Palin disappointed pundits

The big losers, as a result of Thursday night's debate, are the columnists who have been attempting to politically kill Sarah Palin with smears.

-- Harvey W. Nelson, Columbus

Palin represents conservative women

Why is it that only the accomplishments of liberal women are lauded? Maybe because they aren't really interested in the equality of all women, just those who think like them.

Sarah Palin has held elective office multiple times. She was a mayor (oh, it's a small city) and is currently a governor (oh, it's just Alaska). And my favorite -- "she's a step backwards for women." Potentially the first woman vice president is a step back?

Gender shouldn't play such an enormous role in this election. Other countries are way ahead of us. But it is noteworthy, which is why I pointed out the significance of Palin's nomination to my children. I would have had the same conversation with them had Hillary Clinton been a nominee. I'd have said I do not agree with her views, but I would not have attempted to diminish her accomplishment.

What I see when I watch Sarah Palin is an astute, principled and charismatic politician with a proven ability to both get elected and lead.

I may or may not agree with Palin on every policy issue, but as a Midwestern working mother, I just might, for the first time, feel truly represented.

-- Mary Reid, Verona

Debate broached climate change

I felt part of a historic moment Thursday when I was watching the vice presidential debates. For the first time, both candidates were asked, on national TV, about climate change.

Unfortunately, they never got past discussing the causes of climate change and framed all solutions in terms of "energy independence." For Sarah Palin this included offshore drilling, and for Joe Biden it's "clean" coal. For me, these don't hold any short-term benefits for the climate or ratepayers.

I can't wait for the candidates to start talking about specific solutions to climate change that match the scale of the problem. They need to stop talking about an "all-of-the-above energy plan."

Both candidates should advocate for federal-level incentives for renewables, which, as Biden correctly pointed out, McCain has voted against many times. But Biden has to be specific as well. He needs to specify that the "5 million new jobs" that he referred to would be created through energy efficiency, which can cut energy costs, reduce global warming pollution, and bring good new jobs to Wisconsin now when we need them.

-- John Stewart, Madison

Debate displayed over-rehearsed Palin

Palin lost Thursday's debate because she isn't ready to be vice president.

Whenever she felt out of her depth, she ignored the question, taking refuge in a few canned speeches on a limited range of topics. It was clear that she was over-rehearsed and was insistent on getting in a few choice lines.

I don't want a vice president who thinks she can substitute catch phrases for dialog with other world leaders.

-- Mary Conroy, Madison

Fear Palin, in view of McCain's health

John McCain's grandfather died at age 61 of a heart attack. John McCain's father died at age 70 of heart failure. McCain, at age 72, is the oldest man to run for president of the United States.

He suffered health deprivations due to years of torture and abuse during his imprisonment as a POW, and he carries the results of bouts with cancer.

His family and personal history suggest there is a more than reasonable chance to be concerned that he may not live out his term as president.

Having watched the vice presidential debate, I am aghast and terrified to think that a person of questionable experience and knowledge like Sarah Palin has a significant chance of becoming our 45th president.

-- Karen Harris, Madison

Democratic 'change' made things worse

George Bush has been in office for over seven years. During the first six the economy was fine. Even after the 9/11 attacks, the economy rebounded and Americans went back to work.

A little over a year ago consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2-year high. Regular gasoline sold for less than $3 a gallon, the unemployment rate was low, the Dow Jones hit a record high. Americans were buying cars, taking cruises, living large!

But Americans wanted "change," so in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress -- and we got change. In the past year, consumer confidence plummeted, gas is nearly $4 a gallon, unemployment is up, home equity has dropped by trillions of dollars and 1 percent of American homes are in foreclosure.

Blame Congress for not reigning in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The fed might still bail them out, with taxpayers footing the bill. Can you afford it?

Remember, the president has no control over any of these issues. Only Congress can write the bills, and Congress has done nothing in the last two years.

Now the Democratic candidate for president claims he is going to really give us change along with a Democratic Congress. How much more change can we stand?

-- Steve Tadevich, Fitchburg

Beware 'mavericks' like George W. Bush

I cringe when I think of how many times I've heard the term "maverick" used to describe McCain and Palin over the past few weeks.

Being a "maverick" in this time of economic, social and global crisis is not necessarily a good thing. There's another side to this term that no one is talking about.

A maverick is often a person who "goes it alone," a reckless radical. Using this definition, I can think of one famous maverick -- George W. Bush -- who acted like a lone cowboy taking our country into a nosedive because of his insistence on "going it alone."

Being an independent thinker, one who isn't afraid to stand up for what's right, is a good thing. Being a "maverick" has the potential to be very dangerous.

-- Kate Phair, Madison

Without regulation, wealth 'trickles' up

Here is my take on U.S. economic policy:

* In an un-regulated economy, wealth "trickles" uphill.

* Greed abounds unchecked.

* The wealthier you are, the greater are your opportunities to accumulate even more wealth.

* A democracy "of the people, by the people and for the people" fails as political leaders crawl all over each other to do the bidding of those with control of the wealth.

* If wealth happens to "trickle" down, it is perceived as an unwarranted leak or a "social program" that will lead directly to communism.

-- John Skille, Lake Delton

Kudos to '40 Days for Life' protestors

I commend the 40 Days for Life volunteers outside of Planned Parenthood on Madison's East Side for taking up a peaceful fight to try to put an end to abortion.

It can be hard for people to keep doing something they think is right, even if people yell at them and despise them, especially when it seems that much of the surrounding community disagrees with them. But even a small group fighting for what's right is a group to be dealt with. May they continue to have success in their fight.

Why haven't we seen much media attention on their efforts to save the unborn?

-- Adam Morse, Madison