Yes, but they (Rove's devil spawn) would do that anyway.

Sure, and I've said as much. But, seriously, Don, I don't really think that's the bar you want to set. And, like it or not, there's plenty of toxic waste customers out there on all sides — saying the more…

I have agreed with giovanni but also think Dailykos (which is a community of writers after all) hardly led with this stupid rumour and moved to shut it down pretty quickly as well.

It wasn't written by a frontpager, but it stayed on the rec list for several hours, which…

I have a chilling feeling you might be right.

Yes, but they (Rove's devil spawn) would do that anyway. I have agreed with giovanni but also think Dailykos (which is a community of writers after all) hardly led with this stupid rumour and moved to shut it down pretty quickly…

I have a chilling feeling you might be right.

I think he's absolutely right, even if Palin doesn't withdraw because we're seeing it already. Although I think Obama's statement ( linked to up-thread) was correct and perfectly pitched, I wouldn't blame him if he wouldn't mind putting his boot firmly…

Prediction:

I have a chilling feeling you might be right.

But to say it again, to the extent the story is "Palin hushes up daughter's pregnancy" the Daily Kos had it right.

Yours is an incredibly generous reading of a despicable piece of writing that I invite you to go back and re-read. The link is either somewhere in this…

Did I miss something? The link above pointed to them being released in 1999 when he was vying with W for the Republican nomination.

Well, yes, obviously you missed all the health that has occurred to him between 1999 and 2008.

And btw, no, Biden hasn't released his health records…

If a small-town mayor ever ruled with an iron fist — it was Palin. Eleven days after taking office in 1996, she mailed letters to each of the city’s top managers requesting that they resign as a test of loyalty.

The Anchorage Daily News at the…

And to the extent it already seems that she was not properly vetted by McCain's team, it raises questions about his judgement as well.

Somebody somewhere suggested moving on from Troopergate, Babygate, etc, and going directly to Vettinggate.

You're far from a handy target, I admire you're writing a great deal. But true, I'm angry at this whole thing obiovusly, and especially angry at the fact that it didn't come out on the National Enquirer, but on Daily Kos, which love it or hate is a major organiser…

Palin will pull out of VP stakes, saying the personal attacks on her family/daughter are beyond what she was prepared for and family comes first. Rightwing MSM will attack Leftwing Blogosphere. Pushpolling will confirm X% of voters believe Obama/Obama Campaign was behind the smears. PUMA's return to the fray,…

You persist in thinking it's any of your business, which mistifies me a bit

As a public figure, the actions she takes are in the public interest (we get a pass as observers), far more so than the vacuous doings of Spears, Lohan and Hilton, which are only in the…

'His buttocks are unremarkable except for some very light tan freckling.'

Amazin'.

The Father-Badger, writhing in a cave,
Shrieked out "Return my sons!
You shall have buns," he shrieked, "if you'll behave!
Yea, buns, and buns, and buns!"

Lewis Carroll, The Three Badgers

McCain's took ages to be released.

They did, however, contain this immortal sentence:

'His buttocks are unremarkable except for some very light tan freckling.'

I'm going to say the wait was worth it.

But the other part — Palin's risky behaviour — "came out" in an ordinary newspaper, back in April, and, as I noted, an obstetrician was quoted saying (I paraphrase): WTF?

You persist in thinking it's any of your business, which mistifies me a bit. Also, why is the opinion of…

You're far from a handy target, I admire you're writing a great deal. But true, I'm angry at this whole thing obiovusly, and especially angry at the fact that it didn't come out on the National Enquirer, but on Daily Kos

But the other part — Palin's risky behaviour --…

Perhaps this is a cultural difference? I am writing from the US, spent the day talking with locals of various stripes; nobody wants to believe but it neither can they not talk about it.

This occurred to me too: you're in a different environment, where everyone is talking about it.…

Chelsea Clinton was roughly the same age as Bristol when John McCain made this joke about her. Offensive, homophobic, a nasty crack about a young woman's appearance, and COMPLETELY gratuitous, but the world kept spinning on its axis.

Especially as far as you and me are concerned, yes.

Please! You're one of PAS's most articulate posters; I'm sure you can converse without swearing at me.

I've been articulate for the last ten pages or so. It's got me exactly nowhere. And your Pynchonian fascination is an attempt at playing it cute which I'm not inclined to buy. I…

Kos not deleting the diary is and will remain a stain on the netroots movement in the US for some time to come, methinks.

