The pity thing reflects the "Elle Woods" image that some people (Judith Warner?) have conjured up for the Moose Murderer. Palin actually reminds me of a different Reese Witherspoon character: Tracy Flick, the scheming high-school politician in ELECTION.

Palin will probably do much better than expected in the debate; the expectations are so low that she can hardly do worse. If we're going to pity anybody, then pity Joe Biden, who will have to walk on eggshells to avoid looking like a bully.

We're not talking about a football game here. We're talking about what is, charitably interpreted, a terrible mistake that has destroyed thousands of lives, wasted incredible amounts of money, and contributed to lawlessness and chaos in international politics. Under the circumstances, the best we can do is to acknowledge the mistake, clean up after ourselves if possible, and exit with some humility. To talk about "victory" - as McCain and Palin insist on doing - is an abuse of logic and language.

sums her up very nicely. It's unbelievable that this person is seen by some as "likable."

Biden was terrific. I'm especially glad he laid into the "maverick" nonsense, although he could have done it sooner.

Biden didn't forget to look at the camera. But Palin did it more consistently, and didn't forget to smirk with each sentence. She worked as a TV sportscaster or weather-girl or something similar at one point in the past, so she's probably better at it than Biden.

Please, Joan Walsh! Other editors! Anybody out there at Salon. Stop putting Palin's face on your home page. Stop putting it on articles, even. There's even visual pollution out there already. This is enough to make me avoid the website altogether.

To Joan Walsh: Since one's "associations" are now fair game, perhaps you could suggest to Tom Brokaw that he ask McCain how he justifies "associating" for two decades with barely-repentant segregationists like Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms in the GOP and the Senate. The Obama campaign is finally bringing up Charles Keating (quite rightly), but Keating is a good counter for Rezko. The GOP's use of an "ideological leper" like Ayers is best countered by mentioning Thurmond and Helms, and the Palins' AIP ties, but I haven't heard the Democrats suggest those yet.

because they generally use regular (dry) toilet paper, don't shower, and take a bath about once a week. A hundred and fifty years ago, of course, the entire family would have used that one tub-full of bath-water. Mmm, mmm.

By the way, on the 'cup of water' question: it's a big cup. Bathrooms in water cultures usually come with a large plastic mug that holds a pint or more of water. You crouch over the toilet bowl, use your right hand to pour the water from the mug, use the left hand to wash, then wash your hands. And if you really want to offend somebody, you offer them something with your left hand.

Thanks for the article. Having 'crossed' between wash and wipe and tried various combinations, I emphathize completely. I feel nothing but envy for my in-laws, the Salas, who (being from the Midwest) have trained pigs to clean up after them and even to clean them up.

One of the reasons I'm voting for Obama is that as a black man, he is able to see America from the outside as well as from within. At the risk of over-generalizing, I think that characteristic is true of many, perhaps most, black Americans. That is why Jeremiah Wright can both serve in the Marines and say 'God damn America,' and Michelle Obama can have contingencies in her pride as an American. This is an admirable trait, allowing for complexity and an incipient cosmopolitanism. That, of course, is exactly why the "pro-America parts of the country" - which cherish the view from inside the box - are terrified of Obama.

The most bizarre part of the Ashley Todd story, I thought, was the backwards B on her face. Perhaps she meant to imply that a black attacker would be more convincing if he was learning-disabled.

All this in praise of a woman who giggled "Navy SEALS rock!" on a news program, and another who leaped to defend a $150,000 wardrobe budget because women need to look good on TV, dammit? (Campbell Brown has been bending over backwards to make amends for her Tucker Bounds moment.) None of these women are exactly Murphy Brown. By the way, saw Traister on TV recently, doing a terrific impression of a smart undergraduate who has just written her first ten-page paper on gender.

"Gwen Ifill

Why is her name entirely absent from the article and all the letters thus far?"

Probably for the same reason that Judy Woodruff is absent. Her claim to being a serious journalist is not tied up with the right to be girly.

"Salon, naturally, will publish its endorsements for India's upcoming national elections in due time."

As well you should. If an American journal cared enough about a foreign election to take an informed position, it would be entirely admirable.

Ms. Walsh, what godawful taste in music you have, except for the Springsteen. I'm having a diabetic attack just contemplating all that syrup and corn. A bearable musical commentary on American politics could only come from The Clash, or Chrissie Hynde.

Obama may very well disappoint us, our expectations are so high. It is quite likely that he will turn out to be too cautious, too centrist, too reluctant to put any meaningful pressure on Israel, too eager to appear bipartisan, too determined to compensate for being black. We may be sick of him by 2016, or even 2012. But the wonderful thing about this election result is we will, hopefully, no longer be subjected to Joe the Plumber, ultra-ambitious hockey moms, proud fucking rednecks, and zombie cold warriors making frequent appeals to "my friends." May they crawl swiftly back under their rocks.