She praised Hillary Clinton? Doesn't that giver her experience as a Democrat, not to mention First Lady? She's practically a shoo-in for the job. She'll need to get something with wider lapels, though, for all those merit badges.

She praised Hillary Clinton? Doesn't that give her experience as First Lady? She's practically a shoo-in for the job! She'll have to get something with wider lapels, though, for all the merit badges.

Add to that....if HRC had even the slightest lack of motivation to campaign for Obama before, she has all she needs now. No way will she let this anti-choice woman who called her a whiner be the first to the executive branch.

Hey, let's talk about Obama's speech some more !

Barack said change needs to come from outside Washington. She's the only one of the 4 of the tickets who is coming in from outside Washington. Talk about a curve ball. Just proves that...

MCCAIN IS MAVERICK!!!

Heh

Sorry for the double post; I was trying to correct a spelling mistake in the first one, and thought I had successfully canceled it.

Just a couple hours ago, a friend of mine (who was not sure about voting for Obama because she doesn't trust his ability to deliver on his promises) said the following (and I paraphrase):

"Sarah Fuckin' Palin? Are you kidding me? Obama's speech still didn't convince me to vote for him, but this did! My parents are Republicans, and I KNOW my Mom will now vote against McCain because of Sarah Fuckin' Palin."

Oh yeah. It's working all right.

I don't really give credence to the media story of the divided Democrats, but if there could possibly be any holdouts after the great convention, McCain has just signed, sealed, and delivered them to Obama with his blatant pandering.

The sad thing is he really probably thinks a couple ovaries and a pretty smile is all it takes.

Sarah Quayle Palin--nuff said.

But, it still could work. I mean there are those
pumas out there that could be attacted to McCain--like one of my coworkers who thought Obama wasn't "specific" enough in his acceptance speech.

Sarah Quayle Palin--nuff said.

But, it still could work. I mean there are those
pumas out there that could be attacted to McCain--like one of my coworkers who thought Obama wasn't "specific" enough in his acceptance speech.

Sarah Quayle Palin--nuff said.

But, it still could work. I mean there are those
pumas out there that could be attacted to McCain--like one of my coworkers who thought Obama wasn't "specific" enough in his acceptance speech.

This is a great pick by McCain! My wife and I are going to vote Republican for the first time EVER! This is due to The DNC & Obama camp Bad Treatment of Hillary & Bill. The Clintons have made this party Great and I will not support the People or Party officials that Spit in the FACE of the GOOD Democrats. McCain-Palin here we come!

I don't think it's about Hillary voters. I think it's about the "maverick" image and for appealing to the hard right evangelicals with an anti-abortion creationist.

They really believed 18 million Hillary voters were THAT annoyed? Maybe if he'd asked Mary Cheney he would've gotten a stir out of some, but hell's bells why choose a woman who looks like she belongs on a Betty Crocker commercial of 1966?

Utter stupidity is why. Nothing complex about it.

Note to the McCain campaign: we know Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is a friend of ours. Senator, Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton.

You've got to believe that the Obama campaign has that line cued up for the debates if either McCain or Palin make the comparison.

Palin is a bought and paid for tool of the oil corporations. Just like Dick Cheney. Just like George W. Bush. Just like John McCain.

As governor of Alaska, she has demonstrated her commitment to putting the profits of her cronies and financial backers in the oil corporations ahead of the interests of the people of her state.

As vice president, she will ably assist McCain in carrying on the CheneyBush policies which put the profits of the oil corporations ahead of the interests of the American people.

Government of, by and for ExxonMobil is not the change we need. It's more of the same.

Tone down the trolling, Robbo, not subtle enough. You want to make people actually think you are who you say you are. I like the random capitalization, though, I'd stick with that.

