Since Todd Palin spent so much time on Alaska government business in Juneau and Anchorage with Sarah, WHO WAS WATCHING THEIR CHILDREN?

In my opinion, I don't find any qualification regarding Palin that I believe would be qualified to be a VP with possibility of being the President. There are a number of characteristics between her and McCain that are similar.They both believe "war" is better than "peace, because she stated that we are in Iraq to fill God's need,and further that we made need to go to war with Russia because of their attack on Georgia, and John McCain appears to love war. If his qualifications are based on his POW stint, I'd dare say this individual would love nothing more to do then to have his finger on the red button. During McCain's primary he stated he didn't know enough about economics, yet, within the last day or two, he stated that our economy was fundamentally sound! Our unemployment figures are rising, and HP expects to cut 20K jobs next year, our stock market has severely dropped. Now, does that sound like our economy is fundamentally sound? Palin even knows much less about the economy and further is not honest with the American people.

While 'First Dude' is a good sound bite, it inadvertently makes the co-governor of Alaska seem just the lovable Will Ferrell goofy guy.

This is the moment critique for the country and the planet and we cannot shift the focus, even for an instant, from the work that must be done in the waning days before this landmark election.

"At some point, the "First Dude" became enough of a fixture in the statehouse that people just sort of figured he belonged there."..."Apparently Palin's inner circle figured they better include him on messages about pending legislation or ongoing controversies, too." Take out the Alaskan players and insert the lobbyists and the knaves that have tilled the fertile soil of influence for the last 8 years and the scenario is chilling.

This simply cannot be a 'gotcha' vote. The stakes will never be higher.

Got a good laugh out of this. Somehow Todd's role doesn't rise to the level of Bill giving Hilary the portfolio for national health reform back in 1993. But you all depend on the fact that the public has forgotten this.

Personally, I don't have an opinion on whether spouses should be part of an elected official's administration, formally or not. It would seem to me to be a choice for the official to make, like any other staff appointment. And the voters can judge it all at a later election date.

But how can this article be written with a straight face by a Democratic writer/supporter, given Bill and Hillary's "co-presidency"? There's surely a lot for the Dems to try to go after Palin with (like her stands on some issues), but this stuff looks too desperate.

allows a completely unqualified private citizen to make important policy decisions?

Wonderful. I cannot imagine the horror and crony incompetence Palin would inflict upon the Federal government.

Heckuva Job, Palin!!

Don't you mean, First Dud?

Is it true that Todd is part-Eskimo? If so, how does this influence Sarah's policies towards native-resident issues in Alaska? And BTW what is HER ancestry - only fair to know since we know all about Mr. Obama's and Mr. Biden's family trees.

Personally, I don't have a problem with presidential or vice-presidential spouses having some input as long as it is open and above board. I do have a problem with hypocrisy. Does anyone remember the repub hysteria whenever Rosalyn Carter's or Hilary's fingernails even brushed the Oval Office door? Now, suddenly, it is OK! Todd Palin, oil-field worker, fisherman, snowmobile racer - thank God Sarah can depend on him! Why can't she be open about it if it so OK? Why is she claiming "executive privilege" regarding official government emails he was cc'd on?

I remember having a screaming argument with a rethug boss in a restaurant over his ire that Hilary would even be allowed in the Oval Office let alone actually consult on some issues she might know something about. "She wasn't elected!" he kept screaming. My, how that worm has turned . . .

Maybe I should look that old boss up and see how he feels about Todd Palin . . .

While I am reading most of these articles with some interest, we are running out of time while we are completely missing the point. The McCain campaign has us exactly where they want us: too distracted by all the Palin nonsense to focus on the fact that McCain showed such utter lack of judgment and disrespect for the office of the President simply by picking Palin as his running mate - we're not even talking about the fact that he can barely explain himself and his contradictory statements on a daily basis and the fact that he cannot not describe his own point of view and plan for the country. Neither of these candidates understand the economy or foreign policy, let alone the many other issues facing the average American. McCain has insulted our intelligence and we're letting him. Lets get back to the real point and stop just pointing out the obvious fact that neither Republican candidate has what it takes to be a leader.

As always attacking the center left and fkg up the election is the only way the left can still feel relevant.

The righteousness of your convictions is impressive. But you really do a bad job of actually seeing what's going on in the real world. You point me to RCP to support your thesis that Obama is toast and the numbers don't back you up. The latest FOX/Ras poll has pretty much everything inside the MoE in the Swing states. Obviously less than ideal for either side, but hardly game over.

And you don't even know what Klytus and I think on stuff like the 2nd Amendment and Fiscal responsibility. My objective all along has been to throw the current set of bums out of the executive office. That includes the Republican party. I will then cross my fingers on the set of new ones. You keep talking about how the 'far left' screws everything up, but clearly you are not a team player. You are not doing your part. That's why many think you are really a troll. So sad.

As far as the first dude goes, if he is going to take more than a passive role, then he is in play and is fair game. Hopefully we will get some sound reporting at some point and less of the tabloid experience.

Getting cc'd on emails does not sound passive to me.

And like some other poster here has repeatedly mentioned, I think that the undefined role of Bill Clinton was a negative in the Hillary campaign. The Hillary campaign should have violated its triangulation ethos and said this is what we have planned for Bill. This is what he's gonna do, this is what he's not going to do. If Palin is smart, she will learn from that and give us a crisp view of what to expect.