john wrote on Sep 4, 2008 1:39 AM:Surprised that Patricia thinks McCain picked Palin because she is a woman. What a sexist idea from a woman no less. Not only is Palin a woman, she is qualified to be president.

Senior wrote on Sep 4, 2008 4:13 AM:Hurricane Sarah swept into St. Paul last night and a new star was born. Wow! She did a great job with a great speech.

Bills Friend wrote on Sep 4, 2008 4:27 AM:Obama's handlers are finally going to let him be interviewed on the Bill O'Reilly show Tonight, Thursday. Obama had an open invitation for a long time, but avoided coming. Some people think it was because his far left contributors would not let him. Bill was always complaining that all the other programs Obama appeared on only asked him softball questions. Bill indicated he wanted to ask some harder questions. Or maybe Obama wanted to wait until after he actually got the nominations. Will Bill softball or hardball him?

SOLON wrote on Sep 4, 2008 5:58 AM:Loose cannon

The most troubling conclusion about McCain is that he is shallow, undisciplined and irresponsible. He is no mere maverick. He is a loose cannon rumbling across the deck of the ship of state, out of control, unpredictable and very dangerous. The whole nation is beginning to see this.

Bad beginning wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:04 AM:Palin being investigated

Sarah Palin, the running mate for McCain, wrote e-mails that harshly criticized Alaska state troopers for failing to fire her former brother-in-law and ridiculed an internal affairs investigation into his conduct.

The e-mails, never before made public, were shown to the Washington Post by a former public safety commissioner, Walter Monegan, whom Palin fired in July. Monegan has given copies of the e-mails to state ethics investigators to support his contention that he was dismissed for failing to fire Trooper Mike Wooten, who at the time was feuding with Palin's family.

McCain find 'em under rocks, under indictment and under investigation. Then he hoses them off and sprinkles glitter over them. And if that doesn't work, he whitewashes them. Hmm-m-m-m-m.

Old Fossils Club wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:07 AM:McCain is a faded, crusty old fossil, presiding over the Old Fossils Club.

Ron wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:09 AM:I'm wondering why in Garth Gregory Hansen's letter day. Why he does not compare John McCain's response to the Russian invasion of Georgia, to what Barack Obamao said?
Could it be that he knows Obamo is weak, having to pull in the ever wrong O'Biden to shore up his gross lack of experience?
I think Rudy had it right:
QUOTE: "Obama’s first instinct was to create a moral equivalency - that “both sides” should “show restraint.” The same moral equivalency that he has displayed in discussing the Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel.

Later, after discussing it with his 300 foreign policy advisors, he changed his position and suggested that the “the UN Security Council,” could find a solution. Apparently, none of his 300 advisors told him that Russia has a veto on any UN action. Finally Obama put out a statement that looked …well, it looked a lot like John McCain’s.

Here’s some free advice: Sen. Obama, next time just call John McCain."

Exactly!

Senior wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:19 AM:Lets hear it for Fred Thompson! A comment yesterday at 7:29 AM by "No McCain" tried writing Fred Thompson off as merely an actor and berated the Republicans for hypocrisy for having an actor as a keynote speaker.
Fred Thompson gave a wonderful inspiring speech at the convention Tuesday night. The words were meaningful and the delivery was excellent. But let it be known that Mr. Thompson had considerable political experience and knowledge of his own. He was elected to the U.S. Senate twice. Then and other times he has served on many government committees and commissions. He also has a long career as an attorney, including some trials and investigation of nationally followed events. His career has also included managing the campaigns of other political officials. He also has a successful career as an actor in movies and especially filling important political roles in several TV series. He was fully qualified to give the keynote speech at the convention, and he did a great job.

Party time ... wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:19 AM:What a party in St. Paul! Heard one GOP delegate brag that, after being at the Dem convention in Denver, that he had to wait over an hour and a half to get into the Dem hall, but only about 10 minutes to get into the Repub convention, because it was so lightly attended. “Maybe because I am older, but I like the quiet here.”

Yet, the masterful cameramen make it appear like it’s a rocking show. That’s what Hollywood can do to create a false image. And lots of blonde women with painted white faces and bouffant hairdos. Kind of dated even by west Texas style. At least the GOP stagehandlers did not resort to painted blackface to get their tokens.
The Democrat convention was a rainbow color of America’s diversity.
The Republican convention is all white, but the GOP says the color white contains all the colors. Now, how ‘bout that!

Party time ... wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:30 AM:It was supposed to be President Bush’s glory moment in his party’s spotlight, full of tributes to his eight years of leadership and cheers from grateful partisans, as he passed the mantle to his would-be successor.

Instead, Bush’s brief appearance Tuesday at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota was essentially a footnote. He got eight minutes via satellite hookup from a lonely White House podium 1,100 miles away. A Democrat-turned-independent, Sen. Joe Lieberman, got the showcase final speaking slot.

