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"ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I have been thinking a lot about this today, about the thought of a McCain presidency. I would have endorsed him 8 years ago, but he was also 8 years younger. He has had 4-5 bouts with cancer, and there is scientific evidence that while his mother may posssess wonderful genes, those same genes enduring years of torture, albeit for our country, don't hold up as well. I am not saying he will die, but it makes the vice presidential pick so much more important than Obama's.<br><br>So, I thought I would lay out my thoughts:<br><br>Economy: Advantage Obama - McCain has no clue on the economy. If I had a net worth of $5 Million, I would be elite. If I made $5 Million a year, I would be rich beyond my wildest dreams, and he has said that I would be a middle class american? Wow! I seriously pause at this.<br><br>Foreign Policy: Advantage Obama - Sure, McCain has all the experience in the world, but what does that do for us? Nothing. What did he say about IRAN? BOMB BOMB BOMB IRAN. We don't need another stinking war! We need to chase Afghanistan, get in those hills, and use the insurgency to topple the culprits of 9/11. They weren't in Iraq... they were in Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc. Further, we need a leader that is pined after by the whole world. There isn't a country out there that would choose McCain over Obama... Diplomacy is where we need to go, even with Russia. Obama said he would talk to the the leaders of countries... McCain said that was a horrible idea, and then Bush went and talked to the leaders of Iran. Funny how Bush even came around to that idea. We need a leader that can be respected not just here, but everywhere. <br><br>Choices: Advantage Obama - Did McCain really vet Palin? No matter where you turn, the answer is no. It's not that Palin is a bad choice, it's that she is a quick choice. But, she's a bad choice for me due to the following reasons:<br> She's pro-family, but if elected, has said her family will live in Alaska and she will live in Washington DC. She has five children that need her more than America needs her. She has a down syndrome baby and putting her political ambitions in front of her child proves me to me that she doesn't have what it takes to be a leader in this free world. I would say the same thing about Obama if he had five children, or Biden if he had five (But remember, he takes the train back to Scranton every night to be an influence on his children).<br>She has a child that is pregnant at 17. She teaches that you shouldn't talk about sex education, yet if she had done such, we might see  a decrease in teenage pregnancies. Obama spoke about this, but directed it to the black man. Responsibility. Sarah Palin can't even show it in her own family. <br>The Bridge to Nowhere - For it, before it was vetoed in Washington.<br>Troopergate - regardless of the outcome, it was poor judgement on her behalf to try to fire her brother-in-law. She should have gone through proper channels. <br>The Sports Complex: Alaska didn't even own free and clear title to the land before she started building her complex which cost taxpayers millions! <br>Fiscal responsibility: Her state receives a C- as states go in doing business. It's now riddled with debt, while she cuts checks to Alaskans. Mortgage your future for today's hedonistic acts. Does it remind you of Bush's tax cuts? <br>I'll stop there... She's not my choice.<br><br><br>Education: Advantage Obama - McCain doesn't know education, never has. Obama fought his way through rigerous studies, and then voluneteered that knowledge to people that were less priveledged. Obama wants to focus his policies on America, not the world around us. <br><br>Veterans: Advantage Obama - He wants to increase VA benefits, increase schooling, and increase the reasons to join the military. <br><br>Taxes: Advantage Obama - His tax plans call for 3.1 Trillion, whereas McCains call for 5 Trillion<br><br>Fiscal Responsibility: I want a balanced budget and to pay off debt. This is a hard call, but I think Obama has this as well. <br><br>Courts: Advantage Obama - I want judges that interpret law, but are also smart enough to understand that the black and white  of the law doesn't always fit Americans. We have too many horrible judges, and for Bush to name Harriet Miers was a joke. McCain will continue that tradition... a joke.<br><br>Abortion: Advantage Obama - McCain is pro-choice, but the reason we have separation of church and state is to keep the religious fanatics out of dictating what we can and can not do to ourselves. Scientific evidence proves, without a doubt, that a viable fetus isn't at conception. Palin, in McCain's absence, would outlaw abortion, even in the most extreme cases, such as a father raping his daughter and getting her pregnant. That's not just socially wrong, that's morally wrong. Birth control, such as progestrone, is not abortion either. <br><br>Experience: Advantage McCain - But this election is about change. JFK was about change, and hope. JFK stood high and set a goal to be on the moon by the end of the decade. We acheived it. Obama set a goal of being energy independent in 10 years. If we elect McCain, no such vision will be in place. <br><br>Oil: Advantage Obama - I don't want to drill off shore, but that is when McCain's numbers started to bounce... when he SWITCHED HIS POSITION and PANDERED to the far right to DRILL NOW. Drilling is not the answer, alternative energy is. <br><br>Hope: Advantage Obama - This isn't even close. <br><br>Temperment: Advantage Obama - This isn't even close. People close to McCain have said for years his temper is fast and furious. So if Russia irritates him... watch out, we may be in a nuclear war. <br><br>Spokesman for America: Advantage Obama - Let's prove we are the country of opportunity, no matter what color your skin, what sex you are born, what religion you practice. Let's prove that we are a leader, not a follower, a gentle and diplomatic nation. McCain is more of the same, the exact opposite of where our country, where our world, needs to go.<br><br>Respectfully, <br><br>Jon", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_20:43:40", "killed": false, "user_key": "hunterjon", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250091": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Elrod and Ricorun have both referenced a similar point regarding McCain's impetuous or instinctual decision-making.<br><br>While issues and ideology are important, I wonder if HOW the POTUS approaches decision-making is even more important.<br><br>I recall some years back the Canadian conservative Prime Minister Mulroney boasting to the effect that he \"rolled the dice\" on some important national issue (free trade, or maybe Quebec?).  I remember chiefly that this comment provoked massive outrage in the Canadian public that its leader should make critical decisions impetuously . . . like a maverick gambler.<br><br>Canadians punished the conservatives with an historic decimination in the subsequent election.  <br><br>I don't think publics like impetuous gamblers for leaders.  Especially conservatives . . . who, after all, are conservative and like to know where they are going.  One always knew what direction Reagan would steer the ship of state in . . . even if one disagreed with him. <br><br>Again . . . this has been a provocative thread . . . with food for thought.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:28:27", "killed": false, "user_key": "Marlowecan", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2258694": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Holly:<br>Could you tell us a bit more?<br>Why are you now considering Obama?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-10_08:56:41", "killed": false, "user_key": "Sylny", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2259720": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "If I understand your response correctly, your recent disaffection with Obama has nothing much to do with Palin, but is rather based on your perception that he has changed his positions undesirably (towards the left?), therefore putting the two candidates somewhat equidistant from you.  Thank you for the clarification; I can understand that reasoning, although from reading various blogs I must say that there are few others who feel that Obama has moved toward populism/leftism during the campaign.<br><br>As for SCOTUS consent in the Senate, it's still true that Presidents, of either party, get the justices they want.  My comment was in reply to your earlier remark that \"it doesn't work like that\".  In fact, it DOES work like that, irrespective of where the \"problem\" lies.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-10_10:26:26", "killed": false, "user_key": "strangelet", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2255536, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2249483": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "In addition to your obvious ignorance of my position on this issue, FP, you seem to feel that the executive branch of our government is actually a dictatorship;  that McCain will be able to simply waltz his SCOTUS pick right into his/her new office, and that'll be that.<br><br>It doesn't work that way.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:04:14", "killed": false, "user_key": "Polimom", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2249374, "depth": 0, "points": 2, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2252812": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<blockquote><br>In addition to your obvious ignorance of my position on this issue, FP, you seem to feel that the executive branch of our government is actually a dictatorship; that McCain will be able to simply waltz his SCOTUS pick right into his/her new office, and that'll be that.<br><br>It doesn't work that way.<br></blockquote><br><br>Of course it does. Or didn't you pay attention to how it worked the last couple of times? Pick someone with a record that <i>might</i> be able to interpreted in more than one way. Coach them lots. Coach them carefully. Let them perjure themselves in front of the Senate, it won't matter once they're on the bench anyway. Then play the political game and media game the right way and presto, you have a Roberts or Alito on the bench. McCain has promised, after all.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_18:43:07", "killed": false, "user_key": "Jim_Satterfield", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2248589": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I found an article in the Daily Sitka Sentinel  Oct 28, 1996 p 3 that states \"The newly elected mayor of Wasilla has asked all of the city's top managers to resign in order to test their loyalty to her administration.\" It further states that \"Palin said she made the request for resignations to find out who supports her as mayor.\"<br><br> <br>The Feb 3, 1997 p 13 article from the same paper states that \"City librarian Mary Ellen Emmons will retain her post but Police Chief Irl Stambaugh was asked to resign following decisions announced Friday by Mayor Sarah Palin\" Later in the article it states \"Palin refused Friday to detail her complaint against the police chief saying only that 'You know in your heart when someone is supportive of you'\"<br><br>I don't trust Palin and I think that since McCain picker her, I don't trust his judgement. I want a president to think outside the box but I think he made this choice based on gender so this woman will vote Obama.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:08:29", "killed": false, "user_key": "BexT", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2249104": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "McCain is surrounded with lobbyists and voted for Bush positions 90% or better of the time in the past 8 years.  What else do you need to know? If the Fake Hero and the Moose killing babe get in, forget choice.  What else do you need to hear? <br><br>I don't like that Obama has moved to the center................especially since the whole political playing field has been tilted for some time to the right (What was once thought of as a conservative Democrat is now a raging liberal)`.  Progressives aren't even on the board.  But given the stakes and the set up (two party system where both parties are corporate infiltrated), Obama will get my vote, albeit reluctantly.  <br><br>I would like very much to hear from a candidate that they will honor the bill of rights, reinstate habeas corpus, get rid of guantanamo, abolish torture, rendition, and the hidden war against immigrants and Moslems.  Best bet is Obama, but he too is willing to lick up to the Israeli's as our 51st state.  <br><br>But a vote for McCain is a vote for an empty shell, a soul-less politician.  Palin is a frightening distraction, given her lack of experience and her rather extreme positions.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:38:13", "killed": false, "user_key": "spirasol", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2253073": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Jim -- Yes, one of my problems with McCain all along was this.  However, given the likely political make-up of Congress after the elections, I think he'll have a helluva problem getting anybody through who would overturn Roe v. Wade.<br><br>And this is probably as good a place as any to dispute Don Singleton's claim about the public opinion on Roe v. Wade.  (<a href=\"http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm\" rel=\"nofollow\">link</a>)", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_19:04:14", "killed": false, "user_key": "Polimom", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2252824, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2297246": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Donsingleton said,<br><br>\"most American voters (60%) agree with the Republicans and say the Supreme Court should make decisions based on what is written in the constitution\"<br><br>This statistic says more about the lack of understanding of most Americans about the Supreme Court's decision-making than anything else. Every justice votes according to \"what is written in the constitution.\" They may differ on what various constitutional provisions mean, but not on whether to follow the Constitution. The characterization that decisions republicans oppose are due to justices not making decisions based on the Constitution is just Kool-Aid. And apparently 60% of Americans are drinking it. <br><br>Donsingleton said,<br><br>\"Why are you worried about Roe v Wade. Even if it was overturned, it would not outlaw abortions, just turn it over to the states, and most abortions are in blue states where it would still be legal.\"<br><br>People are worried because Roe v. Wade is about whether individuals should make the decision regarding this highly private matter closely related to personal beliefs in religion and morality or whether government should. Given our commitments to individual freedom and less government, opposition to turning over an individual private decision to government is an understandable position. <br><br>The reason the right wants legislatures to decide instead of individuals is because they believe they would have sufficient votes in most states to force their individual choices through state coercion on others. Other than the libertarians, the idea that republicans are all about less government is a farce.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-12_01:38:53", "killed": false, "user_key": "manduke", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2250398, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2253187": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Thank you for your comment, Bokonon.  I can understand why my post would have confused you if you thought I was saying I was unhappy about Obama's \"turn toward the center\".  It is, in fact, the opposite I've seen.  He's seemed ever-more party-line to me lately.   (though I did like his statements today about charter schools)<br><br>And absolutely yes -- the Bridge to Nowhere is being spun into an unrecognizable parody by the McCain camp.  I've voiced my problem with this (and the earmarks spin) repeatedly.  <br><br>If it helps you see my point of view -- I was also extremely peeved at Obama when he started over the cliff about NAFTA.   He not only shifted his position and pandered, he took advantage of low-information voters on the entire subject.<br><br>So many imperfections, so little time.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_19:13:54", "killed": false, "user_key": "Polimom", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2253079, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251413": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Leonidas,<br>My response is that I think McCain views reform mostly through a personal lens and not a structural one. That he jettisoned so much of his prior agenda to gain the nomination shows that he cares about power and ambition (as he admitted in his book) and not the higher causes of reform.  He is obsessed with personal honor, which he also admits.<br><br>As a result he sees himself occasional above the \"partisan rancor\" when it gives him lots of media attention and adoration.  He absolutely loved the media spotlight in 2000 and when he broke from Bush on a few issues in the next couple years. But when those reform issues got in the way of the nomination he threw it all away. Honor-obsessed people must be seen in a respectable light by Those Who Matter. And for McCain, that was the press.<br><br>The two signature acts of reform in his Senatorial career - campaign finance reform and immigration reform - John McCain has completely jettisoned. These are not minor issues. This isn't like pandering to the Christian right or going over the top on support for the war. That stuff I can understand in the heat of a race. What I cannot accept is his complete rejection of the things that made him the \"maverick\" in the first place.<br><br>So we are left with a question: who is this guy? I think he's answered it himself. He is incredibly obsessed with personal honor and will react recklessly if he feels his honor is threatened. Obama had a very successful convention. Instead of picking Tim Pawlenty, a social conservative who McCain knows and trusts, he threw up a gimmick in Sarah Palin in order to change the conversation. For the time being Sarah Palin is drawing crowds. But how long will that last? And what does that say about his decision making process?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_16:58:16", "killed": false, "user_key": "elrod", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251670": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "P.S.  But it's not too late for us to snap out of it !", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:14:40", "killed": false, "user_key": "8isEnough", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2253079": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Polimom -<br><br>Shouldn't  the fact that McCain's campaign is lying to your face about Palin's signature issue -- her claim that she opposed the Ketchikan bridge -- raise any red flags for you? <br><br>McCain has jettisoned his old political beliefs and has gleefully adopted a new set handed to him by the GOP's most right-wing members.  Does that concern you? <br><br>You seem to be very concerned that Obama has turned towards the center, and is being more cautious.  Will embracing a ticket that features Sarah Palin -- who occupies a space on the furthest right part of the American political spectrum?<br><br>And how can you wonder for a moment that a candidate's personal views WON'T be translated into their policies when in office?  Look at the last seven years!<br><br>I could go on and on like this, but my point is simple -- this isn't just about Obama.  This is also about Obama's opponents.  Who happen to be lying, viciously and gleefully, with a big grin, while tacking to their party's far right and viciously attacking their opposition  What is past is prologue -- and the way that people campaign for political office is a good indicator of how they will govern.  And what we are seeing here is downright scary.<br><br>Instead of bending over backwards to give McCain and Palin the benefit of the doubt, you should be holding them accountable - and getting very, very concerned.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_19:04:28", "killed": false, "user_key": "Bokonon", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2252824": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "And let's be honest, Polimom. shouldn't it matter that he has promised this kind of SC justice over and over again recently? Doesn't just the promise to do so say a lot about him?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_18:44:08", "killed": false, "user_key": "Jim_Satterfield", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2262212": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "About Obama/FISA :  he already explained that while there a number things wrong with FISA, he felt it had moved.  He said less than ideal, but a starting point.  <br>And what might be McCain's vote on FISA?  I think we know.<br><br>L, your concern of not having the US Constitution upheld:  he was a professor in Constitutional law.  He knows it inside and out -- I'd say that's more than the current crew leads us to believe.   And again, where does McCain come out in this?   You would trust him more to uphold the Constitution than Obama?  And if yes, based on what?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-10_13:29:40", "killed": false, "user_key": "8isEnough", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2444020": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Being a new comer and all, please accept my congratulations for what I see as a great blog where thought process is appreciated. <br><br>I have heard (and read)throught the vitriol of some of the moderates-wannabe leftist here and elsewhere about their thougths on Palin...cosidering arguments against her because she's inexperienced is a total hypocrisy. Most of the people critiquing her because she has \"no experience\" will vote for Obama with 141 days worth of senatorial experience.<br><br>Futhermore, Obama has completly lied about his little to no experience as community activist, and has never commanded anything. If anyone wants to put him on the nuclear button, go right ahead, but I rather have experience than no-experince and lies. Palin has more experience as VP than Obama as POTUS.<br><br>Additionally, I think most people who are simply voting him on the the fact that he's half black are doing so because they want to give the chance to someone that is not white to represent them, in a seek-twisted desire of seing him succeed disregarding the obvious elements of his lack of any qualifications for the job whatsoever. <br><br>Finally, let me add that I think that McCain is not the bst guy for the job. Maybe we need an honest version of Bill Clinton or something...but he/she is not running. Obama is. And his twisted lies...like McCain voted with POTUS 90% of the time...well, biden voted with Bush 50% of the time and Obama 40%. Does that make them 1/2 of Bush?, all these is making me go the McCain route...maybe Hillary will be able to run in 4 years and the mess will be over then.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-19_13:40:31", "killed": false, "user_key": "AntiEverything", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2249374": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Hey, POLIMOM, if you want to vote to overturn Roe v Wade, be my guest. It's one vote away from oblivion. If women don't care about the issue, then as a man who's quite unlikely to father any kids, hell, it's no real skin off my nose if they throw women in jail for having an abortion and doctors in jail for doing them. <br><br>Usually I view abortion as a freedom issue. Even though I don't have a personal stake in it, I don't think the government ought to be sticking its nose into these decisions. But obviously, this doesn't matter so much to you and to some millions of other women. Who knew?<br><br>\"The real America,\" that's code for all-white small towns. Most of the people and politicians who heap praise and sentiment on all-white small towns don't have to live in them. I did live such a place for a few years, and now I live in a big city with different kinds of people. Feels a lot more real than the small town ever did.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:56:32", "killed": false, "user_key": "FrequentPoster", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251812": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Don Singleton: Shhh.  You can't expect everyone to handle Roe v. Wade rationally.  You're right about various state laws -- I posted a link very recently listing the various states' abortion laws and what would be the case in them if there were no Roe v. Wade.  It's there if people are calm, mature, and care to read what the situation is.<br><br>As for the continued neurotic agitation on here about Palin, it's sad.  McCain made a good surprise choice that makes the McCain campaign now an attractive alternative to many.  It seems many can't handle that and resort to all kinds of fiction to deny the truth.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:25:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "DLS", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2248480": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Do you regret not voting for Hillary in the primaries?\"<br><br>No.  I don't.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:00:26", "killed": false, "user_key": "Polimom", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251957": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Getting the presidency\" ...  What about governing our country??  Two very different things.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:37:45", "killed": false, "user_key": "8isEnough", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2247970": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Here's a thought experiment. Better yet, it's a real conversation I had with my 6-year old son who asked my why I support Barack Obama. I couldn't tell him about all the issues because he would barely understand them. And process stuff about \"change\" doesn't mean much. So I settled on this: I like the way Barack Obama makes choices. He is careful and deliberative. He listens to opposing viewpoints, develops a solution and sticks with it.  If he's faced with new information or new realities he'll reconsider and change his mind if necessary. All in all, he's careful. That's what I like about him and why he'll be a good President.<br><br>John McCain is the complete opposite. He is impetuous and shoots from the hip. He makes reckless decisions - including picking Sarah Palin the way he did - and we all suffer the consequences. Like George W. Bush he goes more with his gut than his brain. And we can't afford more of that.<br><br>My son seemed to get it (I didn't use big words). We talk about making choices all the time. We remind him that he needs to think about consequences before making choices, and he needs to keep an open mind. We tell him to think before he acts. <br><br>If ideology and policy are of no concern to you, the decision making process of the two candidates should be paramount. <br><br>Hopefully this helps a bit.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_13:25:19", "killed": false, "user_key": "elrod", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2248611": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I came into this election cycle completely wide open besides saying there was no way I was voting for Clinton.  Too much cynical self-interest, too much Bush and Clinton exhaustion.<br><br>She actually won some respect from me for her grit and determination, but at the same time I cam away with even further thoughts on her motivations given the rancor.<br><br>Obama has struck me as a good mix between principled and pragmatic plus he is cool under fire.  I come away with the same reaction as Elrod describes to his decision-making and leadership style.<br><br>That being said, I think after running a brilliant primary campaign, his team has seemed to really flounder since getting the nomination.  They have played defense throughout.<br><br>On a final note, I have always, until the last year or so, really admired McCain.  His switching on so many substantive positions to embrace every stance her formerly ripped to shreds (tax cuts for the wealthy, agents of intolerance, immigration position, torture, et c) really caused me to pause and re-evaluate his likely leadership.  He pretty much gutted most of the things I liked about him to get the nomination.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:09:24", "killed": false, "user_key": "Gichin13", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250276": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Leonidas, \"On Georgia Obama answered twice with different answers and then came around to McCains position, How was McCain able to get it right? He had a top notch advisor, who the Obama campaign has attacked with the lobbyist label, but this was a man who had been keeping McCain uipdated on the situation so McCain wasn't caugth off guard.\"<br><br>Here's a link to an interesting piece from today's Washington Post...<br><br><a href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090802294.html?hpid%253Dopinionsbox1&sub=AR\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...</a><br><br>Personally I do haev a problem with McCain's advisors who are (or have been) lobbyists to foreign governments.  If his advisors are (or have been) in the employ of foreign countries how do you think McCain can receive impartial advice?  In the sace of Georgia it has been mentioned that Saakashvili thought McCain would be in more support of his position...", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:39:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "StockBoySF", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2248569, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2260742": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Actually I disagree that Obama has changed his positions to the left, he has always been very Liberal, and has actually been moving towards the right, giving up many of his more liberal positions (strangely enough, many of the ones I could have supported before his shift).  Voting for Dick Cheney's FISA bill that he has said he would filibuster for example.  <br><br>The direction of his shifts don't bother me too much, its the nature of them.  I mean how can we, the voter, trust a man who was willing to give up his principles and vote for FISA for political convienience?  We aren't talking a minor item here, we are talking about trashing the US Constitution and granting retroactive immunity to telecoms who assist in warrantless wiretapping.<br><br>The President swears an oath to uphold the US Constitution, I don't trust Obama to ba able to do that.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-10_11:46:54", "killed": false, "user_key": "Leonidas", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2254888": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Jon,<br><br>    McCain is <b>not</b> pro-choice. He's been anti-choice for years.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_22:09:28", "killed": false, "user_key": "Jim_Satterfield", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2252713": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Polimom, \"....Do you therefore think that someone with such religious views is, or should be, automatically out of consideration for national office?\"<br><br>I do not think that someone with religious views should not be considered for elected office.  However given the religious rights history (and the politicians who are elected into office through the religious rights' support) I do have serious concerns about someone who is against abortion supporting a pro-choice platform unless they have a pro-choice record.  I do have serious questions about someone who does not believe in even granting gays and lesbians spousal benefits to support spousal benefits for gays and lesbians.  By the way, I'm pro-choice even though I personally believe abortion is wrong.  Palin is running on her anti-abortion credentials (and not pro-choice).<br><br>My point with Palin is that I believe she will bring her religious views into government.  If she supports a position and the people who elected her support a postion, then she will probably push to get that postion translated into policy.  Obama has talked about compromise and has even made statements about what we can compromise on, such as \"we may not agree on the second amendment, but surely we can all agree that we should keep military weapons out of the hands of criminals in our cities\". (That's not an exact quote...)  Another example is that he said we may not agree on positions, but we can start talkinf about being more \"pro-life\" to allow women to make \"pro-life\" choices...  Meanwhile what we get from McCain is a thunderous \"I am pro-life and when I am your president I will be a pro-life president\" (or something to that effect.  McCain's statements do not allow for the compromise and change that he wants.  McCain doesn't even offer up the possibility of discussing it.<br><br>But then in the next breath McCain says he will bring change to Washington and will reach across the aisle.<br><br>Personally I do not agree with the Republicans and vote for McCain.  And when they run on a religious right platform without bringing up the possibility of accepting other's input, then there is no reason for me to vote for them.  But lots of people do like the Republican beliefs and if the shoe fits on your foot, then wear it.  It's your vote and because you're taking the time to think about the candidates I know you'll make the best decision for you and your circumstances.<br><br>By the way, sorry my previous long comment posted twice... the first time I posted it I got a server error.  I didn't see it posted so I posted again (luckily I had copied it just before I tried posting).  My Mac at home allows me to edit my comments so when I get home I'll try to delete.... maybe put some other minor comment in its place...", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_18:34:26", "killed": false, "user_key": "StockBoySF", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2251382, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2256938": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'm with Blue -- I don't see how anyone who is following the Issues can still be on the fence at this point.<br><br>If we put aside all the minutia for the moment, the question is this:  Do we want to reward the Bush administration and its catastrophic follies by ushering in McCain, a man whose policies (and campaigning strategies) echo the current villains in power?   If the past 8 years had yielded American prosperity and pride, I would say there would be some real decision making to do.   But today?  The choice to me is blindingly clear.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-10_03:01:35", "killed": false, "user_key": "8isEnough", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2253493": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Hi Polimom --<br><br>Points well taken.  But the McCain campaign isn't just spinning -- they are lying.  <br><br>I supported McCain back in 2000, and I am genuinely dismayed at what he is doing -- and the positions he has adopted during this election.  <br><br>To me, any candidate that will lie as blatantly and this viciously and this boldly as McCain has been doing isn't just imperfect -- it exposes that they are both reckless and untrustworthy, and are willing to sacrifice everything for power.  And it also shows that McCain's campaign has complete contempt for the American voting public.  I hated it when Bush used these tactics back in 2000 and 2004, and it is chilling to see it happen all over again.  McCain has morphed into his old enemies.  <br><br>I used to work in politics, and I've always accepted that politicians are imperfect and disappointing.   But I can accept Obama's shifts and changes as normal politics.  What McCain is doing is something truly scary and malignant, and bodes ill for the way he would behave in office.  You can't lead a nation through lies.  At least not forever.  And that is where we are right now with Bush.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_19:40:41", "killed": false, "user_key": "Bokonon", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2249391": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "A well-presented explication, Polimom.  Thank you. <br><br>(It also seems to have prompted interesting explanations of their positions by Elrod and Leonidas . . . and Holly in Cincinnati left me totally gobsmacked by the news she is considering voting for Obama!!!)<br><br>It seems a focus on \"outside the Beltway\" solutions seems to be an integral part of your evaluation of both tickets.  I must admit to never having thought of the tickets in that light. <br><br>From this perspective:  Obama picking Biden brought him Beltway establishment cred (possibly at the expense of his outsider status), while McCain the Washington insider got outsider cred by picking Palin.<br><br>Perhaps many Americans share this view.  I would not be surprised; given how unpopular Washington is these days among BOTH the GOP and Democratic bases.<br><br>I found Elrod's view of the respective merits of Obama's cool deliberation vs. McCain's impetuous rashness interesting as well.  Leonidas has a somewhat different take on this same aspect:  McCain angering his own party, while Obama carefully aligns his positions.<br><br>I tend to agree with Elrod that the Palin pick was unsettling.  Perhaps it was inspired and brilliant . . . it may get McCain the presidency! . . . but what if a President gambles impetuously and then loses?!   Worrisome thought.  Do we want a maverick President?  (Do we need maverick solutions?)<br><br>Much food for thought here all around.....", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:57:55", "killed": false, "user_key": "Marlowecan", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 3, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250288": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I voted for Hillary in the primaries, and I am voting for McCain in November.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:40:03", "killed": false, "user_key": "donsingleton", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 3, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2267617": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Leo said, \"The direction of his shifts don't bother me too much, its the nature of them. I mean how can we, the voter, trust a man who was willing to give up his principles and vote for FISA for political convienience? We aren't talking a minor item here, we are talking about trashing the US Constitution and granting retroactive immunity to telecoms who assist in warrantless wiretapping.\"<br><br>I agree with you that Obama voted the wrong way here. To echo 8isEnough though, you are going to have to vote 3rd party this year if this is a fundamental issue for you, because McCain clearly supports all of these changes and more. He's voted in support of numerous similar and stronger bills.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-10_14:45:07", "killed": false, "user_key": "pacatrue", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2248628": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'm considering voting for Obama despite his lack of experience and a track record - so there!", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:10:32", "killed": false, "user_key": "Holly_in_Cincinnati", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": true, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250398": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "GreenDreams said <br><br><i>Both McCain and Palin would appoint hard right judges and justices.</i><br><br><b><a href=\"http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/supreme_court_ratings/supreme_court_update\" rel=\"nofollow\">Rasmussen</a> says most American voters (60%) agree with the Republicans and say the Supreme Court should make decisions based on what is written in the constitution</b><br><br><i>It's not just Roe v. Wade, though.</i><br><br><b>Why are you worried about Roe v Wade. Even if it was overturned, it would not outlaw abortions, just turn it over to the states, and most abortions are in blue states where it would still be legal.</b>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:47:58", "killed": false, "user_key": "donsingleton", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250552": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Contrary to the rather off-hand assumptions that I've simply no care for the issues, there are any number of them that matter to me.  But the proposed solutions are not coming from one candidate, and in some cases, I'm not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel at all. <br><br>Since this has been a pretty sane thread, maybe somebody can help me with this particular puzzle:  Which of the two major party candidates is likely to reduce the size of our incredibly bloated government?  Either?  Neither?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:58:31", "killed": false, "user_key": "Polimom", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250804": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Polimom, I generally read your posts because of your perspective so I was very interested in this particular one and if you are back on the fence I can't help but wonder how many people (more specifically in this case, women) are back on the fence.<br><br>You mentioned, \"What about her religion, you say? Yes, she\u2019s a social conservative to the Nth degree \u2014 but as far as I\u2019m concerned, that only matters if she thinks her views should be translated to national policy. Her record (as opposed to the rhetoric) indicates that she won\u2019t. Since this is of enormous importance to me, it\u2019s an area on which I\u2019m intensely focused.\"<br><br>Personally I don't think Palin has much of a record to run judge by.  Given her limited responsibilites as mayor in Wasilla, I don't believe 1 1/2 years as governor is enough time for her to reach her stride and put through any legislation that she might want.... after all in the first two years of the Bush presidency he hadn't yet implemented many of the policies, except the war on terror, that are hallmark of his administration (whether you agree or disagree with them).  Adn many of his policies used the war on terror as an excuse to push through his policies.... whether economic, military, social, or what have you.<br><br>But back to Palin.... I am concerned about her views for two reasons.  First about her religion. You are correct that her religion does matter if she doesn't translate her views into policy.  But how can one believe in one thing (say teaching creationism in school) but say they will continue to support that which they do not believe (evolution).  To me Palin and McCain knows her views are extreme and they need to temper them.  Then about the issue of global warming... she says she doesn't believe human activity results in global warming.  Even Bush and Cheney have come around and acknowledged that human activity does play some role.  But Cheney's position was (is) that it's a personal virtue to conserve....  So I don't expect Palin to support policies which are environmentally friendly.  Sure she may stay \"silent\" on them, but I thought we had reached a point where we need to take action to curb global warming, not continue business as usual.<br><br>The second cause for concern is that the Republican religious right push aggressively their religious agenda.  Everything from denying sposual rights to gays and lesbians (I'm not even talking about banning gay marriage, I'm referring to rights granted by the state to married couples which the religious right feels that gays and lesbians should not have) to parity in the workplace for minorities...  Bush ran on a platform of uniting the country, even though his support was from the religious right and he supported much of their agenda and divided the country.  He also touted being a \"compassionate conservative\" and turned out to be was anything but one (which was no surporse to me because how can one be compassionate while supporting the death penalty?  <br><br>So even if Palin doesn't support positions her supporters will try to have her push through (and there's no reason to suggest that she would go against the very people who elected her, especially when she shares their views), I doubt very much that Palin will support positions which she is against, such as global warming, pro-choice, the proper seperation of church and state, ending workplace discrimination, etc.<br><br>Anyway, I find your current indecision interesting... I hope I didnt' come across as saying you shouldn't vote for Palin... if your views match her views then you should very much vote for her.  All I'm saying is that given Palin's religious beliefs, the beliefs of her supporters (and their intense pressure to push through their agenda) and the power of the WH (even if she is VP she will still yield enormous influence) I can't imagine that Palin would actually support positions that she is against, including global warming, workplace rights, etc.  If elected McCain and Palin will owe the religious right a lot, particularly if they want to stay in power for a second term.  <br><br>I wish you the best in your pursuit of determining the right candidate for you.  For me the choice is simple, but for many others, including it is more difficult.  My Mom (a senior citizen and retired doctor- she's very intelligent) waffled between McCain and Obama but is now firmly with Obama.  Her sister, here in California, is waffling between the two, but is leaning towards McCain.  The issues are complex and I want to thank you for taking your right of a citizen seriously and considering the strengths of each candidate.  So many people like one candidate for the wrong reasons and don't make the best choices.  So I'm glad that you'll make the best choice for you, even if it is for a candidate I don't support.  This is what democracy is about.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_16:15:48", "killed": false, "user_key": "StockBoySF", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 2, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2249407": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Since it only got one comment last time, <a href=\"http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/21974/lets-stop-playing-the-whos-really-american-game-guest-voice/\" rel=\"nofollow\">here were my thoughts </a>on the real America game a couple weeks ago in a guest post.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:58:55", "killed": false, "user_key": "pacatrue", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2249156": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Before we define the \"real America,\" I just wanted to note that the 2000 census counted 222,360,539 Americans living in Urban areas and 59,061,367 living in Rural areas.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:41:15", "killed": false, "user_key": "janinedm", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2248182": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Same thing happened to my independent, white, semi-rural male mind a while back Polimom....shortly after Obama began morphing into a very shrewd politician.  And Elrod, your comments are well-taken, but they don't pull me back to Obama...yet....", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_13:40:29", "killed": false, "user_key": "jabbo", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251847": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"She is simply more like most of us than she is like them.\"<br><br>That's a fact that those who actually fear her, realize, for it's why her appeal is so broad, not limited to that Religious Right bogeyman.<br><br>I have to laugh at the fiction about Palin being an \"impulsive\" choice by McCain, another lame and failed effort to portray McCain as suffering defective behavior (as with his so-called temper; Biden is worse when it comes to saying dumb things, though the media are understandly reticent given whose campaign they openly and predictably have been supporting).  Palin was a surprise only because she was a lower-tier potential choice.  SHE WAS ONE OF THE POTENTIAL CHOICES FOR MONTHS.  [sigh]", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:28:14", "killed": false, "user_key": "DLS", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2258761": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I don't disagree with you, Leonidas, that Palin has a lot in common with \"regular folks,\" but so do Obama and Biden, and McCain too, for that matter.  None of them come from wealthy families.  Biden's family is from the same small town area as my grandparents, so I know exactly what he's talking about when he references the blue-collar roots in Scranton, PA.  Obama's a self-made man from very humble (though somewhat exotic) beginnings.  We all know the story by now.  My dad's is similar in that he, too, came from a lower income, single-parent family.  He put himself through college, got married, had a couple kids, and worked hard for his success.  And McCain's family has a long history of military service, something my extended family also shares.<br><br>But I think you're ignoring something incredibly fundamental to American life, and that is the desire to be better off than the previous generation.  In modern times, that often means getting an education.  You may look down on the \"ivory tower\" of academia, but I and most other college graduates are incredibly proud of our achievements and our education.  Would you prefer that we wallow in ignorance?  That we allow the mediocre to lead us further away from progress?  The Ivy League alum is every bit as American as the high school drop out.  The chemical engineer is every bit as representative of American values as a soccer mom.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-10_09:04:01", "killed": false, "user_key": "Amanda", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2251642, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2249677": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I have consistently said that it's all about McCain to me. He's the one that has to convince me one way or the other because Obama is much more of an unknown quantity. And I think he's gone a long way in doing that. At this point, I would surprise myself if I don't vote Obama. Here's my thinking in a nutshell:<br><br>First, no one governs the way they campaign. Once faced with the complexities of actually governing the lofty campaign promises tend to evaporate. Certainly the details do. So rather than concentrating on details, I tend to concentrate more on a person's general approach, consistency, temperament, decision-making style, and that sort of thing. And to put it bluntly, McCain's VP pick was pretty much the last nail in the coffin. It doesn't have much to do with her, mind you. Heck, we still know very little about her views on much of anything. And why not? Well, it appears to me the reason is she was a last-minute, seat of the pants selection. They obviously didn't prepare her for a possible roll-out. In fact, it's rather clear they didn't vet her very thoroughly. And apparently, McCain felt obliged to go the Palin route because he decided at the last minute that the guy he really wanted would cause too much dissention within the party. I mean my goodness, he has been the presumptive nominee about as long as Bristol's been pregnant. And in all that time he wasn't able to flesh out a Plan B? That to me is reckless -- and lacking in deliberative thought.<br><br>I was an early proponent of John McCain. But in the last several months I've watched him walk back on so many different things. Not walking back a little, but a lot. What he allowed at the RNC convention was abominable. Many of his cohorts didn't just criticize Obama and the Democrats they tried hard to belittle them. And then he got up there and proclaimed himself a maverick? A guy that would reach across the aisles? It was nothing short of schizophrenic. It convinced me that McCain was a guy that wanted it both ways. And if he couldn't win out either way he'd do something unpredictable. Some might call that thinking out of the box. I call it vitriolic.<br><br>We've heard a little about his explosive temper with regard to his congressional colleagues. And if that was all it is, fine. Let off a little steam, but don't let it affect your judgement. The problem is, I believe it does affect his judgement. <br><br>Another example: one of the things I liked least about Bush43 was his decision-making style, which he admitted was more instinctual than thorough (an appraisal also acknowledged by his wife Laura and many in his inner circle). Considering what has happened in the last 8 years or so, I thought... never again. I want someone who is thorough about how they think. I want someone I feel has thought out Plan B just in case Plan A doesn't work out. I want someone who has thought out Plan C even, just in case. So when I recently learned about McCain's admission that he likes to take chances, that was another nail in the coffin.<br><br>I also look at the people a candidate attracts to work on his or her staff. I have a problem with the fact that McCain hires so many big time lobbyists -- many of whom represented conflicts not only to McCain's own interests, but also to America's. Mind you, I consider it good, and in fact essential for the potential leader of the free world to get varied opinions, including those whose opinions differ dramatically. But I'm not comfortable with the idea that they're the ones in charge of shaping policy.<br><br>Unfortunately, I have to get back to work, so I think I'll end there.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:17:27", "killed": false, "user_key": "Ricorun", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251601": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\u201cI make them (decisions) as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can,\u201d Mr. McCain wrote, with his top adviser Mark Salter, in his 2002 book,<br> \u201cWorth the Fighting For.\u201d \u201cOften my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.\u201d<br><br>I for one don't want to live with the consequences of his mistakes.<br><br>I think the selection of Palin was a Hail Mary. McCain is a weak Republican presidential candidate.  I don't think anyone on either side<br>of aisle would argue this.    \"Republican Whisperer\" Rove was on the scene pushing his VP choice, McCain had his (Lieberman.)  The twain didn't meet. <br>Enter Sara Palin.<br>Repub PR machines know that America is like a teenager -- it's emotional and it needs to be stimulated all the time.  It likes to buck authority and it doesn't listen.  And America loves watching reality tv....watching people humiliate themselves,<br>argue, compete...whatever.     The machine knew with the right spin (yes pun intended) they could turn this whole campaign into a kind of American Idol with not many folks being the wiser.    I think they chose Palin because she<br>was provocative (for all the reasons we know) - and they had nothing to lose.  And we fell for it.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:10:51", "killed": false, "user_key": "8isEnough", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2252114": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ChrisWWW alludes to another part of my overall discomfort with the state of the race right now with this:<br><br><em>What's funny is watching your total reversal on matters of \"celebrity.\"</em><br><br>Leaving aside altogether who made the comment, I've seen a very definitive disconnect by many of the Obama supporters re:  Palin.  And I likewise see a complete absence of irony on the Republican side.<br><br>When they assail Palin's experience, the first thing that goes through my mind is that Obama was also assailed on precisely these grounds.    Palin's pastor(s) have said things that are outside the mainstream?  Hmmm -- where have I heard this before?    And accusations of falling for personality?  *ahem*<br><br>This is a large part of why I'm not taking many of the counterpoint arguments to heart, on either side of the debate.  Everybody is starting to sound very much the same.  One merely need exchange the name of the target.  <br><br>(no offense intended to any individuals at all with this comment, btw -- this is a generic observation).", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:47:49", "killed": false, "user_key": "Polimom", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2249684": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Her record (as opposed to the rhetoric) indicates that she won\u2019t. Since this is of enormous importance to me, it\u2019s an area on which I\u2019m intensely focused.\"<br><br>Polimom, I have to disagree here. Both McCain and Palin would appoint hard right judges and justices. It's not just Roe v. Wade, though. Alito and Roberts, heralded by McCain/Palin as the kind of justices they would appoint, believe in the \"unitary executive,\" and would further undo the balance of powers, support administration officials hiding from oversight, and support a politically-driven justice department. These are wildly extreme views compared to the written guidance of the founding fathers. <br><br>Most disturbing to me though, as I've said before, is the clear appearance that the GOP is attempting to trick voters into voting against their own best interests, a profoundly anti-democratic position. By lying about their opponent's positions, and lying about their own, McCain/Palin are fighting hard against the \"informed electorate\" that the founding fathers praised as essential to a successful democracy. <br><br>Finally, we are handing to our children a mountain of debt and a degraded planet. the GOP will continue this trend, as is their record since Reagan, and would delay for another 4-8 years any action to change course on issues critical to the freedoms and the lives and health of future generations.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:17:44", "killed": false, "user_key": "GreenDreams", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251093": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Polimom,<br><br>According to the Non Partisan Tax Policy Center, both Obama and McCain's plans would increase the national debt - Obama by 2.7 trillion and McCain by 4 trillion.  (To be fair, I've seen different figures by different analysts, not sure why, but McCain is always about a trillion dollars more than Obama.) (Okay, I just checked it, the different figures 3.3 trillion for Obama, 5 trillion for McCain, seem to include interest.)  McCain's primary problem is a decrease in revenue due to tax cuts to the rich, while Obama's is a decrease in taxes for people making less than $250,000.<br><br>Personally, I think they need to raise taxes - this, to me, is always the problem: presidents swear they're going to cut taxes to get into office, but then they won't cut the programs people need/want.  The Republicans have a much worse track record on this than the democrats, in general.<br><br>I don't like paying taxes any more than anybody else, but it's better than being so massively in debt.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_16:37:01", "killed": false, "user_key": "katiba", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2252503": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Chris, certainly I believe you.  Why wouldn't I?<br><br>And I understand what you're saying.  I honestly do.  But from the perspective of someone like me -- a non-partisan independent -- the entire \"discussion\" is verging on insanity lately.   <br><br>I was hugely offended by the attacks on Barack Obama, and I still find the deliberate insertion of his middle name (while saying, \"but it's his name isn't it?) amazingly, childishly transparent.  But I was likewise disgusted by the attacks on Sarah Palin's family.  <br><br>From me, both sides are losing legitimacy on these points -- and I'm a political junkie who's been following the progression.  I can hardly imagine what \"ordinary\" (read:  non-junkie) people are thinking as they now tune in.  <br><br>And finally -- I always understood those who were concerned about Obama's experience.  I also understand the concern about Palin's.  What amazes me is that neither side seems to recognize the legitimacy of the mirrored views.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_18:17:22", "killed": false, "user_key": "Polimom", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2252267, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251736": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<blockquote>She is simply more like most of us than she is like them.</blockquote><br>Biden, Obama and Palin have humble backgrounds. <br><br>You're trying to create a contrast where there is none. Palin fought her way to an exclusive club with only 50 members. She makes more money than most of us. She was allied with Ted Stevens during her rise to power.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:20:05", "killed": false, "user_key": "ChrisWWW", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251481": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<blockquote>Instead of picking Tim Pawlenty, a social conservative who McCain knows and trusts, he threw up a gimmick in Sarah Palin in order to change the conversation. For the time being Sarah Palin is drawing crowds. But how long will that last? And what does that say about his decision making process?</blockquote><br>Country first?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:02:09", "killed": false, "user_key": "ChrisWWW", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251994": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "DLS,<br>The political implications are up for dispute. Palin may or may not have been a good strategic election choice.<br><br>But that misses the bigger and more important picture: The Palin pick was unquestionably a bad choice in terms of governance.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:40:34", "killed": false, "user_key": "ChrisWWW", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250203": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Polimom.......I won't bog you down with wonking, but since you are now a newly minted free agent, would you send me your phone number so I can forward all these annoying automatic dialing calls to you? I'm sure they would much rather talk to you than to me.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:34:18", "killed": false, "user_key": "casualobserver", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250974": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Polimom,<br>That's a very well written post, but I feel it's more than a bit nebulous. I think a good exercise for you (or anyone really) is to write down the top 5 or so top issues to them in this election. Then figure out where each candidate stands and right down which one you prefer for each of those issues. <br><br>And I'll give you a hint about the issue of reducing the size of the federal government, neither of the two major parties or candidates are going to do it. If you limit yourself to McCain or Obama, you're choice is between how that money is going to spent, not if it will be.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_16:29:17", "killed": false, "user_key": "ChrisWWW", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251487": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Taking off katiba's post, something I would like to see is more transparency with tax revenues. By and large, very few people will vote for taxes to be raised on themselves, particularly when the revenue simply goes to the General fund. They see whatever programs they most dislike or what is most wasteful and associate their hard-earned money with that. However, people do vote rather commonly to raise taxes on themselves when they know exactly where the money is going and they approve. Educational bonds are routinely approved, as are other items such as highway funds, war bonds, and more. People might be more open to raising taxes if the knew that that money would go exactly towards item X and no where else. I've been toying with a deficit/debt fee myself.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:02:20", "killed": false, "user_key": "pacatrue", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2254945": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Polimom -- I've never run into you before, so please excuse me if I make inadvertent assumptions.  If I understand correctly, you were pretty much decided on Obama versus McCain, but McCain's selection of Palin for VP has put you back to square one.  Your two reasons for this change of mind are her \"newness to Washington\" and the fact that with this selection McCain has gone \"outside the box\", while you feel Obama is putting himself in the box (conforming to his party).<br><br>I presume that you have positions on a variety of public policy issues.  I make the ASSUMPTION that while you were leaning towards Obama, you felt that his policy views were, on balance, preferable to those of McCain.  If that assumption is correct, would you be willing to give a couple of examples of how that situation has changed for you because of McCain's selection of Palin?<br><br>\"Newness to Washington\", or outsider status, is a characteristic that American voters love to fall for.  Dubya, Slick, the Gipper, Jimmeh -- all outsiders.  The only \"insider\" we've elected since Nixon was Poppy Bush, and he was running against Dukakis.  Outsider == no national track record == relatively little baggage.  I fully realize that this was a big factor in Obama's decision to run this time around, but I don't really consider it as a positive factor for him, or Palin.  I also know I'm in the minority on this point.  All I can say is \"outsider status\" ended up having very little to do with how recent Presidents have governed -- what has mattered is ideology.<br><br>SCOTUS nominees:  I'm sorry, but you're just wrong about this.  I'm sixty.  The only nominee that has been borked in my lifetime was Bork.  The Senate defers to the executive on almost all appointments, and all a prospective justice has to do is plead \"I can't tell you my opinion on possible future issues\" and Bob's your uncle.<br><br>Palin hasn't done anything to impose her hard-right views on anybody:  Well, she hasn't been in a position to, has she?  I mean, this could be natural restraint; or it could be that a small-town mayor -- or the 21-month governor of the only really libertarian state -- just doesn't have a lot of opportunities for social engineering.  How would we know?  One of the problems with no track record, eh?<br><br>Just as a BTW:  how many small-town mayors, do you think, start off their tenure in office by requesting the resignation of most of their direct staff as a loyalty test?<br><br>Anyhow, cheers.  It's America.  Sooner or later we'll find out what we voted for.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_22:14:56", "killed": false, "user_key": "strangelet", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 2, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2248418": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Meanwhile, the Barack Obama I embraced during the primaries seems to have disappeared. As I wrote in a comment at my blog:\"<br>********<br>Do you regret not voting for Hillary in the primaries?  A lot of people do right about now.  Of the two candidates: Obama and McCain, Hillary seems like the best choice.  <br><br>Get it?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_13:57:07", "killed": false, "user_key": "Silhouette", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251876": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<blockquote>As for the continued neurotic agitation on here about Palin, it's sad.</blockquote><br>What's funny is watching your total reversal on matters of \"celebrity.\" You leveled the celebrity charge at pretty much all of the Obama supporters, but seem unwilling to recognize that the exact thing you've described happened with Republicans and Palin.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:31:38", "killed": false, "user_key": "ChrisWWW", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251878": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "She may have been on a list of potential choices.<br>But she wasn't vetted and we all know it.  <br><br>McCain himself says he's an impulsive decision maker!  (see his direct quote from my earlier post.)", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:31:43", "killed": false, "user_key": "8isEnough", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250982": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Polimom, I generally read your posts because of your perspective so I was very interested in this particular one and if you are back on the fence I can't help but wonder how many people (more specifically in this case, women) are back on the fence.<br><br>You mentioned, \"What about her religion, you say? Yes, she\u2019s a social conservative to the Nth degree \u2014 but as far as I\u2019m concerned, that only matters if she thinks her views should be translated to national policy. Her record (as opposed to the rhetoric) indicates that she won\u2019t. Since this is of enormous importance to me, it\u2019s an area on which I\u2019m intensely focused.\"<br><br>Personally I don't think Palin has much of a record to run judge by.  Given her limited responsibilities as mayor in Wasilla, I don't believe 1 1/2 years as governor is enough time for her to reach her stride and put through any legislation that she might want.... after all in the first two years of the Bush presidency he hadn't yet implemented many of the policies, except the war on terror, that are hallmark of his administration (whether you agree or disagree with them).  And many of his policies used the war on terror as an excuse to push through his policies.... whether economic, military, social, or what have you.<br><br>But back to Palin.... I am concerned about her views for two reasons.  First about her religion. You are correct that her religion does not matter if she does not put her views into policy.  But how can one believe in one thing (say teaching creationism in school) but say they will continue to support that which they do not believe (evolution).  To me Palin and McCain knows her views are extreme and they will temper them (just like Bush did).  Then about the issue of global warming... Palin says she doesn't believe human activity results in global warming.  Even Bush and Cheney have come around and acknowledged that human activity does play some role.  But Cheney's position was (is) that it's a personal virtue to conserve....  So I don't expect Palin to support policies which are environmentally friendly.  Sure she may stay \"silent\" on them, but I thought we had reached a point where we realize the necessity to curb global warming, not continue business as usual.<br><br>The second cause for concern is that the Republican religious right pushed aggressively their religious agenda.  Everything from denying spousal rights to gays and lesbians (I'm not even talking about banning gay marriage, I'm referring to civil rights granted which the religious right feels that gays and lesbians should not have) to elimination of discrimination (including equal pay for women) in the workplace...  Bush ran on a platform of uniting the country.  But once in office Bush rewarded his religious right supporters divided the country.  He also touted being a \"compassionate conservative\" and it turned out that he was anything but compassionate.  This was no surprise to me because how can one be compassionate while supporting the death penalty?  So again Bush pushed through his beliefs and rewarded his base for their support.  McCain and Palin will do the same.<br><br>I doubt very much that Palin will support positions which she is either against (or has not given much thought on), such as global warming, pro-choice, the proper separation of church and state, ending workplace discrimination, etc.  If certain issues were important to her, then she would have given more thought to them.  I\u2019ve discovered that people don\u2019t push for change on issues they don\u2019t have a strong or passionate opinion on.<br><br>Anyway, I find your current indecision interesting... I hope I do not come across as saying you should not vote for Palin... if your views match her views then you should very much vote for her.  All I'm saying is that given Palin's religious beliefs, the beliefs of her supporters (and their intense pressure to push through their agenda) and the power of the WH (even if she is VP she will still yield enormous influence) I can't imagine that Palin would actually support positions that she is against (or even lukewarm about).  If elected McCain and Palin will owe the religious right a lot, particularly if they want to stay in power for a second term.  <br><br>I wish you the best in your pursuit of determining the right candidate for you.  It is a difficult decision.  My Mom (a senior citizen and retired doctor in Alabama) waffled between McCain and Obama but is now firmly with Obama.  Her sister, here in California, is waffling between the two, but is leaning towards McCain.  The issues are complex and I want to thank you for taking your right of a citizen seriously and considering the strengths of each candidate before voting.  Many people support one candidate for the wrong reasons without making the best choice.  So I'm glad that you will make the best choice for you, even if it is for a candidate I don't support.  This is what democracy is about.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_16:29:45", "killed": false, "user_key": "StockBoySF", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2248679": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Leonidas, would you mind clarifying what you mean by \"real America?\"  It looks like you're saying that Palin represents actual Americans, while the rest of us who don't fit that mold just rent space here.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:13:41", "killed": false, "user_key": "Amanda", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2248569, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251624": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Polimom: Since this has been a pretty sane thread, maybe somebody can help me with this particular puzzle: Which of the two major party candidates is likely to reduce the size of our incredibly bloated government? Either? Neither?<br><br>I've grappled in my mind a lot on this question. And to me a better question is: which of the two major party candidates is likely to <i>improve the efficiency</i> of government? That question is not any easier to answer, but I think it's more to the point. For example, outsourcing of government-funded programs technically reduces the size of government, but it doesn't necessarily make things more efficient from an overall cost/benefit standpoint. In fact, it's often just the opposite. Hiring loyal cronies or like-minded ideologues to head major departments doesn't guarantee better efficiency. In fact it usually just serves to make them more dysfunctional. <br><br>To my mind, the single biggest problem we face right now is that the government is dysfunctional. One result of that is the fact that the private sector is not properly regulated. Look at the mortgage crisis. We have problems selling beef to foreign markets. The spinach you eat could kill you. Scientific reports are either gamed by flaks or withheld altogether. Imported toys could turn your kids into blithering idiots. New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast are still suffering.<br><br>Here's another question that is somewhat unrelated: why is it that we as a nation spend more on health care per capita than anyone else and yet we have something like 45 million people uninsured? And what good does it do most of us when the GDP increases 3.5%/year if essentially the only ones that benefit are the upper 5%? Likewise, what good does it do to cut deeply into discretionary allocations if we get ourselves into another shooting war if we don't absolutely have to? Iraq and Afghanistan have already cost us over $500 billion. And that's only counting already allocated expenses. Over the long term they are going to cost us trillions.<br><br>Another thing: IMO whatever we spend on clean energy and energy efficiency technologies will be money well spent in the long run. Energy efficient technologies are inexpensive, provide jobs, while at the same time saving gobs of money and substantially reducing the use of fossil fuels. Similarly, clean energy alternatives also provide jobs and substantially reduce the use of fossil fuels. But they aren't inexpensive. However, the market for clean energy is so huge that they do represent a truly unique opportunity to revitalize the domestic manufacturing sector and significantly enhance our intellectual capital for export overseas. An emphasis on nuclear power is unlikely to do much for either of the latter -- while being at least as expensive and probably more.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:12:03", "killed": false, "user_key": "Ricorun", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250346": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "The poster who focuses on decision-making processes of the candidates makes a very solid point. But then, I share his/her POV. The choice seems so clear that anyone still mulling it cannot acually be motivated by issue positions. So personalities and image move to the fore. Unfortunate but undeniable, at least as it pertains to most such potential voters. <br><br>Apparently a lot of people like Sarah Palin. What can I say? She makes my skin crawl -- she is a bold liar and hypocrite, a vengeful and corrupt petty bureaucrat who is in denial about being out of her depth, and to top it all off, she seems quite nasty (what makes her, and HER extremist religious views, which clearly bleed into her politics in a big way -- \"God\" wanted the Iraq war, she says -- better than anyone else's? And what, exactly, is wrong with being a community organizer? I guess it is much better to be a small-minded, power-hungry, \"barracuda\") . I guess a lot of people like that.<br><br> McCain, similarly, has a long record of incompetence (from finishing nearly last in in his Naval Academy class to the five plane crashes to his numerous gaffes today),  corruption (I can't believe there is a poster citing his \"learning\" from the Keating Five experience when he remains surrounded by lobbyists and still caters to the rich and powerful at every turn) and nastiness / bad temper, and disrespect for women -- imagine how much we would hear about it if a Democrat had called his own wife what he called Cindy, or how much would be made of the same level of infidelity he has demonstrated. This just isn't the good guy the image-builders present, and that most of the MSM buys into (in return for being catered to on the campaign trail). He has flip-flopped like crazy, dumping his \"maverick\" positions on tax cuts for the rich, campagn finance reform, and even torture, where you'd think he'd stand firm, according to the political advantage of the moment, cancelling out his only real claim to independence. He stoops to low, irrelevant attacks like the Paris Hilton/Brittney Spears \"celebrity\" ads vs Obama. His \"bold\" choice of a VP is an obvious pander to the right wing, and shows he is willing to have a puppet of the Bush-Cheney crowd run the country. Indeed, that is what we will get, regardless of whether this 72-year-old, five-time cancer sufferer survives his term.  Please take some time to read up on the facts, to actually do what McCain only SAYS he does -- \"put Country first\" -- and vote for the change we need (sorry for the slogan but it DOES describe things correctly, IMHO). Obama may not be super-experienced, and I don't agree with all his stances, but he has shown himself to be a respectful, serious, thoughtful, decent man of high intelligence and strong character who can restore the nation's good name around the world and move us past the low place into which Bush-Cheney have dragged us, with a powerful assist from the 90+%-of-the-time partner McCain.  Thanks for enduring my rant. And thanks, everyone, for caring enough about our common future to post and read. More knowledge will bring us closer to better solutions.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:44:39", "killed": false, "user_key": "peaceworker", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2252267": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Polimom,<br>I know you probably don't believe me, and that's the danger of fighting in the muck like this. But when I bring up Palin's pastor, or her lack of experience, I always try to bring in the larger context.<br><br>Palin's pastor should be an issue, <b>because</b> the Republicans made Obama's pastor an issue.<br><br>Todd Palin's association with the Alaskan independence party is an issue, <b>because</b> the Republicans made Michelle Obama's patriotism an issue.<br><br>For me these issues say more about Republican hypocrisy than Palin herself. Sometimes that point is lost and understandably so. It's hard to keep in mind where these attacks begin or end.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:59:13", "killed": false, "user_key": "ChrisWWW", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251885": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Perhaps it was inspired and brilliant . . . it may get McCain the presidency! \"<br><br>That's what probably will be needed for many skeptics to admit it was inspired and brilliant.  (So far the results have been remarkably good but we have two months to go!)  The worst of the opposition will never admit it is true or even a possibility.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:32:03", "killed": false, "user_key": "DLS", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2252398": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "It is very difficult for me to see how anyone who pays attention to politics enough to blog on that subject can be undecided at this point in the race.  The only thing that changed in the last couple of weeks is that fact that the candidates now have now picked their VP candidates.  <br><br>If McCain had picked Lieberman that would have been thinking out of the box as well.  Do you think Lieberman as VP would have made you undecided?  If not, then what is it about the Palin pick that makes you think McCain would be a better President?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_18:09:22", "killed": false, "user_key": "Blue_Neponset", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 2, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2252400": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Agreed, polimom. Both Biden and McCain have tons of federal legislative experience.  We know the two of them know how the government works on a federal level and that they are roughly in tune with the issues. This gets them a relative pass on the experience question, but not an entire one. The only two people alive who're clearly qualified to be Prez are Carter and Bush Sr. since they've done it and can constitutionally serve. Of course, both aren't really appropriate in other ways now.<br><br>As for Palin and Obama, they each have some relevant experience, but not tons, and so it's a bigger question mark. Therefore, both now need to prove to the electorate that they are prepared. Obama's been going through this for almost two years with question after question, policy position after policy position, and debate after debate. Palin's only been with us for two weeks on a national level, and so it SHOULD be critical for her to be demonstrating her readiness every day. That's not quite what we are getting, but that's another topic.<br><br>To change the subject a bit, so, Leo, if you had a child who got a scholarship and loans to go to Harvard or Princeton, you'd counsel her against it or hold her attendance against her for the rest of her life? That seems to be what you are asking us to do of Obama. He earned a way into a terrific school and now we are to punish him for it. I ask because my parents worked their butts off so that I could get into a top school in the nation, always valuing education as the most important thing I did as a kid. I understand your sentiment somewhat with people who get in because their uncle went to school there, but everyone knows that's not the case with Obama. Apparently, Obama's mom went on food stamps for a brief period.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_18:09:25", "killed": false, "user_key": "pacatrue", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2250484": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'm really surprised when I see these remarks about McCain being outside of the box now, just because he picked a woman who is unknown.  She is not qualified to be VP. Maybe in 8 years or after some time in a national arena, but not now.  McCain has rescinded most of his \"maverick\" positions and judging by what I have read of Palin's political record, she changes position regularly depending on public opinion and political convenience. In what way do either of these two represent outside the box. They simply are politicians who are choosing their positions to curry favor with the electorate, not based upon sound judgment and consideration of issues.  I am really tired of politicians who have no moral compass and no fixed principles and who are willing to adapt to the prevailing political winds whenever convenient.  Even Obama is not immune to this, although I personally believe that his move to the center during this election was to be expected and was certainly much less jarring than McCain's virtual about face on many issues.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_15:54:04", "killed": false, "user_key": "crosspit", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251765": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Leonidas, I see your point.  But GW Bush was voted in for almost the same reasons -  \"down home compassionate\" guy.  People voted with their emotions because the man he presented to us pushed the right buttons.   And look where that has gotten us.  Most probably he will go down as the worst president in the history of our country. <br>I don't want or need my neighbor or cousin to be president -- I want a leader of character, substance, and intelligence.  We so desperately need great leadership again.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:21:50", "killed": false, "user_key": "8isEnough", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251382": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Stockboy, you said:   \"But how can one believe in one thing (say teaching creationism in school) but say they will continue to support that which they do not believe (evolution).\"<br><br>But isn't that what the entire premise of our foundational government is based on?  That there's a rule of law, and a set of principles, and that one person's beliefs may not be imposed on all?  Do you therefore think that someone with such religious views is, or should be, automatically out of consideration for national office?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_16:56:16", "killed": false, "user_key": "Polimom", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2250804, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2271255": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I performed an in depth analysis of the <a href=\"http://www.pardontheinformation.com/2008/09/biden-vs-mccain-vs-obama-voting-records.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">voting records of Joseph Biden, John McCain, and Barack Obama</a> over the last two years. I thought you might like to read it.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-10_17:43:19", "killed": false, "user_key": "robertjmiller", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2248569": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "As a counterpoint to what Elrod wrote above, I'll tell you why I like McCain.<br><br>Sure he did pander some to the right, but he absolutely had to if he had any chance of being nominated, he found that out in 2000.  The real McCain is much more centrist, weve seen that in such actions as McCain-Feingold and McCain Kennedy.  We've also him lead bi-partisanship in the gang of 14.  Now that Sarah Palin has brought real America to the ticket while at the same time mollifying segments of the right side of the Republican Party he can move back to his career long home more to the center.  The Palin choice was perfect for him pitching a big tent to the right and to the center, between experience of people who know the system and the hometown America that isn't tainted by it.  Had Obama Selected Clinton, or Bill Richardson he would have done the same, but he went with another Liberal in Biden and their is noone in the center on that ticket.<br><br>Obama on the other hand, is a very very liberal Senator.  Hilliary Clinton was the moderate in that race, although many of my republican friends will groan and protest me saying so with arguments about socialized medice and such.  Barrack Obama likes to put out a voted with Bush 90% figure, but here are some facts for you if you haven't seen them before.  Obama voted with Democrats 95% of the time, Biden 96.6% of the time, making them the 11th and 8th most partisan by voting record.  By Camparison McCain voted with the GOP majority 83% of the time making him the 65th most partisan out of 100.  Obama walked away from a bi-partisan ethics bill to join his own party in an all democrat version, remember McCain's angry letter to him over that?  <br><br>McCain has made the right calls in so many cases.(not all I freely admit) and because he was aware of the situation beforehand didn't bneed to consult as much and change his answer multiple times.  On Georgia Obama answered twice with different answers and then came around to McCains position,  How was McCain able to get it right?  He had a top notch advisor, who the Obama campaign has attacked with the lobbyist label, but this was a man who had been keeping McCain uipdated on the situation so McCain wasn't caugth off guard.  That is where experience comes in.  That is why Joe Liebermann can cross party lines and support him.  The next president will be dealing with a deeply divided nation and political parties that are very hostile to each other and a huge part of their job will be healing that rift so that the parties can work together more and actually govern instead of squabbling so much.  Which candidate do you think has the strength to cut through the red tape and reach across the asile?  The one who has been doing it a long time and angering his own party, with the running mate who has likewise taken her fellow republicans to task?  or the guy who has been groomed by his own party and votes with them 96% of the time ans does his running mate?<br><br>I'll leave you with one other difference, altough there are many more:.  Acceptance of responsibility.  Have you noticed during the campaign that whenever Obama has a problem it always gets attributed to a staffer?  How often does the buck stop with Obama?   Remember his trying to deny the story about his vote on the babies that were accidentally born during abortions, calling his critics liars on national TV when in fact the voting record on the matter are crystal clear showing otherwise?  contrast that with McCain, who is much better at accepting responsibility for error (and thus learning from it).  Remember his involvement with the Keating Five?  Well thats the mistake that lead him to embark on his career of reform.  He learned from that, because he accepted responsibility, something Obama is yet to learn because he blames others.  Thats fine for a legislator or community organizer, it isn't for an Executive.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_14:07:17", "killed": false, "user_key": "Leonidas", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 2, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2251642": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Amanda asked a valid question about what I thought \"real America\" was.<br><br>To me real America is America outside the political beltway where people work to make ends meet without a lot of extra left over after buying the groceries, paying the bills, and maybe being able to save just a little bit for retirement.  I'm talking the working and middle class and not ivory tower acedemia, or the halls of government, or millionaires, I'm talking about hometown American whether its rural, inner or outter suburbia, or urban.<br><br>Sarah Palin represents this because she is a hockey mom as well as a governor, She is a mother of 5 as well as a business deal maker,  she is a hunter as well as a reformer.  She went into politics via the PTA not via the Ivy League  and the Chicago political machine,  she continued in politics fighting for things that effected her family, not because she intended on a political career, she found herself there by suprise, not as a plan with politics as a goal.<br><br>She is simply more like most of us than she is like them.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_17:13:06", "killed": false, "user_key": "Leonidas", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "2255536": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Actually, strangelet, I never did fully recover from Obama's launch into populism in Ohio -- nor does it seem that he fully recovered either.  Furthermore, that was a primary, and this is the GE.  <br><br>Re:  small town mayors:  haven't been in a position to observe any mayors first hand.  I have, however, watched any number of elected officials in other capacities (such as Sheriffs) fire the entire leadership from the prior office holder.  <br><br>And if you truly feel the SCOTUS nominees are a walk-through in the Senate, then the problem there isn't actually with the executive branch, is it?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": false, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-09-09_23:14:51", "killed": false, "user_key": "Polimom", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 2254945, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}}, "integration": {"receiver_url": "http://themoderatevoice.com/disqus-blank.html", "theme": 4, "reply_position": true, "disqus_logo": false}, "timer": {"timer_url": "http://localhost:8005", "thread_id": "4352309", "user_id": "anonymous", "forum_id": "2724", "hash": 194640852662338579}, "thread": {"total_posts": 0, "paginate": false, "per_page": 0, "slug": "obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56", "num_pages": 1, "days_alive": 0, "realtime_paused": true, "id": 4352309, "num_posts": 72, "closed": true, "queued": false, "killed": false}, "reactions_limit": 10, "context": {"show_reply": false, "use_fb_connect": true, "forum_facebook_key": "8e626a1cbe92745e5f4435bb28791555", "use_yahoo": false, "subscribed": false, "use_twitter_signin": true, "use_openid": false, "realtime_speed": 5000}, "reactions_start": 0, "settings": {"debug": false, "disqus_url": "http://disqus.com", "media_url": "http://media.disqus.com"}, "media_url": "http://media.disqus.com"};
	/* */ this.jsonData.cookie_messages = {"user_created": null, "post_has_profile": null, "post_twitter": null, "post_not_approved": null}; this.jsonData.session = {"url": null, "name": null, "email": null}; /* */

