Bill Maher’s most recent program had as guests, Christiana Amanpour, the CNN foreign correspondent, Alec Baldwin, looking more like his old self than the bloated thing he was for a while, Gary Shandling, truly funny without a script. They talked about the campaign. If you are not a Maher watcher, you should be. He is totally irreverent (sometimes to a fault and is, admittedly, a male chauvinist pig about his personal relationships, although he supports women who excel). In a remote feed, Maher also chatted with Bob Woodward.

His “New Rules” segment in which he conjures new ways to behave had an “Exit Strategy” for citizens who want to relocate If the Republicans win the election. This week’s choice was Australia. One of the reasons was Sarah Palin wasn’t likely to track you down, since she would be going to Austria.

These people were so sharp and funny -- it was one of Maher’s best programs.

Amanpour is a prominent foreign correspondent whose ultra left views I don’t always support. She was sympathetic (to a degree) to Palin’s candidacy because in her view, it was major that a woman was on a national ticket. I wanted to strangle her and say, “wrong woman, wrong time” and it doesn’t matter that she is a woman, only that she is a disaster. Gender played a part in some of Hillary’s support but she was exceptionally qualified. It also worked against her, and it ought not to have. Anyway, this wasn’t the first time a woman was up for VP. Maybe Amanpour forgot about Geraldine Ferraro, who ran with Walter Mondale.

Elsewise, Palin was in SW Florida yesterday. I ignored her. In today's News-Press (Fort Myers paper) the media writer said local stations are upset that McCain will not buy TV ads because he thinks this area is "a lock" and doesn't need to spend any money. The stations are upset because they were looking for the revenue.

I wish I could count on Florida going blue. That would make my day.

xx, Teal