I wish that 15% would have watched Joe Biden's speech yesterday.

There is a number two.

I think Palin will slowly become a cautionary tale in American Politics, either way this election goes. But that is what Republicans manufacture best.

Cheerleaders are the best potential Presidents and Vice Presidents in the GOP. A bit of evidence of skills in thuggery and skulduggery and lying with a straight face is icing on the cake.

Palin is the perfect GOP candidate.

If the "unthinkable" were to occur, Palin could step into the White House almost immediately. Well, once she was really comfy.

Some of us remember LBJ getting comfortable and easing into his new job, as Air Force One flew from Dallas to Washington, DC.

There's no accounting for taste.

The republicans are, as they have for decades, luring those voters who make an emotional choice, not a logical one. It is a tactic that's worked well for them; they've convinced a generation of blue collar workers to vote against their own best interests.

Having said that, let me say this:

With few exceptions, politicians who reach the national stage are just average people with out sized egos (Barney Frank is a notable exception; there are surely others). The clerk at the local 7-11 has the intelligence to do the job, given the right experience. But that experience is key, and when it comes to the federal government and national (and international) issues, Obama/Biden has it, and McCain/Palin clearly does not.

Now can we move beyond PalinPalooza and get to the real issues?

Her selection was a political decision. So even John McCain doesn't think she's prepared to lead the country.

Hey, 15 percent is less than the crazification factor

Mac and Cheezie

He was always going to go down, but at least he was going to go down with some dignity.

There is something very, very sad about watching a desperate, old man ride his hail mary to oblivion without a shred.

15% is also the actuarial chance of her having to assume the presidency during the next four years if they're elected. Coincidence?

What's the worry? McCain was canonized Thursday night.

Do you remember 2000 and 2004? Republicans think it's just fine to have somebody on the top of the ticket who isn't prepared to be President.

In the Republican world, ability to run the government is not an important qualification. What's important is holding the key to the treasury so that Halliburton and other cronies can be let in to do their looting. From this point of view there is no contradiction in these polling numbers.

While what you said is strictly true, more accurate is "at least fifteen percent".

It could be as much as 26%:

63% approve, prepared
26% approve, unprepared
11% disapprove, prepared
0% disapprove, unprepared

Which total to:

89% approve
74% prepared

Which are the same numbers that you're starting from.

Strictly speaking, it means there are at least 15 percent (and at most 26).

It could actually be more than 15%. The 74% who believe she is prepared to be president likely includes some of the 11% who do not approve of her selection as running mate. Therefore, if you want to know what percentage of those who approve her selection even though they don't believe she's prepared to be president, then I would think 15% is a minimum and it could be higher.

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But the answer should be obvious: "God would not let McCain die, until Sara was prepared". So there is no need to be concerned that she won't be ready on day one. When god decides she is ready, then the blessed event will transpire.

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[I have told you repeatedly that you are not getting a foothold here. You are only trolling here because Steve banned you at Political Animal. Regulars, please don't respond to this person. His comments will always be deleted.]

There was a classic West Wing moment where there was a 10 per cent gap between those who thought overseas aid was too high and those who thought it should be cut... Did Josh's head in. Real life imitating great art

There are probably many Democrats who are happy with the Palin selection but who don't think she is prepared to be President.

Not sure if I should worry about the 15 (or more) % of whackjobs who believe it is okay for the vice president to be wholly unqualified to assume the presidency (which may overlap strongly with the 10-20% who failed basic high school civics and believe the vice presidency is just a helper, not the successor to the President), OR if I should instead worry about the 74% who really in their hearts believe she is "prepared" to assume such a role.

In either case, I think the "whackjob quotient" in the Republican Party has just been measured at 89%.