News-Record.com

"Shame on these men."

What a joke. The Republican Party actually nominated a man for the office of president, John McCain, who committed the very same offense.

And by the way, I'm not threatened one bit by Palin being the Republican VP choice. In fact, I'm overjoyed. Sure, she did a pretty good job reading the speech that was written for her, but the woman has already told several outright lies -- whoppers at that. And plenty of other liabilities are already piling up. This is going to be fun.

Both Obama and Biden told the press to back off, stating families are "off limits", especially the children of candidates. Good for them.

Yet the msm and left wing blogosphere, including one on this blog, are relentlessly focused on juicy tabloid stories about the personal lives of Palins family. Be careful what you wish for, these tactics may backfire with the electorate.

Scott_Free The Dem's are looking like deers in the headlights,an actual attractive candidate with both brains and ankles .Mrs. Palin can take on both the "Rock Star" and his nominee( by the way comes from a state with only 100,000 more people than Alaska).I do not know of any "whopper lies, we will just leave those to the Democrats .I guess the great "community leader" will match up well. with Ms Palin.

Judging by the reaction of the liberal media and the obvious angst in the lower case messiah's camp, and HIS minions here, McCain has made a great choice.

Amusing to listen to the liberal talking heads decry Palin's 'inexperience' while touting the lower case messiah's 'community organizing' and 'working with the less fortunate' as qualifications for the presidency. Maybe if she had murdered her - or her daughter's baby - they would have a little more respect?...nah.

Palin knocked the ball out of the park last night, so today we can expect to see the smear machine rev up into high gear. That's not messiah induced 'tingle' Mathews feels on his leg now, it's the byproduct of extreme fear.

Fun to watch the squirming of the left...you know the left who is always asking people why they fear 'strong women'.

The task facing the news media in this election is symbolized by contrasting covers of US Magazine for ---

Sarah Palin:
http://www.usmagazine.com/news/sarah-palin-very-difficult-to-work-with

And for --- The Obamas:
http://mirroronamerica.blogspot.com/2008/06/barack-and-michelle-obama-on-cover-of.html

* * *

For an example of just how successful the media are at doing the job illustrated above, ask yourself this:

How long had Obama been running for president before majority of Americans heard a word about Obama's reverend of twenty years, Jeremiah Wright?

"...there were still eight (count ‘em, eight!) states that hadn’t yet held primaries or caucuses . . . 42 primaries/caucuses had been held in ignorance of Barack Obama’s actual background..." ("Speaking of Vetting," Steve Sailer, VDARE.com, Sept. 3)
http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2008/09/03/speaking-of-vetting/

She not only hit a homerun, it was grand slam. Maybe she has a pimple on her butt, this would give the liberal media, a story they could sink their teeth in.

Who on the left is "squirming"? I'm delighted by this pick, and couldn't be happier. It completely undermines, even nullifies, McCain's biggest leverage against Obama, that of experience. Her experience is less even than GW Bush's, and to hear "experts" try to equate being mayor of a town of 7,000 as more valuable than time in the Senate is laugh-out-loud funny.

And I also like the attempts to play the sexist angle against Democrats. As a friend of mine's mother said after hearing that the Republicans were trying to gain disenchanted Hillary voters: "Do Republicans think women are interchangeable?"

No, personal issues aside, this pick is going to prove to be extremely beneficial to the Democratic ticket.

Howie, Here is a quote from one of the "experts" comparing Palin's experience:

"My understanding is that Gov. Palin's town of Wasilla has, I think, 50 employees. We've got 2500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million a year. You know we have a budget of about three times that just for the month."

Sen. Barack Obama on CNN

You follow the playbook well Howie, compare her experience as a mayor while conveniently omitting the fact that she is a sitting governor managing a state with a budget of $10 billion and 24,000 employees. Palin is the only one on the ticket of both sides who has actually managed something as an elected executive. Obama is left with using his experience in managing a presidential campaign as a comparison.

**********************************************************

Just saw a TV interview with Joe Biden stating that Palin gave an excellent speech.

You guys have fun today, gotta go make some money.

