The moment I heard McCain picked Gov. Palin I thought, if he just wanted a woman, any woman, why not Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison? Not that I agree any more with her politics than Palin's, it's just that Hutchison's not so terrifyingly unqualified for the job.

Judging by some of the letters in the thread on Ms Traister's post, I am getting afraid McCain's pick may actually have good consequences for his campaign.

More evidence that this woman is an incompetent moron. She drove her town of Wasilla into $20 million of debt to fund "improvements." This in 3 yrs and Palin is an alleged fiscal conservative. I think not.

I agree, I don't think his selection is a good idea. I have yet to talk with anyone I know who is either a Republican or a Hillary supporter who is pleased with this announcement.

Overall, the Republicans are telling me that they expected to sit this one out because the last eight years have been so bad, but the Hillary supporters are taking this as a major insult.

I'm becoming more encouraged by the minute...

To know that Hillary Clinton had the class and decency to congratulate Gov. Palin, and that Barbara Boxer issued her customary snarl, pretty much seals this one as the correct choice by the McCain campaign.

Senator Boxer: Kay Bailey Hutchison doesn't like you and doesn't agree with you. Senator Olympia Snowe might be your idea of a Republican, but she's not ours. Senator Boxer, you'll never be a candidate for national office. You'll never be President or Vice President. And we'll remember this comment when Sarah Palin becomes the first woman President of the United States Senate.

I do hope that someone will walk to the podium at the RNC next week and declare, on national television, "This just in: Senator Barbara Boxer opposes Sarah Palin." And then pause, for the convention's reaction.

Underqualified and out of her league.

If Hutchinson was the pick I would be scared if I was Obama. She has a name enough people have heard about with out too much being known about her positions that she could easily make the ticket appealing to the real "puma" vote, plus she could hold her own against Biden in the debate also she would not turn off the base and would appeal to swing voters. Snow would turn off the base but would appeal even more to wing voters also give Joe a good debate and she is well known enough and would not hurt in NH.

But, Palin? Sure she might get a few votes from men that want to look at her for the next few years but the baggage she brings is more than the positives. In just the few hours since the announcement there is already a lot of dirt for someone that has been in state office for 2 years, her support of Stevens, the brother in law scandal (where she is probably right that her brother in law should not be a police but her actions where off putting to say the least), her lack of knowledge of the vp office or the FP. She undercuts the best argument against Obama. Even with low exceptions she will still need to at least appear to have some idea of national and fp questions in the debate.

Please cite your source. You have piqued my interest.

"And we'll remember this comment when Sarah Palin becomes the first woman President of the United States Senate."

Whoa, Elephantman. You have McCain winning the election and then dying??

That's... that's not good.

Sen. Barbara says that Sarah is really different from Clinton - Thank God She is!!! Barbara would do best to stay focused on California and let the candidates run the election. Barbara does her best work with her mouth closed.

I expect Biden will wipe the floor with her.

It should be the most entertaining debate since Bentsen-Quayle. ("I knew Jack Kennedy...you, sir, are no Jack Kennedy," for those who have forgotten.)

but God forbid McCain actually wins the election...it would be pretty cool to see two women sitting behind him while he delivers the State of the Union.*

*When I first typed this, I typed State of the Universe. Freudthink away with that as you shall.

Aaron,

See http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12987.html for the $20 million debt she ran up, for a town of only 6,000 people.

BTW, most of the same folks in the vaunted "base" who won't vote for a black man/"Muslim"/fist bumper are not going to vote for a woman, either.

Call up Walter Mondale ask him how a similar pairing worked for him--and he was from the big tent, pro-diversity party.

Bill Clinton? Ronald Reagan?

Plain will fire up the pro-choice base.

The point is to get us scared. Remember how we got to the convention and there was only a handful of PUMAs not the massive movement we were promised- well I think this whole thing is overblow, overhyped and meant to scare us.

Hope it works in the same way the PUMA thing did to get people unified and fired up. I know I am.

Too bad though, that on what was once a liberal news site there is no time to celebrate that wonderful address from Obama last night.

--"not one hour's worth of experience on national issues"

Bill Clinton? Ronald Reagan?--

I beg to differ sir with those examples, as both Raygun & Clinton had served full term(s) as state Governors. I know Palin - she the prolific breeder beauty queen/anti-choice/gun totin' Big-Oil-patsie holds the same office, but - c'mon.

Anyhoo, Grampa Munster's pitiful volley at upstaging Denver dismally failed; as another Salon poster stated today - in a week, she'll be a national joke. No Jack Kennedy indeed.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12987.html

This is all opposition research just fielded by the DNC. There's quite a bit of dirt on Palin despite her short resume. She made enemies of the town librarian!