Wow What a breath of fresh air Sarah is!!
Lets get busy and get these 2 in the White House.

Keep up the good work.
I can't agree with you on the book/library thing, 1st amendment and all. Work on that.

brownstocking,
I see things a little differently. I look to us to solve the divisiveness problem, not to our politicians. I expect them to fight during a campaign. Much of their argument helps us to select for whom we will vote. I'd add that it's not a new problem. Division, for example, prior to the civil war was very violent. Have a look at the confrontation between Representative Preston Brooks and Senator Charles Sumner.
Many of my friends are liberals and have very different views. Just yesterday a Catholic friend revealed that he is staunchly pro-choice. We discussed the issue sincerely and without name calling. At the conclusion of one of his points, he quoted Star Trek (I think) in saying that he would always be my friend.
On some issues we hold very different positions. However, our respect for each other and perhaps our assumptions that the positions are not held for the wrong reasons helps us to avoid division. President Bush, Vice President Gore, or Governor Palin did not help us to develop those appreciations, nor would I expect them to. I see politicians' role as to serve voters and not necessarily to change voters.
That said, I do hold your concern about division. I don't see similar root causes, but the common ground of concern is there.

Best.

I don't see a possibility of reconciliation between the party extremes. They exist because there is a real metaphysical divide they represent, two fundamentally different views of reality. One is grounded in the notion that God exists and has made even the smallest and weakest humans among us a noble creature made in His image, and that therefore His truth has a primary role in our moral-self-governance. The other is grounded in the notion that all truth is self-manufactured, especially moral truth, and that the supreme good, whatever that is, can therefore never be more than a form of intelligent selfishness. God save us from the latter. Palin has shown she holds to the former. That is the root of her threat to the left, and the glimmer of hope she has provided to the right. Bring it on.

Frankly, I like Governor Palin BETTER than McCain! Wasn't sure how to vote, but she's won me over.
As for her daughter's supposed "moral failings" - puh-lease. Whose kids don't make mistakes? She's a kid. Last time I looked Bill Clinton and John Edwards were posing as grownups. What about their "moral failings".