I honestly don't know where I stand on your "ignore" list because we don't always agree, but I have to say to you that I will never forget how excited I was to vote for Bill Clinton (plus Gore). Wow, not two old white guys! (For the PC crowd: I have nothing against old white guys in general ;) Who'd a thunk it? I was energized. The first election especially, but also the second. I thought the MLewinsky "investigation" was an enormous waste of taxpayer dollars, with totally partisan aims. Did I approve of what happened between BClinton and MLewinksy? No. Nor did I approve of his perjury. Was that any of my business if he was doing his job well? I don't think so. That's just me. But dang it all, in my opinion, he did a lot more good than bad in his presidency. And I'm NOT saying facetiously: "Heck of a job, Billo!" I'm still thankful for him (and the surplus v. deficit and international goodwill he left us with, which obviously was squandered by one mere shrub + chronies). I also disagree with some posters that the work he's doing now is disingenuous somehow?!? Geez luize, SOMEBODY has to be paying attention. Talk about working across the aisle--it's the OTHER Bush daddy president he's working with! BC's not a perfect person. Who is? And no, I don't think BC is "obliged" to help Obama per se. Then again, I sincerely want him to care about the Democratic Party, at a rather crucial time in our country. I would be working just as hard to get Hillary Clinton elected right now if she had won the nomination. In fact, I think HClinton already has done more than should be "expected" to further Obama as the nominee, and I am also grateful for that because as everyone knows, she garnered so much support during her campaign and, IMO, is a woman who will continue, in whatever capacity, to serve and benefit this country greatly. (I could NOT say the same about Palin. Talk about a poor substitute. I couldn't vote for McCain in a hyperbolic million election cycles, but I was and remain appalled and insulted at his VP choice. In just two SNL sketches it has become cliche to say this, but because I'm just as much into Shakespeare as I am pop culture, I'll go cliche anyway--I'd vote for Tina Fey over Palin any day of the week.)

As for Jimmy Carter...he's on my "much admired list." He has done a lot of good in the world, in so many different ways. Not going to get into his presidency here, just sayin'. But I don't think he'd be all that useful on the campaign trail this year because his presidency (but not necessarily, I hope, his ultimate legacy) isn't treated very finely and, for young voters, even remembered without Googling. (Although, as an aside, he actually could be an advocate for the more conservative and religious voters. I find it frankly amazing how well he maintained the separation of church and state; Carter's religious beliefs are self-admittedly quite solid--but not exclusive of other beliefs and faiths or atheists. That's the key (and another reason why Palin and her witch-hunter pastor scares the bejesus out of me). I, a staunch Democrat, will even throw Ronald Reagan a kudos on that--as Ron Jr., his son yet polar political opposite, said (paraphrased): he didn't wear his religion on his sleeve.

Ok, should wind this up. I can't apologize that I went for Barack over Hillary. I simply can't. But that fact doesn't mean I disrespect or cast dispersions on Hillary.

Anyway, Ms. AKA Smith, agree or disagree, you make me think about my politics and my place in the world. I appreciate that.

"I personally think financial literacy needs to improve in this country. Lying about what is going on is not going to do it. But given what a lot of people are posting here as financial reality lately, it's tempting to say just screw it and hide the gold under the mattress, but even that strategy is not guaranteed to work."

I couldn't agree more. But let's extend that, could we please, to literacy in general, on even more topics? When you've got a huge segment of a population voting against their own interests, well, to me, that spells trouble (right here in River City).

You left out Roger Clinton (facetious grin).

Bill DID say Obama's name when on The View. Does that count?