I hate the right-wing media. Hate them. This is sooo pathetic. I am listening to the "liberal" msnbc network and I can't stand it. I was a "reagan democrat" and primarily a bush I supporter. Now, obviously I am clearly to the left of the clintons. I actually believe that bush I was to the left of the clintons as well. Nonetheless, has the country gone this wacked? I really don't get it. I just can't stand it anymore. What the f*ck is going on?

MSNBC is reporting that Joe Klein unloaded both barrels on the McCain campaign's sudden mediaphobia. Klein called on his colleagues to stand up to this sort of bullying, and to think he is going to keep quiet about the fact Palin raised taxes as governor, was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it, and thinks the Iraqi occupation is a mission from god is simply just nuts.

Let us hope the rolling over stops tonight. This was a facist speech. Rudy is King Facist Supreme.

The media is gaga over Palin now. David Brooks had a big wet spot on his pants. Watch for the media narrative to turn now. She's the darling now. The first thing Diane Sawyer did was to coo about the the girl smoothing the baby's hair down.

Here's something I didn't even know. McPants didn't even do an FBI check on Palin before naming her. And his people LIED about it.

I can see it now, the ads with Hillary taking down Gov Plain.

God, the red meat came out in full force tonite. All the speeches tonight and especially, Palin's speech certainly gives the dems the green light to lower both barrels at them. Nothing but a speech to the base and we must get ready to have an extreme cultural war! The total effect of the GOP is to attack, attack and let the blood fly! I'm so ready to fight the neo-cons and the porn star, Palin! Give often and plenty to Obama so fight fire with fire!

I think Obama's campaign needs a stronger response than that. She has proven that she is tough, so let's throw some punches of our own. Her speech was full of lies about Obama's record and her own. Call her on it.

Wow...that was a pretty bad idea. We'll see how it plays. It was well delivered for what it was, a kind of mean highschoolish mockery. I can't believe that goes down well in the end. We'll see. They had to do something to hide the intellectual poverty of their candidate, and I think that's maybe the best they could do.

She's still an inexperienced unknown from Alaska, who gave a mediocre speech that seem to only rouse the base audience in that convention.

She's a risk to be a heartbeat away from the Oval office and underscores the poor judgment decision of John McCain who selected her.

Hey Greg - The idea that Palin could appeal to "aging white females" who voted for Hillary is a bit off base.

She appeals more to women who view themselves as not feminist, and would be insulted if you labeled them as such. It's like the people in Kansas who balk at "liberal" policies that are actually trying to help them. Call it ignorance, call it perverted but I don't think that women who like Sarah Palin, in any way consider themselves to be in the mold of the average Hillary supporter.

I can't believe the crowd shots. Old country-club couples and frat boys. So painfully white.

My wife kept making fun of her voice. Frankly, I came into this ready to like Palin -- she has seemed likable enough in other video clips. But I thought she seemed intensely unlikable. Maybe it was just the partisan and negative character of the speech. But I also think there's something about her voice that comes across as smug, parochial, and censorious.

But then, that's pretty much a definition of "Republican," so I guess it will play well with the base.

Reminds me of the 1992 convention, the declaration of the culture wars. It was hateful and divisive. It didn't play well.

Sorry but the media is NOT totally embracing her at ALL

Josh's observation sums it up.

From the transcript of Sarah Palin's speech leaked to the press:

"...in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to...build more new-clear plants..."

Potatoe.

I'm going to quote something from Sullivan, even though it's off topic, because it was an incredibly hateful moment that should not be forgotten:

The one moment that stays with me tonight, oddly enough, was not Palin's speech. It was a line from Giuliani, a New York mayor with a young second third wife and gay friends, mocking a "cosmopolitan" who was brought up by a single mother. It was that Barack Obama's rise could "only happen in America." And it was designed to mock him, the first African-American candidate for the presidency of the United States.

I won't forget that.

Just checked out the boards on CNN and ABC out of curiosity and the speech is getting awful reviews. Lots of "snark, sarcastic, weak, mean pathetic, lacking substance, unimpressive, not ready for primetime". I was surprised by the number of commenters that found her unlikeable. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I thought it made the Republican Party look very small, petty, and out of touch. So.... nothing new.

Palin was preaching to the choir not the voters. I cannot wait to for the next scandal to break, attack ads and the unleashing of Hillary Clinton. HRC is going to chew Palin up and spit that glamor girl out.

I think we just let this roll off... they have one more day... the the it's all out until the convention.

The 'lying' is out of control though and needs to be slammed!!!!

I think we just let this roll off... they have one more day... the the it's all out until the convention.

The 'lying' is out of control though and needs to be slammed!!!! Enough!!!

