1. You know, Americans are freedom people, which is why their hardworking tax dollars should lead to more jobs if we can just drill baby drill because the democrats are communists.

2. Family values call for the type of deregulatory financial sector regulation policy that needs fundamental change to maintain its current robustness.

3. Of course my readiness to lead without blinking at terrorists who I can see from my state should be used to rid the good ol' boys network of their Washington insider that needs to be refocused.

Seeing Russia with her own eyes and shaking hands with world leaders - is there anything Sarah Palin can't do?

"Ya hey dere Mr. Karzai - your country's blankets have gotten me through many a moosehunt and wolf kill. Care for a Fresca?"

Just more typical guilt-by-association nonsense. It's funny how much this mirrors the SNL piece this week. They're basically saying "Obama is from Chicago. Chicago has a reputation for corruption in politics. Ergo, Obama is corrupt."

Because no McCain ad would be complete without a blatant lie, the campaign covers that when they call Tony Rezko Obama's "money man".

Ahmadinejad is apparently dangerous because he ignores historical facts and evidence to stick to his dogmatic beliefs that the Holocaust never happened.

However, Palin is apparently not dangerous because she ignores historical facts and evidence to stick to her dogmatic beliefs that the Earth is 6,000 years old.

Hmm ...

You said perfectly exactly what I was thinking. What a bunch of brats who don't get how the echo chamber works. Of course people who read Salon already know Palin is awful, but millions of Americans don't, including presumably some family and friends of Salon readers. More ammo is always good when trying to convince the low information voter, of which all of us know some.

Further, you're absolutely right that Salon is still a respected media outlet, though known to be partisan, but still credible enough to be linked-to by compilation blogs and more mainstream media outlets. People who like to watch Joan on MSNBC come here out of curiosity. Though not permanent members of the letters-pages illuminati, these people are still welcome here, and deserve to know about this kind of in-depth reporting.

Realize that there is a whole nation of people outside of this little island of liberal like-mindedness. Keep these articles coming.

I think McCain should just put Sarah Palin in a hotel room overlooking the Federal Reserve building, as that is how she gains expertise on stuff. Within a few days looking at the building, she'll be able to fix the economy all by herself. Problem solved.

Now can we please debate, Johnny?

It would be one thing if McCain was some economic savant. However, by his own admission he's an economic dunce. What's he going to add? What's he even going to do? Walk around the room adding "harrumphs" to other peoples' ideas?

If he had done this earlier in the week, before today's polls showed the tectonic shift toward Obama, it might be slightly less fishy. Maybe just shrimpy.

By the way, if you're the same Elephantman that started the blog about Sarah Palin - thank you, thank you, thank you. She is the best gift the Democrats ever received.

I agree with Glenn that those snippets are cringeworthy and I did feel bad for her - not because she doesn't deserve to be knocked off her fake pedistal, but because she's so clearly in over her head. It's a reminder to everyone of what it feels like to bite off more than you can chew and realize it - I think there were several moments in that interview where Sarah clearly realized it.

However, I wonder how much she brought on herself by coming out swinging during her VP acceptance speech. I mean, she was throwing haymakers while simultaneously tossing red meat to the ravenous GOP crowd. If she had shown an ounce of humility or vulnerability, I doubt so many would be so eager to knock her down. Obviously she didn't write a word of her speech and was clearly thrown up there to "act" the part, but she had a choice in the matter and apparently didn't blink when given that choice.

The fact that this woman has more than a legitimate chance of being our next VP, and because of McCain's advanced age and health concerns a more than legitimate chance of being President, is scarier than anything I have ever imagined.

How can any American with a functioning brain see this and think this woman belongs within 10,000 miles of the White House? It defies explanation.

Forget VP and the heartbeat stuff ... this woman is a Governor? Wow. I mean, Wow.

It's like asking if the Buffalo Bills intentionally went down by 32 points against the Oilers in the playoffs the 1993 just so they could stage the biggest comeback ever.

She has been largely responsible for McCain's dive in the polls and dire electoral college outlook. You think this was on purpose?

She's obviously ignorant of national issues, but can't admit it. She has to come off as tough and unblinkingly decisive despite the fact that the questions might as well be in a foreign language. She has ZERO understanding of national and international issues. Anyone who's ever BSed their way through anything knows how hard it is when you're even slightly probed. Try doing that on the national stage. You'd look like an idiot, too.

She is not an idiot. She just applying for a job she's totally underqualified for. Her willingness to pull this stunt shows just how filled with hubris she is, which is what's dangerous. As the recent Salon article stated, incompetent people tend to overestimate their own competency levels. That's what's scary - that she thinks she CAN handle this, despite the obvious fact that she can't.

The lovechild of Tracy Flick and Ellie Mae Clampett. The recitation of memorized fluff was insulting. The forced folksiness was nauseating.