As I've mentioned here before, a poster on HuffPo claimed that someone he knew in the Romney campaign had told him that Romney, Hutchinson, Pawlenty and Jindal had all turned McCain down.

Bearing in mind the mounting evidence that a week ago McCain barely knew Palin existed, now might be a good time to look more closely into that rumor.

I've been pushing the gambling connection in blog comment threads all weekend, and I'm glad to see it's finally gaining traction on the major blogs. This is the best frame through which to view the Palin pick: it's another roll of the dice from a guy who loves to gamble -- only this time we're the ones who had to stake him.

Did anyone see the NY Times article on Cheney today which has a Cheney quote in a photo caption (page 22 print edition) saying "My jot as vice president is as an adviser. I don't run anything." Aside from this being an outright lie about Cheney's activities, how would Palin possibly begin to meet even this criteria for the VP position?

Dianaw

Stunning.

McCain had five months or so to make this pick, after wrapping up the campaign by March.

And he ended up procrastinating and then making a hurried, harried pick.

Compare to the deliberative process of Obama.

The more I learn about this choice, the more it reminds me of Bush's choice of Harriet Miers.

I doubt Bush picked Harriet Miers because he was hot for her.

McCain's an old boy. I want a grown-up for Prez.

All Palin would have to do is climb into the cab of the vice-presidency and let the Cheney machine keep chugging along. Tell her to bring her iPod.

That's Just What I Said

I have to wonder if the Repubs really just don't want McCain to win, so they're sabotaging his chances. Perhaps they really just don't like him, and know they don't have anyone this cycle.

I suspect that McCain chose his VP the way he chooses his wives and his wars: impulsively, and not for profound reasons.

I trust that the networks will have teams of body-language experts poring over the video of McCain checking out his VP's "assets", right? (I'm sure his behavior says only good things about his character, but apparently I need a little help figuring out the details.) (/snark)

I said under the previous post...Obama left his convention with his message firm: McCain equals four more years of Bush, and McCain's immediate responce is to pick a totally unqualified runningmate who's only benefit is firing up George Bush's base. These social conservative creaming in their pants over Palin are the last of George Bush's supporters. His choice was reckless and irresponsible, and it played right into Obama's hands.

Plenty will be coming out about Plain and McCain's process of choosing her...none of it good. Booing the mention of Hillary Clinton's name, virulently pro-life, creationist, ties to big oil...she cleaves him tighter to Bush.

This election was lost Friday. Its over.

Hilzoy said, "...[McCain] seems to be thrilled at the chance to be a maverick again..."

I just want to clarify again that the "maverick" label was applied because McCain used to have a limited tendency to buck his own party...not pander to it. I don't think the label applies here.

You guys are getting closer. Keep up the good work. Thank you!

I referred to an analysis of McCain on The Carpetbagger a while back that is worthy of revisiting here:

'John McCain's "histrionic pattern of personality adjustment"'
By Aubrey Immelman
December 6, 1999

http://www.csbsju.edu/uspp/McCain/McCain%27s_%27histrionic%27_personality.html

An excerpt:

"Characteristic behavior. Outgoing personalities are typically friendly and engaging. In more intense form these personalities are livewire, animated bon vivants. In its most extreme, often maladaptive form, histrionic personalities are flamboyant, self-dramatizing thrill-seekers with a penchant for momentary excitements, fleeting adventures, and shortsighted, hedonistic self-indulgence. As leaders they tend to lack "gravitas" and may be prone to scandal, predisposed to reckless, imprudent behaviors, with a penchant for spur-of-the-moment decisions without carefully considering alternatives."

it's rumored Trig Paxson Van Palin is not Sara Palin's son but is her grandson.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/121350/137/486/580223

Among other things, I wonder if this shows us that McCain is one of those people afraid to hire someone competent for fear of being shown up. He's happy with this choice because it makes him comfortable, not because this is good for the nation.

"I have to wonder if the Repubs really just don't want McCain to win, so they're sabotaging his chances. Perhaps they really just don't like him, and know they don't have anyone this cycle."

I think so. In this case, Palin is the lipstick on the pig [McCain]

In each case, the person who made the choice had wanted to pick someone else, someone he regarded as a close friend.

I agree with the Miers analogy, but am I missing something? Did Bush have a preference for a SCOTUS nominee before Miers?

I agree with the Miers analogy, but am I missing something? Did Bush have a preference for a SCOTUS nominee before Miers?

Word was he really wanted to nominate Gonzales.

