http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con tent/article/2007/07/17/AR2007071700099. html

Agreed - it's certainly not a good campaign strategy, and I had doubts about putting it in at all.

But it is something to be mindful of. I'm sure Al-Quida would love nothing less than trying to screw with our elections.

According to the CIA analysis, when Al-Queda made pro-Kerry statements in the last election, it was a clear attempt to throw the election to Bush.  Apparently Al-Queda figured out that the american voters don't like Al-Queda, and so would vote against whoever they "endorsed." And they figured out that Bush was great for them (invading Iraq instead of pursuing Al-Queda, legitimizing Al-Queda as the leader of the anti-US movement, etc.) so they did what they could to get Bush re-elected. Al-Queda's propaganda was extremely effective, because the Republicans played along (they have the same agenda in this case - both wanted Bush re-elected).

So now that we've demonstrated that anti-american terrorists can manipulate US elections, and that Republicans are great for anti-american terrorists, they're all playing the same game - endorse Democrats to keep Republicans in power.

If we were smart, we'd ignore it, because the alternative gives Hamas, etc., influence over our elections (a bad thing). Unfortunately, the Republicans see the opportunity to use Hamas/Iranian/Castro propaganda to their personal benefit, so they're playing right into  the their hands.

I would dispute YOUR last point.

No, I remember seeing him having said something similar. It was impressive to me, because it was something I had seen for a long time. Lots of people who vote Republican solely because of abortion. And we get so caught up in deciding whether it should be legal that we lose sight of the real goal. Which is, at its very core, the same for everyone.

I'm okay with teaching them the mechanics, too. But 15 year olds, as a general rule, are too young to be moving beyond third base with anyone who asks. But if you don't think so, then where's your limit? 14? 13? 12? Were you fine with the movie Taxi Driver where Jodie Foster is getting pimped out as a 12.5 year old?

Look, obviously there are individuals who know what they want and would do it anyway, but lotsa teens don't, particularly ones without a proper upbringing to balance out a lack of sex ed in school. I'm not suggesting that we teach shame, I'm suggesting that we teach moderation and self-control. And that they should decide what they want for themselves out of the moment rather than in it.

What is your religion, if I may ask?

The distinction between physical and mental conditions is very clear in the law.  A mental illness will never be a "serious physical issue," no matter how much you want to play around with the words.

In both layman's and technical terms the distinction that Obama proposes between "Mental distress" and "a serious physical issue" categorizes all forms of mental health under "mental distress." See Wikipedia for example. I would love to believe that Obama mis-spoke here, but the longer view of his history on the issue of late-term abortions suggests he thinks we can prohibit them except in extreme life and limb threatening situations.

His answer to "how would that be enforced?" is that "the truth of the matter is, a lot of faith-based organizations currently are doing a great job on this issue" What does that mean, exactly? That we should trust them? That so few would abuse the funding that enforcement doesn't matter?

His response to how he would implement his personal opposition to abortion is equally disturbing. The idea that sexual behavior is sacred, or that adoption is a solution, not to mention abstinence, is completely disconnected from the realities of unwanted pregnancies. And nowhere does he affirm the basic principle that the choice is the woman's.

Abstinence-ONLY education doesn't work.

Abstinence Education
TEACHER: OK, this is how you have sex, this is how you can be safe, this is what you can do to protect yourself and make a safe choice. That said, you'll be better off if you try not to have sex until you're sure you're ready.

Abstinence-Only Education:
TEACHER: Don't have sex.
STUDENT: Why?
TEACHER: Because it's wrong.
STUDENT: Suppose I DID want to have sex, how would I protect myself?
TEACHER: Well, if I told you that, then you might use that information. The best thing is just not to even try.

Believe it. He didn't release a statement for a very long time for a reason. It was something he didn't want to do.

I'm not in his head.

However, he did take FOREVER to release something, so much so that people on blogs and TV were wondering about it.