Just like with Jodi, "guilty until proven innocent."  What a way to live!

Yes Todd I am paranoid when it comes to protecting my kids and proud of it. My oldest son will tell you I am a pain in the ass.  But you know what, he turned out pretty fine.

just want to voice my support for Bill Richardson as Obama's VP choice. A very intelligent and articulate man who has executive (as Governor of New Mexico, I believe) experience. I don't see a better choice out there for the democrats, especially considering the fact that Republicans are praying for Hillary Clinton to be added to the ticket in order to excite their base.

You get competency, you get someone that would make a good president should anything happen to Barack Obama (not saying that it's likely but being President kind of comes with a bullseye on your back, ask Lincoln, Kennedy and Reagan) and you don't have the potential albatross of someone with high negatives.

Also, and this might just be me, but if Hillary was the VP choice would she be trying hard to help Obama win? Or would she be trying to look as good as she can (even if that means hurting Obama) so that Obama loses and she doesn't have to wait eight years for her turn?

Bill Richardson would be a great VP, I like Joe Biden, what do you all think of him?

Unfortunately profiling is a reality and, at times, necessary.  Is it right or fair?  No.

The police get a tip that one of the 5 people in a terminal has a bomb that is going off in 1 minute.  There is a hispanic mother with her child, a white priest, a black business man and middle eastern college student dressed in traditional garb.  Realistically, given the contraints, which are you going to check first?

Anyone can get lung cancer.  If you have a non-smoker and a 3 pack a day smoker, which is most likely to be the one to get lung cancer?  Statistics tell us that it's most likely the smoker.  Sure, it may not be, but if you were putting your money on it, which would you pick?

So again, not right, but a reality that common sense says shouldn't go away in every scenario.

QUOTE: Just like with Jodi, "guilty until proven innocent."  What a way to live!  Mind if people apply that standard to you, Greg?

Seriously, please do!  I want people to be assured of my motivations for allowing, say, my daughter's friend to sleep over.  Honestly, I'm not offended if they wonder whether I'll be respectful to their child.  Hopefully that will gain their trust eventually. But if I pronounce to them, "you're prejudiced!  How dare you think just because ___________ that I'll molest them!"  then I don't expect to gain their confidence.

QUOTE: And that's just as prejudiced as saying "The first one I scrutinize will be the black one. He may not be the guilty one, but if that's the only criterion I have to work with at first, I'll use it."

But that's just not the same thing, Al.  I agree that you can't look at that group of pictures and say that the suspicious one is black, or the one with the beard, etc.  I'm saying that I have a piece of info that one of them enjoys being around children but doesn't have one of his own involved in that same activity, that it is a questionable motivation and a scenario where something could happen easily, if the man wished for it to.  That's all!  No deep-rooted fears, just a piece of information that piques my interest or suspicion, depending on the type of person he is.

Blush! 

And from a married woman, no less!  Tee hee!

And, Steve, I like Richardson, as well - he's one of my top picks.  There are a couple of good options out there.

Geoff I wouldn't have a problem if you were my son's baseball coach, but I would not let my son spend alone time with you. I am sorry if that looks "hopeless" but I would imagine Adam Walsh's dad would feel the same way. With kids I am just going to error on the side of caution.  

As I said, I didn't let any woman babysit my son either. Because of TV programs showing hidden cameras of women babysitters abusing kids.   

Geoff - by that logic - I like Kansas Gov Kathleen Sebelius.

And Scott - here's a funny joke for you -

2 Muffins are in an oven, cooking, and one turns to the other and says "Hey, it's getting pretty hot in here... it's really heating up.. I'm getting worried about the tempature in here..."  and the second muffin looks at the first and says "HOLY SHIT!  A TALKING MUFFIN!!"

QUOTE: Seriously, please do!

I'm gonna go to Greg Brady/Jodi "exact words" territory here.  I didn't say the application of that standard would be limited to your interactions with kids.

I think you've murdered someone.  Guilty until proven innocent.  Into the slammer you go.