Valid opinion, but I also see merit in leaving it up (with suitable Updates) so that…

Bullshit.

Please! You're one of PAS's most articulate posters; I'm sure you can converse without swearing at me.

Perhaps this is a cultural difference? I am writing from the US, spent the day talking with locals of various stripes; nobody wants to believe but it neither can they not talk…

Very august occasion though, for a calendrical pedant

If you haven't already, you'll love The Calender: Humanity's Epic Struggle to Determine a True and Accurate Year by David Ewing Duncan

Because that is what many US presidential candidates actually do.

And she will, in due course, naturally. Which is another strong indication that the conspiracy theory is unfounded – it's not as if she would have accepted the nomination knowing that something like that would have come out.

But in…

Like bristols and hands and Andrew's birthday party.

Oo er... that sounds like the sort of party that gives an old man a dirty reputation.

"Bristols" always reminds me of the glaswegian biology teacher at school in Wales (in my 12th year on the planet) , we had to dissect…

here's a hug for Giovanni

I just look at your Gravatar and it's all the help I need.
Interesting piece, including the part that describes exactly what happened in this very forum:

There's a weird pivot on this story. What started as 'she wasn't pregnant!' is morphing into Palin getting…

Your suggestion that Palin should come to you with her medical records takes the cake.

Because that is what many US presidential candidates actually do. I have not seen anyone on this thread ask for these records, but if you want to be president, the price you pay…

Because pregnant women always know exactly how pregnant they are?

They do by five months, the scans will do the trick. But in this case it's moot: since you're theory is a coverup, the five months wouldn't be an innocently reached guess but a timespan carefully designed to prove that…

[arrgghh – michael jackson earworm!! must.stop...]

I am up to page 15 of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Zen Living, and this…

Aww... kick an old man when he's down whydontcha.

Sorry, shouldn't have done that, even with slippers on. Very august occasion though, for a calendrical pedant (I was celebrating with you in 2001). Many happy returns.

I'm not "banging on about it," I'm trying to puzzle out the basis for the enthusiastic embrace of it. It's meta.

And I don't strictly speaking need a hug, but I would like one. A group one? Then we could…

I think everyone's long decided that rumour had no basis in fact. You can let it go now Giovanni.

Jolisa obviously hasn't, seeing as she keeps banging on about it. And I would let it go if I could, except I appear powerless to stop myself.

I'm 48 years old.…

High five!

Nathan is my favourite.

Horses and Bristols, they're both measured in Hands.

High five!

Actually, my dear, [whispers] you're already in your 49th year and you'll be in your 50th year in a couple of weeks.

Aww... kick an old man when he's down whydontcha.

Yes, that's more or less what I'm getting at. Thank you.

I do so need a hug.

:) You deserve one.

kinda like how we measure horses in 'hands' right?

Horses and Bristols, they're both measured in Hands.

Giovanni needs a hug.

I do so need a hug.

No need for the strong language – I'm a delicate creature.

Not delicate enough not to lend rope to a whacky, anti-woman, disgusting piece of slander involving a teen, and to keep coming back for more after it's been disproven fifteen times in the space of twenty-four hours (what happened…

Look at any pregnancy book: the "first month" is sometimes defined as 4, sometimes six weeks. And every "month" thereafter is 4 weeks long. The "fifth month of pregnancy" is not necessarily…

You are fucking kidding me, right? You must be.

Which I would like to see derailed asap by a detailed (and easily supplied) rebuttal from Palin and co. In the meantime, I remain…

Um, but 40 weeks does = 10 months.

Sure. That's why November and December consist of six weeks each.

This thread is becoming Orwellian.

she'll deliver at ten, or even ten and a half months, and nobody will find that odd

Um, but 40 weeks does = 10 months, and "about five months" is not a particularly precise number. I'll happily wait for Palin's medical records to clear everything up. And then I'll look…

__Palin could easily deal to these scurrilous rumours by releasing the birth certificate and possibly a photo or video segment of the birth (since I'm sure even in ye olde Alaska they're up with the new technology) BUT chooses not to…

SCORE! Now I shall run round the field with my shirt over my head.

Well, it all depends on whether you are playing for Arsenal, or Bristol City.

