I have come to the conclusion that the selection of Palin shows that John McCain simply has no respect for America or the American people.

I love the funny website. It went up really fast didn't it.

Don't let's forget this and this.

I also note:

"Palin holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Idaho, where she also minored in political science." and "McCain entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.... McCain graduated... (894 of 899)." [Wikipedia]

This represents their highest formal education.

The question is will the media report this?
My guess - not a chance, after all she is a republican.

Why the surprise? We already know MCain has a thing for former beauty contest winners.

CORRECTION: "In 1984 Palin came in second in the Miss Alaska pageant." Apparently McCain can't make it with actual winners any more.

Andy Borowitz has a pretty funny column up already as well.

But really, this is the most short sighted campaign I've ever seen. McCain doesn't seem to be thinking beyond tomorrows headlines.

McCain graduated... (894 of 899)

Wasn't he a POW during this period?

"He also met with her briefly on Thursday morning before offering her the VP slot at 11 am."

Either he was in Alaska, or Palin had already left her state. Which means her office lied when they told ABC News this morning that Palin was still at home -- which is why there were "conflicting reports" that Palin was the pick.

In that quote she might be suggesting that the USA invaded Iraq to secure oil. She says we need new solutions for getting oil.

That fake Palin blog seems a little sexist. The idea is to portray her as a ditz/bimbo. Just because she is a woman and good-looking? Sure she is inexperienced and that is a problem, but don't go sexist.

I can't wait for one of the debate moderators to ask the following:

"Recent polls have shown that a fifth of Americans can't locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is?"

Yeah, it's as if he's running for senior class president in high school, as a joke. Is this the way he's done everything in his life?

Don't underestimate the power of media images. Contrast Dukakis riding around in the tank with the helmet, Kerry with a shotgun or in the clean suit, to Palin firing an M-16 rifle. She's the common man's dream women. This by itself is going to peel some votes away from Obama.

You can poo-poo the seriousness behind the vote change, but since every vote counts the same, the power of her media image works to her advantage much like all the racists rushing to vote for Obama because they want to elect a Black man as President. It doesn't matter that racist impulses are behind their support, all that matters is that he garners votes, by hook or by crook.

I can't wait for the VP debates. She's going to get crushed.

Palin is obviously suggesting that our glorious crusade in Iraq had SOMETHING to do with oil. What kind of leftist hate-America garbage has she been listening to?

I believe McCain's pick of Palin is the equivalent of "going it alone" when playing the card game Euchre. His partner may or may not have any cards, but he is confident he can get 3 tricks out of 5 with what he has in his own hand.

Andrew Sullivan? What was the "value add" in linking to him?

There is also a vpilf site as well. You forgot the vpilf site.

I can't wait for the VP debates. She's going to get crushed.

I can't stand Biden, but yeah, I suspect the VP debates will not be kindly to Ms. Palin.

But I do think that Hillary Clinton, took the right note today in congratulating her.

Um, considering "megorius" was fooled by that obviously fake vogue cover, I sure hope you would never link to her with any seriousness.

you said something fantastic about trivia machines. absolutely right. I have found that in this cycle the substantce-makers (candidates, media) are fools and the jesters (satirists, comedians) have all the substance. for instance I heard lots of air blowing about john edwards but this was the only thing that made any real sense:

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/musicals/5.html

kind of on a personal level, when I talk about [my son], umm, the plan for the war, you know, let's make sure we have a plan here, and respecting McCain's position on that [too though].

This seems to me to suggest that Palin is not enthusiastic about the war and is worried about whether there is a "plan" to end it. The last two words ("too though") were in the transcript at Think Progress (not in Kevin's). They add color, suggesting that there is a difference between her views and McCain's.

Add the fact the she has supported Buchanan in the past, and she is likely to be one of those Republicans that never got enthusiastic about the war and want to see it end. It will be interesting to see what she has to say on this in the coming days -- and whether she will be using her own voice or McCain's.

In stating that we need to prevent IRAQ from obtaining nuclear weapons/capability, Palin is also just as confused as McCain regarding the critical differences between IRAQ & IRAN.

Growing up in Michigan, I think the Euchre analogy puts it all in perspective. I'm a lifelong LIBERAL Democrat, son of a retired auto worker (after a 40 year career) who now holds public office himself, and I can't wait to see the debates this fall. The Clintons are behind Obama, the party has united, and its finally 'our' time. McCain's pick of Sarah Palin....preposterously ludicrous, at best. Obama/Biden 08!