I have five suggestions for the Obama campaign on how to react to the choice of Palin (http://www.adfinemfidelis.net/mongrel/2008/08/31/mccains-vp/) but the most salient one is this: They should take a proactive aggressive stance to prevent the sexist sniping that seems fated to follow. During the campaign, Hilary die-hards felt that the media fed -- and Senator Obama failed to fend off -- a misogynistic atmosphere. He should learn from that and be very explicit that "supporters" of his that attack Gov. Palin on sexist grounds are not welcome in his campaign. Not only does he earn political points and reinforce his call for a new politics -- it's also the right thing to do.

And heaven knows, the Republicans couldn't even conceive of such a high-road strategy, much less know how to react to it.

N Wells - Someone has already done an observation of body language between McCain and Palin. Don't have anything in your mouth when you watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qUVQDmLf7s&eurl=http://web.me.com/dnksr/vpilf.com/SARAH_PALIN__Vice_President_Nominee/Entries/2008/8/30_McCains_Brain%3A_The_Truth_Behind_hi

Bad Boy my ass - this guy has a textbook case of ADD.

Something stinks in McDenmark

How does the double-or-nothing McCain jibe with the NYT info that McCain really wanted Lieberman?
How does the chance-to-be-a-maverick-again McCain jibe with the NYT info?

I can't seem to splice these antipodean ideas together in my mind.

Quite frankly:

I don't think this was McCain's choice.
I think it was Rove&Co. I believe McCain is a shell of his former self. I think he is forgetting things left and right and has ceded control to Rove&Co. I believe McCain is shedding neocortex data like a 90 year old. I suspect he has a hard time tying his own shoes.

But you might argue: Wouldn't Rove&Co. vet a little better?

I don't have a strong answer for that...
Except to say that perhaps not even McCain's inside team is inspired by him. If that is the case they will take shortcuts, bloat their expense accounts, and steal time from the boss. Think of Iraq and New Orleans. Now add a third item: Iraq, New Orleans, and the McCain campaign.

McCain's inside team might very well be plundering McCain's coffers. For all we know they might have assured McCain that she was fully vetted. If so, when all this leaks out, McCain's team will end up making Hillary's look like disciplined Spartans.

N Wells - Someone has already done an observation of body language between McCain and Palin. Don't have anything in your mouth when you watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qUVQDmLf7s&eurl=http://web.me.com/dnksr/vpilf.com/SARAH_PALIN__Vice_President_Nominee/Entries/2008/8/30_McCains_Brain%3A_The_Truth_Behind_hi

In all seriousness, was McCain really looking over her shoulder to the papers she was reading from? Why does he always look so awkward like he doesn't know what he should be doing??

"The paper's (massive) archives are not online."

I don't think that's strictly true. I just ran an online archive search from November 1998 through August 2001, for the word "Palin."

Frontiersman archives

They may go back farther...I was just testing.

Anyone else read the dKos report referenced by Judson, above? Fascinating! If true, it totally blows this selection out of the water, and McCain's "judgment and vetting process". The word is: hypocrisy.

peace,
st john

Since McCain has zero chance of winning, isn't the real impact of the selection of Governor Palin and the incompetence of McCain's staff on the Senate races. The important question is how close will the Democrats get to having 60 seats in the Senate and making the Republican Party irrelevant on the national level?

Picking Palin without doing a thorough background check first is of a piece with this: chafing at discipline, playing the odds, liking to bend the rules and get away with it, wanting to be a bad boy. -- Hilzoy

I don't think it was even an example of gambling (bad enough in itself).To me, it looks more like McCain is going into his second childhood period.

You won't let me have my lieber LIEberman? Then I'll go: Eeny, meeny, miny mo; pick a Palin by her toe. Na na na...

Reform is good, but only if it comes from the inside?

Those of us who live in Alaska know that even if you don't support her, never underestimate her. Your fear is justified, because once she is interviewed on Tv, the public will fall for her.

You can take solice in the fact that she will turn the Republican party inside out.

Obama worked with Biden for four years before choosing him as his vice president.

McCain talked to Palin in-person for 30 minutes, then had a brief phone call with her, and then met with her to offer her the job.

As other people have mentioned, you spend more time hiring part-time employees than McCain spent screening Palin. Hell, we look at our temps more closely than he looked at Palin.

Actually, you can splice all the threads together into a pretty neat narrative.

McCain wanted Lieberman all along. He strung along the rest of the VP cast, and because of that, they turned him down at the last minute. (And I'm guessing last minute meaning after Obama drank their milkshake on Thursday night).

