We are starting to see the press get a wee bit cranky as the countdown clock until Gov. Palin finally is finally released to meet the press keeps on ticking.  Jake Tapper at ABC News is requesting input on things we would very much like the ask her, but for now at least, can't. 

Have any really good ideas?  We're not talking softballs here...we need a really good change up, something that will leave her in a twist.  How about a question or two designed to peel away any independents tempted by her feisty, faux reformer image?

Click here to input your questions

We are starting to see the press get a wee bit cranky as the countdown clock until Gov. Palin finally is finally released to meet the press keeps on ticking.  Jake Tapper at ABC News is requesting input on things we would very much like the ask her, but for now at least, can't. 

Have any really good ideas?  We're not talking softballs here...we need a really good change up, something that will leave her in a twist.  How about a question or two designed to peel away any independents tempted by her feisty, faux reformer image?

Click here to submit your questions.

Here is the latest from Gallup:

PRINCETON, NJ -- Gallup Tracking Poll from Tuesday through Thursday finds Barack Obama with a four-percentage-point lead over John McCain in the presidential preferences of registered voters, 48% to 44%.

Click here for results

This does not include full results from after McCain's speech last night but does include impact following Palin's in Wedensday night.

So now we have Gallup and Rasmusses confirming that the RNC/Palin show has narrowed the gap...but Barack retains the lead.

Will be interesting to see if when we have the full impact of McCain's address it will narrow the lead more...or not.

Rasmussen just in with its first post convention poll, including data following Palin's speech:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows the beginning of John McCain's convention bounce and the race is essentially back where it was before Barack Obama's bounce.  Obama now attracts 46% of the vote while McCain earns 45%. When "leaners" are included, it’s Obama 48%, McCain 46%

Not to panic.   This suggests the CBS poll showing an 8 pt swing into a tie was an overstatement of the RNC impact.  Rasmussen is saying, for now, we have a wash on the impact of the conventions, leaving Obama slightly ahead.

Back in '84 Ronald Reagan's campaign told us it was "morning again in America."  The party in the White House at that time managed to make 4 more years of tax cuts for the wealthy, shrinking programs for the poor and soaring deficits in the public's treasury sound like a good thing.

Sound familiar?

These guys are shameless, true, but they sure are good at marketing!  Give them their due.

Yes, it's morning again in America, the day after a convention by that same party, again telling us how no matter how bad things are now they are the one's to lead unto in a bold, better future!

Fool me once, shame on me...

You have to feel just a bit sorry for Senator McCain, following his Veep's boffo performance last night.

At least she could read from the teleprompter.

This is positively painful.

Thanks to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin and based on her performance last night, the Republicans have found just what they needed in this race: McCain has little in the way of personality - she sure does! McCain was not and was never going to be the darling of the Far Right in the GOP - she sure is! McCain had not yet displayed he could give a rip, roaring political speech, and last night she nailed it! McCain's compelling POW - American Hero narrative was getting old, her Hockey Mom narrative is new! McCain had a big time enthusiasm gap on his hands, and in one week she has closed it! McCain's command of the facts has been, at best, sketchy in this campaign and she proved she doesn't need them! McCain appeared to wince when sneering at and smearing his opponent, but she seemed to positively enjoy it! McCain seemed uncomfortable lying through his teeth, and she proved last night she is a natural! And yes, let's just call a spade a spade - McCain wasn't looking great on TV and is well...old, and she is young and looks fabulous! Yes, the Republicans have found what they really needed to stave off near certain defeat in this most Democratic of recent years - a young, God-fearing, attractive well-spoken liar with a fascinating personal story who makes trashing her opponent seem like good clean fun. And did I mention: She's a WOMAN!!!!! How will that help, you ask? Well, as they proved over the last few days, the McCain campaign and its surrogates are ready to use the fact the Palin happens to be female to attack anyone who questions anything about her as being sexist. Topics off limits include her qualifications to be President, her record in Alaska and her family life (unless of course they want to use her family life to portray her in a positive light in which case that is just fine). This is especially ironic since three months ago Palin pooh-poohed Hillary's complaints about sexism in the media as "whining." And get this - they are counting on women voting for Palin. Why? Because she is a woman. Add all these advantages up and P-A-L-I-N clearly spells problem for the Democrats, but they may have just the answer for her... The truth. She can say "I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves" - but Democrats can point out she campaigned FOR that bridge and then KEPT the money from the Federal government. She can say "To the families of special-needs children all across this country...you will have a friend and advocate in the White House" - but Democrats can remind everyone she slashed spending for special needs by over 60% in Alaska. She can say "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes" - but Democrats can point out that 95% of Americans get a tax cut under Obama's plan and there are targeted tax incentives for companies to keep jobs here in the U.S and to start up new companies that create jobs. She can say "We don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening." but Democrats can drive home the point that working people are among the hardest hit by the Republican policies Palin and McCain are pledged to continue. In the past, far too often, facts did not matter. Truth was not only optional in campaigns, it was borderline naive to suggest it even mattered. Campaigns were horse races where coverage was limited to who's ahead? The win went to the party with the candidate who looked good on TV and best connected with the American people. In these contests, with the full complicity from the MSM and the passive acceptance of the American people - spin ruled. And we got the government we deserved: - Wars we did not need to fight - Economics that favored none but the few - Policies based on ideology, not sound science Republicans are counting on this happening one more time. McCain's campaign manager revealed his hand earlier this week when he said this campaign was "not about issues." Not about issues? Well that's clear. But maybe this year will be different. Now that both parties have someone on their ticket that is truly exciting, a candidate who can stir people up in the best tradition of American politics - perhaps the truth might just be the tie-breaker. Wouldn't that be cool?

Thanks to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin and based on her performance last night, the Republicans have found just what they needed in this race:

McCain has little in the way of personality - she sure does!

McCain was not and was never going to be the darling of the Far Right in the GOP - she sure is!

McCain had not yet displayed he could give a rip, roaring political speech, and last night she nailed it!

McCain's compelling POW - American Hero narrative was getting old, her Hockey Mom narrative is new!

McCain had a big time enthusiasm gap on his hands, and in one week she has closed it!

McCain's command of the facts has been, at best, sketchy in this campaign and she proved she doesn't need them!

McCain appeared to wince when sneering at and smearing his opponent, but she seemed to positively enjoy it!

McCain seemed uncomfortable lying through his teeth, and she proved last night she is a natural!

And yes, let's just call a spade a spade - McCain wasn't looking great on TV and is well...old, and she is young and looks fabulous!

Yes, the Republicans have found what they really needed to stave off near certain defeat in this most Demoncratic of recent years - a young, God-fearing, attractive well-spoken liar with a fascinating personal story who makes trashing her opponent seem like good clean fun.

And did I mention: She's a WOMAN!!!!!

How will that help, you ask? Well, as they proved over the last few days, the McCain campaign and its surrogates are ready to use the fact the Palin happens to be female to attack anyone who questions anything about her as being sexist. Topics off limits include her qualifications to be President, her record in