Bush did not have the courage to show his face to a live audience. Hid behind a remove TV camera. Scalawag Lieberman put them asleep with his monotonous drone and dolorosa face. The Republicans always like to trot out their Scalawag. Four years ago it was ex-Democratic senator Zell Miller. Remember him? What a firebrand, hysterical fanatic he was. Guess Lieberman was the best Scalawag they could dig up this time. Nice respite. He put all those old fossils asleep. Nap time at the party.

Pathetic wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:36 AM:Todays letters are full of hate or ignorance. Jan Fisher letter about Palin's Ponytails are a big factor in Jan's decision making, pathetic. Gary Myers ignorance of research and the role of VP, how many VPs have been involved in White House operations or foreign policies? Heck Truman had no idea what an Atomic bomb was until FDR's death. Most VPs have do nothing jobs. Look at Adams, the first VP even he was not allowed into cabinet meetings. The fact is that when you have a degree (minor) you do know about Congress, courts etc, Gary. Pathetic. Palin is running against Biden not the unqualified Obama. Is that what scares the Democrats that she has more experiance than their presidential candidate? Is it that Biden has no "executive" experience as Obama? Pathetic!

Ron wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:37 AM:Let's, at least be honest here about what happened to Gray Davis. The tofu eating once govenor was totally in the pockets of the extreme enviromentalist crowd. Except whe he wasn't pulling in campaign cash for dumping, but other than that, he was a militant enviro.
Delay, upon delay, upon delay of building needed power plants of a growing California. Forcing us to buy power from outside of the State, exactly what we are doing nationally with oil, buying outside the country, instead of developing our own sources.
Gray Davis at some point did read the writing on the wall and cut the red tape so we could at least build smaller peaker power plants to offset roaming brown & blackouts caused by years of being in the envro political tank.

If Davis was a victim of anything, he was the victim of buying into the enviro mantra, and not doing the things necessary to keep California growing.
And that was only the beginning of his demise.
Then we can go on to talk about California State employee's and their unions. And the vampire's that they are.

IMPULSIVE old man ... wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:43 AM:McCain’s snap choice of Palin reflects his impulsive. unstable streak, a wild play that he made after conservative activists warned him that he would face an all-out revolt in the party if he chose who he really wanted McCain’s snap choice of Ms. Palin reflects his impulsive streak: a wild play that he made after conservative activists warned him that he would face an all-out revolt in the party if he chose who he really wanted — Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.

Why Mr. McCain would want to pander to right-wing activists — who helped George W. Bush kill off his candidacy in the 2000 primaries in a particularly ugly way — is baffling. Frankly, they have no place to go. -- except to Ron Paul or Newt the Grinch.

Given Harrison’s letter today rightly questions Palin’s experience. She was mayor of a town of 8,000 and for the last 19 months has been governor of a state that has a smaller population than Charlotte, North Carolina. Oh - I forgot. She was active in the PTA. That, plus her propinquity to Russia equips her to deal with Vladimir.

A different view wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:48 AM:The folks in St. Paul say it is so exciting to have the Republicans in town.

“Nothing ever happens here. We are more accustomed to visitations by conventions of morticians and foundation garment salesmen and the Sons of the Desert, and so we are thrilled. It makes no difference that the city is Democratic.”

The comment was made by a longtime resident...

Bill wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:55 AM:When I read all the childish name calling and other kiddie type attacks against Palin, I know McCain hit a home run.

After months of scoffing at it, all of a sudden experience matters.

I guess in order to prevent the possibility of a President passing away in office and leaving Palin in charge requires that we elect a non qualified President as a solution.

Liberal logic at its finest.

Palins experience trumps Obamas and liberals know it.

Shes qualified and she connected with America last night.

Liberals know it too.

Why else are we hearing the name calling and childish attacks?

Why all the hysteria?

We all know the answer.

No McCain wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:56 AM:So the McCain camp has been complaining all week that any question of Palin's experience is sexist. Then last night, all they did was question Obama's experience... by their own logic that makes them racist.

While Palin may have done a decent job of reading her speech from the teleprompter, it was a speech of lies which undermine their complaints of the media being too hard on poor Governor Palin, and questioning her lack of experience. Like this zinger from her: "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

I've got news for Palin: while Obama was a "community organizer", Palin was a member of the Wasilla PTA.

While Mayor of Wasilla, a town of 5000 people, she was leading a campaign against the town librarian to ban books from the local library. That's right: she favors BOOK BANNING. At that time, Obama was State Senator for the 13th district in Illinois, representing almost 800,000 people: more than the entire state of Alaska!

McCain picked Palin for the simple fact that she is a woman, and as a prop stand in for Hillary Clinton. Anyone care to say with a straight face that he would have picked her had she not been a woman? If so, you are a liar too.

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:07 AM:A snowball’s chance in ...

... HELL. The challenge for ‘Publicans is how to change the subject from the dismal story of Republican triumph the past eight years and get folks to focus on, say, the old man's war record, or perky Palin, or the skinny guy’s funny last name. If they can succeed there, they hope just maybe they can win this thing.

