It sounds like those of us who support full rights of marriage to gay/lesbian couples need to start knocking at doors.

I cannot understand how gay marriage in any way "undermines the sanctity of marriage." How does the marriage of two men or two women affect anybody else's marriage? The idea is so stupid!

And as far as "protecting children and the family," I knew a couple of gay men who managed to adopt two little boys, brothers who'd been declared wards of the state because their parents were in jail for drug abuse. These two men loved those little boys, particularly one of the men, who'd always wanted to have children. I think those little boys are blessed, to have a loving Poppy and a loving Daddy in a stable home, even if they don't have a Mommy. Their Mommy didn't fill the bill.

These letters all seem to have been written before Obama actually gave his speech. I think he hit all the "pointers" the professional speech-writers gave. His speech was precise in giving specific policies he will implement as president, yet it wasn't too wonky, and technical and boring.

He sure got the audience fired up, tens of thousands of people rocking and swaying and chanting. I thought it was thrilling. I hope I'll feel as thrilled in November, but I'm still frightened that the Repugs will steal yet another election.

Among other things, you said, "I don't see the various health insurance companies as being wholly owned and operated by Democrats."

No, I don't think so. After all, insurance companies are motivated by the bottom line; they don't care about providing quality health care for people.

BTW, watching Repugs makes me insane, too. I tried to watch their convention, just to be well-informed, but I couldn't take it.

Yes, of course. But that does not mean banning abortion.

You say, "I am still waiting for substantive evidence that Sarah Palin is a dangerous extremist."

Aren't her positions that would prohibit abortions absolutely, require teaching creationism in science classes in public schools, and denying global warming enough for you?

Unfortunately, "pro-choice" doesn't have the rhetorical zing of "pro-life." I am both. I believe that the birth of every baby is a miracle. Each infant born embodies divine potential.

And I believe that the birthright of each infant is to be welcomed into this world with unconditional love and joy. And if a woman is not going to welcome her infant with unconditional love and joy, then she and the potential infant might be better off if she aborted it.

Instead of "Pro-life," let's start saying "Anti-abortion," which is accurate for those who oppose it absolutely, under all conditions. Let's take back the label "Pro-life." Who's "Anti-life"?

My fear is that "too many" people in this country will see her as a pretty, well-spoken lady, who's also a mother of several children (including a newborn with a severe handicap, and the emotional turmoil of a pregnant, unmarried teenage daughter -- OMG, what drama!), and that too many people will be moved to vote for the R ticket.

That's why I think she's dangerous, Camille.

You made some excellent points: "Sarah Palin, along with McCain, who to date has never even been baptized, even although he proclaims himself to be a 'Christian,' are in their element embracing this particular faith. They both talk gibberish and they both seem very comfortable in the company of poisonous snakes in the person of the GOP. It is only fitting that McCain, the professional POW, describes Palin as his 'soul-mate.'"

Let's all say it again and again, not just here, but everywhere. Palin and McCain lie and lie and lie.

As somebody else said, I'm really worried about the upcoming election. After all, the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004 were both stolen.

Oh, and thanks, GK.

You ask, "Did Gore lie about creating the internet?"

No, he didn't. He never said he created the internet. He said, "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth and environmental protection, improvements to our educational system."

See http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

After all, the precursor to the Internet already existed as the ARPANET, later DARPANET.

You said, "But Bush was successful at one thing: winning elections."

No, he wasn't good at it. Al Gore got the most popular votes in 2000, and only thru a corrupt Supreme Court decision did Bush become President.

And in 2004, I believe votes were stolen in Ohio, not to the benefit of John Kerry.

So, yes, the culture war is back, but don't give the Repugnant side too much credit for knowing what they're doing.

Thanks, NY. I would've scrolled past you if your were Shooter242.

I appreciate Alex Koppelman's quote of the day. I've been participating in the TT thread on "why I'm qualified to be VP."

Sure, might as well. I was a "soccer mom." All three of my sons are "free, white, and [more than] 21." And none of them has ever spent any time in jail. Left-wing liberal as I am, I don't think I've done a bad job of raising young men.

And now, back to the previous thread.