Who really gives a toss what her rating is in Alaska. It's utterly irrelevant and a really silly thing to throw into the mix.

A whole 3 electoral college votes! Which have gone Republican since LBJ won the state in 1964.

I would have thought, if you were going to…

But, but, that's not what Deborah Hill Cone said in the Listener! Doesn't that make you some kind of intellectual elitist?

Well, I'm trying to come up with a civil, polite letter to The Listener suggesting the candidates who don't like their "parenting decisions" being public property shouldn't allow their…

OTOH, Tina Fey appears to have job security for the next few months. That's uncanny.

That's the first thing I thought when I saw her. She looks like Tina Fey! What are the chances?

She's an absolute horrorshow.

But, but, that's not what Deborah Hill Cone said in the Listener! Doesn't that make you some kind of intellectual elitist?

OTOH, Tina Fey appears to have job security for the next few months. That's uncanny.

And then we have those two stories in the NYT and WaPo about Palin. Dear, oh dear...spite, viciousness, cronyism.

As I say in today's post, anyone who could read those deeply-researched stories and still regard Palin as fit for presidential office is basically lying to themselves. She's an absolute horrorshow.

McCain polls a 55 – 35% lead in terms of qualities.

Depends if selling your country down the river is a quality you admire. Lets face it, Americans have never been smart in picking qualities in Presidents.

But I still stand by my statement that she is a Dem asset…

I think this [Palin] is gonna be a core theme from hereon and it potentially has legs.

Yes, it does for Republicans.

McCain polls a 55 – 35% lead in terms of qualities. McCain is a senator of long standing and was a senator well before the current crop (including…

Lol; so that would be finishing bang middle of a 15-team competition then?

And staring at a thrashing next week…

Heh. I think someone didn't keep the faith.

Good article. However, I don't think that negates the point. AQ influence in Iraq was effectively zero before the US invasion/occupation/police action in 2003. It then rose to a peak in around 2006 before dropping away again to the apparent current low-level background threat.

So i was incorrect to…

Given the title of this post, RB, a brief nod in the direction of the Warriors, and their achievement this last weekend, might have been in order!? ;-)

Lol; so that would be finishing bang middle of a 15-team competition then?

And staring at a thrashing next week…

Good call,…

Got to agree with Giovanni here. They almost certainly were't there when Bush et al started their little adventure. They almost certainly are now, five years on.

Juan Cole is pretty good on this (and knows his stuff better than most)

Virtually in a class by themselves are the Islamic…

I think, from what I've read over the years, that the link exists only in the name and the Iraqi operation used it more as a flag waving exercise than to denote any operational tie at any level.

Got to agree with Giovanni here. They almost certainly were't there when…

Clearly the tack is now to use Palin's selection, and the corruption that implies in McCain camp, as a way to discredit McCain.

Well, considering that it's (effectively) the first insight anyone really gets into the judgement and decision-making processes of a potential President, I can't really see how it…

Sincerely
'Filter Skate Palin'

Clearly the tack is now to use Palin's selection, and the corruption that implies in McCain camp, as a way to discredit McCain. You can see it in the Sullivan piece I posted earlier, and now in an increasing number of places…

I don't want to give the impression that I think of the standard the things that Craig said – I was just following the line of argument. I know you all care a lot about this particular distinction I'm making.

Fair enough – though I'd like to make clear that…

I so wish I wasn't working at ten past midnight…

Um... well, that's like saying Helen Clark has contributed to The Standard; there's been some truly vile things and cretinous comments on the thing; therefore Helen Clark is "linked" to The Standard. Not exactly the kind of syllogism that going to score an A in first year logic.

If The…

I don't think it's grossly unfair to link DailyKos to Obama, actually. He has written diaries for the site, so have other prominent democrats

Um... well, that's like saying Helen Clark has contributed to The Standard; there's been some truly vile things and cretinous comments on the thing; therefore Helen…

Now, sure, Obama has come down against the basest attacks, but so has McCain on occasion.

Writing diaries for the site and then using that to link him to the Bristol story is a hell of a stretch IMO, Giovanni. Kos is just that, a series of diaries, none tied…

and I think nobody is disputing the fact that Al Qaeda is in Iraq now.

