I get what you're saying, at least I really think I do. Give me that much, please.

The thing is---if I were to do a video montage of this election coverage, and much NOT to my credit necessarily, geez, I have watched this election coverage way too much---I'm fairly sure that it would come out with a whole lot of bad things said and exchanged and about and by Clinton and Obama and the MSM and their surrogates. Between Ike footage, I happened upon some bio/retrospective on Obama today and I frankly couldn't believe (and didn't even recall) just how nasty Clinton got about Obama in some of her speeches. Now I'll repeat my mantra because on this site it is necessary: I do not hate Hillary Clinton one iota and I'd be fighting for her voraciously now if she were the nominee!!! But puhleeeeez, folks, let's not pretend Hillary or her supporters never said anything bad about Obama (just as: YES: Obama supporters said bad things re: Hillary). It's called a freakin' campaign. They were COMPETING TO WIN. Attack mode. Take your opponent down. It's not a pleasant thing and it's us masochists who choose to give a good gol' darn.

But what part of very recent history isn't important to this election? As in: back to reality. Hillary isn't the Democratic nominee. Obama is. Do you support the Democratic platform over the Republican platform, or not? Hillary and Bill say they do. I don't care about their reasons---they say they do, and they're going on the trail to prove they do, and I'm taking them on their word. Is sexism a problem? Yes. Is racism a problem? Yes. Are the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and potential other wars and the economy and healthcare and taxes and education and women's reproductive rights and Fannie Mae/Mac and the housing crisis and hurricane relief and yadda-freakin'-yadda umpteen other things problems? Yes.

I am a 49-year-old feminist woman who is not sacrificing her vote to the Republicant cause. And I don't give a flying you-know-what what state I'm in. If my vote only goes down to popular-vote history, at least I'd weigh in on the platform I am aligned with. Vote for a woman just cuz she is one? Ugh.

McCain was one thing. Palin?!?????? Can't do it. Can't possibly go there. She IMO was an insulting choice to women. I respect third-party choices (even if I disagree) more than any vote toward Palin being a heart-beat away. Even putting aside the huge "women issues," she is NOT ready. I certainly would BLINK at being asked to be a VP candidate. I am not ready to vote for someone who is less traveled, less educated, less knowledgeable than I am. That's called a nightmare in my "worldview" (and guess what? I know what the Bush Doctrine is!). But I don't want ME for VP. No way, no how, no ME.

I want so much more than ME. That, to me, is what this election really comes down to, bottom line.

I have spent 25 or so years writing, editing, and ghostwriting about building executive/management leadership skills and about building true teamwork. I can spend pages on that and, given the clients and colleagues I've worked with, I am proud I've done so. But that doesn't qualify me for the White House (nor, egads, would I ever even want to be saddled with that place).

Well, I've ranted and raved when I actually started out trying to be "engaging" and "reassuring" to everybody except the true trolls. Nobody will probably read this anyway, at this late (or early) hour.

If anybody caught Saturday Night Live tonight with Tina Fey playin' Palin...OMG....vying with Hillary her new BFF (the event we'll never see with other than actors). Fey is an identical twin separated at birth, looks-wise, and she *nailed it* big time with looks, accent, "worldview," etc. The writers of the opening nailed it, too. I recognized every single thing that Hillary die-hards would have problems with, but DANG IT ALL, in the end it was a CREDIT to Hillary and to feminists, IMHO. I had to rewind and watch it about three times (my husband said "yeah, go for it").

Now back to my usual mantra for the Salon site: "I am not a Hillary hater, I am not a Hillary hater." Believe you me, I would be fighting as hard for Hillary right now as the nominee as SHE HILLARY suggests you fight for the Democratic ticket.

Anyway, felt good to laugh for awhile instead of taking Pepcid AD or Pepto-Bismol. (free plug for non-generic products ;)

(PS: OH OH OH! Let's not overlook Janeane Garafilo on Real Time with Maher...talk about not putting up with BS!)

They shoot horses, don't they?

(or is just wolves...)

MSM = Mainstream Media (and no, you're not provincial for asking! acryonyms on the Internet are hard to keep up with!)

Palin said this snarky comment and McCain said this snarky comment and Obama said this snarky comment and Hillary said this snarky comment and and and and and and and........so&so and so&so and so&so said XYZ........ETC.

I'm not saying none of the snarky comments aren't worth noting and even discussing (in a civil way perhaps? too much to ask?). I'm not even saying let bygones be bygones. There is justifiable anger floating around this country and it should be fueled into greater good. But meanwhile, there is an important election in the works and valuable time is being wasted on snarkiness instead of doing whatever we can to wobble the USA back on its feet.

Company at my door so gotta go. I'm sure there are many Salon posters who won't mind that at all!