This is the "McCain think women is stupid" pick. And I say this as a woman who knows research well about voting patterns.

Ultimately, I think this pick is going to backfire on McCain because it's a Hail Mary pass.

But it's wonderful to see someone so obscure elevated to such a vaunted national position so quickly.

This is an amazing election season.

On Palin, though, she's an excellent debater and speaker. She wiped the floor with Frank Murkowski in the governor's race. But I don't think she resonates with Hillary's core group. This rallies the base on the all-important pro-life cause, but besides that it's a Hail Mary act of desperation.

Sorry, but I dont see how she's a plus. Up there, she looked like she had no idea what she was in for. She spoke like she was running for PTA president.

And I would be insulted if I were a Clinton supporter. Clinton put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, and THIS is the woman who is going to break it?

Are you kidding me? There's nothing there at all.

Huh?  The speech was pretty bad, what are you talking about?

Great job Jerome safe travels.

Palin's speech show's she's anything but a bumbling silver spoon-fed Quayle.  See if she can keep it up.

On first blush I though it was a terrible pick based strictly on her credentials...but having let it sink in for a bit I think McCain may have found the person that could put him over the top.

Alot of campaigning to go for sure, but the MSM is in love with her already and is certain to sweep the fact she is spectacularly inexperienced under the rug...

A terrible choice if she ever has to actually take the rigns...a great pick to get McCain elected.

I think that old man McBush already had the support of most repugs already.  The democrats are just excited and more.  I don't think that the country is going to want to chance McBush dying and Palin being president when she has zilch foreign policy experience.  I know I would not trust this woman to run the country.

I think it provides interesting chatter for a few days, but I really fail to see what she offers in terms of substance.  At least with Romney you could argue that he was "strong" on the economy and may be able to deliver a state or two.  Biden and Obama can keep hammering away at McCain, but what's he going to respond with?  That Obama's "inexperienced"?  That argument left the building.

...but time to get back to work in electing Democratic Senators.

You sat through the same convention we all watched on TV, and you still can't commit to putting in your all to get Obama elected?  Why even have this site?

I think it's safe to say that McCain just won the VP-selection contest decisively over Obama.  

Biden is an old, boring, DC insider, and more qualified than the top half of the ticket.  Palin is new, about as far from DC as you can get, and more conservative than McCain, shoring up his support on the right.  

Her inexperience would be a liability given McCain's age and health, but bringing it up risks raising the issue of Obama's inexperience.

Obviously a pro-drilling pro-life red state governor isn't going to attract many Hillary supporters, but McCain wasn't going to anyway.

Palin may also serve to draw back some of the Ron Paul crowd, which was otherwise leaning toward Barr.  Keep in mind that Ron Paul topped double digits in the Republican primaries in over a dozen states.  

Palin locks Alaska up for McCain but will do nothing for Don Young or Ted Stevens. As a matter of fact, it may hurt Young even more.

What about electing a Democratic PRESIDENT!!!!!!

This is certainly a splashy pick, as in, "really?  Palin?"  But I'm not sure it works.  Wasn't McCain supposed to be the bipartisan wonder?  Think about it this way.  What's the difference between her and someone like Ralph Reed or Mike Huckabee?  Oh yeah, she's a woman with much less experience.  Very bizarre.

The big pitfall for the Dems is that pretty woman garner oodles more sympathy from the media than practically any other demographic.  So if the Dems beat up on her too much, you get the inevitable backlash from the "Inside Edition" crowd.

This is a desperation pick by McCain, and everyone can smell it. Women are not going to fall for the "Hey look, I picked a woman VP" trick--especially not a woman who opposes her own gender's fundamental rights. It's incredibly obvious what he's trying to do.

On top of that, after all his criticism of Obama for being inexperienced, he made a pick who makes Barack look like FDR. People will pick up on the hypocrisy once the Dems start rolling out the ads that point this out.

Not to mention that they just look awkward together. A creepy old man and an intelligent, attractive woman? Have fun marketing that.

OK, I think we got it. Picked this up from Andrew Sullivan, written by Brendan Loy:

[T]he thrust of the Dems' argument will not be that Palin is too inexperienced; it will be that McCain is being disingenuous when he argues that Obama is too inexperienced. This argument will gain wide acceptance among the pundit class, and it will also succeed with voters -- largely because it is correct, and obviously & instinctively so.

We don't need or want to go after Palin. Voters who like her can feel very happy about voting for her in years to come when she's had more experience. This is about a man who is making choices for all the wrong reasons. A non-serious man who will literally say or do anything to get elected. This is about McCain arguing that he puts Country before the Election. And it's about us being able to say, "that's not true."