Well, yes, "if." It might be the truth, but we only have their word for it, which is worth the paper it's written on at this point.

Yes, of course, they're lying. It's a cunning plan, because then if she's really four months pregnant and she goes full term, she'll…

If Bristol is five months pregnant,

Well, yes, "if." It might be the truth, but we only have their word for it, which is worth the paper it's written on at this point. And the 16 weeks thing was in reference to the incredbly muddy dating of pregnancies, whereby the…

Pennyroyal anyone? (Ok, this probably is in questionable taste, but extra points if you don't need to look it up).

SCORE! Now I shall run round the field with my shirt over my head.

So why splash it as appalling innuendo over the web? When it's SUCH a personal smear that extends beyond the candidate to her teenage daughter and handicapped son, you should be treading a hell of a lot more carefully.

But what is the smear here? That Gov Palin covered up…

It's a mystery!

This is insane. If Bristol is five months pregnant, she can't have been Trig's mother, period. Contrary to what you wrote earlier today, five months doesn't equal 16 weeks, more like 21-22 from the beginning of the (hypothetical) menstruation before the conception, which means she would somehow…

It wasn't Summat, was it? As in "So what'll I put on the birth certificate then, chook?" "Oof, just write summat and we'll fix it later..."

Heh. I wish it was as Coronation-Street-esque as that! No, Summit, as in 'mountaintop'. It beats me. Coincidentally, said mother-in-law's progeny were also born…

But seriously, he named them after the team or after the players?

The players from one particularly great season in his youth (probably in the mid 50s). Maybe it worked, at least one of his sons played for the All Whites.

I think she totally wimped out not going with a theme for them all. Herbs are an obvious one, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary etc.

Pennyroyal anyone? (Ok, this probably is in questionable taste, but extra points if you don't need to look it up).

A guy I know named all his kids after his favourite Arsenal team – even the girls!

Oh dear, that reminds me of the old joke that ends "And the Arsenal fan said "I'm not hungry.""

But seriously, he named them after the team or after the players? I mean,…

My mother-in-law named two of her children Bristol and, erm, Summit.

It wasn't Summat, was it? As in "So what'll I put on the birth certificate then, chook?" "Oof, just write summat and we'll fix it later..."

There are so many great nouns that should be names.

I think she totally wimped out not going with a theme for them all. Herbs are an obvious one, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary etc. Maybe a few of the (alleged) myraid Inuit names for snow?

A guy I know named all…

Fuck. Could we lay off this crap, pretty please? Questioning Palin's choice of flying during labour is one thing, latching on to this revolting 'story' quite another.

However outlandish it might seem, the "Bristol is the real mother" story had legs for two reasons — firstly, Palin had a daughter…

My mother-in-law named two of her children Bristol and, erm, Summit. That's a total WTF too.

What are the others called?

Willow, Piper, and Track. I feel bad now, given Bristol's moment in the spotlight, that I joked about how her name wouldn't translate very well in the UK (they might as well have called her Hooter).

I still think they're pretty groovy names, actually. There…

Answer: It's a mystery!

So why splash it as appalling innuendo over the web? When it's SUCH a personal smear that extends beyond the candidate to her teenage daughter and handicapped son, you should be treading a hell of a lot more carefully.
Distasteful sums it up.

What are the others called?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UliipvHKuk&feature=related

Groups that oppose abortion rights had been thrilled with Mr. McCain’s selection of Ms. Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his running mate, partly because of her opposition to abortion. It is not clear how social conservatives will respond to the latest news [of the unmarried daughter’s pregnancy], **but the…

you can bet like hell palin has a shotgun

Oh, he does. Go and read Bridget's entry in the blog linked to by Danielle.

family feud

it is alaska after all...

and what's wrong with a girl being pregnant at 17?

you can bet like hell palin has a shotgun.

So yeah, I'm picking that it gets a little more Jerry Springer yet.

As a longtime fan and viewer of the Jerry Springer Show, I've got to say that I think this saga is a lot more 'class-ay'. It really has more of a Montel Williams or, at a pinch,…

It seems in general that Todd Palin…

giovanni and Obama have it right on this

What were you saying? Sorry, I was busy printing T-shirts.

Soon enough, Obama is going to liken himself to Giovanni Tiso. And McCain will reply that the comparison is ludicrous.

