Maybe that's what Rudy's mistress use to say. There's no doubt that she just leapfrogged over Romney in the line of succession for nominees, but I don't think she attracted any Democrats or Hillary supporters.

This speech clearly played well in the hall but I would be surprised if that level of nastiness was appealing to independent voters watching at home. I think it was clearly a well constructed and well delivered speech but I feel like they are trying to open up cultural issues that they will lose on. And I think that there is much more scrutiny to come on her record in Alaska that will further damage her qualifications for this office. I predict we hear nothing significant from her once they lose the election in November.

She works, but her policies do not.  Unless she morphs away from the RepubliJesus routine by 2012 America will be over that kind of politics.

I thought the first half of her speech was balls out excellent in terms of delivery but then she got nasty...and then she got wooden.

She is no Hillary and she is certainly no Obama.

I have no problem putting her up against Obama in 4 years.

Wow, that's quite the hyperbole.  You do know that at least parts of the speech were prepared well in advance of her candidacy, and for a male candidate, right?

Not anticipating that McCain would choose a woman as his running mate, the speech that was prepared in advance was "very masculine," according to campaign manager Rick Davis, and "we had to start from scratch."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con tent/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090301176. html?hpid=topnews

That is why we need to politically destroy her... if not now, in the future.... she is a walking wedge issue against us, and is incredibly dangerous to not only progressives as a whole, but specifically the women's movement.

I'm hoping that the scandals at some point will take her down...  we shall see... she's a corrupt as any other republican... no wonder she's on the ticket...

She blows away Hillary Clinton. Sorry, but that's what it is.

You know this by watching one speech given on her own turf?

Hillary Clinton had the crowd eating out of her hand at the end of the primary season. She went toe to toe with the Obama phenomenon.

Sarah Palin couldn't even try on Hillary's pantsuits.

I don't think you understand where this country is headed. I wasn't sure of that until this post.

Perhaps I can buy that but would Reagan have defeated JFK if he was introduced just sixty days to the public before the election.

I guess what Jerome is claiming that the parallel is 1976 with the difference being that Ford (McCain in this case) actually choosing Reagan (Palin in this case).

I'd take back the HRC comment Jerome; I'd love nothing more than a HRC-Palin debate.

away from being a political afterthought and punchline for a decade. If she's a philanderer - she's done in GOP politics for good.

I think you are ignoring the problem- at the heart, she is a wingnut extremist, from a fairly non-viable electoral part of the country.  I see her being the nominee in '12, and that could get interesting, but what happens when Biden cleans her clock in the debate?

"She blows away Hillary Clinton."

What?

She reads a speech from a teleprompter and she is the second coming of Reagan?

Jerome, you need to get laid or something, she is not that good....

I have saying this for days now. Dont underestimate this woman. I am not in the least surprised by the delivery. I am just shocked some seem to be.

I have been on the record as saying that I wish McCain chose lieberman because that would have killed the base.

Having said that, Tracy Flick sure gave enough stuff for Obama to attack back

1. Question her command of the facts. She made some heartwarming references to common folk aobut to be burdened by Obama's tax increases. Someone should cut an ad with that part and then cut away to Obama promising middle class tax cuts. And then a voiceover questioning Palin's command of the facts and then ask "who really is all style and no substance here?"
   
2. Someone should cut another ad with Mccain talking about the need to get rid of torture and then cut away to Palin making fun of Obama on this issue.
   
3. another ad where facts are trotted about the Iraq war, and then to this woman who blindly talks about McCain's judgement on this war without adding any of her own.

I had a different feel really.  To compare to Hillary, think about when Hillary was near the end of the race and could kind of really let loose and didn't have to worry about discipline.  

I think it was a poor introduction to the country, too cynical by half it came off as mean.  I think people will remember mean, sharp not much else.  

How do I know?

My wife who is not involved in politics only turned to the convention at 10:00pm came down stairs after 10 minutes and said, she's mean and arrogant.  She said We've seen these other people, who is she to stay this stuff?

No kidding...

She just gave Biden the green light to go straight after her.

One speech does not a great leader make.

I, however, do believe that the ability to speak effectively and succinctly should be a required skill for our nation's highest delegate.  But this is only a tool that should be used to deliver on the positions of the official, not the sole qualifying trait.

I'd take Hillary's mastery of the issues over Sarah's canned speech delivery any day.  I'm very interested in seeing what she does without the prompter, one-on-one with the voters of the heartland.  She performed well tonight.  However, if voters think you're only performing, it doesn't sell.  

