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Republicans Rush In — One of the great sights of American political life — a YouTube moment if ever there was one — was to see the doughboy face of Newt Gingrich as he extolled the virtues of Sarah Palin, a sitcom of a vice presidential choice and a disaster movie if she moves up to the presidency …
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Kristol on Sarah Palin, Hockey Mom — McCain aides whose judgment I trust are impressed by Sarah Palin. One was particularly amused by this exchange: A nervous young McCain staffer took it upon himself to explain to Palin the facts of life in a national campaign, the intense scrutiny she'd …

Why the Palin Baby Story Matters — St. Paul — At 6:30 Monday morning, at a hotel here in St. Paul, a team of senior McCain staffers got word from even more senior staffers that there was news about vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin. Everybody had heard the rumors, spread on The Atlantic …

Attorney challenges Monegan firing query — The state has hired a private lawyer to represent Gov. Sarah Palin's office in the Legislature's investigation into the firing of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. The lawyer already has challenged whether lawmakers even have authority to oversee the inquiry.

Another AIP Official Says Palin Was at 1994 Convention — An intense “she said"/"she said" has emerged over whether Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was ever a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, the third-largest political party in the 49th state. The AIP wants Alaskans to get an opportunity …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The Huffington Post, Washington Post, Weekly Standard Blog and Sister Toldjah

WELL, NOW WE KNOW MORE ABOUT SARAH PALIN'S FOREIGN POLICY PREFERENCES...

What the Palin Pick Says — John McCain is not a normal conservative. He has instincts, but few abstract convictions about the proper size of government. He's a traditionalist, but is not energized by the social conservative agenda. As Rush Limbaugh understands, but the Democrats apparently do not …
Discussion:
The New Republic, Jonathan Martin's Blogs, Slate, Political Machine, MyDD, Eunomia and Grasping Reality …
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Disclosures on Palin Raise Questions on Vetting Process — ST. PAUL — A series of disclosures about Gov. Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain's choice as running mate, called into question on Monday how thoroughly Mr. McCain had examined her background before putting her on the Republican presidential ticket.
Discussion:
MoJoBlog, The Daily Dish, Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Washington Monthly, Washington Post, Pajamas Media, The Caucus, Philly.com, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The Swamp, The Edge of the American West, TPM Election Central, Hot Air, Sister Toldjah, Salon, MSNBC, Open Left, AMERICAblog News, Media Blog, Jezebel, Donklephant, Guardian, Wake up America, Little Miss Attila, Below The Beltway, Marc Ambinder, Happy Furry Puppy Story …, AlterNet.org, Spin Cycle, Ace of Spades HQ, PoliBlog (TM), TIME.com, No More Mister Nice Blog, Connecting.the.Dots and Daily Kos


McCain Turns Sour on His Onetime Media ‘Base’ as Election Nears — Sept. 2 (Bloomberg) — The longtime love affair between John McCain and what he once called his “base” — the national news media — is on the rocks. — McCain's campaign manager, Steve Schmidt, yesterday lashed out at what he deemed …


Palin's Small Alaska Town Secured Big Federal Funds
Discussion:
MSNBC, TPMCafe, The Swamp, PoliBlog (TM), Washington Monthly, The Huffington Post, Hullabaloo, Guardian, The Politico, Salon, Hot Air, Think Progress, TPMMuckraker, QandO, Wonk Room, Bring It On!, Boston Globe, Booman Tribune, Achenblog, TPM Election Central, OpenSecrets.org, Cogitamus and Mercury Rising

McCain camp's detailed review of Palin
Discussion:
McClatchy Washington Bureau, Marc Ambinder, Associated Press, Real Clear Politics and Reuters


Obama defends natural disaster experience — (CNN) — Barack Obama defended his experience in dealing with natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, and took a swipe at newly minted GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. — In an interview on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 Monday night …
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She Is a Small-Town Mayor. She Is Not — Repeat, Not — the Governor of Alaska.
Discussion:
Ace of Spades HQ

Scarborough rips Bush for using Gustav to demand more offshore drilling: ‘Just stop!’ — This morning, President Bush discussed Hurricane Gustav, using the occasion to push for more offshore drilling: … Reacting to Bush's statement on MSNBC's Morning Joe, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
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Paul Is Here, and the RNC Isn't Happy — Amid Questions of His Book's Authorship, He Hosts ‘Counterconvention’ — Former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has boasted that he wrote a book slamming the Iraq war and challenging the nation's economic system to continue a grass-roots movement …
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McCain in talks with Ron Paul for backing — Gunning for valuable but loyal supporter list — The McCain campaign, acting through the Republican National Committee, has been negotiating with Rep. Ron Paul to win his support and acquire the names of his sympathizers among the 4,607 delegates …


Gallup Daily: Obama Hits 50% for First Time — Leads McCain by eight percentage points, 50% to 42% — PRINCETON, NJ — Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, finds Barack Obama leading the race for president with his highest share of support to date.
Discussion:
TPM Election Central


Look Long & Hard At This Photograph, America. I Mean Really Long & Hard — Look long and hard at this photograph, America. I mean really long and hard. Because when all is said and done, this is what selecting a vice presidential running mate is all about. — Look long and hard at this photograph, America.
Discussion:
The Reaction


Sun Makes History: First Spotless Month in a Century — Drop in solar activity has potential effect for climate on earth. — The sun has reached a milestone not seen for nearly 100 years: an entire month has passed without a single visible sunspot being noted.

John McCain Has a Tax Plan To Create Jobs — John McCain's tax policies are designed to create jobs, increase wages and allow all Americans — especially those in the hard-pressed middle class — to keep more of what they earn. His plan achieves these goals in three important ways.

A Wasted Day: Gustav 1 McCain 0 — Some were speculating that Gustav might give John McCain an opportunity to appear Presidential and in charge on the first day of his convention. — Nonsense. — Yesterday was a wasted day in Minneapolis. Instead of attacks on Barack Obama and praise …
Discussion:
Gotham Acme
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Sarah Palin, teen pregnancy and what? — ST. PAUL - The late Thomas Eagleton lasted 18 days as the nominated running mate of Democrat George McGovern in 1972. — Will Sarah Palin last the month? — The comparison itself could strike many as unfair. — But the question is unavoidable …
Discussion:
Don Surber
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Pool: What Day Will Sarah Palin Drop Out?
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Newshoggers.com, Philly.com, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, The Opinionator, Althouse, TownHall Blog, Confederate Yankee, The Nation, Right Wing News, Gateway Pundit, Comments from Left Field, Riehl World View, Washington Monthly, BlogHer, Real Clear Politics and Matthew Yglesias


Obama Gains Among Former Clinton Supporters — Obama gains on other dimensions, including terrorism and leadership — PRINCETON, NJ — The Democratic convention appears to have helped solidify support for Barack Obama among former Hillary Clinton supporters, with the percent saying …