I think we just let this roll off... they have one more day... the the it's all out until the convention.

The 'lying' is out of control though and needs to be slammed!!!! Enough!!!

I think we just let this roll off... they have one more day... the the it's all out until the convention.

The 'lying' is out of control though and needs to be slammed!!!! Enough!!!

That speech reminded me of the Buchanan speech debacle at the 1992 GOP convention.

I can't believe she dared to say the "thanks but no thanks" line again about the bridge to nowhere. It's been outed everywhere as a complete and total lie. They seem to have doubled down on the Rovian constantly repeat the lies strategy.

Sarah Palin. Liar Liar Hair's on Fire!

Troll!

Am i the only one? What i saw tonight was a slap on every Americans that volunteer their service to serve the communities.

For the first time in my life, i witnessed GOP ridicule service to the less fortunate among us. Palin and Guliani thinks volunteering to serve people that are less fortunate is not service to our country.

This is an insult to every young Americans that volunteer for peace corp., Veteran's home, inner city and indian reservation. Well, the GOPs actually believe this people are not important.

A guy from an Anchorage newspaper today was saying that one of Palin's character flaws is that she is "brittle". She cracks easy and lashes out - thus all the firings and loyalty oaths while Mayor/Governor.

Time to take a bat to that glass jaw.

Ruh-roh:

Palin denies affair rumours

* Anne Davies
* September 4, 2008 - 1:04PM

The McCain campaign has vigorously denied reports that Republican vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin had a steamy extramarital affair with her husband's business partner.

The story, which appeared just hours before Mrs Palin was due to address the Republican convention today, was branded "scurrilous" by McCain chief strategist Steve Schmidt, who said it was "a vicious lie".

"The smearing of the Palin family must end," he said.

"The allegations contained on the cover of the National Enquirer insinuating that Governor Palin had an extramarital affair are categorically false. It is a vicious lie. "

http://www.theage.com.au/world/palin-denies-affair-rumours-20080904-49cv.html

Is there any commentator more full of shit than Campbell Brown?

she went after the Repubs once, they bit back.
She'll be eating out of their hand the rest of the way.

OK. I was not impressed at all. But can you tell me what about the MSM? Sorry, I know I should check myself, but it's too much to watch Palin's speech and then those MSM guys in a row...

All I'm praying is the Obama camp will hit back quick, hard, and strong. Her speech was full of crap and should not be too difficult to attack.

At times Palin reminded me of a stand-up comedian delivering nothing but one liners. Also notable was that her mockery was based on falsehoods. But then again she's a Republican.

All sizzle, no substance. Here's my preliminary list of words and phrases we didn't hear from Governor Palin tonight:

Affordable
Health
Care
Insurance
Savings
College
Schools
Mortgage
Foreclosure
Food prices
Inflation
Poor
Poverty
Overseas
Growth
Development
Middle
Class
Global
Climate
Warming
Afghanistan
Veterans
Benefits
Bipartisan

Pretty obvious that the election isn't about issues for the McCain/Palin ticket.

As I was watching Palin, it suddenly came to me: Palin is the ultimate Republican "mean girl." She has that popular, cheerleader, bitchiness down to an art form. Her condescension and belittling of Obama after he has been very gracious to Palin is truly offensive.

Palin for Mean Girl!

Question 1: Is it sexist to point this out? I hope not, I would hate to have to turn in my Women's Studies minor.

Question 2: Is the sarcasm and belittling aimed at Obama a form of racist dog whistle? It sure seems like it to me.

The other tactic they're using here is having the girl beat up on Obama. Is he going to be beat up by a girl? That's the other thing at work here and I'm not sure how he handles it but he can't be seen to be backing down.

The Obama campaign needs to come back against the Palin speech on specifics. She claimed that Obama wrote two books but no laws (now in NYT article). That claim has to be refuted before it gets accepted in the conventional wisdom. She claimed that she opposed the bridge to nowhere, but she was first for it.

These rebuttals are easily documented, and their purpose is to establish that Palin cannot be trusted in what she says. This distrust will resonate with the other scandals brewing against her.

As I was watching Palin, it suddenly came to me: Palin is the ultimate Republican "mean girl." She has that popular, cheerleader, bitchiness down to an art form. Her condescension and belittling of Obama after he has been very gracious to Palin is truly offensive.

Palin for Mean Girl!

Question 1: Is it sexist to point this out? I hope not, I would hate to have to turn in my Women's Studies minor.

Question 2: Is the sarcasm and belittling aimed at Obama a form of racist dog whistle? It sure seems like it to me.

Thanks, I needed that. I've had a sick feeling ever since Romney took the stage and had to leave the room during Pain's speech.

