Envision a President BIDON, or a President PALIN. Did someone miss the boat as to picking their running mate and using judgement? Talk about thoughtful consideration!!! McCain could have done better, a lot better. He met and talked with his coice one, maybe two times. Here comes more GOP Snake Oil Rove type politics - Stabalize the base and sell,sell,sell. After 8 years, the product will not sell.

Posted by David James at 08/30/2008

Can't believe that Katrina's statement on Bill Moyers' show that McCain's choice of VP was a stroke of genius. (Paraphrased here.) It's the most ridiculous and dangerous choice McCain could have made and destroys the GOP's claim of inexperience of Obama. Katrina should have pointed out that McCain is 72 years old and his choice of VP puts this nation at risk. Please, Katrina, we are not so stupid to not see through McCain's rationale. It shows his desperation.

Posted by bevans at 08/30/2008

This pick looks so gimmicky. John McCain think woman are that stupid? This shows that McCain made a purely political move and strengthens Obama's campaign even more!

Posted by arethad at 08/31/2008

McCain is obviously pandering to the much-needed Eskimo vote. This selection of Palin is good for the Dems because it strengthens the realization that the Repubs are the party of Big Oil, Right Wing Evangelists, and that they are totally out of touch with the needs of this country going forward in these times. How can more of the same ever be seen as change? Now we'll have not only more of the same policies but more of the same disregard of basic intelligence.

Posted by sky_hermit at 08/31/2008

If you’re getting FLACK you know you’re over the target. This is a rigged pole for the only positive assumes that she will woo Hilary voters, this is not the case. The real affect is that Governor Palin has set a fire under the conservative base and united the Republican Party. Before her selection the conservative part of the party was basically depressed for they feared that both parties were moving to the left of Marx. The moral Christian base will now turn out in large numbers giving McCain a fighting chance. All the Dem’s have to offer is the same old tax and spend misery, and a future of poverty. Now the conservative see a future of tax cuts, smaller government, and a bountiful future.

Posted by Exton1 at 09/1/2008

This will help McCain. Americans have proven over the decades that they vote for superficial candidates with superficial issues.

Posted by blueCedars at 09/1/2008

While McCain's decision to select Alaska's governor as a running mate would undermine his 'experience' attacks in a nation with a truly democratic and honest press, the mainstream media of the United States have a fairly consistent track record of ignoring doublespeak by both parties, so I doubt anyone will notice.

In the past, I have givenVice Presidential candidates little consideration, as they usually agreed with their running mates fairly closely. Cheney, however, has challenged the veracity of this assumption in his demonstration of how effectively the Vice President can manipulate the rest of the executive branch. On the other hand, the mere fact that McCain's running mate is female should be hardly enough to win over anyone from Clinton's camp (at least, anyone who was actually behind her), so I imagine the effect will be largely neutral in the end.

Posted by Napzilla at 09/1/2008

I agree with "lueCedars" above. This will help McCain. Consistently, the American People have shown themselves absolutely unable and unwilling to make smart choices in their elected official. Until the American People grow spines and start getting the freakin' clue here, we'll continue to elect the most outrageous, uninformed and ridiculous candidates. How to do that, you ask? Easy. QUIT BELIEVING THE MEDIA MACHINE!!!

Posted by jsebenoler at 09/1/2008

John's ancestors go way way back to Carrol County Mississippi. They were large plantation owners w/Slaves, etc. Military bases in Meridian, Ms and north Mississippi in Grenada County are named after his military forefathers.

Note: I find it very strange that the news organizations, i.e., Mainstream News Media does NOT tell us about John McCain's slave heritage... and Mississippi roots and the Confederate Army.

Teddy Donald

Wikipedia® - Family and marriage

His grandfather, William Alexander McCain (b. North Carolina , 1812 – d. 1863), died while serving as a private in Company I, 5th Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry, Confederate States Army . During his life, he owned a _2,000-acre plantation _ in Carroll County, Mississippi known alternately as "Teoc" (the Choctaw name for the creek it was located upon) and "Waverly", as well as 52 slaves . He was married in 1840 to Mary Louisa McAllister (b. Alabama , 1812 – d. 1882). William's son, the first John Sidney McCain, known as J.S. McCain (which may explain the apparent discrepancy in Senator John S. McCain being the III, rather than the IV), served as Sheriff and, later, President of the Board of Supervisors of Carroll County.

_McCain's older brother, another William Alexander McCain, also attended the University of Mississippi _ before transferring to the United States Military Academy . William A. McCain would eventually retire with the rank of Brigadier General , and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for actions in World War I, as well as the Oak Leaf Cluster during World War II. An uncle, Henry Pickney McCain (b. Mississippi , 1861 – d. 1941), also attended West Point and later retired from the Army as a Major-General . Camp McCain, a WWII training base and current Mississippi National Guard training site, located in Grenada County, Mississippi, is named for him.

Posted by tedonald at 09/1/2008

I agree with Exton, and I'm baffled at the wording of the first choice on this poll. I seriously doubt that any significant numbers of Hillary supporters will vote for Palin just because she's a woman, but I expect an avalanche of far right fundamentalist Christians who loathe McCain and would have otherwise stayed home on election night in protest to come to the polls and vote Republican just because of Palin's presence on the ticket.

Very smart move, McCain. I hope Obama's camp can come up with something to counter this!

Posted by alisonnic at 09/2/2008

I think Ralph Nader will be a far greater factors in the election than the choice of Sarah Palin. Not only was the choice of Quayle a non-factor, but Palin seems far smarter than Quayle. Nader is running well over 6% in polls of four western, swing states. He also has very loyal, committed supporters elsewhere. He could throw the election into the House, if Obama cannot improve his lead over McCain.

Posted by goedel at 09/3/2008