	
	this.curPageId = 'dsq-comments';

	this.frames = {};
};

var disqus_popup_reference = null;

if(typeof DsqLocal == 'undefined') {
	DsqLocal = {};
}



/**
 * Dsq.Strings: UI strings
 */
Dsq.Strings = new function() {
	this.ADD_NEW_COMMENT = "Add New Comment";
	this.LOG_INTO_DISQUS = "Log into DISQUS";
	this.USE_MEDIA = "Use Media";
	this.LOGOUT = "Logout";
	this.SHARING_OPTIONS = "Sharing options";
	this.SHARE_ON = "Share on";
	this.TWEET_THIS_COMMENT = "Tweet this comment";
	this.SHARE_ON_NEWSFEED = "Share on news feed";
	this.SEND_UPDATE_TO_YAHOO = "Send update to Yahoo!";
	this.REBLOG_ON = "Reblog on";
	this.CONFIGURE_OPTIONS = "Configure options";
	this.POST_AS = "Post as";
	this.SORT_BY = "Sort by";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_BY_EMAIL = "Subscribe by email";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_BY_RSS = "Subscribe by RSS";
	this.POPULAR_NOW = "Popular now";
	this.BEST_RATING = "Best Rating";
	this.NEWEST_FIRST = "Newest first";
	this.OLDEST_FIRST = "Oldest first";
	this.HIGHLIGHTED = "Highlighted";
	this.UNSUBSCRIBE = "Unsubscribe";
	this.REQUIRED = "Required";
	this.OPTIONAL = "Optional";
	this.YOU_ARE_COMMENTING_AS_A = "You are commenting as a";
	this.LOGIN_BELOW = "Login below";
	this.PLEASE_LOGIN_BELOW_TO_COMMENT = "Please login below to comment.";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_TO_ALL_COMMENTS_BY_EMAIL = "Subscribe to all comments by email";
	this.DO_NOT_SUBSCRIBE_TO_COMMENTS = "Do not subscribe to comments";
	this.REALTIME_UPDATING_IS = "Real-time updating is";
	this.ENABLED = "enabled";
	this.PAUSED = "paused";
	this.PAUSE = "Pause";
	this.RESUME = "Resume";
	this.SHOW = "Show";
	this.JUST_NOW = "Just now";
	this.REPLY = "Reply";
	this.EDIT = "Edit";
	this.FLAG = "Flag";
	this.MODERATE = "Moderate";
	this.CANCEL = "Cancel";
	this.REPLYING_TO = "Replying to";
	this.REPORT_MISSING_REACTIONS = "Report missing reactions";
	this.POST_A_COMMENT = "Post a comment";
	this.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT = "Flag inappropriate comment";
	this.FLAGGED = "Flagged";
	this.NO = "No";
	this.YES = "Yes";
	this.NEVER_MIND = "Never mind";
	this.ARE_YOU_SURE_YOU_WOULD_LIKE_TO_REPORT_THIS_COMMENT_TO_A_MODERATOR = "Are you sure you would like to report this comment to a moderator";
	this.THIS_WILL_FLAG_COMMENTS_FOR_MODERATORS_TO_TAKE_ACTION = "This will flag comments for moderators to take action";
	this.TO_RATE_PLEASE_LOG_IN = "To rate, please log in";
	this.JUST_A_MOMENT = "Just a moment...";
	this.GUEST = "Guest";
	this.NAME = "Name";
	this.EMAIL = "Email";
  this.WEBSITE = "Website";
  this.SETTINGS = "Settings";
  this.MODERATOR_OPTIONS = "Moderator options: ";
  this.MODERATE_OPTIONS = "Moderate Options";

  // Thread moderator actions
  this.CLOSE_THREAD = "Close thread";
  this.OPEN_THREAD = "Open thread";
  this.REMOVE_THREAD = "Remove thread";
  this.RESTORE_THREAD = "Restore thread";
  this.ACTIONS = "Actions";
};
// Dsq.Strings

/**
 * Dsq.FmtStrings: functions that return interpolated UI strings
 */
Dsq.FmtStrings = new function() {
	// Seems we have to use named interpolation for Django to translate. Investigate more.
	this.LOGGED_IN_AS = function(username) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate('Logged in as %(username)s', {username:username});
	};

	this.LOGOUT_FROM = function(disqus) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate('Logout from %(disqus)s', {disqus:disqus});
	};

	this.SHOWING_COMMENTS_FULL = function(total, num) {
		if (num === 1) {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> of <span id='dsq-total-posts'>%(total)s</span> comment", {num:num, total:total});
		} else {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> of <span id='dsq-total-posts'>%(total)s</span> comments", {num:num, total:total});
		}
	};

	this.SHOWING_COMMENTS_WITHOUT_PAGINATION = function(num) {
		if (num === 1) {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> comment", {num:num});
		} else {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> comments", {num:num});
		}
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_COMMENTS = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s comment'
				: '%(num)s comments'
			), {num:num});
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_LIKES = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s like'
				: '%(num)s likes'
			), {num:num});
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_POINTS = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s point'
				: '%(num)s points'
			), {num:num});
	};
};
// Dsq.FmtStrings





Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN = 'a2d140c59df8cd4ce27a20e0829cacd8';
Dsq.COMMENTS_RE = /(<li.*?id="?dsq-comment-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*?)(<\/li>)/gim;
Dsq.POST_RE = /(<div.*?id="?dsq-comment-header-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*?)(<\/div>)\s*(<div.*?class="?dsq-comment-body"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*)(<\/div>)/gim;
Dsq.POST_BODY_RE = /\s*(<div.*?id="?dsq-comment-message-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*)(<\/div>)/gim;
// HACK: Safari ends with "-->" while other browsers end with "--&gt;" as expected.
Dsq.MEDIA_POST_RE = /&lt;!--\[(.*?)\]--(?:>|&gt;)/gim;



var FragmentPacket = function(reader, writer, writer_url, is_child, receiveCallback) {
	var that = this;
	this.reader = reader;
	this.writer = writer;
	this.writer_url = writer_url;

	this.is_child = is_child || false;
	this.receiveCallback = receiveCallback;

	this._lastHash = null;

	this._accumMsg = '';

	this._lastSeqno = 0;

	this.MAX_DATA_LEN	= 1024;

	this.WAIT_TIME		= 10;

	this.READY		= 0x1;
	this.WRITING	= 0x2;
	this.FIN		= 0x4;
	this.ACK		= 0x8;

};

FragmentPacket.prototype.createListener = function() {
	var that = this;
	var listener = function() {
		that.recv();
	};
	return window.setInterval(listener, 10);
};

FragmentPacket.prototype.log = function(msg) {



};

FragmentPacket.prototype.recv = function() {
	var hash;
	if (/MSIE/.test(navigator.userAgent)) {

		hash = this.reader.name;
	} else {

		var hashIndex = this.reader.location.href.indexOf('#');
		if (hashIndex == -1) {
			return;
		}
		hash = this.reader.location.href.substring(hashIndex+1);
	}
	var flags = parseInt(hash.substring(0, 4), 10);
	var seqno = parseInt(hash.substring(4, 24), 10);
	var data  = hash.substring(24);

	if (this._lastHash !== hash) {
		this._lastHash = hash;
		this.log('recv: ' + hash);

		this.log(' flags: ' + flags);
		this.log(' seqno: ' + seqno + ' len: ' + hash.substring(4, 24).length + ' (' + hash.substring(4, 24) + ')');
		this.log(' data: ' + data + ' len: ' + data.length);

		this._lastSeqno = seqno;

		if (flags & this.WRITING) {
			this._accumMsg += data;
			this.sendFlag(this.ACK, seqno);
			if (flags & this.FIN) {
				this.log('recv finished: ' + decodeURIComponent(this._accumMsg));
				this.receiveCallback(decodeURIComponent(this._accumMsg));

				this._accumMsg = '';

				this.sendFlag(this.READY | this.ACK, this._lastSeqno);
			}
		}
	}

	return {
		flags: flags,
		seqno: seqno,
		data: data
	};
};

FragmentPacket.prototype.sendRawPacket = function(packet) {
	if (/MSIE/.test(navigator.userAgent)) {
		this.writer.name = packet;
	} else {

		this.writer.location.href = this.writer_url + '#' + packet;
	}

};

FragmentPacket.prototype.sendFlag = function(flag, seqno) {
	this.sendRawPacket(this._zerofill(flag, 4) + this._zerofill(seqno, 20));
};

FragmentPacket.prototype.send = function(msg) {
	this._send(0, encodeURIComponent(msg));
};

FragmentPacket.prototype._send = function(packetNum, msg) {
	var that = this;
	var recvBuf = this.recv();

	if (packetNum === 0) {

		if (!(recvBuf.flags & this.READY)) {
			this.log('client is not ready, waiting...');
			window.setTimeout(function() { that._send(packetNum, msg); }, this.WAIT_TIME);
			return;
		}
	} else {

		if (!( (recvBuf.flags & this.ACK) && (recvBuf.seqno === this._lastSeqno) )) {
			this.log('waiting for ack from client...');
			window.setTimeout(function() { that._send(packetNum, msg); }, this.WAIT_TIME);
			return;
		} else {
			this.log('received ack: ' + this._lastSeqno + ' ' + recvBuf.seqno);
		}
	}

	var flags = this.WRITING;
	var num_packets = Math.ceil(msg.length / this.MAX_DATA_LEN);
	this.log('num_packets: ' + num_packets);

	if (num_packets === packetNum) {

		this.log('message successfully sent!');
		this.sendFlag(this.READY | this.ACK, this._lastSeqno);
		return true;
	}

	this._lastSeqno++;

	if (packetNum == num_packets-1) {
		flags |= this.FIN;
	}

	var data = msg.substring(packetNum * this.MAX_DATA_LEN, (packetNum+1) * this.MAX_DATA_LEN);
	var packet = this._zerofill(flags, 4) + this._zerofill(this._lastSeqno, 20) + data;

	this.log('sending raw packet: ' + packet);
	this.sendRawPacket(packet);

	return this._send(packetNum + 1, msg);
};

FragmentPacket.prototype._zerofill = function(num, width) {
	var retval = num.toString();
	var retval_len = retval.length;
	for (var i = 0; i < width - retval_len; i++) {
		retval = '0' + retval;
	}
	return retval;
};

var PostMessagePacket = function(receiver, receiveCallback, id, receiverId) {
	var that = this;
	this.receiver = receiver;
	this.receiveCallback = receiveCallback;
	this.id = id;


	this.receiverId = receiverId;
};

PostMessagePacket.prototype.createListener = function() {
	var that = this;

	var listener = function(e) {

		if (!that.id) {
			that.id = e.data;
			return;
		}


		var id = e.data.split(';')[0];
		if (id !== that.id) {
			return;
		}
		var data = e.data.substring(e.data.indexOf(';') + 1);

		that.receiveCallback(data);
	};

	if (typeof window.attachEvent == 'function') {
		window.attachEvent('onmessage', listener);
	} else if (typeof window.addEventListener == 'function') {
		window.addEventListener('message', listener, false);
	} else {
		throw new Error('No method found to create event listener for PostMessagePacket.');
	}
};

PostMessagePacket.prototype.send = function(msg) {



	var needs_reget = false;
	try {
		if (typeof this.receiver.id == 'undefined' || typeof this.receiver.postMessage == 'undefined') {
			needs_reget = true;
		}
	} catch(e) {


	}
	if (needs_reget && typeof this.receiverId != 'undefined') {
		this.receiver = document.getElementById(this.receiverId).contentWindow;
	}

	var packet;
	if (!msg) {

		packet = this.id;
	} else {
		packet = this.id + ';' + msg;
	}
	this.receiver.postMessage(packet, '*');
};

PostMessagePacket._last_unique_id = null;
PostMessagePacket._get_unique_id = function() {
	var id = (new Date()).getTime();
	if (id == PostMessagePacket._last_unique_id) {
		id++;
	}
	PostMessagePacket._last_unique_id = id;
	return id.toString();
};

var JsonRpc = function() {

	this.ids = {};

	this.objectToJSON = function(obj) {
		var json = '';
		var results = [];

		if (obj === undefined || obj === null) {
			return 'null';
		}

		switch (obj.constructor) {
			case Object:
				for (var property in obj) {
					if (obj.hasOwnProperty(property)) {
						results.push(this.objectToJSON(property) + ': ' + this.objectToJSON(obj[property]));
					}
				}
				json = '{' + results.join(', ') + '}';
				break;
			case Array:
				for (var i = 0; i < obj.length; i++) {
					results.push(this.objectToJSON(obj[i]));
				}
				json = '[' + results.join(', ') + ']';
				break;
			case Number:
			case Boolean:
				json = obj.toString();
				break;
			case String:

				var specialChars = {'\b': '\\b', '\t': '\\t', '\n': '\\n', '\f': '\\f', '\r': '\\r', '\\': '\\\\'};

				json = obj.replace(/[\x00-\x1f\\]/g, function(match) {
					var ch = specialChars[match];
					return ch ? ch : '\\u00' + match.charCodeAt().toPaddedString(2, 16);
				});

				json = '"' + json.replace(/"/g, '\\"') + '"';
				break;
			default:

				json = 'null';
				break;
		}

		return json;
	};

	this.createHandler = function(send_func, registered_funcs) {
		var that = this;
		var handler = function(message) {

			try {
				var rpc = eval('(' + message + ')');
			} catch(e) {
				alert('bad JSON: ' + message);
				return;
			}
			if (rpc.method) {

				if (!registered_funcs[rpc.method]) {
					return;
				}

				var retval = registered_funcs[rpc.method].apply(null, rpc.params);
				if (rpc.id) {
					var response = {
						result: retval,
						error: null,	// TODO
						id: rpc.id
					};
					send_func(that.objectToJSON(response));
				}
			} else if(rpc.result) {

				if (!that.ids[rpc.id]) {
					return;
				}

				that.ids[rpc.id](rpc.result);
				delete that.ids[rpc.id];
			}
		};
		return handler;
	};

	this.execute = function(send_func, method, params, response_callback) {
		response_callback = response_callback || null;
		var id = (response_callback) ? (new Date()).getTime() : null;

		var request = {
			method: method,
			params: params,
			id: id
		};

		send_func(this.objectToJSON(request));

		if (id) {
			this.ids[id] = response_callback;
		}
	};
};
JsonRpc = new JsonRpc();

var ParentMessenger = function(childUrl, receiverUrl, container, receiveCallback) {


	if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Safari') >= 0 && parseInt(navigator.userAgent.substring(navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Version/') + 8), 10) == 3) {
		throw new Error("unsupported.");
	} else if (window.opera) {
		throw new Error("unsupported.");
	}



	if (!receiverUrl &&
		navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Gecko') >= 0 &&
		parseFloat(navigator.userAgent.slice(navigator.userAgent.indexOf('rv:') + 3, navigator.userAgent.indexOf('rv:') + 6)) < 1.9) {
		throw new Error("unsupported.");
	}


	if (/msie/i.test(navigator.userAgent) && !/opera/i.test(navigator.userAgent)) {


		if (document.domain == window.location.hostname) {
			receiverUrl = '';
		}
	}

	var that = this;
	this.childUrl = childUrl;
	this.receiverUrl = receiverUrl;
	this.container = container || document.body;

	this.packetHandler = null;


	this._ready = false;
	this._error = false;


	var _createReceiverForFragmentPacket = function() {

		that.receiver = document.createElement('iframe');
		that.receiver.src = receiverUrl;
		that.receiver.id = 'receiver_' + (new Date()).getTime();
		that.receiver.name = that.receiver.id;

		that.receiver.frameBorder = '0';
		that.receiver.frameSpacing = '0';
		that.receiver.style.borderStyle = 'none';

		var receiver_onload = function() {
			var receiver = document.getElementById(that.receiver.id).contentWindow;

			try {
				receiver.document.body.innerHTML = '';
			} catch(e) {

				that._error = true;
			}
			receiver.document.body.style.padding = '0px';
			receiver.document.body.style.margin = '0px';

			var child = receiver.document.createElement('iframe');
			child.id = 'child';
			child.name = 'child';
			child.src = that.childUrl;

			child.frameBorder = '0';
			child.frameSpacing = '0';
			child.style.borderStyle = 'none';
			child.style.width = '100%';
			child.style.height = '100%';
			receiver.document.body.appendChild(child);

			that.child = receiver.document.getElementById('child').contentWindow;
			that.receiver = receiver;

			that.packetHandler = new FragmentPacket(that.receiver, that.child, that.childUrl, false, receiveCallback);

			that._listener = that.packetHandler.createListener();

			that.packetHandler.sendFlag(that.packetHandler.READY, 0);

			that._ready = true;
		};

		that.receiver.onreadystatechange = function() {
			if (this.readyState == 'complete') {
				receiver_onload();
			}
		};

		that.receiver.onload = receiver_onload;







		if (Dsq.Utils.ie) {
			if (that.container.clientWidth === 0) {

				var _waitForWidth = function() {
					if (that.container.clientWidth > 0) {
						Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(that.container.id);
					} else {
						window.setTimeout(_waitForWidth, 100);
					}
				};
				_waitForWidth();

				that._once = false;
				that.receiver.onresize = function() {
					if (!that._once) {
						Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(that.container.id);
					}
					that._once = true;
				};
			}
		}

		that.container.appendChild(that.receiver);
	};


	var _createReceiverForPostMessage = function() {

		var receiver_onload = function() {

			that.packetHandler.send();
			that._ready = true;
		};

		var id = PostMessagePacket._get_unique_id();
		var receiverId = 'child_' + id;


		ParentMessenger['_receiver_onload_' + receiverId] = receiver_onload;

		that.container.innerHTML += '<iframe ' +
			'src="' + childUrl + '" ' +
			'id="' + receiverId + '" ' +
			'name="' + receiverId + '" ' +
			'onload="ParentMessenger._receiver_onload_' + receiverId +'();" ' +
			'></iframe>';

		that.receiver = document.getElementById(receiverId).contentWindow;
		that.packetHandler = new PostMessagePacket(that.receiver, receiveCallback, id, receiverId);
		that._listener = that.packetHandler.createListener();
	};

	if (typeof window.postMessage == 'function') {
		_createReceiverForPostMessage();
	} else {
		_createReceiverForFragmentPacket();
	}

};

ParentMessenger.prototype.sendMessage = function(message) {
	var that = this;
	if (!this._ready) {

		window.setTimeout(function() { that.sendMessage(message); }, 10);
		return;
	}
	this.packetHandler.send(message);
	return true;
};

Dsq.NewFrames = function(url) {
	this.url = url;
};

Dsq.NewFrames.prototype.init = function(onFailure) {
	var that = this;

	try {
		this.messenger = new ParentMessenger(this.url, Dsq.jsonData.integration.receiver_url, this.container, this.receive_callback);
	} catch(e) {
		if (typeof onFailure == 'function') {
			onFailure();
		}
	}

	if (typeof onFailure == 'function') {
		var iId = window.setInterval(function() {
			if (typeof that.messenger == 'undefined') {
				window.clearInterval(iId);
				return;
			}
			if (that.messenger._ready) {
				window.clearInterval(iId);
			} else if (that.messenger._error) {
				window.clearInterval(iId);
				onFailure();
			}
		}, 10);
	}
};

Dsq.NewFrames.prototype._execute = function(method, args, callback) {
	var that = this;
	if (typeof that.messenger == 'undefined') {
		return false;
	}
	JsonRpc.execute(
		function(msg) { that.messenger.sendMessage(msg); },
		method,
		args || [],
		callback);
	return true;
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame = function(container, parent_post_id) {
	var that = this;
	this.container = container;
	this.parent_post_id = parent_post_id;

	var sendFunc = function(msg) {

		Dsq.Debug.log('Dsq.ReplyFrame.sendFunc');
		that.messenger.sendMessage(msg);
	};


	var postComment_onSuccess = function(response) {
		Dsq.jsonData.posts[response.message.id] = response.message.post_meta;
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.users[response.message.post_meta.user_key]) {
			Dsq.jsonData.users[response.message.post_meta.user_key] = response.message.user_meta;
		}


		var reply_position = (typeof(disqus_insert_wrt_sort) == 'undefined' 
			? (Dsq.jsonData.forum.reply_position ? -1 : null) 
			: (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 2 ? null : -1));
		
		if (response.message.post_meta.approved) {
			Dsq.Post.insert(response.message.post_meta.parent_post_id || reply_position, response.message.id, response.message.post_meta.message);
		}

		Dsq.Templates.postComment_onSuccess(response, parent_post_id, response.message.id);
	};

	var postComment_onFailure = function(response) {
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(response.message, 'Error');
		Dsq.Templates.postComment_onFailure(response, parent_post_id, response.message.id);
	};

	var editComment_onSuccess = function(response) {
		var post_id = parent_post_id;
		var message = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + post_id);
		
		message.innerHTML = response.message;
		Dsq.Templates.toggleEdit(post_id);
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};
	
	var editComment_onFailure = function(response) {
		var post_id = parent_post_id;
		
		Dsq.Popup.popModal('Sorry, there was an error editing this comment.', 'Edit Error');
		Dsq.Templates.toggleEdit(post_id);
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};

	var getUserByEmail_onSuccess = function(response) {
		var msg = response.message;
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(parent_post_id);

		if (msg.username) {

			Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(parent_post_id, 'login', {
				'username': msg.username,
				'display_name': msg.display_name,
				'avatar_url': msg.avatar_url,
				'verified': msg.verified,
				'email': fields.email.value
			});
		} else {

			Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(parent_post_id, 'register');
		}
	};

	var validateAuth_onSuccess = function(response, auth_choice) {
		Dsq.Templates.postComment(parent_post_id, null, true, auth_choice);
	};

	var validateAuth_onFailure = function(response, auth_choice) {
		var pid = parent_post_id ? '-' + parent_post_id : '';
		var msg = response.message;

		if (auth_choice == 'register') {
			var fields = ['email', 'username', 'password'];

			for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; i++) {
				var field = fields[i];
				var errorDiv = Dsq.$('dsq-' + field + '-errors' + pid);

				if (msg[field]) {
					errorDiv.innerHTML = msg[field];
				} else {
					errorDiv.innerHTML = '';
				}
			}
		} else if (auth_choice == 'login') {
			Dsq.$('dsq-lightbox-errors' + pid).innerHTML = '<p>We couldn\'t log you in. Please verify your login.</p>';
		}
		
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};

	this.receive_callback = JsonRpc.createHandler(sendFunc, {
		'postComment.onSuccess': postComment_onSuccess,
		'postComment.onFailure': postComment_onFailure,
		'editComment.onSuccess': editComment_onSuccess,
		'editComment.onFailure': editComment_onFailure,		
		'getUserByEmail.onSuccess': getUserByEmail_onSuccess,
		'validateAuth.onSuccess': validateAuth_onSuccess,
		'validateAuth.onFailure': validateAuth_onFailure,
		'reload': function() { window.location.reload(); }
	});

	this.url = Dsq.Urls.REPLY +
		'?' + (new Date()).getTime() +
		'&f=themoderatevoice' +
		'&t=obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56' +
		'&ff=' + Dsq.Thread.ff +
		'&default_text=' + encodeURIComponent(disqus_default_text) +
		'&ifrs=' + encodeURIComponent(disqus_iframe_css);
	if (this.parent_post_id) {
		this.url += '&parent_post=' + this.parent_post_id;
	}
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype = new Dsq.NewFrames(Dsq.ReplyFrame.url);

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.post = function(author_name, author_email, author_url, authenticate, sharing_services, subscribe) {
	this._execute('postComment', [author_name, author_email, author_url, authenticate, sharing_services, subscribe]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.edit = function(post_id, message) {
	this._execute('editComment', [post_id, message]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.setState = function(parent_post_id, depth) {
	this._execute('setState', [parent_post_id, depth]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.getUserByEmail = function(email) {
	this._execute('getUserByEmail', [email]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.validateAuth = function(auth_choice, email, username, password) {
	this._execute('validateAuth', [auth_choice, email, username, password]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.authenticateFacebook = function(session, forum_url) {
	this._execute('authenticateFacebook', [session, forum_url]);
};

	Dsq.Facebook = function() {
	var that = this;

	var handleSessionData = function(session) {

		var forum_url = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;




		if (typeof disqus_facebook_forum != 'undefined') {
			forum_url = disqus_facebook_forum;
		}
		Dsq.frames.reply_0.authenticateFacebook(session, forum_url);
	};

	var onLogin = function() {
		FB.Connect.getSignedPublicSessionData(handleSessionData);
	};

	this.login = function() {
		FB.Connect.requireSession(onLogin, true);
	};
};
Dsq.Facebook = new Dsq.Facebook();


	






Dsq.Themes = {};

Dsq.Themes.narcissus = new function() {
	this.addPostContainer = 'dsq-form-area';
	this.textareaContainer = 'dsq-textarea-wrapper';



	
	this.header = function() {
		var comments_count, total_posts, num_posts;
		var html = '';
		var missing_perm_tmpl;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.missing_perm) {
			missing_perm_tmpl = Dsq.Templates.missingPermissions();
			if (missing_perm_tmpl) {
				html += '<div class="dsq-missing-permissions">' + missing_perm_tmpl + '</div>';
			}
		}

		total_posts = Dsq.jsonData.thread.total_posts;
		num_posts = Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_posts;

		if (total_posts) {
			comments_count = Dsq.FmtStrings.SHOWING_COMMENTS_FULL(total_posts, num_posts);
		} else {
			comments_count = Dsq.FmtStrings.SHOWING_COMMENTS_WITHOUT_PAGINATION(num_posts);
		}

		html += ' \
		<div id="dsq-comments-title"> \
			<h3>' + comments_count + '</h3> \
		</div> \
		';

		html += ' \
		<div class="dsq-options"> \
			<span class="dsq-item-sort">'
				+ Dsq.Strings.SORT_BY + ' \
				<select id="dsq-sort-select" onchange="Dsq.Thread.sortBy(this.value);"> \
					<option value="hot" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 4 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.POPULAR_NOW + '</option> \
					<option value="best" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 3 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.BEST_RATING + '</option> \
					<option value="newest" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 2 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.NEWEST_FIRST + '</option> \
					<option value="oldest" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 1 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.OLDEST_FIRST + '</option> \
				</select> \
				&nbsp; \
			</span> \
			<span class="dsq-subscribe-email"> \
				<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/email.png" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle"> \
				<span id="dsq-subscribe">'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.subscribed
						? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(0); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.UNSUBSCRIBE + '</a>'
						: '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_BY_EMAIL + '</a>')
				+ '</span> \
			</span> \
			<span class="dsq-subscribe-rss" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle"> \
				<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/bullet-feed.png" alt="" /> \
				<a href="http://themoderatevoice.disqus.com/obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56/latest.rss">' + Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_BY_RSS + '</a> \
			</span> \
		</div> \
		';

		
		

		return html;

	};
	
	this.footer = function() {
		var html = '';

		html += Dsq.Templates.pagination();

		
		
			html += Dsq.Templates.realtime();
			html += Dsq.Templates.showThreadSettings();
			html += Dsq.Templates.postBox();

		html += Dsq.Templates.reactions();

		
			html += Dsq.Templates.trackbacks();
		


		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator) {
 			html += ' \
				<div class="dsq-global-moderator-extras">'
					+ '<strong>shortname:</strong> ' + Dsq.jsonData.forum.url
					+ '<strong>thread id:</strong> ' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.id
					+ '<strong>thread slug:</strong> ' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.slug
				+ '</div> \
			';
		}

		return html;
	};
	
	this.realtime = function() {
		var html = '';
		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.realtime_enabled) {
			html += '<div id="dsq-realtime-options" class="dsq-options">'
					 + Dsq.Strings.REALTIME_UPDATING_IS + ' <strong id="dsq-realtime-status" style="text-transform: lowercase">' + Dsq.Strings.ENABLED + '</strong>. \
					 <a href="#" id="dsq-realtime-toggle" style="text-transform: capitalize"></a> \
					</div>';
		}

		if (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
			html += ' \
				<div style="display: none" id="dsq-realtime-alert" class="dsq-realtime-alert"><span id="dsq-realtime-queued"></span> <a href="#" id="dsq-realtime-show"></a></div> \
			';
		}
		
		return html;
	};

	this.showThreadSettings = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '<div id="dsq-thread-settings" class="dsq-thread-settings">' + Dsq.Strings.MODERATOR_OPTIONS;
		html += '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.showSettings(); return false;">' + Dsq.Strings.SETTINGS + '</a>';
		html += '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.showModeratorActions(); return false;">' + Dsq.Strings.MODERATE + '</a>';
		if (Dsq.jsonData.forum.reactions_enabled && Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			html += '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.reportMissingReactions(); return false;">'
						+ Dsq.Strings.REPORT_MISSING_REACTIONS
						+ '</a>';
		}
		html +='</div>';

		return html;
	};

	this.postBox = function(post_id, use_fallback_iframe) {


		var html;
		var display_sharing_options = Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated;

		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled && !Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post) {
			return '';
		}
		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote) {


			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.hasOwnProperty(Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain)) {
				display_sharing_options = false;
			}
		}
		
		if (post_id) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];				
		}
		
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';

		var _requestUserInfo = function() {
			var html;



			var user_has_email = false;

			html = '<div class="dsq-request-user-info"> <!-- // If authenticated --> \
				<a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT + '?ctkn=' + Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN + '" class="dsq-request-user-logout">' + Dsq.Strings.LOGOUT + '</a> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td rowspan="2">'
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '<a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE + '">' : '')
								+ '<img src="' + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR + '" width="48" height="48" class="dsq-request-user-avatar">'
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '</a>' : '')
						+ '</td> \
						<td class="dsq-request-user-name">'
								+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
									 ? '<span class="dsq-badge-small dsq-badge-' + Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain + '">' + Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain + '</span>'
									 : (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_verified
											? '<span class="dsq-badge-small dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span>'
											: '<span class="dsq-badge-small dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span>'))
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? ' <a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE + '">' : '') 
								+ Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username 
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '</a>' : '')
							+  (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote && user_has_email ? ' <small>(<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.remoteAccountSettings(); return false;">change settings</a>)</small>' : '')
							+  (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote && !Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? ' <small>(<a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/info/" target="_blank">change name</a> or <a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/avatar/" target="_blank">picture</a>)</small>' : '')
						+ '</td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-request-user-stats"> \
							<span><big>' + Dsq.jsonData.request.comments_count + '</big> ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.comments_count == 1 ? 'comment' : 'comments') + '</span> \
							<span><big>' + Dsq.jsonData.request.likes_count + '</big> ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.likes_count == 1 ? 'like' : 'likes') + '</span> \
							<span><big>' + Dsq.jsonData.request.points + '</big> ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.points == 1 ? 'point' : 'points') + '</span> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
			</div> \
			';
			return html;
		};

		var _loginOptions = function() {
			var html;
			html = ' \
			<div class="dsq-authenticate"> \
				<p class="dsq-autheneticate-copy">'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
					? Dsq.Strings.YOU_ARE_COMMENTING_AS_A + ' <a class="dsq-help" title="Click for more information" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Guest</a>. ' + Dsq.Strings.OPTIONAL + ': ' + Dsq.Strings.LOGIN_BELOW + '.'
					: Dsq.Strings.REQUIRED + ': ' + Dsq.Strings.PLEASE_LOGIN_BELOW_TO_COMMENT + '.')
				+ '</p> \
				<ul class="dsq-login-buttons">'
					+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-disqus.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Facebook.login(); return false;"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-facebook.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect(); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-twitter.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.requestURL(); return false" ><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-openid.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_yahoo ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Yahoo.startYahooConnect(); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-yahoo.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
				+ '</ul> \
			</div> \
			';
			return html;
		};

		if (!Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {


			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {



				return '<div id="dsq-form-area" style="display:none"><div id="dsq-textarea-wrapper"></div></div>' + _loginOptions();
			} else {
				return '';
			}
		}

		html = ' \
		<div id="' + (post_id 
			? 'dsq-reply-post-' + post_id
			: 'dsq-new-post')
		 	+ '" class="dsq-post-area"> \
			<div class="dsq-dc-logo"> \
				<a href="http://disqus.com/comments" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/disqus-logo.png"></a> \
			</div>'
			+ (post_id 
				? '<h3>' + Dsq.Strings.REPLYING_TO + ' ' + userData.display_name + '</h3>'
				: '<h3>' + Dsq.Strings.ADD_NEW_COMMENT + '</h3>')
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated 
				? _requestUserInfo()
				: _loginOptions() )
			+ '<div id="dsq-form-area' + pid + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-textarea"> \
				<div class="dsq-textarea-wrapper" id="dsq-textarea-wrapper' + pid + '"></div> \
			</div>'
			+ (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated
			? ' \
			<div class="dsq-post-fields"> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-left"><div class="dsq-input-wrapper"><input id="dsq-field-name' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (disqus_def_name ? disqus_def_name : (Dsq.jsonData.session.name ? Dsq.jsonData.session.name : Dsq.Strings.NAME + '" class="dsq-placeholder')) + '" onfocus="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'name\')" onblur="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'name\')" /></div></td> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-right"><div class="dsq-input-wrapper"><input id="dsq-field-website' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (Dsq.jsonData.session.url ? Dsq.jsonData.session.url : Dsq.Strings.WEBSITE + ' (' + Dsq.Strings.OPTIONAL.toLowerCase() + ')" class="dsq-placeholder') + '" onfocus="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'website\')" onblur="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'website\')" /></div></td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-left"><div class="dsq-input-wrapper"><input id="dsq-field-email' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (disqus_def_email ? disqus_def_email : (Dsq.jsonData.session.email ? Dsq.jsonData.session.email : Dsq.Strings.EMAIL + '" class="dsq-placeholder')) + '" onfocus="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'email\')" onblur="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'email\')" /></div></td> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-right"> \
							<div class="dsq-subscribe"> \
								<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.chooseSubscribe(' + post_id + '); return false" class="dsq-subscribe-menu"><span id="dsq-subscribe-select' + pid + '">' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.subscribe_on_post ? Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_TO_ALL_COMMENTS_BY_EMAIL : Dsq.Strings.DO_NOT_SUBSCRIBE_TO_COMMENTS) + '</span> <small>&#9660;</small></a> \
								<ul class="dsq-panel" id="dsq-subscribe-menu' + pid + '"> \
									<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.setSubscribe(2, this, ' + post_id + '); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_TO_ALL_COMMENTS_BY_EMAIL + '</a></li> \
									<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.setSubscribe(0, this, ' + post_id + '); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.DO_NOT_SUBSCRIBE_TO_COMMENTS + '</a></li> \
								</ul> \
								<input id="dsq-subscribe-on-post' + pid + '" type="hidden" value="' + Dsq.jsonData.request.subscribe_on_post + '" /> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
			</div>'
			: '')
			+ '<div class="dsq-post-footer"> \
				<div class="dsq-sharing-options" ' + (!display_sharing_options ? 'style="display:none;"' : '') + '> \
					<button type="button" class="dsq-button-small" onfocus="document.getElementById(\'dsq-post-button' + pid + '\').focus();"><span>' + Dsq.Strings.SHARING_OPTIONS + ' <small>&#9660;</small></span></button> \
					<div class="dsq-panel"> '
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.twitter !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.twitter.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-twitter' + pid + '"'
								  + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.twitter.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-twitter' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Twitter</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.facebook
								&& (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.facebook.enabled === true ||
										(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote && Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'facebook'))
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-facebook' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.facebook.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-facebook' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Facebook</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.yahoo !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.yahoo.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-yahoo' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.yahoo.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-yahoo' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Yahoo!</label> \
								</div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.tumblr !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.tumblr.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-tumblr' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.tumblr.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-tumblr' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Tumblr</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.wordpress !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.wordpress.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-wordpress' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.wordpress.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-wordpress' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Wordpress</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.movabletype !== undefined
							  && Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.movabletype.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-movabletype' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.movabletype.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-movabletype' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Movable Type</label> \
							   </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.typepad !== undefined
							  && Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.typepad.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-typepad' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.typepad.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
								  <label for="dsq-sharing-typepad' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' TypePad</label> \
							   </div>'
							: '')
						+ '<div><a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/connections/" target="_blank" class="dsq-configure-options">' + Dsq.Strings.CONFIGURE_OPTIONS + '</a></div>'
					+ '</div> \
				</div>'
				+ '<button type="button" class="dsq-button" id="dsq-post-button' + pid + '" onclick="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, false)"><span>' + Dsq.Strings.POST_AS + ' '
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username
					? Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username
					: Dsq.Strings.GUEST)
				+ '</span></button>'
				+ (post_id
					? '<button type="button" class="dsq-button" id="dsq-cancel-button' + pid + '" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(' + post_id +', this)"><span>' + Dsq.Strings.CANCEL + '</span></button>'
					: '')
			+ '</div>'
			+ '</div>' // end dsq-form-area
		+ '</div> \
		';
		
		return html;
	};




	this.appendPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="dsq-append-post-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.postPrependHeader = function(post_id) {
		var html;
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		
		html = ' \
		<table> \
			<tr> \
				<td id="dsq-header-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-header-avatar" onmouseover="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')"> \
					<a id="dsq-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-avatar" href="' + userData.url + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.show_avatar
					? '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key].avatar + '" alt="" />'
					: '')
				+ '</a> \
				</td> \
				<td class="dsq-comment-header-meta"> \
		';

		
		return html;
	};
	
	this.postAppendHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var html;
		var parent_display_name = '';
		
		if(_meta.parent_post_id) {

			var _parent_meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[_meta.parent_post_id];

			if (_parent_meta) {
				var parentUserData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_parent_meta.user_key];
				parent_display_name = parentUserData.display_name;
			}
		}

		html = ' \
		<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/moderator.png" class="dsq-moderator-star" title="Moderator" /> \
		<span class="dsq-comment-header-time"><a href="#comment-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.permalink(' + post_id + ')" title="Permalink">' + (_meta.is_realtime ? Dsq.Strings.JUST_NOW : _meta.date) + '</a></span> '
		+ (_meta.parent_post_id && parent_display_name
			? '<a href="#comment-' + _meta.parent_post_id + '" title="Jump to comment">in reply to ' + parent_display_name + '</a>'
			: '')
		+ '</td> \
		<td id="dsq-like-pts-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-comment-header-likes">'
		+ (_meta.points
			? _meta.points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(_meta.points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this.'
			: '')
		+ '</td> \
		</tr> \
		</table> \
		';
		return html;
	};

	this.preBody = function(post_id) {
		var html = '';
		return html;
	};

	this.postFooter = function(post_id) {
		var html;
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		if(_meta.killed || !_meta.approved) { return ''; }
		
		html = ' \
		<div class="dsq-comment-footer" id="dsq-comment-footer-' + post_id + '"> \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer-left">'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator
					? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.moderateOptions(' + post_id+ '); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.MODERATE + '</a>'
					: '')
				+ '<a href="#" id="dsq-post-report-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-post-report" onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + post_id + ', false); return false;">' + Dsq.Strings.FLAG + '</a> \
			</div> \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer-right">'
				+ (_meta.votable 
					? '<span id="dsq-like-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-like">'
					+ (!_meta.up_voted
						? '<button type="button" class="dsq-button-small" onclick="Dsq.Post.rate(this, ' + post_id + ', 1)" >Like</button>'
						: 'You liked this.&nbsp;&nbsp;')
					+ '</span>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply && !_meta.has_replies && _meta.from_request_user
					? '<button type="button" class="dsq-button-small dsq-post-edit" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + ')" >' + Dsq.Strings.EDIT + '</button>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply
					? '<span class="dsq-comment-footer-reply" id="dsq-comment-footer-reply-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(' + post_id +', this)"> \
						<button type="button" class="dsq-button-small">' + Dsq.Strings.REPLY + '</button> \
						<button type="button" class="dsq-comment-footer-reply-tab">' + Dsq.Strings.REPLY + '</button><span></span> \
					</span>'
					: '')
			+ '</div> \
		</div> \
		';
		
		return html;
	};



	
	this.showRetweets = function(id, limit, element_id /* Optional */) {
		var source, html = '';

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			if (reaction.id === id) {
				source = reaction.retweets;
			}
		}

		if (source) {
			if (limit === 0) {
				limit = source.length;
			}

			for (var j = 0; j < limit; j++) {
				var rt = source[j];
				html += '<a href="' + rt.url + '">' + rt.author_name + '</a>'	+ ((j === (limit - 1)) ? '.' : ', ');
			}
		}

		if (element_id === undefined) {
			return html;
		}

		var element = document.getElementById(element_id);
		element.innerHTML = html;
		return element;
	};

	this.showMoreReactions = function(reactions, has_more, start, limit) {
		var link = document.getElementById('dsq-show-more-reactions');
		var container = link.parentNode;
		container.removeChild(link);

