I hope you'll forgive me if I don't write up the full accounts tonight. I just got home from work. I've been filling in on the night shift on Sundays, and I ended up covering an arraignment tonight.

I want to crash soon. In lieu of a long entry, I'd like to give you the text of an e-mail. It's from my friend, Doug -- a great guy, and one of the smartest people I know. He told me about an e-mail that he sent the Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain campaigns. I asked him if I could include it in my blog, and he graciously assented.

It concerns the space program, which is an issue that's always been of great interest to Doug. So why am I including it in my blog? Three reasons.

1) I find the question he raises inherently valid and interesting.

2) I thought it was interesting on another level, beyond its ostensible subject. I haven't heard any of the candidates mention the space program. I've heard plenty about the subjects that the respective campaigns apparently consider to be of more immediate interest to likely voters. Those subjects include the war in Iraq, gas prices, global warming and the economy, as well as perennials such as abortion and gun control.

Yet the fact that it doesn't concern one of the issues du jour in no way takes away from the validity of Doug's question. The space station is still out there -- literally and figuratively -- and evidently still of interest to people such as Doug.

Ultimately, it serves as a reminder that presidential responsibilities encompass so dang much! Issues of pressing importance during the next presidency may include not only the ones that aren't cropping up in the stump speeches, but ones that we're not even aware of yet.

Trippy, huh?

3) Doug's experience with the respective campaigns provides a glimpse into how they operate. He said that both the Clinton and McCain campaigns sent him polite responses to the effect that they appreciate his input, and they regret that they can't get to every single question.

The Obama campaign, however, apparently put Doug on an e-mail list as a result of his query. He said he's been bombarded with campaign updates and requests that he get more involved in the effort to put Obama in the White House. I'm under the impression that Doug, a long-time Republican, finds that more than a little irritating.

Anyway, here's the text of Doug's e-mail to the three campaigns:

What are your plans to address America's access to space?

In 2010, we will retire our space shuttle fleet. With the next generation manned craft not due until 2014 or later, how will we ensure access to the International Space Station that we have born most of the cost for?

We are dependent on the Russians and others for access to this resource until we have our own capabilities.

In 1961, John F. Kennedy set the US a lofty goal, and we achieved that goal. In the process we created the most technologically advanced nation in the world.

Now it is going to take us nearly 15 years to achieve the same goal.

I'd like to hear your plan for the space program