So she swatted at a few softballs from that miserable anchor chair-grabbing prick. You learn nothing from this overly coached political shapechanger. And Charlie's interview with Barack Obama was even more weak and unenlightening. I want her across a table from Keith Olberman, if only for the entertainment of having her attempt to describe the difference between Byelorussia and Ukraine. Vice Presidents are supposed to know something more than how to drag a dead moose home. And I wonder if Palin even knows that.

The attacks on working mothers, and small-town America aren't helping Barry and Joe guys!

BTW... It isn't about winning over Clinton fans, it's about gaining swing voters.

I will personally build a church with my bare hands if it would ensure that her and her dad don't take office.

The fact that I no longer yearn for an intelligent President, but simply for someone who isn't utterly incompetent, is sad.

She hasn't been out of North America before last year? This bitch as President? WHAT???

Allow me to state what most Americans REALLY want from Sarah Palin: we'd like to see her doing anal.

I do agree with you there Politburo. Her pro-life views are certainly a legitimate issue in those regards, anything that's within the control of the Executive branch. I just don't think it's the end-of-the-world scenario that some people truly seem to believe it is. Also, if Republicans were going to retake the House and Senate, it would be a completely different story, and the concerns would be justified. Bush and Cheney have basically killed any Republican dreams of that happening.

"So for all the hand-wringing, [her pro-life stance] is basically a non-issue."

In terms of Roe being overturned, yeah. But we've seen how pro-life views can affect other areas, such as the Bush Administration's prioritizing of abstinence-only programs (both here and abroad), stem cell research funding, etc.

if Obama had engaged in the same sort of crass tokenism that the GOP did in her pick, he would have been eviscerated (for picking a lightweight over Hillary and a number of other potent female leaders).

The immediate reaction was that McCain picked Palin because she's a woman, but I don't think that's true. The fact she's a woman was certainly a factor, but there is a lot about her that is appealing, not just to the right, but to independents. She's different, and not just because she's a woman. The way the Clintons campaigned against Obama made it impossible for him to pick Hillary. And picking another woman would have been impossible, as the Hillary supporters would never accept a substitute. McCain's NOT going to win Hillary supporters by picking Palin, but he does energize his base, including conservative women. In addition, Palin is young, energetic, strong and a Washington outsider.

Hillary's supporters, and a lot of Democrats have a mindset that if you don't fit their definition of what a woman should be, you are not really a woman. Conservative, pro-life women don't exist. Same with conservative minorities-especially African Americans. Blacks who are Republicans are as rare as they are not because the party wouldn't welcome them, but because Democrats have defined the requirements for acceptance in such a way that changing party is almost like renouncing your race.

Anyway, Palin was a brilliant pick, not because she's a woman, but because of all those characteristics. Her flaws are acceptable because they are largely balanced by Obama's flaws. Not experienced enough, not enough foreign policy. McCain and Biden both have experience, tons of it, and neither are as compelling as their running mates. I can't think of any other named potential VP candidate who McCain could have picked that would have given him a chance against Obama this year, and Palen seems to have done that.

beautiful... you can see charlie begin to drift off, totally bored and dissapointed by her answers, because they are just on the same no info talking points McSame and the crew keep throwing out. They have nothing else to say.

With regard to RvW:

I think it's feasible that a Court recently stuffed by W, and added to by a potential McCain presidency, would create an opening for abortion restrictions by the zanier state governments.

The right to appoint SC Justices allows for the longest lasting positive impact/damage of any presidential administration. What sort of Justice do you think Palin would appoint, if circumstance allowed?

@jackb #41

exactly. this is not about her position on Georgia, or whether she gave a good response to Gibson's question about her support of the "Bush Doctrine".

She really hasn't made any serious missteps yet. This basically boils down to (1) she isn't a Democrat and (2) she isn't pro-abortion. It's sad that those two facts are a litmus test for everything in the narrow world view of some, and justify the media and blogosphere insanity of the last two weeks. Rumors about her pregnancy, mischaracterizations about her position on sex education and almost everything else...

If Palin was a pro-choice Democrat, the same people who are crazily attacking her would be silent (except for defending her from attacks from the right, who would also take the opposite position).

The rabid blindness of some of these attacks force independent, rational people to come to her defense, instead of just focusing on what the issues are.

Palin is definitely NOT the most experienced possible pick. She's probably NOT ready to step in should McCain die unexpectedly (but probably still better than Dan Quayle, who actually had been a congressman and senator for several years before becoming VP).

