I agree with Joan that the battles fought in the sixties on behalf of progressive concerns were of great value and of great impact.

But it gets a bit tiresome when those battles and protests are allowed to be the high water mark in progressive politics. I am in my late 20's and conisder myself very engaged in progressive politics and activities. I am very attuned to the vagarities in our culture, media and politics. I think it's time for those who were so engaged in the activities of the 1960's to realize that there are many people in this generation who are willing to step forward. But it requires the sacrifice of allowing my generation to speak, and to come off of the mountaintop in regard to your accomplishments. It also requires abdicating your self-proclaimed center stage role in progressive politics- one that the baby boom generation has held in an iron grip for over forty years.

that we have to go searching for them.

After the past eight years of fear and death and violence, I'm sick of all of this negativity in our society- especially in our politicians.

This mentality of "there will always be wars, so get used to it" is just capitulation to negativity. It offers us no hope as a nation, no sense of optimism that we can actually work together to create a better nation and foster better relationships with the world.

McCain is not a positive, optimistic leader. He's given up to the idea that our future will be mired in conflict and violence. That complete lack of optimism - the inability to even entertain positive outcomes- is not a trait I want in the next President of this nation.

What this country needs more than anything right now is a Democrat in the White House after the next election.

The fact that all of these splinter faction right wing attack dogs are all now starting to turn on each other is just desserts for their behavior toward the rest of the nation over the past seven years.

The standard thread regarding a Clinton vs. McCain race goes something like: "Republicans will turn out in stubborn droves to vote against Hillary Clinton, who they regard to be the embodiment of evil. If it comes down to Clinton/McCain, Clinton will lose."

May I offer an alternative viewpoint? McCain is posturing himself to be the war candidate- Stay in Iraq as long as it takes (hey, 100 years isn't THAT long, right?) and "There will always be more wars".

If the polls are to believed, the vast majority of Americans are sick to death of the war in Iraq. They want it to end and they want our troops home - yesterday.

With McCain's positions and the majority of public opinion being what it is, McCain's victory against Clinton is hardly a gimmie.

I personally wish we would educate younger consumers on the risks of credit cards. I got mine when I started college and I'm still paying it off and still have quite a ways to go. True, most of it was used for books and supplies, but a good amount was frivolous. It feels like free money when you're younger and you're sure that you'll get an awesome job right away and pay it off in one crack.

The CD analogy is apt. If I knew in college that the CD I kind of wanted would end up equaling $200 or the couple of drinks before finals would end up being $50 after interest and fees, I probably would have been more prudent in my spending.

Is just a bullshit term cooked up by the Bushies in an attempt to tie the "War on Terror" to the legitimate struggle against fascism during World War Two. It's a clumsy, awkward phrase and it rankles me whenever I hear it used by these politicians.

Exactly.

That is also why I am so supportive of Obama. I truly believe that we as Americans are sick and tired of all of the pertisan garbage we've been wading through for the past sixteen years or so (this includes the acrimony of our current administration and the constant mudslinging of the Clinton administration).

Obama represents a way forward. An optimistic true fresh start for our nation - which is what we desperately need. As good as things were under Bill Clinton, the partisan acrimony won't go away under Hillary- it'll be the same or worse.

As for Obama bridging the partisan divide- it is already happening. I have family members in Denver who saw Obama speak earlier this week. It was an overflow crowd- a major indoor stadium filled to capactiy, the gymnasium next door with a video screen filled with a few thousand more AND people standing outside in the parking lot to listen. And this is in a RED state. That's pretty amazing.

I think she's right.

Think about how many male stars' problems are kept hidden and swept under the rug until years later when they give a tell all interview or write a book. Or, most awfully, until something bad happens.

Compare that to Lindsey Lohan, Paris or Britney and it seems like not only is the press actively waiting for them to do something awful they're almost goading the behavior by their constant intrusions.

The whole spectacle is sick and ridiculous no matter how you cut it.

Well, gee, we can't be much worse than the majority of Americans the last time around.

And please, for the love of God, please stop coming up with "clever" buzzwords to define a generation, whether it be "Facebook Generation," "Gen X" or "Gen Y." Whenever I hear one of these phrases I sense a shortcut to thinking.

is pretty hilarious.

Ah...the days when trust-busters actually had teeth...