Yes, McCain is clearly a cynical manipulator and I think it will backfire. (As soon as voters and honest commentators ask themselves, would McCain have picked Palin with all the same background and traits, if not a woman? That's the proof.) As for the tit for tat argument, Obama doesn't have much experience either, the best reply is:
Obama was attractive to many *in spite of* his little bit of experience, only because of other traits and apparent talents such as shown by his book and speeches. What has Palin got to *comp* for her lack of experience?

Great pick for McCain i think alot of Dems will cross party lines!

It'd be nice if HRC would do a little bit more than she has.....

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/29/clinton-congratulates-palin/

Robert M must be a republican troll sent here to stir the pot. McCain-Palin here we come???? Sheesh! This isn't even convincing trollduggery.

I'm listening for that stampede of Hillary supporters headed to the McCain camp... still listening.

Behold once more the amazing political power of John McCain the pandering maverick.

Hey Orwell, most libs or whatever realized that Hillary came very close and just didn't quite win the Primaries. Now really, is Palin a good pick "for the good of the country" or not?

Is McCain saying Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison really isn't a woman or just that he wanted a woman who was younger, prettier and less experienced?

I love that no matter what, Issues & Policy are off the table.

No way will republicans debate their proposals on merit. They have their hacks in the media saying there isn't much difference in the candidates, they'd govern in a similar style. The party sends their henchman out to misrepresent their policies - an add suggesting that McCain's position on Roe V. Wade is the opposite of what it is.

How disingenuous is this?

Is there any doubt they'd use this tactic?

They think men and women of all ages, races, backgrounds are plain dumb!

But, they have reason to.

If Obama and Biden do not let up, they will win this thing by at least 10 percentage points.

By picking former beauty queen Sarah Palin I think McCain is going after the Naval midshipmen's vote.

In a word, McCain's choice is bizarre.

AAAhhh. the first day. On paper she looks good if you fudge a little. It's true that we have to be careful. But really, don't you think we should just treat her as an equal. meaning same questions Biden gets, the EXACT same, she gets. There's no reason to be condescending, just demand the same treatment. Because we know the press is going to demand more of Biden. I'm getting angina thinking of the press going "Awwww ain't she cute. She's from Alaska and was mean to the bridge." The reality is the press wants the race to be close and they'll do anything to make it so. Even it means 4 more years of Bush. Actually now worse than Bush. The next couple of weeks are going to be very interesting.

Palin is HOT!!!

Obama / Palin '08, Unity Ticket!!!

At the risk of being called a "concern troll" by those who have voted the same way I have for decades, this pick is a concern for us. Is it cynical? Absolutely. Is she horrible on the issues most important to us? No question.

But I just had a 45 year old professional women with an Ivy League PhD who is a LIFELONG democrat say to me, "I kind of like her."

This needs to be handled intelligently -- with kid gloves.

Carol Shepp was a model, and I think a pageant contestant.

Cindy was a "rodeo queen," whatever the hell that is.

Now Sarah Palin, runner-up in Miss Alaska.

What is with McCain and the beauty pageant set? Does anyone else notice this, or find this kind of strange?

Since Obama loser speech last night and John "the HERO-POW" McCain pick - I've gotten one thousand hundred emails in my inbox from life long democrats who thought Obama's lofty rhetoric didn't clarify his positions, and he's a celebrity, who said that after the Jennifer Palin pick they were so going to vote for John Bush.

Obama is in trouble now!

Alright, I'll admit that my views are rarely seconded around here, but here goes.

Brilliant choice by McCain. Palin is an ultra right wing, attractive, trophy veep -- the absolutely perfect Republican choice.

The base is going to love her NRA, anti-choice, let's kill of the polar bear mentality.

In the meantime, there are a lot of uneducated (who knew) voters out there -- and yes, many of them are women, and many of them are not true blue Democrats. They have voted for Bush, are ashamed of it, but don't want to admit they don't like the idea of voting for, you know, that guy.

All of you who think Palin is a terrible choice, I ask you "were you thinking of voting for McCain?"

So, has McCain hit a home run, to use the cliché du jour? Maybe.