But Mama don’t think so. The skinny guy got too much sense. We got a confused old man teamed up with a perky gal comedienne. They put on an a real entertaining show last night. Just don’t let her sit on his lap. It would sure really look funny seeing that perky little darlin’ sitting on that old fossil’s lap.

Just got home from work. Mama gotta take a nap now. See y’all later.

To No McCain wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:09 AM:What exactly has Obama done, bills, legislation etc? What has he accomplished in his last 2 1/2 yrs in congress instead of running for president? Does he control a 14 billion dollar budget? Control anything? As far as time difference between community organizer, PTA, Mayor council member, Governor or Senator has nothing to do with the case of the type of experience. So get off the timing thing. He has done squat. I do like his look of Mussolini (if you don't know look him up) as he talks down to us.

Bill wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:12 AM:Get ready to be scolded by liberals for being too stupid to know which candidate was best.

Here it comes.....

So predictable and yet so lame.

Liberals despise any choice that allows someone to pick against their dangerous ideology. Thats why they need to run and hide from who they really are. They need to fool you with talk of tax cuts and other stuff they will never deliver on.

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

SOLON wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:26 AM:GOP war on the media

The GOP police are waging a Fascist thug war against the media and documentary videographers in St. Paul. Media organizations have denounced the Monday arrest of four journalists at the Republican National Convention.

Meanwhile, a 49-second YouTube video showing the arrest of one of the four -- "Democracy Now!" host/King Features Syndicate columnist AMY GOODMAN -- has received more than 532,000 views. Goodman is the news anchor of Democracy Now, and her columns have been published recently in the North County Times. She has a huge audience of viewers and readers. Democracy now is on the air on over 700 stations across the country.

I have found the arrest of Goodman published in British, French and Spanish newspapers, and watched it on German Deutschewelle TV. The world is appalled and alarmed by the brutal assault on media in America.

In a statement released this afternoon, media groups called on "police and local and federal officials to respect the First Amendment right to free speech and free press of journalists doing their job, especially as it relates to coverage of recent political conventions and the surrounding public protests. Reporters have a duty and a constitutional right to be present at sometimes volatile events and situations, and to inform the public."

No McCain wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:28 AM:You want accomplishments? Look them up yourself. Are you too lazy? Here's a start for you, poster at 7:09

State senate :
Adds health insurance for 20,000 children, Welfare reform, Earned income tax credit, increased minimum wage ($5.15 to $6.50). Death penalty reform making interrogations be video
taped passed Senate 58-0, signed to law by governor who first opposed Obama’s bill. Sponsored bill probing police profiling. Obama opposed Iraq war publically, long before the invasion. Accurately depicted it as undetermined length, undetermined cost, undetermined objective, resulting as civil war. Same assessment Bush Sr. & Dick Cheney both gave in early 90’s.
Federal senate :
Worked with republican senator Lugar to expand and author program to locate & dismantle stray Russian WMD’s left over from the cold war after the disbanding of the USSR. Jan. 2007, major ethics/lobbying reform bill, w/ Russ Feingold
insisted tougher measures banning lobbyist gifts/ meals/ jets, disclosure of earmark & contribution bundling to candidates or committees; restricts retiring Congress from going into lobbying
Toured Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian territories, he told Palestinian Authority Abbas that US would never recognize Hamas leaders until they renounced mission to attack Israel.
In Africa, publicly took AIDS test as example of responsibility Obama cosponsored Secure Orderly Immigration Act. Passed 62-36. Makes undocumented persons who have been here 5+ years only allowed to stay and apply for citizenship, if pay back taxes, learn English and no criminal
record. 2 million undocumented persons who have been in the United States for less than two years would be ordered home. Called for increased fuel efficiency standards (3% / year)

Obvious wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:29 AM:Palin gave a great speech to cement the party faithful. The only problem was tha it was nationally televised. Independents will be turned off by the harsh partisan undertone.

SOLON wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:39 AM:OUCH !! BANG!!

Palin’s Trooper-Gate scam is about to blow up in McCain’s face. Seems copies of all Palin’s incriminating emails were kept by the Public Safety Commissioner. The state trooper got them and passed them on to the Washington Post. As soon as I can retrieve them, I will pass them on to our dear readers of the NCT.

She Said to Party Time wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:52 AM:I would expect after reading your analysis you consider yourself an expert on political conventions. So you do realized the Republican attendance was smaller because they accomplish their nominations with one half the amount of delegates the Democrats utilize (not including Super Delegates). Why didn't you mention that? Trying to misrepresent something? You are the type of person who gives us Democrats a bad name

Craig wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:57 AM:To: Jan Fisher- Thanks for informing everyone about the mistake Mrs. Palin made with her hair. Now I feel totally comfortable basing my vote on McCain's grey "experienced" look over Obama's black "youthful" look.

A womans right to choose wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:01 AM:When the subject is the pregnancy of an unwed, minority teenage mother growing up in some black urban area, that pregnancy becomes fodder for lectures from conservatives about bad parenting, and the depravity of blacks, the perils of welfare spending and so on.