This woman has guts to spare. The "easy" thing to do would have been to get the grandchild aborted as quickly and quietly as possible for the sake of career advancement for grandma. But Sarah is no coward, nor is her daughter.

Many American families experience similar crises, and they get through them by strengthening one another to do do the right thing. None of us have perfect families, but we all hope that when our kids do err, they will have the character to accept responsibility.

BTW, did anyone else see the shot last night of the youngest daughter holding the baby, licking her hand, and "fixing" his hair? Precious!

What playbook, Dan? I don't get the editions where I am. Have to read and form my own opinions. I was just responding to noted liberals Rugy Giuliani and Fred Thompson. They were the ones touting her mayoral experience as more valuable than Senate experience. You expect me to swallow that crap? Sorry, not me.

As for the baby, mama b and others: I don't think anyone in the world has suggested that the girl should have had an abortion. And the "she's chosen life, vs. taking the easy way out" argument is a complete straw man and a waste of time.

Sarah Palin is the single greatest thing to happen to the Democratic Party in years.

As governor, she supported "Abstinence ONLY" as sex education---and look what it got her. A teenage daughter who now is in the spotlight because of mom's archaic views.

She and her husband support the Secessionist Party in Alaska, and her husband is a member! Wow, there's some flag waving American patriots! Imagine if Obama had done such a thing!

She is on tape "Praying" to God for a new Trans Canada pipeline----because as we all know, that is on God's top ten list of things 'to do'.

She does not support abortion EVEN if the life of the mother is in danger! She does not support abortion EVEN if hers, mine, or your daughter was raped by a family member!
Sarah Palin is a right wing EXTREMIST with a pretty face....a very pretty face. Of course she's always got the Secessionist Party to fall back on. LOL!

THANK YOU JOHN McCAIN!
As Peggy Noonan said, when she was caught off mic, the RNC is out of touch with mainstream America.

Oh, and Dan, since you defended the National Enquirer on the John Edwards story, WHY dear little Dan do you now vilify it when it is on the scent of a Sarah Palin cover-up?

Got to love the hypocrisy of the right.

"ABSTINENCE ONLY" to be taught in Alaska schools....wow, wonder how that trainwreck is doing?

Leave Bristol out of it! Leave Bristol out of it!

No, Governor Palin, when your archaic views lead to the unwed, unwanted pregnancy of your own daughter....'tis YOU who should back off! You should be ashamed! You should see the error of your ways. Nice dodge though. Nice.

This says it all:

http://www.humanevents.com/images/AlaskanStyle.jpg

Howie,
Note how a certain blogger gets ALL of his opinions (word for word, as you've noted) from the right wing media.
On more than one occasion he has parroted the words of Sean Hannity without flaw. On today's letters, he reads like a script from the RNC talking points last night...again word for word.

While you and I can READ, listen, and digest, and form our own opinions, it has to be 'black and white' or literal for the far right wing to grasp it. Dan is not alone, but he is an obvious example.

AND she can think on her feet!
http://www.redstate.com/

Oh, and for more hypocrisy, let's turn to one of the rants of neocon:

neo, in many of his past posts, has referenced teaching of sex education in public schools as he refers to it as teaching kids to put a rubber over a banana.

Note: If "Levi" had learned how to put a rubber over a banana, then Bristol Palin might not be in the unenviable position she is in today. Instead, Sarah Palin is adamantly opposed to teaching birth control in schools.....and now she's upset her daughter is in the spotlight. As is the case most of the time, it's not the child's fault that the mother and father are not good parents.

Just another "Idiotic right wing belief" being shredded by common sense.

So judging from your last post from "redstate.com", can I presume you didn't vote for GW Bush?

Also, hugh, you said a few weeks ago that you weren't going to vote for McCain. I even cited the bravery of your decision in a later debate. Have you recanted? If so, why the flip-flop?

Going after two 17 year old kids is the best political diversion I've ever seen. The MSM (defacto propaganda arm of the Obama campaign) has wasted 4 days on this inconsequential, trivial matter. I hope they keep it up.

And who is to say that the kids didn't use birth control that failed? Or used it routinely then slipped up one time? How many people do we each know that have "oops" babies themselves?