But two things should be taken into account: Quayle didn't sink Bush I's first presidential election (or second for that matter); but it is also true that Palin is probably out of her league against Obama and Biden -- we shall see.

But I think it was a great pick. I asked every Republican I know (five) what they thought, and all thought it was a great pick. I asked a number of Democrats and a half-dozen thought it was nuts, and two said they were going to vote McCain/Palin. Another said they would think about it. Oh well.

this choice just isn't about choice - it's about women in a position of power. Obama snubbed Hillary for just such a position: McCain is astutely drawing atention to that snub. It will turn out to be a bad choice if she can't aquit herself well - but if she sounds smart and well informed and commited and proves to be an effective public speaker, well then it will be a very smart choice because her career, brief as it his, and her personal story and the way the boldness of choice reflects on McCain will serve McCaiin's cause well. Obama wants to be about change and yet he chooses a running mate who's about as establishment as you can get - whereas McCain has the balls to do something truly dramatic. It will all depend on how she performs in the coming weeks. So save your partisan nonsense til then Drum.

As governor of Alaska, she has demonstrated her commitment to putting the profits of her cronies and financial backers in the oil corporations ahead of the interests of the people of her state.
Posted by: SecularAnimist

Really? Alaska has oil. Extracting that oil brings in revenue directly and provides jobs for people in the oil industry. Why again is that bad? I thought democrats were for job creation?

Look at a map of Alaska, at how much land is federally controlled. Federal gubmint owns 60% of the land there! How much of the state where you live is federally owned?

Not sure how the bold type got in there...

I had this girlfriend in college; we’ll call her ‘Jane’. We had been doing our thing for a few months and I decided to end it. Jane drove a green Ford Granada. I was more respectful of Jane than Barack was of Hillary. For months and months after we parted ways, I would see that car parked along the roadways that I walked on a regular basis. She was sitting in the car glaring at me. It was creepy.

John McCain reportedly played the field quite a lot at the Academy. I believe that his decision was strategic. Not only on with the 40+ year old women, but also for the VP debate. Palin effectively disarms Biden. See Hillary’s first Senate debates.

Between picking Palin and managing the news cycle, today was a good day for John McCain.

GOP platform backs off Arctic oil to help McCain - AP 8/27/08

lol....

Biden only needs to say one line in his debate with Palin: "Governor, I know and work with Senator Clinton, and you're no Senator Clinton!"

orlo wrote: "So save your partisan nonsense til then Drum." hmmmm... you don't even know that steve benen now writes this blog... and given the rest of your post makes me wonder if you know anything...

Yeah, she'll be great at selling a dead parrot.

No, wait a minute.. that was Michael Palin. How silly of me.

And now for something COMPLETELY different --

The rule is you don't have to have experience if you're a Republican. If all you've done is been mayor of a small town, that's good! Shows you're a regular person, know how to get things done, will stir Washington up. But if you're a Democrat, you have to already be President to have enough experience to be President! If you have any other qualifications, that counts against you, means you're a pointy-headed intellectual, and are you looking down on me?

This rule is know to all the pundits. Watch as they apply it.

but....but...but... John McCain couldn't possibly have made a mistake. He was a POW in Viet Nam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Governor, I know and work with Senator Clinton, and you're no Senator Clinton!"

“That is because I am the Chief Executive of the State of Alaska, am raising five beautiful children, and don’t whine about being a victim. Stutter-Boy.�

Maybe I give McCain too much credit, but I don't think choosing Palin was an attempt, by and large, to woo Clinton supporters.

The main purpose of her selection is to energize the Evangelical base. McCain wasn't doing it. The cynicism I see lies with sort of a morbid promise: McCain is old, and Palin could be President before four years are up. McCain has said he'll only serve one term, so Palin would be poised with her VP cred to run for President in '12.