But when the subject is a pregnancy of an unwed white teenager from some small town in a Republican state, that pregnancy is a celebration of the wonders of God's magnificence -- and choosing life! The white Republican family girl is given CHOICE, and -- HALLELULAH! Praise Jesus! She chooses LIFE! But is she chooses to abort, that‘s OK, too. She makes her choice, but does not want to afford choice to poor mothers. She wants the police state to deny that choice for them.

Cluck wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:01 AM:I have to say that i'm not suprised that the republicants are so thrilled with the Hockey Mom's speech. So thrilled they booed their opponent on several occasions. Just what we need-another partisan hack to divide us even further. Replete with tired rhetoric-democrats will raise taxes, weaken national security, kill babies, grow government, blah bla blah, and highlited with snarkiness and sarcasm. Yes very presidential indeed. Experience is one thing but this lightweight PTA mom is an embarrassment. And she's the best part of the ticket and the best of the republican party. The democrats have a faction called the Yellow Dog democrats-meaning they would rather vote for a Yellow Dog than a republican. Well the entire republican party should then be renamed to the Feisty Poodle party. What a joke.

re Arnold the Actor wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:02 AM:Key Lay (of Enron fame) did not go to jail. He died before sentencing. You need to research and ensure your facts are correct.

Backcountry wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:03 AM:Sarah Palin equals God, guns and guts....and she has a sense of humor. Boy are the liberals squealing. Palin represents everything the elitist liberals can't stand. Go Sarah.

jvc wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:03 AM:In listening to the GOP speeches, it is
clear that their approach to winning the election is to demean, deride ,insult and condemn the opponent!
What is so amazing to me about all this is to see people who are so intelligent and articulate and using
this ability for evil!

Ron wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:16 AM:Hey "SOLON" @7:26 AM,

Does Amy Goodman of Democracy Now still sell those really cool looking Che Guevara t-shirts?

For those who may not know who Che Guevara is, let me assist you.
Simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, who was also called {Fidel} "Castro's Brain".
But, for real. If I wanted everything Amy Goodman is pushing, I could just as easily read the World Workers Daily.
Do yourself a favor, read what she says, then read what WWD says, and then you tell me, where they differ, if any where?

Simple Facts wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:20 AM:The qualifications for President: you must be over 35 and a natural born citizen. Whew, glad that's settled. I have no hysteria over Little Miss Exxon. If Americans can persuade themselves to simply look at her record, the policies she has actually promoted as mayor and governor, instead of being blinded by promos, their choice will be clear. Palin is under investigation for abuse of power. She banned books. She believes that creationism should be taught alongside evolution. She believes that sex education should be limited to strictly abstinence. She would deny homosexuals equal rights to marry under the law. She believes that the Iraq invasion was the US obeying God's command. She denies that there is any human impact on global warming. She wants to give the oil companies more land at the taxpayers' expense. Well, you get the point. It may well be that a plurality of American voters agree with her on all these things. If so, she will be the next vice president that we choose and deserve. I only want to be sure that her record, every bit of it, and her stance on policies, is directly in the eye of the voting public, just as I do about the Democratic candidates. Then let the voters decide. To whatever degree I get "hysterical" about Palin and McCain, it's not over them as people, it's that these beliefs about how the country should run, namely, in the same way Bush has run it, but perhaps more so, are, IMHO, absolutely repulsive and awful for the country. Simple. Up to you and me. We should be clear about what exactly we are voting for, and vote for that slate, and then get what we deserve. Simple

Unfair to Americans wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:23 AM:Sarah Palin is the token vajaja!!! How sick is that? This manure oh I mean maneuver has set women back so far in their quest for equality. Who would have thought that a person would be chosen to hold the second highest position in America just because she has a uterus.

Party Time wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:29 AM:The low attendance at the GOP convention are a solid reflection that the Republicans Party is simply disconsolate, discouraged and despondent. They have little popular support, even among their own Party Faithful.

Senator Obama drew an audience of 84,000 at Mile High Stadium, a remarkable historical record. He drew 250,000 at the Tiergarten in Berlin. McCain, heretofore has never been able to draw an audience of even 5,000. Tonight he will finally exceed that record for the first time.

Republican pundits and the old media in this country can ignore these numbers, but the new media and the international press do not. That is why the old media, like the grand old party are dying. They are no longer grand -- just OLD! That is why the GOP loves an old fossil like McCain. He is one of them. Look at their faces tonight.

Now to answer the blogger of 7:52 AM: I’m no expert. Just a casual American observer of conventions since the campaign of Adlai E. Stevenhower in 1952. But I have to say, this Republican convention is the dullest one ever. Lots of noise, but no substance. Highly orchestrated and scripted.

My favorite memory is when Richard Nixon proclaimed as his campaign slogan "He’s the one!"

So when the Democrats had their convention, they had 100 pregnant nuns walking around the convention floor with signs saying "NIXON'S THE ONE!" Yeah, they knew who screwed the country. NIXON!

