The best McCain will do in this campaign is right now. The real drive for the White House hasn't started yet, so McCain can bask in the glow of his Saddleback love fest.

Wait until next month though. It will really heat up. I've got a feeling that Obama is going to come out swinging at the convention, as will his vice presidential nominee. My gut tells me Biden is working on his convention speech right now.

The latest polls indicate that Obama is TEN POINTS ahead of McCain in regards to the economy. Obama falls behind in regard to foreign policy/international relations but Biden would shore that up.

Remember, it's McCain who is running for a third helping of Dubyah. Obama is representing a change Americans realize we desperately need. It's not going to be easy, and it's going to get really nasty but Obama knows this. He's going to fight for this, and he's going to win.

His behavior will not stop until he experiences a big consequence as a result of his drinking- namely his relationship with you.

You are absolutely right when you say that he decided he'd rather drink on his birthday than to be with his family. That was his decision, and he made it blatantly.

You seem to be very perceptive when you speak about this. You know already that he has chosen alcohol over you and your family. You know that he is being emotionally manipulative. You also probably know that he doesn't respect your concern or your anger or he would have done something about his drinking by now. If he cared about you and how this is hurting you, he would work with you to make it stop. That's what spouses do. That's what families do.

You need to leave, for the sake of your own well being and for that of your son. He is taking advantage of the support that you give him, and until it is gone he will not realize the need for change. As for the financial problems, I would suggest consulting a lawyer who can help you plan for this. I wish you luck and strength.

I'm so happy that we're actually fighting for the White House this time instead of "taking the high road" and hoping the attacks won't stick.

It's about fuckin' time.

See: Bush, George W.

2001-Present

Can we please talk about the CONVENTION, and what we can do to help our nominee (like it or not) defeat McCain? I think that intelligent progressives can all acknowledge that 4 years of McCain would be an unmitigated disaster for our nation, and for our activities in the world.

I've openly supported Obama from the beginning of the primaries. BUT I have always said that I would have supported Hillary Clinton 100% if she secured the nomination. I would have swallowed my pride and done what the COUNTRY needed, not what I needed and not what the PARTY needed, but what was best for the COUNTRY.

People, we need to come together and act like adults here. McCain would be a disaster, a complete disaster, hands down. Do we really want that?

And Philly Steve, please stop with your Miss Cleo "There's no way Obama could ever possibly win, ever under any circumstances, ever" meme, ok? November's not here yet and if you feel so strongly about this Little Green Footballs will be glad to have you.

in 3...2...1...

We're gonna win this thing!!!

Because the only thing I see you getting from here is a constant migrane headache. Let me be even more blunt- this is a disaster waiting to happen.

I remember my undergrad years and how much they took out of me- emotionally, physically and intellectually. It takes everything you have to get through that sometimes, and when you do have a free moment you need that time in front of the tv, or having a beer with some friends. You don't need to come home to a Tasmanian Devil child and a man with a "demanding" (read: always gone/busy) career. You'll be his live in babysitter/chef and lover. Pretty sweet for him! But what's in it for you?

Interestingly, I don't recall you mentioning in your letter how much you love your boyfriend, or how much he loves you. I didn't get a sense of "Damn the torpedoes! This is gonna be tough but we're so in love we're gonna make it work!" No sense of common sacrifice, no sense of love for the kid- Hell, you haven't even met the kid!

Do yourself a favor and walk away quick! You are a young woman with her whole life ahead of her and this kind of arrangement can wait for the future- years in the future. You need to focus on school and doing what is best for YOU. Forget this guy, and his kid.

Especially since they have such a left wing bias???

(sarcasm)

McCain is nothing more than 4 more years of the biggest failure and fuck-up we've ever had as President. How are the numbers this close?

I know that some Americans vote against their own self interest, but I'd be stunned if this many of us would do it again after nearly eight years of getting shafted.

Hillary Clinton did an outstanding job in her speech to the convention last night. It was a powerful and moving speech, highlighting her many accomplishments and forging a tone of unity for the party.

I have enormous respect for something that took a great deal of personal courage-she stood before her party after one of the most bruising primaries in memory and forcefully stated the need for unity. That took a lot of integrity for Clinton to push aside the emotional turmoil and infighting to stand up for the greater good of the party.

He'll be on tonight, right before Obama.