McCain chooses Palin!

"Big downside: inexperience."

I'll be glad to post the first comment. If anyone brings up Palin's purported inexperience, bring it on. We'll gladly talk about Obama's 'experience' as well -- and he's at the top of the Dem ticket, not the Veep slot. What, some years as a chicago 'organizer' and then 4 mostly absentee years in the Senate? Again, bring it on. We'll have that debate gladly. I'm licking my chops, smelling blood on that one.

This, I think, was brilliant. I wonder how much of the recent Pelosi-Biden-abortion brouhaha played into this. The woman has 5 children and is pro-life in her politics.

You're right on EVERY single point: pro-life, government reformer, bold choice by the former naval aviator.

But, especially, your point #4 about the inadvisability of Biden (that old blowhard) trying to lay a rough hand on her in a debate. As a New Yorker, I saw how Lazio damaged himself in that debate against Madame Hillary in 2000. As to Biden's considerable foreign policy experience and fluency with national issues: it is also true that Biden has quite the track record for lying about his credentials going back to the time when Sarah Pallin was just a college student.

I love the choice of Sarah Palin for McCain's VP. The only thing I would add is that I have a feeling she'll hold her own just fine in any debate with Joe Biden.

Superb Choice.

A lot of pundits will say going conservative is a wrong move because self-identified Republicans have been shrinking in polls. The reason for that is not because they've gone liberal over the past 2 years. It's because they've become so disgusted by Bush and Congressional republicans. Picking Sarah Palin will make a lot of people proud to call themselves Republican again.

Anduril (cool name, btw), that's true, but Obama's still closer, right? He wins, he'll actually be sitting in the big chair.

I guess nobody can predict the future re: health, but McCain strikes me as being in decent shape, seems spry, feisty. He may be seventy, but he plays sixty, so to speak.

But you're right, it's a concern voters will have.

I disagree, this is not a good choice. What state or region does she give McCain? Ridge could have helped in Penn, Romney in Mich. Plus, she has only been governor since 2006(!)& before that the mayor of a very small town. When you add in the fact that she is under some sort of investigation it looks like McCain handed Obama a gift with this one.

I agree-- good choice for McCain. Makes the general election season all the more interesting. As an Obama man, I was SO hoping for Romney... :)

Bold but dumb.

I agree-- an electrifying choice. Already, many of my stay-at-home mom friends are saying things like, "wow, I was bored with this election until this." And "suddenly, I find myself caring about November."

This suddenly brings interest and fresh life to this campaign.

Additionally, the "lack of experience" thing is easily answered with... "our Veep Choice has been Governor, serving her state --day in, day out-- for over 600 days. Your POTUS choice has served in the Senate in session for about 150 days, many of which he didn't bother to show up."

Two years of experience is two years of experience. And I'd rather have it in my veep choice than in my POTUS choice.

Did anyone say Oil?

And...to all those family-values voters...she is still a mother to a young special needs kid, plus four more. A nanny and therapists is no match to a mommy. I really can't respect a woman who births babies and then pursues high-level political offices, even if she is a sterling pro-lifer.

Matt W: "What state or region does she give ..."

This is the same question that could have been asked of Clinton and his choice in '92 or Bush and his choice in '00. Nevertheless, she will help in the West (Nevada, Colorado, etc.) where energy issues are at the top of the list.

Her being a woman will help McCain in EVERY state where women voters are the majority (and that means all 50 states). It's not clear that Pawlenty, Romney or Ridge could have carried MN, MI or PA, respectively, for the ticket.

Yes, there is some kind of investigation (involving her sister's former husband) ... but, despite that her approval ratings in AK are still through the roof.

Yes, it IS a risky choice ... but in this year when the GOP brand is in trouble McCain had no choice but to take a chance.

Bold, exciting move for the Maverick! And Sarah is also known as a Maverick.

How can the Obama people complain about Sarah's experience? They have put AT THE TOP OF THEIR TICKET someone who is LESS qualified, with LESS experience, than the BOTTOM of the McCain ticket.

