Eleanor - I’m not talking about Scranton, PA - if you read my first comment, I did say I was in Florida. Will try to find the documentation you require. As for the Secret Service, if I don’t always believe them, then what can I say?

Eleanor - The “lynch him” shout at a Palin rally was reported by our local (read: conservative) television stations. You could even hear other hateful things being shouted on the video they played while a newsperson described the scene. It was an embarrassment for our community, and reeked of the racism that still very much exists in the South. Ms. Palin kept that plastered grin on her face and continued making false statements meant to inflame her audience. The woman IS a hatemonger!

Ms Sandbee - I am getting prepared to move out to Texas, to be with my spousal equivalent, who has been working out there for the past three years in the natural gas industry. I have visited every two or three months, in between my breast cancer treatments. There are many things I love about your state. I’m less fearful than I was about moving there when I realized that most of the great Texans I’ve met, have a much disdain for their former governor. Thank god. I found Austin, his former home as governor, has a whole cottage industry, and some very successful, longtime clubs, that owe their income to ridiculing their former son. I love it. I only wish Molly Ivans and Ann Richards were around to contribute to this site. What an addition they would be in these interesting times.

Thanks, Josie: Those people were not removed, but the Obama supporters (protesters of Palin), were kept blocks away. It really wasn’t a proud moment for our community, but no surprise with a Rep. mayor. Are you and anyone else out there in the wow community as concerned about voter fraud as I am? I know that in my county the new voter registrations have been overwhelmingly Democratic, but I still have my doubts.

I have held off contributing to this thread, enjoying all you lovely ladies (and this is a feminist talking), but McCain has gone so over the top as far as the truth about negative campaigning (that he keeps talking about), that I must vent, before I throw my shoe through the television. I live in Florida and I am subjected to extremely negative ads by McCain and his minions every five or six minutes daily. Negative - “Obama’s dishonest “, has “bad judgement”, gives “millions to his friends” (?) ! This poor man (not so poor thanks to Cindy) is delusional. I only wish I could publish all the testimonials I’ve heard about Senator McCain’s callous, insensitive and, most of all, abusive treatment, of not only his wife, but his children (who must have a short memory, since they seem to be supporting him). I am totally disgusted with McCain’s blatant lies and his very interesting retelling of his history - both military and his record as a “civil servant”. It is the original Republican tactic of “The Big Lie”. He thinks if he throws this rhetoric around enough, it will make it true. I am so angry about this campaign. I live in a city that Palin visited last week where “Kill Him” slogans were thrown around during her speech, and she only smiled in response. I believe there was also a shout of “Lynch Him”, of course referring to Obama. Needless to say, I’m horrified that these sentiments came from folks in my hometown. However, I’m heartened every day when I see an Obama sign in this distinctly redneck, yet somehow cosmopolitan, north Florida community. And, the best possible news: Obama might actually take this state for a Democrat for the first time since I can remember! The downside is that I do live in Florida, and if Obama doesn’t win, no one can convince me that the Republicans did not fix this election too! Please, please vote - the anxiety is making me nauseous and more of an insomniac than I already am. I don’t remember being this nervous about an election since, gee - 2004. Go watch “Recount” if you forgot. Does anyone else out there think McCain sounds desperate? Just wringing my hands in J-ville.

My mother just passed away this June and she made certain what would be in her obituary by writing it herself. She was an old school Southern lady and (Liz, you will appreciate this, and Julia!) believed you only were supposed to have your name in the paper when you were born, married and died - nothing more. In the last years of her life she would point out the “tacky and outrageous” obits often found in our conservative North Florida paper. She promised that if we added any colorful language (such as, “The Lord lifted her up to be with the Angels” or “called her Home”), she would personally come from the beyond and make our lives a living hell. Curious talk coming from a woman raised as a Southern Baptist, yet became a very devout Episcopalian, which was a better fit for her golf-playing, country club member, very well-respected lawyer husband (who was a saint in his own right). So, consequently, her obit read like her entry in “Who’s Who in American Colleges” long, long ago (which I might add she put herself through Stetson University with scholarships and part-time jobs), with the additions of her charitable work (not overly praising) and her association with various organizations. Not that us kids - all in our 50’s - would have necessarily changed anything - but it did read like a fact-checker’s notes, certainly not like a loving tribute to a well-loved woman. One thing that compelled me to comment on this particular subject is that my mother gave her children a great gift. She planned everything from the obit, the simple graveside service for the family only, early on a certain to be hot June morning, she chose the hymns, and the readings she wanted for the later memorial service at her church, she even chose the caterer for the reception afterward. What she didn’t know was that her oldest grandson gave the most interesting and wry eulogy, with great dignity and humor. She would have been so proud and touched, and I’m sure she was there. She also made endless lists of who got what: jewelry, furniture, china, crystal, books, etc., which at the time she made me type all this up, seemed morbid to me. It turns out to be her greatest legacy - we will abid by the lists, I want no further drama. As her primary caretaker the last few weeks of her life, I’m pretty much done. It’s been a lesson learned, and one I plan to follow. I guess her motto could be: “Leave nothing to chance.”

I am not getting the taglines on many of the posted cartoon? What gives?

I really don’t know what “sl lambert” has lodged in her derriere, but if she was a regular reader of this site, she would realize that not all that’s published is “dead serious” journalism, and that many of the contributors have a real devotion to the late Governor Richards, as I do. Ms. Chapman, having spent a great deal of time in the Big Star state over the past couple of years (my ‘significant other’ has been working there), I could totally see Ann at that Austin celebration on Town Lake and laughing along with the rain and hail. My hope is that she is enjoying the afterlife along with my other favorite Texan, Molly Ivans. I would love to know if they were good friends, as they both had such an unvarnished look at the world. My paternal grandmother was a native Texan, and she had that wonderful, ribald humor, and incredible, intelligent wit that I admired in both Ann and Molly.

I love your new site, and hope that the remarks section will cater to adiverse group of women, with all degrees of success. I wish Ms. de Cordelia would EDIT herself! Describing her life story in detail does not contribute to the dialog, though I’m sure her motive is to sell her upcoming book. Enough self-promotion, stick to the subject and quell the desire to see your bio in print.