Any chance Palin and Obama play some HORSE or even one-on-one?

test. aargggh!!!!

I have a man crush on that guy. Absolutely perfect response in every way.

I agree, however, that it's time to unleash some competent surrogates who spend a little more focusing on the legitimate issues in her record (i.e. non-family issues), as well as the utter absence of any meaningful engagement on the issues from anyone in the Republican camp. It would also be nice to scoff at the notion that McCain and Palin are "mavericks" who represent "change" from 8 years of Bush and 6 years of a GOP Congress.

Perhaps they could even tie McCain's attempt to steal Obama's "change" message with his embracing of Obama's positions on key foreign policy issues (e.g. increasing troop presence in Afghanistan, drawing down troops in Iraq in accordance with the Obama "timetable" now set by the Iraqis).

Wouldn't hurt to have more surrogates out their throwing haymakers at the same time, though, would it?

Paul Rosenberg at OpenLeft writes that Barbara Boxer is continuing to hit Palin hard:

This is certainly a clear picture of where we've been. But the real test is going to be how well the Dems play the after-game.

I saw a good sign about 1 1/2 hours ago. I was just at a "field briefing" with Barbara Boxer that was all about the surface transportation act reauthorization for next year, but she took questions from the press afterwards. I laid off Palin because I was there with my Random Lengths hat on, and with only one shot, I wanted it on environmental matters tied to our community. But a CBS producer for Katie Couric was there, and he, of course, jumped right in.

Boxer lead off by lambasted McCain's judgment for picking an extremist, specifically, an anti-science extremist who doesn't "believe" in global warming, and one who courts support from a an exremist party who's founder cursed the American flag (not looking at my notes here, so the phrasing could be a bit different, but the sense is not).

She was not giving a millimeter, much less an inch, to the "she's a women, you're a women" approach, it was all "McCain's bad judgment" and "Palin's extremism." If the Dems are all on message with this sort of response--not biting at the other side's narrative--that's a promising sign. Because the Rep's narrative right now is all about covering up their "Journey to the Center of the Earth"-deep contradictions. A reformer with earmarks! Eeeeeyyyyooooohhhhh!...

The Modesto Bee is running an AP story about this same press conference but nobody else on Google News seems to be running it.

Yes.

Greg is right -- more attacks from surrogates please! I guess they're waiting until after tonight's thrilling McCain oratory.

Victory over McCain/Palin is looking very possible, folks. More so every day now. That's a great feeling.

My man Obama is cooler than the other side of the pillow. I just donated another $25.

http://donate.barackobama.com

The war is on. It's going to get a whole lot uglier before it gets better.

Obama is the politican we need for the 21st Century. This interview just proves it.

I smiled the whole way through. Obama's got our middle class backs. God, knows they are sore after working so hard the last 8 years and getting nowhere.

Here's a slogan. We're looking into getting T-shirts made up:

Jesus Christ was a community organizer.

Pontius Pilate was a Governor.

Obama get's an A+ on that one.

While there is lots of speculation in the media about how Sarah will play with women, no one ever mentions how men might react to her, probably because we've never had a woman on the national political stage that has so much machismo and inexperience, at the same time.

Her moose huntin' ways might play, but the way she has overtaken Republican men and women with years of seniority, might rankle a bit, especially with those who don't approve of affirmative action.

I agree that the tone of Obama's remarks today is more than appropriate, and it should be maintained, so long as it isn't disproportionately focused on Sarah Palin. Ultimately this is about John McCain and the vision he thinks will get him into the White House. Palin is a sideshow (albeit a compelling one). Everything has to be kept within that context.

I loved the "what did you expect?" response on the Republican attacks. It was perfect. Reveals the Republicans to be essentially predictable and shows he's cool and relaxed. He's got a plan for his campaign, and it's working. He's not playing defense. He won't raise to any bait they put out there.

I love this man! He really has things in perspective. So cool! Thanks Barack.

Sorry, extremely pissed off rant alert:

That she won't do "press" is utter bullshit. I sent a note to TPM/Josh wondering what kind of info they/he are getting from the press about this. Jeebus, what a naked demonstration of their utter contempt for democracy and, well, everyone...

Still, all Obama/Biden have to do is ask, "where's Sarah? Why can't she answer some simple questions from the press? We do it everyday. What is she hiding?"

Energizing the base, indeed!

Not surprisingly, Palin's evaluation of national service coincides quite nicely with that of the Republican Party. Palin effusively praised members of the military, like McCain and her relatives, but derisively noted Obama's service as a community organizer.
Now, there are different ways to interpret Palin's scorn for community organizers. One would be to say that Palin dislikes the people being served. It might also be that Palin doesn't believe that disadvantaged citizens deserve no help. Or perhaps, Evangelizing for the Assembly of God is the only form of domestic service Palin considers worthwhile.

It strikes me, Greg - that instead of wacky ads, you could post the story off Americablog that the McLame campaign isn't going to allow the press anywhere near Ms Sarah -

I think that's a story, I really do.

I said something this morning on the Morning Roundup thread about wanting the Obama campaign to go on the attack, make the Republicans play defense. I still think that's the best strategy, but there are lots of ways to do it. And watching this presser just now, I'll echo what someone said aboce, "That man has icewater in his veins." This strikes me as the right response. At the same time, I'd like to see some surrogates (Where's Hil?) calling out the lies directly.

Who's going to win over the press -- those who talk openly to the press (see above) or those who don't?

I know some small-time journalists. They get pissed and frustrated when they're assigned to get a story and the subject ducks, avoids and hides. Forget media bias, forget corporate owners -- that is when a journalist will turn ugly.

Palin in Cheney in heels. Honestly.

Wow, Obama is just so good! I love his calm demeanor--it's such a contrast to McCain's. Obama is simply a great off-the-cuff speaker. And he really did swat the pitbull-in-lipstick away like a fly. Without so much as saying so, he gave the impression that she's simply a tiny nuisance while he has bigger business to attend to. He's my guy.

We need to follow the example of Obama and keep hitting on facts and issues. Something like this...

Barack Obama is our Candidate because over 18 million americans voted for him. Gov. Palin is a candidate because of one vote and one vote only...and it wasn't even from John McCain. The Maverick wanted Lieberman and was told no by the powers that be in the GOP.

John McCain didn't want Gov. Palin. Why should we?

John McCain didn't trust his own Judgement. Why should we?

I have read that Alaska's governor only works 90 days a year. If that is true, she has about 140 days of experience as governor, which is about 5 months worth of actual work. Unless you believe that the job of being President is so easy, so trivial, that any citizen selected at random is competent to do the job well, she isn't in any way qualified to be a candidate for Vice President

Wonder how many days GWB has put in at this point (seems like NPR or someone was keeping pretty good tabs on our half-time president for the first year or two . . .)