Hey, thanks for the message. I wanted to respond to some of the points you raised, because I think they are good ones. My reference to questions about Palin's motherhood on the first night of the convention were made specifically with PBS in mind. I saw Gwen Ifill interview McCain's spokesman and the entire interview was a.) is Sarah Palin a bad mom? and b/) will you go for the Eagleton Option? I saw similar lines of questioning on ABC and NBC. (I don't have cable, so I don't know what CNN, FOX or MSNBC were saying.) On book burning: I don't know what the purpose of the "rhetorical" book burning question was. I am opposed to banning books in public libraries, so I think it's an important issue. HOwever, I think the fact that the librarian was NOT fired for a year (despite being a political appointee of Palin's foe) and the fact that Palin has never made a move to ban any books in Wasilla or anywhere else is very telling as to her intent. Furthermore, Palin has shown herself to be a constitutionalist as a mayor and governor rather than an agenda-pushing evangelical. For example, she explicitly refused to push for an amendment to the State Constitution banning gay marriage because she did not think it was appropriate, regardless of her personal beliefs. She also threatened to veto funding legislation in which pro-life conservatives had inserted random restrictions on abortion. Given this record, I don't see her as an extremist who would use her position to impose her own moral code. Finally, her remarks at the church were clearly asking the congretation to pray that what they were doing was the right thing; i.e. that they were doing God's will. I will point out that this is exactly the same sentiment that Barack Obama expressed in the prayer he placed in the wailing wall in Jerusalem. Anyway, I hope that clarifies some things about my position. Love this debate!

What do you mean about measures for gin? Distilling or something?

We speak the same language, but sometimes, don't. Some of my closest friends are British & live in London, so we laugh about this all the time.

Just saw you were a copy ed for years - me too! In England?

The idea of drinking gin gives me shudders, as I had a drinking binge on gin once & can never drink it again.

However, I am right there with you. Besides that male strippers generally look ridiculous & make me cringe with embarrassment, as opposed to squeal with sexual delight. Blech.