It's a great picture of Life: The experience and maturity of an aging American Patriot and Statesman, bringing on board the less experienced, less mature, younger candidate who will be gaining her on-the-job training the way it is meant to be given: From the TOP DOWN, not the BOTTOM UP, as the DNC has chosen to do.

And to add in the Circle of Life experience of choosing the opposite GENDER, is just awesome and inspiring and shows that McCain understand th totality of American life and the American voter.

We are young, we are old, we are male, we are female, we are America.

McCain/Palin '08

Let's see, Obama is too young and inexperienced, especially in the area of foreign policy...that's been the Repblican mantra.

Obama has been in the Senate for for years. Palin has been governor for two. Prior to that, she was the mayor of a small town. While Obama served in the General Assembly of Illinois...a major state.

Obama has been involved in foreign policy issues during his time in the Senate including nuclear non-proliferation. Palin has no foreign policy experience.

And she's three years young than Obama.

This is just pandering to the Hillary vote.

Another odd point for the party of family values. Both of the Republicans are divorcees, while neither of the Democrats are. Rather ironic.

My hubby wants to know -

"Does she play chess, or is she a Monopoly girl?"

In other words, what does Putin and WuJinHoa think of her?

We giggled at Medjedev leading Russia?

I'm sorry - but if I was a European ally I'd be calling in the lawyers ASAP to renegotiate withdrawal from NATO .. !!!

Kirk, that sexist crap will not hold up against Sarah Barracuda. Just wait and see. :)

When Bear Bryant left Texas A&M to help out a then-struggling Crimson Tide, he said he did so because "Mama called."

I think the idea here is to bait the Baracknik apparatchiks on the left into battering Mama, into beating up on Sarah Palin as the female personification of Middle-American ideals -- which is just about the least wise thing that they could possibly do, in terms of keeping apathy high among those betrayed by Bush, bored by McCain, and disinclined to bother with voting at all this time around.

Now it goes without saying that it's silly for someone with as little experience as Palin to be placed so close to the presidency.

But we entered silly season as soon as Barack began his run.

Pandering to the Hillary vote? Hardly. It's a nod more to women like me, who weren't necessarily thrilled with McCain but are now glad to see a strong pro-life ticket with an accomplished, down-to-earth executive and mother on it.

Palin's not Catholic, by the way, and she has four children at home (5th is getting ready to deploy to Iraq). Obama has children with a working mom, too - what's the problem?

Random facts to consider regarding the "experience" debate:

Alaska is the largest state in the nation.

It is ranked 47th in the nation in population, ahead of only North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.

It's population is 683,478. There are 16 American CITIES with larger populations.

That being said, I wonder what Mitt Romney and Rudy Guilliani are thinking this morning?

Neil

I have a feeling that, no matter who McCain picked as VP, the posters on this site would have been blabbering and chattering about how 'wonderful' of a pick it was.

McCain may be thinking outside the box but you guys sure don't.

"Ellie May Clampett for Veep": Kirk proves my point, showing what gentlemen, what feminists, and what friends of the little-guy-and-gal the Barackniks really are.

Billbo, I guarantee you I wouldn't have been excited about Romney or Pawlenty (especially). Jindal I would have, but he wasn't really in the running. Lieberman, I would have been ranting mad.

SEXISM? No way Jose! I've been, there done that and she has not!

Sure, her BIG experience in revenue sharing in Alaska will be a big boost to the surge - she'll be risking leavin' five orphans at home to help the deadlocked Iraqi Democracy in the Green Zone settle their differences, just like she did with the 6,000 souls in her hometown of oilriggers right? Pull the other one!

POLICY? Pulleeze. Even assuming we can maintain all those embryonic lives in frozen limbo, where's the laws and funds to save the million souls being aborted each year at home? And the millions more we fund indirectly with our "campaign for global development" exporting American values of contraceptive hedonism a la Beijing Olympiad Ogiastics!

Before I join in the general cynicism (I have no intention of holding back), an unapologetically personal moment...

