I can't help but think that Republicans would like to have "do overs." This is the sorriest presidential campaign that I have ever witnessed. John McCain has managed to parlay his war hero status into a political career for the last 20 years, but this time the stakes are too high. Can we really afford to have such an angry, rancorous man the White House?

His repeated assertions that Obama "would rather lose a war than lose an election," make McCain look like some sort of Archie Bunker throwback, only we knew that Archie was a sitcom character, not a candidate for president of the United States. Can you imagine if he were to carry this bilious behavior to the international arena, leading by testy insinuation. Pretty scary stuff considering the memory lapses, coupled with his computer illiteracy, in the age of global media. Does John McCain even grasp the significance of his deficiency in 21st century skills? I think not or he would never have copped to it.

By the way Senator McCain, what would  "winning" in Iraq look like? If the country is "stabilized" and they want us out, what can be gained by continuing the nightmare. Recently you have stated, " I know how to win wars."  Which war was that, sir? My own father, who served four tours in Vietnam, wore a T-shirt, at home, that read "Southeast Asian War Games Participant -- 2nd Place". So surely you don't mean Vietnam. 

The New York Times recently published a photograph of the largest mass re-enlistment of soldiers in the history of the U.S. military. This photo haunted me for days as I tried to reconcile the soldiers' patriotism with what we now know of Bush's War.

I wanted to ask veterans what they thought of the photo and when I heard that Stand Down was in progress at San Diego High School this past weekend, I thought it would be a great opportunity to find a cross section of veterans, including those who had not done so well after coming "back to the world."

Photo: Candace Suerstedt

After checking in at the command tent I wandered around the grounds hoping I didn't look conspicuous with my camera hanging on my shoulder. (Years ago I decided I couldn't be a professional news photographer because the job often exploits others during crisis.)

I really didn't spend much time worrying about the alcohol ban at San Diego beaches since I've learned that if you are discreet enough, no one really cares. Of course I'm one of your middle-aged mother types so I am in that group that basically goes unnoticed by law enforcement.

All that changed on the morning of July 4th. I awoke at 5 a.m. to walk in the Coronado Independence Day 5K Run/Walk, and instead of the fog softened silence I expected, I heard the steady drone of engines, subwoofers, slamming trunks and car alarms. Staggering out onto my deck with a cup of coffee, I was astounded to see hundreds (thousands?) of cars parked as far as I could see. An army of people was already marching toward the Silver Strand State Beach, which is across the road from my home.

My first thought was how early these people must have gotten up in order to secure a place on the beach. I didn't realize that the Silver Strand State Beach had been publicized as the last alcohol friendly beach in San Diego.

This Independence Day makes me nostalgic for bygone days when every large gathering did not erupt into angry polarized discussions of the state of the country. The news media keeps us in a constantly inflamed state of being, each day creating issues out of non-issues, in order to justify their own existence.

At the Coronado Community Center, where I work out most mornings, there are two large televisions in the front of the gym. One is always tuned to Fox, and the other usually CNN. Though Fox is more overtly inflammatory, CNN is not far behind.

It's not just cable television, with shrieking Ann Coulter or Bill O'Reilly, but the "network news" outlets as well. Recently CBS's Katie Couric covered a story which asserted that Obama's "background sparked rumors that he had studied at a radical madrassa, or Quranic school" without ever noting that the rumors were false.  

Chuck's blog started me thinking what it actually means to "vote one's conscience." My computer dictionary defines conscience "as an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior." Since that sounded reasonable and perhaps even a bit noble, I decided to investigate what this could mean to the election. Initially, I intended to point out the pitfalls inherent in such an action since I will never get over what Ralph Nader's narcissistic candidacy did to this country in 2004.

I was embarrassed to realize I knew nothing about Bob Barr so I dedicated several hours to investigating his political career, the positions he allegedly represents, who supports him. I began by watching all the videos on his campaign Web page. Over and over again, I heard him say he would appeal to Independents and large groups of young people.

Young people? Why young people... oh I get it... he hopes to inherit all of Ron Paul's devotees. Hmmm, I see he is also advertising for Web designers so I guess he is going to try to generate the grassroots online energy of Ron Paul's campaign. Ron Paul had a long history of relentlessly standing his Libertarian grounds, even when he was the only voice out there, but who is this Bob Barr who speaks of "abundant freedom for all"?

I've read everything my fellow bloggers have written this week and I feel the arguments have been made, the facts given and the Web sites noted. I wrote several weeks ago about my support of the judges' decision and why.

I am thrilled for Chuck and his husband, and knowing the reflective and thoughtful man he is, I wish them much joy.

