You've got to listen to this clip, courtesy Matt Yglesias. But be sure you're sitting down.

This was evidently recorded on Aug. 14. The would-be vice-president, ready to command American's world force on Day 2 (after a briefing or two), does not live on Planet Earth.

"While [the McCain-Palin] policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate." Thus speaks Senator Clinton.

If the recent mayor of Wasilla is "an important new voice," why would that be? Because what she says makes sense? Or because her creationism, radical anti-abortionism, drilling lust, and attachment to oil comanies come out treble?

I was in the hall when HRC delivered her deeply stirring speech Tuesday night. My eyes watered more than once. I was stirred, as I was meant to be, by her quotation from Harriet Tubman: "If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If they're shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going." I was standing in front of some TeamHillary members of the Ohio delegation. (For more on them and the Hillary marchers earlier their day, see this.) They soared. Their champion delivered the solidarity goods. I soared with them. I was not embarrassed to feel gratitude that she came through.

Three days later, she heralds a flagrantly insulting--to women, to men--nomination as an "important new voice." This is the barest, most unreflective style of identity politics. It does not hearten.