This is why Barack has been so successful.  When voters get up close and personal with him, they fall in love because they realize that it's not just performance.  He can turn off the orator long enough to be human with folks.  Like or despise him or his politics, this is the whole of his gift.  

I'm not sure she's this kind of threat.  For Pete's sakes, she just learned what the VP does a week or so ago!  Hillary would run circles around her - despite the oratorical edge Palin may have.

Also, this is funny. I've a cousin who's husband is the son of Palin's preacher in Alaska-- not the crazy guest one but the Sr. Minister. Yea, but not blood!

Because, quite frankly, I can't think of a single election where this has been the case.

The Hillary Clinton campaign is disgusting J.A.  She has no future in the GOP after the Enquirer and investigating Journalist get a hold of her skeletons.  Jerome your also missing the visual dude.  Palin does not come across as someone who could hold the political stature aka pantsuit membership.  Dude she looks like a constrained m.i.l.f, most normal nonpolitical men look at her and find it hard to take her seriously.  Then finally the GOP honestly doesn't give much credence to the roll of women in their party, thats why you can count the total # of them serving in the Congress and the senate on 2 hands.  So, dude her future is now, the next 60 days then after that she'll be headed back to Alaska to go cook up some more moose stew.

rears its ugly head.  Try to chew the hype just a little before you start gobbling it down.

Sure there were plenty of people who were excited tonight...they were all in that hall...they were all looking through an intensely blind partisan Republican filter, because anyone else would realize that she lied about her own record and that of the Democratic nominee.  Her aggression might excite the base but it will not bode well with anyone not of the Republican persuasion and let's be honest when we make this about the issues, who is a repug anymore:

Americans are pro-choice (67 percent)

Americans support the Geneva Conventions with regards to torture (57 percent)

Americans don't want the government snooping in their bank and internet records (67 percent)

Americans support protecting the environment at the expense of economic growth (55 percent)

Americans believe that global warming is happening (86 percent)

Americans believe that it's the government's responsibility to provide health care (69 percent)

Americans support the decriminalization of marijuana (55 percent) and support the legalization of medical marijuana (78 percent)

Americans are opposed to attacking Iran (68 percent, according to a CNN Poll)

Americans support labor unions (60 percent)

Americans want government funding of embryonic stem cell research (56 percent)

Americans believe rich people and corporations aren't paying enough taxes (66 and 71 percent respectively)

And we ignore that salient fact at our peril.  Don't view Palin through blue tinted glasses - because underestimating her would be a grave mistake.  Far too many Progressive bloggers have been dismissing Palin, calling her the `Yukon Barbie'.  It just won't wash, folks.  Kerry dismissed the swiftboaters as beneath his contempt - and look where that got him.  Palin has one hell of an appeal - and to more than just the Jerry Springer crowd.  She sounds like anybody's neighbor - but a neighbor who can make clear points and debate them.  Mainstream America gonna just eat this up. Go ahead - ask your neighbors if they heard her speak - and if they did - did she appeal to them?  I'm betting she goes over better than anyone thinks.  The woman has an 85% approval rating in Alaska.  That's gonna translate.  People find her likeable.  What we have to do is convince them she's not right for the job.

To do that, we really have to get beyond the school-yard taunting.  Palin is a real-time danger.  And I agree with Jerome - she will indeed be the 2012 Republican nominee (barring something monumentally stupid on her part).  But then, I think she may have `Bubba' appeal (a la Bill Clinton) - the ability to shake off scandal like droplets of water.  So we need to try and take her out now - diminish her appeal.  Hammer Palin on how out of step with mainstream America she really is.  Point out the differences between her stated opinions and everything Obama and Biden stand for.  But do not dismiss this woman out of hand.  And above all (for the love of God!) - do not attack her gender or her family.  It will turn people off and make Democrats look like misogynistic bullies.  

I suspect there are those behind the scenes much less surprised by Palin's emergence as a candidate.  She is right out of central casting in the sense that she's the perfect diversion for Big Bad Johhny McCain to hide behind. Some in the right wing press (e.g. NewsMax) have been working behind the scenes to get her on the ticket.

The GOP push in this case may be less about women voters and more about creating an acceptable mate for McCain who is "new" and who can help secure fear votes after the GOP's ruthless 527s unleash the furious attacks on Obama.  In other words they needed a "new" face to push the reform image.

