That's exactly how I feel: the Silly Season is quickly turning into the Dangerous Season.  Have you watched the nightly news and seen the footage from the most recent McCain "rallies?"  They look more like angry mobs than political rallies.

I'm very ambivalent about writing this.  After all, what does it have to do with our usual fare?  But since I made reference to Palin's style last Friday in our Free For All; I'm going to gingerly wade in - trying hard not to sound preachy - since that's just irritating.

But the style of the McCain campaign is so disappointing to me, I feel like screaming also.  But not like the angry, bitter shouts at the rallies; no, more like shouting, "Get a grip!"   And before you leap to the conclusion that I'm a dyed in the wool Democrat beating up on McCain - stop right there.  I'm a long time Republican who's been a supporter of John McCain for over twenty years.  But no more.

I've been voting for thirty years now, so there have been MANY times when "my candidate" has won; and MANY times when "my candidate" has lost.  Have I felt disappointed?  You bet.  Have I felt like everyone who voted for "the other guy" was misinformed - or maybe not informed at all?  Absolutely. 

But I have never wished "harm" to the other candidate; nor have I wanted my candidate to go negative against them.  You see, I don't give a rip what the political operatives say, negative ads irritate the fire out of me - always have.  And especially now, considering the economic crisis we're in.

I got my quarterly investment statements in the mail yesterday.  I'm sure you did too.  Well, I haven't opened mine yet.  I can't bring myself to look right now; because I know it's going to be BAD.

So, when I hear a McCain operative say publicly, "We've got to change the subject, we can't win on the economy so let's talk about Obama's connections,"  I am disgusted.  Reality:  bring up bad associates on one side - the other side is going to dredge up yours.  There's always blow-back; and no one is pure. 

And the fact that they have said, this campaign style is a calculated, deliberate choice; well, count me as BEYOND disgusted.

During all those years that I supported McCain, I rarely agreed with his actual policies.  He was too socially conservative for my taste.  But I always admired him, because he seemed to have such integrity.  I loved the fact that he would say what he thought, regardless of whether others were going to like it or not.

In fact, years ago I met him at a cocktail party; and I became even more impressed with him.  He was utterly charming.  And unlike so many other pol's that I'd met, he looked you in the eye when talking to you (as opposed to looking over your shoulder to see if there was someone more important around) and you knew he listened to what you were saying because he responded with thoughtful, intelligent answers.  He was delightful - period.

So what's happening now with the McCain campaign is hard for me to take.  And for some of his supporters to be so angry that "their guy" is down in the polls, that they go to rallies, yell obscenities and "beg him" to go after the opponent?

The Silly Season - uglier by the day - turning into the Dangerous Season.  Now I have to get a grip, or I'm going to sit down and cry...