I think, from what I've read over the years, that the link exists only in the name and the Iraqi operation used it more as a flag waving exercise than to denote any operational tie…

If you want Obama to win STFU about whatever it is you think you know about what it is Palin did and when, because that is an issue of qualities.

So we give McCain a pass on Palin and move on, despite what it says about the moral corruption of…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk

Five Thirty Eight is headed for the open road. We may have built a reputation for the numbers, but don’t be fooled: there is poetry in our souls. We are in the middle of an epic election, and…

And could someone please tell Charlie Gibson that it's not only rude – but criminal in many parts of the world — to stick your tongue…

Well there is that uncomfortably close relationship he has with Matt Damon, the stinking rich Prius driving Hollywood liberal.

And those persistent rumours around his sleazy love rectangle with Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel and his original bro-mance, Ben Affleck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLG3S5WzHig

Nowhere near as hot as Sarah Palin or Cindy McCain.…

And the latest: Palin links the 9/11 attacks to Saddam.

Mmmmhhh... I can see it in the headline, but the quotation in the article doesn't support it. She reportedly said to a contingent of soldiers about embark that they would "defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried…

I can hear you point out that Jason Bourne's an entirely fictitious character. Still not seeing the downside.

Well there is that uncomfortably close relationship he has with Matt Damon, the stinking rich Prius driving Hollywood liberal.

First for misusing a FactCheck report — pretending that it criticised the Obama campaign. Angus and Sage, you might want to read this one.

And now [[http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/belittling_palin.html|over a new ad alleging comments about Palin that were never made by the…

I might even vote for Jason Bourne — well-travelled, is a maverick reformer with national security credibility, and wouldn't take any shit from that God-damned liberal media. :)

And I forgot: He's been tortured multiple times. Republicans really like torture victims. :)

I can hear you point out that Jason…

Joe Wylie – your wit, your humour, your perspicacity. I truly admire you.

Make that trolling for rough trade Sagie. Oughta keep you engaged till your regular domestic arrangements resume.

At least he's giving political interviews. At least as many as the VP candidate.

I might even vote for Jason Bourne — well-travelled, is a maverick reformer with national security credibility, and wouldn't take any shit from that God-damned liberal media. :)

interviews with celebrities??? to question Palins qualifications to hold office?

Oh give me a fucking break

Heh. Actually I thought he provided a pretty good analysis of the situation.

At least he's giving political interviews. At least as many as the VP candidate.

And calling bullshit on an outright deceptive claim that Obama was calling Palin a pig — outrageous!

TV1 (I think it was) news late last night, had what I think was an overseas feed on this, which was very entertaining. After showing the Obama quote in context, they then showed…

Islamic ties?

Oh, you mean Obama's father's religion? Well, if McCain wants to go there (and I don't), someone who conveniently "came out" as a Baptist while campaigning in heavily-Baptist South Carolina last year — despite his father being a life-long Episcopalian --, should back the fuck off on that…

Well, I guess we're all supposed to be media junkies...

If the original article was published in the FT (or online equivalent), I guess that's actually a reasonably fair call (although it's still not entirely clear to me where the stuff sage quoted came from). Most FT readers would recognise…

The Bridge to Nowhere thing is repeated every day.

Perhaps no more.

That is a good description, I like it. The Rovian philosophy practiced by Salon, Huffington Post, Daily Kos is to low ball in rumours and innuendo to smear a candidate relying upon the voter being neither discerning or smart.

Ah Angus....you miss the point somewhat.

I'm on record as saying…

In Gov. Sarah Palin’s much-anticipated interview with ABC News, she said she “didn’t blink” when Senator John McCain asked her to be his running mate.

Charles Gibson, the interviewer, asked her if she didn’t hesitate and question whether she was experienced…

All that remains now is to see who plays Rovian politics the best – Karl Rove or the Dem pundits who decided this is where they needed to take the race.

Yes, Angus, it's really 'Rovian" to actually compare Palin's record against her statements. And calling bullshit on an outright…

Absolutely...the Rovian philosophy centres around an overriding assumption the voter is neither discerning or smart.

That is a good description, I like it. The Rovian philosophy practiced by Salon, Huffington Post, Daily Kos is to low ball in rumours and innuendo to smear a candidate relying upon the voter…

Well, I guess we're all supposed to be media junkies who would automatically recognise Pulitzer-winning New York Times columnist Maurren Dowd and Ann Coulter in there.

