"So, let's stop pumping her up on steroids. She's a nobody. And McCain is a senile nut-job for offering her the candidacy. All there is to it, folks."

No. This is exactly the same way Dubya wormed his way in. Oh, he's a nice guy. He doesn't know much about foreign policy, but he'll keep it humble and stick to basics. He's a compassionate conservative, small "c". Disarm the voters and reveal your true agenda once you're safely ensconced.

We have to call her out for what she is and what she represents, early and often, while staying away from the trap of harping on her pregnant kid. She's Bush II and McCain picked her because he wants more of the same.

Hammer it home until 11/5/08. Let the voters know she thinks Iraq was a task from God. Let them know exactly how rotten the produce is.

You're kidding me, right?

We're not looking down our noses at anyone. Looking down one's nose means you dismiss someone as little or irrelevant.

On the contrary, we recognize Palin as a person of high symbolism and importance in this election. Her selection shows the direction a McCain White House would take. And it scares the shit out of those of us, educated or not, who've had enough of the last eight years.

Thanks alot, Havrilesky.

This is the best I've ever read from you. Succint, rational, right on the money. Keep this up and I might just have to subscribe.

EVERYONE CALM DOWN.

Gotta love all the left-wing hand wringing. Oh no, it's a close race, we're all gonna die!

Please. Obama can still take Virginia and/or Florida, where he's spent most of his southern $$$. Either one in the blue column and hello Prez Obama. As for the rest of the south, it was always more about helping local candidates.

Palin surge or no, O-man is still ahead in Colorado, tied in VA/OH, and nipping on McCain's heels in Nevada and Florida. Any one of those states, JUST ONE, along with Iowa and NH and Michigan (where it's close but he's still ahead) and he wins.

So stop crying about giving up on pipe dream Georgia and praise Jeebus that the Obama people are going to be spending that money in the six or seven states where it really counts.

Is the dig on Alex Koppelman *really* necessary? Can't we refrain from ad hominem attacks on the author? What he wrote seemed reasonable to me... he reported a campaign development, then he quoted fivethirtyeight.com, a reputable election site that lots of people (including Karl Rove) frequent. Not a bad job for a 500 word blurb. Why the hostility and sneering towards Koppelman's background?

I read that article too, then I sent Obama another $50. Y'all want a Democratic president, kindly do the same.

Move along lady, move along...

I think we all need a time-out for naptime.

Society needs a constant influx of new parents to keep the species going. Singles, get over it. And since bitching is one of the few pleasures allowed for freshly-minted mommies and daddies (snorting crack off hookers' bums being sadly rendered an impossibility) those of us in their vicinity will have to adjust.

And new mommies and daddies need to realize that being a mommy or daddy isn't a big accomplishment in and of itself. Any pair of morons can make a baby, and plenty do. You have to raise a reasonably well-adjusted human being before you can claim the gold star. Sorry.

And what 'financial reports' have you seen? And could you direct me to them, because all I've "seen" is Hank Paulson and Bernanke telling the Banking Committee that if we don't act in the next week, the sky will fall on our heads.

You know what, cdevlin, I speak for many people on the right, the left and in the center when I say that in order for me to believe an administration's sweeping narratives, I have to trust their credibility. And you know why I don't?! Because they employed the SAME EXACT TACTICS against the American people in the run-up to the Iraq war.

Remember 2003?

We need to act quickly against Iraq before it's too late. Blair sweating all over the podium about how Saddam can launch nukes within 45 minutes. Colin Powell at the UN with his fabricated stories about refridgerated trucks and nukes strapped to camels. Condeleezza and her smoking gun. Oh sure, said the President, we've already exhausted all other non-violent options. Sure we did.

And now, it's the same charade all over again. Act now, before it's too late! We don't have much time! Don't think, just obey!

And don't tell me I'm paranoid. Paulson's original proposal for the bailout specifically stated that his use of the funds was to be subject to absolutely NO GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT whatsoever.

They have provided no facts, only hysteria. They are playing on our emotions in order to force us into rushing something through without even having a debate.

America, fool me once...