If I wasn't scared of my mother and her "Western Conservative Christian Republican" values, I would send this to her. But, she won't read anything that dares to question her views.

Armstrong 2012! (I would support you in 2008, but the constitution prevents you from becoming president until you're 35. You're just too young.)

I'm totally voting for OBAMA...

That said, I do have to comment on the fact that Palin is a WAY better communicator than McCain. I have to give her the woman shout out. I agree with absolutely nothing that she said last night, was just impressed with her ability to stand and be the attack dog.

Again, not voting for her, but am kind of proud of being a girl.....

Amen... and AMEN...
First... stay mad as hell... because none of us are going to take it anymore.
I want people to read the darn constitution.
I want people TO READ ... for the love of god and realize WHAT each campaign is REALLY proposing.

Why are people so scared of Obama... because he is genuine? Because he can facilitate change? Because he is asking people to THINK... THINK SHEEP THINK...

People don't want to know that what they truly believe in is a lie... GWB is the worst president we have ever had. We are all worse off than we ever were before...

I want to SCREAM at the top of the hills and tell people to STOP MAKING this out to be a CHRISTIAN country... because IT ISN'T... the whole point of this country is that is WAS SECULAR for a reason... that there was a seperation of CHURCH AND STATE for a reason... and that reason was so persecuted Christians from Europe could practice what they believed... and NOT have to practice what a KING told them to... and now those same puritanical people want to dictate to me ... NOPe... NOT going to happen

I am angry... I am tired... I want this country to SNAP THE HELL OUT OF THIS CRAZY TRANCE... and I want THOSE NUT JOBS to all gather in one place and live with each other so they can judge judge judge all they want... and the rest of us can live in some damn Peace... I gurantee we will all be happy, and they will all knock each other up and shoot each other...

GLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH

Amen girl AAAAAAAAAAMEN!

yay heather! even though i don't think that article is a big deal and nothing in it really is surprising, it got me thinking you should totally campaign for office. you would be such an amazing politician because you really care about people (well except conservatives and mormons - you clearly can't stand either group, but that's besides the point). i get so sick of conservatives talking so much about how much they care about people and then as proof pointing to the fact that they want people to not have abortions. i've had two and am damn proud of it - not going to bring children into the world i cannot support. idiots, like that even counts to demonstrate your humanity - what about REAL LIVING people? anyway, you should join the pta, run for mayor, then governor (i'm sure there are plenty of corrupt republican politicians in utah you could take down) and we'll see you in 12 years at the DNC!!!

I fall more in love with you everyday...

Right on, Heather. Thank you for opening up your blog to a "mostly" polite discourse. When McCain first announced Palin I was pretty excited but the bloom quickly wore off the rose. I have been leaning toward Obama all along and am keeping my love of Joe Biden to myself - but after all this brouhaha I've decided to definitely cast my vote Democratic. I am also white, middle class, and have a college degree - I've held a job since I was 13 years old and have lived with no health insurance (and with COBRA which is a f'n joke). White, Latino, black, I applaud folks who can work and try to get ahead - we work our asses off for what we have. My parents worked their asses off - 2 and 3 jobs for what they have and my dad is still working full time at 68 years old. It sucks that many people don't get the help they need but I also can't stand seeing the line of people at the bank for their disability checks on the 1st of every month - that kind of shit pisses me off. Clearly they are able bodied enough to get down there and cash it - I could sure use an extra $600 a month or whatever it is. I don't want to open up another can with an immigration remark but LEARN FUCKING ENGLISH ALREADY, WILLYA.

If Palin were a man, I firmly believe 'he' should remain home to take care of 'his' family. They are dealing with huge issues, things that require a lot of work from every member of that family. Political aspects aside.

[I'm not saying parents can't be employed; by 'home' I mean 'not running-in-a-presidential-election.']

Although you can't see it. I am giving you a STANDING OVATION.

I attended Wasilla High School during the years Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, AK and attended her city council meetings as a student. I still live in Alaska under her governorship. Initially, I was in complete shock knowing how completely inexperienced and unready she is for the job of VP. Now, I've moved past my shock and am sick to my stomach at the possibility she may be our VP. My fingers will be permanently crossed until November 4...

I am with you, Heather. When I hear about Sarah's speech last night and all of the lies that are being put out there, I really wonder if any other Americans experienced the last 8 years?? Hello!!
Thanks for opening up about your political views and know that you have given me yet another reason to read your blog daily. As one of your Canadian fans, I want you to know that if we could vote for Obama in November, we would. This election affects our country too!! Go Obama Go!!!

I wish I had time to slog through all 618 comments...I'm sure I would be outraged...

As for me...all I can say is THANK YOU!! Seriously, I couldn't have said it better...and this is the same argument I use with my conservative friends and family.

What I can't understand is how someone could be undecided in this election. Say, someone like my sister-in-law, whose only concern is which of the two candidates will best represent HER interests. As if she and her (VERY LUCKY!) family are the only ones in this country who matter. How about voting for/considering the best interest of our country and all who are fortunate enough to live here. I believe that far too many Americans are only looking out for number ONE (and screw the rest of you, you're not MY problem) and that is one of the biggest reasons we are in the position we're in right now as a country!

I agree with you 100% Heather. I'm sorry things are so divided in your family. Makes me appreciate my ultra liberal loved ones all the more. There's always room for three more if you ever decide to come back to California!

In case you're not familiar with it check out http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_electi.... A wealth of information.

Funny because you don't mention any of Obama's lies or cover-ups! Why don't you investigate the truth about Rezko? How about Willaim Ayers? That is some scary sh$t yet you libs just ignore it.

Amen, Heather. You've just described the way I feel every day. I just had a coffeebreak with a coworker and we commiserated about how we have to keep our mouths shut so that we don't hurt working relationships. I wonder if I can last until November.

To those conservatives who posted on here who claim that capitalism works -

When?

Insurance companies are there to make money AND NOTHING ELSE! They don't see what they do as saving lives or helping or caring. Just dollars. How does that benefit anyone?

And if Republicans believe in small government - where have they been the past eight years? The government is larger, more unmanageble and has it's hand further up my ass then ever before in my lifetime!

Get your heads out of the sand. The koolaid should have worn off by now and no one buys your bullshit.

Thanks Heather...

Amen to you Heather! You state our case in words anyone should be able to understand!

Excellent post. I'm with you girl. I feel the same way.

You nailed it on the head, Heather. We all need to stand up for what is right. Thanks 4 your brilliant post.

THANK YOU.

rock out with your Barack out!

YES YES YES and ....SHIT YES.

:)

Over 37 Million watched last nite!!!!

I'd be upset too if I were for O.

My SIL was/is in the same predicament as you. And me? Because my kids have AUTISM and DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, they have the same issue. No private insurance for us! No sir! They get disability insurance, which doesn't cover squat and! They need TONS of therapy, and insurance companies won't cover it because they won't be cured! They won't improve! Nevermind the fact that it will IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE!!!!

Sheesh. Don't get me started. I'm so disgusted at this point and I want CHANGE.

This election is now officially scaring Bossy to death. She thought we had more than a chance until Sarah Palin stepped in and made a mockery of politics,while doing it in a way that a majority of people actually think is *appealing*.

That woman gives Hockey a bad name.

Bossy can't watch the RNC, not without a bottle in front of her (or a frontal lobotomy.)

I appreciate the conjecture you raise, but give everyone a little lattitude. This is just what I call the " I am right about everything week" for the Republicans. Last week it was the same thing for the Democrats. They name called the opposition and praised themselves just as much as the Republicans are doing this week. You have to realize that this whole convention thing is each side's chance to rally the troops.

Pausing for Breath,
Matt in the Citi

As a Canadian with a less than perfect healthcare system and taxes up the wazoo all I can say is, "It's better than the alternative." I know that a country with a population of 30 million has a far easier go of universal healthcare than one of 300 million, but seriously folks, it scares the crap out of me when I hear stories (I have family in Texas) about people who are in massive debt because of medical bills.

I think the US is a phenomenal country with so much going for it. I hope the future government is able to set aside issues regarding legislating morality and concentrate on helping it's citizens and getting it's economy because the [still] untapped potential of your nation is staggering.

Good luck in November. We'll be watching with bated breath!

Well put, and I could not agree more. Thank you Heather, for speaking up.

I'm right by your side, Heather.

GO OBAMA!