Since I'm a lefty, I never know when my take on things coincides with middle America. Glad to hear the NewsHour wasn't buying.

The Obama campaign needs to come back against the Palin speech on specifics. She claimed that Obama wrote two books but no laws (now in NYT article). That claim has to be refuted before it gets accepted in the conventional wisdom. She claimed that she opposed the bridge to nowhere, but she was first for it.

These rebuttals are easily documented, and their purpose is to establish that Palin cannot be trusted in what she says. This distrust will resonate with the other scandals brewing against her.

I'm pretty grossed out at the very generous read Greg has given this woman.

She was shrill, sarcastic, and very proud of herself. The tone was appalling and truly not going to play in Scranton, no matter what the stupid pundits say (as they try to appear "fair" which is really just their "fear" of reality showing through).

I heard many lies. Many.

I heard no new ideas.

There was no love of America, and absolutely no humilty.

This is not where America is now. Progressives know this. This is not America 2008.

Let's stand up and call this crap out for what it is: useless angry lies wrapped in a flag.

Spiro Agnew with lipstick.

No matter how you put the lipstick on the pig, she's still just a pig with lipstick.

I do think they are trying to set a trap with Palin. They want to see if they can "get to" Obama. I don't think they will.

I suspect we will hear very little from Obama about Palin, other than some Obamaesque words like "disappointed", "American people deserve better", "divisive", etc.

McCain's people know this election is about change. With Palin they are trying to bait the Obama people into a debate about experience (which the media, at least, has largely obliged). If successful they can change the subject while blabbering on and on about how they are "reformers".

Ironically, Obama has never made the argument that this election is about experience, and he has not belittled Palin's experience.

That is not his message. He must (and will) stick to "change" and he can not allow McCain/Palin to make headway on the "reform" message.

Relax folks this isnt a game changer. It was red meat for lots and lots of delusional white shitwipes that have never set foot anywhere near a small town. Small towns with families struggling to survive who care little about partisan shit and more about what the hell are you going to do make life better. Rural voters?

Please the day voters in rural WV, Ohio and PA rush to vote for a black man America will have truly arrived. She needed to claim the middle ground for Mcinsane and this was not even close. The simple rejoinder to this is more of the same aka wheres the beef?

Mcinsane has a massive task tomorrow and the endless spiel of POW POW POW will not suffice. It didnt work for Kerry, Dole or Bush I. If he delivers his normal speech "hockey sham mom" wont save a graceless bitter old man.

I thought mocking the community organizer stuff was a real mistake tonight. Even trying to be dispassionate and look at it as a Republican strategist, I just don't see how that plays well. You're not ridiculing taxpayer-funded social programs there. You're ridiculing charity, service, kindness, and (by extension) philanthropy, which has always been the conservative and sometimes independent alternative to taxpayer-funded social programs.

This is the work that churches, black and white, take great pride in. They know full well what community organizer means, even if the MSM is too out of touch to get it. And Obama mentions the closing steel plant every time he discusses that work, tying it to the economy and job loss.

Names you didn't hear: Bush, Cheney ... Rudy

Word surprisingly heard: torture (the unmitigated gall to mention that after the last 8 years)

I believe that she is the perfect delivery method for the Rove campaign of McShame. She will say anything they put in front of her. Rove has his girl to be the meanest attack dog ever. As she said tonight a pitbull with lipstick. The Culture War of 2008 has started. Choose your sides and be prepared for the fight! Somehow I feel no real warmth in her family. Her style and attitude is so hostile and shows no deep understandings of worldly ways. A leader of the free world??

One more name you didn't hear: Mary Matalin.

But that would have been immodest. I'd bet a lot of money that she wrote about 85% of that speech.

Palin's excellent speech delivery and bullseye swipes at Obama show her to be a formidable force. She's got guts, she's tough, she's out to win or die.

Now it's in Obama's court.

Hope you're right, but I have a bad feeling about this. The media will probably back off from doing negative Sarah stories, from now on, unless something jumps out that is too big to let pass.

She did well enough, in the sense that she didn't flub her lines. That's what they were looking for.

Totally agree -- watching Gergen and Eugene Robinson carefully stare at each word as they enunciated it. And Rachael M and Robinson snuck in some nice juicy FACTS (about the Jews for Jesus minister, Bridge to Nowhere farce, a couple of other things). I'd rather they speak mildly and get those seeds of doubt planted in an audience that (for the most part) would just tune out if they said what they really thought.

There is the distinct smell of fear and desperation on this thread too.

There's much about the Republicans that scare me. But Palin was a hit tonight. She was funny and brutal, a sure-fire winning combination. She did a killer delivery and came off as real, totally relatable.

