desperation play. three electoral votes and an alarming lack of experience. i would be asking is john mccain putting his election chances ahead of the best interests of america.

this pick reflects bad judgment.

A right-wing friend of ours is positively over the moon about this pick. They've convinced themselves that she is a maverick, a reformer, "pro-baby", a fiscal conservative, and that she cleaned up the corruption in Alaskan government.

I think McCain has definitely shored up his base....the question, though, is once the dust settles, how will mainstream America feel about her? If people are feeling nervous because they think Barack is inexperienced, how will they feel about her being 2nd string behind a 72 year old cancer survivor?

Thanks, Nathan. The vetting discussion is a good one to have right now, because it questions McCain's judgment without directly attacking Palin.

"On April 18, 2008, while in office as governor, Palin gave birth to her second son and fifth child who, as prenatal genetic testing had shown, has Down syndrome. Her decision to have the baby was applauded by the pro-life community."

My Snide or Insightful [your call] Comment:

On this point of the "nobility" of having this child. I use Elvis, not Costello, the real Elvis---Presley, as my model. He made charitable contributions but never, I'm told, took deductions on his taxes. His thinking, I read somewhere, was that taking the deduction meant it wasn't really charity because it wasn't really giving. If Palin is paying for the costs of this child out of her own pocket that is one thing.

If, as a result of her being governor she benefits from a health plan that has the taxpayers of Alaska paying for costs of raising this child then the "nobility" of the deed can be questionned. I wouldn't believe Palin if she said that health insurance coverage was NOT part of the consideration of proceeding to give birth.

That could be called a "lying denial."

It's a much easier call if someone else is paying the bill for the fiscal costs of your moral or ethical stance. In any event she should talk about her views on universal health care coverage.

At kos there's a blog about Rove stating if anyone picked someone who had been a govenor for three years they would not be thinking big & broad about the responsibility of the presidency. If there is a video hope someone finds it.

If McCain's first meeting with Sarah Palin was in February, and her baby was born in April, she would have been six or seven months pregnant at the time of that first meeting. Does this mean that McCain is the most open-minded of men, meeting a woman in her seventh month of pregnancy and considering her for the vice-presidency months later? Or did Sarah Palin make no mention of her pregnancy at the time? Curious.

According to CNN they met briefly in February, talked on the phone for the first time last Sunday and then met in person to discuss this job on Thursday. Yesterday. Okay, now it is Saturday so it was two days ago. I also happen to totally disagree with the choice, but whether you like her or not, it appears to be a reckless and impulsive choice. Obviously a leader needs to be able to make some choices quickly, but what is the hurry in this case? Why not meet with her sooner? What happened a week ago to his other choices that changed all this? Something about the choice of Biden? "You picked an old one ha got you now I am going to pick a young one."?

Bottom line, these are the voters who chose George Bush twice. So as crazy as it seems she was probably a good choice for him.

Could it be that she was the first to say "Yes"? Has there been any grousing from the short list? Any comment at all?

Is there a possibility that after she bombs and the critics start questioning this, that McCain could switch his choice?

Is there a possibility that after she bombs and the critics start questioning this, that McCain could switch his choice?

This is another reason why Palin might appeal to Hillary diehards. Hillary wasn't vetted either.

"- what exactly is a "vetting process"

Meeting the candidate more than once. LOL

"- what law requires the campaign to follow a "vetting process""

It's pure commonsense. McCain proves he's a clownish amateur.

McCain = Total Joke

I actually think Palin is a ticking timebomb. She's going to gaffe, gaffe, gaffe. The national stage in the presidential race is no place for amateurs. This will prove the coup de grace. McCain had a real shot with his experience argument, but he lost his nerve, made a panicky decision, and torpedoed his chances.

I am also wondering what conservative women who believe one parent should stay home with the children (preferrably the mother) think about Palin having an infant child with special needs working at her pace. Apparently, she returned to work 3 days after the baby was born.

Wonder what Dr. Laura would think??