Not even Palin could top that one even when she threw her daughter under the train last night.

lady wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:33 AM:No Palin IS not Hillary as mentioned on here the other day.Who would want to see/listen to her.
Thank God. I'm voting for McCain/Palin.....

HILLARY said it best wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:36 AM:HILLARY: “No way. No how. No McCain.!”

And by golly, she meant it!

Alf wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:37 AM:The letter by Shirly Fletcher says -
"What kind of children she has is not necessary for the voters to know. Only, in the matter of children, that she is against abortion is pertinent. " and
"There is no reason to characterize the children of politicians...".
Shirly Fletcher is right,
up to a point.
That point is that Palin is a staunch pro-lifer, ANTI-CHOICE, who would ban abortions for everyone,
YET,
her daughter was given a choice.
What her daughter chose to do is less important than the blatant hypocrisy that Palin showed, i.e., offering her own daughter the option of something that she would deny everyone else.
It's the same hypocrisy that many anti-choice, anti-abortion, "pro-life" people show by their pro-war stance.
Most of those same "pro-life" people see no problem with sending our American Troops, their children, to Iraq to die and/or KILL people of another nation while defending the "right to life" of brain-dead, less than 14 week old fetuses.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Republicans for McGWB/Palin.
Regards, Alf.

Crusty wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:37 AM:Old Fossils Club
[-] wrote on Sep 4, 2008 6:07 AM:McCain is a faded, crusty old fossil, presiding over the Old Fossils Club. If Palin is an old fossil, you can call me "Crusty"

Sadness wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:42 AM:Sad commentary on the state of our country if the McBush team is elected. No substance last night, no relevant experience, no chance to improve on the last 8 years with this team.

Jealousy Lives in MAMA wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:42 AM:OBAMA MAMA
[-] wrote on Sep 4, 2008 7:07 AM:It would sure really look funny seeing that perky little darlin’ sitting on that old fossil’s lap.

Just got home from work. Mama gotta take a nap now. See y’all later

Sick jealous Crusty old lady, Get some sleep!

Alf wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:47 AM:Well, "Bills Friend" at 4:27AM,
the question is not "Will Bill softball or hardball him?",
it is "Will Bill O'Spin be as rude, arrogant and despicable with Obama as he is with everyone else who holds views different than his?"
AND it also is "Can Bill O'Spin behave like a civilized human being?"
Hardball is asking tough questions and allowing your guest to answer without interrupting him or her or "running out of time".
We'll see.
We'll also see, if McGWB gets on the show, if McGWB is given EXACTLY the same treatment as Obama.
Regards, Alf.

Stay the course wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:53 AM:So far, in just over a week, we've had the surprise of Sarah's daughter's pregnancy. We've seen her appoint a lawyer to help her defend herself in the investigation of her possible abuse of power. We've seen several web sites in Alaska "crash" so that information about her has become unavailable. We've seen the McCain office put pressure on the prosecutor of the abuse of power case to slow down so the timing of the case occurs after the national elections. All in all, I'd say this slate is behaving precisely like the Bush White House. Secrecy, cover ups, underhanded political pressure, tampering with the law. And that's just in the first week! Yep, it's business as usual. Stay the course.

Bull wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:56 AM:I think she's hot! Did you see the way she crinkles up her nose when she's about to go for the jugular? My kind of gal!

Ron wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:57 AM:McCain ain't shooting craps, Gary Myers.
He's got an ace in the hole, Sarah Palin. Man, what a wonderful resume, something lacking, I might add, from the Obamaman.
But, let's be very clear here about why Sarah Palin in on this ticket. She represents more American women than the left, or the media even care to think about. They are the working Mom's.
I think those on the left, and in the media do a great disservice to all Mom's by trashing this one. Especially the small town Mom's. While many will say Alaska, like other parts of the country are full of backward, inbred types of people, Sarah shows all of us, that just don't play well to working class people. And trashing her, certainly will not play with them small town folks.
Sarah is a unique individual, not only is she a Mom, but she's a Govenor, she's a hunter, a fisherman, and a reformer in government.
And as all women know.. that is a lot of hats to wear, and that means: She's quite the multi-tasker.
Not to forget, the marriage is a two part deal, her husband obviously has been quite supportive of her, and undoubtably, proud of her. Never hurts to have a spouse ready, willing, and able to help your pursue your dreams.
Regardless, of what it may cost him in privacy.
I also was born on small town America, went back often to visit my grandparents, worked on the family farm during summers. I took a job once, moving back home and lived the small town American life. It is a Slowed down, intimate, and truly refreshing experience to that of a large city. I could go down to main street and see 6 or 7 people I knew, from church, from work, my neighbors. That is Sarah Palin's world, and the left & the press do more harm to their cause in getting Barack elected than they know, by trashing her. Because they do not know this world. And because they do not know it, they make fun of it.
I think Sarah hit the nail on the head last night, when she call Obama to account for talking behind the backs of small town America. To their face, he gives all the rope-a-dope answers, but..
behind their back's in San Francisco, he called them clingers.
You know, small town folk will say that kind of stuff to your face, they don't run off to a city to say it behind your back. Cause that's what chickens do, cowards do, and people of low moral charactor do. Obama made a huge mistake stabbing these fine folks in the back.
But Sarah can relate, cause she is one.
And that's just one way she's uniquely qualified for this job.