My mother raised three daughters to have the strength of mind and heart to never allow or expect a man to dicate their life choices as women, and two sons to respect women and their personal choices. Whatever else we may say about the cynical details of candidate image, political marketing et alia, in one major party a woman ran a top-level primary campaign for president, and in the other major party a woman is chosen to run for vice president -- both in the same election cycle.

I invite all and sundry to raise a glass of the beverage of your choice to honor this historic day. Mom, this one's for you.

Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.
-- Cheris Kramarae and Paula Treichler

Another odd point for the party of family values. Both of the Republicans are divorcees, while neither of the Democrats are. Rather ironic.

IIRC, it's Palin's sister who's divorced, not Palin, who's been married to her HS boyfriend since graduating from college.

I was not going to vote for either candidate. Now that McCain has picked a woman who is a strong pro lifer, I will probably vote for McCain.

The true (delicious) irony vis-a-vis Biden is not that anyone will remember the Lazio-Clinton face-off, but that they will remember his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee during the Thomas hearings, with Anita Hill as witness. He's going to be either scared ___less to say anything to her in a debate that might come across as sexist, or his normal blowhardedness will cause him to claim that he is so much smarter than her because he's had so much more experience. Win-win for Palin either way.

Ok last post, then I have got to leave this thread alone and get some things done.

As for the charge that she is from a small state and was mayor of a small city and so that detracts from her experience, I have just this to say. People and people and politics is politics no matter where you come from. She seems to have mastered the job being both an effective and popular reformer in state known for its entrenched corruption.

Go get another argument against her. This one ain't gonna fly.

Mr Evans,

"Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."

This is a bit off-topic, but I can't let this hoary, plausible-sounding canard pass without comment. If feminism were no more than the notion that women are people, I should have no problem being a feminist. But the truth is that the core principle of feminism is not that women are people, but that the highest and best way for women to affirm their personhood is to kill their babies.

I like the way Mrs Palin affirms her personhood -- her brand of feminism -- a lot better. It's probably not enough to make me pull the lever for Sen McCain, but it makes me feel better about the possibility of a McCain victory. It was a bold choice and a good one.

I am very happy with this choice! I can see by the way it's making the Democrats mad that it was probably a good one. :) It is unbelievable how quickly the conversation turns crass though in regards to Gov. Palin's family--chosen for her womb?!--orphaned children!?--puh-lease. Hardly a word has been said about Michelle Obama working on the campaign non stop "orphaning" their two children. The reality is, any man or woman in a demanding public service job has to rely on help (whether family or hired) to raise their children. Just because I am a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom doesn't mean I don't understand that. In fact, I appreciate the sacrifice that these families made for the "common good."

As a former Alaskan, my first reaction is purely and simply tribal. Wow.

Some random thoughts.

I have met Sarah Palin (n.b. Alaska is a small state, so evereyone meets everyone else, ultimately). In a small setting, she comes across as informed, charming, and very good looking. Did I tell you she is good looking. The big question, shortly to be answered, is whether she can play in Minneapolis as well as she played in Wasilla. This is a big, big, question, and McCain has bet big on red, and is now watching the little silver ball roll around the roulette wheel.

She is a walk the talk Christian, not a political Christian. Of all the various things that have been written or said about the Palin's fifth child, the one that says the most to me about their "values" (I hate the term, but it will have to serve) as a family is the quote from the Palin's oldest of four, and only son, Track, now serving in Iraq, who said simply: "I'm thrilled. I always wanted a brother".

The Palins are definitely Sam's Club Republicans. Wasilla is exurban Anchorage, the sort of place where one finds F-150s and hardly any Volvos, and where people shop at Costco and Target, and eat at Chepo's Fiesta -- when they're not barbecuing salmon they've caught themselves. The Palins fished in Bristol Bay for heaven's sake, which involves a three to four day trip around the Alaska Peninisula from a Homer or Seward home port, out of radio range, where your two or three crewmates are who you have to depend on if things go wrong. And they can go very wrong. The Bristol Bay red run is not quite "deadliest catch", but it's no walk in the park, either.

And Todd Palin has won a couple of Iron Dog snowmachine races back and forth between Wasilla and Nome. McCain may have just locked away NASCAR country's votes.

