Thanks for the info and backup. I've been to Hawaii a few times myself and found it to be in now way, ahem, "elitist." Quite the opposite. . .the aloha thing is very laid back and egalitarian.

I would imagine that the citizens of Hawaii are kind of pissed off right now at how the McCain campaign is portraying their state.

One more thing on Hawaii-bashing: Aren't all of Hawaii's beaches public? I think, though I'm not sure, that there are no private beaches in the entire 50th state, contrary to the McCain campaign statement about Obama laying about on a "private" beach in Hawaii.

I do wish John McCain, Cokie Roberts et al would shut up about Hawaii.

Hawaii is a state. It is where Obama grew up and where much of his extended family lives. There's nothing elitist about vacationing in the place where you grew up and where your relatives live. It may have warm weather (like Arizona, perhaps?) but it is also a regular place.

Hawaii is not that expensive a vacation destination, either, especially in the summer.

Criticizing Barack Obama for visiting Hawaii -- something he does every year -- is sort of like criticizing Dave Barry for visiting Florida. Or maybe criticizing John McCain for visiting Arizona. OK, maybe somebody can think of a better analogy. But the point is, I'm getting tired of this Hawaii bashing.

I do hope he picks Sebelius. She's my favorite of all the contenders.

I realize that some Hillary backers would be mad about it. But it seems to me that their view is that Sebelius should be disqualified because she is a woman, and any woman who is not Hillary should be disqualified. Never mind that Sebelius is a highly successful two-term governor.

Such opposition to Sebelius -- disqualifying her because she's a she -- doesn't seem too enlightened.

Wasn't it Francois Mitterand who had a wife and children, along with a mistress and child, and wasn't everyone in France all adult and understanding about it, even when all and sundry showed up at the funeral? Sometimes, the French are just so much more sensible than Americans.

Anyhoo, Edwards certainly handled this poorly.

He could have said simply "No comment." No denials, but no affirmations either, because a gentleman (or lady) doesn't kiss and tell.

However, if this did need to be publicly aired -- and there's a good argument for that, considering that 1) there's a baby involved, and 2) there might have been campaign funds spent on payments to this woman, so donors certainly have a right to know about that -- he could have been far more classy if he had just said "Yes, the affair is over and our marriage is patched up, but I still cares enough about this woman to be concerned about her welfare and that of her child." Plenty of us have been in somewhat the same boat, believe me. Just be honest, be honorable and responsible, and be brief. Edwards' sackcloth-and-ashes routine and his implicit trashing of the baby (even if she is not his baby after all) isn't helping him much.

"In older (sic) times and in every third world country today they don't get maternity leave."

In olden time, many, many women died in childbirth. And many babies died as well, or were born with crippling defects, such as brain damage from lack of oxygen. That is currently the case in much of the third world. Just take a peek at the current maternal and infant mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa.

Childbirth and its aftermath ain't easy. Take it from one who, had she been giving birth in olden times or in the third world, without the benefit of modern medicine and an extended hospital stay, would have been a goner, along with her child. I can assure you that I'm no wimp when it comes to physical challenges (serious runner, serious outdoorswoman), but I too needed modern technology and, yes, a period of convalescence, to ensure my own survival and that of my baby.

"The view that "any woman who isn't Hillary isn't qualified" strikes me as incredibly sexist. People who believe this aren't feminists, they are just HRC cultists. A feminist would look forward to women achieving power where only men once stood. Hillary is not all women."

Beautifully put. So beautifully put that I had to copy it!

I continue to be puzzled by Hillary fans who denigrate other women in high elected office, women like Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano and Nancy Pelosi. It's just not logical for anyone to use admiration for Hillary as a reason to denigrate other women of accomplishment.

As for Sebelius as VP, I'm a huge fan. I would repectfully ask Hillary supporters and others to objectively consider Gov. Sebelius as a governor (and former insurance commissioner and legislator), not as a woman. The vast majority of Kansans and a large percentage of residents in neighboring states think she's terrific.

Gov. Sebelius is the real deal when it comes to leadership. So is Gov. Napolitano. For that matter, on the Republican side, Gov. Lingle is the real deal, as is, despite her youth, Gov. Palin. Side note: Expect to see a LOT more of Sarah Palin in the future, with energy issues becoming so prominent.