You remind me of the people who attacked for saying that birth control was a good idea, particularly in 3rd world nations. Just not on the same wavelength and never will be.

Forgive my typos in the last email, and I'll forgive your lunatic post.

Thank you for the links and for your rational posts. I received a behemoth email from a McCain/Palin supporter recently that glossed over these documented facts.

They were unwilling though to dialogue when presented with the truth. Surprise! Instead resorting to taunts and threats about the "lazy marxist liberals" and stopping just short of threatening to shoot anyone with a different view, "just like the wolves we can't wait to shoot from the plane".

Another said he hoped to deepen his carbon print in an effort to get back at the "Liberal savior Al Gore". How very strange some people can be. And they believe what they are saying, it is as if they are speaking a different language from a vacuum. They sound like terrorists to me.

To quote a friend: I am ever reminded that people don't know what they don't know.

It is wonderful to be in the company of rational men.

"He may be a boy but he does not sound like a friend."

In my experience, it is not only unproductive to get into political discussions with family, it can go very badly. Even if you are a skillful communicator focusing on the facts, you probably won't find the answers you would like to hear. A vote is a personal choice, even if it affects everyone. Perhaps you can work for an organization that raises awareness of these topics, but you cannot change family.

To get personal for a moment: If you were my brother, I would show solidarity and cast a vote for your rights. In fact, I will do that. Is that a deal? My vote will cancel out one of your parent's votes.

Is there a way to depersonalize their choices? I hope you can find a way. People can seem impervious and these situations can be exasperating. I have no answers, but remember, I am voting along with you.

The money is a separate issue. That is something you do have control over and can discuss with your entire family. Good luck finding common ground on that topic as well. They don't sound very flexible. You seem to be the sole support in a dysfunctional (at least financially) situation.

It's almost like America isn't paying attention to the facts. We are voting for a homecoming queen... right?

Oh.

Flight of the Conchords have a song just for you LW:

The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)

This guy is too much. A week with someone he's never met who happens to be going through a divorce? I don't have to read past the divorce part to come to the conclusion that he's not the monogamous type. At least you know before things got more serious.

She has no business running for Vice President of America. The more she talks the clearer it is that she has a talent for memorizing script.

The logical conclusion is that Mrs. Palin should stick to her day job: actress.

"he said those things to establish dominance"

You are absolutely right! This communicated he does not take her seriously. There are more subtle ways to put someone down, so Zardari must have chosen this for a reason. I disagree with his method of devaluing her, using appearance and gender, given the fact that she has obvious weaknesses he could have used instead.

It would not be difficult for any world leader to establish dominance over someone with such little experience covered in a thin veil of bravado. That painful exchange was just the tip of the iceberg. She may be able to gloss over facts and reality with distracted American tv viewers, but wait until the rest of the dignitaries get some face time with Palin (and her lipstick).

I've not read the other responses in long time, but it seems like somebody really needs to get laid.

Politics brings out the worst more often than the best in people. You are not alone in your feelings of exasperation. Extremes are dangerous though, so be aware of the complexities of this process when communicating with others. Republican is not synonymous with evil.

Yes, she's really the GOP's VP pick. I couldn't believe it either. You have a right to be insulted and shocked. Many are baffled at how someone completely unqualified to lead our country could be placed on that erroneous glittering pedestal.

Not everyone will have complex opinions or make an educated decision. Brace yourself for a McCain win because people don't make time to read the fine print and only think of their personal tax breaks. I hope they choke on that trip to Disney, if that's what they trade for the future of this country and for the world.

Love people around you as much as you can and always put your money where your mouth is. Life is too short to waste one precious breath on this. I just lost a friend and now wish that the time I'd wasted ranting about the state of our nation had been spent looking into his kind eyes and talking with him about something bigger than the meager intellect of that self-congratulatory pawn.

Do what you can where you are. Roll your sleeves up, it's time to get busy! If all else fails, at least try to enjoy some political humor to show the sheer absurdity of some candidates and the madness of election time.