I think it's a fabulous idea. Not only would it help create good jobs, our roads and bridges badly need the attention.

I'd also like to see creative ways of discouraging handing over management of our transportation infrastructure to foreign companies. The Dubai ports deal got a lot of attention a couple of years ago, but both Texas and Indiana have leased control of their toll roads to a Spanish firm. I'm all for foreign trade but if we must privatize roads and ports that business should definitely stay in the States.

I'm not saying the LW shouldn't reach out, but he should make sure he has the emotional resources to help. It can be very emotionally draining to help someone in the throes of a deep depression--be sure you are healthy emotionally when you reach out.

I came across this in a book I'm reading. It means "old seeing," a neurological sight disorder that works like instant replay--you see an action, then you see it again a little later.

Seems a very apt metaphor for the McCain-Palin ticket and their current tactics.

Even as ugly as it's gotten the last few days, the election of 1828 still takes the cake. To my knowledge, Barack Obama has not accused John McCain of delivering American virgins to service the head of state of Russia (as John Quincy Adams was accused of doing by Jackson supporters), nor has McCain accused Michelle Obama of bigamy and worse (as was done with Rachel Jackson).

But there are four weeks left, so who knows what's going to happen?

Good commentary as usual, Joan, but let's get real here. Palin's comments were not a "smear," they were basically accusing a sitting U.S. Senator of treason. What else does "palling around with terrorists" mean, if not that Obama openly approves of the violent overthrow and defeat of the United States government.

If you've got proof, bring it. I would love to see Obama throw this in McCain's face at the debate tomorrow night. With apologies to Bob Dylan, you don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the stupid blows.

He's had a great season, yes, and I might not have booed him if I'd been there, but c'mon King. There's not much room for error in a best of 5 series. The Cubs are not so much better than the Dodgers that anyone can afford to have an "off night."

Sarah Palin is George W. Bush born to a family that wasn't politically connected. She's not dumb, but what she is is provincial and utterly incurious about the wider world, qualities she shares with Bush. Really, it's Palin's timing that sucks; the financial crisis means voters will care more about experience than in the past few elections, and McCain's age and health make Palin's qualifications to be president more important that they would usually be. Dan Quayle didn't hurt Bush 41 ultimately because George H.W. Bush was in good health and unlikely to die in office.

I think I agree with AKA Smith, ultimately. Palin's out of her depth here.

If the Cubs do win, you can lament the end of an era all you want. I will pop a bottle of champagne here in Austin, drink a toast, and root for them to do it again in 2009--just the way I have every year since 1982. My only regret will be that my son, at 20 months, will be too young to watch the Series with me if the Cubs get that far.

She strikes a nerve in me that no politician in my lifetime has, including George W. Bush. Bush, I could probably be civil to in a social setting, maybe even have a genial conversation with if the topic were something shallow, like baseball.

Sarah Palin, though...she is the sort of meddling, petty, vindictive person that drives me straight up a wall, the sort of extreme judgemental person whose own personal life is a mess because her judgement is extremely poor; and who, incidentally, will step over anyone to get what she wants.

I have known a few Sarah Palins, of both genders, and have no desire whatsoever to have this kind of person in the halls of power. I suspect Cary is absolutely right about her Meyers-Briggs category and having read John Dean's Conservatives Without Conscience it is without question that Palin is not only an authoritarian personality, she's a "double-high" authoritarian personality.

My personal strategy for dealing has been tune her out to the extent possible and glory in Tina Fey's SNL portrayal of her--possibly the best impersonation of a political figure in SNL's long history.

Sometimes, you have to make your own opportunities. In my own case, I was accepted into a summer program for Indiana high school students to study in Germany, paid for through scholarships and by me getting contributions from family, friends, and business and community organizations. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Scotland for a church trip.

There's nothing wrong with not traveling abroad, though it is enriching to do so (and certainly not "elitist"), and highly preferable. My beef with Palin--as with G.W. Bush--is that I feel her lack of travel is more about intellectual incuriosity than about lack of opportunity due to economic background.

And what the hell, McKinney too since the Greens and Libertarians have a bona fide national presence (if not a large one). Nothing against Nader but I'm guessing he's on the ballot in a lot less states than the Greens or the Libs, and at least in a few (like here in Texas) they both run down-ballot candidates alongside the Dems and Republicans.

If McCain wants to dodge the party, screw him.