Carpediva - I don't give a thought to who an author does or doesn't give money to, or whether I agree or not with every thought that comes out of his or her keypad: If there's a value in reading what he or she has to say, I'll buy any book.

I'm just not at all into the political fundamentalism that says "don't read that book" because one doesn't like the author. Take Oriana Fallaci for example: Am I supposed to throw away her great early works simply because late in life she got all anti-Arab racist on us? (Actually, I even bought her final work, The Rage and the Pride, and even while disagreeing with almost all of it marveled that her talent for excellent writing remained intact.)

If I were to insist that an author agree with me on every point before I read or review his book, I wouldn't be reading or reviewing anybody's book!

Tara - I actually think it would be good for Obama if McCain ticked ahead in the national polls for a spell. It would have the effect raising the stakes on the election and forcing more people to take it seriously (and millions of his supporters to work harder and take nothing for granted).

Until both conventions are held, the polls mean nothing, absolutely nothing. Past presidential elections have taught us that. And until one candidate or another starts consistently getting fifty percent or more in the polls, I think they'll continue to be terribly uninformative as to the final result.

More important than poll results is whether they generate panic, which is always bad for any campaign. That's why the Chicken Littles are so destructive to their own claimed cause. Leave spreading panic to the enemy, and get back to work. No panic allowed in this foxhole!