Not you directly but, it's discouraging to read post after post of ". . . it's a pandering to women pick"

Why can't people assess Palin on the content of her record and character instead of zone in on that line of crap.

Let's win on the policies, ideas and characters of our individuals rather than sexism and racism.

I think this was a desperation pick and purely based on an electoral strategy.  Palin may be an impressive person but she's certainly more inexperienced than Obama.  She's far right.  She anti-choice and makes an exception only if the life - not health - of a woman is at risk.  Rape?  Incest?  You're on your own.  She's behind teaching creationism in schools.  She's adored by the far right of the GOP.

The base, even though they didn't like him, was already giving McCain about 90% of the GOP vote.  He isn't going to get much more than that.  She may make them more enthusiastic, but we know the GOP is all about winning - they don't need to be enthusiastic to go out to vote.  Only we Dems need to be fired up. (which is one reason why we often lose these things)

If you are a progressive - man or woman - and McCain's selection of Palin causes you to throw your vote to the GOP candidate, then I can only come to two conclusions - you are being childish because Hillary lost or you are clueless.  Or both.

Seriously, this woman couldn't hold a candle to Hillary Clinton.  And she's as far right as they go.  I think the former Hillary supporters who were going to vote for McCain have already made that decision.  Even Obama picking her as veep wouldn't change their mind. (believe me, I've read their comments on their wacky blogs and that's what most of them say)  Palin is not going to the remaining undecided Dem/Dem leaners over to McCain's side.  Not going to happen.

GOP used sexism against Hilary, watch them do reverse sexism now.

Biden & Palin will debate, If Biden comes of too strong and attacks. They'll say he is picking on a woman.

Hillary Clinton and her supporters didn't put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling for Sarah Palin to take advantage of all the hard work HRC and her supporters did...

Sarah Palin is NO Hillary Clinton. Shame on her for trying to take advantage of Hillary's extraordinary campaign.

PS: Been an Obama supporter since 2007...

As I said before I think it was a good pick for McCain.  It may be an excellent pick.

The list we've heard for ever was a minefield that threatened to make conervatards flee.  Palin is very well liked by the right and it appears McCain will have a chance to re-unite his party next week.

McCain the "hugger" (Bush hugger) is trying to make people think he is a maverick, regardless of facts.   He goes and pulls a surprise pick who is a D.C. outsider to boot.

Palin's inexperience may actually serve as a platform for Republicans to attack Obama for lack of experience.  Palin's and Obama's tenure in government service, both locally and nationally is similar.   Do we call her inexperienced without leaving our own chins open for a big GOP counterpunch on comparing the resumes?

McCain wants to take full advantage of women still stinging from the double whammy of a Clinton loss, Clinton not being the V.P.   As some have pointed out Palin is a women.

McCain needs to close the gap with all women, not just Clinton women.  Again, Palin is a women.

McCain managed his roll out perfectly.  There was not a two day stakeout of the obvious pick to ruin the surprise.   McCain managed to stay in the news cycle on Obama's big day, and he managed to take over the news cycle a mere 12 hours after Obama left the stage in Denver.

But I am also thinking of another GOP line of attack.   Remember in the spring when the GOP pundits were actively trying to sow seeds of discontent when commenting on our race.   They said Obama was arrogant and suggested he may be sexist and indifferent to women's views.  They may be looking push this theme.  Hillary not getting the nod is probably what seeled this deal.

The area where she could be effective for McCain is in the energy policy arena. As much as I disagree with the concept of more drilling in ANWR, this is an area where the Republicans are getting some traction now and she is firmly behind drilling. This is the one area where she concerns me.

Other than that, I think people are going to look at a candidate who is a heartbeat away from the presidency, backing up the oldest nominee in history, and have a lot of concerns. I mean this person was the mayor of a town of 8000 people less than two years ago. And yes, she now has executive experience, but the number of voters it takes to get elected Governor of Alaska (don't know the exact numbers) is pretty tiny. This is somebody who has never demonstrated the ability to convince a large number of people to support her. And nothing she said today gave me too much fear that she is going to be a powerhouse on the trail.

She's a creationist.  Thinks Creationism should be taught in schools.  

from McCain. Now she can help to keep McCain's policy message away from the public now that Hillary is officially out of the race. With more attention on Palin and 'will they win over Hillary voters' the media will have less reason to actually compare Obama and McCain on any number of issues. On the plus side, perhaps it will draw more attention to women's rights, equal pay, etc.

She's chirpy and a MILF, and people like Andrea Mitchell and that African-American pundette on CNN are gushing about her, but with that scandal brewing with her brother-in-law and the revelation that she's only managed a town of 9,000 people, this proves to me that McCain have been in full-bore panic mode ever since the "how many houses" gaffe.

