I think you need to look at the electoral math before you make such broad pronouncements. McCain has the right sown up. There are states that would not vote for Moses if he had a "D" next to his name, and McCain has them. Even if they are disillisioned with him and saty home his leads are double digit. No way, no how will Obama win a state like Wyoming.

That said, McCain can only win if he appeals to moderates and independents. And what better way than to use Lieberman. The press would love it - they would characterize it as a bold move - country over party! And although Lieberman is thought of as a Liberal, he's always been a conservative, with the exception of abortion, which I am sure he'd have a sudden revelation and renounce. Lieberman would deliver Florida, PA, and help in Ohio and CO.

I think Lieberman would be a great choice.

Stop feeding the trolls - they don't respond to reason.

Stop feeding the trolls - it only makes them feel like its working.

Stop feeding the trolls - it only makes you look foolish.

I'm sure anyone can identify them after a few pages.

Stop feeding the trolls.

Comcast moved it to their digital package, the dirty rats.

Obviously none of these guys will be the new moderator for "Meet the Press".

you said:

"Olbermann, however, didn't appear to have a hair out of place. I began to wonder if he had some weird, Dorian Gray thing going on where Maddow and Matthews became increasingly disheveled as he remained fresh and clean."

Keith's background is as a sportscaster - he used to being on-air for hours at a time.

on to the Palin drone.

Hardly a bit about Obama's speech last night.

Then multiple piecces about Palin, and what it means.....

All on a long weekend when nothing will be reported.

This is not how I expected this week to end at all. Especially since all went so well, and outside of this publication I fell great going into the general election. This all feels like me-too MSM.

7 pieces about Sarah Palin today.

Nothing about Obama's speech.

This is a serious progressive forum?

I've noticed more of the good contibutors in the letters have disappeared. I'm wondering why I'm here.

I think you are onto something that ultimately McCain will withdraw Palin's name or she will quit for "family reasons". I think they will blame the "liberal media" for bringing her down, and the media, in turn, will just give a pass to the next VP candidate. Very similar to when Linda Sanchez was nominated for a position in the White House in 2000 - the noise drowned out all the debate on the other nominees.

As an unnamed Republican consultant observed to Politico's Jonathan Martin, what this means is "A whole series of Obama ads now in the dumper."

So you quote a reporter's account of and unnamed source and treat it as fact? I expect better.

I loved your post, but I just want to make one enhancement. You referred to the GOP powers that be as "Republican high command". I think Politburo is more accurate.

I just watched the stories on NBC and CBS. Nothing to see here...move on....change the subject. Any mention of it will be treated with faux outrage in the future.

If the GOP is smart, they will fully embrace Bristol's condition, since she is fully innoculated. I think a big media event wedding for mid-october. The Today Show's numbers are always highest when they do those special wedding shows.

and I have to agree with you Joan,particularly with this sentiment:

"And then, when he decided he couldn't buck the party masters, what does it mean that he rushed into his Palin pick, having spent almost no time with her, and very little time vetting her? "

This is a deal breaker to me. John McCain has shown an extreme lack of judgement on this decision, his first big decision as a presidential nominee. He's not fit and he doesn't get it.

No way, no how, no McCain.

If history is any predictor Senater Lieberman will underperform. I think his strongest performance to date was his non-concession speech after he lost the primaries in '06. But the eyes of the nation will be on him, not just little 'ole Connecticut.

I think a populist rant like Zell Miller would be like an ill fitting suit. I don't think he can pull it off, tho I'd love to see him try. It would only add to the train wreck unfolding before us.

This is the same premise as Frank Rich's excellent piece this past Sunday:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/opinion/31rich.html

In the end this is all about his (lack of) judgement in selecting Gov. Palin. This is our first opportunity to see how he will make decisions. Regardless of what they say she was not thouroughly vetted, he made the deicsion in minutes if not seconds, all because he wanted to step on the convention bounce of his opponent.

The aftermath is TOTAL Bush. Same casst of characters, same techniques. Now he's earned the title "McSame".

One note on Cambell Brown - I saw the interview she conducted. I would hardly call it a body slam. She asked, politely, apologetically a question. One question. Not a hard question. She did journalism. But it was not a bodyslam. Perhaps because the Republicans have become soft and think they should never have to answer a question they think she was tough. But she wasn't.

She's 50 something, white, upper-middle class, socially moderate. She told me she would have voted for McCain had he chosen Romney. She said "Sarah Palin is not qualified and he's (McCain) old."

This pick is going over like a lead balloon.