Californians’ strange history with voter initiatives continues on Tuesday, as we will decide on 12 measures that range in subject matter from teen abortions and the size of animal cages to renewable energy goals and the proper tools to battle gangs.

If John McCain wins the election, it won’t be Obama’s fault. It won’t be poll workers’ fault or even ACORN’s fault.

During one of the most significant elections in our nation’s history, I am lucky enough to be part of the generation of change and unlucky enough to be too young to vote. I, like the other teenagers I’ve talked to, have many hopes for our world. After all, it will be ours in a short time.

As a young voter who isn’t jaded by old language and fallacious arguments, I have paid much attention to which side has addressed the issues I care about, and which side has simply attacked their opponent with arguments of fear and deception. Let’s be honest: both sides are guilty of these attacks, such is politics.

I’ve waited more than 40 years to get behind and support someone that wasn’t just another impersonation of the same old establishment. No more “old school.” We deserve a shift in our national and international policies, starting with a fresh breath of energy and creative thinking. And here the Democrats are on the threshold of capturing the White House with the most exciting candidate to gain our respect and admiration. He represents who we are and what we can become. All my life I have hoped a woman or a person of color would step up to the plate and not strike out before the first inning.

Proposition 8 is about discrimination, and I am surprised that after all these years that people still use the Bible as the basis for their discrimination, and that they use fear of the effect on children as the criteria for denying individuals their rights.

These are very difficult times we live in with a worldwide economic crisis, Islamic extremism, a growing threat from a nuclear-armed Iran, and resurgent Russia, to name only a few of the problems this country faces.

It is almost humourous to see Rush getting mad at his own party over McCain's poor showing. From his Web site (I edited liberally, you have to read the whole thing by clicking here):

Why do I dislike so many political partisans? Let me count the ways.

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

Recently I was looking at all the comments after an article on Obama’s tax plan, and noting how over the top the Republican commenters were about Obama. I thought of writing something sarcastic, like "Obama is going to use his Marxist social engineering policies to support domestic terrorism through an oppressive tax code on teeny tiny business owners while promoting both Muslim terrorism and black liberation theology, thereby installing Bill Ayers as the Secretary of Defense yada yada yada...."

My topic is family dinners. I could use some more ideas for quick, healthy, and inexpensive dinners.

My fourth grade son has an animal report due on Wednesday. I helped him to set a schedule so that all he has to do tonight is to put the pictures he printed on the pages and he is done. No 10 pm on Tuesday and we are still at it! Sometimes being a parent is great.

My 23 month old son is hitting the terrible twos a tad early. Everything is “NO” and “MINE” right now. When I won’t let him do what he wants to do (like pull out all of the DVDs), mostly I say “not for babies” and pull him away (he doesn’t like it, but oh well). Well sometimes, I feel my blood pressure rising and say “NO” myself (not exactly good modeling) and come on too strong; he cries and sometimes I cry.  Sometimes being a parent makes me crazy.

Barack Obama chose Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate ... what do you think of the choice?

(Editor's note: The comments on this crashed about 9:30 a.m Friday, right after McCain's announcement. We were able to rebuild most but not all of the comments)