Watching the Obama machine having to react to it's competition is priceless. McCain completely changed the rules of the game and neutralized Obama as the agent of change with his pick of Palin as a running mate.

I'm not hot on McCain, but his VP choice is a different matter, :-)

Abstinence does work 100% of the time when used as directed!

We teach our children the right way to live not becuse we expect them to be perfect, but so they will recognize when they do wrong. Once wrongdoing is recognized, restoration can take place, and we can learn to do better.

Some folks believe that, since the kids won't be perfect, we shouldn't even TRY to teach them what's right and wrong. Would that approach work in mathematics (they won't always get the right answer, so let's just give them calculators and be done with it) or English (spelling is too hard--just let them invent their own spelling)?

Hugh,
You are right about one thing. Sarah Palin has enjoyed days of negative stories and that's the tip of the iceberg. While it does take the campaign off real and important issues, what you miss here is that it take the spotlight COMPLETELY off of John McCain.

Poor old fellow can't get any attention. Remember when he goaded Obama into going overseas....then the press corps was agog at the throngs of people lined up to see and hear him?
Remember Obama commanding an audience over 500,000 people in Berlin and McCain had to go to an already scheduled biker rally to look like he could draw a crowd? Hugh, McCain is a walking corpse, a symbol of a bygone era. Palin, on the other hand, is the poster child for "EXTREMISM" and what it means for America.

I absolutely love his pick!

Howie, as a conservative I like he strategic selection of Palin. She's the kind of politician I like. I especially like the prospect of placing her into the fire and refining her to run against Hillary in 2012 or 2016.

She, her husband and her kids are my kind of people.

LC, the polls will soon reflect an upswing bounce in McCain's favor that has nothing to do with McCain, but everything to do with American's identifying themselves with the Palin family.

The bottom line comes in November.

"Remember Obama commanding an audience over 500,000 people in Berlin"

500,000 is an Obama campaign and his followers wet dream. Berlin media estimated the crowd as low as 20,000.

Im sure it had nothing to do with a free concert prior to the anointed one speaking either.

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/blog/blog.aspx?ID=2492

Though I despise John McBush, I think Palin is a not as radical as people are painting her. And anyone with kids knows they are beyond real control once puberty kicks in. Surely we can all remember what it was like to be a teenager. One mistake is all it takes. So I will say no more on that subject. Like mamaboilermaker said "None of us have perfect families". Anyone remember Billy Carter? Yikes.

I definitely like that she supports the entire Constitution including the 2nd Amendment. I do not understand nor can I fathom *anyone* claiming that the 2nd Amendment does not guarantee that individual Americans have the right to bear arms. Why would the government ever have needed that clause to refer to rights that no one has, which is what nonsensical left-wingers claim.

LibCon asserts that Palin is against teaching birth control in schools. I understood her position to be that abstinence should be taught as the most effective means of birth control, not the *only* means. It is, of course, the most effective practice. What's more, birth control does not prevent STDs. I agree that we should teach birth control, but isn't it a little silly not to explain the reality that STDs are still out there and abstinence is the ONLY defence against them? This is not a moral argument, it is scientific fact.

I have one question, why is it that some conservatives are always decrying "the media" when it's proven that Fox News gets scripts directly from the RNC, not to mention the multitude of "talk show" hosts that read Republican propaganda directly from letters sent to them by the RNC?

Virtually all newspapers are owned by Republicans, almost all major newspaper editors lean to the right, not the left, yet let even ONE story criticize a Republican and suddenly we have "the librul media".

I am not fooled.

The tabloids are not "the media" in my mind so why are we paying attention to them? I did find Tom Shuford's link interesting in that regard, but I never would have seen either cover unless he linked to them. I do not read tabloids and recommend them to no one.

Now I am sure that conservatives can point to the left-wing media outlets in equal number that favor Democratic candidates or the left-wing agenda. God knows I hear enough about how we have to have special rights for this or that group or how evil the majority of Americans are coming from the left-wing media. But no one seems upset about any bias that favors their own party.