Nah, the female conservative republican is Palin, surely. Though the rest of your post holds, I reckon.

My point is that up until two weeks ago Obama was waltzing in. He was doing it by sticking to the issues – economy, health, war and not indulging in personal politics. He was living the message that this would be a changed Presidency.…

and both of them are shit>

sigh... "and both of them are shit writers who think "attitude" is a substitute for style, wit and presenting a thought-through argument."

Which 'liberal female columnist', exactly? Did she win a pulitzer? Was it for being snarky?

Which female republican conservative, exactly? Where's her sarcasm? Where's the 'mean-spirited' criticism?

Well, I guess we're all supposed to be media junkies who would automatically recognise Pulitzer-winning New York Times columnist Maurren Dowd and Ann…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z75QSExE0jU

Perhaps the problem is that, as a gay man, Craig sees Sarah Palin’s commitment to raising children and christianity as a threat to his lifestyle?

Oh I LOVE this kind of thing. Makes me laugh so hard. And I say that based on an estimation that you have a similar…

You say address 'the point' and not 'the man'. So I read the post you quoted.

Sage is referring to the FT blog by Clive Crook, not the comment he posted in full, allegedly to wind me up in some bizarre manner (it failed) which I don't think quite says…

So you reiterate that Bush & McCain are firmly establishment. Gee whiz. Nobody has addressed Crooks argument. which seems essentially to be that liberals are incapable of introspection.

And you failed to address the notion that you'd just posted a link to someone elses' thoughts without any indication that you had…

You say address 'the point' and not 'the man'. So I read the post you quoted.

Like Giovanni, I thoight the first couple of…

So you reiterate that Bush & McCain are firmly establishment. Gee whiz. Nobody has addressed Crooks argument. which seems essentially to be that liberals are incapable of introspection.

Well, I could make an equally bullshit argument that, on the evidence of the current GOP, self-described conservatives are incapable of rational thought,…

Oh give me a fucking break

Perhaps the problem is that, as a gay man, Craig sees Sarah Palin’s commitment to raising children and christianity as a threat to his lifestyle?

OK, I'm not gonna claim to be the sharpest tool in the shed, but how does person x raising children affect person y's lifestyle? As…

But yeah it is quite the irony that helen is a farmers daughter. I think it is a liberal guilt thing ;)

Coming from the wrong side of the tracks gives John Key a hunger, as it did early farm generations. Helen…

Also, an articulate interview with Mat Damon, questioning Palin's candidacy. Let's hope that makes it into the celebrity news.

I'm not gay, but I find people committed to raising Christianity a serious threat to my lifestyle.

Well, I was tempted to point out to that knob that I'm a Catholic — and in the eyes of a goodly proportion of the evangelical Protestant base we Papists are even worse…

Perhaps the problem is that, as a gay man, Craig sees Sarah Palin’s commitment to raising children and christianity as a threat to his lifestyle?

I'm not gay, but I find people committed to raising Christianity a serious threat to my lifestyle.

Perhaps the problem is that, as a gay man, Craig sees Sarah Palin’s commitment to raising children and christianity as a threat to his lifestyle?

Nah... my problem is that I'm not psychotic. But…

And, uh, she also happens to represent, be governor of a state that's right next to Russia. She understands Russia.

I bet she does – in much the same way that Vladimir Zhirinovsky understands Alaska:

Zhirinovsky has advocated forcibly retaking Alaska from the United States (which would then become "a…

Energy. She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America. She's a governor of a state where 20% of America's energy supply comes from there. And…

And now these voters want to do it to themselves again, by voting for someone they hadn't heard of two weeks ago, irrespective of her lack of experience and her troubling history in positions of authority.

That's why I was making the Berlusconi comparison yesterday: they like her because she…

Or should elections be limited to those who appeal to the metropolitan liberal elite?

This is a ridiculous myth. As of last month, Obama had a huge lead among the poorest Americans, and an overwhelming one amongst the ethnic groups that get the shitty end of the stick. I doubt…

Take a pill Craig, take a pill. :)

I do Sage, and unfortunately none of them make your Peters-like relationship with the truth easier to take.

