http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/magazine/05Davis-t.html?ref=politics

Appear to have touched a nerve there.

Well just what nerve to you think you have touched, Big Guy?

Joe, this subject is beaten to death. The woman is Bush-In-A-Dress. It doesn't take Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe to figure this out. The professional cynics and the Kool-Aid drinkers working McCain's campaign knew they desperately needed a clone of GWB to win over the base: McCain himself didn't have a prayer.

They searched their database and voila! There was Sarah just hamming it up there in Alaska (The Patagonia of the U.S.), hoping and praying for the call of a lifetime. A young, ambitious, somewhat ruthless, malleable newcomer with no national recognition, who happens to love guns, hunt moose and reindeer, and she's a MILF! Holy branding and campaign resurrection! What a catch, right out of central casting!

If there was one, just one pure thought expressed by any member of McCain's inner circle or broader staff and advisers, about her suitable qualifications for vice president or her readiness to be president, it should be captured in lucite and displayed at the Smithsonian. I doubt it was ever considered, let alone discussed. Instead, there was probably frenzied excitement along the lines of marketing an unknown actress in a big budget, lousy movie.

In fact, Sarah has beautiful, perfect teeth, a beautiful smile, a lovely face, gorgeous hair, all of which effectively distract from her thin intellect and apparent incuriosity about the world beyond Wasilla. In this respect, she is reminiscent of Dan Quayle, but in the essence of her political persona and message, she's Dubya reincarnated, the essence of the Third Term strategy (and a potential fourth and fifth).

The conservatives who still align themselves with Barry Goldwater, Ron Paul, Bill Buckley, George Will and their ilk seem to have no standing in this new populist order. Their disdain for Bush and his betrayal of traditional conservative principles is still a sidebar to the mainstream militaristic drivel coming out of the mouths of McCain and Palin. Once they're defeated in this election, perhaps these "other" conservatives may have the chance to regain some influence, but the extreme cultural and economic rightward shift in the reactionary segment of American society seems to suggest otherwise.

Half my friends are republican and I'm a democrat. Half my family are republican and half democrats. You know what? We get along. We don't bash each other with ugly words. What does name calling others accomplish. Attack the candidates if you want, but lets not attack each other. Our country was founded on the ability to disagree and there is nothing wrong with that.

Take care peeps!

To prove the dumbing down of the GOP, just compare Presidents. Since 1977 the Democrats had Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Both are highly intelligent. They got into college without a legacy. Then we had Reagan, who definitely not a deep thinker. Then George Herbert Walker. He went to Yale with a legacy. Then George W who also had a legacy at Yale. George HB is a lot smarter then G W but that is not saying much. Finally Obama who got into college and Law School with his own ability. Since he just paid off his college loans we know he had very little help. Then McCain. He got into the Naval Academy the easy way since his Grandfather and Dad were Academy grads.

"Republican have a tendency to skip over Obama's 8 years as the IL state senator, before he became a U.S. Senator. Obama in fact had more legislative experience than Hillary Clinton."

***Hillary has been at work for the past 2 years. Obama hasn't. Sheldon Silver has been the head of the NYS Assembly for 20+ years. He is the most powerful person in the state of NY. Is he qualified to run the country? absolutely not. He would tell you the same.

"Obama is NOT running against Palin either."

***I'm aware of that which is why all the hoopla over her is comical. Is she the brightest? certainly not. Is she a dope? well apparently millions of folks who aren't governors of their states think so. Now who isn't bright?

"Besides Obama and Biden are both more educated than either McCain or Palin. McCain at the bottom of his class, Plainaking 5 years at 6 different colleges to get a BA. Does she really have a degree? Palin has an education, but is NOT educated. Obama is brilliant, graduated with honors from Columbia University in NY, where he studied political sceince and foreign relations. Graduated as the top student in his class at Harvard Law school. Taught constitutional law."

***Being incredibly well educated certainly served Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton well huh? Carter was overwhelmed, Clinton lied to a federal grand jury. Being "brilliant" doesn't always work. Being well educated isn't a prerequisite to being effective either, ask Bill Gates

"Maybe Palin and McCain are like 'joe six pack'. Nothing wrong with being a 'joe six pack, but it's nt tehkind of person we need eading our country."

***I don't know about that(not that I'm voting for them) but perhaps if congress and the senate wasn't filled with Law school grads and brilliant folks and with some more "joe six packs" we wouldn't have 150 billion dollars worth of earmarks attached to a ridiculous bailout bill. Food for thought.

"Why do some right wing republican dislike intelligence so much."

***Don't know, I'm a democrat and well educated.

"Why is being liberal and intelligent a bad thing? Our cutnry has done the most for lower and middle classes when lead by liberals."

***Really?, like what? give me an example. As a life long democrat I would love to say you are right but I rarely see it. In theory and rhetoric yes, in reality no. The one mayor of NYC who did the most for the lower and middle class was Guiliani (a man I despise). Dinkins did nothing, Koch a little more than nothing. THey talked the talk, but they rarely walked the walk. I worked for City Housing, this isn't rhetoric. I do know the subprime mortgage meltdown, which put many folks in homes, was orchestrated by the democrats and fought for by the democrats (see Franks and Dodd). Great intentions, bad plan, horrific results.

"P.O.w Military experience does not qualify anyone to be president,noit oses living in an oil state"

***Agreed. I sleep better at night knowing the president actually knows what the military is about. Clinton didn't, Obama won't. Prior to them it was FDR, he coudln't.

***As a life long Democrat, I am extremely disapointed in my party's selection. I will not tow the line like the rest of the lemmings. I believe Barack is a very smart man. I think someday he could make a great president. I don't think that day has come. This is the 3rd election where my party has missed the boat.I refuse to drink the Kool-aid.

PS...IE spell check is free, download it.