The big question I have, having watched Sarah Palin's career, is can she function as a key contributor in a major and sustained political effort that is not about her? She is not an organization Republican nor, is it yet clear, an organization person necessarily ready to adapt to someone else's organization. Now, given the state of things in the republican party in Alaska, not being an organization Republican is probably a good thing. But this is now a ticket with two mavericks, one of whom will need to serve as VICE president. How will she contribute, and will she possess the management chops to take on whatever portfolio is shared with her, and add value? Big questions. Huge learning curve ahead.

In the intimate environment Alaska presents, Sarah Palin has most usually been among the most clever people in the room. We will shortly see how she performs when she moves from Alaska Class 4A to her debate with Joe Biden. The potential for a Dan Quayle moment is not infinitesimal.

On the other hand, her selection sets up the possibility of an interesting one-on-one with Barack Obama. He's had the gym floor all to himself the past few months, three point shots and all. Unlike Barack, Sarah has a championship ring, as a former Wasilla Lady Warrior.

Do not assume that because Sarah Palin has been picked, that John McCain has gone all soft on the oil industry. Spend some time googling "Palin", "Gas Line", "ExxonMobil", and "Point Thompson", and you will quicky discover enough information to squelch any thought that Gov. Palin is in any way cordial toward Big Oil. The question is whether her Administration's thumb on the scales to favor a Canadian company for the gas line project -- a company whose capital and management chops for a project of that magnitude remain uncertain -- will blow up some time during the next four years will be very interesting to watch.

For the next 48 hour news cycle, this is an inspired political pick.

For the next 60 days and beyond, that little silver ball keeps rolling around the roulette wheel. I have this funny hunch that when that little ball stops, we will instantly know what McCain has risked with this pick.

It's the kind of Hail Mary pass that I suppose one ought to expect from a guy who once flew jets off of carriers.

McCain fans might just want to pur themselves a double before they sit down and watch CNN/Fox the next few weeks.

Richard

If Gov. Palin would just take off those glasses and let her hair down...

Well said, Franklin!

Re: the feminism issue ...

I'm watching MSNBC right now ... and I'm listening with amusement to Mika Brzezinski (Zbigniew's daughter) go into a real fit about Governor Palin's lack of readiness, yada, yada, yada.

It should be interesting to see how the "professional feminists" on the left like Mika B. and others behave themselves and treat this political conservative from Alaska. They're already putting their claws into this woman. What a bunch of hypocrites these leftists are -- brings to mind the way the NAACP have treated Justice Clarence Thomas and General Powell and Dr. Rice.

"If Gov. Palin would just take off those glasses and let her hair down..."

MEH, if she did, you would be reduced to quivering protoplasm.

Richard

Franklin,

Fair enough -- point taken. It is, as you say, a historic day, in a historic election. I'll join you in raising a glass to it.

I agree with Connie: "Bold, but dumb."

"Governor Palin's lack of readiness"

Do they Obama-ites really want to get into the discussion about readiness and experience? That could be a dragon's lair for them.

Feminists will HATE this pick. Which makes me smile.

Cheers, Franklin!
My husband, whom I love even more than I love you, said exactly the same thing.
I won't be above the fray on this one, either, but for now- cheers!

Although I don't expect to vote for McCain. My first impression of her, (watching a live feed on the internet) is positive.

She's likable, a strong voice. Seems like a decent person. As a pro-life, but NOT pro-criminalization voter, I think its wonderful that she is proudly showing off her down syndrome baby.

I don't know if it will make a difference on election day, but it will definitely make for an interesting campaign.

Scurvy and Susan: aw, gee. Thanks. ;-)

Chris, welcome and well met. I've not seen your name on a post here before this thread, and I look forward to sharing this forum with you.

It may interest you to know that when it comes to political debate, I try hard to follow my mother's example: as a lonely Democrat in a sea of Republicans (suburbs of Philadelphia), such was her reputation and recognition in the community that when she ran for public office in the mid-70s the party machine bosses wanted her to change registration and run on their ticket. She refused on principle and personal integrity, and lost a close election. I spent many hours with her in door-to-door campaigning, and I am certain there were a few party faithfuls who regretted not voting for her. I was never more proud of her.