Don't forget the race card. McCain ain't seriously chasing votes from any minorities right now.  So the "play" is about making white independent voters who are still undecided, scared about Obama, and comfortable with the Republican alternative.

I actually found Palin's speaking style annoying in terms of her delivery. She often appeared snotty and very condescending. At points she sounded more like a teacher speaking down to kids, than a candidate speaking to voters.  But, for tonight she gave a crowd that wanted red meat exactly that.

I would agree that she will be on the scene in 2012 regardless of what happens this year.  However, any notion that she "blows away" Hillary is sheer delusion.  Hillary, quite frankly, would clean her clock.  

One of the challenges a man (in this case Biden) has to overcome is not appearing to be overly aggressive like he's trying to bully a female opponent.  

I would bet you'll see Palin set that trap with debating style of interrupting.  But, if Biden interrupts her in return, he becomes the bad guy.  

Remember 2004?  John Edwards tried to be nice with Cheney and made a very supportive comment about they way Dick and Lynne have supported their gay daughter.  It was intended as a nice gesture.  One day later Edwards was ruthlessly attacked after the GOP advisers taught the Cheney's how to act offended and outraged at what was characterized one day later as a mean spirited slight.  It was all baloney but Edwards took a hit and never regained his footing.

Hillary would not have such a problem and you're hearing this from someone who did not support her this year.  

It's too early to predict Plain's future.  It could be good or her numerous controversies could make her a one year wonder.

Final thought. It's still largely about McCain.  If he shows up tomorrow, gives an OK speech, but repeatedly cracks that "Tales From The Crypt" smile of his, he could blow it all.  

...this post makes no sense.

So I'm guessing it's brilliant snark above my pay grade.

Her speech was lame. It completely lacked any gravitas. I'd vote for her as PTA prez in a heartbeat...but next in line for Commander in Chief? Seriously?

Anyone that thinks McCain could have chosen better than Palin, among the GOP ranks, is on drugs.

I've been saying since the pick was announced that we underestimate her as a candidate at our own peril, but that doesn't make her a good choice for an important role in a Constitutional government.

We've known her for a week, and in that time we've had a scandal a day, no interviews, no firm policy answers, and no idea what makes her think she's capable of serving as President should the need arise.  The only way "Anyone that thinks McCain could have chosen better than Palin, among the GOP ranks, is on drugs" makes any sense is if you think none of those facts--especially the last one--matter.

I can't tell if this is a joke or not. My boyfriend and I both watched her speech and thought she was rather boring. On style alone she spoke too slowly, paused in areas that needed more punch and was all over the place. She shined compared to the other blowhards in her party, but saying she is a great speaker is laughable.

She won over the hardcore socially conservative right (who were going to vote McCain anyway), that in turn injected some energy to the voters who were gung-ho McCain already. It basically "fired up" the GOP base.  Unfortunately the GOP is well behind the Democrats in party affiliation.

Lets face it there are about 10-12% truly undecided voters out there, and they're moderates.  I saw nothing in any of the speeches tonight that talked about specifics on fixing the economy, addressing our long term energy dependence or Palin's knowledge of Foreign Policy.  This is what these undecideds are looking for, and all the got was the same old "mud-slinging".

If their goal was to fire up the base using one liners and smearing Obama...mission accomplished.  If their goal was to appeal to the moderates of the election (who are more educated on the issues)...They failed.

So among political candidates with vaginas, it's Palin 1, Clinton 0 on your scorecard. Good to know, I guess.

You could have easily made your point -- that Palin is a national playa now, and she's going to be one for awhile -- without the swipe at Clinton. Palin's young. How does she compare to Schweitzer? Isn't that a more valid (and interesting) comparison? How does their party's future measure up against our party's future?

Frankly, who gives a shit how she stacks up to Clinton? Why is that even relevant? If the stars somehow align, and Palin somehow winds up running against Clinton in 2012, then a direct comparison makes sense. Until then, it's really just you spouting off that you feel Sarah beat Hillary in the Political Olympics, Female Category.

Such myopic comparisons aren't necessary. Both Palin and Clinton get to run against men, too.

I think Palin hit it out of the ballpark, I was truly surprised as I had no idea what to expect...

But...

I do like the "fighters" and that she is....a pit bull with lipstick!!! (great line)....

However, she is NO hillary clinton....

Hillary's speech last week was inspiring and about unity

Hillary can also be a pit bull in "pantsuits" and knows how to attack and fight....(slumlord rezko comes to mind)....