I for one would like to outlaw the party system: it corrupts everything. People are committed to parties instead of the Nation. People pick a side and then attack the other. No one thinks about the good of the people or the country, just what they can say or do to make the other side look bad.

LibCon: Do you EVER stop attacking Dan? His posts seemed grounded in fact and well-reasoned positions. We do not agree yet he and I can argue strongly and fiercely and never attack each other personally. Same for NeoCon and virtually everyone here. Please stop attacking people, LC. It just makes you seem bitter.

This story says it all about WHY McCain Palin will not connect:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26539124/

*********************

"Some folks believe that, since the kids won't be perfect, we shouldn't even TRY to teach them what's right and wrong."

Who are the folks of which you speak? Another straw man created for purposes of justification. Tired. Very tired tactic.
******************************

Verelse,
If using their own illogical words against them is off limits, then I am guilty.

If we took money out of the party apparatus, we could acheive some real results. Big money fled from the GOP when it realized the other party's candidate had traction and a real base. They would return in a nanosecond if the pendulum were to swing.

But remember that the Obama candidacy has been the FIRST to ever opt out of the public system since its inception.
Why?
Because they have created a grass roots organization that does not DEPEND upon large contributions.

Whether you like Obama or not, you must admit that the model is extraordinary. It will be taught in university classrooms for years to come. It is the future.

The article is a crock, LC/DD. Palin's kids are mixed race. Todd Palin is part Eskimo.

Unless that doesn't count as mixed race as defined by profiteering race baiters .

I just hope that the American public will make the proper choice here unlike Guilford County did with the School Board Chair!

I am hearing and seeing the parallels. A woman with "experience" all be it from a smaller "system" and an African American man with none.

Lets see how "America" will vote in this case!

SOME experience trumps NONE any day!

I don't want to hear the President of the United States saying that he will "learn as he goes" do you????

Leave her family alone?

The Palin family is all over the place- featured in Republican campaign ads and figuring prominently in last night's speech. I guess what the LTE writer really wants is, 'Leave the Palin family alone, unless you have nice things to say about them'.

A few other things stood out from Sarah's speech last night:

1) Mocking Obama for his "community organizing". Uh-huh. Do you know what Obama did? He took his Ivy League degree and instead of heading to Wall Street or Washington, went to inner city Chicago to work for the Community Develpment Project to help church and community leaders try to quell gang violence- all for the lofty salary of $13,000 a year. Certainly deserving of having the 2008 GOP Veep candidate MOCK him for it, to the roaring, snickering approval of a convention, right?

2) Pledging her personal support to our troops because her son, Track, was about to be deployed to Iraq. Very admirable and very courageous. Track is a hero and I applaud him. By the way, Joe Biden's kid Beau is about to deploy to Afghanistan. How about that, Sarah?

3) Drill Baby Drill. Yes, let's drill more oil. After all, we have SUV's to fill. Let's conveniently forget that every drop of oil drilled belongs to oil companies who sell it as a commodity on the world market- a world market whose prices are determined by the dominant supplier: OPEC. The US Army doesn't go in, drill the oil, and bring it straight to Lower Archdale. The oil companies own it. Instead of drilling more oil, how about a real plan to reduce our dependency on oil, and switch to renewable fuels or encourage alternative technologies? Nah- Drill Baby DRILL!

4) Washington is broken. Ok- what have you been doing for the past 8 years, Reps? We've been in total control of the executive branch for the last 8 years and in total control of both houses of Congress for 6 of the last 8 years. Washington IS broken- lying there like a busted lamp and the only kids in the room at the time are all saying, 'Wasn't me!'.

5) Sarah's experience as a mayor and governor make her perfectly suitable to step in as President. Obama and Biden have ZERO experience as chief executives. ZERO ZERO ZERO. Well, guess what? John McCain doesn't have any, either. For that matter, neither did JFK or a host of other presidents. So, what's your point?

I'm a registered Republican, but I'm getting fresh whiffs of hypocrisy, and most of it coming from our side.