Nobody wants to be thought of as a loser. Yes. I think it's THAT dire for them.

So out of options, and running out of time, they make a snap decision to run a gimmick play.

Very interesting.
Right after I finished writing the above piece, I read this over at Steve Clemon's site:

Who choose Sarah Palin?

McCain's choice is also reminiscent of Bush's putting Arabian show horse expert Michael Brown in charge of FEMA.

This country only has 50 governors and it takes some measure of political skill to win the office in the first place and govern after the election. There is no reason why any sitting governor anywhere in the US should not be able to step up to the job of president. So to say that Palin is unqualified is a bit unfair. Palin has traveled almost as much as Governor Bush had traveled prior to his election. It is hard to imagine that a President Palin would do a worse job on foreign policy as President Bush ahs.

In fact, she might make a better president that McCain. She supports SCHIP- McCain voted against. She asked about an exit strategy from Iraq- McCain wants us to still be there in 2100. Palin is not likely to bomb Iran- McCain sings ditties about "Bomb bomb Iran". She is in tin foil hat territory on global warming, creationism and flat earth topics, but so are over 50% of all Americans.

Rory:
Except half the Alaska GOP doesn't like her now, and her buddy Parnell couldn't beat Don Young in the primary.

*

Okay, looking farther back, I'm guess the online archives don't go back before maybe, 2000.

Pay attention, we're being introduced to the new face of the republican party. All of the dirt will be dug up now and be old news in four years and, "they" have four years to groom and educate Ms. Palin...

As I've mentioned here before, a poster on HuffPo claimed that someone he knew in the Romney campaign had told him that Romney, Hutchinson, Pawlenty and Jindal had all turned McCain down.

This is nonsense. I have more inside info on the pick than any random poster on the blogosphere.

While I admit that not picking Mitt Romney is disappointing, but it was not because Mitt waived the white flag. Mitt did not retreat from this challenge.

If selected Mitt would have reported for duty.

Thank You.

McBOC

So my aids told me I couldn’t pick my BFF Joe to be my vice-president. Well I showed all those limp little dicks. Bet they wish they would have let me chose Joe now!

Borderline redux

st john: Anyone else read the dKos report referenced by Judson, above? Fascinating!

Yes it is fascinating. And never mind whether or it is true or not. (I suspect probably not.) On first blush it is compelling enough to gain traction, injure McCain-Palin, and make them play defense.

Team Barack of course won't go there.
Hell Huffington Post hasn't gone there yet.

That doesn't mean enterprising posters can't spread that link to every web site they visit. Ultimately it is a moral call. If you are in favor of swift-boating republicans with a club the size of Alaska then grab the link and post it wheresoever you surf:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/30/121350/137/486/580223

But remember: It is a moral call! And your calculus ought not to include the fact that if the boot was reversed, the republicans would be kicking the snot out of us with it.

Just because they are goats and monkeys doesn't not mean we must hee-haw too.

"There is no reason why any sitting governor anywhere in the US should not be able to step up to the job of president."

Montgomery County, MD, has 1.5 times the population of Alaska. In fact, 85 counties in the US have populations larger than Alaska.

The thing is Republicans have bad experience based on bad ideas. So none of them are "qualified". McCain is the least qualified of them all because he adds a psycho temperament to all their bad ideas.

Week End God Report

@Judson:

Dude. Knock it off with the 'child or grandchild' thing. There is as much evidence of that as there is that Obama is a Muslim. And even if it were true ... who cares? She has lied about more important things. No Republican-style distractions - focus on what we know.

Anyone else read the dKos report referenced by Judson, above? Fascinating!

I'm with Andrew Sullivan on this one:

"I am asking the McCain campaign to resolve a factual question which they must already have covered in the vetting process. After all, this baby was a centerpiece of the public case for Palin made by the Republicans. They made it an issue - and therefore it is legitimate to ask questions about it. That's all."

beep52

I just got to Andrew.
Was shocked to see he is now at the point man on all this.

I loved this lede from one of his posts:

If McCain had vetted her, the Internet wouldn't have to. And this would be a private matter if the McCain-Palin campaign hadn't made the baby a key campaign point. Once they made it a reason to vote for someone, it's reasonable for bloggers to ask questions about it, especially when there are so many strange twists to the story. But, look: I hope this isn't true, and it can easily be disproved quickly. I'll immediately post any evidence that answers the questions.

"If selected Mitt would have reported for duty.

Thank You."

McCain Blog Outreach Coordinator

Agreed. He would have reported sharply, promptly, and with his dog strapped to his back.

Notwithstanding...

