McCain's Palin Problem

Republicans endured a category 3 storm today. No, not Hurricane Gustav. The vetting--or rather, lack thereof--of Sarah Palin.

Oh Sarah, we hardly knew ye. Greg Sargent at Talking Points Memo has a great roundup of what we've learned about Palin today alone.

* The news that Palin once backed the Bridge to Nowhere went national.

* It emerged that Palin has links to the bizarro Alaska Independence Party, which harbors the goal of seceding from the union that McCain and Palin seek to lead.

* The news broke that as governor, Palin relied on an earmark system she now opposes. Taken along with the Bridge to Nowhere stuff, this threatens to undercut her reformist image, something that was key to her selection as McCain's Veep candidate.

* The news broke that Palin's 17-year-old daughter became pregnant out of wedlock at a time when the conservative base had finally started rallying behind McCain's candidacy.

* Barely moments after McCain advisers put out word that McCain had known of Bristol Palin's pregnancy, the Anchorage Daily News revealed that Palin's own spokesperson hadn't known about it only two days ago.

* A senior McCain adviser at the Republican convention was forced into the rather embarrassing position of arguing that McCain had known about the pregnancy "last week" -- without saying what day last week he knew about it.

* It came out that Republican lawyers are up in Alaska vetting Palin -- now, more than 72 hours after it was announced that she'd been picked.

* Palin lawyered up in relation to the trooper-gate probe in Alaska -- a move that ensures far more serious attention to the story from the major news orgs.

Not a good start to Day One of the Republican Convention. If it wasn't for Gustav, Palin's problems would be an even bigger story. Can she survive as McCain's vice presidential hopeful? See Eagleton, Thomas. She may energize the Republican base (so much for McCain's supposed independence from the wingnuts in his party) but flop with everybody else.

Apparently the people in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, population 8,471, even thought of recalling her as mayor after she fired the city police chief and library director (!) for not endorsing her mayoral campaign.

In the six months McCain had to make a vice presidential pick, couldn't he have sent a few more lawyers to Alaska? They seem to be vetting their candidate ex post facto. McCain wanted to select Joe Lieberman but was told such a move would destroy the Republican Party. So he went in the other direction, picking a completely unknown hardcore conservative with virtually no relevant political qualifications. And we wonder why controversy ensued.

Comments (60)

1. Ahh there's the Happy spinitude. Face it, she wouldn't have survived an actual vetting process if they had bothered. In fact, just admit there WAS no vetting process, it was an impulse reaction based upon the fact that Grandpa was told he couldn't have Lil Joe. What this is showing, more than anything else, is Grandpa is impulsive, makes snap judgments, and ignores decent advice if it contradicts his aims. It honestly makes me wonder what would have happened if he had bothered to stick to his guns and stuck with Lieberman, oh the conversations we'd be having!

   Oh and BTW Happ, if any of this information was out about a Dem you'd be screaming to the high heavens about it, so it might be best to just let it lie and take your lumps for a poor decision.

   Posted by yutsano at 09/01/2008 @ 5:26pm

2. Oh Happy, you know darn well Palin found out about this four hours before her written statement was released.

   As the child of a seventeen year-old mother I wish them all the best. My parents marriage didn't last-most teen marriages don't-and it was tough for the parents, grandparents, us kids, but with a little prayer ad a lot of love we managed.

   Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 5:29pm

3. Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 5:29pm

   This of course makes me curious about Sarah Palin's position on, oh, say, divorce.

   Posted by yutsano at 09/01/2008 @ 5:29pm

4. I wondered that too. I just hope Bristol wants to be married. My mom cried all night before she got married because though she was crazy about my dad she was still a kid and didn't want to leave her sisters and her horse.

   Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 5:35pm

5. So neocons agree:

   Palin is ready on Day 1

   Palin is ready for the 3am call

   cool

   Posted by winyahn at 09/01/2008 @ 5:52pm

6. When I first heard this idiot on the radio the other day, I thought she sounded like a bubble-headed cheerleader. What I have learned about her since then onloy confirms my opinion. She is a disgrace to the women and anyone who think she's a good choice is an air head, too.