I have seen this,
"This is a great pick by McCain! My wife and I are going to vote Republican for the first time EVER! This is due to The DNC & Obama camp Bad Treatment of Hillary & Bill."
from two different commenters here, I think it's running around in chain emails for fakes to put up on blogs etc.

SJRSM, should pretty much all that revenue go only to the people of the state where the oil lies? Alaska has a better arrangement about that than other states. But the point is, Palin doesn't learn how to make the hard choices other governors do.

To all of you who think that McCain's choice was pandering to the HRC vote I believe that you are correct.

To all of you who think that the pandering won't work: have you over estimated the intelligence of the American voter?

There seems to be a ~42% who will support McCain no matter what. I will bet that by November the smear machine will combine with the PUMA vote and swing the election to McCain.

I hope not, but I fear it nonetheless.
Obama 08!

SJRSM wrote: "Alaska has oil. Extracting that oil brings in revenue directly and provides jobs for people in the oil industry. Why again is that bad?"

From the Newsmax.com interview:

Newsmax: "What is your take on global warming and how is it affecting our country?"

Sarah Palin: "A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made."

Alaska is indeed, as even Palin admits, experiencing some of the worst impacts of anthropogenic global warming, which is more rapid and severe in in northern polar regions.

A year ago, Palin herself signed an administrative order establishing a "sub-cabinet" group to advise the Alaska government "on the preparation and implementation of an Alaska climate change strategy" to address the rapidly escalating impacts of anthropogenic climage change on the state. The advisory group outlines the ongoing destructive effects of anthropogenic global warming on Alaska:

• melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and flooding of coastal communities. Warming of oceans and melting of land-based ice increases the volume of ocean water. Loss of sea-ice cover changes habitat for arctic species and leaves coastal communities more exposed to larger waves generated by severe storms.
• thawing permafrost, increased storm severity, and related infrastructure damage to roads, utility infrastructure, pipelines and buildings. Extremes in weather patterns, precipitation and rising sea levels will affect safe water sources in villages, and contributes to increased erosion along Alaska coasts and rivers and undermines Alaska boreal forests.
• loss of the subsistence way of life as animal habitat and migration patterns shift and as hunting and fishing become more dangerous with changing sea and river ice. Warming streams and increased silt from melting glaciers affect fish habitat. Boreal forests advance northward and to higher elevations, displacing tundra. Invasive species compete with native vegetation. Humans, animals and plants may be exposed to new infectious diseases as habitat changes.
• forest fires and insect infestations increasing in frequency and intensity. In the past decade, Alaska has witnessed a record loss of forests to fires and spruce bark beetles.

Yet, even as the destructive impacts of anthropogenic global warming on her own state accelerate, Palin denies that the warming is "man-made" (contradicting the acknowledgement by her own advisory group that "Scientists attribute the accelerating rate of global warming to manmade greenhouse gas emissions").

She discourages and disparages investment in the advanced efficiency and clean, renewable energy technologies which will be the basis of the post-fossil fuel New Industrial Revolution of the 21st Century, with the potential for creating millions of new, high-paying, high-quality jobs in the USA. She fights for the fossil fuel industries to maintain their obscene profits and their death-grip on US energy policy, while Germany, Spain, Japan and China dominate the rapidly growing world market for wind and solar energy technology.

She demands that the American people hand over precious, irreplaceable public resources to her cronies and financial backers in the fossil fuel corporations so they can drill for more oil, both offshore and in ANWR, and strip-mine the Appalachians and the Rockies for coal and oil shale.

Like Cheney, Bush and McCain, Palin is a deceitful extremist who puts the trillion-dollar profits of the fossil fuel corporations ahead of the lives and livelihoods of the American people.

She's a perfect match for the shameless liar, career white collar crook and tool of corporate lobbyists, John McCain.