Only the evangelicals are backflipping, and in this election that's going to boomerang and boomerang badly - the fundies are part of the same corrupt Republicanism that Obama kicked the crap out of last night.

This reeks of total desperation, and in the end I bet it gives Obama at least three more points in the final

Do I like Palin?  Hell no.  She is a brilliant pick for McCain, though, on many many levels.  I think this is a game changer.  Even if she takes 3% of the women vote away from Obama- it's a problem.  You see how this is bad?  I don't think she will scare any of the sexist Repub men because she's VP not President.  

I think the Obama camp just started seriously regretting letting Hillary go...................................

When we see the numbers on Mon and Tues, and they still have Obama up by 3 or more points- will you aknowledge that you didn't know what you were talking about here?

made a terrific point about Palin's inexperience extending beyond foreign policy, but to agricultural issues and to urban issues, as Alaska has neither an agricultural industry or a large urban center.

oh- and will you admit that maybe the vp choice isn't a "game changer' but instead more of a do no harm type of issue?

Turn his "he'd rather win an election, then win a war," on him.  Say: John McCain, would rather win an election, then put country first.  Does John McCain truly believe his vice-presidential pick will be able to successfully manage the fates of 300 million Americans if needed?

We need to immediately stress how out of touch she is on issues like abortion.  She is extremely move conservative than most Americans - yet the press has hailed her a maverick??  I hope NARAL and other groups hammer her on social issues.

McCain energized the Republican base, but also made an appeal to Hillary Clinton supporters in one stroke. Palin has a compelling life story and his a heroine of the Right to Life movement by refusing to abort her child during pregnancy even though she knew that the fetus had Down's Syndrome. As a former beauty queen she has a lot of poise. Although Biden was a good governing (and certainly much better than Palin) choice for Obama, not picking Hillary opened the door for McCain to pick a woman VP, which in my opinion was the best way and possibly only way for McCain to win this election.

But Palin is a risky choice, too. She will be a disaster for the ticket if investigators find that she abused her power as governor in firing a government employee simply because that employee refused to fire Palin's brother-in-law. Also, although she delivered a well written speech, you could tell that she is a very unpolished speaker. Her voice was much more high pitched than her ordinary normal voice and she seemed at times not to speak into the microphone. She also seemed a little bit awed by the event. But if Palin can polish up her act, and we find that there is nothing to the scandal, Palin will become Obama's worst nightmare.

Palin's choice is a threat to national security.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/b egala.palin/index.html

I think a good response to this is:

You guys keep saying how much you admire Hillary, and now you nominate Palin.... Well we voted for Hillary, we worked with Hillary and Palin's no Hillary.

Try and adapt the Lloyd Bentsen line of attack, sell Palin as some pale immitation of the real deal i.e. Hillary.

Obama now needs Hillary more than ever, we need Clinton on the sunday shows. Remember how Obama wasn't allowed to pick Sebelius?? Well lets try and get the same kind of thing going against Palin.

Like Ferraro, Palin was picked solely because of her gender and affiliation to the party's base.

How many electoral votes did it get for Mondale?

Maybe we can get some attention on the scandals in Alaska:  "Tubes" Stevens, "Bridge" Young, Veco oil, all the Alaska corrpution, etc.  Did McSame just highlight the Alaska mud surrounding the former beauty pageant contestant and all the Alaska GOPigs?  

I'd be interested in hearing the reaction from candidates Begich and Berkowitz, and what they have to say about Palin.

And don't forget that Senator Stevens' corrpution trial will be underway.  

She also has her own scandal.  Can the Alaska state house initiate impeachment proceedings against her?  The timing would be perfect.  

Also, what was her position on the Iraq war?  She needs to be asked about foreign policy.  What is her plan for Iraq?  Should we go to war with Iran?  What should the U. S. do about Russia and Georgia?  

Finally, now is the time for Senator Clinton to come out roaring.  She can attack Governor Palin like no other can.  

Basically, Jerome says that the Palin pick is doomsday for Obama and that hr speach was "done quite well".  I;m sorry, but this analysis is too ridiculous to be believable. I mean... even if you decide to play nicely on the Palin pick, you have to acknowledge that her lack of experience, daftness (from all accounts), extreme right-wing ideology and ethical issues are serious negatives to the GOP ticket.  AS for the speech, by any objective standard (think of any speech at the DNC), it was pretty damn bad and at best mediocre.  

Here is my take: Jerome has gone to the dark side Obama dn he can't find his way back.  If you Jerome's recent posts, he always (either explicitly or subtly) makes efforts to undermine the Obama candidacy.  Jerome wants Obama to lose.  