Mickey Rooney is justifiably pissed. His height, celebrity, age, lack of foreign policy experience, multiple -- countless -- marriages, and general lack of breasts disqualified him, in his view.

Rooney believes this to be unfair, a stab-in-the-back to constipated-Americans and potentially constipated-Americans. Generations of them.

The legendary actor grudgingly admitted that he thought Sarah Palin has been treated like his late friend Judy Garland ("fed drugs and made to perform"). Still sulking, his only additional comment was, "Why doesn't Senator McMurray pick on somebody his own size!"

My dad just pointed me to Andrew Halcro's website (www.andrewhalcro.com). He was Palin's Republican gubernatorial primary challenger in Alaska. He doesn't have a lot of kind words for her, though.

He just reported that a McCain team just arrived in Wasilla to conduct background checks and vetting on Palin. 2 days post-hoc. Rushed and impulsive, indeed.

My dad just pointed me to Andrew Halcro's website (www.andrewhalcro.com). He was Palin's Republican gubernatorial primary challenger in Alaska. He doesn't have a lot of kind words for her, though.

He just reported that a McCain team just arrived in Wasilla to conduct background checks and vetting on Palin. 2 days post-hoc. Rushed and impulsive, indeed.

"Enjoying craps opens up a window on a central thread constant in John's life," says John Weaver, McCain's former chief strategist, who followed him to many a casino. "Taking a chance, playing against the odds."

...and always, always losing to the house in the long run.

He's not a maverick, he's a self-destructive idiot.

Can you say, "Bernie Kerik?"

I knew you could.

That's, "whistling past the graveyard", Dave. Similarly, it's "agitprop", for "agitation propaganda". Still, I know you must be an educated man, since you led off with Shakespeare - I didn't realize that was on the curriculum at Nazi Camp.

All the twaddle about taking a gamble is crediting Grampy Walnut with too much initiative; this is likely the work of his kook advisers, who were more interested in stepping all over any bounce the Dems might get out of their convention. This is all tactics and laziness. If she lasts until the debate, Biden will have to go very gently, or he'll be seen as bullying her. Still, every day the Rightwads trot out another slate of her supposed stellar qualifications: fire it off to Biden, and have him question her on them all. It won't take long for The Governess to stumble.

Thank you, dr. bloor. "maverick" has been a polite euphemism for erratic and unstable.

McCain is a fucking loose cannon.

Halcro wrote an opinion piece for the New York Post about Palin. Via Halcro's website:

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/new_york_post_opinion_piece

I remember Knowles saying what was most surprising to him regarding his polling data was that Palin scored off the charts with well educated moderate and liberal women. This seemed counter intuitive given Palin's inability to articulate critical public policies and her very conservative position on issues such as abortion.

But this was the power of Palin. This was what some might call the X factor and it's Palin's greatest strength.
---
While you may disagree with Governor Palin on important policy issues as I have, it is clear why John McCain tapped her as his co-pilot for this groundbreaking battle She is a fierce competitor who does not give up the fight and she connects well with voters and represents the down-to-earth values and fierce independence that Americans respect. Sen. Obama and Biden would be wise not be underestimated her.

Now I see what McCain liked about her...

I'm just surprised at how much Republicans will tolerate in order to remain 'loyal' to their party. Reminds me of the victim mentality. If they think that blind loyalty will somehow improve the party, they should take a lesson from American automakers in the 70s and 80s when Japanese car manufacturers were kicking the snot out of them. If grass-roots dyed-in-the-wool Republicans really want their party back from these neo-con bafoons, then they have to stop rewarding them for poor performance.

Speaking of taking chances, Benen in his former incarnation did a fun piece on the gambling styles of McCain and Obama:

Candidates playing for high stakes (in more ways than one)

DADT, McPOW style:

Don't Ask (about Palin's record or qualifications), Don't Tell (the voters anything).

Speaking of taking chances, Benen in his former incarnation did a fun piece on the gambling styles of McCain and Obama:

Gambling "style" isn't nearly as telling as their respective games of choice. McCain prefers a game in which the payouts are fundamentally rigged to make the house money and the player a loser in the long run. Poker? Not so much. Luck plays a part, but skill plays a bigger part. There's a reason you see the same guys in the finals of big poker tournaments week after week.

The baby rumors are distracting from the real issues about Palin's inability to serve as a qualified VP. This isn't a Desperate Housewives storyline. Let's stay focused on her pro-Alaska agenda.

