Wendy, I completely support your right to think and feel any way you want. However, I do not think Ms. Howard or Mr. Ebert are remiss in being surprised that Ms. Jong is shooting her mouth off to the Italian press regarding a civil war in this country taking place should Senator Obama not win. Do you not find that rather in poor taste on the part of Ms. Jong? Perhaps it’s just me, but I think that takes the concept of airing dirty laundry to an international level. I think a goodly portion of the people on this site have made it abundantly clear which side of the aisle they will be voting and the issue of what an author says in the foreign press is more a matter that concerns us all, Demo or Republican. It’s no secret Ms. Howard can generate a dust storm with her posts and for the most part, we here at WoW seem to dig it. You don’t have to read or post if you feel it isn’t an appropriate topic. I support you on that, as well.

Know what you mean, Marina. I’m in a semi-rural area with two gated communities. But I could throw a tantrum on my front lawn and pitch a fit in my veggie garden but it would only frighten the deer.

My point, too, Starry Nite.

No, it just means that both of the candidates have had associations with different sorts of people in their pasts that could be seen as objectionable by different people. I’m sure you’d agree at the very least on that. And aren’t you afraid of being associated with this site which many of you seem to think is over the wall in favor of Obama? Don’t you remain here to have your voice heard and to give your view of things so it all balances? Don’t you think it’s reasonable that both candidates have had associations with different people just because they were there and in no way indicates that either man supports what the other has done in the past?

I’m saddened I’m not one of the ones who keeps you coming back here, Star. But that said, aren’t you afraid of your association with the rest of us on this site appearing to make you look as guilty as we are of thinking the way we do? So, why would Senator McCain want to associate with G. Gordon Liddy, in your opinion?

Marjorie, nobody could do that job without advice. Not even you or me or Marina. Seriously, they all rely on advice, how could one person possibly be able to be POTUS without input. McCain will have advice. Not even Superman or Wonder Woman or Hillary could do that job without advice. The population will have to hope the elected president will be receiving good guidance because no man or no woman is an island. As for experience, unless we change the rules and allow a former president to run again, NONE of them have the experience of POTUS when elected. What we can hope for is an intelligent person who has good critical thinking and a calm temperament able to process all input and act wisely. One is either born with those skills or not.

Yes, indeed, who is pulling those strings? I’d like to know. Names?? Margo, you really kick up the dust. Makes for some great discussions. I hope you stick around. And Roger Ebert, I’ve always been a fan of yours when you were a movie guy but you are developing into quite a funny observer of the goings on. I hope you stop by again.

Hey, no kidding, My Alias. Who needs Clooney or Brad Pitt with John here!

Merrell Gerber, off topic, but I have to ask about your avatar. Who is that gorgeous rabbit? What a cutie.

Okpulot Taha, are you a knitter? I noticed your website uses the term Purl which is what we knitters do with stitches when we aren’t knitting them. We purl them. Interesting site.

No, there is no Santa Claus and I feel very sad for people who are voting for Obama who think that they will not have to tighten their belts or be invonvenienced for the time it takes to make things better. No matter who we elect, we have a hard time ahead of us till this gets straightened out. I fear there are ininformed voters on both sides. It’s really difficult for those of us who have behaved responsibly with our finances and made wise decisions to think that we will be responsible for bailing institutions out. But this is our country and we all will do what we have to do to keep her afloat. What I will not be happy about is if we are fortunate enough to get on good ground again if people return to unwise financial practices again. Live within our means. If something seems too good to be true, then it is. You know, all that stuff our grandparents told us. But in the end, it has proven to be the truth.

Exactly, Irish Eyes, then we have common ground on which to begin moving forward. We agree that we must all make the best of whatever the outcome is. You didn’t tell me this before, but it is nice to hear and I hope you are uplifted to know I feel the same way. Whomever is elected, we must put the healing of this nation first.

Irish Eyes, I will of course be terribly disappointed but this is our country. I live here and I care what happens to us all. All of us. So what good will it do to be negative? If McCain and Palin win, then it will behoove me to be positive and do what I can to heal this divide. Will you be as positive if Obama wins or will you continue the hostillity? I am willing to do what I can to move forward because I care very much what happens to us.

A singing career? What’s next? A book deal? And a biopic movie? He actually seems to have gotten a great deal farther down the road to fame doing much less than Monica Lewinsky had to do.

Oh, Irish Eyes NY, you have denigrated and demeaned yourself before by calling me names. And, no, the shoe does not fit. Why must you lower yourself and call people who don’t agree with you names like “dolt” ? You’ve not me me and I would not presume to know if someone was a dolt or not without having met the person and ascertained if she or he were actually at a deficit in the intelligence department. I support your right to disagree with anyone but I think you could find a more creative means of doing so than using derogatory names to get your point across. Eleanor and I have not seen eye to eye at all times but we had a civil discourse in this thread where she explained her point of view in a polite way so I could understand her. Why do you have to be so harsh? Just because people don’t see things your way does not make them wrong or bad or doltish. It just means they have a different point of view than you do. There is no need for hostility.