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = reactions[i]; i++) {
			var el = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (el) {
				container.innerHTML += el;
			}
		}

		if (has_more) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = start;
			var l = limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			container.innerHTML += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions" class="dsq-show-more-reactions"><button type="button" class="dsq-button-small" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</button></li>';
		}
	};

	this.generateReactionHTML = function(reaction) {
		if (reaction.body === null || reaction.body == '') {
			return;
		}

		if (reaction.author_name === '') {
			reaction.author_name = '&nbsp;';
		}

		if (reaction.url === '') {
			reaction.url = reaction.get_service_url;
		}

		var item = '<li class="dsq-comment dsq-reaction" id="dsq-reaction-' + reaction.id + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-comment-header"> \
			<table> \
			<tr> \
			<td class="dsq-header-avatar"> \
			';

		if (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== '') {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="' + reaction.author_url +'" class="dsq-avatar">';
		}

		if (reaction.avatar_url && reaction.avatar_url !== '') {
			item += '<img src="' + reaction.avatar_url + '"/>';
		} else {

			item += '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/noavatar92.png"/>';
		}

		var service_icon = (reaction.get_service_name == 'trackback' || reaction.get_service_name == 'pingback' ? 'rss' : reaction.get_service_name.replace(' ', ''));
		item += (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== ''
				? '</a>'
				: '')
			+ '</td>'
			+ '<td><cite class="dsq-comment-cite">' + reaction.author_name + '</cite> <span class="dsq-comment-header-time">' + reaction.date_created + '</span></td>'
			+ '<td class="dsq-comment-header-likes"></td>'
			+ '</tr></table></div>' // end dsq-comment-header
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-header" \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-reaction-header-left">'
							+ '<img class="dsq-service-icon" src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/reactions/services/' + service_icon + '.png" />'
							+ ' From <a class="dsq-service-name" target="_blank" href="' + reaction.url + '">' + reaction.get_service_name + '</a> '
							+ 'via <a href="' + reaction.source_url + '">' + (reaction.source == 'backtype' ? 'BackType' : 'UberVU') + '</a>'
						+ '</td>'
						+ '<td class="dsq-reaction-header-right">';

			if(reaction.retweets) {
				var num_retweets = reaction.retweets.length;
				if (num_retweets > 0) {
					if (num_retweets == 1) {
						item += 'One more retweet from <a href="' + reaction.retweets[0].url + '">'  + reaction.retweets[0].author_name + '</a>';
					} else {
						item += (num_retweets + ' more retweets from ');
						item += '<span id="dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '">';
						var n_tweets = (num_retweets > 3) ? 3 : num_retweets;
						item += Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(reaction.id, n_tweets);
						if (n_tweets != num_retweets) {
							item += '</span> <a onclick="Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(' + reaction.id + ', 0, \'dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '\');'
								+ 'this.parentNode.removeChild(this); return false;" href="#">Show all</a>';
						}
					}
				}
			}	
			item += '</td></tr> \
			</table> \
			</div>' // end dsq-reaction-header
			+ '<div class="dsq-comment-body"> \
				<div class="dsq-comment-message">' + reaction.body + '</div>'
			+ '</div> \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer"> \
				<div class="dsq-comment-footer-left"> \
				</div>'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator 
					? ' \
					<div class="dsq-comment-footer-right"> \
						<button type="button" class="dsq-button-small dsq-hide-reaction" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.hide(' + reaction.id + ')">Hide</button> \
					</div>'
					: '')
			+ '</div>'
		item += '</li>'; /* Reaction HTML ends */
		return item;
	};

	this.reactions = function() {
		var html, reaction;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.reactions === undefined || Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '';
		for (var i = 0; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			var item = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (item) {
				html += item;
			}
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.has_more_reactions) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_start;
			var l = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			html += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions" class="dsq-show-more-reactions"><button type="button" class="dsq-button-small" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</button></li>';
		}

		return '<h3 id="dsq-reactions-title" class="dsq-h3-reactions">Reactions</h3><ul id="dsq-reactions" class="dsq-reactions">' + html + '</ul>';
	};
	
	this._popupGeneric = function(content) {
		return ' \
		<div class="dsq-popup-container"> \
			<table> \
				<tbody> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-tl"></td><td class="dsq-popup-b"></td><td class="dsq-popup-tr"></td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-b"></td> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-body"> \
							<div class="dsq-popup-content"> \
								<div class="dsq-popup-title"> \
									<button type="button" class="dsq-button-small" style="float:right" onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true)">Close</button>'
									+ content['header'] 
								+ '</div>'
								+ content['body']
							+ '</div> \
							<div class="powered-by"><a href="http://disqus.com/comments/">Powered by <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-logo.png" alt="Disqus Comments" style="margin-bottom:-5px" /></a></div> \
						</td> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-b"></td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-bl"></td><td class="dsq-popup-b"></td><td class="dsq-popup-br"></td> \
					</tr> \
				</tbody> \
			</table> \
		</div> \
		';
	};



	
	this.chooseSubscribe = function(post_id) {

		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var menu = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-menu' + pid);
		
		menu.style.display = menu.style.display == 'block' ? 'none' : 'block';
		
	};
	
	this.setSubscribe = function(value, el, post_id) {

		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var input = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-on-post' + pid);
		var select = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-select' + pid);
		var menu = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-menu' + pid);
		
		select.innerHTML = el.innerHTML;
		input.value = value;
		this.chooseSubscribe(post_id);
	};
	
	this.getFormFields = function(post_id) {

		var fields = {};
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var name = Dsq.$('dsq-field-name' + pid);
		var email = Dsq.$('dsq-field-email' + pid);
		var website = Dsq.$('dsq-field-website' + pid);
		var username = Dsq.$('dsq-field-username' + pid);
		var password = Dsq.$('dsq-field-password' + pid);

		fields = {
			'name': name,
			'email': email,
			'website': website,
			'username': username,
			'password': password
		}
		
		return fields;
	}
	
	this.validateFields = function(post_id) {
		
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) { return true; }
		
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		
		var nameField = fields.name;
		var websiteField = fields.website;
		var emailField = fields.email;
		
		websiteField.value = (websiteField.value == Dsq.Templates.placeholder['website']) ? '' : websiteField.value;
		
		var v = [{

			validator: Dsq.Validators.name,
			value: nameField.value
		}, {

			validator: Dsq.Validators.email,
			value: emailField.value
		}, {

			validator: Dsq.Validators.url,
			value: websiteField.value
		}];
		
		return Dsq.Validators.validate(v, function(e) { Dsq.Popup.popModal(e, 'Oops...') } );
	};
	
	this.checkExistingUser = function(post_id) {
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);		
		Dsq.Popup.loading(post_id);
		
		if (post_id) {
			Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].getUserByEmail(fields.email.value);
		} else {
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'].getUserByEmail(fields.email.value);
		}
	};

	this.validateAuth = function(el_clicked, post_id, auth_choice) {
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		var email = fields.email ? fields.email.value : '';
		var username = fields.username ? fields.username.value : '';
		var password = fields.password ? fields.password.value : '';
		
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked, post_id);
		
		if (post_id) {
			Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].validateAuth(auth_choice, email, username, password);
		} else {
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'].validateAuth(auth_choice, email, username, password);
		}
	};

	this.lightboxUpdateEmail = function(post_id, new_email) {
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		fields.email.value = new_email;
	};

	this.lightboxAuthenticate = function(post_id, auth_choice, auth_data) {
		var title, body;
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';

		if(typeof(auth_data) == 'undefined') {
			var auth_data = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		}

		d = auth_data;

		switch(auth_choice) {
			case 'register':
				var suggestedUsername = d.name.value.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9-]/g,'').toLowerCase();
			
				title = Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post ? 'Optional:' : 'Required:';
				title += ' Register a <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-profile.png" alt=Disqus Profile" />';

				body = ' \
				<ul class="dsq-lightbox-register-reasons"> \
				<li>Verify your comments</li> \
				<li>Edit and delete comments</li> \
				<li>Manage comments and replies</li> \
				</ul> \
				';

				body += ' \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-fields"> \
					<table> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Email</td> \
							<td><input type="text" value="' + d.email.value + '" onchange="Dsq.Templates.lightboxUpdateEmail(' + post_id + ', this.value)" /><div id="dsq-email-errors' + pid + '"></div></td> \
						</tr> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Username</td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-username' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + suggestedUsername + '"/><div id="dsq-username-errors' + pid + '"></div></td> \
						</tr> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Password</td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-password' + pid + '" type="password" /><div id="dsq-password-errors' + pid + '"></div></td> \
						</tr> \
					</table> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-switch-auth"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(' + post_id + ',\'login\'); return false">Login instead</a></div> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-lightbox-errors' + pid + '" class="dsq-lightbox-errors"></div> \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-submit"> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-post"><button type="button" class="dsq-button" onclick="Dsq.Templates.validateAuth(this, ' + post_id + ',\'' + auth_choice + '\')">Register and Post comment</button></div>'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
						? '<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-skip"><button type="button" class="dsq-button-small" onclick="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, true)">Just post as a Guest</button></div>'
						: '')
				+ '</div> \
				';
				break;
			case 'login':
				title = Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post ? 'Optional:' : 'Required:';
				title += ' Login to your <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-profile.png" alt=Disqus Profile" />';
				body = '';
				
				if(d.avatar_url) {
					body += '<div class="dsq-lightbox-recognized"><table><tr>';
					body += '<td><img src="' + d.avatar_url + '" alt="" /></td>';
					body += '<td><span class="dsq-badge ' + (d.verified ? 'dsq-badge-verified' : 'dsq-badge-registered') + '">' + (d.verified ? 'Verified' : 'Registered') + '</span></td>';
					body += '<td>Hey <strong>' + d.display_name + '</strong>, is that you? Login below to claim this comment.';
					body += '</tr></table></div>';
				}

				body += ' \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-fields"> \
					<table> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Username or Email</td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-username' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (d.avatar_url ? d.username : '') + '" /></td> \
						</tr> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Password <a href="http://disqus.com/forgot" target="_blank">(cannot log in?)</a></td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-password' + pid + '" type="password" /></td> \
						</tr> \
					</table> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-switch-auth"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(' + post_id + ',\'register\'); return false">Register instead</a></div> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-lightbox-errors' + pid + '" class="dsq-lightbox-errors"></div> \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-submit"> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-post"><button type="button" class="dsq-button" onclick="Dsq.Templates.validateAuth(this, ' + post_id + ',\'' + auth_choice + '\')">Login and Post comment</button></div>'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
						? '<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-skip"><button type="button" class="dsq-button-small" onclick="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, true)">Just post as a Guest</button></div>'
						: '')
				+ '</div> \
				';
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}
		Dsq.Popup.lightbox(body, title, post_id);
		Dsq.$('dsq-field-username' + pid).focus();
	};
	
	this.buttonsToRestore = [];
	this.setLoadingButton = function(btn, post_id) {
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		if (btn) {

			var loadingBtn = document.createElement('button');
			loadingBtn.id = btn.id + '-loading';
			loadingBtn.innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-lite.gif" alt="" /> ' + Dsq.Strings.JUST_A_MOMENT;
			loadingBtn.className = btn.className + ' dsq-post-loading';
			btn.parentNode.appendChild(loadingBtn);
			btn.style.display = 'none';
			var cancelBtn = Dsq.$('dsq-cancel-button' + pid);
			if(cancelBtn) { cancelBtn.style.display = 'none'; this.buttonsToRestore.push(cancelBtn); }
			this.buttonsToRestore.push(btn);
		} else {

			var buttons = this.buttonsToRestore;
			for(var i = 0; i < buttons.length; i++) {
				buttons[i].style.display = 'inline';
				Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(Dsq.$(buttons[i].id + '-loading'));
			}
		}
		
	};

	this.postComment = function(post_id, el_clicked, force, auth_choice) {
		var append_id = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);

		if (Dsq.Templates.validateFields(post_id)) {

			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && !force &&
				((!Dsq.Utils.readCookie('skipped_auth') && !disqus_skip_auth && !Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled) || !Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post)) {
				Dsq.Templates.checkExistingUser(post_id);
				return false;
			}
			var params = [];
			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
				params.push(fields.name.value,
					fields.email.value,
					fields.website.value);

				if (auth_choice == 'login' || auth_choice == 'register') {
					params.push({
						auth_choice: auth_choice,
						username: fields.username.value,
						password: fields.password.value,
						email: fields.email.value
					});
				} else {
					params.push(null);
				}

				params.push(null /* sharing options */, Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-on-post' + append_id).value);
			} else {
				var service_checked = function(name) {
					var el = Dsq.$('dsq-sharing-' + name + append_id);
					return (el !== null && el.checked === true) ? '1' : '0';
				};
				params.push(null, null, null, null, {
					tw: service_checked('twitter'),
					fb: service_checked('facebook'),
					tr: service_checked('tumblr'),
					wp: service_checked('wordpress'),
					mt: service_checked('movabletype'),
					tp: service_checked('typepad'),
					yh: service_checked('yahoo')
				});
			}

			var frame = Dsq.frames['reply_' + (post_id ? post_id : 0)];
			frame.post.apply(frame, params);

			if (el_clicked) {
				Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked, post_id);
			}
			
			if (force) {
				Dsq.Utils.createCookie('skipped_auth', true);	
			}
			
		} else {
			return false;
		}
	};

	this.editComment = function(el_clicked, post_id) {
		var edited_message = Dsq.$('dsq-edit-textarea-' + post_id).value;

		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked, post_id);
		Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id].edit(post_id, edited_message);
	};

	this.toggleEdit = function(post_id) {
		var body = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-body-' + post_id);
		var message = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + post_id);

		if (!Dsq.Post.stateEditToggled[post_id]) {


			message.style.display = 'none';
			if (Dsq.$('dsq-edit-' + post_id)) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-edit-' + post_id).style.display = 'block';
			} else {

				var edit_area = document.createElement('div');
				edit_area.id = 'dsq-edit-' + post_id;
				edit_area.className = 'dsq-edit dsq-textarea';
				edit_area.innerHTML = ' \
				<div class="dsq-textarea-wrapper"> \
					<textarea class="dsq-edit-textarea" id="dsq-edit-textarea-' + post_id + '">' + message.innerHTML + '</textarea> \
				</div> \
				<div class="dsq-save-edit"> \
					<button type="button" onclick="Dsq.Templates.editComment(this, ' + post_id + ')" class="dsq-button-small">Save Edit</button> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-edit-iframe-' + post_id + '" style="display: none"></div> \
				';

				body.appendChild(edit_area);

				if (!Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id]) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
					Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(Dsq.$('dsq-edit-iframe-' + post_id), post_id);
					Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id].init();
					Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id].setState(post_id, _meta.depth);
				}
			}
		} else {

			message.style.display = 'block';
			Dsq.$('dsq-edit-' + post_id).style.display = 'none';
		}
		
		Dsq.Post.stateEditToggled[post_id] = !Dsq.Post.stateEditToggled[post_id];
	};
	
	this.edit = function(el, post_id) {

		Dsq.Templates.toggleEdit(post_id);
	};

	this.toggleReply = function(post_id, button) {
		
		if(!this.stateReplyToggled[post_id]) {

			if (Dsq.$('dsq-reply-post-' + post_id)) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).style.display = 'block';
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.postBox(post_id);
				var container = Dsq.$('dsq-textarea-wrapper-' + post_id);
				if (!Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id] && container) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(container, post_id);
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].init(function() {

						Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.postBox(post_id, true);
						Dsq.$('dsq-form-area-' + post_id).innerHTML = '';

						var theme = (typeof disqus_frame_theme == 'undefined') ? 'default' : disqus_frame_theme;
						Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(Dsq.$('dsq-form-area-' + post_id), post_id, {theme: theme});

					});
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].setState(post_id, _meta.depth);
				}
			}
			Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).className = 'dsq-append-post';
			Dsq.$('dsq-comment-footer-reply-' + post_id).className = 'dsq-comment-footer-reply-active';
			
		} else {

			Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).style.display = 'none';
			Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).className = '';
			Dsq.$('dsq-comment-footer-reply-' + post_id).className = 'dsq-comment-footer-reply';
		}
		
		this.stateReplyToggled[post_id] = !this.stateReplyToggled[post_id];

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie && this.stateReplyToggled[post_id]) {

		}

		Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED, {
			postId: post_id,
			opened: this.stateReplyToggled[post_id]
		});
	};
	
	this.moderateOptions = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		
		if(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator && !Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator) { return false; }

		var html;
		
		html = ' \
		<div class="dsq-moderate-options"> \
		<table>'
		+ (_meta.email ? '<tr><td>Email</td><td>' + _meta.email + '</td></tr>' : '')
		+ (_meta.ip ? '<tr><td>IP address</td><td>' + _meta.ip + '</td></tr>' : '')
		+ '<tr> \
			<td>Actions</td> \
			<td><ul>'
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.moderator_can_edit
				? '<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false;">Edit Comment</a></li>'
				: '')
			+ '<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.removePost(' + post_id + ', 1); Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false;">Delete Comment</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.reportSpam(' + post_id + '); Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false;">Mark Spam</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.blacklist(' + post_id + '); return false">Block User</a></li> \
			</ul></td> \
			</table> \
		</div> \
		';
		
		html += '<p>Go to the full <a href="http://disqus.com/comments/moderate/" target="_blank">moderate panel</a> for more options.</p>';
		
		return Dsq.Popup.popModal(html, 'Moderate Options', post_id);
	};
	
	this.placeholder = {
		'class': 'dsq-placeholder',
		'name': Dsq.Strings.NAME,
		'email': Dsq.Strings.EMAIL,
		'website': Dsq.Strings.WEBSITE + ' (' + Dsq.Strings.OPTIONAL.toLowerCase() + ')'
	};
	
	this.handlePlaceholder = function(evt, el, key) {
		var placeholder = Dsq.Templates.placeholder[key];
		var className = Dsq.Templates.placeholder['class'];
		
		switch(evt.type) {
			case 'focus':
				if(el.value == placeholder) {
					el.value = '';
					el.className = '';
				}
				break;

			case 'blur':
				if(el.value == '') {
					el.value = placeholder;
					el.className = className;
				}
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}
	};
	
	this.paginate = function(page, el_clicked) {

		var extra_params = '';

		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&per_page=' + disqus_per_page;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_sort != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&sort=' + disqus_sort;
		}

		Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML += '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
		
		if(el_clicked) {
			Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked);
		}
		
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56'
			+ '&p='		+ page
			+ extra_params);
	};
	
	
	this.rate = function(el, id, vote) {


		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_votes) {
			if(vote == 1) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-like-' + id).innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
			}
			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/vote.js'
				+ '?post_id='    + id
				+ '&vote='        + vote);
		} else {
			Dsq.Popup.login('To rate, please log in');
		}
	};

	this.voted = function(post_id, points, vote) {

		Dsq.$('dsq-like-pts-' + post_id).innerHTML = points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this.';

		if(vote) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-like-' + post_id).innerHTML = 'You liked this.&nbsp;&nbsp;';
		}
	};




	this.postComment_onSuccess = function(response, parent_post_id, post_id) {
		var approved = response.message.post_meta.approved;

		if (parent_post_id) {
			Dsq.Post.toggleReply(parent_post_id);
		}

		Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);
		
		if (approved) {
			Dsq.Post.incrementPostCount();
			Dsq.Post.outlineComment(post_id);
		} else {			
			var unapproved_msg = 'Thanks for posting!\
	 Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.\
			';
			Dsq.Popup.popModal(unapproved_msg, 'Comment awaiting approval', post_id);
		}

		var sharing_results = response.message.sharing_results;
		var sharing_errors = '';
		for (var service in sharing_results) {
			if (sharing_results.hasOwnProperty(service) === true) {
				if (sharing_results[service].error === true) {
					sharing_errors += service + ', ';
				}
			}
		}

		if (sharing_results.facebook && sharing_results.facebook.callback) {
			FB.ensureInit(function() {
				FB.Connect.streamPublish('', sharing_results.facebook.attachment);
			});
		}

		if (sharing_errors !== '') {
			var message = 'Your comment was posted, but there were errors sharing with the following connections: ';
			message += sharing_errors.replace(/,\s$/, '');
			message += '<p><a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/connections" target="_blank">Configure your connections here</a></p>'
			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, 'Sharing options');
		}

		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};

	this.postComment_onFailure = function(response, parent_post_id, post_id) {

		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};
};




// TODO: It might be faster to use string methods to find all <li (...) </li> blocks and pass to Dsq.PostHandler manually.
Dsq.CommentsHandler = function(str, head, post_id, content, tail, offset, s) {
	var prepend_post = Dsq.Templates.prependPost(post_id);
	var append_post = Dsq.Templates.appendPost(post_id);

	content = content.replace(Dsq.POST_RE, Dsq.PostHandler);
	Dsq.Templates.postLoopCounter++;
	head = Dsq.Templates.Filters.commentContainer(post_id, head);
	return prepend_post + head + content + tail + append_post;
};

Dsq.PostHandler = function(str, h_head, post_id, h_content, h_tail, b_head, b_content, b_tail, offset, s) {
	var prepend_header = Dsq.Templates.postPrependHeader(post_id);
	var append_header = Dsq.Templates.postAppendHeader(post_id);
	var prepend_body = Dsq.Templates.preBody(post_id);
	var append_body = Dsq.Templates.postBody(post_id);
	var append_footer = Dsq.Templates.postFooter(post_id);

	b_content = b_content.replace(Dsq.POST_BODY_RE, Dsq.PostBodyHandler);
	return h_head + prepend_header + h_content + append_header + h_tail + b_head + prepend_body + b_content + append_body + b_tail + append_footer;
};

Dsq.PostBodyHandler = function(str, head, post_id, content, tail, offset, s) {
	content = Dsq.Templates.Filters.commentContent(post_id, content);
	return head + content + tail;
};

Dsq.MediaPostHandler = function(str, args, offset, s) {
	args = args.split(' ');
	if(args[0] == 'seesmic') {
		return '<br />' + Dsq.Templates.mediaSeesmic(args[1], args[2]);
	}
	return '';
};


/**
 * Shorcuts
 */
Dsq.$ = function(element) { return document.getElementById(element); };
Dsq.$b = document.body || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0];


/**
 * Dsq.Debug: Logging functions.
 */

Dsq.Debug = new function() {this.log=function(s){};this.profile=function(f){if(typeof f == 'function')return f();else return eval(f);};};


/**
 * Dsq.Urls: URL paths
 */
Dsq.Urls = new function() {
	this.LOGIN = '/profile/login/';
	this.LOGOUT = '/logout/';
	this.REPLY = 'http://themoderatevoice.disqus.com/obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56/reply.html';
	this.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE = '/AnonymousUser/';
	this.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR = 'http://media.disqus.com/uploads/forums/2724//avatar92.jpg';
};
// Dsq.Urls

/**
 * Dsq.Validators: Validation for form fields
 */
Dsq.Validators = new function() {
	this.VALID_EMAIL_RE = /^[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+(\.[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+)*\@(([a-z0-9\-\_\+]+(\.[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+)*)+\.[a-z]{2,}|([0-9]+\.){3}[0-9]+)$/i;
	this.name = function(name) {
		var error = false;

		if(typeof Dsq.Templates.placeholder !== 'undefined' &&
		   name == Dsq.Templates.placeholder.name) {
			error = true;
		}
		if(name.length <= 1) {
			error = true;
		}

		if(error) {
			return "Please enter a name to comment.";
		} else {
			return true;
		}
	};
	this.email = function(addr) {
		if(Dsq.Validators.VALID_EMAIL_RE.test(addr)) {
			return true;
		} else {
			return "Please enter a valid email to comment.";
		}
	};
	this.url = function(addr) {
		if(!addr || addr.indexOf('.') != -1) {
			return true;
		} else {
			return "Please check your website URL (this field is optional).";
		}
	};

	this.validate = function(bulk_validation, failure_callback) {
		failure_callback = failure_callback || function(e){ alert(e); };

		for(var i = 0; i < bulk_validation.length; i++) {
			v = bulk_validation[i];
			ret = v.validator(v.value);
			if(ret !== true) {
				failure_callback(ret);
				return false;
			}
		}
		return true;
	};
};

/**
 * Dsq.Utils: Generic utility functions.
 */
Dsq.Utils = new function() {
	this.ie = /msie/i.test(navigator.userAgent) && !/opera/i.test(navigator.userAgent);
	this.ie7 = (document.all && !window.opera && window.XMLHttpRequest) ? true : false;
	this.ie6 = (!window.XMLHttpRequest) ? true: false;
	this.webkit = navigator.userAgent.indexOf('AppleWebKit/') >= 0;
	this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache = {};
	this._styleSheet = null;

	this.gebiFromElement = function(el, id, tag) {
		// This only method only helps IE.
		if(!this.ie) {
			return Dsq.$(id);
		} else {
			var cacheKey = el.id + '-' + tag;
			tag = tag || 'div';
			if(typeof this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey] != 'undefined') {
				collection = this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey];
			} else {
				collection = el.getElementsByTagName(tag);
				this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey] = collection;
			}

			for(var i = 0; i < collection.length; i++) {
				if(collection[i].id == id) {
					return collection[i];
				}
			}
			return null;
		}
	};

	this.execOnReady = function(func) {
		var node = document.createElement('document:ready');
		try {
			node.doScroll('left');
			func();
			node = null;
		} catch(err) {
			setTimeout(function() { Dsq.Utils.execOnReady(func); }, 10);
		}
	};


	// Courtesy of http://www.quirksmode.org/js/cookies.html
	this.createCookie = function(name,value,days) {
		if (days) {
			var date = new Date();
			date.setTime(date.getTime()+(days*24*60*60*1000));
			var expires = "; expires="+date.toGMTString();
		}
		else var expires = "";
		document.cookie = name+"="+value+expires+"; path=/";
	};

	this.readCookie = function(name) {
		var nameEQ = name + "=";
		var ca = document.cookie.split(';');
		for(var i=0;i < ca.length;i++) {
			var c = ca[i];
			while (c.charAt(0)==' ') c = c.substring(1,c.length);
			if (c.indexOf(nameEQ) == 0) return c.substring(nameEQ.length,c.length);
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.eraseCookie = function(name) {
		Dsq.Utils.createCookie(name,"",-1);
	};

	this.deleteNode = function(node) {
		if(node) {
			this.deleteChildren(node);
			if(typeof node.outerHTML != 'undefined') { node.outerHTML = ''; }
			else if(node.parentNode) { node.parentNode.removeChild(node); }
			delete node;
		}
	};

	this.deleteChildren = function(node) {
		if(node) {
			for(var x = node.childNodes.length-1; x >= 0; x--) {
				var childNode = node.childNodes[x];
				if(childNode.hasChildNodes()) { this.deleteChildren(childNode); }
				if(typeof childNode.outerHTML != 'undefined') { childNode.outerHTML = ''; }
				else node.removeChild(childNode);
				delete childNode;
			}
		}
	};

	this.findPos = function(obj) {
		var curleft = 0;
		var curtop = 0;
		if (obj.offsetParent) {
			do {
				curleft += obj.offsetLeft;
				curtop += obj.offsetTop;
			} while (obj = obj.offsetParent);
		}
		return [curleft,curtop];
	};

	this.getWindowSize = function() {
		var windowWidth = -1;
		var windowHeight = -1;

		if(typeof(window.innerWidth) == 'number') { //Non-IE
			windowWidth = window.innerWidth;
			windowHeight = window.innerHeight;
		} else if(document.documentElement) { // IE 6+ in 'standards compliant mode'
			windowWidth = document.documentElement.clientWidth || document.body.clientWidth;
			windowHeight = document.documentElement.clientHeight || document.body.clientHeight;
		}

		return [windowWidth, windowHeight];
	}

	this.getScrollPos = function() {
		var scrollWidth, scrollTop;

		if(document.documentElement && (document.documentElement.scrollTop || document.documentElement.scrollWidth)) {
			scrollWidth = document.documentElement.scrollWidth;
			// IE is weird here.  If no doctype is provided, document.body.scrollTop is 0,
			// otherwise document.documentElement.scrollTop is 0.
			scrollTop = document.documentElement.scrollTop || document.body.scrollTop;
		} else if(document.body.scrollTop && document.body.scrollWidth) {
			scrollWidth = document.body.scrollWidth;
			scrollTop = document.body.scrollTop;
		}

		return [scrollWidth, scrollTop];
	}

	this.addEventListener = function(instance, eventName, listener) {
		var listenerFn = listener;
		if (instance.addEventListener) {
			instance.addEventListener(eventName, listenerFn, false);
		} else if (instance.attachEvent) {
			listenerFn = function() {
				listener(window.event);
			};
			instance.attachEvent("on" + eventName, listenerFn);
		} else {
			throw new Error("Event registration not supported");
		}
		return {
			instance: instance,
			name: eventName,
			listener: listenerFn
		};
	};

	this.removeEventListener = function(event) {
		var instance = event.instance;
		if (instance.removeEventListener) {
			instance.removeEventListener(event.name, event.listener, false);
		} else if (instance.detachEvent) {
			instance.detachEvent("on" + event.name, event.listener);
		}
	};

	this.fixIframesIE = function(id) {
		var disqusThread = Dsq.$(disqus_container_id);
		var iframes = disqusThread.getElementsByTagName('iframe');

		if(id) {
			var container = Dsq.$(id);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-content');
		}

		for(i = 0; i < iframes.length; i++) {
			if (container) {
				iframes[i].style.width = container.offsetWidth;
			}
		}
	};

	this.getElementsByClassName = function(oElm, strTagName, strClassName) {
	/* Credit: Jonathan Snook [http://www.snook.ca/jonathan], Robert Nyman [http://www.robertnyman.com] */
		var arrElements = (strTagName == "*" && oElm.all)? oElm.all : oElm.getElementsByTagName(strTagName);
		var arrReturnElements = new Array();
		strClassName = strClassName.replace(/\-/g, "\\-");
		var oRegExp = new RegExp("(^|\\s)" + strClassName + "(\\s|$)");
		var oElement;
		for(var i = 0; i < arrElements.length; i++) {
			oElement = arrElements[i];
			if(oRegExp.test(oElement.className)) {
				arrReturnElements.push(oElement);
			}
		}
		return (arrReturnElements);
	};

	this.postToUrl = function(url, post_data, opt_redirect) {
		var form = document.createElement('form');
		var iframe_container = document.createElement('div');
		var id = 'dsq-temp-iframe-' + (new Date()).getTime();

		form.method = 'POST';
		form.action = url;
		if (!opt_redirect) {
			form.target = id;
		}
		iframe_container.innerHTML = '<iframe style="display:none" name="' + id + '" id="' + id + '"></iframe>';

		for(var key in post_data) {
			if(post_data.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				var input = document.createElement('input');
				input.name = key;
				input.type = 'hidden';
				input.value = post_data[key];

				form.appendChild(input);
			}
		}

		Dsq.$b.appendChild(iframe_container);
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(form);
		form.submit();
	};

	// Strips integer id from id of element in the form ('some-id-###')
	this.extractId = function(e) {
		var chunks = e.id.split('-');
		if(chunks.length <= 1) {
			return 0;
		} else {
			var retval = parseInt(chunks[chunks.length-1]);
			return !isNaN(retval) ? retval : null;
		}
	};

	this.getStyle = function(el, styleProp) {
		if(el.currentStyle) {
			var y = el.currentStyle[styleProp];
		} else if(window.getComputedStyle) {
			var y = document.defaultView.getComputedStyle(el, null).getPropertyValue(styleProp);
		}

		if(y == 'transparent' || y == '') {
			this.getStyle(el.parentNode, styleProp);
		} else {
			return y;
		}
	};

	this.execScript = function(url, append_qs, container) {
		var script = document.createElement('script');
		append_qs = typeof append_qs == 'undefined' ? true : append_qs;
		container = container || Dsq.container;

		if(append_qs) {
			var j = (url.indexOf('?') >= 0) ? '&' : '?';
			url += j + (new Date()).getTime();
		}
		script.type = 'text/javascript';
		script.charset = 'UTF-8';
		script.src = url;
		container.appendChild(script);
		return script;
	};

	this.pluralize = function(num, singular, plural) {
		return (num != 1) ? plural || 's' : singular || '';
	};

	this.getRequestParams = function(queryString /* optional */) {
		var pairs, tuple;
		var params = {};

		queryString = queryString || window.location.search.substring(1);
		pairs = queryString.split('&');

		for (var i = 0, pair; pair = pairs[i]; i++) {
			tuple = pair.split('=');
			params[tuple[0]] = (tuple[1] || true);
		}

		return params;
	};

	this.addCssRule = function(selector, styleText, index) {
		var stylesheet;
		index = index || 0;

		if(!this._styleSheet) {
			var styleEl = document.createElement('style');
			document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(styleEl);
			this._styleSheet = styleEl.sheet;
			if(!this._styleSheet) {
				// IE does not like our newly created stylesheet.
				this._styleSheet = document.styleSheets[document.styleSheets.length-1];
			}
		}
		stylesheet = this._styleSheet;

		if(stylesheet.insertRule) {
			var ruleText = selector + ' { ' + styleText + ' }';
			if(index == -1) {
				index = stylesheet.cssRules.length;
			}
			stylesheet.insertRule(ruleText, index);
		} else if(stylesheet.addRule) {
			stylesheet.addRule(selector, styleText, index);
		}
	};

	this.forEachIn = function(obj, callback) {
		for(var key in obj) {
			if(obj.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				callback(key, obj[key]);
			}
		}
	};

	this._interpolateGlobalContext = {
		// values that get used a lot and are global to the request
		'profile_url': Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE,

		'disqus_url': Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url,
		'media_url': Dsq.jsonData.settings.media_url,
		'request_username': Dsq.jsonData.request.username,
		'request_display_username': Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username,
		'forum_name': Dsq.jsonData.forum.name
	};

	this.renderFromContextStack = function(key, contexts) {
		// Returns the first instance of `key` in the array of objects `contexts` or else ''
		for (var i=0; i<contexts.length; i++) {
			if (contexts[i][key] !== undefined) {
				return String(contexts[i][key]);
			}
		}
		throw new Error('key ' + key + ' not found in context');
	};

	var that = this;
	this.interpolate = function(fmt, opt_localContext) {
		// Interpolate `fmt` named-format string with an assumed global context.
		// Based on `interpolate` in django.views.i18n
		var contextStack = [opt_localContext || {}, that._interpolateGlobalContext];
		return fmt.replace(/%\(\w+\)s/g, function(match){
			return that.renderFromContextStack(match.slice(2,-2), contextStack);
		});
	};

	this.stripTags = function(s) {
		// Removes HTML tags from `s`
		return s.replace(/(<([^>]+)>)/g,"");

	};

	this.assert = function(b) {
		if (!b) {
			throw new Error('Assertion error.');
		}
	};

};
// Dsq.Utils

/**
 * Dsq.Popup: Popup helper functions.
 */
Dsq.Popup = new function() {
	this.timeHide = new Array();
	this.timeShow = new Array();
	this.activePopup = {};
	this.profileCache = {};
	this.statusCache = {};

	this.showTimer = function(post_id) {
		// clear the hide timer
		clearTimeout(this.timeHide[post_id]);

		// start the timer
		if(!Dsq.Popup.profileIsOn && !Dsq.Thread.adminIsOn) {
			this.timeShow[post_id] = setTimeout("Dsq.Popup.popProfile(\"" + post_id + "\")", 400);
		}
	};

	this.hideTimer = function(post_id) {
		// clear the show timer
		clearTimeout(this.timeShow[post_id]);
	};

	this.updateProfile = function(username) {
		// Callback from /embed/profile.js
		if (this.statusCache[username]) {
			var statusEl = Dsq.$('dsq-profile-status-' + username);
			statusEl.innerHTML = this.statusCache[username];
			statusEl.style.display = 'block';
		}

		if (this.profileCache[username]) {
			var _cache = this.profileCache[username];

			var _genhtml = function(text) { return '<span><big>' + text + '</big></span>'; };
			var _no_comments = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_COMMENTS(_cache.comments_count));
			var _no_likes = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_LIKES(_cache.likes_count));
			var _no_points = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_POINTS(_cache.points));

			var statsEl = Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-user-stats-' + username);
			statsEl.innerHTML = '';

			if (Dsq.jsonData.users[username].registered) {
				statsEl.innerHTML = _no_comments + _no_likes;
			}
			statsEl.innerHTML += _no_points;

			var activeSites = '';
			for (var i = 0; i < _cache.active_sites.length; i++) {
				var site = _cache.active_sites[i];
				activeSites += '<li><a href="' + site.url + '"> \
					<img src="' + site.favicon + '"/ width="16" height="16"/></a>\
					<a href="' + site.url + '">' + site.name + '</a></li>';
			}
			if (activeSites !== '') {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + username).innerHTML = activeSites;
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + username).innerHTML = 'This site.';
			}

			var moderatedSites = '';
			for (var i = 0; i < _cache.moderated_sites.length; i++) {
				var site = _cache.moderated_sites[i];
				moderatedSites += '<li><a href="' + site.url + '"> \
					<img src="' + site.favicon + '"/ width="16" height="16"/></a>\
					<a href="' + site.url + '">' + site.name + '</a></li>';
			}
			if (moderatedSites !== '') {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-moderated-' + username).innerHTML = moderatedSites;
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-moderated-wrapper-' + username).innerHTML = '';
			}
		}

		// Reposition popup after full HTML is rendered
		if(Dsq.Popup.activePopup && Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el) {
			Dsq.Popup.initPopup(Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el, Dsq.Popup.activePopup.id, Dsq.Popup.activePopup.type);
		}

	};

	this.showCookieMsgs = function() {
		var title = '';
		var message = '';
		var numAlerts = 0;