In other news, Mark Halperin is already referring to her as the VP: "McCain says while in Mississippi Sunday with his wife and VP Sarah Palin the GOP will “redirect our efforts� at the convention to reflect the seriousness of Hurricane Gustav."

http://thepage.time.com/

Not sure how long that statement will stay up, but I have it saved for future reference.

What is there to say about her? Who cares? I think the Dems should ignore her completely and focus on McCain. She's a symbol, not a credible candidate who doesn't warrant the expenditure of precious campaign funds.

What is there to say about her? Who cares? I think the Dems should ignore her completely and focus on McCain. She's a symbol, not a credible candidate who doesn't warrant the expenditure of precious campaign funds.

Posted by: SteveB on August 31, 2008 at 11:11 PM

Agreed. As in 1964, Democrats should focus on the loose cannon from Arizona at the top of the ticket, not the unknown who's No. 2. (In '64 it was upstate New York congressman William Miller, Stephanie's dad.)

Jonathan Altar just reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in re circumscribing the convention on Monday, Joe Leiberman also will not be speaking tomorrow night!

So, he played his hand told his ostensible colleagues he was not with them this election, in order to get his "dear friend" elected, and now can not aid at all in that goal.

My friends, that's irony I beleive in! :-P

Congrats to "zuzu's petals" for the original research. But is it true that vetting someone for high office requires checking the archives of their local newspaper(s)?

As for the McCain team that "just arrived in Wasilla to conduct background checks and vetting on Palin. 2 days post-hoc" -- if true, they are not there to vet but, most probably, to advise Palin's family and friends how to respond to press questions.

The Palin nomination is starting to fray like a cheap suit. The media & blogs are starting to fill in facts about the nominee that McCain wilfully chose to ignore.

By the time she debates Biden there will be questions about her experience, her understanding of foreign affairs, lying in office, abuse of power, teaching creationism in the schools, the choice and gay marriage issues. The GOP is holding their collective breath she doesn't say anything outrageous over the next 60 days, like "Would someone please tell me what the Vice President is supposed to do?" Hint: Look, hon, you ain't runnin' for the Student Council. Read the Constitution.

But more importantly McCain's attempt to burnish his maverick image will look like a cheap media trick and his judgment will come more and more into question.

Hey HILZOY, the archives ARE online-
If you search for 'palin' and start at
1995, the earliest hit you get is 1998.

So maybe thats how far back they go, still
10 years worth of archives is more than nothing.

http://www.frontiersman.com/shared-content/search/index.php?search=go&o=0&q=palin&d1=08-17-1995&d2=08-31-2008&s=oldest&r=Subject%2CAuthor%2CContent&l=20

Come on, do your homework.

-rms

The comparison with Miers in unfair. Miers was a Bush crony. Palin won a state-wide campaign and, two years later, is a popular governor.

This whole pregnancy non-sense, Palin’s sixteen-year-old daughter is fat, story is going to blow up in Obama’s face.

You are witnessing Palin out-victim Obama, without even whining once. Obama is an unpleasant victim. Palin is a charming victim. Many here are underestimating Palin.

The Times (London)

If Mrs Palin, a conservative mother of five, ever doubted that landing on a national presidential ticket would open her to the harshest of spotlights and smear tactics, she also awoke yesterday to utterly unfounded internet rumours that her fifth child, born in April with Down’s Syndrome, was actually her 17-year-old daughter’s.

This whole pregnancy ... story is going to blow up in Obama’s face.

It would -- if Obama, or any of his main supporters, were to publicly give credence to the story. As of now, it seems than only Kos is running a risk here.

Many here are underestimating Palin.

I think that's probably true. If idiot Bush could get (almost) half of the American people to vote for him, she can probably do better. Democrats should focus their attacks on McCain, who is by far the easier -- and the main -- target.

Hilzoy, just saw your update-

Sorry, you are on top of things.

The first article in '98 that mentions
palin was her commenting on a skate board park.

Presumably, foreigners might use that skate board
park, so that counts as foreign policy experience in
my book- as far back as 2008!

-r

I disagree JS. The competition is for the day-time TV sympathy vote. Presenting a rival victim, and in this case a real one who seems to be a genuinely good person, hurts the Democratic Party.

"Sixteen year old daughter" is now up on Drudge.

About McCain' gambling habit, apparently he risks more money in a single hand than most Americans see in their paycheck. Dems should talk about that a lot between now and November to illustrate how little McCain has in common with the people he wants to govern.

The water has truly broken:

Drudge: Lefty Bloggers Go After Palin's Daughter

BOB, I agree that it could hurt Obama if the other side (or the press) imply that the Obama campaign had any part in this. But this should be easy to refure. And Obama on 60 minutes today had only positive things to say about Palin.