   It goes to show you what McCain thinks of women--don't forget that Mr. "Top-Gun" # 5 from the bottom of his Annapolis class called his own wife a cunt.

   Posted by cbertel at 09/01/2008 @ 6:02pm

7. When I first heard this idiot on the radio the other day, I thought she sounded like a bubble-headed cheerleader. What I have learned about her since then onloy confirms my opinion. She is a disgrace to the women and anyone who think she's a good choice is an air head, too.

   It goes to show you what McCain thinks of women--don't forget that Mr. "Top-Gun" # 5 from the bottom of his Annapolis class called his own wife a cunt.

   Posted by cbertel at 09/01/2008 @ 6:02pm

8. Well sure Happy, she's hot, the ultimate MILF of course the press will follow her around.

   As to her accomplishments, compared to who? Not other female Republican politicians, that's for sure. They must be furious.

   Anyway, all the speculation that Palin will use her daughter's pregnancy to bail ala Eagleton is unlikely to prove true. The Evangelarighties love her and are not going to be happy if she is replaced.

   Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 6:03pm

9. Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/01/2008 @ 5:15pm

   Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/01/2008 @ 5:19pm

   The politica term for what HAPPY is doing is "circlng the wagons"...means when a major, possible disasterous crises scandals hits a politician (and little defense can be offered), you go into full defensive mode (i.e. "blame the media"..."blame political enemies"..."change the subject to the opponents").

   The more general term for it is...

   panicking!

   LOL...but don't worry HAPP, Rush back from vacation tomorrow to give you plenty more talking points!

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 6:05pm

10. Sorry Ari but the base remains excited about Gov Palin on the ticket.----Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/01/2008 @ 5:54pm

    Yep....JUST the base.

    How BIG is that base now, anyways, LVLIB?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 6:09pm

11. Again.

    Palin being against sex education and for abstinence only education; wanting creationism taught in science classes that focus on empirical evidence-- makes for this irony in the purest form, no?

    Not too unlike Palin's facade of reformer, abusing her political power, pairing it up with 'the MAV of OLD' that went all reformer 'only' after getting exposed as a Keating 5 and abusing his political office, but only until McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS lost in 2000 and caved in to anything the MIC corporate office told hsuB/cHeney admin to tell him to bend to.....

    Then again it isn't like the new con repubs for continuing the corporate dic'tatorship are running for president of the USA, just the unitary exec position. Don't need to be qualified, just do whatever makes for the most corporate war profiteering possible.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 6:11pm

12. Palin being against sex education and for abstinence only education----Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 6:11pm

    Well, it apparently works....

    if you WANT your teenagers to get pregnant as Bristol is.

    (BTW, HSUB, want to congratulate you and apologize, you're taking the "No Gore" thing very well and I won't even say...well...you know what!)

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 6:17pm

13. Palins choice is strictly to bring the far right to the poles in November.

    Posted by HeavyHex at 09/01/2008 @ 6:23pm

14. Extremely funny seeing the McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS campaign trying to explain what in Palin's qualification as being better than Obama's that aren't simultaneously then the same as being better than McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS.

    McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS has never been an exec, never commanded a ship-- just wrecked a lot of planes all by himself. He's just been a legislator, but unlike Obama, has a ton of baggage.

    Take the tiny exec experience away and Palin's got no qualifications at all to be a heart beat away; even from the unitary exec.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 6:25pm

15. It is starting to be apparent... that Palin is as much of a 'divider' as Hillary was... if not more.

    Though she energizes her base... she may completely alienate moderates and independents.

    Frankly... I think it's time to focus on how Obama is going to best help us reanimate the Constitution... and ignore the GOP's 'antics'. I've had enough.

    Posted by ttr at 09/01/2008 @ 6:33pm

16. I haven't seen any criticism of Bristol Palin-just her mother.

    Most of us have one or more family members who have made the same mistake-my beloved mother for one. It's the notion of someone who promotes abstinence only education to the exclusion of all else having a daughter pregnant as a result of ignoring that education that is so rich with irony.