/snark
I have a question about the judgment of a 43/44 year old woman getting pregnant while recently being elected to the position of Governor of AK. Now, some may say this is sexist, but here is the point: Women of a certain age who become pregnant have greater risks of having difficult pregnancies and having "special needs" babies. The job of a governor requires a great amount of time and energy, even of a "small" (population) state like AK. This raises several questions: does she know about birth control or is she one of the anti-bc/abstinence advocates who just got carried away in the moment...perhaps at 3 am. What is her appeal to the Schlafly crowd of stay at home mother advocates? Is Mr. Palin going to be Mr. Mom? When did she stop nursing her baby, or did she not make that choice? I read where she made the "choice" to have the child, so did she consider another option...? Does that make her pro-choice for the record? Evolution or Creationism? Global warming or Natural Cycles?
Just a few questions among many more.

Any takers?

I am committed to Oneness through Justice and Transformation
peace,
st john

Look at a map of Alaska, at how much land is federally controlled. Federal gubmint owns 60% of the land there! How much of the state where you live is federally owned?

Not so much, but then again in my state (New York) people actually live and work there, and don't rely on socialized yearly handout checks from big government.

But I just had a 45 year old professional women with an Ivy League PhD who is a LIFELONG democrat say to me, "I kind of like her."

I realize that as a pro-life Libertarian my opinion hardly counts here, but I can sort of see where your friend is coming from. Projecting a few years in the future, if she were to drop out of the scumbucket party, I might vote for her. (Putting her down for Alaska's lack of population, as the last post I see on here, or for the small number of days AK's legislature meets seems particularly petty. Don't forget that a lot of us aren't convinced that bigger government is better.)

But as compelling as I find her basic small-government orientation, that doesn't change the fact that I know damn well this is just a crass political stunt by the McCain campaign. And that just really underscores my belief that our nation is even more screwed if that clown ever reaches office.

our nation is even more screwed if that clown [McCain] ever reaches office.

God yes.

She's a perfect match for the shameless liar, career white collar crook and tool of corporate lobbyists, John McCain.

Posted by: SecularAnimist

Couldn't agree more.

For those who care, Robert M @ 5:06PM, Tom in Cali @ 5:10PM and Anthony in NJ @ 5:44PM are all the same person; or at least using the same email address. And apparently using the same brain cell, too considering the content of the postings.
Had Rove, sorry, I mean McCain, chosen Hutchison or Snowe there might actually have been something to worry about. Either of them would have represented a direct attack on the Democratic party's lead in female voters with a good chance of making a sizable and possibly election-winning dent in that lead.
This is simply another Republican electoral scam that will probaly end up biting them in the posterior right around election day; that's when the results of the AK AG's and AK legislature's investigations of Gov. Palin's involvement in the firing of her ex-brother-in-law are made public.

It's funny McCain's only qualification appears to be his failure in Vietnam (noun POW verb POW adjective POW) and his VP's only qualification is that she doesn't have a penis. And still the two of them are more qualified than George W. Bush was - then again, so's my dog - at least she won't start murdering innocent civilians as revenge for an event caused by unrelated parties.

The concept of McCain as a Maverick is pounded out continuously, but, for me McCain is simply a weirdo old man following a game plan they all knew. Especially Mainstream Media across the board and they are all pulling it off as if Oh my, what a surprise, gee, McCain really is a Maverick picking a Maverick such as Sarah Palin. Not. Is she a Maverick, not really? What was funny, a news Journalist says Palin’s son is going to Iraq in the Army so that makes her some what foreign policy experienced and savvy.

Here, for practical politics, McCain once a time ago waded and swamped in Banking Scandal into the billions totally linked to the Bush family even way back then. That Silverado stuff, but like Mr. Connecto that McCain is slipped right out of any wrong doing. Now, Alaska, involved with the longest term Senator Sevens who highly and likely is also swamped in scandal has a Maverick governor after decades who is pulling Alaska out of the dark corporate corruptions that plagued the state, how convenient for America to have such a hero. All the while, not thinking about Iraq, only about delivering gas pipelines to mid America to save us all from terrorist. Well, where was Mainstream Media all that time.