		Dsq.Utils.forEachIn(Dsq.jsonData.cookie_messages, function(k, v) {
			if (!v) return;

			switch(k) {
				// Cookie: Twitter
				case 'post_twitter':
					if (v === 'error') {
						title = 'Twitter Error!';
						message += '<li id="dsq-msg-twitter-error">Oops, we couldn\'t tweet this comment. Please check your <a href="http://disqus.com/account/services">account settings</a>.</li>';
					} else {
						var _msg = v.split(':');
						title = 'Tweeted!';
						message += '<li id="dsq-msg-twitter-success">Your comment was successfully tweeted. <a href="http://twitter.com/' + _msg[0] + '/status/' + _msg[1] + '">Click here to view the tweet</a>.</li>';
					}
					break;
				// Cookie: Unapproved Post
				case 'post_not_approved':
					title = 'Comment awaiting approval by a moderator';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-post-not-approved">Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.</li>';
					break;
				// Cookie: Profile Found
				case 'post_has_profile':
					title = 'Use your existing commenter profile';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-post-has-profile">You have just posted your commment as a <span class="dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span>, but you may already have a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile.<br /><br /><a href="http://disqus.com/claim">Log in and claim this comment!</a></li>';
					break;
				case 'user_created':
					var _data = v.split(':');
					title = 'Profile created!';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-user-created">You have just created a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile, the best way to claim, manage, and track your comments all over the web. \
					<br /><br />A confirmation is being sent to <strong>' + _data[1] + '</strong>. Please check for this email in order to verify your profile. \
					<ul class="dsq-list-tick"> \
						<li>Your username is <strong>' + _data[0] +'</strong>. <a href="http://disqus.com/people/' + _data[0] + '/" target="_blank">Click here to view your public profile</a>.</li> \
						<li>Be sure to set your profile picture, as well as connect your <span class="dsq-badge-facebook">Facebook</span> and <span class="dsq-badge-twitter">Twitter</span> accounts. <a href="http://disqus.com/account/" target="_blank">Click here for account settings</a>.</li> \
					</ul> \
					</li>'
					break;
				default:
					break;
			}
			numAlerts++;
		});

		if(numAlerts > 1) {
			message = '<ul class="dsq-list-bluebullet">' + message;
			message += '</ul>';
			title = 'Thanks for posting!';
		}
		if(numAlerts > 0) {
			if(typeof(disqus_cookie_msgs) == 'function') {
				disqus_cookie_msgs(message, title);
			} else {
				Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
			}
		}
	};

	this.helpBadges = function(post_id) {
		var html = ' \
			<ul class="dsq-popup-help"> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span> has a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile with a confirmed email address.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span> has a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile, but has not yet confirmed his or her email address.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span> is not logged in with any account and has not claimed his or her comments.</li> \
				<li class="dsq-help-otheraccts">Other accounts</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-facebook">Facebook</span> is using his or her Facebook profile via Facebook Connect.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-twitter">Twitter</span> is using his or her Twitter profile via Twitter Sign-in.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-openid">OpenID</span> is using his or her OpenID.</li> \
			</ul> \
		';

		this.popModal(html, 'Help: Types of Commenters', post_id);
		return;
	};

	this.permalink = function(post_id) {
		var header = 'Link to this comment';
		var body = '<strong>You are anchored to</strong>:<br />' + document.location.protocol + '//' + document.location.host + document.location.pathname + document.location.search + '#comment-' + post_id;

		this.popModal(body, header, post_id);
	};

	this.login = function(header, body) {
		var h = header || 'Login or Register';
		var b = body || '';
		b += Dsq.Templates.frameLogin({id: 'dsq-popup-login'});
		b += '</iframe>'; // HACK: Sometimes there is something funky with the IFRAME SRC that causes no end tag
		this.popModal(b, h, null, true, 'dsq-popup-login');
	};

	this.blacklist = function(id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		var title = 'Add to Blacklist';
		var message = ' \
		Adding this person to the blacklist will block him or her from commenting on this site. Check the following types that you would like to add to the blacklist:'
		+ (userData['registered'] ?
			'<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
				<input id="dsq-blacklist-username" type="checkbox" checked> \
				<label for="dsq-blacklist-username"><strong>Username</strong>: ' + userData['username'] + '</label> \
			</div>'
			: '')
		+ (_meta.email ?
			'<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
				<input id="dsq-blacklist-email" type="checkbox" checked> \
				<label for="dsq-blacklist-email"><strong>Email address</strong>: ' + _meta.email + '</label> \
			</div>'
			: '')
		+ '<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
			<input id="dsq-blacklist-ip" type="checkbox" onclick="Dsq.$(\'dsq-blacklist-ip-warning\').style.display=\'block\'"> \
			<label for="dsq-blacklist-ip"><strong>IP address</strong>: ' + _meta.ip + '</label> \
		</div> \
		';

		message += ' \
			<p id="dsq-blacklist-ip-warning" style="display:none">	\
				Note: Blocking this person\'s IP address may also unintentionally prevent others, who share his/her IP address, from commenting on this site. \
				This may include people who are sharing the same computer, living in the same house, or using the same Internet provider. Only block an IP address as a last resort. \
			</p> \
		';

		message += ' \
			<p style="text-align:center"><button type="button" onclick="Dsq.Post.blockUser(' + id + '); this.disabled=true; this.innerHTML=\'Just one moment...\'">Add to Blacklist</button></p> \
		';

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
	};

	this.remoteAccountSettings = function() {
		var body = '';
		// Set up IFrame.
		var params = {};
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/_auth/embed/remote_settings/';
		var attributes = {id: 'dsq-popup-account-settings'};
		if (typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}

		body = Dsq.Templates._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
		this.popModal(body, 'Account Settings', null, true, 'dsq-popup-account-settings');
	};

	this.popModal = function(message, title, post_id, use_listener, extra_classes) {
		var container = document.createElement('div');
		var header, body;

		Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);

		if(typeof(title) == 'undefined') { title = ''; }
		if(typeof(use_listener) == 'undefined') { use_listener = true; }

		if(post_id) {
			container.id = 'dsq-popup-message-' + post_id;
		} else {
			container.id = 'dsq-popup-message';
		}

		header = title;
		body = message;

		container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.popupModal(header, body);
		Dsq.Popup.initPopup(container, post_id, 'message', extra_classes);
		if(use_listener) {
			Dsq.Popup.popupListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', Dsq.Popup._closePopup);
		}
	};

	this.popAlert = this.popModal;

	this.loading = function(post_id) {
		var title = Dsq.Strings.JUST_A_MOMENT;
		var body = '<div style="text-align:center; padding: 5px 0 10px 0"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading.gif" alt="" /></div>'
		Dsq.Popup.lightbox(body, title, post_id);
	};

	this.lightbox = function(message, title, post_id) {
		// Wraps Dsq.Popup.popModal

		var overlay = document.createElement('div');
		overlay.id = 'dsq-overlay';
		overlay.className = 'dsq-overlay';
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(overlay);
		
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title, post_id, false, 'dsq-lightbox');
	};

	this.popProfile = function(post_id, userKey) {
		var post = Dsq.jsonData['posts'][post_id];
		if (post && post.has_been_anonymized) {
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('This message was anonymized by its previous owner.', 'Anonymized', post_id);
			return;
		}

		if(post_id) {
			userKey = Dsq.jsonData['posts'][post_id].user_key;	
		}
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][userKey];
		var elId = 'dsq-popup-profile-' + userKey;
		var container = document.createElement('div');

		if(this.activePopup.el) {
			this._closePopup(null, true);
			if(this.activePopup.linkClicked) {
				this.activePopup.linkClicked = false;
				return;
			}
		}

		container.id = elId;
		container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.popupProfile(userKey);

		this.initPopup(container, post_id, 'profile');
		this.popupListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', this._closePopup);

		if(!this.profileCache[userKey]) {
			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/embed/profile.js'
				+ '?username=' + userKey
				+ '&anon=' + (userData['registered'] ? 0 : 1)
				+ '&f=' + Dsq.jsonData['request'].forum);
		} else {
			this.updateProfile(userKey);
		}
	};

	this._closePopup = function(e, force) {
		var activePopup = Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el;
		var id = Dsq.Popup.activePopup.id;
		var link = 'dsq-avatar-' + id; // HACK: Specific to profile toggle target

		// HACK: This event should be gone if there is no active popup.
		if(!activePopup) {
			return;
		}
		if(force || !Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, activePopup.id)) {
			// TODO: This is breaking iE?
			if(Dsq.Popup.popupListener) {
				Dsq.Utils.removeEventListener(Dsq.Popup.popupListener);
			}
			
			// Kill overlay
			var overlay = Dsq.$('dsq-overlay');
			if(overlay) { Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(overlay); }
			
			try {
				Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(activePopup);
			} catch(e) {
				// HACK: IE6 throws an error when using deleteNode() with a node containing a <table> in the html.
				activePopup.parentNode.removeChild(activePopup);
			}
			Dsq.Popup.activePopup = {};
		}

		if(!force && Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, link)) {
 			Dsq.Popup.activePopup.linkClicked = true;
		}

	};

	this.initPopup = function(popup, post_id, type, extra_classes) {
		popup.className = 'dsq-popup dsq-popup-' + type + ' ' + (extra_classes ? extra_classes : '');
		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6 || Dsq.Utils.ie7) {
			// HACK: We can't modify the body before it's ready, so we need
			//       to use an IE-safe "DOMReady" workaround before loading
			//       our popup.
			Dsq.Utils.execOnReady(function() {Dsq.$b.appendChild(popup); });
		} else {
			Dsq.$b.appendChild(popup);
		}

		popup.style.display = 'block';

		var xPos = (Dsq.Utils.getWindowSize()[0] - popup.offsetWidth) / 2;
		var yPos = (Dsq.Utils.getWindowSize()[1] - popup.offsetHeight) / 2;

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) {
			yPos += Dsq.Utils.getScrollPos()[1];
		}

		popup.style.left = xPos + 'px';
		popup.style.top = yPos + 'px';

		Dsq.Popup.activePopup = {
			'el' : popup,
			'id' : post_id,
			'type': type,
			'linkClicked' : false
		};
	};

	this.isClicked = function(e, id) {
		var t = e.target || e.srcElement;
		while(t && t.parentNode) {
			if(t.id == id) {
				return true;
			}

			t = t.parentNode;
		}
		return false;
	};
};
// Dsq.Popup

/**
 * Dsq.Templates
 */
Dsq.Templates = new function() {
	/*
	 * Counter keeping track of the number of posts iterated over.
	 */
	this.postLoopCounter = 0;
	this.filters = {};
	this.addPostContainer = 'dsq-post-add';
	this.textareaContainer = 'dsq-post-add';

	this.registerTemplate = function(name, func) {
		this['$$_' + name] = func;

		if(typeof DsqLocal.Filters != 'undefined'
		&& typeof DsqLocal.Filters[name] == 'function') {
			// Push filters to this.filters to unify code.
			this.filters[name] = this.filters[name] || [];
			this.filters[name].push(DsqLocal.Filters[name]);
		}

		this[name] = function() {
			var ret;

			if(typeof DsqLocal.Templates != 'undefined'
			&& typeof DsqLocal.Templates[name] == 'function') {
				ret = DsqLocal.Templates[name].apply(this, arguments);
			}

			if(ret === undefined) {
				ret = this['$$_' + name].apply(this, arguments);
			}

			if(this.filters[name]) {
				var args = [ret];

				args.push.apply(args, arguments);
				for(var i = 0; i < this.filters[name].length; i++) {
					ret = this.filters[name][i].apply(this, args);
				}
			}

			return ret;
		};
	};

	this.registerFilter = function(name, func) {
		this.filters[name] = this.filters[name] || [];
		this.filters[name].push(func);
	};

	/**
	 * Dsq.Templates.Filters
	 */
	this.Filters = new function() {
		this.commentContainer = function(post_id, s) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			var classes = [];
			if(Dsq.jsonData.request.page > 1) {
				classes.push('dsq-append');
			}

			//
			// Extra classes used for custom themes
			//

			if(_meta.depth) {
				classes.push('dsq-comment-child', 'dsq-depth-' + _meta.depth, 'dsq-parent-is-' + _meta.parent_post_id);
			}


			//

			if(_meta.author_is_creator) {
				// TODO: We need to deprecate the "special" class since it is not properly prefixed.
				classes.push('special', 'dsq-special');
			}
			if(_meta.author_is_moderator) {
				classes.push('dsq-moderator');
			}
			classes.push(['dsq-odd', 'dsq-even'][Dsq.Templates.postLoopCounter % 2]);

			s = s.substring(0, s.lastIndexOf('>'));
			return s + ' class="dsq-comment ' + classes.join(' ') + '" style="margin-left:' + _meta.depth*30 + 'px">';
		};

		this.commentContent = function(post_id, s) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			if (_meta.killed) {
				return '<em>Comment removed.</em>';
			} else if (!_meta.approved) {
				return '<em>This comment was flagged for review.</em>';
			}

			s = s.replace(Dsq.MEDIA_POST_RE, Dsq.MediaPostHandler);
			return s;
		};
	};

	//
	// Thread
	//
	// TODO: These need to be stripped of all Django template tags.

	this.authPost = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {
			return '';
		}
		var result = [];
		result = result.concat([
				'<div id="dsq-auth"',
						Dsq.jsonData.integration.reply_position ? 'class="dsq-auth-bottom"' : '',
						'>',
					'<div class="dsq-by">',
						'<a href="http://disqus.com" target="_blank">',
							(Dsq.jsonData.integration.disqus_logo ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img src="%(media_url)s/images/embed/by-disqus.png" alt="discussion by DISQUS">') :
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img src="%(media_url)s/images/embed/dsq-button-120x19.png" alt="discussion by DISQUS">')
							),
						'</a>',
					'</div>',
					'<div class="dsq-auth-header">',
						'<h3 id="dsq-add-new-comment" class="dsq-h3-addcomment">',
								Dsq.Strings.ADD_NEW_COMMENT,
						'</h3>',
						'<div id="dsq-login">',
						(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
								? '<p class="dsq-login-message" id="dsq-login-message">You are commenting as a <a class="dsq-help" title="Click for more information" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Guest</a>. You may select one to log into:</p>'
								: '')
		]);
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
			result = result.concat([
							Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
								'<a id="dsq-login-toggle" href="%(disqus_url)s%(login_url)s?next=article:%(thread_id)s" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false"><img class="dsq-login-icon" src="%(media_url)s/images/dsq-profile-btn.png" title="%(log_into)s" alt="%(log_into)s"/></a>',
								{login_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGIN, thread_id: Dsq.jsonData.thread.id, log_into: Dsq.Strings.LOG_INTO_DISQUS}
								),
							'&nbsp; ',
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ?
								'<div id="dsq-fbc-login" onlogin="DisqusFbcParentController.onLogin()" size="medium" background="light" length="short" style="display:inline; margin-right:7px"></div>' :
								''
							),
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
									'<div id="dsq-twitter-login" class="dsq-twitter-login" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect();" style="display:inline; cursor: pointer"><img src="%(media_url)s/images/twitter-signin-short.png" style="margin-right:7px" /></div>', {}) : ''),
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
									'<div id="dsq-openid-login" class="dsq-openid-login" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.requestURL();" style="display:inline; cursor:pointer;"><img src="%(media_url)s/images/openid-login-button.png"/></div>', {}
								) : '')
			]);
		}
		result = result.concat([
						'</div>', // dsq-login
					'</div>', // dsq-auth-header
					'<div id="dsq-authenticated" class="dsq-authenticated" ',
						Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated ? 'style="display:block"' : '',
						'>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-pic">',
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">' +
																			'<img class="dsq-post-avatar" src="%(avatar_url)s" alt="" /></a>',
																			{avatar_url: Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR,
																			url: (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
																					 ? Dsq.jsonData.request.url
																					 : Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE) }),
						'</div>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-info">',
							'<ul>',
								'<li>',
									(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(
												Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">%(request_display_username)s</a>', {url:Dsq.jsonData.request.url})
										  )
										: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(
												Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(profile_url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">%(request_display_username)s</a>')
											)
									),
								'</li>',
								'<li class="logout">',
									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img class="dsq-login-icon" src="%(media_url)s/images/dsqicon12.png" alt="%(logged_in_as)s"/>&nbsp',
											{logged_in_as: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username)})
										: ''),

									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="%(logout_from_disqus)s">',
											{logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN, logout_from_disqus: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGOUT_FROM('DISQUS')})
										: ((Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'twitter')
												? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('using Twitter (<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="Logout">Logout</a>)',
												 {logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN})
												: ((Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'openid')
													 ? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('using OpenID (<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="Logout">Logout</a>)',
													 {logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN})
													 : ''
													)
											)
									),

									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote ? Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGOUT_FROM('<span class="logo-disqus">DISQUS</span>') : ''),
									'</a>',
								'</li>',
							'</ul>',
						'</div>',
					'</div>'
		]);
		if (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect) {
			result = result.concat([
					'<div id="dsq-fbc-authenticated" class="dsq-authenticated">',
						'<div id="dsq-fbc-profilepic" class="dsq-authenticated-pic" uid="loggedinuser" type="FB.XFBML.ProfilePic" size="square" facebook-logo="true"></div>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-info">',
							'<ul>',
								'<li>',
									'Logged in as <span id="dsq-fbc-name" uid="loggedinuser" type="FB.XFBML.Name" linked="true" useyou="false"></span>',
								'</li>',
								'<li class="logout">using Facebook Connect <a href="#" onclick="javascript:DisqusFbcParentController.logout();return false;">(Logout)</a></li>',
							'</ul>',
						'</div>',
					'</div>'
			]);
		}
		result = result.concat([
				'</div>', // dsq-auth
				'<div id="dsq-toolbar-items">',
				'</div>'
		]);
		result = result.concat([
					//
					//
					//
				((!Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post && !Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) ?
					// Needs to be translated:
					('<p id="dsq-no-anon-msg">Required: Please log into <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> ' +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ? 'or connect with Facebook ' : '') +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ? 'or sign in with Twitter ' : '') +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ? 'or sign in using OpenID ' : '') +
					Dsq.Utils.interpolate('to comment on <strong>%(forum_name)s</strong>.</p>')) :
					''
				),
				'<div id="dsq-post-add"></div>',
				'<div style="margin:10px 0">',
				((Dsq.jsonData.forum.use_media) ?
						'<a href="#" id="dsq-media-link" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, false, \'media\'); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.USE_MEDIA + ' <small>&#9660;</small></a>' :
						''),
				'</div>'
		]);
		return result.join('');
	};


	this.header = function() {

		var html = '\<h3 id="dsq-comments-count" class="dsq-h3-commentcount">\
	 <span id="dsq-num-posts">72</span> Comments\
	 &nbsp;\
	 <span class="dsq-item-feed">\
	 <a href="http://themoderatevoice.disqus.com/obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56/latest.rss"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/bullet-feed.png"></a>\
	 </span>\
	 </h3>\
	 <div id="dsq-options" style="margin:15px 0">\
	 <span class="dsq-item-sort">\
	 Sort by\
	 <select id="dsq-sort-select" onchange="Dsq.Thread.sortBy(this.value);">\
	 <option value="hot" selected="selected">Popular now</option>\
	 <option value="best" >Best Rating</option>\
	 <option value="newest" >Newest first</option>\
	 <option value="oldest" >Oldest first</option>\
	 </select>\
	 &nbsp;\
	 </span>\
	 <span class="dsq-item-cp"><a href="http://themoderatevoice.disqus.com/obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56/">Community Page</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>\
	 <span class="dsq-item-subscribe">\
	 <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/email.png" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle">\
	 <span id="dsq-subscribe">\
	 <a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">Subscribe by email</a>\
	 </span>\
	 </span>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-alerts">\
	 <p>Comments for this page are closed.</p>\
	 </div>\
		';

		

		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) { 
			html = ' \
			<div class="dsq-alert-message dsq-upgrade-message"> \
				<strong>Disqus upgrade available.</strong> Hi ' + Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username + ', this message is being displayed to you because you are a moderator of this site. <a href="#" onclick="Dsq.$(\'dsq-upgrade-message\').style.display=\'block\';this.style.display=\'none\';return false">Click here for details.</a> \
				<div style="display:none; margin-top:10px;" id="dsq-upgrade-message"> \
					A new theme is available with added features. <a href="http://disqus.com/comments/settings/' + Dsq.jsonData.forum.url + '/?p=customize">To change your theme, click here</a> and choose the theme Narcissus. \
					If you do not upgrade, you are missing out on features such as: real-time commenting, new sign-in integrations, and an upgrade interface. \
					<strong>This message will automatically go away in one week.</strong> \
				</div> \
			</div> \
			' + html; 
		}
		return html;
	};

	this.footer = function() {
		var html = Dsq.Templates.pagination();

		
			html += Dsq.Templates.authPost();
		

		html += Dsq.Templates.reactions();

		
			html += Dsq.Templates.trackbacks();
		

		return html;
	};

	this.pagination = function() {
		var html = '';
		
		if (Dsq.$('dsq-pagination')) { Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML = ''; }
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.thread.paginate) { return ''; }

		//
		// TODO: num_paginator still uses the template tag for pagination, 
		// 		while append_paginator does it all in JavaScript.
		//		This should all be in JavaScript.
		//

		if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_pages > 1 && Dsq.jsonData.request.page < Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_pages) {
			html = ' \<a class="dsq-paginate-append-text" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.paginate(Dsq.jsonData.request.page + 1, this); return false">Show more comments...</a>\
	 <button type="button" class="dsq-button-small dsq-paginate-append-button" onclick="Dsq.Thread.paginate(Dsq.jsonData.request.page + 1, this);">Load more comments</button>\
			';
		}
		
		if (Dsq.$('dsq-pagination')) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML = html;
			return '';
		} else {
			return '<div id="dsq-pagination" class="dsq-pagination">' + html + '</div>';
		}
	};

	this.trackbacks = function() {
		var html = '';

		if(typeof DsqLocal != 'undefined' && DsqLocal.trackback_url && DsqLocal.trackbacks) {
			var trackbacks = DsqLocal.trackbacks;
			var trackback_url = DsqLocal.trackback_url;
		} else {
			var trackbacks = [
			
			
			];
			var trackback_url = 'http://themoderatevoice.disqus.com/obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56/trackback/';
		}

		html += '<div class="dsq-item-trackback">Trackback URL&nbsp;&nbsp;<input class="dsq-trackback-url" onclick="this.select()" readonly="true" value="' + trackback_url + '"></div>';

		if(trackbacks.length) {
			html += '<ul id="dsq-references">'
			for(var i = 0; i < trackbacks.length; i++) {
				var trackback = trackbacks[i];
				html += '<li><cite><a href="' + trackback.author_url + '" rel="nofollow">' + trackback.author_name + '</a></cite> \
						<p class="dsq-meta">' + trackback.date + '</p> \
						<p class="dsq-content">' + trackback.excerpt + '</p></li>';
			}
			html += '</ul>';
			html = '<h3 class="dsq-h3-trackbacks">Trackbacks</h3>' + html;
		}

		return html;
	}

	this.showRetweets = function(id, limit, element_id /* Optional */) {
		var source, html = '';

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			if (reaction.id === id) {
				source = reaction.retweets;
			}
		}

		if (source) {
			if (limit === 0) {
				limit = source.length;
			}

			for (var j = 0; j < limit; j++) {
				var rt = source[j];
				html += '<a href="' + rt.url + '">' + rt.author_name + '</a>'	+ ((j === (limit - 1)) ? '.' : ', ');
			}
		}

		if (element_id === undefined) {
			return html;
		}

		var element = document.getElementById(element_id);
		element.innerHTML = html;
		return element;
	};

	this.showMoreReactions = function(reactions, has_more, start, limit) {
		var link = document.getElementById('dsq-show-more-reactions');
		var container = link.parentNode;
		container.removeChild(link);

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = reactions[i]; i++) {
			var el = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (el) {
				container.innerHTML += el;
			}
		}

		if (has_more) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = start;
			var l = limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			container.innerHTML += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions"><a href="#" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</a></li>';
		}
	};

	this.generateReactionHTML = function(reaction) {
		if (reaction.body === null || reaction.body == '') {
			return;
		}

		if (reaction.author_name === '') {
			reaction.author_name = '&nbsp;';
		}

		if (reaction.url === '') {
			reaction.url = reaction.get_service_url;
		}

		/* Reaction HTML begins */
		var item = '<li class="dsq-reaction" id="dsq-reaction-' + reaction.id + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-header">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-header-avatar">';

		if (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== '') {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="' + reaction.author_url +'">';
		} else {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="#" onclick="return false;">';
		}

		if (reaction.avatar_url && reaction.avatar_url !== '') {
			item += '<img src="' + reaction.avatar_url + '"/>';
		} else {
			item += '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/noavatar32.png"/>';
		}

		var service_icon = (reaction.get_service_name == 'trackback' || reaction.get_service_name == 'pingback' ? 'rss' : reaction.get_service_name.replace(' ', ''));
		item += '<img class="dsq-service-icon" src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/reactions/services/' + service_icon + '.png"/>'
			+ '</a></div>'
			+ '<cite><span>' + reaction.author_name + '</span></cite>'
			+ '<span class="dsq-header-meta"><a class="dsq-header-time">' + reaction.date_created + '</a></span>'
			+ '</div><div class="dsq-reaction-body">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-message">' + reaction.body + '</div>'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-footer">From <a class="dsq-service-name" target="_blank" href="' + reaction.url + '">' + reaction.get_service_name + '</a> '
			+ 'via <a href="' + reaction.source_url + '">' + (reaction.source == 'backtype' ? 'BackType' : 'UberVU') + '</a>'
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator ? '&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;<a class="dsq-hide-reaction" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.hide(' + reaction.id + '); return false;">Hide</a>' : '') + '</div></div>';

		if(reaction.retweets) {
			var num_retweets = reaction.retweets.length;
			if (num_retweets > 0) {
				item += '<div class="dsq-reaction-retweets">';
				if (num_retweets == 1) {
					item += 'One more retweet from <a href="' + reaction.retweets[0].url + '">'  + reaction.retweets[0].author_name + '</a>';
				} else {
					item += (num_retweets + ' more retweets from ');

					item += '<span id="dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '">';
					var n_tweets = (num_retweets > 15) ? 15 : num_retweets;
					item += Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(reaction.id, n_tweets);

					if (n_tweets != num_retweets) {
						item += '</span> <a onclick="Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(' + reaction.id + ', 0, \'dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '\');'
							+ 'this.parentNode.removeChild(this); return false;" href="#">Show all</a>';
					}
				}
				item += '</div>';
			}
		}

		item += '</li>'; /* Reaction HTML ends */
		return item;
	};

	this.reactions = function() {
		var html, reaction;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.reactions === undefined || Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '';
		for (var i = 0; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			var item = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (item) {
				html += item;
			}
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.has_more_reactions) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_start;
			var l = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			html += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions"><a href="#" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</a></li>';
		}

		return '<h3 class="dsq-h3-reactions">Reactions</h3><ul id="dsq-reactions" class="dsq-reactions">' + html + '</ul>';
	};
	
	this.missingPermissions = function() {
		return '	<p>Comments for this page are closed.</p>\n';
	};

	//
	// Post
	//

	this.prependPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="comment-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.appendPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="dsq-comment-reply-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.postPrependHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(null, post_id);
			var html = '';
			var hiddenThreshold = 3; // Define # of services to show before stuffing them in hidden div

			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == hiddenThreshold
					? '<li id="dsq-drop-hidden-' + post_id +'" class="dsq-drop-hidden"><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-drop-services"> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank"> \
						<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>';
			}

			if(i >= hiddenThreshold) {
				html += '</ul></li> \
				<li id="dsq-drop-more-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-drop-more"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.dropProfileMore(this, '+ post_id + '); return false"><small>&#9660;</small></a></li> \
				';
			}
			return html;
		};

		return ' \
			<div class="dsq-header-avatar" id="dsq-header-avatar-' + post_id + '" onmouseover="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')"> \
				<a id="dsq-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-avatar" href="' + userData.url + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">'
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.show_avatar
				? '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key].avatar + '" alt="" />'
				: '')
			+ '</a>'
			+ '</div> \
		';
	};

	this.postAppendHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];

		return ''
			+ (_meta.author_is_moderator
				? '<img class="dsq-mod-star" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/bullet-star.png" title="Moderator" alt="" />'
				: '')
			+ '<span class="dsq-header-meta"> \
				<a id="dsq-time-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-header-time" href="#comment-' + post_id + '" title="Permalink">' + _meta.date + '</a> \
			</span>';
	};

	this.preBody = function(post_id) {
		return '';
	}

	this.postBody = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: Deprecate flagging conditional
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		return ''
			+ (_meta.edited
				? '<p class="dsq-editedtxt">(Edited by a moderator)</p>'
				: '')
			;
	};

	this.postFooter = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: Use media should be conditional
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		if(_meta.killed) { return ''; }

		return ' \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer" id="dsq-comment-footer-' + post_id + '"> \
				<div id="dsq-points-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-likedtxt">'
				+ (_meta.points
					? _meta.points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(_meta.points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this comment.'
					: '')
				+ '</div>'
				+ '<ul class="dsq-comment-options dsq-list-style">'
				+ (_meta.votable
					? '<li class="dsq-list-first dsq-rate" id="dsq-rate-cont-' + post_id + '">'
					+ (!_meta.up_voted
						? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.rate(this, ' + post_id + ', 1); return false;">Like</a>'
						: 'You liked this.') + '</li>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-report' + (!_meta.votable ? ' dsq-list-first' : '') + '" id="dsq-post-report-' + post_id + '"><a href="#" class="dsq-post-report" onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + post_id + ', false); return false;">Report</a></li> \
				</ul> \
				<ul class="dsq-list-style">'
				+ (_meta.can_reply
					? '<li class="dsq-list-first"><a href="#" id="dsq-reply-link-' + post_id +'" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(this, ' + post_id +'); return false;">Reply</a></li>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply && !_meta.has_replies && _meta.from_request_user
					? '<li id="dsq-edit-el-' + post_id + '"><a id="dsq-edit-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); return false;">Edit</a></li>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="' + (!_meta.can_reply ? 'dsq-list-first' : '') + '" id="dsq-more-el-' + post_id + '"><a id="dsq-more-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, ' + post_id + ', \'more\'); return false">More <small>&#9660;</small></a></li>'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.use_media
					? '<li id="dsq-media-el-' + post_id +'" style="display:none"><a id="dsq-media-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, ' + post_id + ', \'media\'); return false">Use Media <small>&#9660;</small></a></li>'
					: '')
				+ '</ul>'
				+ '<div id="dsq-reply-bar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar" style="display:none"> \
						<div id="dsq-reply-bar-items-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar-items"> \
						</div> \
						<div id="dsq-reply-bar-auth-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar-auth"> \
							 \
								 \
									<a href="#" class="dsq-help dsq-reply-req-opt" title="You must log into an account in order to comment on The Moderate Voice" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Required:</a> \
								 \
								<img class="dsq-login-icon" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/dsq-favicon-16x16.png" alt="" /> \
								<a id="dsq-reply-login-' + post_id + '" href="http://disqus.com/profile/login/?next=article:4352309" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false">Login</a> \
								 \
									&nbsp;or&nbsp; \
									<img class="fb_login_image" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/fbconnect/login-buttons/connect_light_small_short.gif" alt="Facebook Connect"/> \
									<a href="#" onclick="FB.Connect.requireSession(DisqusFbcParentController.onLogin); return false;">Connect</a> \
								 \
								&nbsp;or&nbsp; \
									<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/twitter-signin-icon.png" alt="" /> \
									<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect(); return false">Sign-in</a> \
								 \
								 \
							 \
						</div> \
					</div> \
					<div id="dsq-reply-' + post_id + '"></div> \
			</div> \
		';
	};

	//
	// Iframes
	//

	this._makeAttributes = function(attributes) {
		// Makes a tag attributes string out of an object.
		// Caller is responsible for making sure nothing needs to be escaped.
		var result = [];
		for (key in attributes) {
			result.push(' ' + key + '="' + attributes[key] + '"');
		}
		result = result.join('');
		return result;
	};

	this._frameGeneric = function(base_url, params, attributes) {
		if(typeof(disqus_callback_params) == 'undefined') {
			disqus_callback_params = '';
		}

		var default_params = {
			// TODO: These should be moved to Dsq.jsonData.
			'f'				: 'themoderatevoice',
			't'				: 'obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56',
			// Do we need encodeURIComponent here?
			'ifrs'			: encodeURIComponent(disqus_iframe_css),
			'to_redirect'	: encodeURIComponent(window.location),
			'cbp'			: disqus_callback_params,
			'ff'			: Dsq.Thread.ff,
			'fc'			: Dsq.Thread.fc,
			'ac'			: Dsq.Thread.ac,
			'default_text'	: disqus_default_text
		};

		base_url += '?' + (new Date()).getTime();
		// Add params to default_params.
		if(params) {
			for(var key in params) {
				if(params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
					default_params[key] = encodeURIComponent(params[key]);
				}
			}
		}
		// Build querystring.
		for(var key in default_params) {
			if(default_params[key] && default_params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				base_url += '&' + key + '=' + default_params[key];
			}
		}

		return [
			'<iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" frameborder="0"',
			(' allowtransparency="true" src="' + base_url + '"'),
			this._makeAttributes(attributes),
			'</iframe>'].join('');
	};

	this.frameLogin = function(opt_attributes) {
		var params = {};
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/embed/login.html';
		var attributes = opt_attributes || {};
		attributes['class'] = 'dsq-post-login';

		if(typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
	};

	this.frameReply = function(post_id, extra_params, attributes) {
		// Returns the HTML for a reply iframe. Called by Dsq.Iframes.setReplyIframeToContainer
		var _meta = (typeof post_id != 'undefined') ? Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] : false;
		var base_url = Dsq.Urls.REPLY;
		var params = {
			'def_email'		: disqus_def_email,
			'def_name'		: disqus_def_name
		};
		if(extra_params) {
			for(var key in extra_params) {
				if(extra_params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
					params[key] = extra_params[key];
				}
			}
		}
		if(_meta) {
			params['parent_post'] = post_id;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined') {
			params['per_page'] = disqus_per_page;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
			attributes['class'] += '-authenticated';
		}
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
	};

	this.frameEdit = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = (typeof post_id != 'undefined') ? Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] : false;
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/embed/edit.html';
		var params = {
			'p' : post_id
		};
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, {'class': 'dsq-post-edit', 'name': 'dsq-edit_' + post_id + '-frame'});
	};

	//
	// Menus
	//

	this.menuMore = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: "Remove post" button should hide menu.
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		return ' \
			<li><a href="#comment-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.permalink(' + post_id + ')">Link</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">Profile</a></li>'
	+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator
		? '	<li class="dsq-menu-sep"></li>' + (_meta.email ? '<li class="dsq-admin-email">' + _meta.email + '</li>' : '')
		+ '	<li class="dsq-admin-ip">' + _meta.ip + '</li> \
			<li class="dsq-menu-sep"></li>'
		+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.moderator_can_edit
			? ' <li class="dsq-admin-edit"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); return false;">Edit Comment</a></li>'
			: '')
		+ ' <li class="dsq-remove"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.removePost(' + post_id + ', 1); return false;">Remove Comment</a></li> \
			<li class="dsq-report-spam"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.reportSpam(' + post_id + '); return false;">Mark Spam</a></li> \
			<li class="dsq-block-user"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.blacklist(' + post_id + '); return false">Block User</a></li>'
		: '');
	};

	this.menuMedia = function(post_id) {
		return ' \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleMediaReply(this, ' + post_id + ', \'seesmic\'); return false;">Record video</a></li> \
		';
	};

	this.dropProfile = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(null, post_id);
			var html = '';
			var hiddenThreshold = 3; // Define # of services to show before stuffing them in hidden div

			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == hiddenThreshold
					? '<li id="dsq-drop-hidden-' + post_id +'" class="dsq-drop-hidden"><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-drop-services"> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank"> \
						<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>';
			}

			if(i >= hiddenThreshold) {
				html += '</ul></li> \
				<li id="dsq-drop-more-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-drop-more"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.dropProfileMore(this, '+ post_id + '); return false"><small>&#9660;</small></a></li> \
				';
			}
			return html;
		};


		var menu = '<li class="dsq-drop-showlnk"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">Expand &#8663;</a></li>';
		var pointsMessage = '';
		if (userData['registered']) {
			pointsMessage = 'with ' + userData['points'] + ' points (more points are better).';
		}

		if (userData['is_remote']) {
			var domain = userData['remote_domain_name'];
			menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' is a ' + domain + ' user ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
			menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-' + domain.toLowerCase() + '">' + domain + '</span></li>';
		} else if (userData['registered']) {
			if (userData['verified']) {
				menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has a verified commenter profile ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
				menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span></li>';
			} else {
				menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has a registered, but unverified, commenter profile ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
				menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span></li>';
			}
		} else {
			menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has not claimed this commenter profile." onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()"><span class="dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span></li>';
		}

		menu += _includeServices();
		return menu;
	};

