Palin is a gift to the Democratic Party. May Obama/Biden appreciate and embrace this gift with wisdom, intellect, and sheer political acumen.

Leave the ticket? Just don't it before Thursday!!! I'm like a kid at Christmas waiting for that VP debate.

Is that like the "twinkie defense"?

Palin couldn't even answer a question from a VOTER...but then again, it was ONLY a VOTER. In a pizza parlor. Voter questions don't matter, right?

Thank heaven Grandpa McCain was there to admonish Couric for trying to clarify Palin's "stance" on foreign policy issues.

You really nailed something for me...(channeling Aretha Franklin now)...R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

I don't have to agree with a person's politics or religious beliefs or whatever other important stuff to have respect for that person. On the political scene specifically, I do agree with you wholeheartedly that there are plenty of women I wouldn't see eye-to-eye with on many issues and wouldn't necessarily want to be "running the country," but there are plenty whom I respect greatly nonetheless for their intellect, knowledge, competency, skills, thoughtfulness, curiosity, inclusiveness, common decency...and other important stuff.

I don't respect Sarah Palin. It's a breakthrough, epiphany, revelation, Eureka-moment for me to come to that bottom line. It's respect that is missing in my perspective toward her, and toward McCain and his campaign in general.

I was very interested reading this article. Because I don't live in Nevada and I'm not Latino, I'd like to hear more and learn more re: perspectives on this particular election. Heck, I want perspectives galore! How else can we come together unless we try to understand each other better?

Anyway, "just sayin'" I would like to see more comments to this piece.

I'll make one brief comment myself--I was rather surprised by the "why Obama?" comment because it seems that his campaign addresses, is concerned with, and supports policies regarding many (not all, but many--NO candidate can make every voter content) of the issues cited by the commenter as being important to Latino voters...certainly not least of all, the economy.

From Kamiya: "Along with fixing our economy, then, what we should do about Iraq is the most important issue facing the country."

I would add: By "fixing" the economy and the mess in Iraq (however best we can define "fix"), we could potentially afford to address and invest into crucial issues such as health care, education, our infrastructure, and alternative energy sources.

"Up to a million Iraqis may have died."

I am sickened by the number of deaths and both the physical and mental injuries inflicted on our U.S. soldiers (and the myriad anguish to military families) through this unnecessary war. But that fact of "somewhere around" a million Iraqis dead should also be very sobering.

how do people from far-flung places--e.g., Fargo, MinneSOta, apparently Alaska (et al) end up with the same accent, you know?

That was intended as irony, so don't slam me for being un-PC. I don't hail from Texas (though one side of my family does) and I can drawl with the best of 'em.

If I were a Republican, in some alternate universe or parallel lifetime, I'd be doing a write-in vote for Tina Fey. At least she realizes what she's saying is inane.

"But what are the real costs of this entire 'Presidency'?"

Huge. Immeasurable. Frightening.

You're back!

Thanks for your post. As always, you offer a first-hand, up-close-and-personal POV and we all need to be informed and reminded of what you have to report. Please keep writing to us whenever you can--I want to know you're doing OK. Take care of yourself.

"The Fallacy Of Bloc-Vote Thinking--

In my opinion and based on general observations, ethnic and other "bloc voters" seldom vote en masse for a party or a person. They vote according to their general interests as Americans first and other considerations second."

You made excellent points in your post. And point(s) taken.

Still, I do like to hear from various people within the various and numerous (ascribed if not actual) "bloc-vote" categories. Not to lump any group of people into a single framework; simply to get more viewpoints from this patchwork quilt of a nation we have (most fortunately so, I would add).

Back at ya, gs_chandy--

"Some" computations would indeed be interesting, and I couldn't agree more that thost costs should include "the loss of respect and admiration for the US worldwide" and so many issues neglected with Shrub's "diversionary" habits--can't put those in a measuring cup, but they're real and palpable.

I wish I *didn't* agree you with about "dirty tricks" coming our way, but I do. I'll stay vigilant if you do ;) I know many others who plan to do the same.