The experience question should be a non-issue.

Vote for McCain: you *might* end up with a President with little executive, high-level experience.

Vote for Obama: you are *guaranteed* to end up with a President with *NO* executive, high-level experience, and are forced to hope that Biden, for some reason, becomes President.

If the Dems attack Palin on the basis of experience, the above is EXACTLY the argument that McCain’s campaign will make in return. McCain’s argument will be stronger, because the issue of experience is much more relevant for the Presidential candidate, and because Palin (the VP candidate) has more experience than Obama (the Presidential candidate). If you vote for McCain, you end up with a President with more experience than Obama, even if McCain dies in office or has to step down. The only scenario where the Dems offer more experience is if both Obama and McCain died – Biden has more experience than Palin.

In fact, this could be a brilliant stroke by McCain – bait Obama into attacking her for inexperience, bringing the issue back to the fore and essentially validating it as a significant issue, which would be a big loser for Obama.

I'm a light-shade-of-yellow-dawg Democrat, but I welcome this choice as good for the country. Maybe the glass ceiling for women is being broken, by the Republicans, who'd a-thunk it, and the Democrats have broken the barriers of race. Having a Black man, two white men, and a woman running for the highest offices in the nation can only be a good thing.

That being said, all the likeability factors surrounding Palin don't sell her to me, at least not yet. I am keenly interested to hear any pro-life/anti-criminalization distinctions she makes, because I am (and Democrats can be) pro-life but I have never thought criminalization was the solution. And while I myself shop at Costco (never patronize Target, though, and I happen to like arugula better than Swiss chard) and I have been known to barbecue, eight years of a guy you could imagine as the life of a party has been quite enough, thanks. It will be on the issues.

"Having a Black man, two white men, and a woman running for the highest offices in the nation can only be a good thing."

Yes, indeed. Come next January, either the president or the vice president will be someone other than a white man, for the first time. I'll raise a glass to that!

I excited by this pick because between the two national tickets we now have a conservative running. One out of four is better than we've had a right to expect.

I don't know much about Palin, but my initial reaction is excitement. It's great to have a woman on the ticket and from what I've seen she is my kind of conservative. And if she's raised (or is raising) 5 kids, she's got plenty of executive experience!

Rod's comment that McCain has now essentially lost the ability to bring up the "inexperience" argument is correct. His comment that McCain gains on the "change" front seems more than odd, unless there's something I'm not quite grasping. What exactly is the "change"?

Choosing Palin shores up the argument that McCain really is a conservative (or the pretense that he's conservative enough to be elected), but doesn't at all show how he'd be different than Bush. How does McCain move beyond the base with this? I understand how Palin might be an attractive candidate in her own right. This probably accounts for the wishes of some Republicans that McCain stroke out while in office. But that's a weird message for a campaign message based on the candidate's personal readiness for office: "Vote for me and you're really getting her."

FWIW, I am an Obama supporter.

Michael Brown asks, Why in the world does anyone not make a distinction between inexperience at the top of the ticket and inexperience at the bottom of the ticket?

Because of McCain's age and health, people are naturally attentive to the very real possibility that his vice-president might actually become president without standing for election on her own (whereas with Bush-Cheney, the concern was whether Cheney might die in office). I presume you agree that one of the qualifications of a vice-president is that they be qualified to assume the office of president at any time ("Ready from day one" as McCain says). If Obama's and Palin's qualifications are equal, then how is Obama inexperienced?

Now, you could argue that McCain has more experience than Obama. It's a valid argument, but it's not the one McCain is making since it concedes the issue of required experience.

Hi, Friends:

This political piece is especially intended for folks who have been swayed far too much by 'negative' rhetoric . . .

A CHANGE IN PUBLIC PERCEPTION is much more difficult when you're fighting an uphill battle against racial, ethnic, religious, or sexist discrimination.

In light of 'old shcool' thinking, Ms. Sarah Palin has her challenges . . . Please think about this: any possibility that Palin may become our President is a possibility, it is NOT a probability.