    If Chelsea had gotten preggers out of wedlock I suspect the right wing would have had SOME opinion about whether the Clinton's parenting was in some way responsible.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 6:34pm

17. Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:35pm

    You are the most pro-Republican Democrat I have ever read.

    Actually, you are the only one.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 6:37pm

18. Uh, HAPP, re-read this post.... Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/01/2008 @ 6:21pm...and see if it isn't

    1. ""blame the media"...

    2. "blame political enemies"...

    3. "change the subject to the opponents").----Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 6:05pm

    You're as predictable as FRANK.

    "All those disgruntled Dems and anti-Palin Repubs in Alaska are just out to get poor Sarah!"

    Really? So there's NO chance that she's firing people for political reasons?....or belong to SECESSIONIST political parties?....or SUPPORTING earmarks and "Bridges to Nowhere" while just 3 days ago saying she opposed them?

    No chance at all?

    BTW, didn't mention Bristol because THAT with NO help at all from the opposition shows that the woman's dopey "Moral Majority" "no sex ed/abstinence only" stance is self-defeating!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 6:38pm

19. Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:25pm

    FRANK you can quit pretending I'm on Ignore.

    An ego as massive as yours wouldn't DARE risk not seeing me say something about you and knowing that others were laughing at you because of it, and not knowing what it was.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 6:39pm

20. Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 6:37pm

    He's not "pro-Republican"...he's "all-Hillary".

    Getting McCain elected is just to salvage the LAST shot for Her Majesty in 2012.

    Even his new right-wing buddies like HAPPY and LVLIBERTY know FRANK will turn on McCain (if elected) before 2009 ends.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 6:41pm

21. (BTW, HSUB, want to congratulate you and apologize, you're taking the "No Gore" thing very well and I won't even say...well...you know what!)

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 6:17pm

    I still see Al Gore in it somehow. Can't say how though.

    But, you're welcome.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 6:46pm

22. You should shorten the slur.

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:37pm

    You're seeing things that are there again.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 6:52pm

23. This is a call for all Obama supporters to ignore the 72 year old war hawk and his laughably inexperienced side kick from Alaska. Do not give the conservative media what it wants; do not play into the hands of the hardcore right. Sarah Palin is simply put part of a carefully planned political strategy to lure Democrats into saying something stupid or arrogant about a mother who, regardless of what the liberal community might think or say about her, will nonetheless be heavily supported by the Christian evangelical block of the Republican party. This is inescapable fact. Any attempts to tear down this obviously underqualified and potentially reckless choice for Vice Presidential candidate with will do a few things which are counterproductive to our cause:

    Even giving Sarah Palin the time of day will:

    1) Envigorate the right, encouraging more conservative Republicans (who's minds are already made up about Barack Obama and therefore probably won't change about McCain/Palin) to turnout and vote

    2) Open the door to negative attacks on Obama, further highlighting Republican talking points

    3) Show a disregard for the politics of hope, undercutting our movement for change's mantra of abandoning the political bickering and negative ways of the past

    And probably most importantly:

    4) Interfere with what is her's and McCain's inevitable collapse. The work is already done: America is ready for change and it won't come from the direction of McCain/Palin. Everyone knows this already. And negative attacks against a governor from one of the most sparsely populated states in the Union won't help us to prove our point, which has been and should always be:

    To elect Barack Obama the President of the United States because he will make a great President. Let us focus on why.

    Posted by tskinner at 09/01/2008 @ 7:00pm

24. WHat on earth does the fact that her seventeen year old daughter is pregnant have to do with Palin's ability to serve as VP? Any parent of teenagers know that you cannot be responsible for what your teen does every minute. You do your best to teach them right from wrong, and you have to trust them when they are away from you. Peer pressure can be very strong.Bristol should have practiced abstinence, but she didn't, she made a mistake, and she is getting married to her high school sweetheart, to try to raise her child in a stable environment. I guess the liberals would have a much better opinion of Sarah Palin and her daughter had they chosen an abortion!!