	//
	// Popups
	//

	this._popupGeneric = function(content) {
		return ' \
		<div class="dsq-popup-content"> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-top"></div> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-body" class="clearfix"> \
				<div class="dsq-popup-body-padding"> \
					<div class="dsq-popup-header"> \
						<a class="dsq-close-link" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/modal-close.png" alt="" /></a>'
						+ content['header']
					+ '</div>'
					+ content['body']
					+ '<div class="powered-by"><a href="http://disqus.com/comments/">Powered by <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-logo.png" alt="Disqus Comments" style="margin-bottom:-5px" /></a></div> \
				</div> <!-- padding --> \
			</div> <!-- body --> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-bottom"></div> \
		</div> \
		';
	};

	this.popupProfile = function(user_key) {
		var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(user_key, null);
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][user_key];
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var html = '';
			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == 0
					? '<h4>Connections</h4><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li> \
					<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" title="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" /> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>'
				+ (i+1 == userServices.length ? '</ul>' : '');
			}
			return html;
		};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<table> \
				<tr> \
					<td> \
						<a class="dsq-profile-userurl" href="' + userData.url + '"><img class="dsq-popup-profile-avatar" src="' + userData['avatar'] + '" alt="" /></a> \
					</td> \
					<td> \
						<div class="dsq-popup-profile-user"> \
							<h3>' + userData['display_name'] + '</h3> \
							<div class="dsq-popup-profile-user-stats" id="dsq-popup-profile-user-stats-' + user_key + '">Loading...</div> \
						</div> \
					</td> \
				</tr> \
			</table> \
		';

		bodyHtml = ' \
			<div class="dsq-popup-profile-state"> \
				This is a&nbsp;<span class="'
					+ (userData['registered']
						? (userData['verified']
							? ' dsq-badge-verified'
							: (userData['is_remote']
								? ' dsq-badge-' + userData['remote_domain_name'].toLowerCase()
								: ' dsq-badge-registered')
							)
							: ' dsq-badge-guest') + '">'
			+ (userData['registered']
				? (userData['verified']
					? 'Verified'
					: (userData['is_remote']
						 ? userData['remote_domain_name']
						 : 'Registered')
					)
				: 'Guest')
			+ '</span>&nbsp;commenter profile.'
			+ '&nbsp;<a class="dsq-profile-userurl" href="' + userData.url + '"><strong>View more comments </strong></a>'
			+ (!userData['points']
				? '<p class="dsq-popup-notice">If this is you, <a href="http://disqus.com/profile" target="_blank">claim it now</a> to manage your comments.</p>'
				: '')
			+ ((userData['registered'] && !userData['verified'] && (Dsq.jsonData.request.username && (Dsq.jsonData.request.username == userData['username'])) && !userData['is_remote'])
				? '<p class="dsq-popup-notice"><strong>Alert</strong>: You have not verified this account. <a href="http://disqus.com/verify">Verify it now.</a></p>'
				: '')
			+ '</div> \
			<div id="dsq-profile-status-' + user_key + '" class="dsq-popup-profile-status" style="display:none"></div> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-profile-snapshot"> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td> \
							<div id="dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-wrapper-' + user_key + '"> \
								<h4>Most active sites</h4> \
								<ul id="dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + user_key + '"> \
									<li>Loading...</li> \
								</ul> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
						<td>'
							+ _includeServices()
							+ '<div id="dsq-popup-profile-moderated-wrapper-' + user_key + '"> \
								<h4>Moderator of</h4> \
								<ul id="dsq-popup-profile-moderated-' + user_key + '"> \
									<li>Loading...</li> \
								</ul> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
			</div> \
			';

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.popupReblog = function() {
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<cite><span>Reblog this comment</span></cite> \
		';

		bodyHtml = ' \
			<div id="dsq-reblog-form" class="dsq-reblog-form"> \
			</div> \
		';

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.popupModal = function(title, message) {
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<h3>' + title + '</h3> \
		';

		bodyHtml = message;

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.alertContent = function(name, post_id) {
		var alert = {
			'post_not_approved': {
				'title': 'Comment awaiting approval by a moderator',
				'message': 'Thanks for posting. Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.'
			},
			'post_has_profile': {
				'title': 'Use your existing commenter profile',
				'message': 'You have just posted your commment as a <span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span>, but you may already have a <span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span> commenter profile.<br /><br /><a href="http://disqus.com/claim">Log in and claim this comment!</a>'
			}
		};
		return alert[name] || false;
	};

	//
	// Actions
	//

	this.voted = function(post_id, points, vote) {
		// Update number of points
		Dsq.$('dsq-points-' + post_id).innerHTML = points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this comment.';

		// Update link text
		if(vote) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-rate-cont-' + post_id).innerHTML = 'You liked this.';
		}
	};

	this.subscribed = function(status) {
		var title, message;

		if(status) {
			title = 'Subscribed!';
			message = 'You have subscribed to this comment thread. New comments will be sent directly to your email inbox, where you may read and respond by email.';
			Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe').innerHTML = ' \
				<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(0); return false">Unsubscribe</a> \
			';
		} else {
			title = 'Unsubscribed';
			message = 'You have unsubscribed to this comment thread. New comments will no longer be sent to your email inbox.';
			Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe').innerHTML = ' \
				<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">Subscribe by email</a> \
			';
		}

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);

	};
	
	this.highlighted = function() {
		Dsq.Popup.popModal('This comment has been highlighted.', 'Highlighted comment');
	};

	//
	// Media
	//

	this.mediaSeesmic = function(id, thumb) {
		return ' \
			<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_preview" class="dsq-seesmic-preview"><a href="http://www.seesmic.com/video/' + id + '" target="_blank" class="see_link">&nbsp;</a> \
				<div style="display:block;width:160px; height:120px; border:none; background-image:url(http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/' + thumb + ')"> \
					<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_hide" class="seePlayOverlay" style="display:none;"><img onclick="see_play_video(\'' + id + '\',false)" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/seesmic/stopOverlay.png" width="50" height="50" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; padding-top: 30px; padding-left: 50px" alt="" /></div> \
					<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_show" class="seePlayOverlay"><img onclick="see_play_video(\'' + id + '\',true)" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/seesmic/playOverlay.png" width="50" height="50" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; border:none; padding-top: 30px; padding-left: 50px" alt="" /></div> \
				</div> \
			</div> \
			<div id="' + id + '_content" style="display:block; width:100%; padding-top:5px"></div> \
		';
	};

	//
	// Callbacks
	//

	this.postComment_onSuccess = function(parent_post_id) {
		// Increment post count
		var num_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-num-posts');
		var total_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-total-posts');
		
		if (num_posts) { 
			num_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(num_posts.innerHTML) + 1;
		}
		if (total_posts) { 
			total_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(total_posts.innerHTML) + 1;
		}
	};
};
// Dsq.Templates


/**
 * Dsq.Post
 */
Dsq.Post = new function() {
	this.openedMenu = {};
	this.menuEventListener = null;
	this.stateReplyToggled = {};
	this.stateEditToggled = {};
	this.stateRecordLink = {};

	/**
	 * Inserts a new post into the document.
	 *
	 * @param after_id {Number}	Insert a post before specified id.  If after_id
	 *							evaluates to false, then post in the front.  If
	 *							after_id is -1, post at the end.
	 */
	this.insert = function(after_id, id, message, author) {
		// Skeleton template from thread_posts.html.
		var skeleton = ' \
			<li id="dsq-comment-%(id)s"> \
				<div id="dsq-comment-header-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-header"> \
					<cite id="dsq-cite-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-cite"> \
						<a id="dsq-author-user-%(id)s" href="%(author_url)s" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">%(author_name)s</a> \
					</cite> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-comment-body-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-body"> \
					<div id="dsq-comment-message-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-message">%(message)s</div> \
				</div> \
			</li> \
		';
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
		var _user_meta = Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key];
		var markup = Dsq.Utils.interpolate(skeleton, {
			id: id,
			message: message,
			author_url: _user_meta.blog,
			author_name: _user_meta.display_name
		});
		var div = document.createElement('div');
		markup = markup.replace(Dsq.COMMENTS_RE, Dsq.CommentsHandler);
		div.innerHTML = markup;

		if (after_id === -1) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-comments').appendChild(div);
		} else if (!after_id) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-comments').insertBefore(div, Dsq.$('dsq-comments').firstChild);
		} else if (Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + after_id)) {
			// Get next node after "after_id", so we can insert before it.
			// If "after_id" is the last comment, the target node is the
			// last node.
			
			// var append_post_id = Dsq.Templates.appendPost(after_id).replace('<div id="','').replace('"></div>', '');
			var append_post_id = 'dsq-append-post-' + after_id;
			var node = Dsq.$(append_post_id);
			while (node = node.nextSibling) {
				if (!node || node.nodeType == 1) { // 1 == Node.ELEMENT_NODE
					break;
				}
			}
			if (!node) {
				node = Dsq.$(append_post_id);
			}
			node.parentNode.insertBefore(div, node);
		}
	};

	this.incrementPostCount = function() {
		
		var num_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-num-posts');
		var total_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-total-posts');

		if (num_posts) {
			num_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(num_posts.innerHTML, 10) + 1;
		}
		if (total_posts) {
			total_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(total_posts.innerHTML, 10) + 1;
		}
	}
	
	this.outlineComment = function(post_id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className += ' dsq-comment-outline';
		setTimeout("(function () { Dsq.Post.clearOutlineComment(" + post_id + ") })()", 3000);
	};
	
	this.clearOutlineComment = function(post_id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className.replace('dsq-comment-outline', '');
	};

	this.showMenu = function(el, id, name) {
		var anchorPos = Dsq.Utils.findPos(el);
		var menu = document.createElement('ul');

		if(this.openedMenu) {
			if(this.openedMenu.linkClicked) {
				this.openedMenu.linkClicked = false;
				return;
			}
		}

		switch(name) {
			case 'more':
				menu.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.menuMore(id);
				break;
			case 'media':
				menu.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.menuMedia(id);
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}

		// Add menu to document body
		menu.id = 'dsq-menu-' + id;
		menu.className = 'dsq-menu';
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(menu);

		// Position and show
		anchorPos[1] += 15;
		menu.style.left = anchorPos[0] + 'px';
		menu.style.top = anchorPos[1] + 'px';
		menu.style.display = 'block';

		// Set global reference
		this.openedMenu = {
			'el' : menu,
			'id' : id,
			'name' : name,
			'linkClicked' : false
		};

		// Set listener
		this.menuEventListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', this._hideMenu);
	};

	this._hideMenu = function(e) {
		var el = e.target || e.srcElement;
		var openedMenu = Dsq.Post.openedMenu.el;
		var id = Dsq.Post.openedMenu.id;

		if(!id) {
			var link = 'dsq-' + Dsq.Post.openedMenu.name + '-link';
		} else {
			var link = 'dsq-' + Dsq.Post.openedMenu.name + '-link-' + id;
		}

		if(!openedMenu) {
			return;
		}

		if(!Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, openedMenu.id)) {
			openedMenu.style.display = 'none';
			Dsq.Utils.removeEventListener(Dsq.Post.menuEventListener);
			Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(openedMenu);

		} else {
			// Hide the menu if a link was clicked inside the menu.  We can't
			// completely remove the menu until the onclick event on the link
			// fires, but the menuEventListener will prevent multiple menus
			// from polluting the DOM.
			if(el && typeof el.href != 'undefined') {
				openedMenu.style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.Post.openedMenu.el = null;
			}
		}

		if(Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, link)) {
 			Dsq.Post.openedMenu.linkClicked = true;
		}
	};


	this.getUserServices = function(user_key, id) {
		if(!user_key && id) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
			user_key = _meta.user_key;
		}
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][user_key];
		var userServices = [];

		// Keep a full list of supported services. This is the order they will display in the drop-profile.
		// Each service must have a corresponding case in _buildServiceUrl()
		var supportedServices = ['blog', 'twitter', 'facebook', 'tumblr'];

		function _buildServiceUrl(serviceName) {
			var data = userData[serviceName];
			var services = {
				blog:		function(d) { return d; },
				twitter:	function(d) { return d; },
				facebook:	function(d) { return d; },
				tumblr:		function(d) { return 'http://' + d + '.tumblr.com'; }
			};
			return services[serviceName](data);
		}

		for(var i = 0; i < supportedServices.length; i++) {
			if(userData[supportedServices[i]]) {
				var serviceUrl = _buildServiceUrl(supportedServices[i]);
				userServices.push({'name' : supportedServices[i], 'url' : serviceUrl});
			}
		}
		return userServices;
	}

	this.dropProfile = function(id) {
		var dp = Dsq.$('dsq-drop-profile-' + id);

		// IE6 needs JS to display/hide. All other browsers use CSS.
		if(dp) {
			if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) dp.style.display = (dp.style.display == 'inline') ? 'none' : 'inline';
			return false;
		} else {
			dp = document.createElement('ul');
		}

		dp.id = 'dsq-drop-profile-' + id;
		dp.className = 'dsq-drop-profile';

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) { dp.style.display = 'inline'; }

		var container = Dsq.$('dsq-header-avatar-' + id);
		dp.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.dropProfile(id);
		container.appendChild(dp);
	};

	this.dropProfileMore = function(el, id) {
		var hiddenItems = Dsq.$('dsq-drop-hidden-' + id);

		hiddenItems.style.display = 'inline';
		el.parentNode.style.display = 'none';
	};

	this._updateReplyLinks = function(el, id) {
		// Update "reply / cancel" links based on state.
		var displayDict = {};

		if(id) {
			if(this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				el.innerHTML = 'Cancel';
				displayDict['media'] = 'inline';
				displayDict['edit'] = 'none';
			} else {
				el.innerHTML = 'Reply';
				displayDict['media'] = 'none';
				displayDict['edit'] = 'inline';
			}
		}

		for(var key in displayDict) {
			if(displayDict.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				var	linkEl = Dsq.$('dsq-' + key + '-el-' + id),
					spacer = Dsq.$('dsq-' + key + '-spacer-' + id);

				if(linkEl) {
					linkEl.style.display = displayDict[key];
					if(spacer) spacer.style.display = displayDict[key];
				}
			}
		}
	};

	this._updateMediaLinks = function(el, id) {
		// Update "use media / cancel" links based on state.
		var appendId = (id) ? ('-' + id) : '';
		var link = Dsq.$('dsq-media-link' + appendId);

		if(this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
			link.innerHTML = 'Cancel Media';
			link.onclick = function() { Dsq.Post.toggleMediaReply(link, id); return false; };
		} else {
			link.innerHTML = 'Use Media <small>&#9660;</small>';
			link.onclick = function() { Dsq.Post.showMenu(link, id, 'media'); return false; };
		}
	};

	this.toggleReply = function(el, id) {
		// Create reply IFrame
		if (window.disqus_use_postmessage) {
			if (!this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				// Create IFrame if it doesn't exist.
				if (!Dsq.frames['reply_' + id]) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-frame-' + id), id);
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id].init();
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id].setState(id, _meta.depth);
				}
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id).style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'none';
			}
		} else {
			// DEPRECATED
			if(!this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				// Reply toolbar
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id), id);
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.Iframes.hideAllInContainer(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id));
				if(this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
					// HACK: Cancel media before canceling self.
					this.toggleMediaReply(Dsq.$('dsq-media-link-' + id), id);
				}
			}
		}

		this.stateReplyToggled[id] = !this.stateReplyToggled[id];
		this._updateReplyLinks(el, id);

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE('dsq-reply-' + id); }

		Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED, {
			postId: id,
			opened: this.stateReplyToggled[id]
		});
	};

	this.toggleMediaReply = function(el, id, xtype) {
		id = id || 0;
		if(id) {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-post-add');
		}

		if(!this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, id, {xtype:xtype}, 'dsq-post-video');
		} else {
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, id);
		}
		this.stateRecordLink[id] = !this.stateRecordLink[id];
		this._updateMediaLinks(el, id);

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
	};

	this.edit = function(el, id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.frameEdit(id);
		el.parentNode.style.display = 'none';
		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE('dsq-comment-message-' + id); }
	};

    this.rate = function(el, id, vote) {
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_votes) {
			if(vote == 1) {
                Dsq.$('dsq-rate-cont-' + id).innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
            }

            Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/vote.js'
                + '?post_id='    + id
                + '&vote='        + vote);

		} else {
			Dsq.Popup.login(Dsq.Strings.TO_RATE_PLEASE_LOG_IN);
		}
    };

	this.report = function(id, confirmed) {
		if(confirmed) {
			Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56/post_report/', {'post_id': id});
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('Thank you. This comment has been flagged for moderator attention.', 'Successfully flagged');
			Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(Dsq.$('dsq-post-report-' + id));
		} else {
			var title = Dsq.Strings.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT;
			var message = Dsq.Strings.ARE_YOU_SURE_YOU_WOULD_LIKE_TO_REPORT_THIS_COMMENT_TO_A_MODERATOR + '? \
			<br /><br /> \
			<button type="button" onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true)"><strong>' + Dsq.Strings.NO + '</strong>, ' + Dsq.Strings.NEVER_MIND + '</button>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<button type="button" onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + id + ', true);"><strong>' + Dsq.Strings.YES + '</strong>, ' + Dsq.Strings.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT + '</button><br /><br />'
			+ Dsq.Strings.THIS_WILL_FLAG_COMMENTS_FOR_MODERATORS_TO_TAKE_ACTION + '. \
			';

			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title, id);
		}
	};



	this.showAlert = function(id, msg) {
		var msgEl = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + id);
		var alert = '<div class="dsq-comment-alert">' + msg + '</div>';

		msgEl.innerHTML = alert + msgEl.innerHTML;
	};

};
// Dsq.Post


/**
 * Dsq.Thread
 */
Dsq.Thread = new function() {
	this.fc = null;
	this.ff = null;
	this.ac = null;

	
	this.adminIsOn = false;

	
	
	

	this.hlComment = null;
	this.hlCommentClass = null;

	this.getNextComment = function(el) {
		var start_id = el.id;
		while(el = el.nextSibling) {
			if(el.id && el.id.indexOf('dsq-comment-') != -1 && el.id != start_id) {
				return el;
			}
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.getActiveCommentId = function() {
		if (document.URL.indexOf('#comment-') >= 0) {
			var anchor = document.URL.slice(document.URL.indexOf('#') + 1);
			return anchor.replace('comment-', '');
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.highlightAnchor = function() {
		var i = this.getActiveCommentId();
		if (i == null) return false;
		var id = 'dsq-comment-' + i;
		var hash = window.location.hash;

		// Toggle the hash incase the comment isn't available when the page loads
		// for WebKit-based browsers.
		if (Dsq.Utils.webkit) {
			window.location.hash = '';
			window.location.hash = hash;
		}

		this.hlComment = Dsq.$(id);
		// Adding this conditional guard pending #289
		if (!this.hlComment) {
			return;
		}
		this.hlCommentClass = this.hlComment.className;
		this.hlComment.className += ' dsq-hl-anchor';

		setTimeout("Dsq.Thread.highlightClear()", 3000);
	};

	this.highlightClear = function() {
		if (!this.hlComment) {
			return;
		}
		this.hlComment.className = this.hlCommentClass;
	};

	this.login = function(toggle) {
		// toggle id is #dsq-reply-login-[id]
		var postId;
		if(toggle.id.indexOf('dsq-reply-login') != -1) {
			postId = toggle.id.slice(16);
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + postId);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-post-add');
		}

		if(toggle) {
			if(toggle.className == 'dsq-login-active') {
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed(container, postId);
				toggle.className = '';
			} else {
				Dsq.Iframes.showLoginIframeInContainer(container, postId);
				toggle.className = 'dsq-login-active';
			}
		} else {
			Dsq.Iframes.showLoginIframeInContainer(container, postId);
		}

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
	};


	this.paginate = function(page, el_clicked, per_page) {
		// Use extra_params to pass any override parameters that we need to persist.
		var extra_params = '';

		// "Per page" can either be overriden by providing it as an argument
		// (per-call) or setting the disqus_per_page override variable (global).
		if(typeof per_page == 'undefined') {
			per_page = null;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined' && per_page === null) {
			per_page = disqus_per_page;
		}

		if(typeof disqus_sort != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&sort=' + disqus_sort;
		}
		if(per_page !== null) {
			extra_params += '&per_page=' + per_page;
		}

		Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML += '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
		
		if(el_clicked) {
			el_clicked.style.display = 'none';
		}
		
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56'
			+ '&p='		+ page
			+ extra_params);
	};

	this.sortBy = function(sort) {
		var disqus_script = document.createElement('script');
		var disqus_date = new Date();

		if (location.hash != '') {
			location.hash = '#disqus_thread';
		}

		if(typeof(disqus_url) == 'undefined') {
			disqus_url = disqus_href;
		}
		disqus_script.type = 'text/javascript';
		disqus_script.src = 'http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56'
			+ '&sort='	+ sort
			+ '&title='
			+ '&'		+ disqus_date.getTime();

		Dsq.$('dsq-comments').innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading.gif">';
		Dsq.container.appendChild(disqus_script);
	};

	this.subscribe = function(status, email) {
		// `status` is an int -- 1 to subscribe, 0 to unsubscribe
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || email) {
			// If authenticated user OR anonymous email provided

			if(email) {
				Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);
			}

			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/subscribe.js'
				+'?status=' 	+ status
				+ '&slug='		+ 'obama_vs_mccain_why_i8217m_back_on_the_fence_56'
				+ '&email=' 	+ encodeURIComponent(email));

		} else if(!email) {
			// If anonymous user and no email has been provided yet, prompt for email

			var title = 'Subscribe to this comment thread';
			var message = ' \
				New comments will be sent directly to your email inbox! \
				<div class="dsq-subscribe-submit"> \
					<p><strong>Enter your email address below.</strong></p> \
					<input type="text" id="dsq-subscribe-email"> \
					<button type="button" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1, Dsq.$(\'dsq-subscribe-email\').value)">Subscribe</button> \
				</div> \
			';

			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
		}
	};

	this.showSettings = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) {
			return;
		}

		/* The form has to be re-designed when more options will come out. */
		var html = 'Automatically close comments after <input size="3" id="dsq-thread-days-alive" value="' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.days_alive + '" type="text" /> days. Existing comments will still be displayed.<br /><br />(Using 0 days will disable this feature)<br /><br />'
								 + '<button type="button" onclick="Dsq.Thread.updateDaysAlive();" class="dsq-button-small"><span>Save</span></button>'
								 + '<span id="dsq-thread-settings-status" class="dsq-options-status"></span>';

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(html, 'Settings');
	};

  this.showModeratorActions = function() {
      if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) {
          return;
      }

      var html = '<div class="dsq-moderate-options"><table><tr>' +
                 '<td>' + Dsq.Strings.ACTIONS + '</td><td><ul>';
      html += '<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.toggleClosed(); return false;">' +
              (Dsq.jsonData.thread.closed ? Dsq.Strings.OPEN_THREAD : Dsq.Strings.CLOSE_THREAD) +
              '</a></li>';
      html += '<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.toggleKilled(); return false;">' +
              (Dsq.jsonData.thread.killed ? Dsq.Strings.RESTORE_THREAD : Dsq.Strings.REMOVE_THREAD) +
              '</a></li>';
      html += '</ul></td></tr></table></div>' +
              '<p>Go to the full <a href="http://disqus.com/comments/moderate-threads/" target="_blank">moderate panel</a> for more options.</p>';
      Dsq.Popup.popModal(html, Dsq.Strings.MODERATE_OPTIONS);
  };

	this.updateDaysAlive = function() {
		  var days = Dsq.$('dsq-thread-days-alive').value;
		  var status = Dsq.$('dsq-thread-settings-status');
		  Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/update_days_alive.js', {days:days,thread:Dsq.jsonData.thread.id});
		  status.innerHTML = 'Saved!';
		  window.setTimeout(function() { status.innerHTML = ''; }, 1000);
	};

  this.toggleClosed = function() {
      Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/toggle_thread_closed.js', {thread:Dsq.jsonData.thread.id});
      window.setTimeout(function() { window.location.reload(); }, 500);
  };

  this.toggleKilled = function() {
      Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/toggle_thread_killed.js', {thread:Dsq.jsonData.thread.id});
      window.setTimeout(function() { window.location.reload(); }, 500);
  };
};
// Dsq.Thread

Dsq.Events = function() {
	var obj = {};

	// Private
	var handlers = {};
	var getHandlers = function(event) {
		if (handlers[event] === undefined) {
			handlers[event] = [];
		}
		return handlers[event];
	};

	// Public
	// Value keys : postId, node, xtype
	obj.REPLY_IFRAME_CREATED = 1;
	// Value keys : postId, opened
	obj.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED = 2;
	obj.fire = function(event, opt_value) {
		if (!event) {
			throw new Error('Unknown event');
		}
		var value = opt_value || {};
		for (var i=0; i<getHandlers(event).length; i++) {
			getHandlers(event)[i](value);
		}
	};
	obj.addHandler = function(event, callback) {
		getHandlers(event).push(callback);
	};

	return obj;
}();

/**
 * Dsq.Realtime
 */
Dsq.Realtime = new function() {
	var initialized = false;
	var interval = null;
	var last_checked = Dsq.jsonData.request.timestamp;
	var new_posts = [];
	var ongoing_request = false;
	var prev_script = null;

	function updateNewPostCount() {
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-alert').style.display = new_posts.length ? 'block' : 'none';

		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-queued').innerHTML = new_posts.length
		+ ' new '
		+ Dsq.Utils.pluralize(new_posts.length, 'comment', 'comments')
		+ Dsq.Utils.pluralize(new_posts.length, ' was', ' were')
		+ ' just posted.';

		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-show').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.SHOW + ')';
	}

	function insertNewPosts() {
		var post_id = null;
		var after_id = Dsq.$('dsq-sort-select').value === 'oldest' ? -1 : null;

		for (var i=0; i<new_posts.length; i++) {
			post_id = new_posts[i];
			Dsq.Post.insert(after_id, post_id, Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id].message);
			Dsq.Post.incrementPostCount();
			Dsq.Post.outlineComment(post_id);
		}
		new_posts = [];
	}

	this.enableInterval = function() {
		interval = setInterval(Dsq.Realtime.check, Dsq.jsonData.context.realtime_speed);
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-status').innerHTML = Dsq.Strings.ENABLED;
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.PAUSE + ')';
	}

	this.disableInterval = function() {
		if (interval) {
			clearInterval(interval);
			interval = null;
		}
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-status').innerHTML = Dsq.Strings.PAUSED;
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.RESUME + ')';
	}

	this.toggleInterval = function() {
		if (!interval) {
			Dsq.Realtime.enableInterval();
		} else {
			Dsq.Realtime.disableInterval();
		}
		return false;
	}

	this.initialize = function() {
		if (!initialized) {
			initialized = true;
			Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').onclick = this.toggleInterval;
			if (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-show').onclick = this.show;
				updateNewPostCount();
			}
			if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.realtime_paused) {
				Dsq.Realtime.disableInterval();
			} else {
				Dsq.Realtime.enableInterval();
			}
		}
	}

	this.show = function() {
		insertNewPosts();
		updateNewPostCount();
		return false;
	}

	this.check = function() {
		if (!ongoing_request && Dsq.jsonData.realtime_enabled) {
			if (prev_script) {
				prev_script.parentNode.removeChild(prev_script);
			}
			ongoing_request = true;
			prev_script = Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/4352309/realtime.js?timestamp=' + last_checked);
		}
	};

	this.update = function(timestamp, posts, users) {
		ongoing_request = false;
		last_checked = timestamp;

		if (users) {
			for (var user_id in users) {
				if (users.hasOwnProperty(user_id)) {
					if (!Dsq.jsonData.users[user_id]) {
						Dsq.jsonData.users[user_id] = users[user_id];
					}
				}
			}
		}

		if (posts) {
			for (var post_id in posts) {
				if (posts.hasOwnProperty(post_id)) {
					if (!Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id]) {
						Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] = posts[post_id];
						new_posts.push(post_id);
					}
				}
			}

			if (Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
				insertNewPosts();
			} else {
				updateNewPostCount();
			}
		}
	};

}();

// DEPRECATED
Dsq.Iframes = function() {
	// Different style of object from the above. Hoping to switch to this for some reason.
	var obj = {};

	// Private
	var showIframeInContainer = function(container, id, markup) {
		// Look through container for iframes, hiding them, except show one that matches id
		// If none of them matched id, create a new iframe using markup and insert it.
		// Returns the iframe node if and only if it was newly created.
		var found = false;
		for (var i=0; i<container.childNodes.length; i++) {
			var child = container.childNodes[i];
			if (child.nodeName == 'IFRAME') {
				if (child.id == id) {
					child.style.display = 'block';
					found = true;
				} else {
					child.style.display = 'none';
				}
			}
		}
		if (found) {
			return;
		}
		// The iframe wasn't found, so construct it and add it to the container.
		// Don't use innerHTML because it might reload iframes
		var div = document.createElement('div');
		div.innerHTML = markup;
		var iframe = div.childNodes[0];
		div.removeChild(iframe);
		container.appendChild(iframe);
		return iframe;
	};

	// Public
	obj.makeReplyIframeId = function(opt_postId, opt_xtype) {
		var id = 'dsq-post-add-iframe';
		if (opt_xtype) {
			id += '-' + opt_xtype;
		}
		if (opt_postId) {
			id += '-' + opt_postId;
		}
		return id;
	};
	obj.makeLoginIframeId = function(opt_postId) {
		if (!opt_postId) {
			return 'dsq-login-iframe';
		}
		return 'dsq-login-iframe-' + opt_postId;
	};
	obj.makeReplyIframeName = function(opt_postId, opt_xtype) {
		var name = 'dsq-reply-frame';
		if (opt_xtype) {
			name += '-' + opt_xtype;
		}
		if (opt_postId) {
			name += '-' + opt_postId;
		}
		return name;
	};
	obj.showReplyIframeInContainer = function(container, opt_postId, opt_extraParams, opt_className) {
		// Construct the id so we can check if it's already present.
		// Hide any other iframes we find, and show this one if it's found.
		var params = opt_extraParams || {};
		// use xtype in the id and name so we can distinguish media replies from text replies:
		var id = Dsq.Iframes.makeReplyIframeId(opt_postId, params.xtype);
		var name = Dsq.Iframes.makeReplyIframeName(opt_postId, params.xtype);
		var attributes = {
			'id': id,
			'name': name,
			'class': opt_className || 'dsq-post-reply'
			};
		var markup = Dsq.Templates.frameReply(opt_postId, opt_extraParams, attributes);
		var iframe = showIframeInContainer(container, id, markup);
		// It was newly created
		if (iframe) {
			Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_CREATED, {
				postId: opt_postId,
				node: iframe,
				xtype: params.xtype
			});
		}
	};
	obj.showLoginIframeInContainer = function(container, opt_postId) {
		var id = Dsq.Iframes.makeLoginIframeId(opt_postId);
		var markup = Dsq.Templates.frameLogin({id: id});
		showIframeInContainer(container, id, markup);
	};
	obj.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed = function(container, opt_postId) {
		if (Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {
			obj.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, opt_postId);
		} else {
			obj.hideAllInContainer(container);
		}
	};
	obj.hideAllInContainer = function(container) {
		for (var i=0; i<container.childNodes.length; i++) {
			var child = container.childNodes[i];
			if (child.nodeName == 'IFRAME') {
				child.style.display = 'none';
			}
		}
	};

	return obj;
}();

Dsq.Twitter = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.startTwitterConnect = function() {
		var popupParams = 'location=0,status=0,width=800,height=400';
		that._twitterWindow = window.open(Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/_ax/twitter/begin/', 'twitterWindow', popupParams);
		that._twitterInterval = window.setInterval(that.completeTwitterConnect, 1000);
	};

	this.completeTwitterConnect = function() {
		if (that._twitterWindow.closed) {
			window.clearInterval(that._twitterInterval);
			window.location.reload();
		}
	};
};

Dsq.Yahoo = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.startYahooConnect = function() {
		var popupParams = 'location=0,status=0,width=800,height=400';
		that._yahooWindow = window.open(Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/_ax/yahoo/begin/', 'yahooWindow', popupParams);
		that._yahooInterval = window.setInterval(that.completeYahooConnect, 1000);
	};

	this.completeYahooConnect = function() {
		if (that._yahooWindow.closed) {
			window.clearInterval(that._yahooInterval);
			window.location.reload();
		}
	};
};

Dsq.OpenID = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.requestURL = function() {
		var message = '<table class="dsq-openid-form"><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"><img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.media_url + '/images/openid-icon-100x100.png" /></td>';
		message += '<td><label for="dsq-openid-url">OpenID URL:</label></td><td><input type="text" id="dsq-openid-url" /></td></tr>';
		message += '<tr><td><label for="dsq-openid-username">Display name:</label></td><td><input type="text" id="dsq-openid-username" /></td></tr>';
		message += '<tr><td class="dsq-openid-submit" colspan="3"><input type="button" value="Sign in" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.startConnect();" /></td></tr>';
		message += "</table>";

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, 'Sign in using OpenID');
	};

	this.startConnect = function() {
		var isblank = function(str) {
			return /^\s*$/.test(str);
		};

		var openid_url = Dsq.$('dsq-openid-url').value;
		var username = Dsq.$('dsq-openid-username').value;

		if (isblank(openid_url)) {
			return;
		}

		var popupParams = 'location=0,status=0,width=800,height=500';
		var url = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/_ax/openid/begin/' + '?url=' + encodeURIComponent(openid_url) + '&username=' + encodeURIComponent(username);
		that._openidWindow = window.open(url, 'openidWindow', popupParams);
		that._openidInterval = window.setInterval(that.completeConnect, 1000);
	};

	this.completeConnect = function() {
		if (that._openidWindow.closed) {
			window.clearInterval(that._openidInterval);
			window.location.reload();
		}
	};
};

Dsq.Reaction = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.hide = function(id) {
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/themoderatevoice/hidereaction.js?' + 'reaction_id=' + id);
	};

	this.reportMissingReactions = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || !Dsq.jsonData.forum.reactions_enabled) {
			return;
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.queued) {
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('Your report has been received. The system will automatically search for new reactions; if any are found, they will be displayed on this comment thread.<br/><br/>Thank&nbsp;you.',
												 'Reported missing reactions');
			return;
		}

		Dsq.Utils.execScript(Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/forums/themoderatevoice/queueurl.js');
	};
};

Dsq.CNN = function() {
	var obj = {};

	obj.authenticate = function() {
		var url = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + "/saml/cnn/try/";
		Dsq.Utils.postToUrl(url, {'target': document.location}, true);
	};

	return obj;
}();


if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) {
	(function() {
		DSQ_HEADER_AVATAR_RE = /<div class="dsq-header-avatar"(.*?)>/gim;
		Dsq.Templates.registerFilter('postPrependHeader', function(html, post_id) {
			// Add "onmouseout" for dsq-header-avatar for dropProfile
			// functionality since IE6 cannot use :hover.
			function _headerAvatarReplace(content, inner, _unused, html) {
				return '<div class="dsq-header-avatar" '
					+ inner
					+ ' onmouseout="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')">';
			}
			html = html.replace(DSQ_HEADER_AVATAR_RE, _headerAvatarReplace);
			return html;
		});
	})();
}









(function() {
	//
	// Load theme.  This overrides the base templates with template functions
	// from the respective themes.
	//
	if (Dsq.jsonData.integration.theme == 4) {
		var theme = 'narcissus';
		// HACK: Set variable on window to use post message.
		window.disqus_use_postmessage = true;

		
		for(var prop in Dsq.Themes[theme]) {
			if(Dsq.Themes[theme] && Dsq.Themes[theme].hasOwnProperty(prop)) {
				Dsq.Templates[prop] = Dsq.Themes[theme][prop];
			}
		}
		
		for(var prop in Dsq.Post) {
			if(Dsq.Themes[theme] && Dsq.Themes[theme].hasOwnProperty(prop)) {
				Dsq.Post[prop] = Dsq.Themes[theme][prop];
			}
		}
	}

	//
	// Register templates.  This must be done after all themes are loaded.
	//
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('authPost', Dsq.Templates.authPost);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('header', Dsq.Templates.header);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('footer', Dsq.Templates.footer);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('trackbacks', Dsq.Templates.trackbacks);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('reactions', Dsq.Templates.reactions);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('prependPost', Dsq.Templates.prependPost);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('appendPost', Dsq.Templates.appendPost);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postPrependHeader', Dsq.Templates.postPrependHeader);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postAppendHeader', Dsq.Templates.postAppendHeader);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('preBody', Dsq.Templates.preBody);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postBody', Dsq.Templates.postBody);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postFooter', Dsq.Templates.postFooter);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('_popupGeneric', Dsq.Templates._popupGeneric);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('voted', Dsq.Templates.voted);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('popupProfile', Dsq.Templates.popupProfile);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postBox', Dsq.Templates.postBox);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('pagination', Dsq.Templates.pagination);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postComment_onSuccess', Dsq.Templates.postComment_onSuccess);

