In listening to McCain and his representatives on TV, I am struck by the often used phrase, “what the American people want”. Well, I am an American people and what they claim I want is not always what I want. The analysts, the apologizers, the explainers, are drawing generalities from what I think is a rural base. The cities count too.

Obama is being severely criticized for what is thought of as an elitist remark – a reference to the main preoccupation of the red state majorities with religion and guns. If it is true, is it still elitist? Those photos that Jondude posted of a family cookout in Palin’s backyard shows her and her kids cradling guns. It also shows two of her daughters touching tongues. Well, not criminal, but certainly not appealing --(to me anyway).

And what is Palin’s appeal to the Republican base? Her Christian views. Translation: “let’s turn the country back to what it was in 1898 when women had no voice, no vote, no right to reproductive freedom and no income to free them from oppressive unions with abusive mates.” Of course Palin does not apply these rules to herself. Her own freedom is front and center. First off, freedom to lie. After the report came out about her abuse of power in the troopergate scandal, she went on camera and said it was a witch hunt by Democrats, even though the committee that found her guilty was 6 Republicans and 4 Democrats.

A few days later, Palin went on camera and changed her response to “I am glad the report cleared me” -- am I losing my mind? The report clearly stated she violated ethical standards. Palin operates on the premise that her personal charm will persuade people because the lie is so big that she “couldn’t possibly” be lying. And even if they know she is lying, they bury it in the back of their minds because she is so cute. Anyway, she likes guns and she hates abortion, so they must, must support her.

My take on abortion is not to use it as a method of birth control, so it is vital to spread information about effective contraception. “Just say no” doesn’t work with most teenagers. And, if by some horrendous turn of fate, you are raped and become pregnant or you have a medical condition where your life is at risk if you have the baby, then by all means, you should have the choice to abort. However, the Right is not so much interested in saving fetuses as it is about punishing women who like sex. So while trying to totally ban abortion under all conditions, they would also like to prevent women from using contraception. I would like to see all the right to lifers step forward and adopt a crack baby, warehoused and forgotten and doomed to a short life or a terribly misshapen one.

And finally there is the George W. Bush policy of not supporting stem cell research. Foetuses from spontaneous abortions are routinely thrown in the garbage. But somehow using them for research to help people with Alzheimers and other neurological tragedies is a terrible thing.

Pat Buchanan, a master schmoozer for the conservative cause, has toned down his rhetoric a great deal in recent days. I think he doesn’t want to be out of the loop when his team loses.

I am listening to TV in another room so I am missing names of some people who are pontificating. One is saying that at this juncture when Reagan was running, he also was behind. Well, to paraphrase that well known saying from a different debate, “John, you are no Ronald Reagan.” Even Reagan wasn’t Reagan. He had what Sarah Palin has (although more of a moral center than our dear Sarah, who basically does not have one) an ability to charm masses of people. When I was 16 I thought he was an appealing romantic actor in many movies. By the time he was running for president I was no longer an admirer. It’s called growing up and listening to what is being said instead of how cute they look when they say it.

So in addition to practically destroying the world economy (something the terrorists didn’t quite manage)and bringing the U.S. financial infrastructure to its knees, the Bush administration and its descendant, McCain (who used Bush’s campaign advisers because they had succeeded so well against Kerry) it has also fostered a view towards women’s rights that is medieval. And,finally,the view that if you are not Christian, you are not worthy, is as despicable as those with “faith” can get.

McCain’s response to the woman at the town hall meeting should have included that not only was Obama not an Arab nor a muslim, there was nothing wrong with being either.

xx Teal