the sad thing about this ticket -McCain -Palin is that they have so little to contribute that they resort to sarcasm, not so witty

condescension, and insults. neither are fit to be president of the United States. I wish that were not true

This wasn't really mentioned in Mr. Shapiro's piece, but I think it's on-topic at least to "how Palin played."

I was dazzled by her choice of terms and tone when she responded about promoting domestic oil drilling. Fairly near the end of the debate, I think, a long straight close-up of her winking at the camera...

It looked to me like the worst effort at quasi-pornographic seduction.

"America is *thirsty* for that oil, pumping beneath the throbbing veins of our landscape. 'Drill, baby, Drill!' is the chant, Joe, and it's heard all over America every night, when Americans dream of pumping that smooth dark treasure out of those deep shafts. Strong, muscled well-riggers, in their hard helmets, penetrating deep into the tissues of Alaska's fertile soil, striving for the eruption they know only they can bring about if John McCain becomes President..."

I exaggerate, but...did it strike anyone else?

Constructive criticism to Mrs. Palin: over-enunciate the words you're "hitting." It works better if your lips and tongue become more visibly active on-camera.

(If you want an example, check out some of those Pop-Secret commercials starring Annie Potts from the '90s. Only the red-background ones, tho. They cleaned up their act when they switched to the blue background.)

Whenever any Democrat is confronted with the criticism they are "pointing backwards," they need to remind the critic that those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it. We do not need more of the past eight years, particularly from someone who does not even know Achilles from Greek mythology, a major foundation of Western literature. Sarah Palin allegedly has a college degree cobbled together from five campuses, but my goodness, she is an ignorant woman. Perhaps some of the subdued atmosphere in the Green Bay room was an unspoken recognition of that vital fact.

Our founding fathers were educated. Today right wing republican seem to think that being educated is a bad thing. People like Palin, have no respect for knowledge and paint everyone who does respect knowledge as an elitist. Palin may have a college degree , but she is part to of the growing 'under' educated class. There's a big difference between having an education and being educated. She is only good with 'talking points'.

McCain showed he has no judgement by picking her. Frankly McCain has been acting very irrational lately.

I think something like that was her answer when she was aked by the moderator about gay marriage rights? forgot. but, here the article about those joe & jane sixpacks up in " whisss--conn--sin" seems to be in dirct contrast with what I've so far, read from all y'all in salon.

didn't they see how scripted this was, mrs palin's speaking moments? I saw it and , to me, joe biden came off as more then well able to explain what REALLY is happening on MAIN ST USA! when he did this, I literally could see " mrs. moose-snatch" fucking grin and nearly piss in her victoria's secret pantise her husband tood must've bought her.

rudely, but trying hard to hide it, she grinned a lot; maikng her look someplace between being uncomfortable, embarrassed for herself beliving mc jerkass in the first place. that, or possibly , in her puny brain destroyed by pro-life or nothing evangelical " christianity"; realizing that, when he mentioned scranton, PA and wilmington[ delaware??]; HE WAS RIGHT AND SHE KNEW IT!

I don't have cable anymore, so channel 8 new haven was ghosty. but was there something in her jacket's back? teleprompter??? sure looked like she was, which grinning; trying to hear her next on-cue from ole johnny boy & co.

if there was one thing I can agree with said by sarah plain, it'd be this. what she said about " really not liking those metropolitan people and grass roots organizers from her small town point of view." there, I feel, especially after dealing with all these so called " progressive liberals", mostly corporate-dressed, well heeled phonies; here in ye olde connecticut. the ones whom I've met at the many LGBT political forums I've attended, that is!

but that is where I draw my line, only to say what I was thinking. " are there NO lesbians living in wasilla? yreka, CA? roseburg,oregon?? delhi,new york? white springs, FL? hey, all small towns here![ and predominantly full of idiots whom vote republican! UN-fortunately! then again, southbury,connecticut, pop about 21,000 is about 75% mc cain/palin country!LOL]

no all she did was repeat what she was told to say by, johnnie mc viagra boy, her " slave master"! the part about how "many small business owners makes over $250,000 a year." who? the work from their home office stockbrokers in greenwich CT?? the construction company owners all over CT and southern NY whom then provide " good jobs" paying $10/hr to the mexicans/other south americans??

I'm on SSDI and have been trying to get an online store to profit; and, excuse me, " bless john mc cain's soul"[ palin] , but I don't see them doing anything to help me, or anybody; with their tax cuts + more defense spending plan!

and lastly, everytime I heard that bimbo say " bless her/their soul/s" , I had to think of those evangelical" christian" women down in florida whom got dressed up in their fashionable clothing so as to " look presentable for the lord" I just hope what I'm seeing in both michigan, and yes, FLORIDA,keeps going. by the way , two gals started this. " women say NO palin" at: womensaynopalin@gmail.com .they badly need signatures so they can send a message to mrs. palin!

The media, pundits and comedians are all convinced that Sarah Palin is an attractive airhead who is not qualified to be on the ticket. No campaign in history could afford to buy the media that has been devoted to making this case against Palin by her critics. So why on earth do so many American voters still find her appealing? Simple. They look beyond the sound bytes that highlight her shortcomings and they see a real person who has lived her entire life on a middle class income while shouldering her responsibilities with integrity and class. She is an authentic ordinary American in an age when almost every national politician is a multi millionaire. Many ordinary people appreciate that distinction, and find it more significant than anything Palin's critics can offer to suggest she is not capable of being our leader. They think that she is not perfect, but at least she is one of us, and having one of us in power in Washington is a change they feel is overdue.

It used to be called populism, and there used to be some of them in the democratic party, but sadly the democratic populists have all been replaced by smooth talking savvy millionaires. Many American people who are ready to demand change in Washington wonder if we can count on another smooth talking savvy millionaire to deliver it, even if he had a difficult childhood.