http://apnews.excite.com/article/20081002/D93I46LG0.html

I'm surprised NOT to see this AP report making it to Salon--at least yet.

Yeah, Palin is not exactly Joe Six-Pack (as she claims, and I find her remarks to be condescending in context of the market she's trying to win)--hey, I've lived in small towns and big cities, that gives me some street creds, right?).

But that income statement and holdings are not like me. They are like those of some people I know, yes, even close family and close friends. Great for them! And I don't say that facetiously--I don't begrudge anyone wealth--that's not the issue--unless it's gotten at the expense of others. I learned last weekend of a cousin's company business plan, in the housing/construction market, which included taking care of their workers, and they anticipated at least two years ahead, and they sold off a paid-off jet and MLB tickets ($10,000yr) because how could they justify those expenses if they couldn't put that toward their employees keeping a job?

More to the point...

I do find hyprocrisy reprehensible. Always have. Even as a child. I'll spare you examples. There seem to be a few things wrong with the persons being called "elitists" [$$$$$$$-wise) and (education-wise) on both major political tickets.

If ya think, you know, my friends, that Palin is "one of you"--then go for it.

We share past election horrors. That was then. This is now.

There are a lot of INVOLVED voters in this election, and Obama has run an amazing campaign bringing many of them in. I'd say, let's discuss worry (or NOT) about the Dems after the debate tomorrow night, coming on the wake of some very disappointing events for the Reps these past weeks. Yes, I remember the past. If you are on the Rep side, it's YIKES cuz they're going to pull out all stops. If you are on the Dem side, it's YIKES cuz we could just win with Obama & Biden. What a concept. I like it.

How are we supposed to get you that drink--------or not? and you owe everybody else one? For Thomas/Hill to be brought up...yegads.

Biden doesn't have to "crush" her. He only has to stay sane. I believe he can. I believe she isn't.

Ok, bets off ;)

I am "appeased" (may I say "pleased"?) at your response. I agree that the term "troll" shouldn't be used lightly.

I've spent a lifetime giving people the benefit of the doubt in various areas of my life--and not always to my benefit. But I'm resigned to doing that the rest of my lifetime cuz that's me. I am the proverbial "both sides of the fence" thinker. (And in the political sphere, that would be many fences to cross...singing Jimmy Cliff to myself now...)

I suspect the troll infestation will increase in the next month+. To feed, or not to feed? That is the question?

You said: "Independent, critical thought has never been popular. I'm sure all of our posts could be improved with a little more thought, a little more insight, and a more of the google."

On that, I couldn't agree more. I'm only here to express my "own honest opinions" as you described. Maybe talking points do get in the way. Maybe honest opinions do get connected to a political stream. But I don't believe we should stop OUR OWN talking points to get to a better way.

I could be open to bets as to....is ReaderReader really RIP?

I don't feel the least bit guilty over alleged mistreatment. You take what you get (neg or pos) when you put yourself out there. And I don't give a hoot whether or not he or she sticks around. Either RIP or stick around, fine by me. This is an open forum...quite obviously. But I do think there's a difference between "devil's advocate" and "baiting." I didn't "catch" anything in the ongoing comments from ReaderReader that told me much more than he or she being a more articulate than usual rabble-rouser. If I want to engage, I will. If I choose to ignore, I will. If I thought the discussion would AMOUNT to anything, I'd give it a try. If I see no progress in the discussions (which happens all too frequently), I'll just...nod, nod, and get on the next bus.

"The Blade shouldn't have given him the space....John McCain's a politician without integrity. Where's the news?"

Maybe they gave him the space (smartly) to help accentuate the fact that John McCain is no longer standing for (if he ever did truly stand for) anything remotely resembling gay rights.

It certainly wouldn't hurt his Republican base (whatever that means anymore) since he didn't say anything contrary to them and they don't listen to that "gay stuff" anyway. Perhaps The Blade was helpful to the Dems in booking him for an interview more likely to shore up their base...which overall isn't the Republican ticket?

The question I have NO answer for is why he took the interview in the first place...?

If, Readerreader, you had come up tonight with a different list of questions for Biden, you may not have come across (finally) as a troll. Really parochial partisan questions--in the sense of: do you honestly think that every one of them couldn't have been responded to, point by point, with a truth-filter and/or valid counter-point? Maybe you did? Maybe you were looking for real dicussion? It just didn't seem that way to me.

I tend to agree with violetclementine.

Maybe you are not (or weren't) a troll. I'll give you this--you kept some of the more astute Salon posters heeding your beck and call. They either tried very hard to converse and promote different points of view--or gave up.

Not claiming myself one of the more astute Salon posters, I just gave up earlier than others. Good wishes to you, too.

Thanks for your post. I hope we're both right.

I hope you're wrong.