Obama:

"I have said before…

“Our people were not involved in any way in this and they will not be,” Mr. Obama snapped, his voice raised. “And if I ever thought there was somebody in my campaign that was involved in something like that, they’d be fired, O.K.?”

Mr. Obama said the pregnancy “has no…

And, on a sidenote: it could backfire very, very badly. Up until last Monday I didn't see a way for Obama to lose this election. Now I can.

Giovanni: We're going to have to stop meeting like this. :) While I'm fully respectful of where Jolisa is coming from (I…

If only I were sure it was crap.

I don't accept that, in fact it's the very thing that bothers me. All that we have to go on this is the (anonymous) Kos diary, that's the story in its entirety – all the links lead back to that. And the…

Fuck. Could we lay off this crap, pretty please?

If only I were sure it was crap. It seems as plausible to me as the alternatives, or did I just have a more gothic Catholic secrets and lies childhood than most?

If it can happen to Britney, it can happen…

then the original rumour is not at all disproven. Especially if she was not allowed to breastfeed the first baby: fertility can come back very quickly, and I'm sure we all know at least one set of Irish twins...

Fuck. Could we lay off this crap, pretty please? Questioning Palin's…

Well, hello. So Bristol is not the mother of little Trig, because she's currently 5 months pregnant with her own baby.

Nothing wrong with teen pregnancy, but ouch! Not a great look for a staunch proponent of abstinence-only sex education!

Sure, but Bristol Palin is no more her mother's keeper…

It's quite a relief to see you say so. I've been scorned as the scum of the earth on the other thread for suggesting her actions were odd and risky.

I'm so dense I didn't notice there was another thread. Just heading over to check it out!

How this one…

So will Palin stand down, or will she brazen this one out??

How this one plays out is going to be genuinely interesting. And if you were the daughter, wouldn't you just love being dragged into this kind of national spotlight at age seventeen? But that's by the by.

She's…

Because otherwise you've got someone who is blithely prepared to give birth to a premature special needs child on a commercial airliner. Which raises questions about her judgement under pressure... or makes her the most fervent home(state)birther I've ever heard of! (Plus, cervix of steel, yo!)

It's quite a relief…

To counter the rumor that the anti-choice, pro-abstinence VP nominee’s teenage daughter had sex and a baby out of wedlock, they release the news that her teenage daughter had sex and is going to have a baby…

Nothing wrong with teen pregnancy, but ouch! Not a great look for a staunch proponent of abstinence-only sex education!

So will Palin stand down, or will she brazen this…

Here's more photoshop-truthiness about Palin. For the lolz, of course.

Whatever the truth of the matter, that's genius for so many reasons. Then there's this decision tree.

It would help to make more sense of this if we knew a bit more about her other labours. Did they take days…

Maybe we should lend them Jonathon Marshall to ferrit out the scandal:

Oh, for fuck's sake John. I actually agree with you, as long as Marshall is stripped of his citizenship and refused entry back into New Zealand when he's done. One might think that Marshall would be the last…

'the truth will come out when the MSM investigate'. Or will they?

On what grounds should they? I'm sure some tabloid loon will pick it up and run with it, but why should the MSM touch this particular turd? On the basis of what evidence?

Thinking 'what a crock of shit'...

As I said, I thought that too initially. But they've made good points. But as KOS commenters have commented 'the truth will come out when the MSM investigate'. Or will they?

Maybe we should lend them Jonathon Marshall to ferrit out the scandal:

THE recently…

Read Graeme's link people, it's mind-blowing.

Indeed it is – but not in way you probably mean, John. Sorry, but when one is being asked to examine the "professional tightness" of a woman's clothes (and a photo of a rather chubby teenage girl) for signs of baby-bumpiness. Well, I'm looking…

Read Graeme's link people, it's mind-blowing. My first thought was 'It can't possibly be true – what a shitty rumour to start' ... but if you read it all the way through...

Thinking 'what a crock of shit'. I'm surprised Kos hasn't pulled this diary.

And Daily Kos has a good backgrounder on how her son is really her grandson
:-)

OMFG!!

Read Graeme's link people, it's mind-blowing. My first thought was 'It can't possibly be true – what a shitty rumour to start' ... but if you read it all the way through you're…

Jack Donaghy from 30 Rock

'Never go with a hippy to a second location.'

That man is a bottomless font of wisdom.

