Did you happen to catch the NBC nightly news with Brian Williams this evening? He was interviewing Sarah Palin, and she was calling Barack Obama an “elitist.” So Williams asked her what her definition of “elitist” is. She replied, not once, but several times in her rambling response, that an elitist is someone who thinks he is better than you are; anyone who thinks they are better than you are. (Not, of course, the correct definition, but HER definition and what she means when she calls Obama an elitist.) Williams specifically asked her then if elitist had anything to do with education. No. Money? No. Section of the country? No. (McCain broke in to say he knew that indeed there were some special sections of the country who thought they were better than anyone else: specifically Georgetown in Washington, D.C. and New York!). But Palin insisted it ONLY means someone who thinks they are better than anyone else. And I wondered how on earth she could made the judgment that Obama thinks this way! But then Williams asked her if she is a feminist. And she replied that SHE HATES LABELS and hates the thought of being labeled, so she does not call herself a feminist or want to be called one, though she is all for women’s rights! So Obama is an elitist because he thinks he is better than anyone else and she dislikes labels! All in the same, one, single interview! Whew!

This Bill O’Reilly is 180 degrees away from the sort of man I admire. I prefer courtesy, manners, kindness, consideration, a well-modulated voice, intelligent conversation, breeding, grace, tact, did I say breeding? O’Reilly shows no trace of any of these.

Probably the most accurate poll of all; I really believe in the dish from hairdressers. Disappointed to know Obama is only going to squeak in, though. Oh well; at least it alleviates my nightmares of President Palin!

Here is a fun site. Click on everything EXCEPT the red telephone, until you have clicked on everything and the phone rings. THEN click on it to answer it. http://www.palinaspresident.us/

No, that is word of mouth that has gone around. She never wrote OR said that. Mrs. Obama said that for the first time in her adult life she was proud of her country. She said this in the context of having to feel shame in her adult life because of the race discrimination all around her and served up to her every day of that adult life, and she was saying that having a black man actually nominated for the office of president erased all of that mortification., at the same time raising the standards of all Americans and greatly swelling her personal feelings of patriotism, which she had always possessed.

Michelle Obama not only gives speeches which show a sparkling intellect with a full grasp of what she is talking about, but she shows the same deep intelligence when she answers unexpected questions right on the spot on the spur of the moment. She exhibits an unfailing courtesy and grace with all those about her. Her husband and daughters obviously adore her, yet she has managed to have a career of her own in the law. Coming from a less-advantaged set of circumstances, she managed to develop a strong personal self-discipline and do well enough in her studies to obtain scholarships to the finest schools on the planet. Your question implies that none of us should form an opinion about any public figure on the basis that we do not know them personally. In my 79 years, I have learned that even those nearest and dearest to us, whom we feel we know quite thoroughly, can suddenly turn a corner as it were and exhibit deplorable traits we never imagined them capable of. In this great republic full of franchised citizenry, how are we to form opinions other than through reading, watching and listening? I never met or came to know Joe Stalin or Adolf Hitler, either, yet their behavior and deeds caused me to know I would despise them. Was that an error in judgment on my part?

Michelle Obama makes me feel pride in and hope for my beloved country.

I remember the call as “Ollie, Ollie, oxen free” as well. This was definitely the call when I was quite young in Virginia and New York. Later, in Florida, we used to call out: “Ollie, Ollie, all come free.” It is something of a relief to me to have this come up, albeit this is an unlikely venue, because I have asked my peers over the decades if they remember this call and NONE of them has! Bottom line, you have validated my memory banks! Thank you! Another one: do you remember King’s X for begging out from the game without being tagged because you just HAD to run home to answer nature’s call? The groups I played with always recognized “King’s X,” but again, no one seems to remember.

