GETTING REAL ABOUT PALIN  —  I've noticed some people who should know better claiming that bringing up Gov. Palin's troopergate scandal is tantamount to making a victim of or defending her slimeball ex-brother-in-law who allegedly once used a taser on his stepson.  —  That's awfully foolish.

Borderline  —  This is amazing: … The more I learn about this choice, the more it reminds me of Bush's choice of Harriet Miers.  I don't think it's at all similar in its political ramifications — Miers' nomination was seen as a betrayal by social conservatives, the very people who are thrilled by Sarah Palin.

Republicans Drop Most Convention Action on Monday  —  ST. PAUL — Senator John McCain called a halt on Sunday afternoon to all but the most essential activities for the Republican National Convention on Monday, declaring that it was time for members of his party to “take off our Republican hats …

GOP sees potential redemption in Gustav  —  ST. PAUL, Minn. — Republican officials say their radically curtailed convention offers a big political opportunity for the party to redeem itself on the competence issue — and for John McCain to step out of President Bush's shadow once and for all.

Will McCain Ruin Palin?  —  A reader writes: … I wouldn't say I have quite the same Palin-love that progressives had for Obama in '04 ... but yeah, I'm sure this is part of the reason I'm pulling so hard for her to succeed: She's a politician I've liked for a while who's been thrust onto …

Ex-Dem Chair Apologizes for Hurricane Remark  —  ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Former DNC Chairman Don Fowler apologized on Sunday for joking in a private conversation that the timing of Hurricane Gustav demonstrates that God is on the side of the Democrats.

Vice in Go-Go Boots?  —  The guilty pleasure I miss most when I'm out slogging on the campaign trail is the chance to sprawl on the chaise and watch a vacuously spunky and generically sassy chick flick.  —  So imagine my delight, my absolute astonishment, when the hokey chick flick came out on the trail …

DailyKos Embraces The Palin ‘Fake Pregnancy’ Rumor But Rejects The Edwards Story  —  Its the wackiest rumor about Sarah Palin or any other politician so far this election.  It's making it's way all through the internet.  And of course it came from DailyKos.

BECAUSE OF THE HYPOCRISY!  [NOW UPDATED WITH EVEN MORE DASTARDLY HYPOCRISYNESS!]  —  Time to keep a running list of Sarah Palin's sins — lovingly gathered, mostly in crazed speculative form — by members of the Church of Diversity and Otherness coddling.  —  1) Alan Colmes: Poor prenatal care …

McCain and Graham Repeat False Claim That Palin Opposed The ‘Bridge To Nowhere’  —  This morning on Fox News Sunday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) cited Gov. Sarah Palin's (R-AK) 2007 cancellation of the so-called “Bridge to Nowhere” as one reason he selected her as his running mate.