Heather, I love your blog and usually enjoy everything you write. However, this is just one we'll have to disagree on. Except for the issue of health care for you daughter. That is a real tragedy and true problem with our current system.

First of all, let me state that I do not support GWB and I feel he has betrayed the American people. I am a conservative Christian, but do not judge those who are not. I consider myself an Independent and am still undecided in this election. I've yet to hear something truly substantive from either party. However, I do identify with Sarah Palin in that she is a working mother who is dealing with many of the same issues that many other American women go through every day. From what I have read about her, she believes she is doing the best for those who have elected her. Her approval rating in AK indicates that.

The issue that bothers me most about Barack Obama is that I still don't understand why democrats believe HE is qualified to be president. What has he ever done besides talk? Really. I'm asking the question. I'd like to know. I've read Obama's wikipedia page and his website and can find nothing that indicates he can get things done. Just a lot of talk about sending $5 to the campaign and trying to discredit Sarah Palin. Like people's cages are rattled by her mere presence. If she's so much of a non factor, why the uproar by the dems? If people are willing to listen to Obama and give him a chance, then why not Palin?

Obviously my thinking is opposite of yours, Heather, but I still enjoy your blog immensely. I look forward to it every day!

By the way, so no one thinks I am some wealthy elitist from an oil rich Texas family, I came from a low income single parent home. My mother made little enough that she qualified for food stamps, but decided not to take advantage of the program. I worked a minimum wage job the summer before my senior year in high school so I could make a down payment on a car. I then found a slightly higher paying job and worked full time taking nine hours a semester in college until I graduated. Granted it took me seven years to do it, but I did it. Without the federal government's help. Bigger government is not the answer.

We're marking 60 years of the NHS here in the UK, and along with that a whole slew of articles on it's various failings.... but..... when I read anything about the American healthcare system, I thank my lucky stars my family and EVERY other British resident (irrespective of being born here) has it to rely on.
Unlike the weather.

Love your writing.
Tracey, cold and wet in London.

I am honestly, seriously interested in how you can comment on Sarah Palin's lack of experience to be the vice-presidential candidate when the Democrat presidential candidate has no executive experience, only 6 months of active service as a senator before starting his presidential campaign, and is currently claiming that his qualification to be president comes from running his own presidential campaign.

You can address a lot of issues with Sarah Palin's policies, but it seems a little silly to bring up her lack of experience...

Thank you, thank you, thank you...I'm with you!

And now all of us who agree agree agree! should donate to the Obama Biden campaign. Most of us were paid a few days ago, we can all sacrifice a few Starbucks runs to the cause, can't we?

You are braver than I am. I try to keep my more liberal thoughts out of my blog because my conservative friends read it, and really, it's not a fun night out when we start arguing politics. But McCain lost my vote when Palin become his running mate.

Also, you know, "they" all love McCain so much, but WTF that they railroaded him 9 years ago when he should've been the nominee, not bush, and should've been president, not bush. McCain before they neutered him? LOVED HIM and would've had a hard time NOT voting for him. But now? Psssshhhhhaaawww.

658. michelle

YES!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels attacked by the false blatant remarks that many people on this comment list are making! Do some of these people NEED the federal government to take their money in order for them to help others?

Heather, I still love your blog. All of your posts (minus today's) puts a smile on my face!

I can't wait to see the RNC's new platform which will undoubtedly include a big fat bold font statement saying WE ARE THE PARTY OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION!

Thank you Meg! (93) Exactly what I was thinking!

And I'm all for people having their own opinions, but you can express them respectfully without bashing the other side.

I find it very mind boggling that people are talking about Sarah Palin's inexperience, yet ignoring the fact that Obama has even less.

"The degree to which my blue-collar, struggling, middle-class relatives have been duped into believing that the political party standing on their throats and pissing down their backs is the one they should support is *mind boggling* to me"

This blows me away too; I think they feel they are upper class by "association." I think it has become so shameful to be a working class dog that they'll align them selves with the rich folk, just to feel better.

We are barely making it and have a son who is diabetic so we have been turned down for private insurance. (not that we could afford it) His scrips cost hundreds of dollars a month. I don't work because if I did, we'd lose our state funded insurance (which we also pay a premium for). We don't qualify for medicaid or food stamps or any of that stuff, which blows my mind. I don't know how families that make LESS than we do can even survive. The real kick in the ass is that my husband works as a private contractor, so we get that nasty 20% income tax for being self-employed. People just don't imagine all the scenarios that revolve around the blood-sucking health care industry.

You spoke to my soul today. I don't know you personally, but I relate to you on so many levels. I have come to the point now where I have made my monetary contribution to the Obama-Biden campaign and know how I am going to vote. Now I have to turn the TV and any politically minded internet sites off because I just can't take it anymore. Just can't take it.

I'm in the middle, fiscally conservative and mostly liberal on social issues. Our federal gov't has gotten huge and could be trimmed back. That is one of the reasons we have state gov'ts is to keep the federal gov't power in check allowing for each state individuality.

Now, having said that, I have seen welfare abuse up close and personal. I see women who have 5 children all with different fathers who act like birth control is a new concept. I know for a fact that your local health dept. hands out free condoms! Why should I have to pay for someone who takes no responsibility for her existing family by continuing to have babies that she can't support. I don't mind helping people who are making an honest effort and I understand that someone making minimum wage can't support a family on their salary, but it's as if all Democrats think all Republicans hate poor people.

Chew on this, the predominantly conservative South, gives the most to charities. Remarkable that those uncaring, rich(obviously we aren't taking the MS Delta into account or any other rural areas), republicans give the most.

Amen. I, too, feel like my head will explode when I visit my family in Utah and they assume that I feel the same about gun control, immigration, abortion, health care, gay marriage, global warming, etc. I do my best to avoid those discussions to preserve family relationships, but occasionally someone will say something so completely asinine that I have to pick my jaw up off the floor and respond. And then everybody looks at me like I've just given Bill Clinton a blow job in sacrament meeting. Because in Utah everyone believes the same thing. Even if they don't know what the fuck they really believe because they're just repeating the bullshit they read that morning in the crazy right-wing religious conservative emails they get in their inbox and assume is the gospel truth without researching even one morsel from it.

Does your family believe that Obama is a Muslim too?

Stick to dogs and kids. I don't come to your site to read left-wing politics. If I wanted that, I would go to AP.

What happened to all your GOOD content from years past? It's really been going downhill lately, especially with this post.

thank you :)

Thank you for this post. Some of the comments that have surfaced in opposition to your view have made my blood boil, but i'm trying to focus on the positive. what makes me mad about the right (in addition to many, many other things) is that it has a "we don't need to worry about the rest of the world, just our own problems" isolationist view, with which it can somehow totally reconcile unchecked, unprovoked aggression on foreign soil. Even if Obama's only experience was being president of the goddamned glee club in high school, he's got my vote because he is a diplomat, in word and deed, and will serve as a great ambassador to the rest of the world. instead of calling Kim Jong Il, "Kim Jong the second," or throwing up on foreign dignitaries, or talking about speaking latin in latin america. The rest of the world matters, people. Stop acting like it doesn't.

No one thinks Obama "shits rainbows" and will SOLVE much (what the commenter above and in other places like to say) -- smart, HUMANE, concerned citizens of this country are not in denial, they are REALISTIC: out of the two choices, Obama is the only one that can steer this wayward country towards the democratic ideals of "justice" and "freedom" and -- gasp -- separation of church and state, etc etc that are at its (much shat-upon) core. It's about getting back on track, it's about opening discussion -- RATIONAL discussion, not faith-based-us-against-them-are-you-in-or-out bullshit -- and the reinstitution of a free and OPEN society.
Then things can BEGIN to be solved. It's a long, arduous process towards the necessary rebirth of this country, but commencing the start of such a process it is what Obama can provide. McCain and Palin only contribute to smothering its last, labored breaths.

McCain and Palin want nothing to do with any of these things. They make this clearer and clearer with their hypocrisy, lies, and pandering.

And shame on anyone -- male or female -- who place irrational fear of a jealous god above the health and welfare of their daughter impregnated by a rapist or family member.

Please do not stay "neutral" or "calm". Go out and DO SOMETHING people.

Thanks, Dooce, for waving the banner of common sense.

Some of those Republicans might do well to familiarize themselves with the life and teachings of a guy named Jesus. Oh, wait, you've heard of him?

