McCain should refrain from accusing democrats of a smear campaign. It certainly appears there is nothing the democrats can do to degrade McCain's candidacy more than he is inflicting upon himself. McCain is doing an excellent job of destroying his chances for the presidency. We don't need to be the proverbial fly on the wall to imagine what Romney, Hutchinson, Liebermann and even Bush might be saying right this moment: "Is he out of his [blank, blank] mind!!! Perhaps the Hurricanes are an omen. By week's end the GOP will sanction this doomed team with enthusiasm. At the same time, the GOP will rag Obama by comparing him to the corrupt, inexperienced Ms. Palin. Republican voters were not born yesterday nor were they hatched today -- they will see through this veil of deception.

As always, Mr. Conason is excellent. I remember when he was a regular contributor on Al Franken's truth-fest .

I truly receive no joy in reading the facts and information coming out about Mr. McCain's pick for a running mate. I keep thinking that maybe this completely off-the-wall selection of a totally incompetent (TRULY, NO OFFENSE IS DIRECTED AT THIS PERSON-- THIS IS JUST IRREFUTABLE FACT) is some sort of a punk-out to accomplish some other end... like, "they" will proceed to withdraw her and throw in someone else. I mean the past 8 years have been one volley of manipulating actions after another directed at an increasingly shell-shocked electorate. But, the sensibilities of this much abused and manipulated population are waking up. We want our country back... To paraphrase Mr. Twain: My country has my unqualified support; my GOVERNMENT has to earn it. Our babies, our spouses, our family have our unqualifed love, support and admiration -- those who put them in harms way for NO GOOD OR WORTHY PURPOSE, not so much, not at all.

The Republican party attained political supremacy by manipulating good and faithful people into believing only Republicans will protect their belief system. The fact of the matter is that the whole-sale manipulation use, abuse and desecration of the very foundation of those beliefs has been a hallmark of the operation of the current administration and those who have gloried in the power and wealth acquired thereby. Period. It is that simple. Fear of retribution for speaking out was the standard method of reigning in any deviation from the lock-step support of policies that have worked against the best interest of the nation as a whole. Period.

It is hard to imagine what this particular bizarre action is actually meant to accomplish. Those who pull the strings or to put it more graphically but much more vulgar-ly those who have their hands up the ass of this possibly well-meaning elderly gentleman may have much more in mind to put us through before all of this over. Republicans are not inherently evil. It just looks that way. Power corrupts, especially when someone has the goal of destroying the opposition party... Miss-use and abuse of power towards that end, well, that is as close to evil as I want to get.

What we have to fear is fear itself. That is why I am very intrigued by what is unfolding. People must wake up and pay attention... Perhaps there is no one behind the curtain... that's okay, too. I just can't believe its going to go down that easily.

It's astonishing that you can say Edwards behavior doesn't reflect on his moral and family values. But I have seen here every imaginable double standard used to bash Republicans, with no more thought or intention than to throw out insults. However, conservatives know this just means Mrs. Palin was the perfect choice, and has put Democrats on the defensive.

Obama would never have picked Biden had he been ahead in the polls. And both Biden and Obama now have there own skeletons being dug out of their closets, despite the Chicago machine tactics now running the democratic party.

Hey, Odog, you want to point me back to the posts where you called Republicans claiming Obama's birth certificate was forged "disgusting pieces of garbage? Or the Republicans falsely claiming Obama is a secret Muslim "disgusting pieces of garbage?" Or the non-stop crap coming from NRO and Limbaugh et al. basically saying Obama isn't a "real American?"

Look, gutter politics suck. So call it out every time, not just when its your side being slimed, okay?

You can't deny that this is a smart move on McCain's part. He will get some of the bitter women (and men) who hate OBAMA after he defeated the Hillary, and he has excited his Christianist base. Ms. Palin is about as qualified as I am (which is not at all), but who cares?

After George Bush, the child, who really believes that Republicans give a hoot about qualifications? All they want is someone who can walk upright and mouth empty platitudes.

OBAMA 2008 and BEYOND!!

Sleek and smooth as they come, he'd still have to worry about bottle-feeding or breast-feeding. At the age of 55 it wouldn't be all that easy and people might talk but, being a high-paid lawyer, he'd reduce the chatter from being a nine-day wonder to approximately nine hours when there's something juicier to feed on - like, say, a woman politician.

Re John "Country First" McRover's choice of Palin for his running mate, you really must check out this video:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/31/22302/0236/926/580816

That's a strawman. My argument wasn't about candidates having affairs, it was about repubs moral and family values.

I didn't cancel it, but I did it let it lapse. I used to believe the content of Salon was worth the 35 bucks a year I used to pay. Now, I wouldn't pay 35 cents a year.

I've been a Salon reader for about 7 years, and was a subscriber for two or three, and I don't recall another time when I've seen so many Republican trolls. At first it was funny, but now less amusing. Not to single you out but Benny, you must realize when you use words like Barackanalia you immediately call yourself out as a GOP stooge.

You forgot to say you'll be cancelling your Salon subscription...