})();

Dsq.container.className = "clearfix";
Dsq.container.innerHTML = ' \
<ul id="dsq-comments">\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250288">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250288" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250288" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2250288">donsingleton</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250288" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250288" class="dsq-comment-message">I voted for Hillary in the primaries, and I am voting for McCain in November.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2249391">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2249391" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2249391" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2249391">Marlowecan</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2249391" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2249391" class="dsq-comment-message">A well-presented explication, Polimom.  Thank you. <br><br>(It also seems to have prompted interesting explanations of their positions by Elrod and Leonidas . . . and Holly in Cincinnati left me totally gobsmacked by the news she is considering voting for Obama!!!)<br><br>It seems a focus on "outside the Beltway" solutions seems to be an integral part of your evaluation of both tickets.  I must admit to never having thought of the tickets in that light. <br><br>From this perspective:  Obama picking Biden brought him Beltway establishment cred (possibly at the expense of his outsider status), while McCain the Washington insider got outsider cred by picking Palin.<br><br>Perhaps many Americans share this view.  I would not be surprised; given how unpopular Washington is these days among BOTH the GOP and Democratic bases.<br><br>I found Elrod\'s view of the respective merits of Obama\'s cool deliberation vs. McCain\'s impetuous rashness interesting as well.  Leonidas has a somewhat different take on this same aspect:  McCain angering his own party, while Obama carefully aligns his positions.<br><br>I tend to agree with Elrod that the Palin pick was unsettling.  Perhaps it was inspired and brilliant . . . it may get McCain the presidency! . . . but what if a President gambles impetuously and then loses?!   Worrisome thought.  Do we want a maverick President?  (Do we need maverick solutions?)<br><br>Much food for thought here all around.....</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2252398">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2252398" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2252398" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2252398" href="http://theforvm.org" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Blue_Neponset</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2252398" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2252398" class="dsq-comment-message">It is very difficult for me to see how anyone who pays attention to politics enough to blog on that subject can be undecided at this point in the race.  The only thing that changed in the last couple of weeks is that fact that the candidates now have now picked their VP candidates.  <br><br>If McCain had picked Lieberman that would have been thinking out of the box as well.  Do you think Lieberman as VP would have made you undecided?  If not, then what is it about the Palin pick that makes you think McCain would be a better President?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2249483">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2249483" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2249483" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2249483" href="http://polimom.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polimom</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2249483" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2249483" class="dsq-comment-message">In addition to your obvious ignorance of my position on this issue, FP, you seem to feel that the executive branch of our government is actually a dictatorship;  that McCain will be able to simply waltz his SCOTUS pick right into his/her new office, and that\'ll be that.<br><br>It doesn\'t work that way.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2254888">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2254888" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2254888" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2254888">Jim_Satterfield</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2254888" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2254888" class="dsq-comment-message">Jon,<br><br>    McCain is <b>not</b> pro-choice. He\'s been anti-choice for years.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2254082">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2254082" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2254082" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2254082">hunterjon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2254082" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2254082" class="dsq-comment-message">I have been thinking a lot about this today, about the thought of a McCain presidency. I would have endorsed him 8 years ago, but he was also 8 years younger. He has had 4-5 bouts with cancer, and there is scientific evidence that while his mother may posssess wonderful genes, those same genes enduring years of torture, albeit for our country, don\'t hold up as well. I am not saying he will die, but it makes the vice presidential pick so much more important than Obama\'s.<br><br>So, I thought I would lay out my thoughts:<br><br>Economy: Advantage Obama - McCain has no clue on the economy. If I had a net worth of $5 Million, I would be elite. If I made $5 Million a year, I would be rich beyond my wildest dreams, and he has said that I would be a middle class american? Wow! I seriously pause at this.<br><br>Foreign Policy: Advantage Obama - Sure, McCain has all the experience in the world, but what does that do for us? Nothing. What did he say about IRAN? BOMB BOMB BOMB IRAN. We don\'t need another stinking war! We need to chase Afghanistan, get in those hills, and use the insurgency to topple the culprits of 9/11. They weren\'t in Iraq... they were in Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc. Further, we need a leader that is pined after by the whole world. There isn\'t a country out there that would choose McCain over Obama... Diplomacy is where we need to go, even with Russia. Obama said he would talk to the the leaders of countries... McCain said that was a horrible idea, and then Bush went and talked to the leaders of Iran. Funny how Bush even came around to that idea. We need a leader that can be respected not just here, but everywhere. <br><br>Choices: Advantage Obama - Did McCain really vet Palin? No matter where you turn, the answer is no. It\'s not that Palin is a bad choice, it\'s that she is a quick choice. But, she\'s a bad choice for me due to the following reasons:<br> She\'s pro-family, but if elected, has said her family will live in Alaska and she will live in Washington DC. She has five children that need her more than America needs her. She has a down syndrome baby and putting her political ambitions in front of her child proves me to me that she doesn\'t have what it takes to be a leader in this free world. I would say the same thing about Obama if he had five children, or Biden if he had five (But remember, he takes the train back to Scranton every night to be an influence on his children).<br>She has a child that is pregnant at 17. She teaches that you shouldn\'t talk about sex education, yet if she had done such, we might see  a decrease in teenage pregnancies. Obama spoke about this, but directed it to the black man. Responsibility. Sarah Palin can\'t even show it in her own family. <br>The Bridge to Nowhere - For it, before it was vetoed in Washington.<br>Troopergate - regardless of the outcome, it was poor judgement on her behalf to try to fire her brother-in-law. She should have gone through proper channels. <br>The Sports Complex: Alaska didn\'t even own free and clear title to the land before she started building her complex which cost taxpayers millions! <br>Fiscal responsibility: Her state receives a C- as states go in doing business. It\'s now riddled with debt, while she cuts checks to Alaskans. Mortgage your future for today\'s hedonistic acts. Does it remind you of Bush\'s tax cuts? <br>I\'ll stop there... She\'s not my choice.<br><br><br>Education: Advantage Obama - McCain doesn\'t know education, never has. Obama fought his way through rigerous studies, and then voluneteered that knowledge to people that were less priveledged. Obama wants to focus his policies on America, not the world around us. <br><br>Veterans: Advantage Obama - He wants to increase VA benefits, increase schooling, and increase the reasons to join the military. <br><br>Taxes: Advantage Obama - His tax plans call for 3.1 Trillion, whereas McCains call for 5 Trillion<br><br>Fiscal Responsibility: I want a balanced budget and to pay off debt. This is a hard call, but I think Obama has this as well. <br><br>Courts: Advantage Obama - I want judges that interpret law, but are also smart enough to understand that the black and white  of the law doesn\'t always fit Americans. We have too many horrible judges, and for Bush to name Harriet Miers was a joke. McCain will continue that tradition... a joke.<br><br>Abortion: Advantage Obama - McCain is pro-choice, but the reason we have separation of church and state is to keep the religious fanatics out of dictating what we can and can not do to ourselves. Scientific evidence proves, without a doubt, that a viable fetus isn\'t at conception. Palin, in McCain\'s absence, would outlaw abortion, even in the most extreme cases, such as a father raping his daughter and getting her pregnant. That\'s not just socially wrong, that\'s morally wrong. Birth control, such as progestrone, is not abortion either. <br><br>Experience: Advantage McCain - But this election is about change. JFK was about change, and hope. JFK stood high and set a goal to be on the moon by the end of the decade. We acheived it. Obama set a goal of being energy independent in 10 years. If we elect McCain, no such vision will be in place. <br><br>Oil: Advantage Obama - I don\'t want to drill off shore, but that is when McCain\'s numbers started to bounce... when he SWITCHED HIS POSITION and PANDERED to the far right to DRILL NOW. Drilling is not the answer, alternative energy is. <br><br>Hope: Advantage Obama - This isn\'t even close. <br><br>Temperment: Advantage Obama - This isn\'t even close. People close to McCain have said for years his temper is fast and furious. So if Russia irritates him... watch out, we may be in a nuclear war. <br><br>Spokesman for America: Advantage Obama - Let\'s prove we are the country of opportunity, no matter what color your skin, what sex you are born, what religion you practice. Let\'s prove that we are a leader, not a follower, a gentle and diplomatic nation. McCain is more of the same, the exact opposite of where our country, where our world, needs to go.<br><br>Respectfully, <br><br>Jon</div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-2252812">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2252812" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2252812" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2252812">Jim_Satterfield</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2252812" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2252812" class="dsq-comment-message"><blockquote><br>In addition to your obvious ignorance of my position on this issue, FP, you seem to feel that the executive branch of our government is actually a dictatorship; that McCain will be able to simply waltz his SCOTUS pick right into his/her new office, and that\'ll be that.<br><br>It doesn\'t work that way.<br></blockquote><br><br>Of course it does. Or didn\'t you pay attention to how it worked the last couple of times? Pick someone with a record that <i>might</i> be able to interpreted in more than one way. Coach them lots. Coach them carefully. Let them perjure themselves in front of the Senate, it won\'t matter once they\'re on the bench anyway. Then play the political game and media game the right way and presto, you have a Roberts or Alito on the bench. McCain has promised, after all.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251876">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251876" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251876" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2251876" href="http://www.whyweworry.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ChrisWWW</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251876" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251876" class="dsq-comment-message"><blockquote>As for the continued neurotic agitation on here about Palin, it\'s sad.</blockquote><br>What\'s funny is watching your total reversal on matters of "celebrity." You leveled the celebrity charge at pretty much all of the Obama supporters, but seem unwilling to recognize that the exact thing you\'ve described happened with Republicans and Palin.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2252267">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2252267" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2252267" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2252267" href="http://www.whyweworry.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ChrisWWW</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2252267" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2252267" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom,<br>I know you probably don\'t believe me, and that\'s the danger of fighting in the muck like this. But when I bring up Palin\'s pastor, or her lack of experience, I always try to bring in the larger context.<br><br>Palin\'s pastor should be an issue, <b>because</b> the Republicans made Obama\'s pastor an issue.<br><br>Todd Palin\'s association with the Alaskan independence party is an issue, <b>because</b> the Republicans made Michelle Obama\'s patriotism an issue.<br><br>For me these issues say more about Republican hypocrisy than Palin herself. Sometimes that point is lost and understandably so. It\'s hard to keep in mind where these attacks begin or end.</div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250276">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250276" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250276" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2250276">StockBoySF</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250276" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250276" class="dsq-comment-message">Leonidas, "On Georgia Obama answered twice with different answers and then came around to McCains position, How was McCain able to get it right? He had a top notch advisor, who the Obama campaign has attacked with the lobbyist label, but this was a man who had been keeping McCain uipdated on the situation so McCain wasn\'t caugth off guard."<br><br>Here\'s a link to an interesting piece from today\'s Washington Post...<br><br><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090802294.html?hpid%253Dopinionsbox1&sub=AR" rel="nofollow">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...</a><br><br>Personally I do haev a problem with McCain\'s advisors who are (or have been) lobbyists to foreign governments.  If his advisors are (or have been) in the employ of foreign countries how do you think McCain can receive impartial advice?  In the sace of Georgia it has been mentioned that Saakashvili thought McCain would be in more support of his position...</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250552">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250552" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250552" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2250552" href="http://polimom.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polimom</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250552" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250552" class="dsq-comment-message">Contrary to the rather off-hand assumptions that I\'ve simply no care for the issues, there are any number of them that matter to me.  But the proposed solutions are not coming from one candidate, and in some cases, I\'m not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel at all. <br><br>Since this has been a pretty sane thread, maybe somebody can help me with this particular puzzle:  Which of the two major party candidates is likely to reduce the size of our incredibly bloated government?  Either?  Neither?</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2247970">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2247970" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2247970" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2247970">elrod</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2247970" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2247970" class="dsq-comment-message">Here\'s a thought experiment. Better yet, it\'s a real conversation I had with my 6-year old son who asked my why I support Barack Obama. I couldn\'t tell him about all the issues because he would barely understand them. And process stuff about "change" doesn\'t mean much. So I settled on this: I like the way Barack Obama makes choices. He is careful and deliberative. He listens to opposing viewpoints, develops a solution and sticks with it.  If he\'s faced with new information or new realities he\'ll reconsider and change his mind if necessary. All in all, he\'s careful. That\'s what I like about him and why he\'ll be a good President.<br><br>John McCain is the complete opposite. He is impetuous and shoots from the hip. He makes reckless decisions - including picking Sarah Palin the way he did - and we all suffer the consequences. Like George W. Bush he goes more with his gut than his brain. And we can\'t afford more of that.<br><br>My son seemed to get it (I didn\'t use big words). We talk about making choices all the time. We remind him that he needs to think about consequences before making choices, and he needs to keep an open mind. We tell him to think before he acts. <br><br>If ideology and policy are of no concern to you, the decision making process of the two candidates should be paramount. <br><br>Hopefully this helps a bit.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2248480">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2248480" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2248480" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2248480" href="http://polimom.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polimom</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2248480" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2248480" class="dsq-comment-message">"Do you regret not voting for Hillary in the primaries?"<br><br>No.  I don\'t.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2248589">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2248589" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2248589" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2248589">BexT</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2248589" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2248589" class="dsq-comment-message">I found an article in the Daily Sitka Sentinel  Oct 28, 1996 p 3 that states "The newly elected mayor of Wasilla has asked all of the city\'s top managers to resign in order to test their loyalty to her administration." It further states that "Palin said she made the request for resignations to find out who supports her as mayor."<br><br> <br>The Feb 3, 1997 p 13 article from the same paper states that "City librarian Mary Ellen Emmons will retain her post but Police Chief Irl Stambaugh was asked to resign following decisions announced Friday by Mayor Sarah Palin" Later in the article it states "Palin refused Friday to detail her complaint against the police chief saying only that \'You know in your heart when someone is supportive of you\'"<br><br>I don\'t trust Palin and I think that since McCain picker her, I don\'t trust his judgement. I want a president to think outside the box but I think he made this choice based on gender so this woman will vote Obama.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2248611">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2248611" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2248611" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2248611">Gichin13</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2248611" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2248611" class="dsq-comment-message">I came into this election cycle completely wide open besides saying there was no way I was voting for Clinton.  Too much cynical self-interest, too much Bush and Clinton exhaustion.<br><br>She actually won some respect from me for her grit and determination, but at the same time I cam away with even further thoughts on her motivations given the rancor.<br><br>Obama has struck me as a good mix between principled and pragmatic plus he is cool under fire.  I come away with the same reaction as Elrod describes to his decision-making and leadership style.<br><br>That being said, I think after running a brilliant primary campaign, his team has seemed to really flounder since getting the nomination.  They have played defense throughout.<br><br>On a final note, I have always, until the last year or so, really admired McCain.  His switching on so many substantive positions to embrace every stance her formerly ripped to shreds (tax cuts for the wealthy, agents of intolerance, immigration position, torture, et c) really caused me to pause and re-evaluate his likely leadership.  He pretty much gutted most of the things I liked about him to get the nomination.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2248628">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2248628" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2248628" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2248628">Holly_in_Cincinnati</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2248628" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2248628" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'m considering voting for Obama despite his lack of experience and a track record - so there!</div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-2248679">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2248679" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2248679" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2248679">Amanda</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2248679" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2248679" class="dsq-comment-message">Leonidas, would you mind clarifying what you mean by "real America?"  It looks like you\'re saying that Palin represents actual Americans, while the rest of us who don\'t fit that mold just rent space here.</div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-2249104">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2249104" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2249104" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2249104">spirasol</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2249104" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2249104" class="dsq-comment-message">McCain is surrounded with lobbyists and voted for Bush positions 90% or better of the time in the past 8 years.  What else do you need to know? If the Fake Hero and the Moose killing babe get in, forget choice.  What else do you need to hear? <br><br>I don\'t like that Obama has moved to the center................especially since the whole political playing field has been tilted for some time to the right (What was once thought of as a conservative Democrat is now a raging liberal)`.  Progressives aren\'t even on the board.  But given the stakes and the set up (two party system where both parties are corporate infiltrated), Obama will get my vote, albeit reluctantly.  <br><br>I would like very much to hear from a candidate that they will honor the bill of rights, reinstate habeas corpus, get rid of guantanamo, abolish torture, rendition, and the hidden war against immigrants and Moslems.  Best bet is Obama, but he too is willing to lick up to the Israeli\'s as our 51st state.  <br><br>But a vote for McCain is a vote for an empty shell, a soul-less politician.  Palin is a frightening distraction, given her lack of experience and her rather extreme positions.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2249156">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2249156" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2249156" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2249156" href="http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/lastbutnotleast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">janinedm</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2249156" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2249156" class="dsq-comment-message">Before we define the "real America," I just wanted to note that the 2000 census counted 222,360,539 Americans living in Urban areas and 59,061,367 living in Rural areas.</div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-2249374">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2249374" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2249374" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2249374">FrequentPoster</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2249374" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2249374" class="dsq-comment-message">Hey, POLIMOM, if you want to vote to overturn Roe v Wade, be my guest. It\'s one vote away from oblivion. If women don\'t care about the issue, then as a man who\'s quite unlikely to father any kids, hell, it\'s no real skin off my nose if they throw women in jail for having an abortion and doctors in jail for doing them. <br><br>Usually I view abortion as a freedom issue. Even though I don\'t have a personal stake in it, I don\'t think the government ought to be sticking its nose into these decisions. But obviously, this doesn\'t matter so much to you and to some millions of other women. Who knew?<br><br>"The real America," that\'s code for all-white small towns. Most of the people and politicians who heap praise and sentiment on all-white small towns don\'t have to live in them. I did live such a place for a few years, and now I live in a big city with different kinds of people. Feels a lot more real than the small town ever did.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2249407">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2249407" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2249407" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2249407">pacatrue</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2249407" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2249407" class="dsq-comment-message">Since it only got one comment last time, <a href="http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/21974/lets-stop-playing-the-whos-really-american-game-guest-voice/" rel="nofollow">here were my thoughts </a>on the real America game a couple weeks ago in a guest post.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2249677">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2249677" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2249677" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2249677">Ricorun</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2249677" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2249677" class="dsq-comment-message">I have consistently said that it\'s all about McCain to me. He\'s the one that has to convince me one way or the other because Obama is much more of an unknown quantity. And I think he\'s gone a long way in doing that. At this point, I would surprise myself if I don\'t vote Obama. Here\'s my thinking in a nutshell:<br><br>First, no one governs the way they campaign. Once faced with the complexities of actually governing the lofty campaign promises tend to evaporate. Certainly the details do. So rather than concentrating on details, I tend to concentrate more on a person\'s general approach, consistency, temperament, decision-making style, and that sort of thing. And to put it bluntly, McCain\'s VP pick was pretty much the last nail in the coffin. It doesn\'t have much to do with her, mind you. Heck, we still know very little about her views on much of anything. And why not? Well, it appears to me the reason is she was a last-minute, seat of the pants selection. They obviously didn\'t prepare her for a possible roll-out. In fact, it\'s rather clear they didn\'t vet her very thoroughly. And apparently, McCain felt obliged to go the Palin route because he decided at the last minute that the guy he really wanted would cause too much dissention within the party. I mean my goodness, he has been the presumptive nominee about as long as Bristol\'s been pregnant. And in all that time he wasn\'t able to flesh out a Plan B? That to me is reckless -- and lacking in deliberative thought.<br><br>I was an early proponent of John McCain. But in the last several months I\'ve watched him walk back on so many different things. Not walking back a little, but a lot. What he allowed at the RNC convention was abominable. Many of his cohorts didn\'t just criticize Obama and the Democrats they tried hard to belittle them. And then he got up there and proclaimed himself a maverick? A guy that would reach across the aisles? It was nothing short of schizophrenic. It convinced me that McCain was a guy that wanted it both ways. And if he couldn\'t win out either way he\'d do something unpredictable. Some might call that thinking out of the box. I call it vitriolic.<br><br>We\'ve heard a little about his explosive temper with regard to his congressional colleagues. And if that was all it is, fine. Let off a little steam, but don\'t let it affect your judgement. The problem is, I believe it does affect his judgement. <br><br>Another example: one of the things I liked least about Bush43 was his decision-making style, which he admitted was more instinctual than thorough (an appraisal also acknowledged by his wife Laura and many in his inner circle). Considering what has happened in the last 8 years or so, I thought... never again. I want someone who is thorough about how they think. I want someone I feel has thought out Plan B just in case Plan A doesn\'t work out. I want someone who has thought out Plan C even, just in case. So when I recently learned about McCain\'s admission that he likes to take chances, that was another nail in the coffin.<br><br>I also look at the people a candidate attracts to work on his or her staff. I have a problem with the fact that McCain hires so many big time lobbyists -- many of whom represented conflicts not only to McCain\'s own interests, but also to America\'s. Mind you, I consider it good, and in fact essential for the potential leader of the free world to get varied opinions, including those whose opinions differ dramatically. But I\'m not comfortable with the idea that they\'re the ones in charge of shaping policy.<br><br>Unfortunately, I have to get back to work, so I think I\'ll end there.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2249684">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2249684" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2249684" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2249684" href="http://greendreams.wordpress.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GreenDreams</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2249684" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2249684" class="dsq-comment-message">"Her record (as opposed to the rhetoric) indicates that she won’t. Since this is of enormous importance to me, it’s an area on which I’m intensely focused."<br><br>Polimom, I have to disagree here. Both McCain and Palin would appoint hard right judges and justices. It\'s not just Roe v. Wade, though. Alito and Roberts, heralded by McCain/Palin as the kind of justices they would appoint, believe in the "unitary executive," and would further undo the balance of powers, support administration officials hiding from oversight, and support a politically-driven justice department. These are wildly extreme views compared to the written guidance of the founding fathers. <br><br>Most disturbing to me though, as I\'ve said before, is the clear appearance that the GOP is attempting to trick voters into voting against their own best interests, a profoundly anti-democratic position. By lying about their opponent\'s positions, and lying about their own, McCain/Palin are fighting hard against the "informed electorate" that the founding fathers praised as essential to a successful democracy. <br><br>Finally, we are handing to our children a mountain of debt and a degraded planet. the GOP will continue this trend, as is their record since Reagan, and would delay for another 4-8 years any action to change course on issues critical to the freedoms and the lives and health of future generations.</div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250091">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250091" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250091" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2250091">Marlowecan</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250091" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250091" class="dsq-comment-message">Elrod and Ricorun have both referenced a similar point regarding McCain\'s impetuous or instinctual decision-making.<br><br>While issues and ideology are important, I wonder if HOW the POTUS approaches decision-making is even more important.<br><br>I recall some years back the Canadian conservative Prime Minister Mulroney boasting to the effect that he "rolled the dice" on some important national issue (free trade, or maybe Quebec?).  I remember chiefly that this comment provoked massive outrage in the Canadian public that its leader should make critical decisions impetuously . . . like a maverick gambler.<br><br>Canadians punished the conservatives with an historic decimination in the subsequent election.  <br><br>I don\'t think publics like impetuous gamblers for leaders.  Especially conservatives . . . who, after all, are conservative and like to know where they are going.  One always knew what direction Reagan would steer the ship of state in . . . even if one disagreed with him. <br><br>Again . . . this has been a provocative thread . . . with food for thought.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250203">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250203" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250203" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2250203">casualobserver</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250203" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250203" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom.......I won\'t bog you down with wonking, but since you are now a newly minted free agent, would you send me your phone number so I can forward all these annoying automatic dialing calls to you? I\'m sure they would much rather talk to you than to me.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250346">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250346" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250346" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2250346">peaceworker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250346" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250346" class="dsq-comment-message">The poster who focuses on decision-making processes of the candidates makes a very solid point. But then, I share his/her POV. The choice seems so clear that anyone still mulling it cannot acually be motivated by issue positions. So personalities and image move to the fore. Unfortunate but undeniable, at least as it pertains to most such potential voters. <br><br>Apparently a lot of people like Sarah Palin. What can I say? She makes my skin crawl -- she is a bold liar and hypocrite, a vengeful and corrupt petty bureaucrat who is in denial about being out of her depth, and to top it all off, she seems quite nasty (what makes her, and HER extremist religious views, which clearly bleed into her politics in a big way -- "God" wanted the Iraq war, she says -- better than anyone else\'s? And what, exactly, is wrong with being a community organizer? I guess it is much better to be a small-minded, power-hungry, "barracuda") . I guess a lot of people like that.<br><br> McCain, similarly, has a long record of incompetence (from finishing nearly last in in his Naval Academy class to the five plane crashes to his numerous gaffes today),  corruption (I can\'t believe there is a poster citing his "learning" from the Keating Five experience when he remains surrounded by lobbyists and still caters to the rich and powerful at every turn) and nastiness / bad temper, and disrespect for women -- imagine how much we would hear about it if a Democrat had called his own wife what he called Cindy, or how much would be made of the same level of infidelity he has demonstrated. This just isn\'t the good guy the image-builders present, and that most of the MSM buys into (in return for being catered to on the campaign trail). He has flip-flopped like crazy, dumping his "maverick" positions on tax cuts for the rich, campagn finance reform, and even torture, where you\'d think he\'d stand firm, according to the political advantage of the moment, cancelling out his only real claim to independence. He stoops to low, irrelevant attacks like the Paris Hilton/Brittney Spears "celebrity" ads vs Obama. His "bold" choice of a VP is an obvious pander to the right wing, and shows he is willing to have a puppet of the Bush-Cheney crowd run the country. Indeed, that is what we will get, regardless of whether this 72-year-old, five-time cancer sufferer survives his term.  Please take some time to read up on the facts, to actually do what McCain only SAYS he does -- "put Country first" -- and vote for the change we need (sorry for the slogan but it DOES describe things correctly, IMHO). Obama may not be super-experienced, and I don\'t agree with all his stances, but he has shown himself to be a respectful, serious, thoughtful, decent man of high intelligence and strong character who can restore the nation\'s good name around the world and move us past the low place into which Bush-Cheney have dragged us, with a powerful assist from the 90+%-of-the-time partner McCain.  Thanks for enduring my rant. And thanks, everyone, for caring enough about our common future to post and read. More knowledge will bring us closer to better solutions.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250398">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250398" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250398" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2250398">donsingleton</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250398" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250398" class="dsq-comment-message">GreenDreams said <br><br><i>Both McCain and Palin would appoint hard right judges and justices.</i><br><br><b><a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/supreme_court_ratings/supreme_court_update" rel="nofollow">Rasmussen</a> says most American voters (60%) agree with the Republicans and say the Supreme Court should make decisions based on what is written in the constitution</b><br><br><i>It\'s not just Roe v. Wade, though.</i><br><br><b>Why are you worried about Roe v Wade. Even if it was overturned, it would not outlaw abortions, just turn it over to the states, and most abortions are in blue states where it would still be legal.</b></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250484">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250484" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250484" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2250484">crosspit</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250484" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250484" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'m really surprised when I see these remarks about McCain being outside of the box now, just because he picked a woman who is unknown.  She is not qualified to be VP. Maybe in 8 years or after some time in a national arena, but not now.  McCain has rescinded most of his "maverick" positions and judging by what I have read of Palin\'s political record, she changes position regularly depending on public opinion and political convenience. In what way do either of these two represent outside the box. They simply are politicians who are choosing their positions to curry favor with the electorate, not based upon sound judgment and consideration of issues.  I am really tired of politicians who have no moral compass and no fixed principles and who are willing to adapt to the prevailing political winds whenever convenient.  Even Obama is not immune to this, although I personally believe that his move to the center during this election was to be expected and was certainly much less jarring than McCain\'s virtual about face on many issues.</div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250804">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250804" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250804" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2250804">StockBoySF</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250804" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250804" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom, I generally read your posts because of your perspective so I was very interested in this particular one and if you are back on the fence I can\'t help but wonder how many people (more specifically in this case, women) are back on the fence.<br><br>You mentioned, "What about her religion, you say? Yes, she’s a social conservative to the Nth degree — but as far as I’m concerned, that only matters if she thinks her views should be translated to national policy. Her record (as opposed to the rhetoric) indicates that she won’t. Since this is of enormous importance to me, it’s an area on which I’m intensely focused."<br><br>Personally I don\'t think Palin has much of a record to run judge by.  Given her limited responsibilites as mayor in Wasilla, I don\'t believe 1 1/2 years as governor is enough time for her to reach her stride and put through any legislation that she might want.... after all in the first two years of the Bush presidency he hadn\'t yet implemented many of the policies, except the war on terror, that are hallmark of his administration (whether you agree or disagree with them).  Adn many of his policies used the war on terror as an excuse to push through his policies.... whether economic, military, social, or what have you.<br><br>But back to Palin.... I am concerned about her views for two reasons.  First about her religion. You are correct that her religion does matter if she doesn\'t translate her views into policy.  But how can one believe in one thing (say teaching creationism in school) but say they will continue to support that which they do not believe (evolution).  To me Palin and McCain knows her views are extreme and they need to temper them.  Then about the issue of global warming... she says she doesn\'t believe human activity results in global warming.  Even Bush and Cheney have come around and acknowledged that human activity does play some role.  But Cheney\'s position was (is) that it\'s a personal virtue to conserve....  So I don\'t expect Palin to support policies which are environmentally friendly.  Sure she may stay "silent" on them, but I thought we had reached a point where we need to take action to curb global warming, not continue business as usual.<br><br>The second cause for concern is that the Republican religious right push aggressively their religious agenda.  Everything from denying sposual rights to gays and lesbians (I\'m not even talking about banning gay marriage, I\'m referring to rights granted by the state to married couples which the religious right feels that gays and lesbians should not have) to parity in the workplace for minorities...  Bush ran on a platform of uniting the country, even though his support was from the religious right and he supported much of their agenda and divided the country.  He also touted being a "compassionate conservative" and turned out to be was anything but one (which was no surporse to me because how can one be compassionate while supporting the death penalty?  <br><br>So even if Palin doesn\'t support positions her supporters will try to have her push through (and there\'s no reason to suggest that she would go against the very people who elected her, especially when she shares their views), I doubt very much that Palin will support positions which she is against, such as global warming, pro-choice, the proper seperation of church and state, ending workplace discrimination, etc.<br><br>Anyway, I find your current indecision interesting... I hope I didnt\' come across as saying you shouldn\'t vote for Palin... if your views match her views then you should very much vote for her.  All I\'m saying is that given Palin\'s religious beliefs, the beliefs of her supporters (and their intense pressure to push through their agenda) and the power of the WH (even if she is VP she will still yield enormous influence) I can\'t imagine that Palin would actually support positions that she is against, including global warming, workplace rights, etc.  If elected McCain and Palin will owe the religious right a lot, particularly if they want to stay in power for a second term.  <br><br>I wish you the best in your pursuit of determining the right candidate for you.  For me the choice is simple, but for many others, including it is more difficult.  My Mom (a senior citizen and retired doctor- she\'s very intelligent) waffled between McCain and Obama but is now firmly with Obama.  Her sister, here in California, is waffling between the two, but is leaning towards McCain.  The issues are complex and I want to thank you for taking your right of a citizen seriously and considering the strengths of each candidate.  So many people like one candidate for the wrong reasons and don\'t make the best choices.  So I\'m glad that you\'ll make the best choice for you, even if it is for a candidate I don\'t support.  This is what democracy is about.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250974">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250974" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250974" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2250974" href="http://www.whyweworry.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ChrisWWW</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250974" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250974" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom,<br>That\'s a very well written post, but I feel it\'s more than a bit nebulous. I think a good exercise for you (or anyone really) is to write down the top 5 or so top issues to them in this election. Then figure out where each candidate stands and right down which one you prefer for each of those issues. <br><br>And I\'ll give you a hint about the issue of reducing the size of the federal government, neither of the two major parties or candidates are going to do it. If you limit yourself to McCain or Obama, you\'re choice is between how that money is going to spent, not if it will be.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2250982">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2250982" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2250982" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2250982">StockBoySF</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2250982" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2250982" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom, I generally read your posts because of your perspective so I was very interested in this particular one and if you are back on the fence I can\'t help but wonder how many people (more specifically in this case, women) are back on the fence.<br><br>You mentioned, "What about her religion, you say? Yes, she’s a social conservative to the Nth degree — but as far as I’m concerned, that only matters if she thinks her views should be translated to national policy. Her record (as opposed to the rhetoric) indicates that she won’t. Since this is of enormous importance to me, it’s an area on which I’m intensely focused."<br><br>Personally I don\'t think Palin has much of a record to run judge by.  Given her limited responsibilities as mayor in Wasilla, I don\'t believe 1 1/2 years as governor is enough time for her to reach her stride and put through any legislation that she might want.... after all in the first two years of the Bush presidency he hadn\'t yet implemented many of the policies, except the war on terror, that are hallmark of his administration (whether you agree or disagree with them).  And many of his policies used the war on terror as an excuse to push through his policies.... whether economic, military, social, or what have you.<br><br>But back to Palin.... I am concerned about her views for two reasons.  First about her religion. You are correct that her religion does not matter if she does not put her views into policy.  But how can one believe in one thing (say teaching creationism in school) but say they will continue to support that which they do not believe (evolution).  To me Palin and McCain knows her views are extreme and they will temper them (just like Bush did).  Then about the issue of global warming... Palin says she doesn\'t believe human activity results in global warming.  Even Bush and Cheney have come around and acknowledged that human activity does play some role.  But Cheney\'s position was (is) that it\'s a personal virtue to conserve....  So I don\'t expect Palin to support policies which are environmentally friendly.  Sure she may stay "silent" on them, but I thought we had reached a point where we realize the necessity to curb global warming, not continue business as usual.<br><br>The second cause for concern is that the Republican religious right pushed aggressively their religious agenda.  Everything from denying spousal rights to gays and lesbians (I\'m not even talking about banning gay marriage, I\'m referring to civil rights granted which the religious right feels that gays and lesbians should not have) to elimination of discrimination (including equal pay for women) in the workplace...  Bush ran on a platform of uniting the country.  But once in office Bush rewarded his religious right supporters divided the country.  He also touted being a "compassionate conservative" and it turned out that he was anything but compassionate.  This was no surprise to me because how can one be compassionate while supporting the death penalty?  So again Bush pushed through his beliefs and rewarded his base for their support.  McCain and Palin will do the same.<br><br>I doubt very much that Palin will support positions which she is either against (or has not given much thought on), such as global warming, pro-choice, the proper separation of church and state, ending workplace discrimination, etc.  If certain issues were important to her, then she would have given more thought to them.  I’ve discovered that people don’t push for change on issues they don’t have a strong or passionate opinion on.<br><br>Anyway, I find your current indecision interesting... I hope I do not come across as saying you should not vote for Palin... if your views match her views then you should very much vote for her.  All I\'m saying is that given Palin\'s religious beliefs, the beliefs of her supporters (and their intense pressure to push through their agenda) and the power of the WH (even if she is VP she will still yield enormous influence) I can\'t imagine that Palin would actually support positions that she is against (or even lukewarm about).  If elected McCain and Palin will owe the religious right a lot, particularly if they want to stay in power for a second term.  <br><br>I wish you the best in your pursuit of determining the right candidate for you.  It is a difficult decision.  My Mom (a senior citizen and retired doctor in Alabama) waffled between McCain and Obama but is now firmly with Obama.  Her sister, here in California, is waffling between the two, but is leaning towards McCain.  The issues are complex and I want to thank you for taking your right of a citizen seriously and considering the strengths of each candidate before voting.  Many people support one candidate for the wrong reasons without making the best choice.  So I\'m glad that you will make the best choice for you, even if it is for a candidate I don\'t support.  This is what democracy is about.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251093">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251093" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251093" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251093">katiba</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251093" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251093" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom,<br><br>According to the Non Partisan Tax Policy Center, both Obama and McCain\'s plans would increase the national debt - Obama by 2.7 trillion and McCain by 4 trillion.  (To be fair, I\'ve seen different figures by different analysts, not sure why, but McCain is always about a trillion dollars more than Obama.) (Okay, I just checked it, the different figures 3.3 trillion for Obama, 5 trillion for McCain, seem to include interest.)  McCain\'s primary problem is a decrease in revenue due to tax cuts to the rich, while Obama\'s is a decrease in taxes for people making less than $250,000.<br><br>Personally, I think they need to raise taxes - this, to me, is always the problem: presidents swear they\'re going to cut taxes to get into office, but then they won\'t cut the programs people need/want.  The Republicans have a much worse track record on this than the democrats, in general.<br><br>I don\'t like paying taxes any more than anybody else, but it\'s better than being so massively in debt.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251382">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251382" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251382" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2251382" href="http://polimom.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polimom</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251382" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251382" class="dsq-comment-message">Stockboy, you said:   "But how can one believe in one thing (say teaching creationism in school) but say they will continue to support that which they do not believe (evolution)."<br><br>But isn\'t that what the entire premise of our foundational government is based on?  That there\'s a rule of law, and a set of principles, and that one person\'s beliefs may not be imposed on all?  Do you therefore think that someone with such religious views is, or should be, automatically out of consideration for national office?</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251413">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251413" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251413" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251413">elrod</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251413" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251413" class="dsq-comment-message">Leonidas,<br>My response is that I think McCain views reform mostly through a personal lens and not a structural one. That he jettisoned so much of his prior agenda to gain the nomination shows that he cares about power and ambition (as he admitted in his book) and not the higher causes of reform.  He is obsessed with personal honor, which he also admits.<br><br>As a result he sees himself occasional above the "partisan rancor" when it gives him lots of media attention and adoration.  He absolutely loved the media spotlight in 2000 and when he broke from Bush on a few issues in the next couple years. But when those reform issues got in the way of the nomination he threw it all away. Honor-obsessed people must be seen in a respectable light by Those Who Matter. And for McCain, that was the press.<br><br>The two signature acts of reform in his Senatorial career - campaign finance reform and immigration reform - John McCain has completely jettisoned. These are not minor issues. This isn\'t like pandering to the Christian right or going over the top on support for the war. That stuff I can understand in the heat of a race. What I cannot accept is his complete rejection of the things that made him the "maverick" in the first place.<br><br>So we are left with a question: who is this guy? I think he\'s answered it himself. He is incredibly obsessed with personal honor and will react recklessly if he feels his honor is threatened. Obama had a very successful convention. Instead of picking Tim Pawlenty, a social conservative who McCain knows and trusts, he threw up a gimmick in Sarah Palin in order to change the conversation. For the time being Sarah Palin is drawing crowds. But how long will that last? And what does that say about his decision making process?</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251481">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251481" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251481" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2251481" href="http://www.whyweworry.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ChrisWWW</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251481" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251481" class="dsq-comment-message"><blockquote>Instead of picking Tim Pawlenty, a social conservative who McCain knows and trusts, he threw up a gimmick in Sarah Palin in order to change the conversation. For the time being Sarah Palin is drawing crowds. But how long will that last? And what does that say about his decision making process?</blockquote><br>Country first?</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251487">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251487" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251487" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251487">pacatrue</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251487" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251487" class="dsq-comment-message">Taking off katiba\'s post, something I would like to see is more transparency with tax revenues. By and large, very few people will vote for taxes to be raised on themselves, particularly when the revenue simply goes to the General fund. They see whatever programs they most dislike or what is most wasteful and associate their hard-earned money with that. However, people do vote rather commonly to raise taxes on themselves when they know exactly where the money is going and they approve. Educational bonds are routinely approved, as are other items such as highway funds, war bonds, and more. People might be more open to raising taxes if the knew that that money would go exactly towards item X and no where else. I\'ve been toying with a deficit/debt fee myself.</div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251601">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251601" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251601" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251601">8isEnough</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251601" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251601" class="dsq-comment-message">“I make them (decisions) as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can,” Mr. McCain wrote, with his top adviser Mark Salter, in his 2002 book,<br> “Worth the Fighting For.” “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”<br><br>I for one don\'t want to live with the consequences of his mistakes.<br><br>I think the selection of Palin was a Hail Mary. McCain is a weak Republican presidential candidate.  I don\'t think anyone on either side<br>of aisle would argue this.    "Republican Whisperer" Rove was on the scene pushing his VP choice, McCain had his (Lieberman.)  The twain didn\'t meet. <br>Enter Sara Palin.<br>Repub PR machines know that America is like a teenager -- it\'s emotional and it needs to be stimulated all the time.  It likes to buck authority and it doesn\'t listen.  And America loves watching reality tv....watching people humiliate themselves,<br>argue, compete...whatever.     The machine knew with the right spin (yes pun intended) they could turn this whole campaign into a kind of American Idol with not many folks being the wiser.    I think they chose Palin because she<br>was provocative (for all the reasons we know) - and they had nothing to lose.  And we fell for it.</div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251624">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251624" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251624" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251624">Ricorun</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251624" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251624" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom: Since this has been a pretty sane thread, maybe somebody can help me with this particular puzzle: Which of the two major party candidates is likely to reduce the size of our incredibly bloated government? Either? Neither?<br><br>I\'ve grappled in my mind a lot on this question. And to me a better question is: which of the two major party candidates is likely to <i>improve the efficiency</i> of government? That question is not any easier to answer, but I think it\'s more to the point. For example, outsourcing of government-funded programs technically reduces the size of government, but it doesn\'t necessarily make things more efficient from an overall cost/benefit standpoint. In fact, it\'s often just the opposite. Hiring loyal cronies or like-minded ideologues to head major departments doesn\'t guarantee better efficiency. In fact it usually just serves to make them more dysfunctional. <br><br>To my mind, the single biggest problem we face right now is that the government is dysfunctional. One result of that is the fact that the private sector is not properly regulated. Look at the mortgage crisis. We have problems selling beef to foreign markets. The spinach you eat could kill you. Scientific reports are either gamed by flaks or withheld altogether. Imported toys could turn your kids into blithering idiots. New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast are still suffering.<br><br>Here\'s another question that is somewhat unrelated: why is it that we as a nation spend more on health care per capita than anyone else and yet we have something like 45 million people uninsured? And what good does it do most of us when the GDP increases 3.5%/year if essentially the only ones that benefit are the upper 5%? Likewise, what good does it do to cut deeply into discretionary allocations if we get ourselves into another shooting war if we don\'t absolutely have to? Iraq and Afghanistan have already cost us over $500 billion. And that\'s only counting already allocated expenses. Over the long term they are going to cost us trillions.<br><br>Another thing: IMO whatever we spend on clean energy and energy efficiency technologies will be money well spent in the long run. Energy efficient technologies are inexpensive, provide jobs, while at the same time saving gobs of money and substantially reducing the use of fossil fuels. Similarly, clean energy alternatives also provide jobs and substantially reduce the use of fossil fuels. But they aren\'t inexpensive. However, the market for clean energy is so huge that they do represent a truly unique opportunity to revitalize the domestic manufacturing sector and significantly enhance our intellectual capital for export overseas. An emphasis on nuclear power is unlikely to do much for either of the latter -- while being at least as expensive and probably more.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251642">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251642" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251642" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251642">Leonidas</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251642" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251642" class="dsq-comment-message">Amanda asked a valid question about what I thought "real America" was.<br><br>To me real America is America outside the political beltway where people work to make ends meet without a lot of extra left over after buying the groceries, paying the bills, and maybe being able to save just a little bit for retirement.  I\'m talking the working and middle class and not ivory tower acedemia, or the halls of government, or millionaires, I\'m talking about hometown American whether its rural, inner or outter suburbia, or urban.<br><br>Sarah Palin represents this because she is a hockey mom as well as a governor, She is a mother of 5 as well as a business deal maker,  she is a hunter as well as a reformer.  She went into politics via the PTA not via the Ivy League  and the Chicago political machine,  she continued in politics fighting for things that effected her family, not because she intended on a political career, she found herself there by suprise, not as a plan with politics as a goal.<br><br>She is simply more like most of us than she is like them.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251670">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251670" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251670" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251670">8isEnough</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251670" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251670" class="dsq-comment-message">P.S.  But it\'s not too late for us to snap out of it !</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251736">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251736" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251736" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2251736" href="http://www.whyweworry.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ChrisWWW</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251736" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251736" class="dsq-comment-message"><blockquote>She is simply more like most of us than she is like them.</blockquote><br>Biden, Obama and Palin have humble backgrounds. <br><br>You\'re trying to create a contrast where there is none. Palin fought her way to an exclusive club with only 50 members. She makes more money than most of us. She was allied with Ted Stevens during her rise to power.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251765">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251765" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251765" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251765">8isEnough</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251765" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251765" class="dsq-comment-message">Leonidas, I see your point.  But GW Bush was voted in for almost the same reasons -  "down home compassionate" guy.  People voted with their emotions because the man he presented to us pushed the right buttons.   And look where that has gotten us.  Most probably he will go down as the worst president in the history of our country. <br>I don\'t want or need my neighbor or cousin to be president -- I want a leader of character, substance, and intelligence.  We so desperately need great leadership again.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251812">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251812" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251812" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251812">DLS</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251812" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251812" class="dsq-comment-message">Don Singleton: Shhh.  You can\'t expect everyone to handle Roe v. Wade rationally.  You\'re right about various state laws -- I posted a link very recently listing the various states\' abortion laws and what would be the case in them if there were no Roe v. Wade.  It\'s there if people are calm, mature, and care to read what the situation is.<br><br>As for the continued neurotic agitation on here about Palin, it\'s sad.  McCain made a good surprise choice that makes the McCain campaign now an attractive alternative to many.  It seems many can\'t handle that and resort to all kinds of fiction to deny the truth.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251847">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251847" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251847" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251847">DLS</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251847" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251847" class="dsq-comment-message">"She is simply more like most of us than she is like them."<br><br>That\'s a fact that those who actually fear her, realize, for it\'s why her appeal is so broad, not limited to that Religious Right bogeyman.<br><br>I have to laugh at the fiction about Palin being an "impulsive" choice by McCain, another lame and failed effort to portray McCain as suffering defective behavior (as with his so-called temper; Biden is worse when it comes to saying dumb things, though the media are understandly reticent given whose campaign they openly and predictably have been supporting).  Palin was a surprise only because she was a lower-tier potential choice.  SHE WAS ONE OF THE POTENTIAL CHOICES FOR MONTHS.  [sigh]</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251878">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251878" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251878" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251878">8isEnough</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251878" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251878" class="dsq-comment-message">She may have been on a list of potential choices.<br>But she wasn\'t vetted and we all know it.  <br><br>McCain himself says he\'s an impulsive decision maker!  (see his direct quote from my earlier post.)</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251885">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251885" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251885" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251885">DLS</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251885" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251885" class="dsq-comment-message">"Perhaps it was inspired and brilliant . . . it may get McCain the presidency! "<br><br>That\'s what probably will be needed for many skeptics to admit it was inspired and brilliant.  (So far the results have been remarkably good but we have two months to go!)  The worst of the opposition will never admit it is true or even a possibility.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251957">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251957" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251957" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2251957">8isEnough</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251957" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251957" class="dsq-comment-message">"Getting the presidency" ...  What about governing our country??  Two very different things.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2251994">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2251994" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2251994" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2251994" href="http://www.whyweworry.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ChrisWWW</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2251994" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2251994" class="dsq-comment-message">DLS,<br>The political implications are up for dispute. Palin may or may not have been a good strategic election choice.<br><br>But that misses the bigger and more important picture: The Palin pick was unquestionably a bad choice in terms of governance.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2252114">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2252114" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2252114" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2252114" href="http://polimom.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polimom</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2252114" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2252114" class="dsq-comment-message">ChrisWWW alludes to another part of my overall discomfort with the state of the race right now with this:<br><br><em>What\'s funny is watching your total reversal on matters of "celebrity."</em><br><br>Leaving aside altogether who made the comment, I\'ve seen a very definitive disconnect by many of the Obama supporters re:  Palin.  And I likewise see a complete absence of irony on the Republican side.<br><br>When they assail Palin\'s experience, the first thing that goes through my mind is that Obama was also assailed on precisely these grounds.    Palin\'s pastor(s) have said things that are outside the mainstream?  Hmmm -- where have I heard this before?    And accusations of falling for personality?  *ahem*<br><br>This is a large part of why I\'m not taking many of the counterpoint arguments to heart, on either side of the debate.  Everybody is starting to sound very much the same.  One merely need exchange the name of the target.  <br><br>(no offense intended to any individuals at all with this comment, btw -- this is a generic observation).</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2252400">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2252400" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2252400" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2252400">pacatrue</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2252400" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2252400" class="dsq-comment-message">Agreed, polimom. Both Biden and McCain have tons of federal legislative experience.  We know the two of them know how the government works on a federal level and that they are roughly in tune with the issues. This gets them a relative pass on the experience question, but not an entire one. The only two people alive who\'re clearly qualified to be Prez are Carter and Bush Sr. since they\'ve done it and can constitutionally serve. Of course, both aren\'t really appropriate in other ways now.<br><br>As for Palin and Obama, they each have some relevant experience, but not tons, and so it\'s a bigger question mark. Therefore, both now need to prove to the electorate that they are prepared. Obama\'s been going through this for almost two years with question after question, policy position after policy position, and debate after debate. Palin\'s only been with us for two weeks on a national level, and so it SHOULD be critical for her to be demonstrating her readiness every day. That\'s not quite what we are getting, but that\'s another topic.<br><br>To change the subject a bit, so, Leo, if you had a child who got a scholarship and loans to go to Harvard or Princeton, you\'d counsel her against it or hold her attendance against her for the rest of her life? That seems to be what you are asking us to do of Obama. He earned a way into a terrific school and now we are to punish him for it. I ask because my parents worked their butts off so that I could get into a top school in the nation, always valuing education as the most important thing I did as a kid. I understand your sentiment somewhat with people who get in because their uncle went to school there, but everyone knows that\'s not the case with Obama. Apparently, Obama\'s mom went on food stamps for a brief period.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2252503">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2252503" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2252503" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2252503" href="http://polimom.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polimom</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2252503" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2252503" class="dsq-comment-message">Chris, certainly I believe you.  Why wouldn\'t I?<br><br>And I understand what you\'re saying.  I honestly do.  But from the perspective of someone like me -- a non-partisan independent -- the entire "discussion" is verging on insanity lately.   <br><br>I was hugely offended by the attacks on Barack Obama, and I still find the deliberate insertion of his middle name (while saying, "but it\'s his name isn\'t it?) amazingly, childishly transparent.  But I was likewise disgusted by the attacks on Sarah Palin\'s family.  <br><br>From me, both sides are losing legitimacy on these points -- and I\'m a political junkie who\'s been following the progression.  I can hardly imagine what "ordinary" (read:  non-junkie) people are thinking as they now tune in.  <br><br>And finally -- I always understood those who were concerned about Obama\'s experience.  I also understand the concern about Palin\'s.  What amazes me is that neither side seems to recognize the legitimacy of the mirrored views.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2252713">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2252713" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2252713" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2252713">StockBoySF</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2252713" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2252713" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom, "....Do you therefore think that someone with such religious views is, or should be, automatically out of consideration for national office?"<br><br>I do not think that someone with religious views should not be considered for elected office.  However given the religious rights history (and the politicians who are elected into office through the religious rights\' support) I do have serious concerns about someone who is against abortion supporting a pro-choice platform unless they have a pro-choice record.  I do have serious questions about someone who does not believe in even granting gays and lesbians spousal benefits to support spousal benefits for gays and lesbians.  By the way, I\'m pro-choice even though I personally believe abortion is wrong.  Palin is running on her anti-abortion credentials (and not pro-choice).<br><br>My point with Palin is that I believe she will bring her religious views into government.  If she supports a position and the people who elected her support a postion, then she will probably push to get that postion translated into policy.  Obama has talked about compromise and has even made statements about what we can compromise on, such as "we may not agree on the second amendment, but surely we can all agree that we should keep military weapons out of the hands of criminals in our cities". (That\'s not an exact quote...)  Another example is that he said we may not agree on positions, but we can start talkinf about being more "pro-life" to allow women to make "pro-life" choices...  Meanwhile what we get from McCain is a thunderous "I am pro-life and when I am your president I will be a pro-life president" (or something to that effect.  McCain\'s statements do not allow for the compromise and change that he wants.  McCain doesn\'t even offer up the possibility of discussing it.<br><br>But then in the next breath McCain says he will bring change to Washington and will reach across the aisle.<br><br>Personally I do not agree with the Republicans and vote for McCain.  And when they run on a religious right platform without bringing up the possibility of accepting other\'s input, then there is no reason for me to vote for them.  But lots of people do like the Republican beliefs and if the shoe fits on your foot, then wear it.  It\'s your vote and because you\'re taking the time to think about the candidates I know you\'ll make the best decision for you and your circumstances.<br><br>By the way, sorry my previous long comment posted twice... the first time I posted it I got a server error.  I didn\'t see it posted so I posted again (luckily I had copied it just before I tried posting).  My Mac at home allows me to edit my comments so when I get home I\'ll try to delete.... maybe put some other minor comment in its place...</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2252824">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2252824" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2252824" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2252824">Jim_Satterfield</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2252824" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2252824" class="dsq-comment-message">And let\'s be honest, Polimom. shouldn\'t it matter that he has promised this kind of SC justice over and over again recently? Doesn\'t just the promise to do so say a lot about him?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2253073">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2253073" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2253073" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2253073" href="http://polimom.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polimom</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2253073" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2253073" class="dsq-comment-message">Jim -- Yes, one of my problems with McCain all along was this.  However, given the likely political make-up of Congress after the elections, I think he\'ll have a helluva problem getting anybody through who would overturn Roe v. Wade.<br><br>And this is probably as good a place as any to dispute Don Singleton\'s claim about the public opinion on Roe v. Wade.  (<a href="http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm" rel="nofollow">link</a>)</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2253079">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2253079" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2253079" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2253079">Bokonon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2253079" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2253079" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom -<br><br>Shouldn\'t  the fact that McCain\'s campaign is lying to your face about Palin\'s signature issue -- her claim that she opposed the Ketchikan bridge -- raise any red flags for you? <br><br>McCain has jettisoned his old political beliefs and has gleefully adopted a new set handed to him by the GOP\'s most right-wing members.  Does that concern you? <br><br>You seem to be very concerned that Obama has turned towards the center, and is being more cautious.  Will embracing a ticket that features Sarah Palin -- who occupies a space on the furthest right part of the American political spectrum?<br><br>And how can you wonder for a moment that a candidate\'s personal views WON\'T be translated into their policies when in office?  Look at the last seven years!<br><br>I could go on and on like this, but my point is simple -- this isn\'t just about Obama.  This is also about Obama\'s opponents.  Who happen to be lying, viciously and gleefully, with a big grin, while tacking to their party\'s far right and viciously attacking their opposition  What is past is prologue -- and the way that people campaign for political office is a good indicator of how they will govern.  And what we are seeing here is downright scary.<br><br>Instead of bending over backwards to give McCain and Palin the benefit of the doubt, you should be holding them accountable - and getting very, very concerned.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2253187">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2253187" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2253187" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2253187" href="http://polimom.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polimom</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2253187" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2253187" class="dsq-comment-message">Thank you for your comment, Bokonon.  I can understand why my post would have confused you if you thought I was saying I was unhappy about Obama\'s "turn toward the center".  It is, in fact, the opposite I\'ve seen.  He\'s seemed ever-more party-line to me lately.   (though I did like his statements today about charter schools)<br><br>And absolutely yes -- the Bridge to Nowhere is being spun into an unrecognizable parody by the McCain camp.  I\'ve voiced my problem with this (and the earmarks spin) repeatedly.  <br><br>If it helps you see my point of view -- I was also extremely peeved at Obama when he started over the cliff about NAFTA.   He not only shifted his position and pandered, he took advantage of low-information voters on the entire subject.<br><br>So many imperfections, so little time.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2253493">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2253493" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2253493" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2253493">Bokonon</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2253493" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2253493" class="dsq-comment-message">Hi Polimom --<br><br>Points well taken.  But the McCain campaign isn\'t just spinning -- they are lying.  <br><br>I supported McCain back in 2000, and I am genuinely dismayed at what he is doing -- and the positions he has adopted during this election.  <br><br>To me, any candidate that will lie as blatantly and this viciously and this boldly as McCain has been doing isn\'t just imperfect -- it exposes that they are both reckless and untrustworthy, and are willing to sacrifice everything for power.  And it also shows that McCain\'s campaign has complete contempt for the American voting public.  I hated it when Bush used these tactics back in 2000 and 2004, and it is chilling to see it happen all over again.  McCain has morphed into his old enemies.  <br><br>I used to work in politics, and I\'ve always accepted that politicians are imperfect and disappointing.   But I can accept Obama\'s shifts and changes as normal politics.  What McCain is doing is something truly scary and malignant, and bodes ill for the way he would behave in office.  You can\'t lead a nation through lies.  At least not forever.  And that is where we are right now with Bush.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2254945">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2254945" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2254945" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2254945">strangelet</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2254945" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2254945" class="dsq-comment-message">Polimom -- I\'ve never run into you before, so please excuse me if I make inadvertent assumptions.  If I understand correctly, you were pretty much decided on Obama versus McCain, but McCain\'s selection of Palin for VP has put you back to square one.  Your two reasons for this change of mind are her "newness to Washington" and the fact that with this selection McCain has gone "outside the box", while you feel Obama is putting himself in the box (conforming to his party).<br><br>I presume that you have positions on a variety of public policy issues.  I make the ASSUMPTION that while you were leaning towards Obama, you felt that his policy views were, on balance, preferable to those of McCain.  If that assumption is correct, would you be willing to give a couple of examples of how that situation has changed for you because of McCain\'s selection of Palin?<br><br>"Newness to Washington", or outsider status, is a characteristic that American voters love to fall for.  Dubya, Slick, the Gipper, Jimmeh -- all outsiders.  The only "insider" we\'ve elected since Nixon was Poppy Bush, and he was running against Dukakis.  Outsider == no national track record == relatively little baggage.  I fully realize that this was a big factor in Obama\'s decision to run this time around, but I don\'t really consider it as a positive factor for him, or Palin.  I also know I\'m in the minority on this point.  All I can say is "outsider status" ended up having very little to do with how recent Presidents have governed -- what has mattered is ideology.<br><br>SCOTUS nominees:  I\'m sorry, but you\'re just wrong about this.  I\'m sixty.  The only nominee that has been borked in my lifetime was Bork.  The Senate defers to the executive on almost all appointments, and all a prospective justice has to do is plead "I can\'t tell you my opinion on possible future issues" and Bob\'s your uncle.<br><br>Palin hasn\'t done anything to impose her hard-right views on anybody:  Well, she hasn\'t been in a position to, has she?  I mean, this could be natural restraint; or it could be that a small-town mayor -- or the 21-month governor of the only really libertarian state -- just doesn\'t have a lot of opportunities for social engineering.  How would we know?  One of the problems with no track record, eh?<br><br>Just as a BTW:  how many small-town mayors, do you think, start off their tenure in office by requesting the resignation of most of their direct staff as a loyalty test?<br><br>Anyhow, cheers.  It\'s America.  Sooner or later we\'ll find out what we voted for.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2255536">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2255536" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2255536" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2255536" href="http://polimom.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Polimom</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2255536" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2255536" class="dsq-comment-message">Actually, strangelet, I never did fully recover from Obama\'s launch into populism in Ohio -- nor does it seem that he fully recovered either.  Furthermore, that was a primary, and this is the GE.  <br><br>Re:  small town mayors:  haven\'t been in a position to observe any mayors first hand.  I have, however, watched any number of elected officials in other capacities (such as Sheriffs) fire the entire leadership from the prior office holder.  <br><br>And if you truly feel the SCOTUS nominees are a walk-through in the Senate, then the problem there isn\'t actually with the executive branch, is it?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2256938">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2256938" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2256938" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2256938">8isEnough</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2256938" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2256938" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'m with Blue -- I don\'t see how anyone who is following the Issues can still be on the fence at this point.<br><br>If we put aside all the minutia for the moment, the question is this:  Do we want to reward the Bush administration and its catastrophic follies by ushering in McCain, a man whose policies (and campaigning strategies) echo the current villains in power?   If the past 8 years had yielded American prosperity and pride, I would say there would be some real decision making to do.   But today?  The choice to me is blindingly clear.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2258694">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2258694" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2258694" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2258694">Sylny</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2258694" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2258694" class="dsq-comment-message">Holly:<br>Could you tell us a bit more?<br>Why are you now considering Obama?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2258761">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2258761" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2258761" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2258761">Amanda</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2258761" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2258761" class="dsq-comment-message">I don\'t disagree with you, Leonidas, that Palin has a lot in common with "regular folks," but so do Obama and Biden, and McCain too, for that matter.  None of them come from wealthy families.  Biden\'s family is from the same small town area as my grandparents, so I know exactly what he\'s talking about when he references the blue-collar roots in Scranton, PA.  Obama\'s a self-made man from very humble (though somewhat exotic) beginnings.  We all know the story by now.  My dad\'s is similar in that he, too, came from a lower income, single-parent family.  He put himself through college, got married, had a couple kids, and worked hard for his success.  And McCain\'s family has a long history of military service, something my extended family also shares.<br><br>But I think you\'re ignoring something incredibly fundamental to American life, and that is the desire to be better off than the previous generation.  In modern times, that often means getting an education.  You may look down on the "ivory tower" of academia, but I and most other college graduates are incredibly proud of our achievements and our education.  Would you prefer that we wallow in ignorance?  That we allow the mediocre to lead us further away from progress?  The Ivy League alum is every bit as American as the high school drop out.  The chemical engineer is every bit as representative of American values as a soccer mom.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2259720">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2259720" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2259720" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2259720">strangelet</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2259720" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2259720" class="dsq-comment-message">If I understand your response correctly, your recent disaffection with Obama has nothing much to do with Palin, but is rather based on your perception that he has changed his positions undesirably (towards the left?), therefore putting the two candidates somewhat equidistant from you.  Thank you for the clarification; I can understand that reasoning, although from reading various blogs I must say that there are few others who feel that Obama has moved toward populism/leftism during the campaign.<br><br>As for SCOTUS consent in the Senate, it\'s still true that Presidents, of either party, get the justices they want.  My comment was in reply to your earlier remark that "it doesn\'t work like that".  In fact, it DOES work like that, irrespective of where the "problem" lies.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2260742">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2260742" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2260742" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2260742">Leonidas</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2260742" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2260742" class="dsq-comment-message">Actually I disagree that Obama has changed his positions to the left, he has always been very Liberal, and has actually been moving towards the right, giving up many of his more liberal positions (strangely enough, many of the ones I could have supported before his shift).  Voting for Dick Cheney\'s FISA bill that he has said he would filibuster for example.  <br><br>The direction of his shifts don\'t bother me too much, its the nature of them.  I mean how can we, the voter, trust a man who was willing to give up his principles and vote for FISA for political convienience?  We aren\'t talking a minor item here, we are talking about trashing the US Constitution and granting retroactive immunity to telecoms who assist in warrantless wiretapping.<br><br>The President swears an oath to uphold the US Constitution, I don\'t trust Obama to ba able to do that.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2262212">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2262212" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2262212" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2262212">8isEnough</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2262212" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2262212" class="dsq-comment-message">About Obama/FISA :  he already explained that while there a number things wrong with FISA, he felt it had moved.  He said less than ideal, but a starting point.  <br>And what might be McCain\'s vote on FISA?  I think we know.<br><br>L, your concern of not having the US Constitution upheld:  he was a professor in Constitutional law.  He knows it inside and out -- I\'d say that\'s more than the current crew leads us to believe.   And again, where does McCain come out in this?   You would trust him more to uphold the Constitution than Obama?  And if yes, based on what?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2267617">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2267617" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2267617" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2267617">pacatrue</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2267617" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2267617" class="dsq-comment-message">Leo said, "The direction of his shifts don\'t bother me too much, its the nature of them. I mean how can we, the voter, trust a man who was willing to give up his principles and vote for FISA for political convienience? We aren\'t talking a minor item here, we are talking about trashing the US Constitution and granting retroactive immunity to telecoms who assist in warrantless wiretapping."<br><br>I agree with you that Obama voted the wrong way here. To echo 8isEnough though, you are going to have to vote 3rd party this year if this is a fundamental issue for you, because McCain clearly supports all of these changes and more. He\'s voted in support of numerous similar and stronger bills.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2271255">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2271255" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2271255" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-2271255" href="http://www.TwoKnobbyTires.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">robertjmiller</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2271255" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2271255" class="dsq-comment-message">I performed an in depth analysis of the <a href="http://www.pardontheinformation.com/2008/09/biden-vs-mccain-vs-obama-voting-records.html" rel="nofollow">voting records of Joseph Biden, John McCain, and Barack Obama</a> over the last two years. I thought you might like to read it.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2297246">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2297246" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2297246" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2297246">manduke</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2297246" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2297246" class="dsq-comment-message">Donsingleton said,<br><br>"most American voters (60%) agree with the Republicans and say the Supreme Court should make decisions based on what is written in the constitution"<br><br>This statistic says more about the lack of understanding of most Americans about the Supreme Court\'s decision-making than anything else. Every justice votes according to "what is written in the constitution." They may differ on what various constitutional provisions mean, but not on whether to follow the Constitution. The characterization that decisions republicans oppose are due to justices not making decisions based on the Constitution is just Kool-Aid. And apparently 60% of Americans are drinking it. <br><br>Donsingleton said,<br><br>"Why are you worried about Roe v Wade. Even if it was overturned, it would not outlaw abortions, just turn it over to the states, and most abortions are in blue states where it would still be legal."<br><br>People are worried because Roe v. Wade is about whether individuals should make the decision regarding this highly private matter closely related to personal beliefs in religion and morality or whether government should. Given our commitments to individual freedom and less government, opposition to turning over an individual private decision to government is an understandable position. <br><br>The reason the right wants legislatures to decide instead of individuals is because they believe they would have sufficient votes in most states to force their individual choices through state coercion on others. Other than the libertarians, the idea that republicans are all about less government is a farce.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2444020">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2444020" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2444020" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2444020">AntiEverything</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2444020" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2444020" class="dsq-comment-message">Being a new comer and all, please accept my congratulations for what I see as a great blog where thought process is appreciated. <br><br>I have heard (and read)throught the vitriol of some of the moderates-wannabe leftist here and elsewhere about their thougths on Palin...cosidering arguments against her because she\'s inexperienced is a total hypocrisy. Most of the people critiquing her because she has "no experience" will vote for Obama with 141 days worth of senatorial experience.<br><br>Futhermore, Obama has completly lied about his little to no experience as community activist, and has never commanded anything. If anyone wants to put him on the nuclear button, go right ahead, but I rather have experience than no-experince and lies. Palin has more experience as VP than Obama as POTUS.<br><br>Additionally, I think most people who are simply voting him on the the fact that he\'s half black are doing so because they want to give the chance to someone that is not white to represent them, in a seek-twisted desire of seing him succeed disregarding the obvious elements of his lack of any qualifications for the job whatsoever. <br><br>Finally, let me add that I think that McCain is not the bst guy for the job. Maybe we need an honest version of Bill Clinton or something...but he/she is not running. Obama is. And his twisted lies...like McCain voted with POTUS 90% of the time...well, biden voted with Bush 50% of the time and Obama 40%. Does that make them 1/2 of Bush?, all these is making me go the McCain route...maybe Hillary will be able to run in 4 years and the mess will be over then.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2248182">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2248182" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2248182" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2248182">jabbo</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2248182" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2248182" class="dsq-comment-message">Same thing happened to my independent, white, semi-rural male mind a while back Polimom....shortly after Obama began morphing into a very shrewd politician.  And Elrod, your comments are well-taken, but they don\'t pull me back to Obama...yet....</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2248418">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2248418" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2248418" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2248418">Silhouette</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2248418" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2248418" class="dsq-comment-message">"Meanwhile, the Barack Obama I embraced during the primaries seems to have disappeared. As I wrote in a comment at my blog:"<br>********<br>Do you regret not voting for Hillary in the primaries?  A lot of people do right about now.  Of the two candidates: Obama and McCain, Hillary seems like the best choice.  <br><br>Get it?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-2248569">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-2248569" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-2248569" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-2248569">Leonidas</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-2248569" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-2248569" class="dsq-comment-message">As a counterpoint to what Elrod wrote above, I\'ll tell you why I like McCain.<br><br>Sure he did pander some to the right, but he absolutely had to if he had any chance of being nominated, he found that out in 2000.  The real McCain is much more centrist, weve seen that in such actions as McCain-Feingold and McCain Kennedy.  We\'ve also him lead bi-partisanship in the gang of 14.  Now that Sarah Palin has brought real America to the ticket while at the same time mollifying segments of the right side of the Republican Party he can move back to his career long home more to the center.  The Palin choice was perfect for him pitching a big tent to the right and to the center, between experience of people who know the system and the hometown America that isn\'t tainted by it.  Had Obama Selected Clinton, or Bill Richardson he would have done the same, but he went with another Liberal in Biden and their is noone in the center on that ticket.<br><br>Obama on the other hand, is a very very liberal Senator.  Hilliary Clinton was the moderate in that race, although many of my republican friends will groan and protest me saying so with arguments about socialized medice and such.  Barrack Obama likes to put out a voted with Bush 90% figure, but here are some facts for you if you haven\'t seen them before.  Obama voted with Democrats 95% of the time, Biden 96.6% of the time, making them the 11th and 8th most partisan by voting record.  By Camparison McCain voted with the GOP majority 83% of the time making him the 65th most partisan out of 100.  Obama walked away from a bi-partisan ethics bill to join his own party in an all democrat version, remember McCain\'s angry letter to him over that?  <br><br>McCain has made the right calls in so many cases.(not all I freely admit) and because he was aware of the situation beforehand didn\'t bneed to consult as much and change his answer multiple times.  On Georgia Obama answered twice with different answers and then came around to McCains position,  How was McCain able to get it right?  He had a top notch advisor, who the Obama campaign has attacked with the lobbyist label, but this was a man who had been keeping McCain uipdated on the situation so McCain wasn\'t caugth off guard.  That is where experience comes in.  That is why Joe Liebermann can cross party lines and support him.  The next president will be dealing with a deeply divided nation and political parties that are very hostile to each other and a huge part of their job will be healing that rift so that the parties can work together more and actually govern instead of squabbling so much.  Which candidate do you think has the strength to cut through the red tape and reach across the asile?  The one who has been doing it a long time and angering his own party, with the running mate who has likewise taken her fellow republicans to task?  or the guy who has been groomed by his own party and votes with them 96% of the time ans does his running mate?<br><br>I\'ll leave you with one other difference, altough there are many more:.  Acceptance of responsibility.  Have you noticed during the campaign that whenever Obama has a problem it always gets attributed to a staffer?  How often does the buck stop with Obama?   Remember his trying to deny the story about his vote on the babies that were accidentally born during abortions, calling his critics liars on national TV when in fact the voting record on the matter are crystal clear showing otherwise?  contrast that with McCain, who is much better at accepting responsibility for error (and thus learning from it).  Remember his involvement with the Keating Five?  Well thats the mistake that lead him to embark on his career of reform.  He learned from that, because he accepted responsibility, something Obama is yet to learn because he blames others.  Thats fine for a legislator or community organizer, it isn\'t for an Executive.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 </ul>\
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	var fbJS = document.createElement('script');
	fbJS.type = "text/javascript";
	fbJS.src = "http://static.ak.connect.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php";
	document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(fbJS);