I believe Obama's biggest mistake is his FIRST big decision...he shoulda picked hillary for VP....

I will be watching with great anticipation her future speeches and can't wait for the debate...

I actually think she will blow Joe Biden out of the water.....

Giuliani said "Republican" once, referring to Palin's challenging Republican corruption in Alaska.  He said "Democrat" three times, referring to the Iraq war.

Palin never said either word.

That matters.  They are scared.  They have listened to the people, read the polls, and they know that voters want no more Republicans running the country.

Jerome, you give Ms. Palin WAY too much credit...  You're practically fawning all over her.  I realize that she may be a very good speaker (although, her voice is like fingernails grating the chalkboard to many), but a good speaker does not a leader make.  Her policies are SO extremely far out of the mainstream that it's very, very difficult to see her playing well to most Americans.  She may be ready for prime time, but her ideology is past its prime.  She doesn't hold a candle to Hillary Clinton, and I frankly wonder about your health for so adamantly declaring the contrary.  Great speech or not, she's still an inexperienced governor with radical right-wing views who finds herself steeped in controversy and scandal.  Clearly she dazzled you, but I give Americans more credit than that, and believe that most will easily see beyond the sparkle and charm.

in a doomed culture war.

I think she would have been a brilliant pick 4 or 8 years ago. But the era of the GOP just running roughshod is coming to an end.

I would bet you the Dem fundraising and recruting is going to spike over the next week. She has inflamed more than HER base.

People keep saying the speach was all red meat, but it was more than low punches.  It was targeted attacks with interwoven logical arguments.  You have to understand there is a whirlwind of information out their and it is hard to see through the clutter.  Her attacks were aimed at the 'gut feeling' of the electorate.

I read through the speech again looking at the political jabs and they really are reasoned and with very specific messages targeted at middle america.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Conventio ns/Story?id=5720910&page=1

We need to take her down quickly.  I thought she showed a lot of appeal to white, working-class women and men in rustbelt states.  She worries me in Ohio, PA, Michigan, Missouri.

Not her issue stances, but her personality and story is very appealing and very relatable to those crucial voters.

Having the media and others mock her only make her stronger.

Let's be careful here. She gave a powerful speech in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

But unlike Barack and Hillary, she hasn't gone to all the states and met the people she intends to govern.

Hillary speaks from her heart and relates the personal stories of people who have suffered.

Palin simply reads a teleprompter very well, and actually dissed people of all political persuasions who try to bring some hope to people in need.

Her enemies are straw dogs - let's stay on message.

It's funny watching the 'pugs bash liberals for their hero worship of Obama, then turn right around and bow down at the altar of Sarah Palin, like she's the savior of the Republican Party or something.

The 29 percenters may love her, but the rest of the country thinks she's a joke.

I do not understand where anyone would get the impression that the American people are yearning to launch another culture war.

Sarah Palin may be the future of the Republican Party, but does the Republican Party have a future?  Not if they go in that direction, they don't.  America is not going to vote for a hardcore evangelical even if she makes a great first impression.  After 8 years of Bush, the polls all tell us that people are yearning for more separation of church and state, not less.

I remember when, for at least a couple days, liberals were terrified that the GOP had discovered some awesome wedge issue with the Terri Schiavo situation.  And then the polls started to come out and we quickly learned that three-quarters of America was simply repulsed by the spectacle.

If the evangelicals get to call more and more of the shots in the GOP as time goes on, what's going to happen is that you're going to see more and more Ken Blackwell types winning every primary.   And I hope people remember how Ken Blackwell did in the general election.

Liberals need to stop getting spooked by the mythical power of the GOP base already.  Independents are less and less likely to go for this crap with each passing day.

She has a future only if her scandals don't destroy her first, and only if she moderates her fringe-radical views.

I think the republican reaction to her is partly a matter of low morale.  Given how down the repubs are this year, someone with just a different bit of spark can seem like the second coming of Ronald Reagan, their own version of the real deal, Barack Obama, or even Hillary Clinton.  

It's also a problem for McCain that it seems like the repubs are enthusiastic for a Palin/McCain ticket, not a McCain/Palin ticket.  Is anyone really excited about tomorrow's speech?  Whenever I see McCain speak, he's either deathly dull or scary/angry/bitter.  He's got a great delivery with telling jokes, but, that can't sustain him through the entire speech.

But, before we proclaim Palin the new leader of the Republican party, let's see how well she does in the last two months of the campaign.  