    Posted by dlcbev at 09/01/2008 @ 7:06pm

25. I'm very impressed with John McCain. Did you see the Saddleback Civic Forum?

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:49pm

    A lot of MSM noticed that McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS seemed to have been coached or rehearsed the questions before hand as the 'cone of silence' was emphasized by the moderator and McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS' answers were too short and quick; as though he wasn't thinking about the questions at all. Sometimes even starting the answer before the question was completed.

    Apparently the far right can't help cheating whenever possible.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 7:06pm

26. As a woman there is absolutely nothing about Sarah Palin that doesn't offend me.

    Why, when so many of those precious unaborted children need homes does a woman in her position choose to crank out five of her own? Personal choice-oh no, no, no! You don't get to make selfish personal choices while telling other women they don't have the right to do what is in their best interests.

    Her accomplishments? If you think Barack Obama butted ahead of Hill in line, what in the heck has Sissy Palin done? If she were an unattractive wonky workhorse who had traveled the world, worked her patootie off to get a first class education and really had a grasp of the big picture she would never have been picked. The GOP hates women like that-even if the women like that are Republicans. How else to explain so many of them being passed over?

    I suspect she will score points against Joe Biden because I think she is a calculating shark, clever, but not very deep.

    And she called Hillary a whiner. Let's not forget that.

    Sorry Frank, but a vote for McCain is a vote that says maintain the status quo and the status quo sucks.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 7:08pm

27. *I'm very impressed with John McCain. Did you see the Saddleback Civic Forum?

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:49pm*

    "A crust of bread," the Walrus said, "Is what we chiefly need!"

    Posted by yutsano at 09/01/2008 @ 7:09pm

28. Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:17pm

    I'm not criticising her the size of her family. I'm wondering why she-the anti-abortion, pro-abstinence, anti-sex ed poster girl hasn't adopted one of those black kids. Or a white one. Or one with Down's Syndrome. Or any kid.

    Just incidentally, I come from the deep north where all the deadbeat dads and enormous families with multiple fathers are white. So are the rapists, drug dealers, pedophiles, serial killers, burglars......

    My foster kids were black Frank and I adopted my youngest son. I have thought this one through because the religious nut jobs trying to single handedly repopulate the planet haven't givn me a choice. they do a hell of a lot of talking, but precious few of them do much walking.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 7:27pm

29. I will hold John McCain's feet to the fire and if he doesn't come through on winning the war in Iraq and getting OBL, plus making a dent in the deficit, I will be all over him. He'll have four years. If the race in 2012 comes down to Mccain vs. Hillary, I will support Hillary.

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:08pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    Which is, of course, the ONLY reason why you're supporting McCain now.

    Posted by brunowe at 09/01/2008 @ 7:31pm

30. What??? "all the deadbeat dads and multiple fathers, rapists, drug dealers, pedophiles, serial killers, burglars are white" ???

    Posted by dlcbev at 09/01/2008 @ 7:34pm

31. Bottom line, the dems had a chance to nominate a candidate(Hillary) who would have cleaned John McCain's clock. But they chose to go with inexperience instead because he gave a good speech in 2004. Now McCain steals the democrats thunder and are on the verge of making history with a female candidate afterall. Women all over America should be brimming with pride with McCain's pick.

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:23pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    Rubbish on so many counts. Every head-to-head poll taken during the primaries gave McCain a credible change against either Clinton or Obama.

    Obama supporters didn't just go with him because of the 2004 speech, although it does matter that he spoke out against the war and Clinton voted for it. The Obama campaign has done much to build the party both among the upcoming generation of voters and in states that DLC strategy would've written off.

    Further, the idea that the Palin pick makes history if flat-out incorrect. Ferraro was the first female major party VP candidate. And they really shouldn't be brimming with pride and an obvious and cynical political gesture.

    Posted by brunowe at 09/01/2008 @ 7:34pm

32. Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina: "Governor Palin took on Ted Stevens. If she can take him on, she can take on the Russians." Stevens, a Republican senator, is facing corruption charges and running for re-election.

    (Only that is a lie, Palin was for the 'bridge to nowhere' until it became controversial:

    According to the Ketchikan Daily News, the bridge issue came up on Sept. 20, 2006, during an appearance the gubernatorial candidates made in Ketchikan.

