Do the past eight years deserve a four-year extension?

That is the central question of the upcoming election. Not Sarah Palin. Not the novelty of her candidacy. Not John McCain's decision to pick her.

For as long as we debate Sarah Palin, we are falling into a trap designed by Republicans to distract us from the question that will decide this election.

I agree with Barack Obama: we should leave Bristol Palin alone.

There is plenty to criticize about her mother -- Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin -- without attacking the private life of a pregnant 17 year-old.

After the Democratic Convention had ended, after the speeches were made and the confetti settled on the ground at Invesco Field, I had a quiet dinner with a few members of my staff. A young African-American family sat at the table next to us. The parents wore t-shirts sporting Barak Obama's image. They had two daughters – I'm guessing about ten and fourteen years old.

Rep. Israel joined Sen. Hillary Clinton and the NY Delegation to nominate Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for President of the United States.

Today in Denver, I held a press conference with my colleague Rep. Anthony Weiner and Jim Kessler, Vice President of Policy for "Third Way."

While in Denver, CO, Rep. Israel runs into representatives from "The Israel Project."

Monday during the Democratic Convention: Rep. Steve Israel video blogs around Denver, runs into constituents and heads to the Pepsi Center for the evening's Convention line-up.

Credentials. They hang around the necks of conventioneers, like rare diamond necklaces. Credentials are what you need to access the Convention. And like everything else in America, they come in various classes. There are Floor credentials, Hall credentials, Arena credentials, Perimeter credentials, Honored Guest credentials, Special Guest credentials and Guest credentials.

Rep. Israel arrives in Denver and taxis to town.