Though Palin went hard on elitism, I noticed she did not at all talk about any social conservatism.  No abortion.  No same-sex marriage.  Nothing.

It was all small town, working class stuff.  A full frontal assault on elitism.

If this is how she continues, she will be a big problem for us.  

We need to paint her as an extremist asap.

But Palin is no Hillary Clinton. All she did was proven she can handle her own. I found her speech bland and average. She was basically reading off a laundary list of talking points. Now that is not to say we should take her lightly, but I am sure she will not be some rock star.

Might as well have Obama write her a speech and let her deliver it to a room of Democrats. The result would tell you exactly as much as you know tonight.

She can read well.

I was stunned at Jerome's claim that Sarah Palin's speech blew away Hillary Clinton.

I'm no Hillary fan, but Gov. Palin came across as a candidate for Student Council president. She had no gravitas at all. She was reading a speech scripted for her by McCain's Bush advisers.

McCain and Palin will be blown out in 2008, and I'd be surprised to see her back on the national stage again.

Wow, take it easy, Jerome. She was entertaining. Secondarily, but perhaps more memorably, she was surly.

And how is all of this going to look two weeks from now, after the pastor problems, the book-banning, the profoundly creepy vid of her addressing a Jesus Camp and declaring a pipeline to be "God's will," and the Iraq War a "task from God"?  And what happens when she has to take a real question from a real live reporter? And even an average level of scrutiny of her record (not to be confused with the pablum she was reading this evening)?

Sure, she might be around in 2012. Then again, she might have long since been dismissed as a delusional, not to mention dishonest, version of Jean Lundegaard.

A little perspective, maybe?

Jerome, it's ridiculous to proclaim her the best VP pick available on the basis of one speech, which clearly was not written by her. If she manages to maintain the attack dog style effectively when she actually has to debate with people or answer searching questions without a teleprompter by her side then you might have more of a point, but right now it's far too early to say. I didn't even think the delivery was that good - she fluffed a few lines and her voice is thin and nasal. You seem to be right up there with the "wow, she can talk!" brigade of analysts.

It was a punchy speech from a partisan perspective, so she showed that she can trade blows. It will fire up the base, but then her candidacy has already fired up the base. Will it help with independents? Not so sure. I thought that she had to use this speech to show that's she's ready to be C-in-C. And I didn't see too much of that. She rather showed that she's ready to come out swinging like any other partisan politician. It would have been a fine speech from an already established figure. But she is not established, so I doubt it was the right speech for her; I don't think it will do much to allay the doubts of those who suspect she's unprepared. She also came across as pretty mean and nasty. Is that really the image they want to be projecting?

You give yourself away, Jerome. We all know that you dislike Barack Obama (though you have been skirting around that fact lately). It's not a secret and you can stop pretending to be objective. That you honestly thought Sarah Palin out-attacks Hillary and (for heaven's sake) is even in the same league as Ronald Reagan just goes to show that you are still a sucker for a solid Obama slam.

The truth is, she bold-face lied (bridge to nowhere) and stayed relentlessly negative. Ronald Reagan was a lot of things, but negaive wasn't one of them. Hillary is a lot of things, but liar isn't one of them.

Palin's voice is jarring, her rhetoric is tired, and her role in this campaign is a transparent political maneuver. Do you really think that in a field as empty as the Republicans she will survive the primaries in 2012? Because, frankly, that's stupid.

I'm sorry guys.  I'm totally not seeing it.  I watched her speech a couple times, and her appeal is limited.  Very limited.  She rallies their base and is good at it, but she doesn't move the middle one bit.  At least not the Sarah Palin that appeared on stage tonight.  They gave her some solid lines, but there's nothing in there for independents other than, "those guys are horrible, bad people".  She's biting and sarcastic, and probably too much so for her major introduction to America.  And did anyone catch the picture of the burning forest fire that flashed in the background during her speech?  Weird.

Nate at 538 characterized her as being tapped into the zeitgeist of Ronald Reagan's era.  I think he's 100% right about that one.  This isn't a speech, or to be honest, a person, that addresses the needs of 2008.

The media wants to toast her tonight, and they might as well since they've spent the last few days digging into who she is, and that's only going to continue.  But she's got ethical issues back home that aren't going away, character issues that are just now being uncovered, and a very limited amount of time to learn everything that she needs to know to be of assistance with a national campaign.

