Yeah, she will scare the democrat vote right back in yah!

Bush is faking it, this woman is REALLY the deal.

A Rapture Believing Creationist with her finger on the nuclear trigger!

Sounds like a Steven King story.

...Welcome aboard, I guess!

But don't let the popular press fool you.  John McCain has been polishing his conservative credentials for years, ever since Bush destroyed him in 2000.  He doesn't need Palin to be scary.

I listened to a very interesting story on NPR about changes McCain personally pushed for in the Republican party platform--this year's is without exaggeration the most conservative platform the Republican party has ever published.

55 words is hardly a diary, more of a comment.

And seriously how can one go from center-left Clinton to Middle-right McCain?

(that IS NOT a Clinton slam btw, I consider bother and Obama center-left. The country, as idiotic as it is would not vote in a middle left/left candidate unless we are led down that path for a few administrations)

McCain the maverick who is his own man is largely a myth.  After the Keating Five, which was a serious setback for his career branding, even though he wasn't charged with the others, he set out to do a supposedly major rebranding.  He was a conservative hawk then and he still is.  

He only has a couple of issues where he challenged his party, and even on those he has caved in order to get elected.  It is primarily about whatever branding will work in the moment.  His speech last night was schizy, because he was trying to have two brands at once.

He wanted Ridge or Lieberman as his VP, but the money/power structure of his party wouldn't let him. Ironic that he is trying to juggle that into a story of being maverick.  He didn't make his own decision about this and in fact couldn't.  The money would have dried up.

Neither is Palin a maverick.  She isn't of Washington, but she is perfectly schooled in the Tom Delay version of the hardball -- outside consideration of law and ethics -- Republican playbook.  The Tom Delay version is similar too, but not as clever as the Newt Gingrich version.  She is currently being schooled in the Karl Rove version, which is hot and cold as to whether it is clever or clumsy.

In any event, don't believe spin coming out of these people.  The research to debunk is all out there, both in print and in videos of McCain demonstrating his cynicism via his own mouth.

Everything you need to know about Sarah Palin in a nutshell:

Her Vice Presidential announcement thrilled and energized the religious right and had garnered John McCain 10 million dollars in new donations in a 24 hour period.

Three days later, Sarah McCain nullified these gains by angering and hyper-energizing their opposition, bringing in 10 million dollars in new donations for Barack Obama.

Now that's George Bush levels of polarization folks.  And that's not even touching questions about her readiness or ethical issues in her home state.

I don't blame you one bit for not being sure about John McCain.

is a puppet. palin is a clone of a bush puppet.

Progressive Blue

I heard that there is a 33 percent chance of him dying within eight years.  It's really the older people who think he's going to have a tough time staying focused.  But I think he might be better unfocused. Didn't he say that the VP job is to wait for the president to die?  

But, doesn't matter, it is the issues. and with or without Sarah, John won't get us out of Iraq, won't get us universal health care, won't change the tax code to help rebuild the middle class, won't invest in green energy and won't locate those businesses in disadvantaged communities, won't make universal pre-school a priority and whether or not reproductive rights stay legal, he won't make women's ability to make that choice a priority. We'll still be getting 'laws' that scare doctors and there still will be reduced or no services available in some states.  

Hillary is right, it's about the ideas, and this other stuff is just a distraction. That does not removes from Barack the job of winning her supporters.  He's our candidate and he's obligated to do his very best to win, and however he may feel personally about HIllary and Bill it's time for him to admit Bill's no racist and to remind voters of the gains we made when Bill was president, and it's time for him to admire Hillary's intelligence and acumen and consult with her on how to win her supporters and how to debate John.  

I know what you mean - I've gone from being a loyal democrat and personally psyched about Barack Obama, BUT thinking that bad as a McCain presidency would be, it would be endurable....

to....

being horrified at the thought.  Terrified.  No way such a mean-spirited, small-minded bully like that should have that kind of power.  And what would it say about the country if they won?