Hmmmm. Ever since seeing the ads I find myself humming the "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" music whenever I see a picture of Obama. Do you think this is what the McCain/Rove camp had in mind?

If I heard Hagel right he also said Sen. McCain is "better than this," regarding the latest attacks. Not long ago, I would have agreed but now I don't know. I have long been an admirer of John McCain because I saw him as a voice of reason. His "maverick" reputation I thought meant that he wasn't afraid to do what was right and wasn't afraid to listen to -- and sometimes even form alliances with -- those who didn't agree with him.

But lately I've been troubled by his tasteless jokes and testy responses. Many in the media discount it, even praise it, as proof that McCain is a "regular guy." Of course I wonder if "regular guy" is really a valid qualification for what many describe as the most powerful job in the world. But I'm also beginning to wonder if this is McCain's way of dodging issues he doesn't understand or commitments he doesn't want to make.

His response to Obama's trip has been disappointing but also scary. Many have faulted Obama for "looking presidential" but, in fact he did. He was articulate, confident and obviously intelligent -- all of which, I think are for more important qualifications than "regular guy." McCain may be all of that too, but he instead chose to meet Obama's positive image with smears, sarcasm and smirks. As president will he do the same with world leaders and other lawmakers who challenge or upstage him? If he's going to regain my confidence he needs to prove that he's a much better statesman than he has shown us so far.

Are we perhaps seeing the infamous McCain temper? A few cheap shots is one thing but this looks like a campaign -- and a candidate -- that's out of control. Is this really the kind of president we want?

A gentleman in his 80s recently told me he likes Obama but is afraid of what will happen if the "black people take over." My husband and his barber have never talked politics or race but the man now seems comfortable announcing that he doesn't like McCain but won't vote for "the nigger." Last weekend we received an e-mail from a (former) friend who gleefully declared himself an "ignorant racist." After heaping several racial slurs on the candadate himself he turned his attention to Michelle Obama, declaring that her rightful place is "picking cotton on my plantation."

John McCain may claim innocence when his Spears/Hilton ad is compared to "Harold, call me," but I can't believe nobody in McCain's campaign knew it would fuel racist fires. If he wins, history will remember him as the U.S. president elected on the basis of race. That's his choice, his legacy. Unfortunately, we'll all have to live with the consequences.

I wish we had known years ago that "former POW" is an automatic qualifier to become President of the United States. Kurt Vonnegut would have made a great Commander in Chief.

PUMAs may have started out as ardent Clinton supporters but it's clear that the "movement" has dwindled to a small, sad group of people desperately trying to get their 15 minutes of fame. The media and John McCain will give them what they need. The rest of us will just yawn. . .then turn the page.

I hope that the media and the public will give this young woman her privacy. I can't help but remembering McCain's mean joke about Chelsea Clinton's appearance when she was just a teenager. The fact that Bristol Palin's mother is John McCain's "soul mate" spares all of us a lot of adolescent snickering from the McCain/Rove camp.

I found it interesting that the pregnancy issue was handled by a press release and McCain's hired talkers. McCain, of course, was busy trying to convince us he was more than an irritatiing wannabe in the hurricane evacuation and relief effort. But why couldn't he step away from his packing task for a 30-second statement: yes, he knew of the pregnancy; yes, careful consideration was given to the emotional strain this would impose on Bristol Palin; and, that said, she and her boyfriend are off limits to the press and the campaigns.

Instead it was Barack Obama who told everyone to back off. He was the one who reminded us that this was a private, family matter not open for public debate. He, not John McCain, insisted this had no relevance to Palin's ability to govern her state or her bid for Vice President.

So who's the leader here?

McCain's "reform" speech sounded very much like my "clean out the garage" speech. I give it every year. And every year the pile of junk just gets bigger.