I honestly wish her well, but this person is no Hillary Clinton.  Jerome is WAY off base with that.  The one thing that she did tonight was quiet all the speculation that she'll be dropped.  She won't be, win or lose, she's an asset to McCain.  But she's not anything close to what Jerome or some of the talking heads want to make her out to be.

Jerome's comment is so over the top I could have sworn he was trying to be sarcastic.  Then I saw him  attempt to honestly deride Hillary as secondary to a politician who most likely will be under sanction at the very least come 2 days before the General Election and I realized he has absolutely lost it.

Some Democratic Party blog MyDD is. It isn't that I disagree with his opinion, which I do, it's that he is so clearly blinded by his delusions that I don't have to come back here to be stupified. I can just go to Powerline and get it there.

with good delivery skills, and I think many underestimate her effectiveness. We need to go after her on substance and veracity - non-existent for her, as with most GOP mouths.

You have to really hate Barack Obama to rank that speech above "competent", let alone "I HAVE JUST HEARD THE REINCARNATION OF CICERO".

The next 60 days will indeed be telling.  I suspect Gov Palin will implode and remain a "hero" only to what's left of the rapid right wing of the Republican Party.  If that means she becomes the Republican nominee in `12 and beyond then that should extend that party's exile in the political wilderness for many years to come.

I think in general many, probably most American voters are stupid, selfish, and self-absorbed with little thought given to how their choice will affect anyone but themselves...so I have no doubt any consideration that Palin is spectacularly unqualified will go by the wayside for them.

Having said that, I think you are overestimating the power of her speech and of her as a speaker. We'll see...

One thing is certain, if McCain-Palin is elected in November, my long time suspicion that voting is a waste of time will finally be confirmed.

palin better than Clinton!?! WTF!!! Jerome, I know this is your blog and all and that you are one of the brightest minds in the DEM "net world, but I am starting think your hatred of Obama is starting to cloud your judgment. Just the other night you said you were "off to elect democratic senators" and made no mention of electing a democratic president! I mean your a guy well respected on the 'net and have much to offer in electing Dems across the board...but palin better than Hillary? Come on...

Lets see one has a lifetime of service to her country and community and is respected around the world. Her claim to statesmenship is too numerous to list. The other, has been introduced to the world stage as someone who eats moose burgers...and was on the PTO. PLEASE!!!

There was nothing in that speech that would wow independents. I watched it with my wife who has been undecided. Her response...that she was waaaaay too sarcastic. And my wife noticed that she didn't say anything about issues that would help her make a decision. Let me be frank...if my wife (who is like the average American when it comes to politics...pretty indifferent) noticed that...then so did a LOT of other independents.

Yea, she can read but most people are no red meat repubs....and those people were already in the bag, no matter what they were saying. But the rest of America....its a good bet a majority were not too impressed.

palin better than Clinton!?! WTF!!! Jerome, I know this is your blog and all and that you are one of the brightest minds in the DEM "net world, but I am starting think your hatred of Obama is starting to cloud your judgment. Just the other night you said you were "off to elect democratic senators" and made no mention of electing a democratic president! I mean your a guy well respected on the 'net and have much to offer in electing Dems across the board...but palin better than Hillary? Come on...

Lets see one has a lifetime of service to her country and community and is respected around the world. Her claim to statesmenship is too numerous to list. The other, has been introduced to the world stage as someone who eats moose burgers...and was on the PTO. PLEASE!!!

There was nothing in that speech that would wow independents. I watched it with my wife who has been undecided. Her response...that she was waaaaay too sarcastic. And my wife noticed that she didn't say anything about issues that would help her make a decision. Let me be frank...if my wife (who is like the average American when it comes to politics...pretty indifferent) noticed that...then so did a LOT of other independents.

Yea, she can read but most people are no red meat repubs....and those people were already in the bag, no matter what they were saying. But the rest of America....its a good bet a majority were not too impressed.

I think this speech will be so loved by the MSM that Palin will go into the VP debate as the overwhelming favorite to crush Joe Biden.  Good.  Let everyone think Palin is the 2nd coming of Reagan.  Build up expectations for her.

I want people thinking that Joe Biden is some absolute nobody POS when they step on the stage to debate and actually discuss real issues.

Your standard of good and bad speeches is sorely lacking.  You compare that speech to Obama's acceptance and 2004 speeches... quality of speech and oration is not in doubt, OBAMA blows her out of the water.

Now if you are talking about her ability to whip up the GOP base, THAT I'll grant you.   She is Bush with Breasts.