Her abortion position might NOT agree with everyone, but -- newsflash-- the VP doesn't set U.S. abortion policy. Nor does the President. The only way Roe v. Wade would be overturned is through the Supreme Court or the Legislature. And considering that BOTH houses of Congress are controlled by Democrats, and that the Democrats are widely expected to build on their majority, there's no way that a Supreme Court justice who would overrule Roe would get through the required Senate confirmation. So for all the hand-wringing, it's basically a non-issue.

The ignorance displayed by otherwise intelligent people when it comes to the powers of the President (or in this case, the VP), is scary.

#41

There's no way to pose the hypothetical "Democratic Sarah Palin," because there are too many specifics that would get in the way. Like if Obama had engaged in the same sort of crass tokenism that the GOP did in her pick, he would have been eviscerated (for picking a lightweight over Hillary and a number of other potent female leaders). Even if he had picked Claire McCaskill, you can bet there would have been screams of bloody murder rather than everyone falling in line and praising the ticket effusively as in the GOP. Democratic politics is often like herding cats.

Moreover, I can tell you that I would personally be troubled by a "Democratic Sarah Palin." The issue is not "inexperience" measured as time in office X or position Y -- it's a lack of any demonstrable interest in public policy issues and a lack of depth in general. An unconventional political resume (like Obama's) is not fatal, but it means you have to make up for it in other ways.

Palin's "reformist credentials" are certainly not "undeniable." For those that have bought into her political marketing and personal charisma, her credentials are simply something they refuse to question. Palin's selection was a transparently political choice to mobilize the right-wing evangelical base. It has worked, for the most part, especially considering where McCain would likely be had he picked Romney. But don't try to pass it off as reasonable from the standpoint of governance.

ixvnyc #38 in repsonse to my post #18

Jen Chung wrote: Some notable things from the interview: She...says the U.S. should take on Russia if it invaded Georgia again (if Georgia were in NATO, which she supports)"

ixcny, you claim that the REAL point is that Georgia should not be allowed into NATO because of the conflict with Russia.

Now, without disagreeing with your opinion on this, if that's a criticism of Palin, it should be noted that Obama and Biden both support Georgia entering NATO.

For instance, on August 11th Obama said:

I have consistently called for deepening relations between Georgia and transatlantic institutions, including a Membership Action Plan for NATO, and we must continue to press for that deeper relationship.

Biden also. For instance, this press release from Biden: http://georgia.usembassy.gov/pr-04272008.html

Or Biden's statement last month that "When Congress reconvenes, I intend to work with the administration to seek Congressional approval for $1 billion in emergency assistance for Georgia . . ."

41

"Aside from her stance on the issues".

So how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

on reformist credentials: Kill the bridge project, keep the earmark money

on humble origins: which unfortunately include a humble education

on popularity in her state: about as popular as Strom Thurmond was in SC

The whole BS 'super-woman' shtick was just as impertinent now as when HRC used it.

To most of the respondents: I think a little bit of objectivity is called for here. She certainly didn't embarass herself. In fact, I though it was pretty slick how she didn't lose her poise on what was, in retrospect, a slick/trick question. Remember, unlike Obama, she's been busy running a state the last couple of years, not running for president.

Let me ask this: pretend she was on the democratic ticket - aside from her stance on the issues, how would you view her executive experience as a governer and mayor, working her way up from relatively humble beginnings, her union, average joe husband, her "super-woman" image, her popularity in her state, and especially her undeniable reformist credentials (which propelled her to her current level)?

You would like it. I'm telling you, you would like it if she were on your side. It's like in sports - you hate the guy on the other side until he's traded to your team. Then all is forgiven.

So examine the motives for your hostility. Are they due to what she is, or more due to the fact that she plays for the other side? And reflect that if people didn't come across as knee-jerk, reactionary, shrill, hostile, aggressive, hate-driven and fearful, but rather as calm, reasoned, objective, unbiased and humorous, people might actually pay more attention to them.

Sarah Palin Action Figure

It walks, it talks

Without any strings,

Just press a button

It says the Right things.

God help us if McCain is elected and croaks.

eyekantspel #18:

The point is:

This is exactly the reason why Georgia should NOT be allowed into NATO: becaue they already have a conflict in Russia.

What value does Georgia bring to NATO? A certain war with Russia? I think we can do without that little perk.

I thought evertyone knew that, but McCain managed to pick the only imbecile who doesn't for his running mate, because 'people like her'.

I seriously doubt that people will like her enough to follow her into a nuclear war.

Biden simply has to tear her up on that one, it's just too easy.

pretty embarassing

Billamsburg,

That is the best thing I have heard in a long time. I would only add that we include Quebec and create our own nation.

This woman is a bad joke. A bad,bad,bad,scary freakin' joke. Do you really want her a heartbeat away from the button? Really?