    "The money that's been appropriated for the project, it should remain available for a link, an access process as we continue to evaluate the scope and just how best to just get this done," the newspaper quoted Palin as saying. "This link is a commitment to help Ketchikan expand its access, to help this community prosper."

    The newspaper also reported that she said "I think we're going to make a good team as we progress that bridge project.")

    Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: "Palin is commander-in-chief of the Alaskan National Guard." The state's Guard has about 4,000 members.

    "Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, considers Palin "extremely responsive and smart" and says she is in charge when it comes to in-state services, such as emergencies and natural disasters where the National Guard is the first responder.

    But, in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, he said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations."

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 7:35pm

33. Palin is making history because she is the first republican VP pick

    Posted by dlcbev at 09/01/2008 @ 7:35pm

34. Palin is making history because she is the first republican VP pick

    Posted by dlcbev at 09/01/2008 @ 7:36pm

35. So in essence, Palin's only exec experience comes down to the very 'abuse' of that exec power-- just perfect for a cHeney-esk unitary exec or the same as the current petty dic'tatorship we got ourselves now.

    http://tinyurl.com/5nhc32

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26486063/

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 7:40pm

36. *Further, the idea that the Palin pick makes history if flat-out incorrect. Ferraro was the first female major party VP candidate. And they really shouldn't be brimming with pride and an obvious and cynical political gesture.

    Posted by brunowe at 09/01/2008 @ 7:34p*

    It's a nitpick, but I can't let it lie: she would be the first major candidate for VP from Alaska, so yeah, it's historic in at least that sense. Beyond that, she's a typical right-winger.

    Posted by yutsano at 09/01/2008 @ 7:47pm

37. Exactly and from a woman:

    http://tinyurl.com/5htqnq

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 7:51pm

38. McCain hasn't a clue. Everyone else he asked probably told him to get away from them. Just about everyone in the GOP knows McCain is the sacrifial goat, too bad they didn't tell McCain.

    Posted by rasputin195 at 09/01/2008 @ 7:52pm

39. Tell me, why are white kids available for adoption so hard to find?

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:31pm

    They aren't. Our son is white, he just wasn't a baby. He was developmentally delayed though he caught right up once he was in a more stable and stimulating environment.

    We didn't even inquire about race because we already were comfortable with the idea of a multiracial family. We have a niece and a nephew who are bi-racial so no big, been there, done that. We just ended up with a white son. We wanted a child, not a car, so not much concern about the paint job :)

    Healthy white infants are hard to find. White kids without families are everywhere.

    Trust me on this Frank, Sarah Palin would not approve of me, my choices, my beliefs or my opinions. It's why she's a winger and I'm a progressive. Apples and oranges. So of course I would never vote a ticket with her name on it.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 7:53pm

40. Posted by dlcbev at 09/01/2008 @ 7:34pm

    Sweetie, up here everyone is white. We sould have to import criminals of color.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 7:54pm

41. She is Gov. of an important energy state that borders Russia and she is CIC of the Alaskan National Guard. Has McCain ever had that responsibility? Or any other responsibility for that matter.

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:48pm

    Your argument seems to apply equally to all three senators running on both tickets. Perhaps she should be the only candidate running for the unitary exec spot...?

    BTW she does nothing with the National Guard:

    "Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, he said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations."

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 7:57pm

42. Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:36pm

    Deep North Frank, read more carefully. You know these last few posts of yours sound a tad, well, bigoted.I would ave expected better of you.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 7:58pm

43. Having mentioned Al:

    The North Pole has become an island for the first time in human history.

    http://tinyurl.com/5oa42h

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 8:03pm

44. It is despicable that you talk about Governor Palin's daughter. It is also hypocritical because it appears that ONLY DEMOCRAT children are off limits.

    It is just yellow journalism to say -The news broke that Palin's 17-year-old daughter became pregnant out of wedlock at a time when the conservative base had finally started rallying behind McCain's candidacy.

    Barely moments after McCain advisers put out word that McCain had known of Bristol Palin's pregnancy, the Anchorage Daily News revealed that Palin's own spokesperson hadn't known about it only two days ago.

