Susan, I’m an Indpendent after being a life-long Democrat because neither party is serving our country very well at present.  I do think that when women for President in THIS country, there is lots of sexism.  Explain the Democrats betraying Hillery Clinton.  I hold a masters degress and have never seen Palin as ignorant.  Was it Lincoln who said, "We are all ignorant, just on different subjects?"  John Edwards certainly trotted out his little family and his wife while he was cheating and wimping out by asking his aide to take the fall for the ensuing baby.  Palin was in-your-face supporting her daughter.  I remember when mothers asked their un-wed daughters to go away to Aunt Sue’s and then give the baby away, or get abortions or hurried marriages.  I still admire the fact that she didn’t push her daughter into a marriage with her grand baby’s father if her daughter did not find him suitable.  Though I support abortion rights, I admire Palin for walking her talk.  I’m so sick of the hypocrits in the Capitol.  I like it that she took on the powers-that-be when she was first Governor.  I guess what I am talking about is that I consider her brave.  Brave!  Imagine that on Capitol Hill?  I wish this web site had more Independent women writing. 

Marlo, thank  you for continuing to be the advocate that you’ve always been and for bringing this woman to my attention.  I have e-mailed this article to many other women.  I’m wishing someone would start a foundation for a geriatric hospital and clinic.  This would help bring down costs of health insurance for the eldersly.  We need more non-profit nursing homes and assisted living places for them as well.  Elders soon will outnumber children around the world, especially here in the US.  I’ve thought of doing a kind of Branson, MO here in St. Petersburg, Fl and/or non-profit casinos (elders love going to casinos) and all non-profit after paying entertainers and staff.  Maybe get a lot of volunteers.  Maybe do a lot of fundraisers. 

I’m just now cluing into this information.  I think he did the pilot for No. 1 Detective Agency on HBO.  I, too, admired "The English Patient."  This is my first time to read your commentary.  I shall return to you regularly, Peggy. 

A black lady of about 80 commented to me that she thought that Pres. Obama needed a wise elder statesman advising me.  She said she thought he had a lot of egghead "youngins" advising me.  Those kids just don’t really know what they are doing, she said.  I agree.  And Robert Gibbs may be a good friend and advisor, but he is the most boring press secretary I have ever seen over the years.  I think Pres. Obama needs to form a council of former presidents for confidential talks.  Of course, Pres. Carter, the egotists will go his own way.

You’re putting us on or being poltically correct in your choice of Whoopi.  I’d go for Gwenyth Paltrow or Nicolle Kidman.  Probably the latter as VB did.  I have just loved you in Murphy Brown and adored you on Bosotn Legal.  I have used the info. in the episode re: PTSD and Beta Blockers.  I’m a mental health therapist.

I haven’t watched much LAW AND ORDER, but will now try to catch Christine.  I have always liked her acting and loved reading about her happy personal life and think she is the voice of Oil of Oley.  Bravo, Christine. 

Lesley, your tale made it so real.  Your soul came through.  Off this topic, but remember long ago when you were looking for a college for you child, you mentioned how there was not enough support for American students wanting to go to medical school, but was a great deal of support for students from India, a clique of sorts.  Could you please weigh in on this health care reform bill moving through congress?  Because of lawsuits I understand that there is a shortage of obstricians in Florida.  Because of greater reimbursement for specialists, a shortage generally of primary care doctors.  I have two cousins who are doctors and used to hear that the AMA purposely wanted to keep number of doctors down, so their prices could remain high?  Please commit for us.

I am so disappointed in you celebrities’ opinions.  I am so encouraged by the regular folks’ reality checks.  I am a mental health therapist and know the stats on pedophiles.  Do you seriously think Polanski only had this one act of pedophilia?  He should pay for the crime.  Candace, I’ll bet you don’t listen to Wagner much.  Or read Ezra Pound.  I had dropped Woody Allen after he ran off with Mia’s daughter.  But, sadly now I’ve got to drop Mike Nichols’ movies.  Scorsasse has always been over-rated in my book anyway.  I’ve printed the list of people in Hollywood who have defended Polanski, and will not watch their movies.  Candace, I’m thinking that your marriage to a French director who was admirable might have inspired "French Think."  I have been friends with several French and they are so forgiving and dismissing to embezzelment, adultory, jokes about incest.  But OMG the cardinal sins are bad taste.  We American are a wonderful people and you people in Hollywood should get out there amongst us more and it would remind you how fortunate that you made your way to the top in this nation.  Show a little respect for our values!!!

Loved this thought-provoking interview and the good comments.  I once hosted a young man and his parents who were Iranian.  The parents still live in Iran.  The son is about 40 and lives here.  They were open about their distaste for the Mullahs.  The son laughes and son that clerics who had been ignorant and just took a few coins to do prayers over tombstones were elevated to high positions in the government.  Then the son went on to talk about the great history of Iran and the lost lagacy of King Cyrus.  He said that King Cyrus in mentioned in our Old Testament in the Bible as having released the Jews from bondage and establishing a place for them in Jerusalem.  He also said that he was the first leader of the time to Issue a Human Rights Manifesto and that it is hung in the UN.  I researched his facts, and they held true.  I love the poems of Rumi and will read  your poems, Roya.  Thanks for being a part of our sisterhood.

I see an entirely different picture.  I see that during a very public time and opportunity, Sarah Palin chose to "stand by her daughter."  I have a friend whose upscale parents forced her to go to an unwed mother’s home to have the baby and have it adopted out.  She found her child about 10 years ago, when she was in her fifties.  I’m a boomer.  We all know how it used to be and still is, to some degree.  I admire Sarah for not pushing her daughter into a marriage with this unworthy young man.  I still say that many are being elitist in discussing Sarah.  When I defend her, I always like to point out that I hold a masters degree and used to be a Democrat; now Independent.  I am well-read.  I am also creative.  Now, Liz, here’s where you are letting me down.  We need someone in politics who breaks the party molds.  She is up from the earth, literally.  Truman suffered from comparison with Roosevelt, but historians are full of praise for him.  We women need to allow a larger tent for the women who want to serve in public office.  I know from my own work experiences what it is like to take on the "big" corporate boys.  I know that when I did it, I was warned by my minister not to do it because I was facing jeopardy and then was a young, divorced mother.  I did it anyway.  Won.  But know how scary it was.  I admire her for having taken on the Gas corps. who ran Alaska.  I like it that she is both a feline beauty and an athlete.  Teams sports prepares us for work life.  I like it that her father was a teacher who took a chance on living back in nature and they hunted their own meat.  The whole wolf kill was misunderstood.  They were killing the caribou, which the Inuit needed.  Liberals.  You know how you love the Native Americans.  Why didn’t you focus on this?  She was helping Native Americans.  I am not sure whether or not I would vote for her should she ever run for Pres. election, but would look into my priorities and where she stands on each issue.  Please stop killing off our own, ladies!!!

Firstly, I hold a masters degree and am considered a bit of an intellctual.  I say this only because I think that Sarah Palin has been totally crucified by the media and absolutely betrayed by feminists.  I am now 66 and still working as a mental health therapist, was a Democrat all my life up until recently when I registered as Independent.  I have sent money for the women and orphans in Afghanistan.  When we are FOR women, we don’t need to be just for liberal women.  I am especially upset with Maureen Dowd of "NY Times, "; Katie Couric and Sally Quinn of "The Washington Post".  Though I do not agree with Palin about Choice, at least she walks her talk. By contrast, look at John Edwards.  OMG, I was one of his supporters.  OMG!! 

Beverly Raymond, St. Petersburg, Florida