Old Fossils Club wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:02 AM:Palin is not crusty yet (8:37 AM), but a lot of cracks and wrinkles are beginning to show as she is put under the intense light of tough national scrutiny. After she is vetted by the media and investigative journalists, she will be a faded flower.

You can’t pluck an sweet Edelweiss and stick it in the hot desert sunlight. It withers quickly. This flower should have been left in Alaska in her natural habitat.

Thanks Bull wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:03 AM:It's always important and a special kind of treat to be reminded of the level at which American voters actually operate. Really elevates the world's opinion of us, and of democracy in general. I wonder if Jefferson and Hamilton and the boys chose other members of the Continental Congress in this manner.

To Ron wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:04 AM:Yeah Ron, let's talk about California state employees who are about to get their salaries reduced to minimum wage. People like you don't realize that we have bills, mortgage payments and families just like everyone else. You need to walk the tiers of a state prison and get stabbed, spit on or have feces and urine thrown in your face before you start talking about state employees and our unions.

Alf wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:05 AM:Well, "SOLON" at 7:26AM,
that just shows us what is in store for the rest of us, in time, if McGWB gets elected to president -
a continued assault on the Constitution and
our Constitutional Rights.
On this issue, I beleive that McGWB also wants to "stay the course".
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:11 AM:I think I finally put together the best anology of Barack Obama.
Like Forest Gump said: Life is like a box of chocolates, when you bite into one, ya never know whatca gonna get.

Obama is that box of chocolates:
Filibuster FISA?, 2005 Energy bill, Campaign finance, Withdrawing American Troops now refined, NAFTA, corporate tax breaks, D.C. Handgun Ban, Opposing Welfare Reform To Celebrating Welfare Reform, Nuclear Power, Disagreed Death Penalty For A Convicted Child Rapist,
Meet With The Leaders Of State Sponsors Of Terror "Without Precondition, Jerusalem Should Be "Undivided", Backed Away From His Earlier Support For Normalized Relations With Cuba And Ending The Embargo, Obama Is Against The California Ballot Measure Banning Gay Marriage, Obama Says That "Mental Distress" Should Not Be Reason For A Late Term Abortion, Obama Said He Would Debate John McCain "Anywhere, Anytime", tap the strategic oil reserve, now says he's "open" to oil drilling.

I think Rudy Giuliani had it just right.
Biden better get that VP thing, in writing.

Ron wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:20 AM:I will answer that question, if you can tell me.. "To Ron" @9:04 AM.

How does that make them uniquely special, than any other joe 6-pack trying to make a living?
When you take any job, you always know, or should consider, that at some point there may be difficulties with it.
Lay-offs, slow downs, bad year-no raises.

Can you tell me why they are so special, and the rest of us out here, paying their wages, should do with less?
Cause that's what lib's do, they play one side against another, hoping they come out ahead.
When they should really be focusing on ALL of us coming out ahead.
Steal from one side, to give to another.
THAT is the Democrat economic theory.
And that's why it fails miserably, everytime.

Senior Moment wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:20 AM:Senior at 4:13 a.m., who is obviously very easily impressed, is amazed and impressed with the Republicans' latest un-vetted celebrity because she can give a good speech - when she is able to read from a prepared text in front of a friendly audience with no tough follow-up questions.
The speech was obviously written for her, especially on foreign policy, but I'm sure she added her own personal touches to make it match her own style and personality.
While the speech did the job it was supposed to in creating a positive first impression with the large TV audience from the general public, it was still a controlled event before a friendly crowd. She did not have to deal with tough questions on economic and military failures of policies that McCain has supported. She did not address issues such as being strictly anti-choice for everyone else's kid other than her own, or her strict demand for abstince ONLY sex "education" (not even abstince emphasized). Of course there was nothing about the scandals in Alaska, her relationship to the oil industry in Socialist Republic of Alaska. She claims to be an "expert" on energy, but it is strictly government-owned oil production, NO experience with alternative clean renewable energy at all, though she gave brief lip service to it in her speech tonight. I thought that it was a real mistake to repeat her statement that she said "thanks, but no thanks on that 'Bridge to Nowhere.'" She used that in the speech in Ohio when she accepted McCain's initial invitation, and the media pounced all over the extensive evidence of how she supported that and actively campaigned for it until it became obvious it would be a losing cause. So she was for it before she was against it. So, without tough issues or tough questions, yes, she was able to do a good job sticking to the script with a very personable, enthusiastic delivery.

The Republicans are now withholding her from the usual press conference given by a newly-nominated VP. What's the matter, Sarah Barracuda (do we really want someone with a reputation for being able to smile through ruthlessness)? Can't answer the tough questions? Not "ready on Day One"?