    Even Obama has said that children are off limits.

    Obviously there are no journalistic standards and any smear of a Republican is OK.

    Boy are you people nothing but a group of low life's.

    Posted by Exton1 at 09/01/2008 @ 8:11pm

45. Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska)

    CBS News Poll. Aug. 29-31, 2008. N=781 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 4.

    "Is your opinion of Sarah Palin favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Sarah Palin yet to have an opinion?"

    Date______Fav__Not Fav__Undecid/Haven't Heard

    8/29-31/08__22__11_____67

    ******

    USA Today/Gallup Poll. Aug. 29, 2008. N=898 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 4.

    "Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Sarah Palin, or have you never heard of her?"

    Date______Fav___Unfav__Never Heard/Unsure

    8/29/08___22_____7_____71

    http://www.pollingreport.com/P.htm

    Looks like there's a lot of "who the ____ is that?"

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/01/2008 @ 8:20pm

46. Posted by Exton1 at 09/01/2008 @ 8:11pm

    Take a pill for heaven sake, no one is picking on the poor girl. These things happen in the best of families. I myself was the product of two teenagers with no condoms, no clues and a Studebaker with a very large back seat.

    It's her mother's embrace of policies that encourage both abstinence and ignorance that are the target here. That her own daughter is the victim is a little ironic, but being a teen mom isn't exactly a tragedy and pointing out that the lines of communication between the nominees on the GOP ticket isn't a smear.

    Geez, does everything even remotely related to sex have to put you in such a tiz?

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 8:20pm

47. and pointing out that the lines of communication between the nominees on the GOP ticket isn't a smear.

    and pointing out that the lines of communication between the nominees on the GOP ticket ARE CROSSED isn't a smear.

    It is obviously time for me to sign off

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 8:23pm

48. So the corporate/rich guys slush fund has two paid stooges, Happy & Frank, who sit at their computers all day long and try to demoralize progressive Democrats who read The Nation on-line? Thanks for the great column, Ari, and to the RNC operative abovementioned....get a real job, or at very least make a positive case for your boy McCain, which I rather doubt you can do.

    With Democratic voter registration through the roof both here in Idaho and nationwide, it's starting to feel like a pretty good year for us, Republican on-line stooges & plants notwithstanding.

    Posted by cnorden at 09/01/2008 @ 8:32pm

49. In the last paragraph is the phrase "couldn't he of sent" (meaning couldn't he have sent) Don't they teach grammar at j-school anymore? Is there an editor in the house?

    Posted by RKClyde at 09/01/2008 @ 8:34pm

50. "Bristol should have practiced abstinence, but she didn't"

    Well, practice makes perfect. Maybe she'll get it right next time.

    Posted by Balrog at 09/01/2008 @ 8:56pm

51. Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:23pm

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:25pm

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    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:54pm

    ...and all of it racist partisan posturing...

    FG... Please... try something different. This isn't working.

    Posted by ttr at 09/01/2008 @ 9:02pm

52. Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:49pm

    Most disturbing to me in the discourse of Right wing bigots is their criticism of others choice for representation of their own ideals... i.e., the criticism that citizens of the state of Massachusetts had to endure cause they have chosen their own government representatives... I am not from MA, KS actually, but I have heard so much crap over the years...

    Your post is another- whether you have been a dem or not I could care less. Vote the way that suits yourself, but don't criticize my choice. I support Obama cause I believe him. I don't believe Bush, and I don't believe McCain. I found the mile high moment to be quite profound and I was looking forward to hearing what McCain had to say... Obama has had published position papers for two years, and he hasn't veered from them... he has always said that he would bridge the gap and bring opposing sides together... I don't buy into Hillary much either. Talk about ambition taking over.

    I could care less that Palin's daughter has a kid at 16-17. It is her choice. I only hope that the Vice President has a private phone for her three am calls...

    I am a parent, and a son... I know that children may not live up to the standards or style of the a parent... However, I would rather have the guy from DE sitting in that chair at the front of the house.

    Posted by darbrownlee at 09/01/2008 @ 9:10pm

53. Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:17pm

    This tops it. You are offensive and derisive.