I love her, she got the liberals, confused. If you do not think so, turn on MSNBC. As far a Washington being broken, it going to be broken forever, no one going to change that. Of course Washington is sane, compared with Raleigh. A poll these morning favored drilling for our own oil at 80%. I am a register democrat*, I see almost of it coming from the SUPERSTAR, and the liberal press.
* there is no longer a real democrat party, we where hijacked by liberals.

The critics are saying that Sarah Palin just made a good speech, but she really doesn't have any experience to back it up. Just words. Just speeches.

Oh, wait, that's Obama, isn't it? Now, the question is who can make the best speech, Obama or Palin.

The critics say that she just delivered a speech that was written for her by a speech writer. Aren't OIbama's speeches written by a speech writer as well? So, does it come down to when we vote, we are voting for the best speech writer?

Sarah Palin wants us to respect her family's decision to keep her daughter's pregnancy while promising to take the ability to make that choice away from American families if elected, even in cases of rape.

All of Sarah Palin's lead-ins tell us that Barack Obama and Joe Biden aren't ready to lead because they've never been in an executive position. Why then is John McCain at the top of the Republican ticket...he's never been in an executive position.

The McCain campaign and Sarah Palin previously chided Hillary Clinton for 'whining' about perceived sexist attacks...yet now McCain pawns are cycling through the media circuit whining about perceived sexist attacks against Sarah Palin.
----------------------------------------------
"we shouldn't even TRY to teach them what's right and wrong."

Who said that? Who is advocating that sex education be taught without abstinence as a strategy? Studies have shown that kids who take these virginity pledges are less likely to have sex before marriage, but the ones who do have sex are more likely to get pregnant because they're not prepared and educated in methods of birth control. Certainly a range of birth control methods should be taught alongside abstinence...which isn't the case in Abstinence-Only education.

"She, her husband and her kids are my kind of people."

"...the polls will soon reflect an upswing bounce in McCain's favor that has nothing to do with McCain, but everything to do with American's identifying themselves with the Palin family."

Hugh, have I given you too much credit? Are you falling into the "seems like a guy I could have a beer with" trap that got us George W Bush?

Don't get me wrong -- I like most of my neighbors, and I relate with all of my friends. That doesn't make them all qualified to be president. If we haven't learned that lesson in the past 8 years, then I mourn for the continued downward spiral of our country.

Matt Scully wrote the speech. He was George W. Bush's lead speech writer from 2000-2004. He had a single week to customize an essential speech for Palin- I think he was long on rhetoric and very lean on substance and clearly did not do enough research on Obama's early career in Chicago, nor did he take into considering Biden's son's deployment, which she should have injected for balance, nor did he seem to realize that Sarah would be castigating the very lack of CEO experience that could be applied to McCain.

But especially troubling is Palin's railing against Obama's "Community Organizing"- something that would blow up in Palin's face if anyone took the time to find out what Obama actually did in the early '80s in southside Chicago. I don't think anyone in that convention had any idea what she was mocking.

Going forward, there's going to be a de-emphasis on Palin, as the Dems take every opportunity to picture McCain and Bush together. The focus of the Dems campaign will now be to eradicate any distinction between John and W.

Yes Howie, you have me wrong. In my personal life, I have more associations with state university grads over Ivy Leaguers, Blue collar workers over business and account execs, Soccer moms over radical feminists and hunters/fishermen/farmers over the elite whine and cheese crowd.

"Sarah Palin wants us to respect her family's decision to keep her daughter's pregnancy while promising to take the ability to make that choice away from American families if elected, even in cases of rape."

If the baby gets the death penalty,why doesn't the rapist also get the death penalty? If you want justice for the woman, her attacker is the one who needs to be aborted. That won't heal the woman's wounds, but it will certainly prevent repeat offenders.

Also, she is not keeping a pregnancy (pregnancy only lasts 9 months) she is keeping a baby. Coming from a large family, I'm sure Bristol knows she's carrying a baby--she's probably seen ultrasounds.

An illustration of the hypocrisy of the right:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086&title=sarah-palin-gender-card

Karl Rove on Sarah Palin
"She's a populist, she's an economic and social conservative, she's a reformer, she's a former mayor; she's a mayor of, I think, the second largest city in Alaska before he ran for Governor."

