Gov. Sarah Palin is a multiple-choice-quiz candidate in a critical-thinking-essay world.

Things are far to complex for Palin to ever:

(a) understand

(b) manage

(c) improve

(d) all of the above

To Joe Conason,

While your wondering why Republicans chose Palin as VP, One might think that you would be thinking the same thing about the Democrats and their choice as a Presidential candidate.

With only 146 days as a Senator,and a Community Organizer for 3 years,one might wonder where is Obama's experience? Palin was on the gas and oil committee for 3 years,was Mayor,and then Governor of her state.She has more qualifications than Obama.I can tell you that with all this crap comming out on Obama,THIS DEMOCRAT WILL NOT SUPPORT OBAMA!!!

My wife,although sharing my political beliefs often becomes exasperated at my views about the importance of fearing and confronting these easily led mindless haters. I just watched a History Channel documentary on the KKK. Just a few years after WWI, Klan membership was over 3 million and it wasn't just a regional group. Every single Republican and that was every single elected official in the state of Indiana was endorsed by the Klan. It was impossible to get elected without their endorsement. Just two years after WWII, 100,000 Klansmen in full regalia marched down Penn. Ave carrying the largest American flag in the nation,led by their leader, a doctor. Later in the 60's, southern politicians (until LBJ) held total sway over the South, killing civil rights activists and blacks while government in the South and white juries ignored the murders. That is how quickly fascism and hate groups can influence our culture. This election could be the last peaceful way to avoid a repeat of this tyranny by the ignorant being led by the evil men in power.

Appear to have touched a nerve there.

I posted a letter to the above-mentioned person several hours ago. In the meantime, I went out canvassing for the Obama/Biden ticket. I'm in a swing state (minnesota which is traditionally Blue but never mind), and I gotta tell you the Obama phenom is real and it involves more than rock star persona and hope-mongering. People are really excited and for good reason. But they are also sickened by the phony culture wars promulgated by the operatives in the GOP and a whole bunch of people who benefit greatly from this foolish and destructive divide. They have actually convinced a lot of folks like the good teleologicus and his friend effetus acerbus that people who demand a certain level of um, intelligence from their elected officials are both dangerous and eletist and not to be trusted. It's a pretty good gambit overall not unlike the one where they essentially wreck the government and then tell you that it's no good at solving problems. Sorry all you Palin groupies but these are very disturbing times brought on by the election of your own wannabe frat boy king (sorry about the sarcasm all you tender-hearted Republicans- I can't hep myself. I am uh elleetist snob). We need someone gifted, intelligent and educated in both book smarts -the kind they teach in ivy league schools and state colleges- and what you'all might call native intelligence or in Ms Palin's case..."moxie". It's gonna take a good case of all of the above which means an exceptional person of good judgement and strong character. I don't see much of that in MCain and I see an absolute dearth of it in Ms Sarah. She Is appealing though, I'll give ya that. And she may be the most popular governor in Alaskan history. She just don't got the whole picture, dude and it's gonna take nore than alotta shuck n jive an winkin' to convince me otherwise. Just sayin...

P.S. I'm told that Minnesota is one of 3 states McCain has to win. As of this posting Obama is up 8 points. and climbin'. See Ya.

I wasn't a Hillary supporter so I can't speak to what would appeal to them...except it's obviously not Palin.

Kay Bailey Hutchinson, conservative, has a law degree, is from Texas, has a solid family (though she was divorced in the 60's) with adopted children, has worked in banking, etc. She manages to look reasonable and cool, even when she's disagreeing with you. She's in her 60's, but is still classy looking.

I guess her not being sufficiently anti-abortion might have disqualified her with the base.

I think she would have been a stronger candidate with the independents, not as polarizing, but the McCain camp didn't ask my opinion.

Now that the economy is blowing up, I have no idea if her background as a bank executive would have hurt, or helped, the Republican ticket.

I'm glad to see that the initial shine has worn off of Palin with many.

Thanks for the financial advice. I am thinking about some gold coins.

About Hutchinson: She most definitely did not take herself out of consideration. I think she might have been interested, depending upon the responsibilities. She's not decoration and wouldn't want to spend her time attending funerals. I wonder if since Cheney many potential VP picks are asking for more responsibility.

However, Hutchinson's fond ambition is to be governor of Texas and, shortly after McCain chose Palin, Hutchinson announced that she would run against long time governor, Rick Perry. I don't know whether to like that or not. Perry is fairly innocuous and ineffective. I think Hutchinson would make changes.

Not to be terribly flip, but for all we know she's taller than McCain.

That would probably do the trick given his apparently highly sophisticated decision-making process.

Absolutely true about the Klan. Even in Arizona of all places. My grandfather used to let them hold meetings on some land he had and he attended "just to keep an eye on things," he told my grandmother -- an Arkansas woman who strenuously objected. Later on my grandfather ran for state office as a Republican. I would imagine that he had the Klan's tacit approval.

That's all pretty weird given some stuff I learned about my grandmother and her mixed heritage background. My grandfather was a sure enuff bad man.