"This was the voice of moderation until 13 Sept, 2025"
by publius This is nothing other than a gut feeling, but I suspect Palin may have survived the early-round knockout that seemed possible just a day or two ago. The AIP story has not checked out. Also, I get the distinct sense in watching the coverage last night that the McCain campaign has successfully pushed … Read more
by hilzoy Every so often, I run across an argument so manifestly absurd that I think: wow, this isn’t just spin and deception, this is performance art. Today I found just such an argument, made by Frank Gaffney: “Speaking of geography, Alaskan territory is also along the trajectory of ballistic missiles launched eastward out of … Read more
by hilzoy While I was out this afternoon, the McCain campaign released records showing that Sarah Palin was not registered as a member of the Alaska Independence Party, though TPM Muckraker found that her husband was. Now the main source for the story that Sarah Palin was a party member is backing off his earlier … Read more
by publius As Hilzoy correctly pointed out, the real significance of McCain’s Russian Roulette blind VP nomination is that it reflects upon his judgment and illustrates that he will govern on the fly. Yglesias adds another crucial point, and I’ll just quote him: Looking at the Sarah Palin debacle, one is reminded that one of … Read more
by hilzoy From the NYT: “A Republican with ties to the campaign said the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice. The campaign was still calling Republican operatives as late as Sunday night asking them … Read more
by hilzoy Ben Smith in Politico: “I can’t remember the last introduction to the national scene this rocky, and it gets worse every hour — and even before the investigative reporters have settled in to Anchorage. Just got off the flight to St. Paul to find, in my inbox: a second source confirming her past … Read more
by publius Even assuming the Palin post-selection vetting turns out ok, it’s still looking more like a disaster. It just completely undermines McCain’s strongest argument, which is that Obama lacks the experience necessary to lead. The contradiction is starting to bear some poisonous fruit. Check out (via TPM) this Campbell Brown interview of Tucker Bounds, … Read more
by hilzoy Sarah Palin on her daughter’s pregnancy: “”We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We’re proud … Read more