Karl Rove on the prospect of Governor Kane being Obama's VP:
"He's been a governor for three years, he's been the mayor of the 105th largest city in America, it's smaller than *lists a lot of towns*,it's not a big town, so if you were to pick Governor Kane, it would be an intensely political choice where, you know what, I'm really not first and foremost concerned with 'is this person capable of being President of the United States."

Bill O'Reilly on Palin's daughter's pregnancy:

"Millions of American families are dealing with teenage pregnancy and, as long as society doesn't have to support the mother, father or baby, it is a personal matter. It is true that some Americans will judge her and her family. For the sake of Palin's family, we hope things calm down."

Bill on Jamie Lynn Spears pregnancy:

"On the pinhead front, 16 year-old Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. Sister Britney says, 'She is shocked.' I bet."

"Here the blame falls primarily on the parents of the girl who obviously have little control over her. Incredibile..." (Picture of parents comes up with PINHEADS! displayed below it)

Hugh, you missed my point. I associate with the same group as you, but that doesn't mean I want to vote for all of them.

I had assumed you were too smart to fall for the "George Bush is one of you" lies that got him elected. If it's fishing and moose-hunting that tip the scales for you and brought you to this flip-flop, then I have given you too much credit.

"why doesn't the rapist also get the death penalty?"

K. Give it to him.

Regardless of what you and I believe about abortion, Sarah Palin is out of touch with most of America on the issue. Less than 20% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all cases.

Regardless, her family still made a choice to keep the pregnancy, baby, or whatever you want to call it and she still wants to take that choice out of the hands of American families and give it to the government.

"I have given you too much credit."

I don't know how I'll sleep tonight.

Pragmatist said:
"Let's conveniently forget that every drop of oil drilled belongs to oil companies who sell it as a commodity on the world market- a world market whose prices are determined by the dominant supplier: OPEC."

The oil market is a WORLD market. Any increase in supply would contribute to a price change, however slight it may be. If you hadn't noticed, one reason we're paying so much at the pump is that nations like China and India have increased their demand for oil.

The Chinese government pays subsides so that the citizens of China pay an artificially lower price for gas than what the rest of market pays. Now, I do understand that prices vary greatly from country to country, but the point is that China would be paying a lot more for gas if there was no government intervention, and this directly affects Chinese demand in the WORLD oil market.

Finally, OPEC cannot directly affect the price of oil. While this oligopoly can easily set production schedules, which may or may not affect the price, only the market can truly affect the price of oil. I'll agree that OPEC can INDIRECTLY affect prices by cutting production (supply side), but in a free market system where competition is encouraged, cheap alternative fuels would certainly have an impact on the price of oil as well.

Curl up under your moose-pelt blanket, secure in the knowledge that the hockey mom will watch over us.

May I wear baby seal skin booties? I have insecurity issues.

"Judging by the reaction of the liberal media and the obvious angst in the lower case messiah's camp, and HIS minions here, McCain has made a great choice."

Neo,

I think most of the "liberal media" (whatever that is) are thrilled by Palin. She sells papers.

I don't think the Democrats are too unhappy about it either. The people that are happy about her rise are people that were going to vote for McCain anyway.

What's more important is that there are a heck of a lot of folks that are on the fence that are nervous about this Soap Opera being a heartbeat away from the presidency behind a 72 year old man. It looks like poor judgment on McCains part and he's lost a lot of them.

As someone who wants Obama to be elected I'm thrilled with the Palin choice. If he gets to be President lower case messiah, Neo, she may be a major reason why.

Having slammed what Sarah Palin said, I should add how impressed I was at how she said it.

For her to walk out before the entire world- this event did generate international interest- and be that calm, that collected, that poised is astonishing.

Think of the occasions when each of us has been called upon to speak in public, multiply that angst untold times, with the gravity of one's entire future laid squarely to bear, and you know what must have been churning inside Sarah Palin as she waited for her turn on the dais.

Truly astonishing. There is little doubt we have a sudden new force in politics.

Now, if only she'll use her powers for good.