Over to you chaps, you have had some days rest from me but my wife has gone away again, so I have nothing to do in the evenings.... :^)

Cruising PA for rough trade when you could be whacking off over Sarah Palin . . . . . doesn't get…

This is.., you know.., like.., a democracy.., like.

Isn't that what the whole purpose of the exercise is? For somebody who can appeal to…

I have no…

This is my favourite comment. Since we seem to have formed the habit of posting whole.

Now, as much as I'm loath to post whole articles or large parts, I, and I think others here, only do so to underline points we either have made or are in the process…

Does anybody on the left believe that Bush was behind the 9/11?

Nah, everyone knows it was Darth Cheney

This is my favourite comment. Since we seem to have formed the habit of posting whole.

Sorry, it's a fail. It started with a fine premise in paragraph one, read PJ O'Rourke if you care to continue that line of argument. But the rest is pure, unadulterated tosh.

My favourite…

The essence of the issue lies here and there’s nothing ‘curious’ about it: “the conservative media know they are conservative, much of the liberal media believe themselves to be neutral. Their constant support for…

read the clive crook respect post and subsequent posts and feedback to really understand how badly you and the Dems are blowing your cause.

Quite a few people who used to despise his politics but respect the man, now despise both.

If we're talking about McCain rather than Sullivan (and your syntax doesn't make that entirely clear), I think there's still much to admire about McCain. But none of it has been on display…

The one thing I always thought I knew about him is that he is a decent and honest person

I thought I knew that about Sullivan too, before he played chinese whispers in the Trig grandma fiasco. But yes, it's not an isolated incident. Quite a few people who used…

You'd have to hope that a prospective VP – and possible future President – would be willing to face up to an open press conference where people got to ask questions, including the hard ones.

You know what this reminds me of, he said shuddering? Berlusconi's rise to power. He…

Its a controlled vanity piece. It may rate well..likely will but that doesn't change the fact they are hiding her from any serious questioning.

And as someone I think already noted, it's unlikely to be hard questioning. To get the interview NBC possibly had to be the highest – in…

If by next week Palin is running open press all current negativity will be reversed, because her actions will prove her nay-sayers wrong – again. Which will make her look more credible than her detractors – again.

Angus, I can't believe you're not even slightly worried by the documented evidence…

Are you serious? The fact that this is all she's done, a controlled vanity styled interview has added to the negative.

Definitely serious. She is doing a high profile exclusive for ABC. ABC will hype its publicity, the negative reaction by the other press will hype its publicity. The lead…

An Alaska judge warned Gov. Sarah Palin's family against trying to get her then-brother-in-law fired, according to court records.
Investigators want to know if Sarah Palin tried to use her position improperly to get her former brother-in-law fired.

Investigators want to know if Sarah…

'Nanny' is very déclassé. We prefer au pair.

Again with the confusion... a nanny has professional childcare qualifications, earns more money and is right to resent any housekeeping duties that might be foisted on them – while an au pair is untrained, earns much less money than a nanny and…

It just gets weirder, really

Yeah.

Other email addresses they might want to check out:

'Nanny' is very déclassé. We prefer au pair.

In this part of the world, usually Pembantu (literally: helper) or Amah.

And it's the middle class Indonesian way to have at least one per child..the richer you are, the more you have. And kids treat often them appallingly (as, sadly, so…

Fantastic, people still have governesses.

Our dear Sarah is more of a literary device than an actual person, but yeah, plenty of people have governesses these days. Except they call them nannies, I believe.

Nope, a governess and a nanny are two entirely different things. A nanny attends to the…

But I just can't see Obama as being real happy about this result.

Probably not — then again, the conventions get the kind of coverage no sane broadcaster would ever give a party conference here. So, if you can't leverage a poll bounce off of the best part of a…

Except they call them nannies, I believe.

That's nowhere near as cool.

Fantastic, people still have governesses.

Our dear Sarah is more of a literary device than an actual person, but yeah, plenty of people have governesses these days. Except they call them nannies, I believe.

Now I know why Sarah, our governess,

Fantastic, people still have governesses.

Palin also routinely does government business from a Yahoo address, , rather than her secure official state e-mail address, according to documents already made public.

Now I know why Sarah, our governess, couldn't get her preferred email address.