A woman who can relate very well to the average American, talk plainly about their concerns - all the while ripping their heart out.

"Drill baby drill" was the biggest applause moment of the night - doesn't that say everything about the Republican party?

 I think the shark jumped Jerome.

OK, am I the only one who feels that what we saw was just putting her journalistic skills into play??  So she can read a script, who cares!!!  There was not a word in there that was sincere.  I've never heard so many out right lies in one speech, and the information that was left out was incredible.

I nearly choked when she said that being a mayor gave her reponsibility.  You mean the responsibility to run your town into the ground?  The responsibility that was almost taken away from you?  The responsibility that was handed over to a supervisor???  PLEASE!

The press need to stay on top of her, not about her family, but about HER!  About the huge wholes in her record and the incredibly stupid things she's done, like distribute a surplas and borrow for projects.  The woman doesn't have a clue!

Her speech and her message may or may not win voters.  McCain's ticket may or may not win the election.  This country may continue embracing the nasty self-indulgent stuff the GOP puts out, at least for a while.  We are not going to change the Republican party, and we must not change our own to mimic them.

What will change, at some point, hopefully now, because it has to, is the nature of this country.  I feel like we are still suffering from the cold war perception of the Democratic party as weak; it's kind of a knee-jerk thing, that we are not bullies enough.  That is only going to change when the need for specific solutions to our problems inspires the perceived need for a different style of leadership.

Hopefully that's now.  If not, nothing we do and noone we run short of GOP lite maybe, will win this, and it is not worth winning under those conditions.

Did anyone else take away the sense that Mitt and Huck were quietly laying down the cases for themselves for 2012?

Huckabee for sure is starting his 2012 pitch.  Consider his speech, where he lays out more of his own story than McCain's story.  Last I checked, that's a big no-no if you whole-heartedly are backing the candidate.  I don't recall Clinton getting up there and talking about her time in Arkansas, right?

Mitt sure seems of the same mind, too.

And you have to wonder, given the precedent from 1976, how many GOPers can resist assigning a parallel between themselves and Reagan?

Palin gives a pretty good speech and it is clear the Repubs know the only way they can win is through identity and wedge politics so they are going to play it to the hilt.   Is that a winning message in 2008?

In some elections during good times you have trivial pursuit of the Presidency such as in 1988 and 2000 where personality matters most.  In other years, fear is a driving factor such as 2004.  

And in some years issues and what you plan to do as President take center stage such as 1980 and 1992.  My takeaway from this year is that 2008 is a lot closer to 1980 and 1992 where people are far more interested in issues than identity politics.  

People are hurting economically, they are pissed about Iraq and they are sick of Bush.  In short they want something different and I am not sure how the speeches last night get them there.  There was no mention of the economy, discussion about staying in Iraq and general mockery of Obama despite the fact the guy showed incredible competence and tenacity in defeating the Clinton machine.

It played in the hall and fired up the base but did it connect with general voters?  The polls will tell us shortly.

The Repubs will try to knock us off our game but we need to stay focused.  In 1992, "it was the economy, stupid."  Despite the efforts of the Rs to make America think we are in the last year of the Gore Presidency, people know that Bush is President.  The Dems need to keep hammering McCain=Bush.  As long as we do that we will win in Nov.

We are not electing someone who looks good on TV.
We're electing someone who can bring about change.

Palin TOOK THE MONEY from the bridge to nowhere. Then she stood up and told you in a slick made for TV voice that she DID NOT.

What is wrong with you , Jerome?

People who love Bush love her.  People who were already going to vote for McCain love her.  There was very, very little moderate/ independent appeal in a sarcastic, nasty speech like that. Moderates and independents who look at her actual record will find her even less appealing.

Really Jerome?

This is a woman who is a complete culture war reactionary - from abortion to creationism.  Her views are just not that popular, despite the interesting package.  She's essentially a more down to earth and female Pat Buchannan.

So she gives a nice nasty speech in her quirky Fargo accent.  That's about the extent of her appeal.

palin's speech and the crowd reaction was like listening to someone give a speech for high school or maybe even Jr. high school class president.

It was not even on the same level as Hillary Clinton.

Sorry Jerome but you are wrong on this one!

Progressive Blue

PCI or PCMCIA.  If you're going to go off live-blogging with any seriousness you should spring for the $60/month and get one.