This pick smacks of last minute. I don't know what time Palin boarded the plane to Dayton, but Team McCain might have been so stunned by the speech that they needed to do something drastic. I think Pawlenty thought HE had it last night. I promise you that she was not thoroughly vetted.

I think the mental image of McCain in the oval office with Sarah Palin just down the hall, chiming in on behalf of God and women, will be extremely appealing to a lot of people.  I also agree that the image of Sarah Palin actually sitting in the oval office will scare the living hell out of nearly everyone.  So our task is crystal clear, but tricky, because nobody likes to be reminded that grampa might die soon.  I wouldn't want the job, but I will be facinated to see how the message folks go about doing this -- maybe someone will leak actuarial tables to Olbermann?  On the other hand, I predict we will see a lot more of McCain's mother next month, maybe hang-gliding, or visiting Tbilisi.

Sarah Palin is an affirmative action pick. She does not have the experience that Clinton has, and has even less experience than Obama. Although Obama doesn't have much Washington experience, he his perhaps the most talented politician today. At today's announcement, you could tell that the starry eyed Palin is a political novice.

Hard to claim she is sexist.  Let her make the obvious points about Palin.  

What kind of woman gives birth to a special needs baby on April 19th, 2008, shows up for work on Monday the 22nd, and then four months later agrees to take on the rigors of a national campaign for Vice President potentially followed by four years of dawn to dusk work getting up to speed on national and international affairs.

My God everything really is IOKIYAAR. If this was a Democrat James Dobson and Phyllis Shafley would be jumping up an down in unision shrieking everything but 'baby killer'.

I am just not sure how this goes down among the home schoolers and the stay at home moms. "I'm 100% devoted to my family and my new baby, except of course for my day job as Vice President of the United States"

You are completely off base with your analysis, Jerome.  Completely.  While I don't want to underestimate her, this is not a good choice.  Not only for McCain, but for the country.  

Instead of rambling on about why I feel this way, it's best to just read what Paul Begala wrote on CNN as he says it better than I can:

Is McCain out of his mind?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/b egala.palin/index.html

Name me one VP pick, other than LBJ, in the last 50 yrs that swung an election.  If the VP race was important, Bentsen v Quayle would have put Dukakis over the top.  People vote the top of the ticket.  

This probably helps McCain b/c it changes the conversation for a couple of days but will have little to no long term impact.  It also removes McCain's only decent argument against Obama - experience.  What are McCain's ads going to look like now?

In the end, the race is about who you want to lead the country - McCain or Obama.  Biden v Palin is a secondary consideration at best.  Based on what I saw last night, I don't have a lot of doubt about where that discussion is headed and it is not turf friendly to McCain.

I actually found it insulting that she would compare herself to Hillary Clinton. Hillary puts "the 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling" and Sarah Palin, former mayor of a village of 5,000 people and Governor of Alaska for a year and a half is going to break it? Please.

This pick reeks of political desperation and McCain wanted to score some cheap points. Picking her absolutely undercuts his experience argument against Obama. And honestly...this woman is going to debate Joe Biden?

Jerome, you've really got a tin ear  (i hope...)

...you just get out of Denver and back to your electing Democratic senators. Are you ever going to get your panties out of a knot?

You got your precious feelings hurt when your candidate didn't win months ago and thus continue to stir the pot with all this foaming at the mouth for a desperate GOP VP pick.

Jerome, what a poor excuse for a Democratic Party blogger you are. Go ahead and work for your Democratic senators - we'll take care of POTUS - you passive-agressive little prick. Have you no shame?

"game-changer" my ass.

Elections, esp mondo-elections like a Presidential general election, are won in the preparation and execution of the plan. Almost never does a single, unplanned tactic or late-game strategy shift make a difference in the outcome.

Obama's had a clear plan and his VP selection followed a clear plan. The outcome may have been unspectacular but it was, in retrospect, consistent with what he wanted at the outset.

McCain's campaign has been all over the map, strategically, since the nearly averted shipwreck of last June. HE's switched campaign managers twice, overhauled  his campaign organization twice, changed themes multiple times, and now he seems to have made a spur of the minute decision to order off the menu for his VP selection.

There's simply no way that this does not come back to haunt him. Sooner (as I'm guessing) or later, there's going to be a revelation about her past positions, her career, something -- and because they haven't vetted her fully, they'll have no game plan to deal with it.

Even if there's no equivalent of a "bimbo eruption," its hard to see how they integrate this choice into a larger theme, a larger demographic-electoral strategy, or even a frame of attack on OB.