Hey Heather

It's me, from over in London. You know what? Maybe you and John should think about moving over to the UK until Leta turns 13. I've had two lots of brain surgery and some radiotherapy for a tumour and I've never paid a cent, apart from national insurance. The NHS is a marvellous invention and it would save you £300 a month for the next however many years... I have to say I think the US health system is pure evil!

Yours, fingers and toes crossed that Obama wins...

Bee

Another brilliant post. The rich have gotten away with 8 whole years of not paying the taxes they should be paying. The tide must turn again.

thank you. sometimes i'm convinced that people will see through the idiocy and elect the right people, but i was convinced of that the last time and the time before that.

Thank you, Heather. As usual. Well said, and brave of you too. It WOULD be nice if the people of the USA could collectively get their heads out of the paper bag and realize that it is time to stop embodying the Einstein Definition of Insanity (if you do something and it doesn't work, and you keep doing it the same way expecting a different result, that is insanity). By any ACTUAL measure, what this country has been doing is not working. The news reported that Bush's "legacy" is that he "kept the nation safe". EXCUSE ME? We have borders like tissue paper and shipping ports with containers coming in 24/7 that aren't checked, a huge undocumented population, bankrupt municipalities without adequate schools or police...the crime rate is rising and we are anything but SAFE. Plus, out here in California? we're running out of water. Not to mention that little thing called foreclosure. Not to mention what's going on in the rest of the world. Which, last time I looked, is most definitely not flat. So, the divisions and the name calling (you LIBERAL! you CONSERVATIVE! and, what?) are shockingly irrelevant and we don't have the luxury of time to fool around with them. What matters is the fate of all the beings on this earth, the fate of the earth itself, the fate of all the children, the fact that the world is a small, interconnected place....we are in a different paradigm now and it is time to grow up and deal with facts, such as that disregard for the rule of law (habeas corpus anyone?), and social and economic inequality have never created a viable society in the long run. Greed is not a positive fuel for human progress. So, please everyone. THINK CAREFULLY before you vote. Look at where we are NOW and not where we WERE or where we're pretending we are. Perhaps even, look at what the original thinking was around the development of this country. Read the Constitution. Personally, *I'd* rather have a President who takes that document seriously, beyond the provisions that affect the NRA.. *sigh*

Thanks. I have been making the rounds to the wonderful blogs that I read on a regular basis waiting, patiently I think, for someone to say something, anything.

You happen to believe much the same that I do, and I am guessing that they do as well -- but they are not saying anything...

This is too important not to weigh in ... especially for those who have a pretty high readership ...

Thanks for having the integrity to say how you feel and not worry about the advertisers or readers or whoever might be annoyed that you have a brain and a conscious and a backbone and are willing to use them all regularly.

If anyone out there is still wondering whether or not you use your site for anything other than what you really want... there!

Right on Sister!

I watched Governor Palin's speech, because while my instinctive response to her selection for the VP slot was "WTF?", I thought that I should at least hear her out. I found it almost physically painful to listen to her bitter, sarcastic, mean-spirited speech. I kept waiting for the part about issues (war, economy, education, health care, etc.) and how she and McCain would address them, but nothing. Only attacks. I am offended by her, by the notion that that only way a woman would be effective in office at that level is if she behaves like a "pitbull in lipstick" or a "barracuda".

Thanks for your post. Well said.

Thank you for this link. Very helpful. I was wondering if you have a source like this discussing claims that are made from the dems? Or, do you know if one exists? I struggle to find good non-partisan information about both sides.

Thanks!

I love you. And if I were a man I would hit on you... But, since that is not the case, just know that if I were not one of those many people trying to scrape by I would send you a dozen roses to say thank you for saying what so many of us are trying to say.

I know exactly how you feel. If you don't do so already, follow Andrew Sullivan's blog, it brings me great comfort. http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/

Nice cherry picking of the facts! Trooper Gate is Palin's abuse of power. "On July 28, 2008, a bipartisan committee of the Alaska Legislature voted 12-0 to hire an independent investigator to investigate Palin and her staff for possible abuse of power surrounding the dismissal."

Her brother-in-law was disciplined and suspended for 5 days. He is now back on the force.

Palin has now refused to cooperate in the investigation.

Okay, so I have a college degree in advertising. I own my own business, it's just ME (well, 2dogsandagirl, so it's actually MORE than just me -- but hell, I'm the one that works). Anyway, because I am diabetic (type 2) I am UNINSURABLE unless I can get on a group policy, which I was, with my husband's employer. We were paying almost $600 a month for the both of us, for some shitty fucking insurance with a $2,200 per person per year deductible. I consider myself a "healthy diabetic" if that makes any sense whatsoever. I eat right, maintain a healthy blood glucose level on oral meds that cost me a mere $4 per month with or w/o insurance, but yet, I can't get my own insurance. So the best part is, after forking over almost $600/mo for insurance on our group plan for about 3 years -- I don't even want to do the math on that one -- and never even coming close to meeting our annual deductible (last year we spent a whopping $621 on regular check ups, blood work etc) My husband gets LAID OFF due to the shitty construction industry here in sunny, unaffordable florida! Oh, if only I were psychic, I would have said SCREW the insurance and squirreled away that almost $600 a month, so now we wouldn't be having to live on my salary, plus that whopping $247 my husband gets per week from unemployment.

What a crock of shit. The middle class in this country gets bent over and takes it in the a$$. Oh wait, John McLame says that anyone earning less than 5mil per year is middle class, so I guess we fall into the SUB-POVERTY level now. I hope the dems can bring a change to our society, or else, we WILL be relocating to some foreign country. I know the grass isn't always greener on the other side, but hopefully it's not paved with as much SHIT.

Sorry to vent, but thanks for letting me!

Oh my god, God forbide the lazy ass, dead beat, welfare
mongers GET A FUCKING JOB!!!! Have you ever heard of a little thing called "PERSONAL RESPONSIBLITY"? You people sicken me. Let's pay for everybody to just sit around and sing Kumbaya and not work...Where I work, I see girls who are 2nd and 3rd generation welfare takers..having baby after baby because all they do is sit around and screw all day because they have no responsibities and they know that people like you with "white" guilt will just keep on paying. I hope Nobama gets whacked with a "Gun" the first month in office just to shut you liberal dumb asses up. and I hope you pay out the ass in taxes, helping those that need the help/welfare losers!!!!Go kill some more babies, I hear planned parenthood is always hiring. When Leta is
12 yrs old and wants to have an abortion without your consent, don't get too upset, because after all, that's what you people stand for. Idiots.

Heather,

People also need to remember that this is OUR government. OURS!!! And yes Miss Moose-Hunter, just like you know too well, all government starts in community action, LIKE THE FRIGGIN' PTA!!!

I am for a US Public Service Academy, a counterpart to John McCain's beloved/behated Naval Academy, but for civil service not military service upon graduation. I joined the cause because I believe in OUR GOVERNMENT.

C'mon people. Get it together!

=)
J.

I've always enjoyed reading your posts, but now I know why I like you, despite never having met you! So glad to see there are people out there with a social consciousness, who realise the whole world does not revolve around you. Well done.

My husband and I both teach. Full time. We do after-school programs to supplement our income. We live modestly. Very used cars. No credit cards. No extras. But we live in a desirable coastal region and have been priced-gouged out of a secure life. Proximity to elderly family prohibits moving. (Who would buy our house anyway? We're in the 'hood.)

We cannot afford insurance for our huge family of *three*. He and my kid have it, I do not. I roll the dice every day, spray Lysol, and play the don't-get-sick odds.

Our life was much better before the Bush-era. We could easily afford things we needed -and- wanted. Coincidence that my standard of living has fallen because of the Republicans? No. There is a direct correlation.

My only other explanation is that Katherine Harris touched my baby during an event we stumbled upon and we have been cursed ever since. Same thing. Same brand of evil.

Bring it on, Obama.

Conservatives, I'll save you some time since some of you seem genuinely confused.

All the names you keep encouraging us to look up? We know them, we've read about it. We're not convinced. Surely you can understand as you condemn the media for covering troopergate?

We're not the ones who have blasted Obama for the past six months on his lack of foreign policy experience. We didn't say he was dangerously unprepared. That was your guy. Ask him why a required depth of experience has gone from an ocean to a puddle.

