Top Items:
Washington Post:
Exclusive: Chief Fired by Palin Speaks Out — The July firing of Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan by Gov. Sarah Palin, who was announced as John McCain's running mate on Friday, has unearthed a stream of soap-opera-like details about Palin, her husband, her family and top state appointees.
Discussion:
Fausta's Blog, Flopping Aces, Roger Ailes, Taylor Marsh, Obsidian Wings, The RBC, AMERICAblog News, MyDD and DownWithTyranny!
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William Yardley / New York Times:
Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms — Her father shot the grizzly bear whose hide is now draped over the sofa in her office. She, too, hunts and fishes. She runs marathons. She delivered her fifth child during her first term as governor. They call her husband …
Lisa Demer / Anchorage Daily News:
‘Troopergate’ inquiry lurks — The first serious scandal in Gov. Sarah Palin's administration has roots in a family feud. It erupted into public view with the July 11 firing of the state's top public safety official. — Some call it Troopergate. — Palin's abrupt dismissal …
Akmuckraker / Mudflats:
What is McCain Thinking? One Alaskan's Perspective. … “Is this a joke?” That seemed to be the question du jour when my phone started ringing off the hook at 6:45am here in Alaska. I mean, we're sort of excited that our humble state has gotten some kind of national ‘nod’....but seriously?
Discussion:
TBogg, MSNBC, Time, Spin Cycle, Washington Post, The Daily Dish, The Corner, The RBC, The New Republic and Washington Monthly
MTV Newsroom:
Sarah Palin, Republican Vice-Presidential Nominee, Plugs Romney, Paul — But Not McCain — In MTV Interview — By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Dani Carlson — Back in February, on Super Tuesday, MTV News Street Teamer Dani Carlson did a Flixwagon interview with Alaska Governor …
Christopher Hayes / The Nation:
Sarah Palin, Buchananite — Very quickly. Remember when Pat Buchanan ran a number of hard-right, fringe campaigns for president in the late 1980s, 1990s and 2000? Well, guess who was supporting him: — From an AP report in 1999: … In fact, [a very committed Buchananite] …
Discussion:
Religion Clause, Harry's Place, Wonk Room, Firedoglake, rjchq.org, Alas, a blog, Feministe, American Spectator, Ben Smith's Blogs, Liberal Values, The Politico, Lonewacko, Climate Progress, American Street, The New Republic, Daily Kos, DeSmogBlog, The Reaction, The Huffington Post, Boston Globe, Open Left, NewsMax.com and TPMCafe
Hindrocket / Power Line:
THE BRIGHT SIDE — Paul and I have already voiced our concerns …
THE BRIGHT SIDE — Paul and I have already voiced our concerns …
Discussion:
Maggie's Farm, TigerHawk, Pam's House Blend, The Daily Dish, Open Left, Associated Press, Midwest Voices and The Swamp
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Right On Time — At TPMMuckraker we've been on the Palin/Trooper-gate story for a while.
Right On Time — At TPMMuckraker we've been on the Palin/Trooper-gate story for a while.
David Frum:
Palin — The longer I think about it, the less well this selection sits with me. And I increasingly doubt that it will prove good politics. The Palin choice looks cynical. The wires are showing. — John McCain wanted a woman: good. — He wanted to keep conservatives and pro-lifers happy: naturally.
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Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
Three Words — Think about what the Palin pick really says about how McCain views this campaign and how he views his potential responsibilities in national security. — Think about what it says about the sincerity of McCain's own central criticism of Obama these past two months in foreign affairs.
Discussion:
Daily Kos
Greg Veis / The New Republic:
An Astonishingly Arrogant V.P. Selection — It may be John McCain's birthday, but it seems like he's the one giving out gifts today. The selection of Palin doesn't simply, as others have pointed out, undermine the notion that Obama is too inexperienced to be president …
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
How McCain picked Palin — The McCain campaign shares the start of the back story on how McCain came to make his stunning selection today:
David Frum / National Post:
Palin the irresponsible choice? — Through this campaign season, John McCain has faced two ugly problems. — Problem 1: The Republican voter base is shrinking. In percentage terms, fewer Americans now identify as Republicans than at any time since 1980. The “rally the base” strategy of 2004 won't work in 2008.
Discussion:
Election Law
Media Matters for America:
With morning announcement of Palin pick comes morning sexism on cable news
With morning announcement of Palin pick comes morning sexism on cable news
Jazz Shaw / The Moderate Voice:
Palin on “Troopergate” and Abortion
Palin on “Troopergate” and Abortion
Discussion:
Comments from Left Field, LifeNews.com Pro-Life …, AMERICAblog News, Salon and Liberty Street
Jeralyn / TalkLeft:
Rep. Diana DeGette: Palin Choice an “Insult to Women”
Rep. Diana DeGette: Palin Choice an “Insult to Women”
Discussion:
michellemalkin.com
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Obama distances himself from “hair-trigger” campaign criticism
Obama distances himself from “hair-trigger” campaign criticism
Discussion:
NO QUARTER, The Caucus, Political Punch, TIME.com, Wake up America, Real Clear Politics and Patterico's Pontifications
Jon Soltz / The Huffington Post:
60 Days To Judge a Commander in Chief?
60 Days To Judge a Commander in Chief?
Discussion:
AMERICAblog News, The Jed Report, Scripting News, Comments from Left Field and Think Progress
Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Palin on Iraq — Make of this what you will: — I, frankly, have no idea what she's trying to say here. Apparently the McCain campaign didn't think it was important to brief her on their Iraq policy before she did an interview with Time — UPDATE: Apologies, I misunderstood …
Discussion:
Kevin Drum
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Ben Smith / The Politico:
Buchanan: Palin was a ‘brigader for me’ in '96 — Perhaps Rep. Robert Wexler's instincts were right here, and the Obama campaign will likely drive this one home with the Jewish community in Florida and Ohio: Palin (along with her husband), says former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, was a “brigader for me in 1996.”
Glenn Thrush / The Politico:
Dems armed with Palin opposition — Sarah Palin may be a complete stranger to most of the American public, but there's an important subset of the population that's doubtless already very familiar with John McCain's surprise vice presidential pick: Democratic opposition researchers.
New York Times:
Obama's Speech Is a TV Hit, With Viewers and Commentators Alike — At least 40 million Americans watched Senator Barack Obama accept the Democratic nomination for president Thursday night, a record for convention viewership that exceeded even the expectations of his aides.