Gustav-note: man, the 'you're on your own if you stay in New Orleans' stuff is quite chilling. It was obviously true three years ago, but now they're being…

how could you not vote for someone who ""goes to Sbarro when he's angry, the New York Stock Exchange when he's horny, and Christie's when he's depressed." :)

Or who "lives every week like it's shark week".

Bah... really need to fact check ... before posting things like that

No, you may still have been right:

the only Republican in the 2006 midterms who increased her majority

:-)

Your ideal veep candidate is Jack Ryan as played by Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October.

Or even Jack Donaghy from 30 Rock — how could you not vote for someone who ""goes to Sbarro when he's angry, the New York Stock Exchange when he's horny, and Christie's…

and, I suspect, was the only Republican in the 2006 midterms who increased her majority

Bah... really need to fact check my own arse before posting things like that. In 2006, Indiana Senator Richard Lugar increased his margin from 34.7 points to a whopping 74.8 — though not surprising considering…

I recognise people will have issues with a republican running-mate, but couldn't people have waited at least a week before coining VPILF?

Heh. Samantha Bee a while back had a pretty epic piece about FLILFs, mostly centred around Kucinich's ludicrously attractive wife.

TPM has a good backgrounder on Palin's "Troopergate" problems.

And Daily Kos has a good backgrounder on how her son is really her grandson
:-)

It's not women you distract, by and large, by yelling 'look, boobies!'

I recognise people will have issues with a republican running-mate, but couldn't people…

Craig, very useful pointer towards Snowe there. I recognized the name but didn't know much about her ... from your analysis and the description on Wikipedia, I absolutely agree.

Well, you've got to ask yourself what the hell a woman who hasn't lost an election in thirty-five years — and,…

Your ideal veep candidate is Jack Ryan as played by Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October.

Why yes.

McCain has a 'problem with women'. Okay. So you've decided to go for the 'female swing voters who vote on the basis…

And she was the best they could do?

Given the lack of a meeting, perhaps she was a spreadsheet pick?
=IF(Conservative – Weighting 0.5; Woman – Weighting 0.3; "New, fresh" – Weighting 0.1; Gun-toting photo-ops aplenty – Weighting 0.1) THEN DISREGARD (Corruption; Policy-platform-of-little-appeal-to-women; Passport)

That's flippant though – I imagine…

That's actually the most rational explanation: they needed to give the evangelicals a reason to vote.

And she was the best they could do?

Anyway, I've just had footage of the first Obama-McCain debate fall out of a time-space rift. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyJ2YcKx1e8&NR=1

I suppose it's possible their internal polling was picking up a bunch of no-vote ultra conservatives?

That's actually the most rational explanation: they needed to give the evangelicals a reason to vote.

She seems to have unabashedly used her power as Governor to pursue a family feud, and lied about it.

So not only has McCain destroyed his "experience" card, he's also destroyed his long-running "corruption-fighter" card and handed fuel to Obama's "stop the self-serving, special-interest nature of Washington".

There must be…

Bloody Gustav's a cat 5 now. Shit. Not what we need. Hitting the road at dawn.

Best of luck James, hope any damage is minor.

Yes, I hope the road out is smooth and your house is strong. We'll look forward to your return.

Bloody Gustav's a cat 5 now. Shit. Not what we need. Hitting the road at dawn.

Best of luck James, hope any damage is minor.

Palin then ignored notice about the sexual harrassment problems of her replacement choice for Public Safety chief, appointed the guy the next day, then had to accept his resignation two weeks later.

And there go the people who might have voted for Bill Clinton, but wouldn't be encouraging their daughters…

Oh. My. God.

It gets truly wow.

Palin then ignored notice about the sexual harrassment problems of her replacement choice for Public Safety chief, appointed the guy the next day, then had to accept his resignation two weeks later.

TPM has a good backgrounder on Palin's "Troopergate" problems.

Oh. My. God. Question for Today: Even if that is only half true, I think we've got to start asking who the hell vetted Palin, and will their bodies ever be found? I'm just bewildered that McCain has taken what was…

She seems to have unabashedly used her power as Governor to pursue a family feud, and lied about it.

A hail mary pass is a risky play made in desperation

Maureen Dowd uses the term exactly the same way in The New York Times.