Consider the ideal McCain can turn around one hundred and eighty degrees on the experience issue. Here, dump all that past rhetoric and select someone who has zero thoughtfulness on Iraq Plus constantly accusing Obama or Clinton of surrendering. Please don’t even tell about the executive experience Palin has where it is considerably more than Obama’s. Please the Media has a great deal to explain since Obama needed to manage his Champaign juggling and struggling across fifty states to understand the details and needs of each one is an incredible executive skill to work on the fly. And here, to be sure all this pouting over and over again that this war in Iraq is like no other war in our time needs someone who has the energy and talent to be able to do just that.

Actually Iam comforted that Hillary would be able to do just that too, but Obama has demonstrated that will and effort to "Keep Going" don't give up, when you hear the dogs bark keep going, if you see the torches keep going, if you want a taste of freedom keep going.

So lets get going and elect Obama, bring the solders home to let Iraq get going.

I know the right is thrilled with Palin, but Rove must not be. Just replace Kaine with Palin and see how well it fits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNu1uRcs87I&eurl=http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x177694

It doesn't make sense to me, as a ploy for Hillary voters. I mean, the number of Hillary voters who are up for grabs--that must be a tiny number anyway. Probably the few who were willing to vote for McCain were probably already going to vote for him, just out of a grudge against Obama. The number of women for whom gender is the only thing that matters, even over choice, has got to be beyond statistically insignificant.

Even as an impulsive decision, with the chance at getting more Hillary voters as an extra bonus, I could understand this--but with a prepackaged scandal that she's already carrying as baggage? They must really not have thought this through.

Are any right wing blogs/commentators critical of the decision, I wonder?

It doesn't make sense to me, as a ploy for Hillary voters. I mean, the number of Hillary voters who are up for grabs--that must be a tiny number anyway. Probably the few who were willing to vote for McCain were probably already going to vote for him, just out of a grudge against Obama. The number of women for whom gender is the only thing that matters, even over choice, has got to be beyond statistically insignificant.

Even as an impulsive decision, with the chance at getting more Hillary voters as an extra bonus, I could understand this--but with a prepackaged scandal that she's already carrying as baggage? They must really not have thought this through.

Are any right wing blogs/commentators critical of the decision, I wonder?

there is a reason or two that mcCain couldn't beat bUsh in 00 primary. and this kind of choice shows his flawed logic. exposes him as the loser he is. he just handed a bunch of girlie votes back to oBama.
cynical doesn't begin to describe this decision...

Palin has no demonstrable credibility in national politics. Right out of the chute she lied about her affinity for Ferraro and Clinton. And her part in the Bridge to Nowhere. And "reform" (thanks uncle Ted!). She is a liar under investigation for using typical Republican intimidation tactics. And dismisses science and learning. And that is just today. This is a scary day--the kind of day that Rove always brings humanity. Wait till she is really vetted. May need the National Inquirer for that. . .

st. john:

I have a question about the judgment of a 43/44 year old woman getting pregnant while recently being elected to the position of Governor of AK. Now, some may say this is sexist, but here is the point: Women of a certain age who become pregnant have greater risks of having difficult pregnancies and having "special needs" babies.

But that's science and stats.

Despite Sarah being the child of a science teacher she accepts Creationism and knows nothing about global warming. She believes in the efficacy of prayer. God wouldn't give her a Mongolian idiot... Would he?

/snark /snark /snark
(i.e. I see your snark and raise you two snarks.)

its obviously a grab for female voters and it will work.....can we get footage of her in a gang-bang ala "the contender"?

I don't think we need to use disparaging terms for her special needs baby. I've heard that Down's Syndrome children are some of the sweetest and most lovable. In fact I had a little encounter with a grown up Downs Syndrome guy today.

It was in the parking lot of a supermarket and he was gathering up carts. "I'm a different color today," he said. Then he proudly explained that he was wearing an orange vest. I figured out that meant he had gotten a promotion. Then he said, "Maybe I'll be the manager." I gave him a thumbs up and kidded him that he might be president. He smiled shyly and shook his head. "The manager."