We didn't say that when Clinton complained about sexism that she was just being a whiner, that was Rove and O'Reilly. We're the people who think sexism is wrong no matter who it is aimed at. And, no, investigating deeply into the political and personal life of a canidate for Pres or VP is not sexism. Criticism about her reproductive or mothering choices, now that is sexism. Speaking of...

We don't demand privacy for our family and reproductive choices while attmempting to strip every other American woman of that same privacy and choice (even in cases of sexual assault.)

We're not the ones who have put up a canidate who thinks that mockery and sarcasm are acceptable methods of conducting oneself in a campaign. You can choose to appluad the low road but we're not obligated. She's your VP choice, not ours.

We're not the ones who made our canidate not wearing a flag pin or his spouses comment on pride in being an American near crimes against ones country. Your tears about Mr Palin's membership in a group that put Alaska first, country second look purely crocodile to us.

Lastly, we've endured over a year of relentless media coverage of every aspect of the Obama's and Clinton's lives. So, if you're going to whine now about how ruthless the press is, well, thanks but we've got enough crazy of our we don't need to buy extra from you.

What are you worried about? Take it from me, a card-carrying Republican, who will be voting for Obama in November: the republicans have blown it. I'm disappointed in my party and the way they have stopped representing me, while the democrats are doing and saying everything right. And from what I hear, there are a lot of people like me out there. My very liberal family is positively filled with glee. So the next time politics comes up with your friends or family, just smile and say "I respect your opinion". Your guy is getting elected.

Good Lord, Heather. Just when I thought I liked you, you have to go and post complete bullshit on your website about something of which you know nothing about. Later tater. No more dooce for me.

Thank you so much for this post.

Jessi
Oxford, Mississippi

Amen.

What healthcare has become in this country is an absolute embarrassment--especially with regard to children.

I simply can't believe how close this race appears to be... apparently the experience thing is resonating. But seriously people, let's take a good hard look how beneficial dubya's 'experience' has been for the country.

This is the first time in eight years that I'll be voting FOR a president, rather than against the other guy. Obama is precisely what we need. He's someone who can actually inspire people to follow instead of simply dragging their feet behind the same tired mantras.

Dooce.

First, I love your page. I really do. Have read it, nearly daily, since 2003. And I will come back tomorrow(hopefully to different content).

Now, here is where your and my "relationship" gets sticky, much like the relationships between me and my lefty friends. I will be voting McCain/Palin in November and yet I have the same desire as you to see others with less fortune succeed or at least be allowed the opportunity. Isn't that what this country is about? The unfortunate state of US politics is that that goals of each party have become mired and cloudy by the fraternal nature of our two primary political parties. No longer does either side objectively view the positions of each candidate, but instead underestimates the intelligence of the voting population and enters into a public pissing match.

And honestly, that's probably why the men have faired so well. They have better aim.

I'm not sure how most of America can form an objective opinion about Sarah Palin. Other than a few pieces (ie the AP piece you linked to and a few a little less bias in the WSJ) the public hasn't been offered much in terms of facts on her stance on anything. And a well-performed, pre-manufactured speech given at a partisan event is not a basis on which one should form an opinion. It was simply rhetoric, filled with sarcasm (sarcasm being a Dooce trait that I enjoy).

I appreciate your input and have been anxious to see your commentary. But please know that not all conservatives are uncivil, robots without a heartbeat. Many of us believe that many of those less fortunate are not at fault for their circumstances and are willing to help those is need.

So, let's be the voice of change that the Left and Right are hoping for with this election and put the partisan guns back in their holsters.

P.S. I thought of you last night when my husband told me while he was helping our 2 yr-old son wipe, our dog ate the crap out of the potty chair.

I saw someone named "Elizabeth" speak thus above, and had a few comments. Point by point:

"I'm sorry, but I can't actually believe that you have all of the facts in this argument. Yes I'm Republican, but if Palin isn't ready for the task of SECOND IN COMMAND, how can you say that Obama is ready for first? He is obviously lacking experience and no die-hard Democrat can deny that... unless they're crazy and that's not so farfetched."

I looked up the levels of experience that Palin had and that Obama had.

Sarah Palin was on the city council of Wassila, Alaska for 4 years, and then was mayor of Wassila for 6 years. She then spent the next 4 years as one of three directors for a local Political action committee, and then got elected to governor of Alaska in the end of 2006. She has been governor for a year and a half. Prior to running for office, Palin was a sports reporter on local TV for 4 years.

Barack Obama was in the Illinois State Legislature from 1997 to 2004, a period of seven years. He then ran for the US Senate, won, and took office in the beginning of 2005. He has been a US senator for 3 and a half years. Prior to running for office, Obama was a lawyer for 7 years.

So let's compare:

PALIN: 10 years in local government, 1.5 years in state government. Zero years in Federal government. Zero years prior legal experience.

OBAMA: 7 years in state government, 3.5 years in federal government. 7 years prior legal experience.

...Technically, Palin wins for sheer number of years in office, but only by one year. And her paucity of legal experience doens't help her much either.

"And for the record, I think its disgusting that Democrats always say how they feel disgraced with America, and really aren't proud of their country (Hello Michelle Obama). MOVE B*TCH, GET OUT THE WAY then. That's how I feel."

...So you love this country so much you would deny people the right to express an opinion about it? Do you realize that this violates the very first amendment to the Constitution of the nation which you claim to love?

In some countries, disagreeing with the Constitution is treason. Fortunately, I'm a Democrat who also happens to support the First Amendment, so I'm not going to accuse you of treason. But I am going to accuse you of applying the Constitution selfishly, of clingig to partisanship, and being ignorant of the very principles which the founding fathers of this nation REALLY had in mind. They WANTED people to be free to criticize the government, so the government could IMPROVE itself. They WANTED people to speak up and say "I'm not proud of the way things are right now" so problems could be FIXED. They DIDN'T want people to put on a big happy grin and say "everything's GREAT! And how dare you say it isn't!" if there were things that needed fixing, because you can't improve if you don't know where you need to do so.

In that light, I'd say Michelle Obama is one of the biggest patriots we've got. When people say that they're not proud of the country the way it is right now, they're not saying "let's burn the flag", they're saying "let's WASH the flag". They're saying "I believe in the potential of this country and I know we can do better than we're doing now."

....Also, calling her a "bitch" was just plain nasty. I COULD be mean and say that that's "just like a Republican," but I won't, because that's not true. I WILL say that calling someone a "bitch" is just plain rude. So -- Elizabeth, you're just plain rude.

I love your blog, I love your stories, but you need to stay away from politics. People cannot legislate human nature. No matter how much training, how much encouragement, some people will still make poor choices (Governor Palin's daughter for example!) I'll pay for my poor choices, they can pay for theirs.

I was raised by liberal democrats in farm country . . . you by Christian conservatives. Maybe it's just our nature to rebel.

part of me wants to read the shit storm in the commentary that this blog post started, and the other part of me wants to turn off my computer for about three more months.

what i always hate about this process is how rapidly we descend into sound bites and half truths all to pander to the least informed.

i watched/read/listened to much of both conventions, and frankly, both got me all twitchy. although the dems are no angels when it comes to party politics and twisted talk, why does it always seem that the republicans are just so damn GOOD at it.

maybe i'll add more to the spray later. but really, why bother? with the addition of palin to the ticket, my vote was essentially secured: OBAMA 08.

Thank you for this. You perfectly expressed what I've been feeling.

I have a number of Republican friends and I think my head just might explode if I hear one more quote from Palin's speech last night.

Heather, while I don't agree with everything you wrote in this post, I still plan on continuing to read Dooce.com. It bothers me that some of the commenters are upset that you wrote about what you think...on your own blog. Hello?

I respect you opinions and I will keep reading and loving your family even though I don't always agree with you.

People, she can write what she wants. It's HER blog.

I've never posted a comment on here before, but I've read your blog for quite some time. I'm SO incredibly thankful that you posted this. I feel like everyone abroad thinks we're all sitting at home on the couch screaming "Drill Baby Drill."

It makes me physically ill.

<3

All I can say is:
Having a vagina does not make one vagina friendly.

And can I please have that in bumper sticker form?

Bravo!

I live in Canada and if I were an American I would vote for Obama.

Thank you for sharing your views which are the same ones as many of us.

McCain and Palin are not even a choice, let alone a bad one.

