Don't lower the bar; this is too important

The lowered bar phenomenon is really amazing. The public bought it when it was used by Bush and now if we listen to Fox News, they're buying it from Palin.

A week of Katie Couric interviews demonstrates that she is "W" in a dress. She even pronounces nuclear as "nuculer." Her lackluster performance in the debate was deemed a "success," because she didn't explode, as expected, based on her interviews with Gibson and Couric.

The media's interpretation of the "Joe Six-Pack" standard appears to be: "I'll vote for her because she's someone I'd like have a drink with." We've done this to ourselves already and it didn't work very well.

They might be attracted to her flirtatiousness, but after Bush they aren't likely to mistake likability for competence a second time. Consider this: You don't care if your heart surgeon is a jerk; you care that he's a really good surgeon.

In this election, more than any other in my lifetime, we are entrusting our security, our economy, indeed our lives, to the victor. We need a knowledgeable, capable leader with the judgment needed to make solid decisions that benefit the country, not special interests and oil companies.

Choose competence. Choose wisdom. Choose vision. From the White House to the court house, choose those who will work for you. In my opinion, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Dick Durbin, and Bill Foster will work for us. Vote Democrat on Nov. 4.

Catherine Hamilton

Elgin