Palinistas, as they are called, love Sarah’s spunky, relentlessly quirky “Northern Exposure” story from being a Miss Alaska runner-up, and winning Miss Congeniality, to being mayor…

A hail mary pass is a risky play made in desperation

Or to gain a greater share of the Catholic vote.

We may need a judges decision on this one, sounds like an Americanism to me.

(I believe hospital pass is the appropriate term in New Zealandese)

A hospital pass is a pass made to a player in a hopeless position, with a tackler all but upon him.

A hail mary…

but it's an utter hail mary pass

We may need a judges decision on this one, sounds like an Americanism to me.

(I believe hospital pass is the appropriate term in New Zealandese)

Obama has a problem with woman voters, McCain is smart to try to exploit it.

What Simon said.

'Golly gee, we both have tits! Let me vote for her!'

Meh.

It's pretty hard to escape the conclusion of Shannen Coffen on that well-known far-left outlet, National Review:

And Rick Brookhiser &, more importantly David Frum, from the same publication, whose post includes:

I (and most NRO readers) will vote against Barack Obama because I oppose his ideas. He is (at best)…

Lack of experience is the last thing Obama wants to talk about.

I've seen…

So, no, I had sufficient prior knowledge on which to base my enthusiasm.

To borrow from Steve Clemons:

What does she think about Cuba? Does she know the difference between America's relations with Brazil and Venezuela? Does she know what a balancing act we are walking in Asia between Japan,…

It makes me wonder what kind of deep research the McCain camp had that made them go this way.

More like I wonder how many people McCain sounded out, and not so politely said 'suicide is a sin in the eyes of God, and I'm not that keen on the…

Enough with the analyses and assumptions of "electoral tactics" playing a role in John McCain's vice-presidential pick.

John McCain said he would pick the most qualified candidate for the job of vice-president.

John McCain picked Sarah Palin.

Why?

Because John McCain believes Sarah Palin is the most…

Mine either, but the clip is up at the Kos.

snap...

Seriously, who…

Samantha Bee was very funny on the Palin choice on Friday's Daily Show.

I'd link to just that part of the show, but the sucky Comedy Central website doesn't like my browser.

Mine either, but the clip is up at the Kos.

I'd link to just that part of the show, but the sucky Comedy Central website doesn't like my browser.

They don't usually mean that in a good way.

And HuffPo is noting her quote from her second day ever in McCain's company, in exotic Pittsburgh: ''It's great to see another part of the country."

Wow.

But knowledge of the outside world doesn't seem to matter to a whole lot to Americans, remember poor Caitlin.

I recall reading that…

What Danielle said

It seems like you and Danielle aren't the only women saying that:

NEW YORK The first national polls on John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin yesterday came out today from Rasmussen and Gallup — and contrary to what the GOP probably hoped, she scored less well…

The woman who'd be sitting in on national security briefings in the president's stead got her…

I think it tells us not so much where the political centre is in American politics, but where it is in the swing states.

Well, it certainly says way too much about what kind of people dominate the GOP — and they're sure not 'conservative' — either fiscally or socially…

Personally, I'd prefer an upfront bastard like Mike Huckabee than Romney or (sad to say) McCain

That's a really interesting point. And, as anybody who's seen Huckabee on Colbert would attest, it's actually hard not to like the guy. It may have something to do with the fact that he…

I don't really get the characterisation of Palin as some "Christian hardliner"

Thus quoth Wikipedia (and it's all a matter of public record):

Palin is against human abortion, pro-contraception, and a prominent member of Feminists for Life... She opposes the use of abortion even in cases of rape or incestand…

But to put it crudely (sorry, Danielle)

This pernicious assumption that I am agin crudity must end! Fucking hell. I am the least likely blushing flower of all time.

Some of the blogosphere has nicknamed Palin 'Punky Brewster'. I am amused.

Palin has serious questions to answer about her record and experience, and I think we're entitled to cock an eyebrow at the GOP establishment's sudden u-turn on the notion that the West Wing of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave isn't a place where you can afford on the job training.

McCain has…

Still struggling with your suggestion that he's more of a hardliner than Palin, who doesn't need to lie about these things.

Giovanni: You don't get the enthusiastic endorsement of people like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh by standing on your record as a fairly moderate New England governor. You do…

His record as Governor of Massachusetts was hardly that of either a neo-Marxist, but he'd stand up in front of evangelical audiences and flat out lie about it.