Drudge seems to be going specifically after Kos, it seems -- so that's in agreement with what I said, right?

Kos is taking a risk -- a story like this should not be run by any serious media in the absence of any concrete evidence.

Decision-making is an Alpha male activity. The job of an Alpha male is traditionally to make decisions on behalf of those who he protects. In America-2008, we’ve become pretty soft and the role of the Alpha male has been minimized because of our surpluses (that really aren’t surpluses).

The poor Alphas have to exert their natural impulses in one way or another. One way is to go into business. Another is to “roll the bones�. It is an instinctive behavior of powerful men to place bets and observe the outcomes.

Obama is a Beta, who would not think of crossing Michelle. He probably does not gamble.

JS;

Drudge is the gateway source. Once it is there it is on talk radio. Then TV.

Bad move Daily Kos.

JS: As of now, it seems than only Kos is running a risk here.

Perhaps. And Sully.

But how many unfounded rumors has Drudge spawned? And of course, he is still viable. I suspect Kos will just apologize and move on. Sully will just flip his finger and post on. As of this moment this just seems to be another Bigfoot-in-the-freezer story. The net loves cryptids and dysfunctional families.

To wit...

Here is the Anchorage Daily announcing the pregnancy. The photo shows her at seven months. As you can see from the comments, Bigfoot was born at 3/10/08:

March 10, 2008 - 3:54pm | joanlee
Is Sarah Palin really pregnant?
It is curious that Gov. Palin is not showing when it is "claimed" she is seven months pregnant.

March 11, 2008 - 10:05pm | TruConservative
Is Sarah Palin really pregnant?
Joan-I'm with you. If you look at photos of her last month and this month it doesn't appear that Sarah is pregnant. Could it be that she is covering for someone else in the family? In my day that was common. I knew a friend that was raised by his grandparents.

Bigfoot does family dysfunction? Why not? Why?
Suggestion: Put this one on ice. It stinks.

My bad:

Anchorage Daily

Just saw the results of the Time/CNN poll taken over the weekend that shows Obama and McCain virtually tied, but here's an interesting part of the poll:

Do you think John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin reflects favorably or unfavorably on McCain’s ability to make important presidential decisions?

Favorably: 57%
Unfavorably: 40%
No opinion: 2%

And doesn't this poll generally favor the Dems because the sample size reflects a larger proportion od Dems vs Repubs??

Seems contradictory to the tone of these various Palin threads on the Monthly.

McCain is a craps shooter, Obama a poker player. Which game is better preparation for the presidency, do you think?

The New York Times today:

The selection was the culmination of a five-month process, described by Mr. McCain’s inner circle and outside advisers in interviews this past weekend, and offers a glimpse into how Mr. McCain might make high-stakes decisions as president.

At the very least, the process reflects Mr. McCain’s history of making fast, instinctive and sometimes risky decisions. "I make them as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can," Mr. McCain wrote, with his top adviser Mark Salter, in his 2002 book, "Worth the Fighting For." "Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint."

Sorry... forgot to include the CNN/Time poll cite:

http://thepage.time.com/more-from-cnnopinion-research/

Thanks for the link pencarrow, but it seems to show that you left out the important part:

Is Sarah Palin qualified to serve as president?
Yes: 45%
No: 50%
No opinion: 5%

Favoabilty ratings only have to do with whether someone is liked -- the do not reflect voting preferences.

Brick Bill--

Have you ever had a boss like the version of McCain you just described? I have. Romanticize him all you want but that kind of person also makes for an unpredictable, unreliable, often contradictory style of leadership. It makes everyone around them CRAZY. It is NOT good leadership. It's reckless and frustrating and often the sign of an incredibly self-centered, shallow person who doesn't think ahead about the consequences of their actions.

And that poll also had this question:

"Suppose you could cast two separate votes in November -- one just for president and another vote just for vice president. Who would you be more likely to vote for if you could vote separately for vice president: Joe Biden, the Democrat, or Sarah Palin, the Republican?"

Biden: 54%
Palin: 41%
Neither: 4%
Unsure: 1%

Brick-brained Bill,

In your dreams is McCain wearing a cowboy hat and chaps and look an awful lot like Clint Eastwood? You do realize that your description above about McCain as an "Alpha Male" also describes someone else to a t-- George W. Bush.

Let me guess, you're one of the idiotic 27% who still think that he's swell and that everything is fine.

