Palin laughs in face of sexist attacks on rival

These are the kind of stories that make you wonder about the depth of vetting for Sarah Palin. Earlier this year on an Alaskan talk show, the governor and would-be vice president, giggled/laughed nervously as one of her political rivals was hit with a withering sexist attack based on her weight. The "B" word even was invoked -- not by Palin, but laughed when it was used.

And guess what, the audio of this lives.

Palin used to be sportscaster

This from back in 1988 ....

The Obama ad response

HBO's Maher satirizes Palin

This is admittedly hilarious but it is the sort of thing that could seriously backfire in terms of an attack ... Referring to her as a "M.I.L.F" and suggesting that if McCain dies in office Palin would be like a stewardess trying to fly an airplane in the event of a pilot problem?

Palin biography climbs in sales

Just a few weeks ago, when this site and a few others were lonely in trafficing in commentary and speculation about Sarah Palin, a book on her was one of those bargain bin products.

Now it is vaulting up the sales lists, The Lost Angeles Times reports.

Palin's announcement speech

The world watches as media, bloggers analyze choice

For months now, Sarah Palin For VP.com, a compendium of news and opinion, not an advocacy site, has followed the flow of stories on the Alaska governor -- widely considered a second- or third-tier candidate and a longshot selection as John McCain's running mate.

Today (as sarahpalinforvp.com is vindicated in the way few political Web sites are), most of the world is getting its first glimpse and impressions of the woman we've been following for months since the start up of this site.

Over at the Associated Press, Ron Fournier wonders quickly notes that Palin's solid conservative credentials will rev up the base, but like others, he questions whether her lack of foreign policy experience will diminish McCain strong suit.

Here is Greg Sargent at Talking Points Memo:

First thought: If McCain's entire campaign is premised on the idea that Obama lacks the commander-in-chief readiness for the presidency, how on earth can he possibly continue to make this argument when he's chosen Palin, who's been in high office only two years (half the time Obama has been a Senator) as a back-up commander in chief?

Beware the charges of light weight

Democrats are playing a dangerous game if they attempt to dismiss Palin. But we see that happening already as this post on the Chicago Tribune's Swamp shows.

When Obama was looking at Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia as a possible running mate, Karl Rove, the "architect'' of President Bush's election campaigns, dismissed his experience - a governor for three years and mayor of 103rd largest Richmond.

We're not sure where Wasila ranks.

Energy

Palin could be a major force in helping McCain flip the script on energy policy as well as the Financial Post points out.

Ms. Palin, 44, is a lifetime NRA member who is in charge of a conservative state. She's bullish on offshore drilling and opening up more of the contentious Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to exploration and production. "People are realizing, too, there's been some deception, I think, about from some on what ANWR is all about. Of the 20 million acres up there, we're looking at 2000 acres as a footprint," she said in the interview. "With new technology, with directional drilling, maybe that footprint [will] shrink even more."

Environmentalists are trying to keep the area protected, but Ms. Palin believes Americans are being fed faulty information.

"Allowing that to be explored and developed, as more Americans realize what we're talking about here, and not just relying on the visuals that have been provided them over the years on what ANWR supposedly is – with mountain ranges and green valleys and rivers flowing and all that," she said. "And you see those visuals sometimes, especially when the extreme environmentalists talk about the pristine environment that is surrounding ANWR."

Moose Stew and Snowmobiling

As the CBS horse-race blog points out, this choice is indeed colorful.

It’s not just her credentials as the youngest and only female governor in Alaska’s history that make Palin so intriguing. How many vice-presidential candidates in American history have been avid moose hunters, sports reporters or beauty queens? Palin is all three.

When Vogue Magazine asked her what her favorite meal was, she didn’t settle on pizza or Mexican. "Moose stew after a day of snowmachining,” she said. Does it get any more Alaska than that?

The Alaska governor might be just a “plain Sarah” herself, but her children’s names are far more dazzling: Track (18), Bristol (17), Willow (13), Piper (7) and Trig (4 months).

Here is The Detroit Free Press on Palin's pluses:

Here’s what Palin gives McCain and the GOP ticket: Youth, gender, a background entirely outside the Washington Beltway, and enormous energy as a campaigner. She’s a working mom with five chidren, has been in business and is a hunting and fishing enthusiast. She can claim a record as a government reformer and a tax cutter and someone who cares less about partisanship than about getting the job done. She beat an incumbent Republican governor in a GOP primary en route to winning the Alaska governor’s office.

So if you are a voter who was attracted to Hillary Clinton’s historic quest to become the first female president, maybe you’ll give the GOP ticket a look now. By picking her, McCain also reinforces his image as a maverick — someone who will take bold actions that surprise you.

Why John McCain picked Palin

Palin completely changes the complexion of the election, and helps establish a narrative of two mavericks, one too old and one too young, waging an underdog quest against Battlestar Barack.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a 44-year-old with five children, a captivating TV-mom look and a brief and but weighty background as a reformer governor, has vaulted from relative national obscurity to star in a game-turning role as John McCain’s running mate.

I took an in-depth look at Palin in predicting this choice back in June in in a commentary published in Iowa Independent.

McCain tabs Palin as VP candidate

The Washington Post and numerous sources are reporting the John McCain has selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Here is the Washington Post:

John McCain has selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate, according to the McCain campaign, a surprise pick sure to shake up the race and reinforce the idea of the Arizona senator as a reformer.

Compelling Post in National Review

Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor of the online National Review, has a compelling piece about the choice Sarah Palin and her family made with a Down Syndrome child.

Here is Lopez:

Not only are children with Down Syndrome people too, they inspire a deep love and enthusiastic appreciation. Especially in the face of a culture that wants to expunge them. According to a study cited in the New York Times last year, “About 90 percent of pregnant women who are given a Down syndrome diagnosis have chosen to have an abortion.” (Emphasis added.) Most American women are given prenatal tests.

At 44, Governor Palin is a bit young and relatively new to the political scene yet. These are no small considerations when electing someone who could assume the role of president (Democrats: Check out your nominee with that reservation . . . ). But if the youngest life she and her husband care for can wake up a nation that’s blind to the eugenics in its midst, a routine part of medicine today, she and John McCain would be offering human rights and dignity a great, honorable service. In contrast to Barack Obama, who would let the survivors of botched abortion attempts be killed, the Palins could serve as a great clarifier for voters this fall — and an education.

Email From The Northwest

Just got this from someone identifying himself as Lou Driever:

I totally agree; there are now at least 3 websites pushing her candidacy. I've personally been sending e-mails to the McCain HDQ, Republican national HDQ and Oregon Republican Party HDQ for the last 2 months pointing out the advantages of her selection. If she pulls in just additional percentage points of the women's vote that's enough to time several states! Much more significant effect than having two "old white guys" on the ticket. And even if the ticket goes down in flames, at least it will be with style/class (versus current bland bland bland tedium). My two cents - thanks for the observations! Appreciate the insight.