	ExecuteWhen.add(window.fbIsReady,
		function () {
			// HACK: This is a workaround FBC's single domain limitation by
			//		 allowing sites to create multiple forums with different
			//		 Facebook API keys.  This must be used in conjunction with
			//		 disqus_facebook_forum (see authenticateFacebook).
			var facebook_api_key = '8e626a1cbe92745e5f4435bb28791555';
			if (typeof disqus_facebook_api_key != 'undefined') {
				facebook_api_key = disqus_facebook_api_key;
			}

			FB.init(facebook_api_key, window.facebookXdReceiverPath || null,
				{fetchSignedPublicSessionData: true});
		});
}


	


if(typeof(disqus_callback) == 'function') {
	var callback_params = Dsq.Utils.getRequestParams()['dsq_cbp'] || null;

	// We don't care about any errors in third-party code
	try {
		disqus_callback(callback_params);
	} catch (x) {
		if (typeof(console) != 'undefined' && typeof(console.log) == 'function') {
			// But it would be nice to let developers know about them
			console.log(x);
		}
		// pass
	}

	// HACK: We don't know if the callback wraps our container, which may
	// possibly result in a new DOM element.
	Dsq.container = document.getElementById('dsq-content');
}

// Global event handler for narcissus.
if (Dsq.jsonData.integration.theme == 4) {
	var g = Dsq.Utils.ie ? document : window;
	Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(g, 'keydown', function(event) {
		// Handle "enter" key on input for post box.
		if ((event.keyCode || event.which) == 13) {
			var target = Dsq.Utils.ie ? event.srcElement : event.target;
			// For Safari bug, detect text node.
			if (target.nodeType == 3) {
				target = target.parentNode;
			}

			if (target.nodeName == 'INPUT' &&
				target.parentNode.className == 'dsq-input-wrapper') {
				var postId = Dsq.Utils.extractId(target);
				Dsq.Templates.postComment(postId, this, false);
			}
		}
	});
}

})();