Of course, as my fellow blogger, his column is a hard act to follow so I've had to revert to the philosophy major I once was, to examine the significance of the legalization of same-sex marriage.

As I tended the deaths of my parents, 13 years apart, I had ample time to reflect on what a person's life finally means, regardless of what they have achieved. In the end, what really matters is that one has loved and has been loved. How is it wrong to allow any citizens the right to publicly proclaim, sanctify and legitimize their love, giving their union the dignity it deserves?

When you've been a mother as long as I have (27 years) you learn to give up preconceptions, cut to the chase, and realize what really matters. I imagine there are a great number of mothers across California that breath easier, knowing that their child will have a partner to go through life with, in a legally recognized and culturally sanctioned commitment.

Don't think for a moment that we have a political respite until Election Day. In these next 143 days, history can be made and every hour counts until America goes into the booth to cast her vote.

Though voter turnout is predicted to be higher than in any election since 1972, only 27 percent of the population is estimated to have voted in the primaries. Now is the time to get the rest of the disenfranchised registered, educated, and motivated.

The outcome in November will dictate whether we as a culture will progress into the future, with a chance to regain the world's respect and good will, or remain mired in a pattern of decline, falling behind China and the European Union as a world power. We Americans have been lulled into thinking things will "sorta be ok" in America no matter what.

Well folks, things are not ok... thanks in great part to a corrupt self-serving administration that may still destroy America.

What we are up against now is an onslaught by "swiftboaters" and their clones, the likes of which we have never seen. It is up to us, the "regular people," to combat those assaults by looking beneath the surface, educating ourselves, and spreading the word.

Throughout the primaries, I kept hearing from the pundits, that I would be voting for Hillary Clinton. After all, I am right smack in the middle of Hillary's "demographic". ("Professional, well-educated women who came of age during the modern women's movement.")

I celebrated the significance of a woman (FINALLY) running for president, and along with many women of my generation, could hardly believe that "one of us" was actually a viable contender. At the beginning I tried, I really tried to embrace her candidacy.

Back in the 90's, when "Hillary Bashing" was all the rage, I remained her ardent supporter. I despised the misogyny behind the Hate Hillary movement, and I, for one, welcomed her activism in the White House. As the years passed, however, I was disappointed to see character traits which slowly eroded my faith in her integrity and judgment, and as I watched her in action these past two years, I felt that some disconnect had occurred, and I regretfully came to the conclusion that she would not be my candidate.

Why is it always easier to come clean when it is after the fact? Scott McClellan's belated "revelations" about the Bush White House leave a bad taste in my mouth.

No kidding....propaganda...who knew? One only has to look back at press room videos from 2003-2006 and witness the deconstruction of McClellan to know that he knew he was lying nearly every time he opened his mouth. Before our very eyes he was transformed from UT frat boy who had landed himself a good job with a bunch of Texas Fat Cats, ("living the dream"), to a puffy bleary eyed robot who had sold his soul to the devil.

OK, there ARE second chances in life...he's still young...and hey, look at Oliver North. He got his own TV show! But what if ...just what if... back in 2003 when he was still ridiculing Helen Thomas, or Richard Clarke, or when he added to the misery of the Valerie Plame ordeal... what if he had just let go of the façade, looked out over the press corps and said, "I can't do this any more... Bush, get yourself another stooge."

Perhaps that would have been a tipping point and more "insiders" would have come forward. The same could have been said for Colin Powell, whose lifetime of honorable service will not save him from allowing himself to be used as a pawn.

Recently, I attended the memorial service for the father of a friend of mine. I sat next to a woman I had not seen since high school. We were both there because we were lifelong friends of the bereaved daughter. All three Navy Brats, raised by Navy fathers, and though we are in our 50's now, the familiar trapping of a military burial brought back floods of memories and emotions.

The morning was an unseasonably cold, dark day for San Diego, as our small group of mourners climbed from our cars to walk to the outdoor pavilion where the military buries its own.

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is a spectacularly beautiful site, located on Point Loma's awe-inspiring precipice. The south cliff looks out over the bay to San Diego's skyline and the island of Coronado and North Island. The north cliff looks out into the endless horizon of the Pacific Ocean, and though this side is often swathed in fog, on a clear day one can make out the ghostly shapes of the grey whales as they make their annual migration from Alaska to Mexico.

High on these cliffs are the graves of those who have served their country in every war since the Spanish American War of 1898. When you walk among them, a profound sadness takes hold. How many wars until we get it right? How many dead?

When I was notified of my boyfriend's death in Viet Nam, so many years ago, I wandered this city in my car, eventually ending up here in the August twilight of that terrible afternoon, sobbing alone among the headstones. He like so many-- forever frozen in youth -- dead from a war that no one even likes to mention anymore.