I'm telling you, if she does well in the debate with Biden, McCain is going to win.

What remains to be seen is whether the major MSM (CNN, NBC/MSNBC CBS ABC) will kowtow as result of being identified as the enemy? They now must worry about ratings and of course, organized criticism.

My worry is that given the fact Palin has used her gender to hide behind, major MSM will want to avoid scorn or being accused of sexism and not perform their function of completing her vetting and reporting the facts.

Personally I find her to be an absolute insult to Pitbulls. Most are NOT mean, it is the owner/handler who is responsible for some pitbulls aggressive behavior. They have a bad rap because of morons like Palin. Bleh!

AND as a once Hillary 50 something white female supporter, who now supports Obama, I did not sit behind Archibald Cox at the Roe V Wade hearings to turn around and vote for some looney Hockey Mom, who I suspect is on Prozac like the rest of them.

We supported Hillary for a reason and for those same reasons we are supporting Obama.

Geez...what a shrill, arrogant, loudmouth B-I-T-C-H. You would think a dame who just catapulted from the PTA to possibly the second highest office in the land, would show some degree of humility and respect for the office. Some class. Or is that too much to hope for from a Republican?

As an antidote to tonight's speech, watch Joe Biden give his acceptance speech. What a diff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVH58DeUThg

Did anyone else wonder what was the basis of Palin's emphatic support of McCain's policies and character?

Sarah Palin is that Pretty Girl in High School that always made you feel bad about yourself. Of course you wouldn't see it. You're a guy. But the reason her nickname was Barracuda was because she's a Mean Girl. I'm not worried anymore. The more Republican women get to know her, the less they'll like her.

Roland Martin (CNN) is pissed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGWthR7vdfI

Yes, exactly. That's one of the key points Obama should hit them about hard, strongly, and effectively.

And as caromass pointed out, there was NOTHING, literally nothing, in her speech about education, health care, job loss, wage decline, mortgage crisis, equal pay for equal work, etc. Instead there were a LOT of lies. This very fact should be brought up again and again.

Meantime, the AP has termed her debut a "star turn"

and

The U.S. has confirmed ground assault against the Taliban inside Pakistan.

Yup. Yup. Sara's just who we need a heartbeat away from the presidency in times like these. Yup yup. Anybody who can get a bunch of rabid white republicans on their feet cheering at the way she can jab at the black guy obviously could handle this kind of situation too.

Gotta be crazy not to see that, right? I mean, she can take a "starturn." Like, what else does the country need?

Sarah Palin = Ann Coulter in wig & glasses

Well that was an exercise in nastiness. The whole evening was nasty, but Sarah Palin was the cherry of suck on the sundae of douchhery.

I don't know how well this will play for middle America or Independents. I think that it won't play as well for them as it did for the parts of the MSM that were slobbering all over her. I think that she exceeded the expectations of being able to string words together. The typical thing they would do for Dubya. If he didn't drool, he won.

But I think the words will be seen as too red meat, Independents tend to like their Constituion, thank you very much. Not have it mocked. And that bitchy tone? I don't think will play well with some older types who won't be impressed with her grasp on issues and will now probably think her a bitch. Something which we will agree after tonight. Mocking community organizers? Eesh. I hope that Obama breaks out the church card in fighting back on that one. I mean, unless the Republicans are saying they're against churches working to help people in need? That'll be serving them with their own sauce.

Man, sometimes I wonder if dems have any institutional memory.

Bush - when he was running against McCain and Gore eight years ago, used the same 'executive experience' line. Straight from Rove. Remember how he said he was 'the decider'?

A perfect way to answer this is the following ad:

Voiceover: John McCain says Sarah Palin is qualified to be President because she has 'executive experience'. (Show a clip of McCain saying that).

"Hmmm, sounds familiar."

Then show a clip of Bush using the same line (there is about 1000 clips you can use).

Tag line: Flash "McCain/Palin" ... Flash "More of the same".

And pull the debates between Bush and McCain - I bet McCain got off a good line on the 'executive experience' at Bush's expense.

Man, sometimes I wonder if dems have any institutional memory.

Bush - when he was running against McCain and Gore eight years ago, used the same 'executive experience' line. Straight from Rove. Remember how he said he was 'the decider'?

A perfect way to answer this is the following ad:

Voiceover: John McCain says Sarah Palin is qualified to be President because she has 'executive experience'. (Show a clip of McCain saying that).

"Hmmm, sounds familiar."

Then show a clip of Bush using the same line (there is about 1000 clips you can use).

Tag line: Flash "McCain/Palin" ... Flash "More of the same".

And pull the debates between Bush and McCain - I bet McCain got off a good line on the 'executive experience' at Bush's expense.