"... 24/7 Palin trivia machines." er, That was the point of all this.

• The progressive blogosphere had such momentum after the Obama speech and this was a perfect way to deflate it.
  
• ditto for the media, except Fox news who are trying to put on a good face.
  
• Everyone is taking easy potshots at the massive easy Palin targets and digging to get more/be first.
  
• everyone has stopped looking at, let alone critiquing the rest of the McSame agenda as it appears or by its absence
  
• The eyes are off the war and Gustav and the lack of progress post-Katrina.
  

I just hope that Diebold can change all those memory cards that are currently fixed to say that McCain/Romney got more votes ...

I cannot stand CNN. Their headline:

"Palin a pioneer, maverick -- and game-changer"

Sigh.

Pass the popcorn.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/211524.php

I think people are overlooking the fact that those beauty contests can be vicious. Putin will be nothing to Miss Sitka and her hair- pulling tactics.

Does anyone else see a Reese Witherspoon movie in the offing?

A Game Changer!

So what are we playing now? Operation? Twister? Candy Land?

John McCain: For Ages 6 to 8.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say McCain is trying to throw the election. Everything he does flies in the face of logic. He's pushing the same failed policies of the most unpopular president ever. He regularly sticks his foot in his mouth. And now he picks a person for VP that is virtually unknown, and comes complete with ongoing ethical and abuse of power charges.

But, on the other hand, she will keep the media talking about McCain for the next few news cycles. That has to count for something, I guess.

Hey Speed
R u saying that the war in Iraq had nothing to do with oil? You are in lala land and probably a huge GW Bush fan no doubt.

Umm......

As Obama said.

Enough.

Enough may be a better slogan than change this year.

Do we really want four more years of Republican stupidity?

This is just yet more Republican stupidity.

The country has had enough with this sort of stupidity, it is time for a change.

As far as someone making the comment about republican stupidity.........well whats really going to be stupid is the dummies who vote for obama and his its time for a change. With a democrat in office you are going to have your change alright. Only the change left in your broke pocket!!!! Now how you doing lmao

The country has had enough with this sort of stupidity, it is time for a change.

Jumping from the frying pan of stupidity into the blast furnace of stupidity isn't a winning strategy for change.

Yes TangoMan, for once you are right. That's why we aren't voting for McCain.

I almost feel bad for her. As bits & pieces of her biography & stances come out, she seems like she'd be a hoot at a cocktail party. She doesn't demonize gay folks, she has a relatively sensible perspective on drugs, and she seems at least half serious about going after corruption. Maybe I'm wrong and she'll turn out to be a quick study, but it's beginning to look like she's in way over her head. Smartest thing for Obama & Biden to do is just keep slamming McCain, Bush, & the entire Republican platform. She's obviously nothing more than a sideshow as far as the McCain folks are concerned, and I think it would be wise for Democrats to view her the same way.

So - this is kind of like the "mail-order bride" method of VP selection?

Marvelous.

Couple of possibilities here:

1. Maybe McCain is actually throwing the election. After so many years of autopilot ambition and cult (mainly the press bus) adulation, he has realized that he is asking for a shitload of hard work and grief.

2. Maybe McCain's staff is treating their work not as actual serious work, but copy for a portfolio they can shop to future, more viable candidates. That explains the careening succession of message shifts, tactical bootlegger turns and seeming disarray--a variety of approaches for the discerning candidate.

Palin: Think Tom Eagleton, not Dan Quayle.

This reminds me of the stunts that McCain pulled when Barack went overseas. Instead of spending that time to make a case for himself and his policies, he released a barrage of silly videos, and silly statements.
It was the proverbial child stamping their feet because they were not getting enough attention.

Now, to dampen the history of Barack's nomination, and the surprising energy and unity coming from the Democrats, he picks a VP candidate that he barely knows to pander to women voters.

I'm not saying that it is not smart, because some people will certainly fall for it and it gives his campaign a fresh face. But it disturbs me that once again, the press is going to give him a pass for this foolishness.

When he started to go negative, instead of pointing out the hypocrisy of his ads and talking points, the media spent the majority of time navel gazing and wondering whether they were giving Obama too much coverage. Now, instead of pointing out the fact that McCain made a VP pick to save his lackluster campaign---and not in the interest of who will be the best to help him govern, the media is ignoring facts and claiming Palin is a maverick and reformer.