    What a racist slime you appear to be. Others maybe pert and flip, but this remark is too much.

    If you want to discuss family values and who is on welfare, I would be glad to talk to you about where the drain actually is. It is not as you say.

    Ignorance is bliss, until you express yours in the face of empirical issue.

    Posted by darbrownlee at 09/01/2008 @ 9:18pm

54. Yeah, nice try Berman. All that and she still has more experience than the messiah. Palin was already in elective office for five years when Barry decided to run for the Ill. state senate...

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 6:23pm

    News Flash!! Jack***!!

    They both have the SAME number of years in public office, 12. She spent the first four or so as a City Council Member in a town of roughly 7000 people(at the time). Barack was a State Senator in Illinois. Chicago alone is the third largest city in the country population wise(At roughly 2.8 Million in the year 2000)

    Who has more experience? Truthfully, neither, but I think the better question is who has the higher Quality or Depth of experience?

    I think anyone who looks at things objectively would have to side with Obama(Not to mention Biden).

    Unless of course you subscribe to the notion that her experience is bulstered by Alaska's proximity to Russia.....Jack***!

    Posted by udtinman at 09/01/2008 @ 9:19pm

55. "Well for starters, his speech fell flat, young candidate with old failed ideas that America really doesn't want. There are no more new Obama voters to be had. He's crested. Meanwhile, McCain's brilliant VP pick sucked all the air out of whatever momentum the dem convention provided."

    Wrong again. CBS polling saw an increase in Obama's lead from 3 to 8%s. Gallup saw is lead go from 3 to 6%. Rasmussen saw a McCain 1% lead change to an Obama 3% lead. The only minor shift was CNN which saw only a 1% shift.

    Your idea that the speech fell flat is a figment of your imagination. The CNN poll taken 8/29-31 had 36% rating the speech "Excellent", 28% rating it "Good" while only 7% labeled it "Poor" or "Terrible". The USA Today/Gallup poll had 35% "Excellent" and 23% "Good" as opposed to only 7% "Poor" or "Terrible".

    Of course, you've been consistently wrong on the politics, so why stop now?

    "will give anyone who is not ready to elect a black President, an alternative."

    Meaning people like you.

    "Recent polls show that Hillary would be farther ahead of mcCain than Obama is and by quite a bit."

    Which polls?

    Posted by brunowe at 09/02/2008 @ 02:16am

56. Palin makes history only as a footnote.

    Perhaps of the Eagleton variety.

    Minor, but distracting at the present.

    Focus on the rest of the GOP record of disasters & why Obama is the president who can begin to set the US straight, whereas McC tells us he'll be delivering the same in extra strength.

    Posted by sloper at 09/02/2008 @ 08:12am

57. Personally, I agree with Obama. The pregnancy is irrelevant, and if exploiting the pregnancy is the only way the Democrats can win, then they should lose.

    Posted by Zero at 09/01/2008 @ 8:55pm

    hear hear!

    sex is fun.

    leave the poor girl alone.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/02/2008 @ 09:40am

58. And to critisize the size of her family is, well beneath you.

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:17pm

    each north american is like a village elsewhere on this planet.

    so, i,

    do

    criticize her for having 5 kids.

    that's like a family in bangladesh having 200 kids.

    but whatever,

    she is just a distraction.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/02/2008 @ 09:55am

59. Check out the size of some of the black families, most with several different fathers who they will never know, swelling the entitlement rolls.

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:17pm

    stupid niggers.

    thank god you can educate them, frank.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/02/2008 @ 10:00am

60. Check out the size of some of the black families, most with several different fathers who they will never know, swelling the entitlement rolls.

    Posted by frankgrits at 09/01/2008 @ 7:17pm

    stupid niggers.

    thank god you can educate them, frank.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/02/2008 @ 10:00am

    Well, howzabout those famous multi-wife TX compound freaks who have about 30 kids overall....and the mom's troll on to the welfare line becasue in the eyes of the state they're "single mothers" even if they are "spiritually married"

    hypocrites

    Posted by leftofcenter at 09/03/2008 @ 09:06am