Liveblogging -- Palin

She's creating an entirely new voting bloc: parents of special needs kids.

So far, seems she seems totally engaging and down to earth. Very appealing.

Trying to make a virtue of small-town living, I guess in contrast to Michelle Obama: "They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America."
Big applause, for the second time tonight, making fun of the job "community organizer."

"I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities.

Effective line because it makes Obama seem both elitist AND dishonest: "We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco."

Uh oh, here we go again with the Washington "elite" as enemy: "And I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I'm going to Washington to serve the people."

"I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere." Um, I thought that turned out not to be true.

Her riffs on the benefits of drilling seems compelling to me. This seems like the one Republican economic point that for which Democrats haven't come up with a good answer. "The fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all."

A sign of what a total wonk I am, i thought the energy portion of her speech was the best. The first time that anyone has conveyed that she actually brings something substantive to the table beyond grit and eloquence.

"But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate." A bit mean, and mostly untrue.

Line about the Greek columns -- brilliant.

"What does he actually seek to accomplish?.... to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it." Wow, this harsher than just about anything anyone at the Democratic convention said.

"Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ... he's worried that someone won't read them their rights?" The crowd is loving it but now I'm starting to wonder whether this speech -- and this whole evening -- is coming off too mean.

"In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change." Another zinger. This crowd totally loves her.

More mockery: "My fellow citizens, the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of '"personal discovery.'"

Is it possible to mention John McCain's POW experience TOO often? My gut is that the answer is no, but they sure are putting it to the test. "It's a long way from the fear and pain and squalor of a six-by-four cell in Hanoi to the Oval Office."