I don't remember McCain 2000, but my sister, a Republican, mourns him. I just know, that if the electorate falls for this again, and elects McCain as president, then we can forget it.

Historically, vice presidents have not been selected to help a president govern. If they played any significant role at all, it was to learn the ropes in case the president died or was incapacitated. However, Joe Biden can certainly be described as a pick intended to help Barack Obama govern—at least with respect to foreign affairs. In fact, the Democratic ticket appears inverted while the Republican ticket makes more sense in many ways when considering the traditional role of a vice presidential selection is to help politically in the current campaign while proving generally inconsequential after the election.

In any case, the droning on about the relative inexperience of a candidate is not going to prove to be any more persuasive to the electorate now that the subject is Sarah Palin than when it was Barack Obama. It will be more productive and sufficient to focus on the differences between the two campaigns with respect to economics, war, and the number, size, and extent of government programs: Barack Obama favors European style socialism while John McCain (and most self identified conservatives) favor a more restrained American style socialism. Moreover, the candidates are even more clearly divided over how (or even whether) to prosecute the current war and in which theaters. Depending on your own preferences, you may favor one or the other or neither. All the rest is little more than venting on caricatures of the actual people running for office.

[McCain trolling deleted.]

Emily, I too am so happy that McCain chose Sara Palin. I had been hoping he'd choose Mittens or Holy Joe, but my God, Palin is just a gold mine. An inexperienced governor from a sparsely populated state who is already involved in a scandal, blatantly chosen to pander to the religious right and the Clinton dead-enders--I just couldn't ask for more. Thank you, Lord!

Bob Milin - You are obviously sarcasm-impaired. I should have made it more obvious.

This selection continues the George W. Bush legacy of picking unqualified incompetents and putting them in positions that are way over their heads, like putting Mike Brown in charge of FEMA.

Kevin, the excerpt makes sense if you assume the Iraq war was about oil. Palin argues 1) We need to ramp up domestic supplies so 2) We can put together an exit strategy and get out of Iraq which concerns her because 3) her son is going. She assumes we're there for oil and if we are to get out, we need more domestic production. Which is quite an assumption for McCain's VP.

You lefties are scared to death of this woman, aren't you? Wait until she wiped Biden's "run away and surrender" *judgement* on Iraq.

What's Obama's "background" in foreign policy, other that he's thought about it?

Considering how incoherent McCain is on Iraq, I suppose you could view it as amplifying their message.

If I were a mother and one of my children (an infant) had Down's Syndrome, and yet another, was pregnant before graduating high school, married, or any other situation, I don't think I would want to start going to Washington, flying around the world, and being apart from my family,often. I hope this doens't sound sexist, but I would put my FAMILY FIRST, then my country. Any thoughts?

I sure feel that family comes first, so I wont expect Sarah been the right candidate for a Vice-Pte, specially that MaCain has health issues and he is an elderly man who will most likely become a president.

Comment at my blog!

http://momsagainstmccainpalin.typepad.com/moms_against_mccainpalin/

As long as the white house stays white, I am happy.

Have you all done your homework with Obama? He is going to raise your taxes so he can continue living the good life. Yeah you'll see change all right...like you've never seen before. He kept absolutely zero of the promises he made prior to becoming Senator. Sarah kept every promise and then went above and beyond. She does exactly what she says. McCain been caught in any lies lately? Look at Obama's lie track record. 118 documented lies. I'm going with the ones who keep their word-that means something. You can talk all day long, action speaks louder than words. Oh by the way I am a registered democrat. You ought to see the mess the democrats have created in Maryland. I'd like to see some integrity in the White House. The mockery and disgrace that Clinton left on his watch makes me sick. You think Michelle Obama is out for the good of all Americans? I think not and she has made that pretty clear. The "brothers" and the black women may benefit with her, but not the majority of people in the United States. And those are her words, not mine. Look at her transcripts and tell me honestly that they are going to make this a better country. Do your homework. Obama is dangerous!

Doesn't any body get it?
The real reason why McCain chose Palin was because
#1)she has a son in the armed forces headed for Iraq,
#2) she is a hunter (NRA-Lock) and
#3) she has a handicapped child to "gag" the opposition.
If he were to pick on merits and experience he would have easily chosen Condoleezza Rice. Why not? I'm sure we all know the answer to that one.