A little bit of synchronicity about today's news.

That's Just What I Said

Palin may not be a holocaust denier but Pat Buchanan says she and her husband were "brigaders" for him in 1996. The ADL, as you know, says Buchanan is an anti-semite and a Hitler apologist. I wonder if she forget to tell McCain this.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/

This is just priceless - here's who the idiots thinking Palin is a replacement for Hillary Clinton are pushing:

State Senate President Lyda Green said she thought it was a joke when someone called her at 6 a.m. to tell her the news.

Yep, that's McCain, a joke candidate with a joke VP candidate.

Hey, one of my supporters asked me early in the primaries, "How do we stop the Bitch?".. and I said, "my friends, that's a very good question... but did you hear this one?... why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?... Because her father is Janet Reno... heh heh heh"

Yeah, no doubt, the final nudge to push all those Hillary supporters to me is to choose a pro-life, pro-creationism, non-baby-boomer, former sportscaster and beauty queen as veep. C'mon, she's got ovaries, dammit!

- JM

Palin is not, I think, going to appeal to Hillary Democrats. She will appeal to those soccer Moms who are not Hillary Democrats. Don't know how many of those there are, though.

I think Obama/Bidden will pretty much avoid direct hits on Palin and hammer McCain on the judgement issue. This is Harriet Miers, Redux. Chosing Palin really knocks the legs out from under John McCain. The extreme christian right is no longer on the rise. Its flat and beginning to wane. She'll appeal only to the hardcore. She completely undermines McCain's national security arguement. Chosing her has put the nation at risk.

This really will be remembered as an epic political blunder. Once the twilight zone publicity dies down (probably ater McCain embarasses himself at the convention) the media will have a feeding frenzy with this.

This is not a pick to attract Hillary supporters. McCain needs to attract votes from the right wing undecided voters.

I really wonder if she was vetted very well. It sure seems like she has a lot of skeletons in her closet.

The oinkers around here shouldn't even be mentioning Hillary's name. Screw you.

McCain did manage to step on the buzz from Obama's stirring closing ceremony speech. Palin-Biden seems a clear mismatch but perhaps not since she is such a charmer

Since Palin was a successful point guard, maybe she and Obama should go one-on-one.

homer www.altara.blogspot.com

This is a real opportunity for the women of America to break the glass ceiling, with an accomplished wholesome, all American female. It would be a shame if a small group of angry women empowered the historical male chauvinist attitude which has held women back for so long. America should elect McCain & Palin for the Whitehouse in November ... for a return to wholesome American values. When it comes down to an experienced, successful Governor for Vice President ... versus a community organizer and absentee junior senator, for President ... Most of America would pick Governor Palin every time ... I would.
No Wright, no Farrakahn, no Ayers, no Rezko, no mean Michelle, NOBAMA

I am visiting here after Googling "palin selection cynical" - curious to see the reaction to the selection of an attractive and successful female executive as McCain's VP running mate.

From the poisonous comments above, it looks like the selection has you lot more than a little worried. Is it that she has more executive experience than Obama? Or more balls?

I think that the Obama campaign is handling Palin correctly on this one. If they go after her too hard, the media won't pounce on her you know the way they will after her first inevitable gaffe.

Also, I saw this on the blog of Craig’s List founder, Craig Newmark, yesterday and thought it was a great concept and worth sharing:

"Hey, this is a good example of genuine grassroots democracy:

ObamaTravel.org is a platform that connects volunteers who want to travel to a swing state with financial sponsors and swing state host families. It’s sort of a political hybrid of craigslist and Team-in-Training - volunteers post profiles and solicit sponsorship from their family and friends. Sponsors can see their donations in action by following the activities of their volunteers.

... and let's remember that "community organizing" is pure grassroots democracy."