You saw the RNC....the only other places I can recall (putting up…

What's most disturbing is that it's still close. Just how many villages does the USA have, and how many idiots does each village need?

You saw the RNC....the only other places I can recall (putting up my Godwin barrier) that sort of nationalistic country-name chanting fervour was in the fascist…

"She's running state business out of Yahoo?"

These guys need some help from Nicky Hagar.

Governor Is Asked To Release E-Mails
By Karl Vick
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 10, 2008; A04

WASILLA, Alaska, Sept. 9 — Gov. Sarah Palin is being asked by a local Republican activist to release more than 1,100 e-mails she withheld from a public records request,…

Sure, there were some missteps and I think any candidate would be unhappy just to be one or two points ahead, but all in all, there seems to be a quiet optimism creeping back into the Democratic campaign after an unsettling few days.

What's most disturbing is that it's still…

Where are your figures from?

Gallup has been rather out of step with all other polling over recent months and there have been serious questions about it's sampling database for weeks now. From the left, right and non-partisan statisticians. So looking at the others, Hotline, Rassmussen and NBC are showing…

No, not at all true..leading up to the convention he was on average one or two points ahead...about where he is now.

I am reading the tracking polls off "538" 2 show negative and only 1 shows no effect: Rasmussen had Obama +2 prior to conventions and even now, Gallup…

We'll file it under "the guy can't catch a break".

Yeah, but, like the pig jibe, these things may also have a backlash effect. In the same way people reacted against the unfairness of the Bristol attacks, there seems to be an undercurrent amongst the independents and others that doesn't…

Which counts as a negative swing because Obama was leading pre-conventions and is now even.

No, not at all true..leading up to the convention he was on average one or two points ahead...about where he is now.

But I just can't see Obama as being real happy about this result.

…

That is just so silly.

Gotcha. Yes, the video I saw yesterday was a crucial couple of seconds short.

We'll file it under "the guy can't catch a break".

Obama referred to his Muslim faith.

That is just so silly. If you see the whole interview then it's clear that when Obama said 'my Muslim faith' he was saying that McCain has never directly accused Obama of being a Muslim. And if you still don't get it, then Obama…

It's called conference bounce, which btw has begun to evaporate now, with most polls either putting Obama back ahead or statistically even.

Which counts as a negative swing because Obama was leading pre-conventions and is now even.

The current feeling amongst many pollsters seems to be that as it plays…

...he understands it is really, really, really bad (like -5% swing bad) for his campaign.

Well, I'd like to think that being a lying douchebag would be really, really bad for any campaign. Hasn't stopped McCain though.

"So, the fact that Gov. Palin is deeply religious, that’s a good thing," Obama said.

Twenty years ago politicos as diverse as Margaret Thatcher and David Lange were described as being "deeply religious". This came across as a kind of coded mediaspeak for 'don't ask cos it's nobody's business but…

...he understands it is really, really, really bad (like -5% swing bad) for his campaign

It's called conference bounce, which btw has begun to evaporate now, with most polls either putting Obama back ahead or statistically even. The current feeling amongst many pollsters seems to be that as it plays…

He was calling on the media to back off Bristol Palin because...

...he understands it is really, really, really bad (like -5% swing bad) for his campaign.

What you said Craig, only better.

Damn right – and that's another reason why I'd vote for the grown-up if I could. And sadly, it's not John McCain.

And you know the really sad thing.

He was calling on the media to back off Bristol Palin because "It has no…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zAbeu3v3Wc

Hard to be combative against a woman for Obama, he has been there before, plus attacking the VP nominee is beneath him.

I agree with you on the last part, but I seriously think it's a strategic error to let McCain keep using Palin's gender as a shield from questions…

When John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate, the campaign immediately began touting her experience--both foreign and domestic--as "commander-in-chief" of the Alaska National Guard. But the reality of the…

Excuse me, Giovanni?

You have to admit that Obama saying "my Muslim faith" is a pretty unlikely slip of the tongue, unless the secret muslim chatter has got to him somehow. The lipstick on a pig is just bs, of course, but he deserves some punishment for resorting to the…

What will stick from today is Obama called her a pig and Obama referred to his Muslim faith.

I think they're getting to him, quite frankly. The latter faux pas is truly a classic.

