I see Daddy took his little girl for a walk to the nasty reporter’s house tonight. I wonder if he will be next to her on Thursday night as well.

ummm…hasn’t the McCain campaign recently been running a web ad called coal miner (see it here on their site: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Multimedia/Player.aspx?guid=f945204d-f4a7-469c-99a8-1f0f9c5c0dc3 ) that uses a clip of Biden speaking in exactly the same type of situation as Palin’s remark about invading Pakistan? And, arguably, isn’t it a bit more troubling when someone in this sort of role has this sort of uncertainty on an issue like going into Afghanistan, an issue where decisions may be critically time-sensitive and subject to little public discussion or transparency?
I mean, can’t you see the hypocrisy in all this? When Biden does it he is a Gaffe machine, when Palin does it, she was caught off guard. What are they teaching you there at Westminster? Some sort of extreme postmodernism, where there is no such thing as truth and everything is a matter of political construction?
Everyday when I visit your blog I’m hoping that you may, just once, move beyond this partisan jibber jabber, and live up to the ideals of discernment that are such an important part of being Reformed. (Here’s a start [I really am trying to be a bit constructive here]: what about a post on the most theological of questions answered by the candidates so far – the question on evil during the Rick Warren forum. How do their answers mesh with what we find in Reformed theology and its confessions)
Please – and I am trying to be genuinely constructive here – realize that you are the only nominally Reformed perspective on Beliefnet – be a bit self-reflexive and think critically about the issues rather than merely regurgitate John McCain’s (not last, I checked, a prominent source or exponent of Reformed theology) press releases (like the other wonderful blogs on this site where, no matter what their side, faith always seems to come through as central).

Mark, I certainly hear you, but I really think Michelle is representative of adherents of the Reformed tradition, unfortunately.

Daddy? More like Gramps.
I was amused that McCain implied that Palin’s answer didn’t really matter because Palin was only talking to a “voter.”
This whole thing is ridiculous. Palin’s answer re: Pakistan is not only in line with Obama’s, it’s in line with what McCain’s answer would be if he hadn’t seen an opportunity to criticize Obama months back by making the absurd charge that Obama was issuing reckless threats–and so McCain had to make a distinction between his policy and Obama’s, where there was none. Do you really think McCain thinks we should sit on our hands if Al Quaeda has a hideout in Pakistan and comes over the border into Afghanistan to attack American soldiers?
Well, maybe. I’d like to hear him defend it. I’m sure Palin will be asked to do so on Thursday, and she will have McCain to thank for putting her on the hot seat. Though of course we all know who they will blame.
Mark, thank you for asking Michele to move beyond partisan “jibber habber.” But I’m afraid that’s the only language she speaks.
Re: the question of “defeating evil”; the very idea that evil is “out there” and can be eradicated or defeated by human agency is not only wrongheaded, it’s heretical–as anyone who believes in the doctrine of total depravity ought to acknowledge. Solzhenitsyn said “the line between good and evil runs through every human heart.” That simple but profound truth is something that Michele and many others on this blog seem intent on disregarding, prefering instead to locate evil solely in “the Other.” I’m sure this accounts at least in part for the truly incredible number and frequency of lies that are repeated here even after they’ve been exposed again and again.

Well, we have to understand that as they are both politicians, John McCain and Sarah Palin are predestined to eternal damnation and the only theological question that is pertinent in their case would be which circle of hell will each be consigned to.

I think I can answer your question, Charles:
In the Eighth Circle, “Corrupt politicians (barrators) are immersed in a lake of boiling pitch, which represents the sticky fingers and dark secrets of their corrupt deals.”
Well, they can’t say they weren’t forewarned.

In the Eighth Circle, “Corrupt politicians (barrators) are immersed in a lake of boiling pitch, which represents the sticky fingers and dark secrets of their corrupt deals.”
tell me again…who are the largest recipients of money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Who was the one trying to sound the alarm years ago?
It’s sort of funny…McCain sounding the alarm for the need for regulation; Obama stating that McCain deregulation would be a disaster; Obama getting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac money…

You can bet Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge or Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty or the five Republican women in the Senate or the 15 Republican women in the House or pretty much anyone of any stature would have needed Dad at their side in a meeting with Couric.

Charles Cosimano: “…the only theological question that is pertinent in their case would be which circle of hell will each be consigned to.”
Yes, that circle would be the Washington beltway during rush hour after a couple inches of snow have fallen.

“who are the largest recipients of money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?”
it’s not surprising that obama received more donations from employees at freddie mac and fannie mae, considering that he has raised $400M from citizens who are employees of one company or another.
when it comes to donations from freddie mac and fannie mae and you begin to dig out a few easy details, it’s also not so surprising that mccain got 10 times more money than obama from the decision makers (vice presidents, officers, executives, and directors) and lobbyists of the mortgage giants. mccain got $169K here, where obama only $16K. the remainder of donations to obama comes from staff-level employees. as a staff employee, i donate money to the candidate who i think is the best, not who i think will pander to my employer.
go to http://www.opensecrets.org, select “politicians and elections”, “presidential”, “search donors”, then select the name of the candidate (mccain or obama), enter the employer name (freddie mac or fannie mae), and run the search. see for yourself.

yeah, these are real gotcha’s.
more to come, apparently. according to politico:

Of concern to McCain’s campaign, however, is a remaining and still-undisclosed clip from Palin’s interview with Couric last week that has the political world buzzing.

The Palin aide, after first noting how “infuriating” it was for CBS to purportedly leak word about the gaffe, revealed that it came in response to a question about Supreme Court decisions.

After noting Roe vs. Wade, Palin was apparently unable to discuss any major court cases.

There was no verbal fumbling with this particular question as there was with some others, the aide said, but rather silence.

clearly, couric threw out questions that revealed that palin is an idiot. gotcha, palin. game’s up.

Anonymous reincarnate, the disingenuous GOP mouthpieces on this site do NOT appreciate you regurgitating actual facts.
Cease and desist.

“Cease and desist.”
hahahaha! oh, you know i will! peace, gene.