And then, at 6:19 a.m., we are graced with another "Senior" moment, as Senior is further impressed with a speech from Fred Thompson which included numerous LIES, and which completely misstated and misrepresented Obama's economic and tax proposals. The speech could just as well have been written by Ron or Raoul. Oh well, if the facts don't go your way, just lie - just make up your own.

Alf wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:27 AM:Well, "Backcountry" at 8:03AM,
you say "Palin represents everything the elitist liberals can't stand.",
that is your opinion.
This over 50 male Libertarian finds the positions that Palin takes to be in the worst interest of America.
I really do not care if she is a woman or young or old or a wooden chair,
her stance on virtually everything is the opposite of what is good for our country.
Her statement, quoted from an AP article yesterday in "Breaking News" on the NCT website-
"Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told ministry students at her former church that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a "task that is from God.".
Invading and occupying Iraq is now a "task that is from God."????
Is this someone that should be a Vice President?
Is this someone that should be only "a heartbeat away" from being President??
Not hardly!!
Regards, Alf.

Nick wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:36 AM:Just another find upstanding Democrat making headlines....lol:

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to a pair of felony obstruction charges on Thursday in a sex-and-misconduct scandal and will step down after months of defiantly holding onto his job.

The plea deal brings to an end a seven-month-long ordeal that led to felony charges against Kilpatrick and plunged the nation's 11th-largest city into political chaos.

As part of the deal, the 38-year-old Democrat is to serve four months in jail and five years of probation. He also will pay $1 million in restitution over the five-year probationary period.

Cheers, Nick.

Are you kidding wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:37 AM:Jan in Encinitas has got to be kidding when she suggests that Sarah Palin loses her support because she wears a PONYTAIL? That's like saying someone can't govern because they wear white shoes after labor day or blue eye shadow. So you support Hillary? Is that because you like the color of her pansuit?

Alf wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:37 AM:Well, "Ron" at 8:16AM,
I'm so glad to hear how concerned you are that an American Citizen, in fact many American citizens had their Constitutional Rights violated.
YOUR approval of Gestapo tactics and demeaning a person who had her Constitutional Rights violated -
says more about your patriotism and your character than all your empty words, your bellicose barrels of bull, could ever say. Regards, Alf.

esteban wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:40 AM:Jan Fisher is right. How dare she wear her hair different from the beauty queen herself-Hillary! That's it, I'm changing idealogies. Move over libs, here comes esteban. Experienced or not, Palin is GORGEOUS!!!!

Politicians Kid wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:45 AM:Why is it that the Republican supporters like Shirly Fletcher in her letter are so quick to jump to the defense of politicians' children when they are talking about a Republican, but are so ruthlessly cruel for children of Democrats?

Anyone remember Rush Limbaugh ridiculing and making fun of Chelsea Clinton? HELLO, SHE WAS 12 YEARS OLD. And she was not an unwed teen mother, she was an HONOR STUDENT.

Anyone remember making a big deal about Al Gore's son being arrested for driving 110 mph in a PRIUS? Years after Al Gore was out of office?

No Democrat has ridiculed unwed teen Mom-to-be Bristol Palin or the disabled infant. What has been done, and is appropriate, is to call attention to the hypocrisy of un-vetted VP nominee Palin, who campaigns for abstinence only sex "education" that obviously didn't work so well in her own family, or campaigning to outlaw women's medical choices for other people's kids, while proudly proclaiming that she left the "choice" up to her daughter, though she's proud the daughter chose "correctly" to bring another unplanned baby into our overpopulated world.
The public policy and hypocrisy implications are valid points of discussion.
Though I understand why the pro-book-burning lobby wants to stifle all rational dissent.

Low Info Voters wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:48 AM:Clearly the Republican Lie Machine is alive in well in Sarah Palin. Her extreme right wing religious policies are so well received by this one particular crowd, they were going crazy for her last night!

I find it interesting however, that McCain's Choice is about to be the biggest celebrity on earth, even bigger than Obama!

The National Inquirer is set to come out with a reveal this Friday regarding Palin's secret affair with her husband's partner. Now, I understand they don't have the best reputation, but they were right about John Edwards.

Perez Hilton's website has pics of Bristol kissing another girl and drinking alchohol. Jamie Spears sent Bristol and baby gift and an "atta girl".

The Jerry Springer and Maury Povich crowd will go nuts! Bristol is being set up to be the biggest story since Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton showed their... um... you know.

Even if the infidelity charge is not true, it will be splashed all over the Inquirer.

The Religious Right may be willing to overlook the premartial sex engaged in by both the mother and the daughter, yes. But is it asking too much of them to accept infidelity as well?

Anyone know which publication the Religious Right reads as soon as they put down their bible?

The Inquirer.

Watch it hit the fan this week.

Can't wait.

Bull wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:55 AM:I wonder if Jefferson and Hamilton and the boys chose other members of the Continental Congress in this manner.