Can't believe all the males falling over themselves to heap praise on this conservative, anti choice, ultra religious, women that is for creationism in schools, abstinance only (duh-that worked well?.)
She wants to remove (ban) books from the library and threatens to fire the librarian.
She brags about her executive ability and that she will help McCain-really humble isn't she?
The town of Wasilla had no debt when she became Mayor.  She ran on giving them infrastructure like Sewers!  Now the town is 22million in debt, and they have a expensive sports complex that does not pay its way and guess what-NO Sewers!
She is very vindictive, very refengeful, uses her seat of power and weilds it against anyone that disagrees with her.  She has loyal followers because if they don't agree they will find themselves without a job.  A government job in Alaska is priceless.
She used her previous training for beauty contests for that speech last night.  Most women can see right through most of it.  Lots of untruths about Obama, but who cares-shes a babe.

Lets hope McCain does not get a twisted neck while he keeps checking out his "new partner," he showed his first decision with purely poor judgement!  She she "gives a good speech."  Now where have I heard that before?

Every story has a beginning, a middle and a end, we are only to the Intro with Palin.  Still the stars in the eyes phase...

Come on, don't let this extreme fundamentalist women fool you, she has a agenda and its the Supreme Court.  Wake up fools!
(I stole that last line from Kucinich)

PS, those 99% white folks at that R Convention do not look happy, they show their contempt openly for anyone that does not agree with them.  Are they desparate or what?

They made their bed, now they can sleep in it=
McCains desparate choice!

I have to agree with Jerome - partly.

I am watching Palin's speech on the internet. I'm only about 15 minutes into it and I can see that she will really appeal to small town America and to many in the working class. She is speaking the language of small town America and doing it very well.

She's good.

She's no Hillary Clinton. And I don't agree with her positions. I think she was a purely political choice and a good one at that. She will only help McCain. The scandals don't matter. When was the last time Republicans cared about their own scandals?

She is a beauty pick, just like Dan Quayle was. But she's no Dan Quayle, my friends. She's smart, and funny and will have broad appeal. And remember, Dan Quayle was Dan Quayle and even he managed to get elected VP.

i just have one thing to say: this is not 2004.  we must stop living in the reality that was the last election cycle.  social conservatives do not define America anymore, especially at a time when there are real "bread and butter" issues overwhelming the hot button issues.  what everyone should take away from this convention -- which i believe will go down as an abysmal failure -- is how it is reinforcing all the assertions made by the Democratic convention last week.  first and foremost, that Republicans and McCain are out of touch.  heard much about the economy?  heard anything about Afghanistan?  how about the deficit?  health care anyone?  heard any new ideas for the future, or new ideas how to fix our problems?

unless we suddenly vault back into peace and prosperity in 4 years, what the Republicans will go with next time is someone like Huckabee, who has that Arkansas folksy likeability combined with a natural populist appeal and an outsider image.  an angry, Buchanan style social conservative like Palin is always going to have much more limited appeal, no matter how pretty the package or sweet the lies.  remember, GWB clawed his way to office by offering himself as a "compassionate," "uniter not a divider" Republican palatable to moderates and that still didn't get him over 50%.  his reelection had more to do with lingering fear of terrorism.  hard core social conservatives alone do not have enough numbers to win in normal circumstances, and their numbers are shrinking, not expanding.  go ask everyone you know under 30 what worries them more: gun control, abortion, gay marriage, taxes... or jobs, health care, the environment, housing market.  the culture wars are the previous generation's obsession, that's why they are becoming a losing strategy, and the Republicans of the future will have to learn how to placate their rabid Dobsonites at the same time they offer solutions to problems that appeal to moderates beyond just railing about taxes and calling the opposition names.  i simply don't see Palin as being a part of that kind of strategy because of her attachments to the current manifestation of the Republican party.

It certainly fired up the base but probably lost independents. Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton.

Hey Jerome-
Not getting enough sleep?

You seem a bit cloudy on this review of Palin.
Not your usual critical self?

I suspect you are taking the position on purpose as a "wedgie."

Nice try-I see through it.  

Jerome -- Tin ear, speaking as a white working class guy. She's more a hit with the guys than the gals, so that's one off right there, but a lot of guys will feel emasculated as this develops. The women in my family see her game viscerally and are getting a pretty good hate on. She is a smart cookie, no question there, but she missed her moment -- her team is on the decline. I agree that she is stealing the show and making this election about her, but that is not good for McCain.

If the Republicans lose the election, she will be considered as a good part of the reason. If she and hers take over the party, game on -- New Deal territory and out in the wilderness for a generation.