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 …

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 …

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 …

She Is a Small-Town Mayor.  She Is Not — Repeat, Not — the Governor of Alaska.  —  In an interview of Barack Obama last night, CNN's Anderson Cooper mentioned Sarah Palin's experience as a small-town mayor and as governor of Alaska.  Obama, hewing to his campaign's talking points, ignored the governor part:

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Sarah Palin: she came from nowhere  —  Can a mother-of-five who shoots bears and eats moose, and whose political experience is limited to governing a population the size of Bristol, really expect to be Vice-President of the US?  We visit Wasilla, Alaska to investigate the Sarah Palin phenomenon

The TNR Q&A: Charles Barkley  —  Liberal is a word “rich people on television use to divide and conquer” and other life lessons from the (potential) future governor of Alabama.  —  With the political season kicking into high gear, it seemed like the right time for another chat with Sir Charles Barkley.

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 …