Hi Zoe;

My first boss was called ‘straps’ by his boss. ‘Straps’ was for the straps that he would be held down with as they took him away on a thick sheet of plastic. My right cheek is still warmer than my left because of the screaming. I witnessed grown-ups serving as translators for other grown-ups. But the man ran a tight ship.

The real threat to our way-of-life is an erosion of standards, in my opinion.

Sarah the Unready needs to release her medical records. And explain why her daughter got into a wreck when she wasn't at school due an infectious disease. Turning into a prenatal clinic? And missing the last two trimesters of school. I don't give a damn about what the far right thinks about it. They either planted the story or are inoculating against it. But Palin's views about rape babies and birth control are far out of mainstream. The truth will out. The whole story of this last birth and Palin's bizarre behavior is worth examining for a Vice President. She is a disaster.

I agree with Brick Oven Bob on the erosion of standards. Especially since 2001. Republicans have not wanted to be held accountable for anything, and this whole attitude has filtered down. Hell, listen to Muckasey justifying NOT prosecuting high crimes.

Zoe, I know a guy like McCain. High-stakes craps in Vegas, runs his businesses just like the game, usually into the ground. Trust me, you wouldn't want anyone like this as dog catcher let alone Leader of the Free World.

Think borderline sociopath. He thinks, by the way, McCain is the greatest thing since GWB and Nixon.

Sparko: I agree with Brick Oven Bob on the erosion of standards. Especially since 2001. Republicans have not wanted to be held accountable for anything, and this whole attitude has filtered down. Hell, listen to Muckasey justifying NOT prosecuting high crimes.

Except that isn't what Bill means by "erosion of standards". What he means is stuff like, y'know, all those stalwart White Christian Alpha Males on horseback allowing all those women, blacks, gays, Latinos, Jews, Muslims, and other weaklings to believe that they're equals.

Apropos of McCain, meanwhile, I think Gore Vidal put it best in The Best Man:

"You have no sense of responsibility to anybody or anything, and that is a tragedy in a man and it is a disaster in a president."

Just looked at the Drudge "non-article, article" on the weird events of Palin's pregnancy and behavior. Blames Kos for a non-recommended diary that happens to list several bizarre circumstances which, at best, seriously question Palin's judgment. If the rumor is true, Drudge can claim it as his own. Otherwise, it is just left-wing nuttery.

The reality is, the right wing started these rumors in Alaska. And there was some reason to believe they knew what they were talking about. Can't be afraid of the truth in any event. If someone has something to offer on a candidate that puts their integrity at question--like Edwards--it is germane. From what we know of the story? Delivering at a second-tier hospital an hour away from a world-class facility, and flying 10-hours in labor? She should step down anyway. After a tragedy like a Downs Syndrome baby--she was back at work three days later? Yow. She is not to be praised.

Chet: ; )

BoB is a concern troll--thought I would feed him some truth!

Kos is taking a risk -- a story like this should not be run by any serious media in the absence of any concrete evidence.

Kos isn't, even notionally, "serious media", its a community networking site, and the "story" was a member diary, not something posted by the site's operators.

Sullivan now says that this picture shows Palin pregnant (presumably at the correct time frame), and that he considers the matter closed.

cmdicely -- first, Kos killed a story in a similar diary about the alleged Edwards love child, and banished the diarist from his site.

Second -- the media in general are unlikely to parse things this way. It was on the Kos site, and given the above precedent, it seems to me that he is at risk. And no doubt the entire "leftist blogosphere" will be indicted along with him if the story blows up -- Drudge is already presenting it this way.

cmdicely -- first, Kos killed a story in a similar diary about the alleged Edwards love child, and banished the diarist from his site.

Again, Kos is overtly a partisan community networking site, not even notionally a neutral, balanced, media outlet.

Second -- the media in general are unlikely to parse things this way. It was on the Kos site, and given the above precedent, it seems to me that he is at risk.

At risk of what? Being perceived as a nakedly partisan site? Being perceived as an unreliable news source?

From what we know of the story? Delivering at a second-tier hospital an hour away from a world-class facility, and flying 10-hours in labor? She should step down anyway.

Yeah, its always seemed that the facts would be more substantively bad if the rumor drawn from them were false than if the rumor were true, though of course the rumor is more salacious.

I'm not sure what is being argued here. My original comment on this was a response to the claim that "This whole pregnancy ... story is going to blow up in Obama’s face".

To which I responded, at 12:10AM: "It would -- if Obama, or any of his main supporters, were to publicly give credence to the story. As of now, it seems than only Kos is running a risk here."

