Again, McCain only employed the “aw, shucks, I ain’t the winner yet” bit about the ‘seal’ because he wanted to gloss over the Zapatero incident…and I am really annoyed that Obama let him get away with that.

McCain can’t even defend his not wanting to meet with Spain because he didn’t actually know who Prime Minister Zapatero was.

Obama just caught up with you, Lorraine! Good catch!

Lesley, How do the Iraqi people feel? I would be so curious to speak to a middle class woman like myself over there and see how they feel about us being there?

Thank you, Obama, for acknowledging the truth about Afghanistan. No one else says that. Most Americans still think that Sadam Hussain bombed the world trade center….those of us who live her in NY have to constantly correct people “back home” who have totally believed this ridiculous hoax that the Republicans have fostered about Iraq and 9/11.

I agree — Obama should have come right out and mentioned that McCain did not, a few months ago, seem to know the difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

What is 2/4’s of July ago?

Very tough question — and the answer will probably be divided right down the middle just like the polls.

My 11 yr. old wants to know why McCain keeps referring to himself as a “Miss” anything!

I said to my husband before it started that there would be no way that they would get around to Foreign Policy. As a New Yorker who grew up in the sticks of Georgia, I’m trying to watch this through a multitude of “eyes” and not just be an “intellectual North Easterner.” I am for Obama (was for Clinton) but I think that his halting speech is not going to fare well with, say, my Dad’s group of voters in the South. McCain’s early self-deprecating remark about his “not hearing,” will, unfortunately go further with that crowd than the extensive and in-depth answers from Obama. Any halting in speech signifies insecurity…and John McCain is speaking in a technically flowing way that instills confidence no matter how little content or truth is involved.

Re: Angelina Jolie — again, I recommend her book “Notes from My Travels” for anyone looking for a quick, but fascinating read. Perfect for a plane trip to Europe or cross country. It details her early travels for UNICEF and the poverty she encountered. It was written several years ago, but the person we see now…helping in such tremendous ways…came from these initial experiences. Her acceptance of such personal responsibility toward humanity is deeply inspiring. Shirley Schmidt, I consider my guilty pleasure…the ONLY show my husband and I make the time to watch outside of news programs each week!

“Oh how I would love to see Barbara Walters do a true, no holds barred, no pre-prepped interview with McCain and Palin. By Sherrie Crews on 09/15/2008 1:29 pm” I agree completely, Sherrie. I saw glimpses on that episode of “The View” of the Barbara Walters I grew up idolizing as a child in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. The one who could bring world leaders to their knees with her vast knowledge of every minute detail of the facts. I think that neither Palin or McCain would agree to it, though, and the Republican strategists wouldn’t allow it in a million years. Too much to hide and too great a chance of a disaster.

I admire the beautiful Lauren Bacall for her talent, wit, style and also for the fact that she stood up against McCarthyism in an era when it was not as common for actors to take such political stands and, in fact, was quite dangerous. The embodiment of a “Northeastern Intellectual.” Absolutely perfect - Happy Birthday!

Ditto to Erica. First, I contributed to Hillary Clinton’s campaign because I believed and STILL believe that she was hands down the best choice for our country — and then I was bewildered for a while when she didn’t gain the nomination. The minute I heard Sarah Palin speak, I went straight to Obama’s website and contributed.

Well, the ABC interview put a serious buzzkill on my sense of humor about all of this…..there seems to be some strange disconnect here…I have heard very few people ACTUALLY criticizing Sarah Palin for her mothering skills — and a multitude of people SAYING that she’s being criticized and judged for her parental choices. What I mostly hear and read are echos of my own thoughts and that is that Palin is MASSIVELY UNQUALIFIED to serve in the second highest position in this country. The discussions should be about whether she has EVER studied law, foreign relations, economics or government, which are the important questions here and I can’t even believe that the women in this country are being distracted by the Republican Party into an argument over whether we think her parenting obligations will be in jeopardy. What about our NATION being in jeopardy because we’ve elected unqualified government officials? I know that the Republicans never want to be bothered with the facts — but she is a completely ridiculous choice. I am, obviously, a Democrat…but we certainly wouldn’t be dealing with all of these distractions if McCain had chosen a qualified running mate from his party. What an insult to women like Olympia Snowe, Kay Bailey Hutchison and Christine Whitman…three exceptionally qualified women, with whom I often disagree, but with whom I would have no misgivings whatsoever about their readiness for the job of Vice President.