I don't think this has to do with the teenager, Bristol, or Palin. I really dont' think it has to do with whether she is even qualified for the job.

Just like in 1984 with Ferraro, it was the massive failure of the presidential candidate to do the most important and basic thing he must do during the general election.

They talk all the time about the Commander in Chief test. It seems that involves vetting the person chosen to be the veep.

It's obvious that McCain never vetted Palin. It is his responsibility as the nominee to vet his veep pick and he failed. he failed the c in c test and showed an appalling lack of judgment.

By comparison, Obama, who is pointed to as not being able to pass that c in c test, conducted by all accounts, one of the most intensive vettings of the veep choices known in Washington.

I think we all know who is the one ready to go on day one and has passed the most basic c in c tests.

That obviously is not McCain who not only failed in his responsibility but, ultimately ended up subjecting this young teen to the glare of the spotlight while going through something so hard for just a normal teenage girl.

I noticed how after the speech the press groveled and purred over Palin without bothering to find out how people not the gop base felt.

I read comments on many sites from Indies and listened to call in on Cspan.

It seems she greatly offended the indies. The only ones who liked her speech were the base and the press that the McCain camp spent yesterday bullying around.

It was a disaster for McCain as far as independents went. Instead of Hillaryites and fence sitters falling for it they were upset and said there was zero substance and she did not answer the questions of why she should be vp or anything on the issues.

I think the press and the gop think it's still 2000 or 04. That this stuff is still selling.

People are hurting and demand more then just culture wars. They want substance and the gop is not providing it and Palin was roundly panned.

she has the men in her corner but, the women, independents, are not buying. They find her scary and too Bush like.

They simply were not impressed and felt she told them nothing of what they wanted to hear on issues.

The biggest problem is the press. they are willing to overlook everything and promote her as this superstar though they know she is not playing well outside the base. She bombed with indies.

But, they insist she has everyone gaga for her when it is not true.

And that is because the press is enthralled and they are excited by the new and novelty.

it is very sad when someone sells the one thing they are most proud about themselves, in McCain's case his honor, because he wants something so much he is willing to give up the essence of who he is and give up his soul to the devil to achieve it.

If anyone was reward that they are helping to send the message that you can have no morals and that dirt sells. Never complain again about the lack of substance in a campaign because you prove that substance, issues, ect., doesn't matter. Only smears and swiftboating.

Never decry how bad off you are under the republicans because you went down that path with them.

Never complain about how bad a president McCain turns out to be because you cheered on his selling of his honor and he no longer has that to guide him in his dealings.

As a feminist I find it confusing because I find that feminism had evolved so much until this past year.

I am older and remember the strident feminism of the 70s and found it off putting though I agreed with the ideas of it.

As time went on and feminism co-opted into the realities of everyday life and men were not the enemy anymore but, actually most agreed with these ideas as well, feminism was good. I found more women make more strides in the new feminism and men were more then happy to embrace this and encouraged it as well.

But, lately the old school feminists from the past have come back on the scene to push their faux outrage agenda and make feminism something of a joke that even women find themselves somewhat put off.

The strident old school feminism, while making progress, also did much to hurt women and hold them back due to hostility. The new school feminism did much to advance women and bring men along with it. The new school accomplished so much more and women ended up making more progress.

Let's keep the old school in the past where it belongs.

never wanted to get Bin Laden. As long as he can hold the terror card over people's heads and manipulate them and play politics with 9-11 and never let it rest or for the country to move on, he can be the all powerful. And so can his party.

If Bin laden is caught the fear goes away and that is what the republicans have been using to stay in power for 7 years.

They don't have a record to run on and their policies have destroyed the middle class. All they have are distractions and fear.