This is a free country (kinda) where people are free to participate, or not participate, in any religion they wish.

That being said, I have grave concerns when politicians (aka fallible human beings) are touted as having been "chosen by God" to lead this nation.

I recall the 2000 and 2004 elections, and how people believed that George W. Bush had been "chosen by God" to lead America, to fight terrorists, to start the war in Iraq. Not only that, but Bush himself believes that God talks directly to him as to how he will guide (or fail to guide) America. Hubris? Mental illness?

We all know how that one worked out. We can see the results all around us. The economy is in utter shambles. This "quick and easy war" in Iraq is dragging on into its fifth, bloody year. Civil liberties and the right to privacy are vanishing. The Constitution has been used as a doormat for Neo-Fascists (Neo-Cons) to wipe their boots on.

Whenever a candidate for political office is being hyped as "Chosen by God" it should send a shiver through the populace. Individuals and administrations and cults and juntas operating under the assumption of divine right often act in the most dastardly and horrific of ways. The historical references are too vast to enumerate.

Rather, we should be focusing on an candidate's capabilities, intelligence and concepts. Sarah Palin has none of these things.

In case anyone forgot.

a.k.a. Show up and ask anything.

I agree that Obama could certainly tighten the message and make it a bit more quick or punchy or more sound bite like.

However, he has not only been fighting back, but landing some serious blows against McCain. Obama's speech on the economy this week in Colorado was a jaw-breaking knock out. Obama's appearances and speeches have been hitting McCain hard, likewise with Biden.

The first debate is one week from today. Obama knows what's at stake, he's got the message and he's got the specifics. I sense that his debate with McCain will once and for all lay to rest the bullshit ideas of McCain being a "maverick" and "reformer".

The mentality and lack of oversight during the Bush administration has allowed these robber-barons in the financial industry to play fast and loose with our economy for years. They rake in millions and pocket as much profit as they can before the entire thing goes off the rails- and then we're expected to bail them out.

This disgusts me on so many levels. The American taxpayer has been taken to the cleaners for years by these crooks. We get no help when our cost of living skyrockets, people facing forclosure and bankruptcy are told to get stuffed.

But then...the gravy train comes to a halt and the Ponzi scheme economy collapses like a house of cards. Are the fat cats going to be held responsible? Of course not. They're gently floating to safetly under a golden parachute. And again- it's the average citizen that is going to be stuck cleaning up the mess and footing the bill.

Wouldn't it be great if we all lived in a consequence free environment- like Wall Street and these financial firms? I'd love to go to Las Vegas for a weekend, get piss drunk and blow thirty grand on craps and then go crawling back to the government and get my money back, no questions asked, on Monday morning.

because it looks like Palin will stop at nothing to sink her claws into what she feels is rightfully hers.

We've just had eight years of selfish, cutthroat, opportunistic, ignorant federal leadership. Do we really need four more?

What a cynical and disgusting move. If this story doesn't demonstrate the GOP's craven use of "the troops" as a talking point, I don't know what does.

At least I can say that the letters I have published originated from my own mind, without the use of campaign talking points.

I hope that this story gets wide exposure in our media. But, I don't hold out much hope.

On one hand, I can appreciate the fact that this book may disseminate the argument further. Then again, it isn't as though no one knows about global warming or green energy.

This is an issue that was recognized as being vital almost THIRTY YEARS AGO. And yet, the sunny, head in the sand optimism (aka unfettered greed) of the Republican party since that time has kept the development of a solution at a near standstill.

Jimmy Carter was right about this issue during his administration. Al Gore has been right about this issue for years. John Kerry was right about this issue, and his call for an Apollo program for green energy, back in the 2004 campaign.

And as for Bush's complete indifference and utter incompitence- it doesn't make me weep, but rather boil with rage, at all he could have done but instead pissed away. How much further ahead would we be, and better off on almost every level as a nation and a people, if individuals like Carter, Gore, Kerry, and countless like them had been heeded instead of derided?

He suspended his campaign to go back to Washington to confront the fiscal crisis- and did nothing. He also urged a suspension of the debate in order to work on the fiscal crisis. Thankfully, Obama declined that foolish request.

I have severe reservations about the kind of "leadership" McCain has been demonstrating this week. This kind of leadership looks more like cowardice to me.

Remember, McCain tried to goad Obama into participating in a number of "town hall" debates. Now, this week, on the run up to the first major debate-McCain has been playing politics and trying to duck out of the debate.

McCain should realize that being President requires intelligent attention on a number of issues simultaneously, and that the duties of the Presidency cannot be "suspended" when something pressing arises.

I believe...that...U.S. Americans...uh...Russia...missles...

tragic.