Excuse me, Giovanni? In the end, the Obama campaign has to do what they did with…

The woman is a vindictive nutcase.

She'll fit right in then. You also underestimate the power of good teeth and hair.

I have concluded that the country is safer in the hands of Barack Obama, leader of the Democratic Party and protector of the philosophy of that party. Protecting and defending the U.S. means more than defending us from foreign attacks.…

Okay, maybe this will stick ...

I don't think so, somehow.

What will stick from today is Obama called her a pig and Obama referred to his Muslim faith.

I think they're getting to him, quite frankly. The latter faux pas is truly a classic.

From Newsweek:

Court documents show that Judge Suddock was disturbed by the alleged attacks by Palin and her family members on Wooten's behavior and character. "Disparaging will not be tolerated—it is a form of child abuse," the judge told a settlement hearing in October…

Obama quite clearly does and has vastly more credibility there.

And y'know. He's actually been overseas.

To Islamic nations? To France? Was he carrying a piece at the time? Probably a terrorist!

Obama quite clearly does and has vastly more credibility there.

And y'know. He's actually been overseas.

But the truth is that it's always about Vietnam for John McCain. He has invoked avoiding the mistakes of Vietnam with a sort of religious fervor in every important debate about dispatching U.S. troops since he first entered Congress in 1983.…

did campaign for the surge for 2 years prior to its successful adoption

except that a) he wasn't quite sure when it occurred, as you may recall, and b) the 'success' of the surge is debated. No-one is debating the downturn of violence but the most successful element in that…

Every tory wants this election to be a debate about credibility, foreign policy and visions going forward.

But it's sexist to ask any questions about what Palin's selection says about McCain's credibility, foreign policy experience and judgement and vision going forward?

Will be see more Palins as your nominations for…

Every tory wants this election to be a debate about credibility, foreign policy and visions going forward.

Sure. Except there is a not negligible chance that what McCain will get to see going forward is the inside of a coffin. In that regard Palin's choice is as perplexing as it…

are you serious?

No, it is an example of the minutae to which the debate quickly descends.

I don't think it's a matter of great import to most Obama voters. Its more about vision forward versus grasping at the past.

That "vision forward" was insufficient to capture more than 50%…

or proximity to Siberia.

are you serious?

I never thought that was a comparison even the most true believing Obama supporter really wants to be made. But apparently I was wrong because every part of the left-o-sphere is raising questions about the credibility of Palin.

Yes you are wrong.

I don't think it's a matter of great…

The credibility of Palin is a very partisan issue.

It might have partisan protagonists but I don't see how, by any measure, she's anything close to being credible – particularly if those measures include qualifications or…

Is he more experienced that Palin? In my opinion, yes. And there's lots and lots of reasons for this which I think are fair and reasonable and you don't...

That debate comes down to deciding between community organiser or small town mayor; leading a nomination campaign or governing a…

1. People who identify with her will feel an implication they themselves lack credibility in your eyes.

2. The credibilty…

Spent a few hours googling the subject last night and the debate as to what is feminism is wide.

It's a very, very broad church.

Sigh. Y'know... oh, never mind.

Y'know I don't know, right.

Shutting up about feminists now – probably a good thing. Spent a few hours googling the subject last night and the debate as to what is feminism is wide. Much wider than represented by talking heads in politics.

Good point, statistical sample looks too low.

Page 8 of the pdf file of the survey, under the title Groups/Vote the authors directly equates voter preference to support for a candidate. The 538 site Simon links to also interprets voter preference listed in the survey as support.

...her nomination was the highlight of a convention that ABC News has credited with a 20% shift from Obama to McCain amoung white woman voters.

It doesn't look to be quite that simple:

The ABC News finding that Sarah Palin dramatically upped John McCain's support among white women is one…

Pretty sure voter preference and voting intention mean the same thing.

No, Angus, they're not – something you might have picked up if you'd bother reading the whole story you linked to. To clear up a little ambiguity, "to Coulter" is to link to (or footnote in that old media…

Sigh. Y'know... oh, never mind.

I feel your pain.

Well apart from having experience similar to Obama, she was vetted back in May, has governed a state with 15,000 employees and has shown judgement enough to run a victorious election campaign against the wishes of the old guard Alaskan GOP.