GO OBAMA!!!!!!

"They shouldn't HAVE them in the 1st place."

Well, if it's up to the Republicans, they won't have a choice.

But besides the pro-life/choice issue, this statement is so sweeping and wrong I can't believe it.

What about the family that had plenty of money when they birthed the child but have fallen on hard times?

What about the family that lost a parent and, so, their income?

What about the family who can afford a child and has health insurance, but that child then gets a costly disease? Should we only have children if we can afford to pay for cancer treatments for 10 years just in case they get sick?

thank you for this. boo-YAH!

i'm going home to visit my midwestern, superconservative family in a few weeks. i don't know how i'm going to keep my mouth shut when they start in on politics. there's certainly no convincing on either side. i'm a little flummoxed as to how to react like a self-assured grown up and not a 12-year old, redheaded stepchild.

earplugs and wine, i think, are the answers.

I couldn't agree more...as is the case with everything i've read so far. I'm Jon and I'm a Dooce-a-holic. It's been two weeks since I went a day without checking for a quippy entry that could brighten my day. Thanks :)

My American family are split down the middle this election, and it's painful to watch people I would ordinarily consider intelligent human beings lump their lot in with McCain/Palin. From my little corner of this side of the pond, it looks like a no-brainer for Obama.

Keep smiling. And keep watching the Daily Show, if only for Jon Stewart's crowsfeet and John Oliver's dimples.

When I first heard about the Palin appointment, my first thought was, "It's a good thing I'm not a Republican because I would be plenty pissed off if I was." I found it insulting that McCain chose a green, inexperienced running mate when there are plenty of Republican women with more stellar credentials.

But I haven't heard any outrage from Republicans. I don't get it.

Kim in Alaska -

Sorry! Can't stay out of this one. Obama isn't a Muslim! Before you accuse "dumbasses" of not reading, perhaps you should yourself!

Okay, I already kinda wanted to kiss you when I read the beginning, the part about the universe humping your face. That happens to me all the time.
But then, as I read on and got to the guts of this post, I was in pure and total love.
Sarah Palin is not only unqualified, wildly and dangerously unqualified, she is also scary as hell.
In June, she gave a speech to her church in which she says that the War in Iraq is a MESSIANIC mission, in which we are doing the will of God. It kinda reminded me of that speech Hitler gave before invading Poland. She then went onto ask the congregation to pray for the completion of a $30 billion pipeline, a pipeline that would benefit, I don't know, British Petroleum, her husband's employer. Her pastor has said that critics of George Bush are going to Hell. That would be basically everyone but them, right?
Her husband, the BP oilman, has also belonged to the Alaskan Independence Party for 7 years. That's the one that wants Alaska to be it's own country. Remember how nutty the Faux News folks went when Michelle Obama made that comment about being proud of America's race policy for the first time in her adult life? Can you imagine what they would've done if she belonged to a party that didn't want to be a part of the US any longer? Isn't the RNC theme this year "Country First." I guess that is UNLESS you don't really want to be a part of the country any longer.

I just don't understand why McCain's main focus is to criticize Obama when he should instead be letting the public know what he plans to do if he is elected for the next four years. In two months his opinions about Obama will be totally irrelevant!

Obama 2008 all the way.

I just love how most of the conservative commenters are Anonymous. What courage.

I'm really hoping that people don't vote the McCain ticket just because he picked a woman for VP. She's pro-gun and anti-choice and I can think of nothing scarier than a lipstick-wearing pitbull. We've had enough fear mongering. We've completely forgotten that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Fear has become the GOP's most effective tool, and I'm sickened how easily half the country has fallen for it.

Ive been reading your blog for quite some time now, ive never commented before. I need to comment now to say..

AMEN! I couldnt have said it better myself.

GO Heather!

I always want to ask them if they like all their tax money going to kill American men and women in the military and building the infrastructure of a country with a billion plus plus surplus...

If these weasels win this one, I say we start a revolution. I'll learn to fight for what was once a great nation for and about the people instead of for and about the multi-national corporations and their tools (Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove - oh yeah and that half wit figurehead SHRUBBush).

THANK GOD! I too was worried that people were falling for the GOP crap heap. I was STUNNED at their choice for VP- I read somewhere that she's a "first term governor in a state with more reindeer than people", and I about crapped myself. Then I read your blog and felt a little more confident that we wouldn't get screwed again. It will take us a while to recover from having that trained chimp as our so-called leader, it will take us a long time to re-earn the respect of the rest of the world.

Here in lovely Cuyahoga falls, we have the same problem. Our mayor has been in office for 20+ years because these conservative fear-monger old farts keep voting him in, hey maybe I'll get lucky and we'll get a new democrat mayor and a democrat president. I would seriously do cartwheels.

736. Tara

Again, that is NOT what the investigation is about. Her brother-in-law was disciplined by Julia Grimes, chief of the Alaska state police. You can keep typing taser again and again but the situation was handled and she is being investigated for over-stepping her authority. You might not like the results but there is not a Legislative investigation on Mike Wooten.

I practically cheered when I read this post, Heather. We need people like you, who have the power to reach so many, to stand up and give it all they've got. Bravo for telling it like it really is.

The nightmare of getting insurance coverage as a person with a disease is making me sicker, literally. The stress exacerbates every symptom. It's unreal, and terrifying.

And I'm a lucky one: white, young, middle class, supportive family. I worry for the less lucky.

Well done, Heather. WELL DONE!! I'll bet you were pretty nervous putting that out there - haven't read your comments but I hope it's mostly very encouraging (am sure it would be) because THIS is a great example of the reason you have such a following. To turn some lights on in your readers that may not have already been on, and the hope is that those readers will then go around flicking switches in the people around them. And so the 100 Monkeys theory goes...

Perhaps it'll make a difference, perhaps it won't (to their vote, or whether they vote). But I hope you can sleep at night knowing you tried :)

Amen. It seems to me we've tried the Republican way of doing things for the last eight years. Perhaps - PERHAPS - that's enough? Yes?

And, I really don't think that Palin's sarcastic behavior behooves the Republican party. So, in a way... I say well done, McCain. You DID make the right choice.

I think it's all but impossible to have a rational conversation about politics with someone on the other side of the ideological aisle from yourself. We take it WAY too personally...ie, you dislike my candidate/position, you must therefore dislike ME so I'm going to dislike you right back. How can you possibly not see MY side? I'm RIGHT, DAMN IT, RIGHT and YOU are an idiot for not agreeing with me. Politics is blood sport and that's fine if you're willing to roll up your sleves and duke it out. You just have to be willing to take a few hits.
Most people just vote a ticket without ever listening to a word the candidates say. Sadly, people say "I'm a Democrat" or "I'm a Republican" and live in that little box and reject out of hand anything the other side has to say.
Having said all that on my little soap box: Sarah Palin may very well be a very nice Hockey Mom lady who stood up to big oil. Her social politics and mine don't jibe, fine. I don't agree with her but I don't begrudge her her position. What I DO begrudge is the assumption that I'd be stupid enough to vote for her; the assumption that I'm too stoopid to not comprehend that this is stunt casting designed to bamboozle me into thinking she's in the same mold as Hillary because she's a girl, too. Frankly, she could be an exact Hillary replica and I'd still not vote for her because I'm so pissed off that I'm being pandered to. You cannot tell me that she was selected for her great political resume. She was picked because she has a vagina. It makes you wonder: If Hillary had one would we be discussing the VP bid of J.C. Watts? I have to believe we would because that'd be an equally obvious move.
And as for the issue of taxes, has anyone who argues with you about government spending ever actually READ the budget of the United States? Or taken a gander at the OMB/BEA websites? All the people who piss and moan about getting taxed so that lazy people don't have to work clearly have no idea how their money is actually spent.

I'm sorry, reading a lot of these comments pisses me off.

"Go back to writing about kids and dogs?"

God forbid she has an opinion beyond the affairs of her house, right? Come off it, people.

Right. On. Heather! Loved this post. I'm with you 100 percent.

Heather - i have been reading your blog since BlogHer and have been wondering recently if you were going to weigh in on things beyond Chuck, products, and other light stuff. I was having a disconnect between who you were on the stage at BlogHer and what felt to me like an aversion to commenting on the "issues of the day."

