@mike LeP --- Prioritizing issues is one thing; to characterize insurance coverage of BCP as a “non-issue” is another. In terms of discussing McCain specifically, his ignorance of his own voting record and generally addled non-response to Carly’s queries---his own team member!---is not something to “give him slack” over. Add that to the blah blah blah of so many issues (let’s most certainly include The War and The Economy and The Health Care System to that list) to which he has generated equally bad non-responses or (GASP!) responses, and IMHO, I don’t want this guy running our country.

@doloresflower---I think you did a good job of describing why BCP insurance coverage has far-reaching consequences to our society at large (i.e., beyond just casting it to the side as a “women thing”). Broadsheet offered important info, too, and of course there are many, many other sources.

@karenn22---I’m responding to your comment that “…we're all on the same side. I need to figure out a way to take action. I need to do soemthing that makes me feel like I'm having an effect on the process.” Both I and my husband have sent word about FISA to Obama and our senators (and geez, we currently live in AZ and that means McCain!), representatives, and whomever else could have impact. I know it’s politics, we won’t get everything we want, but staying OUT of the process, well, I just have to believe that’s worse. Even if that belief gives me ulcers  Personally, I’m voting Obama. I simply can’t go third-party. I still have nightmares about Nader costing Gore, and I still call Dubya “Governor” Bush” (as the late great albeit controversial George Carlin said he did because it was Shrub’s last honestly elected office). But I understand your frustration about FISA. I don’t want to diminish that. I’m mostly wanting to make the point that it cannot hurt to voice your concerns to people “of influence,” and it cannot be guaranteed that it will make a difference, but NOT voicing your concerns…well, it’s again IMHO…cannot help anything.

I’m a writer/editor for a living, and I believe in the power of words. (Ok, pictures are worth a thousand sometimes, too.) I’ll try to keep this story short. During the (beckon back) Rodney King fallout, I snail-mailed (that’s what we did at the time, email and Internet being “newer” tech then) a very carefully worded letter to Bush SR. which was not flattering to the administration’s handling of the volatility of the situation, amidst other points in general, about how various cities had responded, for example (some rioting, others not, and why not?) and I cc:ed various others—I was living in NYC at the time, so it was the mayor and governor and senators in NY, plus the Secretary General and whomever else I thought mattered—and I got back a large manila envelope in the mail (kept to this day—to remind me of at least one effort of mine that had an impact, if not a true effect) from a Bush SR. official, someone in the communications end of things, and I was impressed that it wasn’t simply a form-letter, yes, some stock paragraphs, understandably, but it actually addressed specific points I had raised in my original letter to the POTUS. Also included in the package were copies of speeches SR. had made, position statements, etc. I felt like I was under a recruitment effort to sway me to the Republican side! I did get responses back from almost everybody I had cc:ed, too. Interestingly, another writer friend/colleague of mine sent a similar mailing, though she was vitriolic in her letter. She got no response at all. I’m not saying writing from the gut, with anger, is bad—I would never be that judgmental, or stupid—only noting that if only psychologically induced, I was noted in the process. Shutting up doesn’t work. Picking your poison isn’t fun. And damn, I just have to say this—I am WAY TIRED of the “Obamabot” labeling. I don’t think Obama is poison, not intrinsically and especially not as compared to McCain, and I don’t want to gather up umpteen articles/op-eds/blogs to defend my vote. If I had to bottom-line it, I’d say that I vote for the Democratic party platform versus the Republican party platform. And I’m pragmatic as to politics. And I don’t believe for one nano-second that we are merely in a “mental recession”!!!!!! (or a “winning war”—oh puhleez)

Thank you.

I'm surrounded by Republican family and friends here in AZ. Some of them even begrudgedly admitted to being "attracted by" Obama earlier on (and none, seriously none, held one shred of appeal toward HRC, and I am NOT a "Hillary Hater," but the baggage...oh, it's heavy and these folks certainly convey to me the weight). But all have gone back to the fold. I could take up a Tolstoy novel telling all the tales of how they never ever really ever liked McCain *in the past* but now they just have to back him. (I just have to add--relative-wise, we come from Democratic Irish-Catholic stock--even my long-gone Grandpa Mahoney would be appalled! I try that angle, but no fly. They've come from humble roots and done well and the tax cuts look good. Oh, I could go on and on about that.) Anyway, they unite and we go nowhere? Uhmmmmm. Something wrong with this picture.

I have really appreciated your responses! I got sideways blocked from getting back to the site by some immediate "had to tend to" family situations/dramas. Tomorrow I'll check into the articles you suggested and give more attention to your posts. Got to call it a night here, I'm sleeping as I'm writing, but wanted to be sure you knew your messages weren't being disregarded.