Just got back from the presidential debate

All hell broke loose today in the newsroom with news that one, our current interim president and the head of IHL are currently under investigation; two, there was an emergency meeting regarding the hiring of our new university president; and three, IHL still says we will have a president announced by November. It was a MAD HOUSE...two reporters and two editors working online, on the phones, pulling up all that we could find. It's days like that when I realize how much I love the journalism industry.

As I worked calling several Mississippi agencies, my sister called. I took a five minute break to catch up with her, then received a beep in from a Gulf Coast number. Fortunately, I switched over to take the call. It was someone from the public relations department at the University of Mississippi (more commonly known as Ole Miss down here) calling to see how many reporters and photographers we were bringing to the debate tonight.

"I was under the impression that we couldn't get on campus tonight," I said.

"Oh no, you're welcome to come! No press passes left or tickets to the actual debate, but you're free to hang out in any of the common areas on campus - we're showing it in the Grove."

"Great! Thank you so much!" Click, close phone, run back into the newsroom. "WHO'S FREE TO GO TO OXFORD TONIGHT?!"

"WHAT!? WE CAN GO?"

"YES!"

Okay, I realize that was a little dramatic, but we were just so excited to get to be there. Three of us got to go - a fellow reporter and the photography editor. We had a good ride down there and the weather was incredible. Kudos to Ole Miss for a job well done - very well organized, friendly volunteers/workers, clean facilities, and decent parking. Not to mention excellent idea to broadcast the debate in the Grove on two big screens to enable thousands to stay on campus, even if they couldn't make it inside to the actual debate.

I'm in the process of writing a story about the debate - it'll be interesting. Still haven't figured out exactly how I feel about the debate - were questions really answered, who has solid ideas, where in the world are we going to come up with something to get the country out of this economic crisis?

Okay, enough researching, reading, Twittering, and typing. It's been a very long day and I'm headed to bed...FINALLY.

So it's totally unacceptable to be pro-life?

Gov. Sarah Palin with husband Todd and infant son Trig, who has Downs Syndrome.

Today's issue of The New York Times featured not one, not two, but three stories on Gov. Sarah Palin's 17 year-old unwed and pregnant daughter Bristol ON THE FRONT PAGE.

Seriously? Who deemed all three front page stories necessary? Very tactful, NY Times. Excellent work.

As countless politicians and public figures (McCain, Obama, and Thompson, to name a few) have said, it's a private matter. Sadly, it's now under public scrutiny simply because Palin is McCain's running mate.

The press has been merciless in bringing this issue to light and honestly, it's none of their business (so one might ask why I'm blogging about it...). I don't believe in hiding the issue, but please, let the girl have some privacy. (Lord knows if McCain and Palin take office that neither Bristol nor the rest of the families will have any privacy.)

I'm cheering for Palin and for Bristol - why? Because it's obvious that they're pro-life. One, they've been open about Bristol's pregnancy, the baby's father, and the fact that she plans to marry the father and keep the baby. Two, Palin's fifth child, Trig, has Down's Syndrome. Due to pre-natal genetic testing, Mr. and Gov. Palin knew that Trig would be born with Down's Syndrome, yet they chose to keep him - even despite family pressures from Gov. Palin's own mother. I find it disgusting that the grandmother of a child that's already been born and a great-grandchild still in the womb would still talk about the possibility of abortion. Seriously, what is wrong with you?

So what do I think? Let's leave Bristol Palin alone and focus on Gov. Palin; after all, how is this side story really going to change Gov. Palin's ability to lead our country in the role of vice president? And let all the pro-life voters out there commend Gov. Palin and her family, speak up, and stick with them - after all, isn't this the kind of person we've been wanting in office for years?