Haven't we been over this time and time again..even…

these so-called feminists might not be feminists at all

Sigh. Y'know... oh, never mind.

Excuse me, I conflated my view that Palin asks uncomfortable questions for feminists by using a nationwide survey that shows Palin (who has non-progressive views on a wide range of subjects) polls well amoung a group that the feminist movement claims to be supporting. I do apologise that might…

Pretty sure voter preference and voting intention mean the same thing. Approval ratings are listed under positive image ratings later in the article and all candidates poll favourably.

Actually Paul I think you'll find that popularity is the defining characteristic of a candidate's credibility.

I've lived in Australia for six years, five of which were under a Howard government; I hardly ever met anyone who said they voted for Howard 'cause they liked him. And, despite my affection…

You might want to be clear about the difference between an approval rating and a voting intention.

Angus, if your argument is that Palin's popular, I'll not disagree. If you however, argue that her candidacy represents a high point for feminism then I do. She's not a credible candidate, and her gender doesn't change that.

Actually Paul I think you'll find that popularity is the defining characteristic…

Anyone want to point out to Angus how he's done a Coulter on his own source.

It'll sound better coming from you, much less ambiguity.

...her nomination was the highlight of a convention that ABC News has credited with a 20% shift from Obama to McCain amoung white woman voters.

And far be it for me to query the judgment of the sisterhood but as VP, she's still less experienced than Kerry Prendergast and I'd…

The only element of her candidacy that suits your thesis is that...

...her nomination was the highlight of a convention that ABC News has credited with a 20% shift from Obama to McCain amoung white woman voters.

There is no higher level of office and therefore her pro-life choices cause no drag* on her ambitions.

Excuse the lack of methodological rigour, but the mums I hang out with along with my wife would beg to differ. So too would a number of my colleagues who've taken many…

It is a big, shining exception to the feminist theory that carrying through all pregnancies is inhibiting upon a woman's advancement. There is no higher level of office and therefore her pro-life choices cause no drag* on her ambitions.

* apart from obviously the opposition represented by the Democratic Party…

How, exactly, does this one person negate an entire political movement?

When that woman is President of the United States it doesn't negate the movement, but it makes the core argument less convincing. It is a big, shining exception to the feminist theory that carrying through all pregnancies is inhibiting…

You doubt someone like John McCain has a chance of securing the GOP nomination? Interesting.

That was pretty much my point. McCain had to change, turn up the old time religion and associated bullshit to pander to the party base to be taken seriously as a candidate.

I get the electoral college bit, and the popular vote bit, but how can the win percentage be that much higher than either of them?

Maybe I should apologise to those ACT MPs that are not engaged in criminal activity? (In the Parliament Coddington was an MP in, that was 11%, or about 12 times the rate of criminality amongst Asian New Zealanders).

Score! At present, that's higher than NZF rate!

How, exactly, does this one person negate an entire political movement?

'Cause it's convenient I suspect.

I do think Palin's gender would inform her performance as VP, just as I think McCain's gender would his as President. That being the case, I can understand why women, but not just women,…

"apologising" to those Asians "who are not engaged in criminal activity"

Maybe I should apologise to those ACT MPs that are not engaged in criminal activity? (In the Parliament Coddington was an MP in, that was 11%, or about 12 times the rate of criminality amongst Asian New Zealanders).

a female holding to those beliefs who achieves the Presidency* has so obviously not been inhibited it makes the NOW argument totally baseless

One anti-choice woman plucked from semi-obscurity to serve as a pandering token on a presidential ticket does not in any way make pro-choice feminist theory 'totally baseless'.…

The Megapolis of Wasilla

Angus: Please go read the Constitution of the United States, and try and be a little more informed on what the Vice President actually does than Palin was.

How many ties in Congress have there been recently?

I think you need to read it again Angus. Congress doesn't vote together,…

I've run out of whiteboard and coloured pens trying to parse that one. English translation, perhaps?

Feminism means deciding who is the most qualified person for the job, *regardless* of whether they have a vagina or a penis.

Yes there is a deeper debate which I think goes like the following.

