It would appear that the Obama Effect is only going to be confirmed or refuted in 2010. However, if Harry Reid thinks that Nevadans in Clark County have short memories, he may find himself sadly mistaken. Obama ran offering change, and many hoped that the Democrats would carry the state more completely, but as an Independent I will not vote for Harry Reid in 2010 not because of the bailout bill, but because of his lack of backbone in standing up to the Bush Administration over the last 8 years. Obama ran a campaign that asks us to step up and work together to help right this nation, and from what I can see, both Republicans and Democrats in this state's Congressional delegation have failed miserably on that score for years, led by Harry Reid and John Ensign. The fact that Northern Nevadans did not vote for anyone down ticket shows that they felt that the choices were not worth considering, and that should tell both parties a great deal more than whether the Democrats are strong in any particular region of this state. It is time to put forth candidates that will put Nevadans first, and corporate and political special interests second. Hear that, Senator Reid?

A clear view of the state of this nation and this state shows that while the Republican ticket would like you to think that they can change, anyone who has lived in Arizona over the last 30 years can tell you that there have been questions about McCain's policy of flip-flopping so profound that there were often questions about what party he actually belonged to, and the people of Alaska know just which side their bread is buttered on to serve them government pork.

But here is a news flash - the $3200 payment to the citizens that Palin claims is her doing is nothing of the sort - it is a legislated payment as part of an agreement with the oil companies that was put through in the mid-1980's. My husband lived there until 1984, and received at least two payments before he left for military service, and at that time the payment was $1200. Allowing for increased profits and inflation, the payments being distributed to the Citizens of Alaska would be this money currently being distributed for which Palin is claiming credit. She would have been barely able to vote when this legislation was passed, and would have been receiving these payments her whole adult life, so she cannot claim ignorance of where they came from or for how long.

So, wake up, Nevadans, as long as Harry Reid and Pelosi are unwilling to confront the Republicans, you can count on liars and frauds and violent, senile old men running this nation. And for the record, attacking and assaulting fellow members of Congress (including an 80+ year old senior member and knocking them to the floor because you do not agree with him) is not the kind of willingness to take on anybody in DC that we need in this nation - not now,not ever.

It is time for Hillary to hit the campaign trail again - this time as a surrogate for Obama. Palin thanked her for making her chances to be VP easier and used her words to attack Obama.

It is time for Hillary to tell American women what it means if Palin becomes VP - a move backwards 50 years for women's rights and children's rights and the world's rights.

It is time for Hillary to make it very clear that this woman does not represent anything she stood for and should be voted against by every woman and man who voted for her in the Primaries.

It is time for Hillary to undo the damage that she has done,and to truly make Americans see that Sarah Palin is most definitely not the right choice, especially if she were to actually win.

Hillary Clinton, get off your behind and get out there making it clear that Palin does not represent 21st century women and that the Republicans cannot use your words to support this travesty. One statement about one ad, and none about Palin's speech, does not undo the damage that is being done now!

It is true that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. John McCain did not learn from history, the world's or his own. It is sad that someone who has lived so long has learned so little. I was reminded as I watched his speech last Thursday of someone who did not live in today's world, but rather of someone who stopped living when he became a POW. He has never left that cell in Hanoi, and he never will. It is a sign of PTSD that has gone untreated for decades.

But, what was even scarier for me was watching him and his party as he stood up there shouting FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT while they cheered USA, USA, USA. He said fight for various issues, but the fact is that the only word you heard over the crowd was FIGHT, not work for solutions or working together to find solutions, just FIGHT! It was eerily similar to the propaganda films from Hitler and Nazi Germany. And sadly, I realized that maybe we had not learned from history after all. It is why I will vote for Obama - this is one lesson we do not need to repeat with our country in the losing role this time!