You know, I do see your point about Sarah Palin and I must agree that there is no inconsistency in her actions regarding this whole affair.

I suppose I just really detest her position on these matters and I wish her ill will in that I hope she loses the election and her job and disappears from public life. The people of Alaska do not deserve her positions, nor does the rest of the country. I think I strongly dislike all politicians who hold her Fundamentalist, right-wing positions because when they hold power, they adversely affect my life and deny my right to exist (I'm a fag), even though I am very productive, and I pay taxes, and obey all laws.

I have fought really fucking hard for gay rights and I've paid a high price for my actions, but I don't regret it. I hate to see this type of person's views unleashed on young people, especially as regards to sex, because I've seen first-hand the destructive consequences of reckless, clueless people engaging in unprotected sex.

Yes, it was a smart move, and it was expected.

But it isn't true. Families ARE fair game for criticism, because every single campaign parades them about. Why would Obama write books about his family if families had nothing to do with his campaign? Why would we even need to hear Michelle's speech (she's not running for office) about how she loves her country and what a great mother she is? Who cares? Why parade his girls on the national podium? For what? Because he's using them as props to influence the vote. I'm not being critical, just being honest.

How about we have campaigns without the spouse, the kids, and all the stupid props? Let's just put all of those in a witness protection program and grill the candidates on the issues only. And oh, please leave God, Allah, Jehovah, or whatever you call it, at home. I would prefer an atheist campaign as well. Anonymous family and atheist campaign, an AA program.

Never, ever, underestimate the ignorance and stupidity of the American people.

I was thinking you have the wrong guy! I was thinking that Bristol would hook up with the valedictorian or a member of the debate team!

I think you are correct.

I have no faith in the American electorate. About half are slobbering morons who can't find Iraq on a map (I know, I have many in my family, no amount of reason, logic, or science, can persuade them). Once they have an idea in their head, an idea that came from either their pastor, or Fox News, it's hard to shake. The working class WILL identify with this trailer trash-like Palin governor, who is a complete neanderthal in every category.

My cousin sat across from me over the weekend and told me "I just KNOW Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction." When I told her that was not the conclusion of the US government, she said "Well, he had time to move them, without detection. They're hidden somewhere." Indeed, although I love her to death and would do anything to help her (and I have, when she was jobless), she's really too stupid to vote, as the book's title says. No amount of information will change her mind.

THAT, in a nutshell, is what we're up against. I adore all of you posters who are writing from places like NYC, Boston, and San Francisco, etc. Really, though, you NEED to fly out to Appalachia here and go canvassing with me, where cars are parked on front lawns, with little kids running around with no shirts or shoes. These people are true believers, right-wing nutjobs who REGULARLY vote against their interests because they're completely duped.

They haven't hit bottom, not quite. It will take a lot more economic devastation, believe it or not, to shake them out of their stupor.

I canvass in Appalachia because it makes me feel better. I am not confident that Obama and the Dems will win, but I do hope. If he loses, at least I will have tried, and then I will be satisfied with myself. The same would have held for Hillary had she won the nomination, even though I was mighty pissed at the way she conducted herself during the campaign.

As for faith, I'm sure Obama will be better than McCain, even though he wasn't my first choice (Kucinich, who in retrospect, has some negatives, primarily that he doesn't compromise AT ALL). I keep plodding along, trying to drum up votes and register people.

Surprisingly, in a few areas, where I canvass, there are Black enclaves, sprinkled about in some areas, and a shocking number of them are not registered, thinking that the government does them no good.

I can't comment on middle-class voters because I don't really LIVE in a middle-class neighborhood. The average price of a home in my area is around $55,000. I call it poor/working class.

I canvass where I live; I don't travel to different areas, as there seem to be many people already canvassing in those middle-class areas, but there was a need to canvass in the poorer sections where I live.

I'm not sure why you think that where I canvass or where I choose to go constitutes some sort of policy on the part of the Democratic Party. To my knowledge, the party in my county is targeting the entire county and all income groups and neighborhoods. I'm just telling you what I see where I live and my experience with my relatives, who are on the whole, pretty much clueless. However loving they are toward me, and however accepting they are that I'm a fag, they turn around and vote against my interests and their own. It's quite contradictory.

The Republicans will always get the well-to-do to vote for them because they know where their bread is buttered. They know Palin is a prop.