As for Palin being up for the job of 'Vice President', her executive or administrative' experience more than stands up to her job description.

Again, partisan-politics & biased-media are making far too much over Ms. Sarah Palin becoming our next President, by default! Think about it. That issue should be put to rest. Don't let the media get away with the 'what if' argument. Let the biased-media understand you don't buy into their scare tactics! ..... just tell them, it ain't got legs!!!

It is not a statistical probability that Ms. Palin will become our president within the next presidential term.

Now, lets look at what Ms. Palin can bring to to her office and party: she has stood-up and fought the 'good old boy' network, the special interests, and the lobbyists in her neck of the woods. And, I strongly suspect Senator McCain fully understand she's NOT a yes woman. Palin is a fighter!

Ms. Palin has taken on political corruption -- and not just on the other side of the isle! The fact that Ms. Palin is still politically alive and well as a viable Vice Presidential candidate speaks as to why she is respected on both sides of the isle. She has an 80% approval rating!

Fair minded Republicans and Democrats alike should not allow Sarah Palin's political career and personal struggle be so readily 'dissed' by a biased media. And, though it may not mean much to some women, she's done it all while raising 5 children, and, as far as we know her marriage is stable.

Important is the fact that Sarah Palin is NOT an old school conservative.

Ms. Palin is a social conservative with the vision, will, and energy to conduct non-partican politics.

America stand up and be counted!!! Keep the media and the haters alike out of the voting booth.

Ms. Palin is a great American role model and Vice Presidential candidate, especially for women, young and old.

Palin for VP!

Well, I was thinking I might un-enthusiastically vote for McCain, mostly to annoy my Obama-worshipping friends. But now he's got my vote for real. I like her style.

PALIN & THE OLD GUY 2008! Woo-hoo!

I have one word for this choice: GENIUS

I loved everything about her. She won't get a lot of those Hillary die hard pro-coicers, but she will inspire a lot of women. In 1984 (my Pres electio I could vote in, I vote for Feraro because o the ideals young women still have. So they will get some of those too.

Most surprising to me was my EMOTIONAL reaction to her nomination. (Tears more than once during her speech) I am pround that the Republicans are giving such a wonderful role model to America. You don't have to be a Clinton or Pelosi to be an effective powerful woman.

McCain was getting my vote as an anti-Obama vote; McCain-Palin gets my strong support and vote!

This blogger/propagandist is a tool, Part (3) Three:

I would normally move on. This guy is promoting one-sided conversations on a site that I enjoy receiving ministerial ministrations from.

He is soooo trying to convince the general public that the GOP VP pick was a good choice, rather than a lapse in judgment.

McCain could kick the bucket any day. Then we'd have a novice behind the NUKES.

I am NOT knocking women in office. She is just not with enough seasoning. Foreign leaders are going to EAT HER ALIVE.

Is there THAT much of a leadership vacuum in this country?

Just what McCain needed...but....please, what a poor pitiful suckup to the female voters unhappy about Hillary. Is this the best he could do.
NO international diplomacy experience or even country-wide experience.
From a state with the highest cost of living....what were they thinking? That the American voter is actually DUMB....OH NO...please NO! Who's influence will she be under....the military/industrial megalopoly that is so foreigh to her....?????
OK...all together now....USE YOUR HEADS AMERICA....Obama stands for vast domestic CHANGE....Joe Biden is the most experienced candidate running with all of his domestic AND international diplomacy experience.....34 YEARS at last count....AND....he's not a hot head(excuse me McCain voters)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE AMERICA....USE YOUR COMMON SENSE!!!

Joe,
If you're not kidding, then you're tragically retarded. People who espouse views like yours posted above make me ashamed to be an American. It's like a western hemisphere Taliban type statement. If you're serious, please go live with the Afghan warlords.