I am so glad to have read this post, and could not agree with you more. I think you struck a very fine balance on making your thoughts clear/known and even if I were conservative I could never accuse you of being harsh in this post. Certainly not condescending, snarky or disrespectful, as Sarah Palin was to Barack Obama last night.

Keep the substantive points-of-view coming!
thanks

I'm one of those "I've been reading forever and never commented before types" but I have to reach out to everyone who is going though this same kind of incredible, indescrible frustration during this election season and ESPECIALLY this convention. I couldn't get through watching last night without a drink, and then I got so angry I started shouting at the TV. And then I promptly donated more money I didn't have to the Obama campaign, because it is THAT important. could fill up pages with a comment on things that have angered me about this situation, but instead I'll just say that I love reading your website and I have for years, and I'm happy that you spoke up about this, because it has been frustrating a lot of people, believe me, and it is nice to commiserate.

AMEN! I want to print your post in 1 million point font and post it on my house.

Just reading the comments shows how polarized our country has become. I for one do not think that Democrats are the answer, however, Obama is clearly better than the alternative.

Okay, McCain scares me a lot too. Not that Obama was my first pick, but he is oceans better than McCain. All of my friends are conservative too, so much so that you can't get a word in edgewise, even when they just directly quote foxnews and make no independent thoughts of their own. I finally made some t-shirts because that way I can be bold about it.

http://www.mccaint08.com

Thank you!! I agree with what you have said here.

Thank you for stating what I have been feeling all day. I watched her speech, because I wanted to know exactly what she had to say and wanted to educate myself about her. I learned nothing. I take that back, I learned she doesn't like Obama- that much was VERY clear. And the booing? Disappointing and childish. Thank GOD I had enough wine last night to erase her speech from my mind. Oh... wait... SHE"S STILL THERE!

The difference between Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney? Lipstick...

Deep breaths Heather. One of the cool things about having inane nincompoops argue that there is no such thing as global warming is that it makes you the automatic winner of said argument. The world is lucky to have you in it. Hugs.

To all the people who comment about "socialized" medicine:

Having national health care doesn't mean doing away with private medicine. It's still there for people who have the money and are willing to go that route. It just means that those who don't have the money still have options. Why is that such a scary thing?

It simply does not make sense to simultaneously criticize Palin for a lack of experience and qualifications and support Obama for President. Don't you see that?

McCain and Palin are hardly four more years of the same thing. It's sad that you buy the Democrats' spin on that.

You don't have to be a religious person to support McCain and Palin - I'm an atheist, and could never vote for Obama.

This is all very difficult, isn't it?

The comments on your blog illustrate how misinformed people are about Sen. Oboma and Sen. Joe Biden. The Republicans will take that little bit of fear/ignorance and run with it.

Muslim? Marxist? Sexist? Are you kidding me?

The Republicans are putting at "attack dog" (their words, not mine) on their ticket. If he wanted a woman, why not Sen. Hutchinson of Texas? She's smart, interesting, experienced and has dignity. Palin? She's Karl Rove with lipstick (again, their words not mine).

The "First Dude"? Are you kidding me?

Come on, Sen. McCain! I know Karl Rove tought you some tough lessons 7 years ago but you are better than this. If this is your running mate, who are you going to put in your cabinet? The Supreme Court?

Again, this is very hard and I respect you for writing about it.

I won't for a second be surprised to see her and mcCain take this. There are more of them, than there are you -- Bush is evidence of that. If people where truly as ready for "change" as they like to spout off about, this race would not be neck-in-neck.

Fucking. A.

Yea, Heather! You said it brilliantly -- exactly what I have been ranting at my tv screen as I watch the convention. Too many people forget that the parties aren't just about 1 or 2 issues, but a belief in the concept that a government should help people or not help people. As someone who watched my family's hometown not be helped by government after Katrina, put me down for helping.

I love how passionate Americans are about politics. In Australia we have to make voting compulsory otherwise no one would show up on poll day. Keep up the healthy democratic debate. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, I think we'd just be pleased if you could try to choose someone a little less trigger happy this time.

PLEASE READ THIS.. You can see how good other countries have it... this is my life before and my life now living in london.

BEFORE:
Lived in Miami,age 26. Graphic Designer
Earned 45,000.
- bought my "dream" house. Worked 70 hours a week.
Never saw my husband. Couldn't afford going to dinner bc its freakin' Miami and its expensive. prices of gas going up... Every time a hurricane would strike.. we would loose power for 2 weeks-4 weeks.. oh and not even mention the gas prices!! .(where is the government to help us out?) drilling holes in alaska will solve it???
- Paid more than 4,000 dollar one year on medical bills (probably more.. Not counting the ER visits)
because of 2 emergency ovarian surgeries.
Was in debt with credit cards.
. Almost went crazy when the housing market started turning for the worst after we bought our home.
-could not afford to start a family! Childcare was too expensive and how could we do it?

NOW:
Live in London.
Earn: around 100,000 dollars (they pay better here too)
-0 medical bills
-0 debt (well.. our house in Miami is still for sale but at least we have it rented)
-public transportation.. we don't need a car here..
-40 hour work weeks
-always feel safe...lower crime rate
-spend more time with my husband.. I now actually have weekends....
-we enjoy going out to eat.. Cause now I can order the rib eye without looking at my husband with a “pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee only this time”
-1 year off for maternity leave
-get 200 dollars week from the government while I am on maternity leave for a wholeee year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you know how good that is???!?!?!?!!?

Hospital and emergency stuff since we’ve been in london and this is not a joke: 1 ovarian operation, 10 physiotherapy sessions, 10 osteotherapy sessions, 1 back surgery, 1 fractured ankle, 1 trip to the emergency room: and the cost of all this!! ZEROOOOOOOO I PAID NOTHINGGGGGGGGGGGG Healthcare is universal here. And its freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. The same Hospital the Queen goes I go. Yep.. The QUEEN. But again.. Its not all socialist. This is a Capitalist country with a socialist way of having the basic needs in life which for me are the following: safety, health, public transport, and be able to sleep at night without thinking of how am I going to pay the electricity when I need to pay the mortgage? Irony...

So now... you ask me...if i would move back to the states right now? Hell no! We are happy now.. We have basic things that before in miami it was so hard to get.

I have been following this election very closely.. and one thing is for sure.. Everything that I now have will not come if you vote for the Republicans...

so please please.. Be jealous of my life.. Because maybe that is the only way every American will open their eyes and see how bad all Americans have it right now. That is not a life. What I have now is a lifestyle. And trust me.... It has not been easy to move to London but we new that if we wanted a better life for ourselves and our future family we had to move here ... The American Dream was never going to happen.

So ask yourself one question: How can I have what “Fiofromlondon” has? The easy answer would be.... Move to london but I know its not that simple. I wish I could take every american and bring them here... But no, the answer is to vote for the Democratic party.. Not because I love obama.. Because they believe in my new life. They believe in a better day to day for everyone. From the poor to the middle income family to the rich and famous.

Your political views suck. I like your blog though....so I'll keep reading. :) Can't have everything, right.

When McCain was nominated, I though - I'm a Democrat, however I'm not a fan of the lack of voting record for Obama. I think that if Obama can do everything he said in his speech - We will be the best Nation ever. But what he said contradicted himself and is just not feasible in some instances.

Here's what I think.

1. We need to be able to buy the same Health Care the US Govt employees are offered - and at the same prices.
2. We need to have government KEEP THEIR HANDS OUT of moral issues like abortion (its a choice - period.) and gay marriage. I don't know one gay couple that has somehow changed my moral code. I know gay/lesbian couples that have been together over 20 years.
3. We need to stop trying to fix everyone other country on the planet and fix ours. PERIOD. Bring the jobs back and tell everyone else to F-OFF.
4. We need to improve education across the board. What passes for education these days is really riduculous.

5. Can you say FLAT TAX & NO Corporate loopholes. Why can't it just be even? You lose X% of your income to taxes. The more you make the more you send in.

Heather,

UNDERNEATH EVERYTHING, I believe we all (Democrats, Republicans, Liberals) want the same things.

I am a Republican.

OF COURSE I WANT TO HELP OTHERS.
OF COURSE I WANT MORE AFFORADABLE HEALTH CARE
OF COURSE I WANT TO PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT.

I want the same things you want.

The fact is, I just see a different path to getting there.

I am looking forward to the day when we can all meet in the middle.

I haven't read all eight hundred comments, so I may be repeating someone else's sentiments, but...