Still struggling with your suggestion that he's more of a hardliner than Palin, who doesn't need to lie about these things.

You're thinking of Huckabee, by any chance? Romney is much less of a christian hardliner than Palin and was criticised by evangelicals thrhoughout his campaign.

Well, the one thing you could say for Huckabee (who I wouldn't support for county ratcatcher either) is at least he's an unfront, in your…

Now every…

OK, folks, I'll say this: Palin's biggest plus is that she's NOT theo-con darling Mitt Romney.

You're thinking of Huckabee, by any chance? Romney is much less of a christian hardliner than Palin and was criticised by evangelicals thrhoughout his campaign. For one thing, he used to be pro-choice, before…

She is going to impress the hell out of people. She will quickly grow into the role of VP, as a President in waiting, and could definately step up to be President. It is easy to see her as the first woman President sometime in the future.

Wow, I'm impressed…

While based on Illinois Senate transcripts Obama cares more about the legal liability of abortionists and couldn't care less about the welfare of a baby born alive after an abortion gone wrong ("whatever it is"), Palin knew about and gave birth to a baby boy with Down's syndrome.

There's two…

How to attack another woman without giving the significant number of already pissed off women voters an even better reason to vote McCain Palin?

Because women are a monolith who follow ladybits from party to party, voting mindlessly with their ovaries? OK...

It says something dodgy about your main candidate…

Makes absolutely zero sense.

Like I said, I don't think it's true either. However, I've just run across it out there for a third time. Palin is such a bizarre choice that people are straining for explanations: it's a cunning plan!

just saw obama, choking back tears for nigh on 40 minutes. regardless of whether he makes resident or not, guy needs his own tv show.

sadly I think she is about to find out what it's like to have the gloves removed and the ice-picks sharpened

Shakesville has started up a Sarah Palin Sexism Watch and it's up to three within just a few hours.

So having diverted momentum off Obama's killer speech this week, next week McCain will regretfully replace Palin with a more conventional selection.

Makes absolutely zero sense. His judgment would be seriously hurt by having chosen a VP that had to be ditched in a matter of days, and VP number…

You need to look at:

I say that with all due respect to Hillary Clinton and to her experience and to…

Which I'm going to blatantly copy and paste...

PALIN: . . . [F]air or unfair and I do think it is a more concentrated criticism that Hillary gets on so many fronts, and I think that is unfortunate, she does herself a disservice to even…

The clip is here.

'Here, little ladies: she has a vagina and *you* have a vagina! Just like Hillary Clinton! They're interchangeable! Vote for me!'

except that Ms Palin seems to be fairly comfortable re-writing her glass ceiling cracking 'just like Hillary'-ness to suit:

Once onstage, together with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, Palin talked…

There are already big ethics concerns around Palin and her efforts to abuse her powers to punish her brother in law. And it seems like she might have a bit of a truthfulness problem.

So having diverted momentum off Obama's…

Considering that he's 72, already had cancer, and suffers from the deprivation of his POW years, the odds of McCain either dying or becoming incapacitated in office are not small. President Palin? OMG.

Great from one Bush to another bush! :)

I am pretty insulted by this choice, actually. 'Here, little ladies: she has a vagina and *you* have a vagina! Just like Hillary Clinton!…

If Sarah Palin was the Democratic Party nominee for Vice President she would be:

1) An inexperienced lightweight.
2) abandoning her husband and children to pursue her own ambitions.
3) out of touch with the concerns…

I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want…

Where the PUMAs are concerned, who knows?

Yes, except the PUMAs don't exist. Go to one of the most illustrious hideouts, alegre's corner, and check out how many users are logged on at any one time. That gives you a pretty good idea of the numbers. Then read the comments…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh-lW2opLyQ

To American people on this forum- what's the reception been towards McCain's Veep nominee?

They love her, and Obama is already packing up his tent as we speak.

But seriously, nevermind what the people think, it's what the MSN say that counts. Or their analyst 'consultants' who happen to be Republicans.…

McCain should employ Andy Borowitz as his strategist, I mean, it's not as if the shit his team's coming out is that much less ridiculous...

Note to those who haven't seen all the speeches- the Huff post has them…

In what might be his most controversial attack ad in a campaign dominated by them, presumptive G.O.P. presidential nominee John McCain today launched a new TV spot attacking Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill)'s two children.

According to political insiders,…