From what I've read in the papers and internet news, it sounds like Palin

[AlinPA]

and Giuliani appealed only to the hateful right-wing base last night. That does not seem like a good way to pick up many independent voters or Democrats. As far as "disaffected Hillary voters" (as the media calls them), I doubt that the trashing of Democratic principles helped McCain at all. It also sounds like the media is completely enthralled with Palin and they have defined her as a "star". I did not watch TV last night, but checked into DU a few times. I'm sure she is being booked for all the shows like "The View", "Oprah", late night shows, and has a lot of magazine interviews lined up. Expect the entertainment shows like Access Hollywood, etc. to be busy with her. I can't see this appealing to Hillary voters or any other Democrats who vote.

[tekisui]

1. The hate-wing loves her. They are alone.

[Mike Daniels]

2. If she goes on The View she's going to get eaten alive esp. re: women's issues

Even the blond twit Elizabeth won't be able to toss her a life vest fast enough.

I seriously doubt that Sarah is going to go on any show where the questions aren't pre-approved in advance. But, if the has the chutzpah to go on The View I'll definitely DVR it so I can watch the massacre when I get home.

[katandmoon]

8. Nope. They were ALL -- evening Joy and Whoopi -- singing her praises the other day

I had to turn it off.

[Native]

14. you can't be serious!

[katandmoon]

19. Completely serious. But I'm watching the View now and they're a little more critical than

I expected. It helps too that Elizabeth is at the RNC and not interrupting them every second.

[gblady]

9. I think those shows

could be dangerous for Palin....if they brought up anything of substance.
She stumbled miserably when trying to discuss foreign countries and the oil last night.
She'd do great with the Mommie and mayorial stuff, but world issues, not so much.

[Robyn66]

3. My personal opinion is that they ONLY have the Reich Wing voters

I would imagine they have alienated anyone moderate or independent. I hope this country recoils at the content of her speech that she read. I am glad the convention is over tonight!!!!

[still_one]

4. I agree with that assessment. There was no talk of healthcare, social security

or medicare. Nothing about the downturn in the economy, or those who have lost their homes

The true face of what the republican party has evolved into was revealed last night in full color

[gratefultobelib]

5. Matthews addressed that. He said he saw nothing of Hillary in the speech.

He likened Palin to a torpedo (I think) going after Michelle and Barack Obama. She mocked both of them.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GardeningGal]

10. "You guys" ?

I think you may be in the wrong place.

[Obamarama]

15. Shoo....back under your damp, dank, bridge you Smiegel-breathed, moss-ridden little troll.

And take your bad English skills and your tiny, scaly troll friends with you.

[Madam Mossfern]

20. While I didn't see the offensive post

I take exception to your denigrating moss.
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do I need a sarcasm smile here?

[calico1]

16. Enjoy your short stay, loser!

[PATRICK]

7. One thing is ironic

As they try the hopeless battle to win the points they play into the extreme fundamental error. Palin overshadows and distracts and detracts from both McCain AND the entire campaign AND GOP in general as a hurricane mistake they cannot let subside. Good for them. As long as their paid courtiers in the press can only grumble into open mics the greatest disaster of all must continue.

They have picked a Veep which has destroyed the ticket. Attempting to spin the hurricane makes this disaster pick up speed, DIRECTION barely matters. That is, the points, or to us, outrageous fawning and red meat cons running around the churchyard, only add to the central failing and commit all the usual suspects to staying the course- like Miss Gulch riding her transforming bicycle in the cyclone.

RULE NUMBER ONE FOR VP SELECTION: DO NO HARM. How do I harm thee? Let me count the ways. Like Larry Craig she could have protested: I am not a mistake!

Now as to OUR contributions, pushing our hands to the burning wheel to keep it going faster, it may not even be necessary. One thing for certain. The Obama/Biden ticket itself is standing outside, prepared, like FEMA, waiting to move in and take care of the people after this shocker has dwindled to a zephyr of regret.

[Cosmocat]

12. Agreed ...

the media is desperately trying to spin this as a positive, but go back only TWO WEEKS.

McCain had spent 2 months going kitchen sink, and had SUCCESSFULLY attacked BO with the celebrity, no experience and not ready to lead memes. He had drug himself from a consistent 4-5 point national gap between him and BO, to pretty much draw it even.

All he had to do was make a straight down the middle pick, and he could have kept hacking away, OR taken Romney and have STRENGTHENED his ticket/attacks.

Picking the Brittany Spears of politics TOTALLY eliminted his ability to attack based on celebrity, experience and being ready to leave AND even worse (better for the world) FORCED HIM TO DEFEND HIS TICKET ON THOSE TERMS.

Maybe the most stunning and self defeated move in political history - I repeat, took his campaign from having directed the media to attack his opponent RELENTLESSLY on experience and not being ready to lead, and FORCED HIM TO DEFEND HIS TICKET FOR IT.

AND, they are truing to reboot their campaign into "reform" when BO has been running on change for going on two years. AND, ON THOSE TERMS ALONE, Palin has so many little fires in her own state - troopergate, 20 million in debt to Wasilla, gobbling up the earmarks she now demonizes.

PLUS, her incredibly reckless personal life ...

You never know, she could be the magic bullet, but there is SO MUCH THERE with her, and with two SHORT months left, it forces McCain's campaign to completely reboot.

[PATRICK]

18. But it can't reboot

around a VP choice, and certainly not one like this.

What we have is unprecedented in politics, like trashing social security and spinning the results after would be.

I see this as almost a completely broken political process that puts all the real drama into pure, indefensible fraud and abuse of brute power against democracy itself. The illusion of the legitimate debate, the issues, even the contest of candidates is a central fringe. The only real fear, which I hope is as unsubstantial as the lies, is that some WH neocon will pull a desperate trigger to drown this election in blood.

[Abacus]

11. It was a speech for the base which was already energized by her pick in the first place

I don't understand the rave reviews. It was a decent speech, but I don't think it effectively targeted undecideds and independents. If the measure of the performance of her speech is the ability to draw new voters, I found it lacking.

[ginnyinWI]

13. Read this good analysis at FiveThirtyEight--

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

He doesn't think she can hurt Obama.

[MarjorieG]

17. These shows don't want to inform, staying away from incriminating facts.

I'm concerned that any criticisms are seen as mean, especially by voters not thinking about the stakes. We need to at leats mention that the realities of her jobs of mayor and governor do not recommend her as having skills of larger cities or a state not simply oil and a welfare state.

Do we want to outreach to Joy, Oprah, in advance? This entertainment route may just get to that secret vote now looking at a woman, and not McCain. We have to dicredit her by telling the truth, because the experience card will keep cropping up.