Given your description of the Demos, I’d have to agree with you, Marina. As Craig Ferguson said the other night, the Demos have a secret weapon that could keep them from winning the election: They’re Democrats. Not known for organization and being self destructive, it’s hard to imagine them working together to bring about a global economic meltdown.

Thanks for explaining, Eleanor. But if that were true, wouldn’t the Demo candidate be WAY up in the polls? It seems pretty close to me for it to have been a beneficial bounce. To let the entire world nearly crumble financially, it seems to me if that were the case, wouldn’t Obama be in a 20 point lead or something?

Eleanor, I haven’t “blindly” admired anybody since I outgrew having crushes on the Beatles. The real bottom line here, Ladies, whomever gets elected, we are going to have to find a way to pull together. This country cannot take the divisiveness, the finger pointing and the anger that have pulled us apart these past years. I think we need to start thinking about how we will be a part of the solution instead of making the problem worse after November 4. That includes ALL of us, no matter which candidate we support. Unless we want to become a ripped apart failed nation ourselves, we better be ready to get on board and do something positive to get us back on track. It won’t be easy, for any of us, if our candidate doesn’t win, but We The People have to get it together and move forward.

I agree with you on that, Eleanor. Whomever was in the White House would be blamed when in fact, it was a universal mess caused by a number of things, certainly not one person, Republican or Democrat. I just don’t see where that comes from, the idea that the Dems are “better on the economy.” Where does that come from, in your opinion?

I need you to explain to me why you say the Dems will always have an advantage when the economy is down. Also, no matter when this meltdown happened, everyone was hurt, all over the world. I think we were stumbling before Freddie and Fannie. We were being told by the president and the Republican candidate that the economy was fundamentally sound and it wasn’t. I just don’t see how the timing on this has anything to do with it unless you are saying you don’t think Senator McCain has what it takes to handle the financial crisis. Are you saying that if the Congress had held off, a Republican would have been elected and then it would have been a better time to let this mess happen?

Eleanor, you didn’t address my point. If the Demos are THAT powerful, why would they need to invent or manufacture anything to get their guy in? And by saying this financial meltdown was fabricated to get the Demo candidate in, are you therefore saying that the Republican guy doesn’t have the wherewithal to cope with an economic fracture of a world-wide depth?

OMG, I’m nearly speechless to think that anyone of sound mind could think that a world economic crisis was invented to get Obama elected. If the Demos were THAT powerful, powerful enough to bring about a world financial crisis, they wouldn’t need to invent anything to get their guy elected. Be careful who you call a dolt, Irish. It would be reasonable if you said you didn’t agree, but you lessen yourself when you reduce yourself to using words like “moron” or “dolt.”

He was positive, did not denigrate or demean his opponents; stuck to his beliefs and what he wants to do for us. This was a message filled with hope.

Hanging up anything but a “Welcome” sign is disgusting.

We agree on that, Elaine!

Merrell Gerber, I agree, no more war heroes. Give us a peacemaker, please. One more week. I have no fingernails left.

Irish Eyes/Diane: I will agree with you that the USA stepped up to the plate in WWII and did a most valiant job. Anyone in question of that fact should view Ken Burns’ series on that war. However, don’t forget that long before we were involved, the British took a pounding night after night in London and the Russians gave many a life fighting that war, too. The reality is that was then, this is NOW. We inhabit this small planet and with the global, interdependent economies, information being passed in a nanosecond and the number of trans Atlantic/Pacific flights daily, the world is even smaller than before. We have to care what Europeans and everyone else thinks of us. It isn’t just about us now. And not every one in Europe hates us; they dislike how the present administration has done things, but they don’t hate us. Why are you so angry towards us? Whatever happened to civil discourse?

I’m so much a better woman now than when I was fresh and young. Less insecure, more compassionate, more concerned about others and less wrapped up in how I look. I smile with genuine joy and interest now, not just to be pretty or congenial. I’ve taken care of myself and accept that I am an older woman. I’m not going to lie and say there aren’t times I wish I looked as I did when I was young AND know what I know now, but that’s like wishing to ride on a unicorn. As long as I have all my faculties, I’ll still walk with a pep in my step and a hopeful smile. My hands look like a woman’s would for my age because I use them. And, yes, you get Bingo Wing arms as Craig Ferguson is fond of calling the condition, but what are you going to do? When it’s all said and done, I feel honored to be in the company of Dona, Diana, Elizabeth, Jennot and Joan and all the other ladies of a certain age here. We redefine lovely.

My message was in response to Rocky’s regarding Syria. Who wants an expansion of the war. No thanks, we already have two going. It would be gauche and greedy to do more. Can we say, “Thanks, but no thanks” to this?

Is this our October Surprise designed to influence the election? If so, I don’t want it. Can I return it to Nieman Marcus and get a pair of red highheels and a pretty suit instead???