Why pick on Palin's family when there's so much to love about the woman herself? http://greensboring.com/download/file.php?id=1798&t=1

I haven't posted in some time but I want to say that Sarah Palin is the most exciting thing to happen in this campaign in a long time.

Watching her speech was refreshing. I really felt connected to this woman on this night much like I did when Obama addressed the Democratic Party's convention in 2004.

I think her views on social issues are too far to the right but I also think Obama's are too far on the left. I'd rather have her as Veep than Obama as Prez.

I've heard about as many different positions on this selection as I can imagine. However, I applaud John McCain on what I think is a brilliant move.

First, he picked a woman. They are harder to attack and the attacks they lob themselves come across as less harsh. Especially if one has a good persona. Picking an older white man would have made the Obama history-making just a little too appealing for its own good.

Second, he totally opened up the door for the issue of experience to come up. The democrats don't want to talk about this issue and now they have to.

Third, she was an unknown. Finally, the media is talking about something besides Obama 24/7. Taking the spotlight away from him was a must.

Fourth, she's likeable. That's important in an election. Obama had McCain beat in that category. Now, he's got a serious challenge in Sarah Palin. She's also tough and a spitfire. Neither Obama, McCain or Biden come across that way to me.

Do I think he'll win any Hillary supporters? Nope, or very few. He was never going to win them anyway. A Hillary supporter wasn't about to flip ship and go to the Republican side. I don't care what they said.

Billy,

Was that really necessary?

I am an independent voter who was undecided about which candidate to support. After hearing Sarah Palin's entire speech last night I have decided to vote for Obama. I have tried to keep an open mind throughout this election. However, I am tired of hearing the same scare tactics that have been used by the republicans in every election. Last night I wanted to hear how McCain is going to try and turn this country around. Instead, I felt as if I was involved in a school yard fight.

Pragmatist,

I applaud your facts, logic and argument. Thanks for putting in the thought and effort at elevating the debate, and not wallowing in the name calling and trash talk. Your bloggs are worth reading.

"The people that are happy about her rise are people that were going to vote for McCain anyway."

Don't think so, Rufus. I had no intention of voting for McCain, but am now reconsidering. And while I realize it's no Gallup poll, several acquaintances I have spoken to seem to be taking a second look at this ticket since Palin has joined McCain. She has fired up the base, and having the republicans either sit home or go 3rd party was the little messiah's best hope of winning, imo.

As for 'strong women', this is the real McCoy. Feminized liberals think a 'strong woman' is one that has effectively neutered the males around them, but Palin seems to celebrate her blue collar husband, her soldier son, and the masculinity they exude. It's a beautiful thing.

I'd LOVE to have a poster of her with that M-16.

Neocon,

Nice trash talk! I will give you credit for the least amount of thought and effort put into your spewing BS.

"As for 'strong women', this is the real McCoy. Feminized liberals think a 'strong woman' is one that has effectively neutered the males around them,"

That's some funny stuff Neo. Assuming that you're talking Hillary; Bill's a lot of things but neutered isn't one of them. Did you somehow miss the '90s? (;-})

Again, great job pragmatist, but are we all just wasting our wind. Should we not all run away a fast as possible from the Republican Party, GWB and Administration? Eight years of spend, tax, waste, deficits, cronyism, warrant less searches, illegal justice department practices, corruption, discard of science, weapons of mass destruction, "god" gave me guidance lectures which we are hearing again, revolving door for the Secretary of Treasury, Katrina "fast response" team..... ..the Republican Party played cards and drank rum. Is this party not part of this fiasco, and now they are back in the same track. Their definition of "reform" is to change the talkers, but talk the same, “American first”, “god”, “family” with the dear guidance of the former party team. I wish for the years of the real Republican Party supporting business development and competition, smaller government, private investment, balancing the budget, free trade, entrepreneurship, pursuit of tort reform, and solving problems.

Molly,
I'll join Hugh in the throes of insomnia tonight. Especially since you've ranked me below the blogging poet's 4:52 PM contribution. Must be one of those red state/blue state things.

Did you tell uncle ted the republicans had rum? He may just 'reach across the isle' for that.