The decision endorsed by the NOW revolves around their perception that a pro-life/pro-marriage choice is…

The police chief Palin hired after sacking the insufficiently-loyal one then opposed a law drafted by the Democratic Governor to end the practice, because "I just don't want to see any more burden put…

because endorsing old white men over young working mothers is not a typical feminist standpoint – that is what makes it funny

For those who have difficulty understanding what feminism actually means in this context: it is not, repeat, NOT the blanket endorsement of people with vaginas over people with…

As, in effect, the first insight we get into the kind of decision-making that would come from President McCain I can't say I'm impressed.

He wants to win an election so seeks to broarden his appeal amoung conservative christians and female independents. Yes it is cynical, however when it comes…

The base is not stupid.

I'm really going to need a source for that. :)

How many ties in Congress have there been recently? The job is much, much, much less important than the Presidency

Well, Angus, if McCain isn't talking out his arse about being a consensus-builder there might…

If the rumour-mill was saying she tried to cut the funding through use of a veto, they'd confirm it. But the rumour was that she'd cut the funding, and the fact was that funding increased. So they called it.

It's actually weirder than that. She threatened to use her veto…

FactCheck only work to the letter of the comment, not anything underlying. If the rumour-mill was saying she tried to cut the funding through use of a veto, they'd confirm it. But the rumour was that she'd cut the funding, and the fact was…

* She was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants Alaskans to vote on whether they wish to secede from the United States.

No, but her husband was, and it was the AIP that claimed that she was, so it wasn't just a malign invention.…

Well, unless Kim Gandy has multiple personality disorder I don't think one column by one woman constitutes a "bunch"; nor are 'feminists' some Borg Collective-ette who think the same way about everything.

I do indeed suggest that the National Organisation of Women (USA) constitutes a bunch of feminist leaders and…

We're Gonna Frickin' Lose this Thing

... This race should be about whether the Republican Party is going to be dismantled or not after the borderline treason of the past eight years. But instead it is about making…

If by some chance Huckabee had been selected to run for president Snowe would have been amoung the VP favorites

Want to source that, Angus? Because anyone who really wants to argue that Snowe's positions on gays, abortion, the prosecution of the War on Terror and the Iraq War would…

And Palin makes a really dumb economic gaffe.

Oh good god. You could put that down to not reading the brief well enough and being confused over timing/sequence but I agree with the commentator; it suggests a lack of any real knowledge. And given the interconnectedness of the finance industry,…

We've been flooded for the past few days with queries about dubious Internet postings and mass e-mail messages making claims about McCain's running mate, Gov. Palin. We find that many are completely false, or misleading.

• Palin did not cut…

There are few things, maybe a bunch of feminist leaders praising the virtues of old white men over young working mothers.

Well, unless Kim Gandy has multiple personality disorder I don't think one column by one woman constitutes a "bunch"; nor are 'feminists' some Borg Collective-ette who think the same…

Well, I certainly think someone like moderate Maine Senator Olympia Snowe (who anywhere else in the world would be considered firmly on the center-right) would have been totally unacceptable to the theo-con base as a veep nominee.

If by some chance Huckabee had been selected to run for president Snowe…

Why he chose this social conservative however

So did Alda.

Nothing like a bunch of old white men decreeing the bounds of "feminism", is there?

There are few things, maybe a bunch of feminist leaders praising the virtues of old white men over young working mothers.

You doubt someone like John McCain has a chance of securing the GOP nomination? Interesting.

Well, I certainly think someone like moderate Maine Senator Olympia Snowe (who anywhere else in the world would be considered firmly on the center-right) would have been totally unacceptable to the theo-con base as a…

You doubt someone like John McCain has a chance of securing the GOP nomination? Interesting.

It's why he failed in 2000 (plus he couldn't compete dollars-wise) and why he is pandering to them this time.

I know she didn't "send" him but her status as a loving "Mom" conflicts in my bigoted left wing NZ mind with her stated pride in his willingness to fight in Vietnam ... oops Iraq.

When I had my three sons -…

Could a fiscally conservative, socially less conservative agnostic get the nod nowadays? I doubt it.

You doubt someone like John McCain has a chance of securing the GOP nomination? Interesting.

Josh Marshall had a useful comment on why the multiple interview format is a bad idea for journalists:

And as far as I'm aware, Palin is still being kept away from the live Sunday shows that are not exactly known for being particularly "deferential" to their guests — even on…