Stayed up to watch the SNL skit and was totally disappointed; had wanted to see the two women together on stage and it just did not happen. I wonder why? Did Palin refuse to appear side by side with Fey because Fey has so successfully lampooned her without mercy? Cannot come up with a reason why Fey would refuse to appear side by side with Palin. Was totally gratified to see General Powell given the opportunity to lay out for everyone world-wide who catches MEET THE PRESS (not the know-nothings, unfortunately) the reasoning for voting the democratic ticket this time around. Speaking of generals, are you having a problem convincing some concrete-headed individuals that Obama’s middle name does not mean he is a Muslim terrorist? If so, I give you one of the greatest generals in this proud nation’s history, one who outranks Colin Powell, one of a very tiny number honored with the 5 stars of General of the Army: OMAR N. Bradley, hero of World War II. Many, many, many Arabs carry that name. It is not Arabian however, but Iranian (Persian)! I mean, that should make him even MORE of a terrorist threat, huh? Oh yes, we have buried him with the highest honors this country can convey.

Mr. Brokaw, I am heartbroken you agreed to come in here and honor us with your presence, only to find yourself greeted with other than civility and courtesy by some obviously miserable persons. All over this world people who gather to discuss issues and attempt to find common ground at least may be able to achieve a breakthrough and gain peace on earth. Name calling, bullying threats, and derision engender only hatred and war. Do we really want this for our children? For their children? Thank you for your visit.

Yes, it was just like that. We got thrown out the door every pleasant summer day, and we played all day long. We used lots of imagination. The boys always wanted to play cowboys and indians, and the girls had to be the indians. We were expected to spend at least a couple of hours outside in the “fresh air” duing the winters, too. Dona, I am 79; born in 1929. I remember lots of flying down streets on a bike, roller skating with a skate key on a string around my neck, sledding down hills. I could simply weep to think of the millions of children who spend their free playtime in front of televisions these days. Did you have simply years and years of almost permanent scabs on your knees? I can sure remember picking and picking at those things and being fascinated at the ooze. If they resisted my picking to the point of really hurting, I quit. Until next day, at least! Well, we always wore dresses, and falls occurred from one thing or another almost daily. Bad falls about two a month. I knocked myself out completely falling out of one tree. Yes, respect is gone. Manners are gone. Caring is gone. And hey, those mothers that would put a piece of bandage and some adhesive tape on you? ( before band-aids! ) Well, they were allowed to admonish you, too! Remember? Everyone really did raise everyone else’s kids!

I remember the cardboard, too, Dona. In fact, I thought of it as I was responding about the plastic bags. As you point out, cardboard in the shoes became quite common. Soon, there will be no one left to remember that you had to have ration stamps to buy shoes at all during World War II. Those were hard times, but I remember them as lovely times, too: There was SO much more countryside to admire and enjoy. There was a much slower pace to life. There were a lot fewer people, and those there were got together on their front porches or stoop steps or front yards a lot more often than is the case tofay. You never see kids out playing hide and seek or dodge ball or red rover or redlight/greenlight or crack the whip or skipping rope or hopscotch or ANY of the early evening and twilight games I used to enjoy with every kid in the neighborhood.

You have just made a statement of opinion. But now you need to lay out for us a scenario of HOW this would happen and WHY it would happen, other than your opinion that our very highly regarded Senator from Illinois would cause it to happen. You see, I have the same sort of opinion about where the Bush administration of the last 8 years has brought us since 2000. I think we are right down the tubes into the sewage pits, BUT I can back that up: War in Iraq, tax cutting for the rich and the reckless, lack of concern for Global Warming (even when over one hundred other nations urge us to join them in this concern), deregulation of the investment firms (allowing them to grow overnight like mushrooms, and, like mushrooms, completely in the dark), bringing us to having to nationalize the financial markets of this country and leading us to, whoops! That’s SOCIALISM! A gift from the Bush Republican White House! Who knew? Will await your reasoning. Thanks!

And she was a Rhodes scholar; brilliant down through her toenails. Wistfully wishing here they would rename the parties the “Know-Nothings” and the “Do-Somethings.” It fits perfectly and would take the blinders off so many eyes.

Oh god, I love it! Well written. SNL should be calling you soon, Elizabeth! Good on you!