I believe that there is agreement on this. As for the rest -- Kos aspires to be "serious media", as the Edwards diary shutdown demonstrates; to that extent, he is at risk in terms of his aspirations. Whether he actually is "serious media" or not is a matter I did not directly address -- and I don't have any strong opinions about.

But I have to admit that the story makes good reading, and the details are fascinating. At a minimum, it shows that Palin too has questionable judgment -- in this case, in her decision to fly back from Texas for the delivery. Arguably, it was a reckless decision that needlessly endangered the life of the baby -- and, possibly, her own.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall during the deal making between Palin and McLame. I love how he stares at her ass, so typical and disturbing.. Get a room!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RN5xbWtNSU

Late breaking news. A blog post from Alaskan Republican Andrew Halcro - who ran against Palin for governor in 2006 - says:

The campaign of John McCain has sent a staff of eight people into Alaska to conduct background checks and vetting on Governor Sarah Palin.

Word is they have have eight rooms reserved at a Wasilla hotel.

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/vetting_the_veep_post_announcement#comment

The blog is from yesterday, 31st August. Five or six days after they announced Palin as the McCain veep pick.

Announce first, vet later?

The bottom line is McCain is 72 year old and has health problems and could die today or tomorrow! When this sinks in and people start to reflect and consider what a President Palin REALLY means due to her very real lack of national and international issues, policies and procedures, and her intellectual capacity or incapacity, people in all good conscience, for the safety and welfare of this country, will not vote for McCain. He has made a colossal mistake in judgment.

Are you guys liberals, or what? How she chooses to have her baby and raise her kids is none of your damn businesss. This is exactly what Rove was counting on when he picked her.

Next time you decide to 'enlighten' us about her judgment, ask yourself if you would be saying the same things about a guy in the same situation. Obviously, the issue of what he would do after going into labor is not a situation a guy would ever be in. But in general, the way people handle their own childbirth is their own f-word business! Are you pro-choice? That principle is the basis of reproductive choice.

Furthermore, everybody is talking about this as though her water broke in Texas. Being utterly uninterested in little Trig's birth story, I have not read full accounts, but I have seen her quoted as saying she was "leaking fluid." That is not the same thing as "water breaking." "Water breaking" - and I can say this from personal experience - is a gigantic burst, just like a giant water balloon breaking inside you and spilling its contents onto the floor. But you can leak fluid or spot blood throughout a whole pregnancy without it meaning a thing.

And keep in mind that she is stuck in a very tricky situation for any female executive - having to uphold her Good Mom creds and her Good Governor creds at the same time. Male executives almost never have this problem.

She is a corrupt Republican slimeball with extremist religious views. We don't need to make her a bad mom to criticize her.

Former Alaska House Speaker Gail Phillips, a plugged-in Republican, says McCain did not send a team to Alaska to check out Palin.

http://is.gd/23wG

That controversy, an investigation of which will be made public in late October...

Note to John McCain:
We appreciate the help, but traditionally, it's OUR job to set up an "October surprise" that makes you look foolish.

Still... all the love, man.
Will someone be home to sign for the flowers we're sending?
If so, which home? We're flexible.

Just wait until the short video clips of Sarah Palin taking on the burro surface!

Let me just say that as a researcher, it's understood that even the microfilmed copies of a newspaper are usually not all that's available, much less what is put into an online database by a small paper themselves (storage, maintenance, bandwidth are not usually considered necessary expenses).

Some newspapers have pretty good records going back to the late 1990s--searchable, easy to find--but again, even if on microfilm (and often that is held at the state's major university or public library), pages can be missing, out of order, randomly misplaced.

That Wasilla and Anchorage hadn't been swarming with McCain staff for weeks now is stunning. I think we understand why he graduated at the bottom of his class.

Let me just say that as a researcher, it's understood that even the microfilmed copies of a newspaper are usually not all that's available, much less what is put into an online database by a small paper themselves (storage, maintenance, bandwidth are not usually considered necessary expenses).

Some newspapers have pretty good records going back to the late 1990s--searchable, easy to find--but again, even if on microfilm (and often that is held at the state's major university or public library), pages can be missing, out of order, randomly misplaced. Sometimes the best bet is the courthouse, if the local paper is where they are legally required to place public information--they'll have copies as record they followed the law. Those are often in terrible shape once they hit the 70-100 year age, but those from the 1980s and 1990s should be fine.

That Wasilla and Anchorage hadn't been swarming with McCain staff for weeks now is stunning. I think we understand why he graduated at the bottom of his class.