Nor is Obama the first African-American man to run for president.

Re: "If it means anything, it means TAKING CARE OF YOUR FAMILY. It is clear that Sarah Palin has decided that her own naked ambition and lust for the power of the Vice President have led her to consign this child to the dustbin. What kind of family values are those?"

Here come the moronic sexist comments. Being a working mother does not make her a bad mother. Why can't her husband take care of the kids? Why are we still having this stupid argument? Is it still 1975?!?!

the blacks against the women.

I see this as a huge miscalculation. I think that so much of the Hillary movement (and the Barack enthusiasm, for that matter) and the modern feminist perspective is that gender (and similarly, race) should be a non-issue. And that was the thing about Hillary. She was seen by her supporters as most qualified regardless of -- not despite or because of -- her gender. And what McCain just did is play the gender card on the people whose support was rooted in it not being played. Hence the reason many feminists were not for her; they simply didn't like her the candidate and rebuked the expectation that they'd just go for the woman. And now the idea that this lady could potentially be the first female pres ... via McCain's manipulation of female voters ... it's a slap in the face on both counts. Hopefully this will turn out to be the most fatal of all his fatal flaws. She's just as (at least just as) "inexperienced" as he calls Obama, and her husband is in the oil idustry. --LMB

This VP pick is only heartbeat away from a 72 year-old ticker. Yet, her resume undercuts every arguement McCain has been making about Obama's experience.

She may be a terrific person, but with only a year as Governer in a state with fewer residents than Delaware, one time Miss Wasilla beauty pageant winner, one time Miss Alaska beauty pageant runner-up, journalism major, brief sports beat writer, former city council member turned mayor of a whopping 5400 citizens in Wasilla Alaska, um...wait this is a put-on, right?

This is like the Chewbacca Defense. Why would a war hero who's own celebrity propelled him to the US Senate, pick an absolutely green candidate for VP when he's spent weeks, days and months pounding us with negative ads declaring experience counts for everything? It just does not make any sense!

"As for the experience factor, it will be fascinating to see if Republicans can push the concept that "experience belongs to the presidential candidate, the VP has more wiggle room"

No, there's no wiggle room. She is next in line to become POTUS. No way.

I'm not stating that I agree with the Wikipedia page (or that she's isn't close to the oil companies), only that the page -- inaccuracies and half-truths included -- paints a relatively positive picture of Palin, especially for someone who may not desire to do anymore digging into her past than a superficial Google search.

The PUMAs may decide they are being pandered to...

Re: "Here come the moronic sexist comments. Being a working mother does not make her a bad mother. Why can't her husband take care of the kids? Why are we still having this stupid argument? Is it still 1975?!?!"

Yes, in the minds of many Republicans...try maybe pre-1865 in the minds of many Republicans.

Home run for McCain and the republicans!! I am another democrat for McCain and esp. Palin! My daughter and son can vote for a ticket with lots to offer to America.

Ok. Are the PUMAs democrats or are they Republican operative posing as democrats?

You people are stupid. 40% of Americans believe in the infallible words of the Bible and reject evolution completely (not that they really understand it, but that's another matter). I think well under 20% also reject intelligent design and consider evolution the ONLY explanation for the diversity of life.

You have no idea how backward this country is. You will be devastated to find out.

This is clearly a case of someone who is far less qualified than other candidates but who was picked on the basis of her gender. Isn't that something that infuriates conservatives? And it's one of the most significant jobs in the country. Conservatives are that loyal to the party that they're acting enthusiastic about this pick?

Palin is the greatest pick for VP since Dan Quayle. I know the country is very split and this is going to be a close election no matter what, but it's hard to imagine many swing voters wanting to put this person a heartbeat away when the President is someone in his mid-70's. Her anti-abortion, pro-gun positions will only draw the thinnest margin of Hillary Clinton supporters and the swing 10% of the country is going to run from McCain as fast as they can. As opposed to McCain's constant claims of being a maverick and putting his country first this shows how much of a craven panderer to the extreme right of his party he has become. Aside from the shellacing she'll take on foreign policy issues when she debates Biden (even when she benefits from low expectations) it is almost laughable to imagine how she'll do when the topic turns to economics. I believe that this election will be decided in the debates. Obama has to, respectfully, demonstrate his superior command of the issues and judgement without condescension (unlike Gore debating Bush) and Biden has to not fall over laughing. I think the independents will move to Obama-Biden when they see their choice side by side.

Some experienced Republican women - some v. well known and some not so - for your consideration:

Kay Bailey Hutchison

Christie Todd Whitman

Condoleeza Rice

Susan Collins

Elizabeth Dole

Olympia Snowe

M. Jodi Rell (Gov. of CT)

Jane Dee Hull (former gov. of AZ)

Sue Myrick (NC - Congresswoman)

Kay Granger (TX - Congressmwoman)

Heather Wilson (NM - Congresswoman)

This is such an insulting, pandering choice, if McCain felt that he needed to select a woman - why not one of these women - why not someone like Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is very well known and has lots of experience?? Again, this is incredibly insulting to women!!