately, feeds into the perception many Obama supporters have of bitter, irrational Hillary supporters who don't care about winning in November. A perception that we hope will be melted away after a smooth and unifying convention, a great speech by Hillary Clinton and an uplifting nominating process.

How well do you think McCain was received at the NAACP? I think Obama was probably better received at Saddleback! And, if Obama had been Lieberbaum? Should he have gone to a Christan Forum? Yes!

And, they should both go to Mosque and Temple -- Hindu and Hebrew!

We are not a "Christian nation," but we are a nation of "Busy Bodies" during a campaign -- and no Democratic candidate can afford to miss out on a chance to appear in front of a group of Americans he or she can possibly get to vote for him or her.

I think Democrats should go to the NRA annual meeting, too!

It is time to communicate with everyone.

If just a few people can see something different than they expected -- "Hmmm, Obama probably isn't lying about not being a Muslim." Or, "Wow, he is as uncertain about the beginning of life as I am!" Or, "Hey, maybe he doesn't want to take away all my guns the way Wayne said he did!" -- it would be great!

Let's all stop worrying about labels and stop being afraid of each other.

PS Joan: Maybe he IS uncertain about when life begins and he was just being honest. Did you consider that? Do YOU know? I am completely pro-choice, but I don't profess to really know. I told my children that they became alive when I imagined them in my arms. But, that is just me.

Everyone is worrying about how the Forum might have affected Obama.

Why isn't anyone commenting about how McCain has hurt his chances with many women Republicans and Moderate Independents by unequivocally announcing that he believes women who have abortions and who use certain forms of contraception are MURDERERS?

(Also, couples who get IVF commit murder and that stem cell research involves murder.)

This is the real news that people should be talking about after the Saddleback Forum.

McCain can KEEP his Evangelicals -- we'll take the rest!

Get the word out, Liberal Media!! Obama can't really do this.

Depending on your state, throwing your vote away could be fine. I feel rather charitable toward my moderate Republican friends in California.

But, if you are in a Swing State, please reconsider. It isn't the legislation on FISA that matters -- it is the Courts! If the Republicans continue to control the Courts another 8 years, you can kiss just about every Amendment -- except the 2nd -- good-bye!

Liberals can legislate anything they want but the Courts can strike it down or even keep an Appeal from getting to the Supreme Court. This is the way our system works. This is how the Republicans have done so much harm since Reagan! We must work to reverse this NOW.

And, speaking of the Supreme Court -- there are likely to be 2-4 vacancies in the next 8 years!

So, make your point if it doesn't elect McCain -- and remember that legislation can be changed -- but that Federal Courts take DECADES to change after 16 YEARS of GOP RULE.

If it is "equal" I don't care. Scantily clad bodies are OK by me...but sexual discrimination is NOT.

Would you like some cheese with your whine?

But, ask yourselves, do you think you look strong and confident after this close and hard-fought contest, when you supporters of the most successful women candidate in US history do nothing but bitch and moan like a bunch of bratty sore losers afterward?

Oh yes! I am sure the US public is looking forward to having another female presidential candidate REAL soon!

Well, since that posting, I helped set up 2 campaign offices in my "Red" County, set up outreach and other campaign events that registered about 1000 new voters and helped raise almost $40,000 -- but -- I will finally get my pedicure -- tomorrow -- before I head to Denver...

Thanks for your concern!

Though, it will probably be my last pedicure until President Obama's Inauguration in January...

(PS: some of the posters here need to get a life!)

I am shocked that Ms. Traister is wasting so much thought and time on this story. And, I am not worried that Sarah Palin -- graduate of the University of Idaho with a journalism degree -- will not be the first woman president of the United States.

This craven political calculation by McCain means no more for women's progress than the nomination and confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court did for the progress of African-Americans.

Sarah Palin is a local beauty pageant-level politician who would NEVER have been considered unless she had had ovaries. This nomination is an insult to women.

That is what the headline should have been Ms. Traister.