If your family disowns you, I'll come and be the liberal relative you never had. This post was AWESOME. Thanks for the AP link, too.

P.S. I've been a teacher in the public school system, and I cannot TELL you how hard it was to listen to my conservative co-workers complain simultaneously about our abysmally low pay and any (real or imagined) tax increases. Where the hell do they think our paycheck is coming from?!?!

OK, here's the problem I have with what you wrote. I remember the last election, where there was set up some website where people could take pictures of themselves holding up a sign saying, "Sorry Earth, I didn't vote for Bush," or something like that. And what you wrote in your last two paragraphs basically say is the same, that if things don't go your way, boo hoo, bitch, moan, *I* didn't vote for this.
You're accusing your enemy (and really, what would you call it after what you wrote?) of damning the planet and the country because of the stuff they do, but you're basically saying that if your side doesn't get to do the stuff THEY want to do, you're setting yourself up as apart from the country, basically damning the planet and the country because your foot-stomping didn't get you what you wanted. So please, if the worst does happen, at least have the balls to NOT say that your enemy is the one creating division.
Understand, I'm writing this with absolutely no interest in the race. I choose to not vote because of certain convictions, but also because I choose to live more municipally. Why do you think that the government is the best way to help(if I've inferred too much, the rest is kind of moot, but it bears mentioning)? I'd prefer knowing that my money is going specifically to a need locally than go to a federal pool where I the politics of the day from both sides prevent me from knowing what goes where.
Bleh, like I said initially, this whole "line in the sand" mentality is the biggest problem of this whole thing. It comes from both sides and you pretty much put it into words just now. It makes "hope and change" an absolute joke because it's still business as usual and no matter WHO gets in, it doesn't look like it'll change in the next 1300+ days.

They won't give her insurance because of PLAGIOCEPHALY?!! Are they NUTS?! My god, I mouth off about the NHS in this country (and in so many ways, they are really rather rubbish), but at least it is FREE rubbish.

Sorry, that just upset me enough to comment about it.

Go Obama. George Bush is a nutjob. McCain - well, same party.

You so totally get it. GREAT to find your site and know you're here and writing--by which I mean thinking. Hooray. Yay you!

More. MOREMOREMORE!!!

Going now to link to your site.

Pico

From a NC Obama Mama working her ass off to turn my red state blue: again with the awesomeness!

The campaign has raked in $8 million since Palin's speech last night. But after seeing this, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to discover you had as much impact on those numbers as she did.

fiofrom london? please do tell us how you managed since my british brother-in-law recently tore his ACL in half and the NHS denied him surgery, while his last surgery to fix a broken nose that caused him serious breathing problems for a long time took over 18 months to finally get scheduled. although, on the bright side, when a bunch of roaming teenagers (who turns out have lived on the dole their whole lives) beat the crap out of him in a park for no other reason than they could, he was rushed right to the hospital and didn't have to pay a cent.

Thanks for writing that. Living in the bible belt I often feel that either I am the only sane or the only crazy person I know. I'm a christian and I find it laughable that my fellow believers think that this party gives a crap about what our religion is SUPPOSED to be about. Loving and helping people. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

I think maybe I've commented once before, but never about politics. But here goes, I'm silent in this blogosphere no longer.

I have to share my outrage about last night. I'm sickened by what I saw. I've always been a "sit back and watch" democrat. I vote, I inform myself, but I've never participated in getting someone elected. I don't know where to start, but I for damn sure am not going to let McCain and Palin get elected. Democrats are not the minority in this country. It's freaking time we all stood up and did something about that. After reading the comments on your site today, I think the Republican establishment opened up a sick old can of worms they didn't see coming. I have never been so fired up, and neither have my friends. They won't know what hit them in November. Game freaking ON Hockey Mom!! Game freaking ON!!

Thank you Heather, you are my hero in more ways than one.

Just thank you, Heather. Thank you.

Right on Heather! I am right there with you.

A-fucking-men!

My kids had to come see what I was yelling about during her speech last night. "Mommy are you talking to the tv?"

Go Obama!!

I am so glad you wrote this! I am so sick of living in Texas where all I see are "NObama '08" bumper stickers. I can't believe that anyone would vote for McCain after these last 8 years. It's sure to be more of the same and I can't stand to watch the Nations poor get even poorer.

I heard a comedian say that Bush IS the uniter that he claimed to be in 2000, he has successfully united the middle class with the lower class.

Take care!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Palin being a sassy biatch in front of her followers isn't exactly proof of her competence, yk?

Heather,

Thanks for paying for my health care next year and forever. I'm not as good a writer as you. I'm just a retired woman who paid her way through college while working and raised a family. I know how you deal with poor writers here but I feel compelled to tell you what I think of your rant.

It remains to be seen if the typical American voters follow the pervasive anti American chants of people who prefer a domestic terrorist assisted president. And, say as you will that you don't believe he's anti American, there's plenty of source material for anyone who wants to know about it. What has disappointed me most is your assumption that typical Americans are ashamed of the United States. You are wrong on that.

I'm a much lower earner in my retirement years than you are with your media business. I did the math for the Democratic proposed platform and the tax decrease of at least 15% I've enjoyed these past eight years plus the increase in my bracket with pension income, small investment and capital gains income, will be nearing the high 40%. I'll need you to pay for the private health care I now pay for personally and for the 11 M people who are not eligible due to resident status or who choose not to pay for any insurance. I pray I'll still be eligible for the coverages my private insurance provides me for procedures and medications. If you don't believe I can do the math, do your own math. The government is currently unable to pay for retirees medicare now, with fewer and fewer workers paying in. It's not rocket science to see that by putting tax pressure on employers we will reduce capital investment and the small business opportunties will be few. OK, I got a little off point here but even you have to admit that the government run plans have resulted in significantly higher contributions being needed from workers to keep it running and in Canada, Massachusetts and other locations trying these taxation plans, it hasn't solved the basic problem of timely, competent health care. I'm still trying to figure out why so many Obama supporters would want to take the largest and considerably superior health care system in the world and turn it on it's head. Oh well, we still have free speech and the facts are out there for inquiring minds to learn.

I won't even get into the Obama campaign's lame arguments about Iraq and fighting terrorism. You'll have to deal with your own decision process in future times when you and your family are faced with the harshest realities of both. You haven't learned that history is how we learn and history is not the last 8 years, it's hundreds and thousands of years.

Goodbye Dooce. I'll miss your doggie photos and your cute daughter. I won't miss your condescending and patronizing tone.

Sincerely yours,

A proud American

PREACH IT.
No, seriously, I know where you are coming from
and I agree 100000000000000000000000%.

To commentor #259 (Matty) and the others herein who have said similiar things,
You point out that conservatives give more time and money to charities. Yeah. Funny how they have more time and money to give. Ever wonder why that is? My mom raised four kids, two with special needs, on her own by working two, sometimes three jobs for most of our childhoods. We lived hand-to-mouth. She, and most like her, do not have a penny to spare, or the time to spare.

Economic data going back as far as WWII shows that under Republican presidents, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer, while under Democratic presidents, the income gap actually narrrows. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/business/31view.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

This is not about who gives more to charity, it's about how we shape our economic policies to benefit all citizens of this country, not just those who are already wealthy. And who knows, perhaps if we paid more attention to narrowing the income gap for the long-term, conservatives wouldn't have to give so much of their precious money to charity because fewer people would be in the uncomfortable position of having to accept charity.

THANK YOU Heather, for this post. I am so disheartened at the state of our country after 8 years of GWB, and am daring to hope that this time around things will be different. To the extent you can without disrupting your relationship with your friends and family, please keep helping to spread information like the link to the AP article!

Brilliant - although I wish you'd get out of my head; reading my exact thoughts and putting them on your blog is starting to freak me out a tad :)

I guess I just want to respond to those who seem to take this proud self-righteous stand of "Well I worked my way through life and paid my own bills so everyone else can to" mindset. That's great that you were a single parent and paid for your own insurance bills and rent and school and blah blah blah. Give yourself a gold star.

That's not the issue. No matter what you can do, there will still be other people who simply can't pay their own way by no fault of their own. They too work just as hard as you do and try their best to survive without government aid, but most average people can't afford to pay for things like an emergency surgery out of their own pocket.