Only if they were gay.

esteban wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:01 AM:To "to ron" I agree with you, but the CDC union (prison gurds) does not fall under the state wage reduction.

Caro Hussein Cogitatus wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:03 AM:No McCain, you are on fire today. Particularly liked your smackdown at 7:28. Youch, that's gonna leave a mark.

It's amazing how proud the right wingers are of their ignorance, how they cling to it like a teddy bear in fear of the scary liberals under their beds, waiting with slavering jaws to raise their taxes and take their guns.

Nice work, keep it up. Maybe one or two will realize that liberals aren't scary, we just have better ideas.

And if not, you gave me a smile at least.

White Rose wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:06 AM:I held my tongue about Palin until she finished her speech. I shouldn't have held my tongue; my expectation was spot on. She actually thinks like other neocons and is not going to shake up Washington bureaucrats except those who understand that Iraq was no threat to us, did not attack the World Trade Center, and that we have no rights to force a Western government on them. Palin psychotically proclaims we're "on the verge of victory in Iraq", without realizing that it is immoral to start a war on the wrong people and smash them until they stop defending themeselves. That's not winning, it's harrassment, something she is certainly capable of some day grasping, as she did when her brother in law was mean to her sister. The usual propaganda of 'turning corners' in Iraq, on the way to 'winning', etc., has been going on for 5 years longer than what Rumsfeld predicted. God did not verbally speak to George Bush to invade Iraq and Palin has no authority to proclaim a flip-flop position from 'the surge worked' to the more murky 'verge of victory' same-old. Especially when McCain got all kinds of leverage from the insane idea that Obama "must accept that the surge worked." Why would anyone say 'it worked' if all that happened is that 'we're on the verge of winning' against a people that never attacked us that we smashed with that surge, people in their own country who defend themselves from what Bush demands of them. Bush/McCain/Palin proclaim that basically 'these colors won't run', the attitude that destroyed George Custer's cavalry unit. The big difference between Custer and McCain though is Custer died with his unit and it at least spared another unit from being attacked by those same Indians. McCain and Bush won't fight with the men they order into their made-up fantasy war against Al Qaeda that were not there when we went in, and against mainly insurgents defending their land who otherwise had no desire to attack the U.S. Palin and McCain can direct a false war pit all they want, but dragging this entire God-loving country in with them is unconscionable and something to fight against, not something to brag about. American colors are supposed to run from doing wrong, and stand for doing right. McCain wants them to stand, even when wrong. I love America and I oppose killing people who have nothing against us except that we bomb them and go house to house to find those violently opposing a foreign military on their soil.

My goodness me wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:10 AM:I do believe Mr Ron is smitten! I've never heard him gush so for any politician, Democrat or Republican. She's not only qualified to be Veep, she is UNIQUELY qualified. To see this kind of affection and tenderness for another human being coming from Ron is more than touching. It gives me hope in this nasty, brutish, cynical world that love, indeed, can conquer all. Ron: I'm so happy for you! Ms Sarah has transformed you into a big sweetie, a Normal Rockwell, freckle-faced kid again, in love with the world. I'm voting for Palin!

Vista Granny wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:12 AM:It's a sad testimony to the intelligence of many of our "manly" right wing voters that they can only seem to comment on how "hot" Ms. Palin is. I hear that the "Rush" mentioned her legs and ankles -- "she can wear dresses, not pant suits." This, of course, was in direct reference to the right wing's constant put down of Hillary's legs. Heck, I'm over 70 and have great legs! What does that have to do with the "war" in Iraq or the dreadful economy? Shall we start talking about McCain's lopsided face? Cancer can do that to you. In fact, McCain's just kind of funny looking all over. Does that disqualify him Bull, Crusty, lady and others? Incidently, I believe her awful hair style is done on purpose, to make her look like a harried housewife.She'not.

Caro Hussein Cogitatus wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:14 AM:Ron (at 6:09 AM) is apparently unaware that Georgia invaded South Ossetia first, and Russia badly overreacted. South Ossetia is a Russian-friendly province of Georgia, and several reports indicate that President Saakashvili was assured of American support beforehand. Typical of the Bush/McCain strategy of saber-rattling first, diplomacy second (or last), McCain's response of "We are all Georgians" was both simplistic and calculated to remind voters of 9/11.

The fact is, both Russia and Georgia bear blame in the matter.

Despite conservatives' most fervent beliefs, sometimes the world is not black and white, good guys and bad guys, cowboys and indians. Reality is messy, and Obama's reaction was spot on.

Once again, Obama right, McCain wrong.

Reardon wrote on Sep 4, 2008 10:14 AM:The restaurant featured on the front of Section E of today's NCTimes "A Cut Above" is FAR more important than these juvenile comments pro and con Palin -- and will give readers more pleasure for far longer. Reardon has been a regular there since it opened a few months ago, and can attest to the fine food, good service, and great atmosphere.

Bentley’s is in the spot that Marie Callender’s once was, and it is far better than Marie's which was pretty good.

Highly recommended.

(Only post today under any name.)

Stylish