17:3-6In the Spirit he carried me out in the Gulf region of the Beautiful Land. I saw a woman mounted on a stuffed grizzly beast, several more of nature’s trophies stuffed on her walls, all stuffed with blasphemies about shooting seven baby wolves in the head and slaughtering ten polar bears, so that the oil companies could join her out in the cold and drink their fill. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet for her pageant competition, festooned with gold and gems and pearls on her tiara. She held a gold chalice in her hand, brimming with defiling obscenities about the hoax of global warning, her foul fornications about the mysterious winds and waters on thehorizon. A riddle-name was branded on her forehead: great babylon, mother of whores and abominations of the stewards of the earth. I could see that the woman was drunk, drunk on the blood of the lands which the oil companies quickly consumed, drunk on the blood of the martyrs of Jesus stretching across from Galveston to Tampa, taking their fills from the eroded glacial waters, and sprinkling them in squalls across the saints of New Orleans.

12:6-7There was an Angel soaring in Middle-Heaven. He had an Eternal Message to preach to all who were still on earth, every nation and tribe, every tongue and people. He preached in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory! Throw down the whole quickly, because God’s hour of judgment has come! Worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water will cut down chaff that eschews God to worship at the tiara of Mistress Babylon!"

12:8As the rains were upon them, a second Angel followed, calling out, "Ruined, ruined, is the Minnesota coronation of Mistress Babylon! She made all the wildlife she stewarded, and all the oil companies seeking to feast upon them drink on the wine of her whoring!"

Joe- you think she's tougher than Obama? Than a man who came up from nothing and beat the Clinton machine?
You don't think -at all. You're just feeling a bias and not even trying to back it up with anything.
Sad.

Palin's and McCain's argument that Palin is a good fiscal conservative, because she refused the bridge-to-no-where earmark is odd. A quick internet search only returns quotes where she says she supports federal funding of the bridge. And she didn't refuse the money, she got the earmark without any real strings attached. She can spend it almost anywhere. I don't get what we are supposed to learn about her from this 'I was for it before I was against it and I'll take the money anyway' action.

Eric

Well what will soon be big news is that the McCain camp has announced that Palin's 17-year old unwed daughter is pregnant. And McCain new it when he picked her.

So McCain thinks it's good to make Vice President a mother of five youngish to young children who's unwed daughter is going to be a mother and who has no experience in foreign policy. She may well be very bright, we don't know, but who can learn how to be President from scratch while being mother to a pregnant unwed teenager and four other young kids?

I think that shows very well McCain's real unconcern for America. He would put someone that unprepared and that occupied with important family issues in place to suddenly become president!

Of course he showed his unconcern for America four years ago when he campaigned for George W. Bush for President. If you supported Bush eight years ago you could use the excuse that you are a really poor judge of character, but four years ago people like McCain knew what Bush was doing to the country and he campaigned for him anyway.

McCain wasn't putting America first, he was putting his chance to be nominated first. And in picking Palin with all her baggage and all the more qualified people he could have picked he wasn't putting America first, he was putting his chance to be elected first.

You can tell how effective this pick was by the rabidity of the opposition. What the left is going to do to Sarah Palin and her family in the next two months will make the Thomas and Bork character smears look like 5 year olds playing in the park.

She looks like a pretty solid pick to me. She's accomplished more in her two short years as governor than most politicians do in a lifetime.

"A ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not why ships are built."

Best line from any speech this campaign.

As far as I'm concerned Palin's children are a non-issue. I wish the blogosphere and she would stop making them an issue.

I am concerned if she wants to force the teaching of creationism along side the teaching of evolution.

The scientific theory of evolution is one of the most comprehensive, most consistent with observations, and technically useful theories in the biological sciences. As a teacher of agriculture, I can't imagine how to teach the complexities of the agroecosystem and how to evaluate and develop new agrotechnologies without the understanding that the theory of evolution provides.

As a Christian who has taught evolution I think masquerading creationism/intelligent design as sciences does a disservice to both science and faith.

And yet I agree the intersection of the two needs to be discussed. Perhaps the best place would be a joint seminar of religion and science.

I still don't really understand what Palin is proposing. I do worry about having someone in the White House who does not understand and respect the power of the scientific method to determine what is most probably true (science rarely deals with absolutes). And for that matter its limitations.

I will continue to seek more information.