And sure, you typically won't be turned away from a hospital if you need urgent care. That's not the issue either. The issue is that you'll get the care and then you'll get a bill that will take your entire life to pay off. If you're lucky, you might get to keep your house - if not, you're out on the street.

I agree with Heather - I'm happy to help someone else out with their healthcare even if it means paying a little extra because I know that I might need the help someday. We're going to get taxed for all sorts of things no matter who is president so that's not the issue either. I just personally would rather see my money go to things like this than other issues that I don't support (like continuing the war.)

Another thing to think about is that countless people who have little or no insurance often put off preventative care visits and avoid the doctor unless they literally have a limb falling off their body. I imagine that medical costs could be actually be much lower if people could afford to get to the doctor at the onset of a problem and nip it in the bud rather than feeling like they have to wait until it becomes absolutely unbearable or they are on their deathbed. I feel that people should AT LEAST have universal health care coverage for the cost of routine, preventative care checkups. Knowing that people die everyday from preventable conditions makes me really sad and doesn't make me proud of this country..

Bottom Line - I think no matter who you are and what you say now, you wouldn't even think twice if it came down to having to choose between receiving government aid or losing your home. Quit being so proud and self-righteous. Not everyone abuses the system.

People who make abortion the primary reason for voting or not voting for a national candidate are missing something. The President has so little actual, direct influence on abortion rights, that a candidate's stance on the issue should be no more influential on your choice than their eye color. However, both sides of the debate have been very successful in blowing this topic into the be-all-end-all of the vetting process for many Americans. A few things to consider:

Yes, a President does appoint judges, who would be the ones to rule for or against cases about abortion, but only if there is a vacancy. The appointments also have to get through the approval process in the US Senate, and no extremist judge of either opinion would ever get enough votes to pass through the Sentate, which is filled with people who have their own political careers to consider. Checks and balances, people.

As for the judges on the lower courts: for an abortion related case to get to the Supremes, it has to make it through layer after layer of state and district courts first. There are a thousand opportunities for that case to be resolved or otherwise die on the vine before it could ever get to the Supremes. Most of those state judges are elected, not appointed - so the judge in question reflects the intent of the consituency - and the opinion of the President matters little.

Bottom line: the candidates are entitled to their opinion about abortion just like you and I are. But abortion is by and large a state by state issue - local elections have a thousand times more influence on abortion than any national election, regardless of what the pro-life and pro-choice movements would have you believe.

This pro-choice Republican is voting for McCain - Palin. Their views on national security, energy independence, immigration and personal responsibility - real issues that affect the entire nation - most closely reflect my own. Their pro-life positions do not matter to me.

Obama has never been responsible for making real time, real life executive decisions - never been a leader of any large organization of any kind - political or private business. Mayor Michael Bloomberg (NYC) and Mayor Bill White (Houston, TX) are both examples of businessmen who have been successful as politicians without political experience, so it can be done. Obama has spent most of his Senate career running for President. He is a candidate of charisma and eloquence and little else. Obama is running on the "victim" platform, promising the huddled masses that everything will be all better - just elect him to office, then everyone can sit back and relax - and oh, pay no attention to the hidden agenda behind the curtain.

Pro-life, pro-choice - I could care less. But a candidate who wants to negotiate with Iran, a candidate who considers American terrorist Bill Ayers to be a good American and a good friend - that does matter to me - a lot.

I don't know how you will have the time to read all of these comments! But I just wanted to say great post and I'm sure you've seen this but if you are feeling down, watch it again. It lifts my spirits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

xo
Jen

So true. So very true.

Thanks so much for posting this. I have the same conflict with my fundamental, evangelical Christian family. It is so frustrating that they don't see the hypocrisy of the Republican party's policies. You hit the nail on the head.
I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

Hell yeah. Thanks for posting this and thanks for being someone I admire.

I think I get the heart of what you are saying, and I really do not want to contend with you on the point. I am conservative and I care too. I get that you want to care through government programs. I think stats support the idea that conservatives care too and actually give a lot (more than Dems, unfortunately) putting their money where their mouth is. But the reason conservatives don't take about it so much as a political platform isn't because they don't care. It is because they are investing in caring outside of government programs and don't feel caring and social philanthropy needs to be the responsibility of our government.

Read my blog to better understand what I am talking about:

http://enginpost.blogspot.com/2008/09/conservatives-do-care.html

(please, if you are going to give a response to what I am saying, read the blog entry first, so you are sure you understand where I am coming from.)

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I will join you in caring for people who need our practical help and concern (but I won't be voting for Obama, for obvious ideological reasons.)

So why is it okay for Heather's Republican relatives and friends to state their opinions, but not okay for her to state her opinions? If they (or any other Republican-leaning people) want to state their opinions on their own blogs, by all means go for it. Just don't come here and threaten her for stating her own opinions on her own blog or whine that you're so disappointed that she stated her opinions. What the hell?

Even if she were Republican and did a piece on how much she loved the current Republican nominees, or if she said she were voting for a Martian, it's her right to speak her opinion on her own blog. But, according to some of you, it's okay for her to voice her opinion on anything with which you agree, but not on those things with which you do not agree? Is that how it works (for you)? That's just messed up.

NOWHERE in the fine print does it say that this blog is SOLELY about "mommyblogging" or anything of the kind; in fact, she's been blogging long before she was even pregnant, and the mere fact that she's now a mother does not now or ever relegate her SOLELY to relaying stories about parenthood. It's her blog for HER opinions. You want a blog? Get your own.

A-FREAKING-MEN HEATHER!!!!!

Thanks for writing this. My sister has suddenly become a McCain supporter and I'm finding it difficult to leave the subject alone. Mainly because he does not support any of the things she's always supported. I keep bringing it up and picking the scab. Not sure why. . .Good news though, today she told me she isn't voting because it won't matter anyway (we live in Massachusetts). Hopefully all Republicans will feel the same way.

I don't think most people will get this far into the comments but I'd like to point out a few things.

To all the commenters who said Obama was going to raise their taxes. Please check your facts here:

http://alchemytoday.com/obamataxcut/

And I would also suggest that people make sure they know what Sarah Palin thinks hunting is:

https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=c406_090308palinwolf

If you want to read more, check out some of the hypocrisy being strewn about:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-ridley/your-pocket-guide-to-spea_b_12...

Finally, since you'll need a laugh, give Jon Stewart your full attention:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah...

Say it loud, say it proud! Said so well. I am all Obama all the time. But being cognizant of the reality that the group that reelected W could vote in the Republican nominee, I had some belief that ANYONE would be better than W. Now, I am genuinely frightened of what the US would continue devolving into if McCain/Palin are elected.

I could not agree with you more. I live in Kansas, the dumbest red state in the nation, where people who will NEVER climb out of poverty will still vote for the Republicans intent on keeping them there. I find the conservatives that commend Palin for making her daughter keep her baby to be complete hypocrites!! If that had been one of Obama's daughters, they would have been shrieking about teenage pregnancies and how Liberals let them happen. Keep up the good work, Heather, you're on the right track!

'wela

The office deserves respect, both candidate and their running mates deserve our respect. Its your blog, certainly you have every right to express your views however it might make life a little simpler not to believe all readers, family, and friends must share your political views. We are lucky to have a choice, and the opportunity to listen to those that may chose differently and if we do, it won't be because we want to deny your daughter, or anybody else's child health care.
I like your taste in shoes, the way you love your dogs, and the care you show your daughter, I am also planning to vote for McCain and like his running mate very much.

I consider myself a pretty moderate independent. The comments here are amazing. Please, critiquing Palin for no experience when your boy Obama has done nothing in the senate but co-author a few bills and side with the repubs once? Big fucking deal. Do not play the experience card. It’s hypocritical and makes you all look like assholes. I agree that healthcare should be available and affordable. Don't count on Obama to solve this for you. He is a politician that will be catered to and lobbied by the same healthcare industry that Bush has been pandering to for the past 8 years. As soon as he is elected, Obama will immediately be looking at his re-election fund and start raising money. The healthcare lobby is as powerful as oil and guns......He needs them to get re-elected. Take a deep breath Heather. Obama's going to get elected. And when he does, all you fucking liberals need to keep your traps shut when all your hopes and dreams fail to get realized.

43. J. said: "I don't want my hard earned tax dollars falling into a black hole of endless administration that intends to help but is often for naught. "

You mean sort of like Iraq and Afghanistan?

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Amen, sister, Amen.