Top Items:
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
The War Against the Press — I've talked to many political professionals over the years who were mad at the media, or me in particular. — But I've never quite had a conversation like the one Tuesday night with Steve Schmidt. — He was absolutely furious as he unloaded on the journalistic community …
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ABCNEWS:
Another Controversy for Sarah Palin — Former Police Chief Says He Was Fired for Challenging Palin's Campaign Contributors — Gov. Sarah Palin is already facing ethical questions over her firing of the Alaska public safety commissioner, and now she faces questions over the firing of a longtime local police chief.
Los Angeles Times:
McCain had criticized earmarks from Palin — Three times in recent years, the Arizona senator's lists of ‘objectionable’ pork spending have included earmarks requested by his new running mate. — WASILLA, ALASKA — For much of his long career in Washington, John McCain has been throwing darts …
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
McCain Strategist Blasts Media — Top Aide Says News Organizations Are ‘on a Mission to Destroy’ Palin — Sen. John McCain's top campaign strategist accused the news media Tuesday of being “on a mission to destroy” Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin by displaying “a level of viciousness and scurrilousness” …
Mike Allen / The Politico:
McCain: Palin more qualified than Obama — Mounting a ferocious defense of his embattled running mate, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he is buying a TV ad arguing that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has more experience than the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
PALIN REFUSES TO TESTIFY — It didn't take long. We've already brought you news of the official investigation into Gov. Palin's firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. Steve Branchflower, the lead investigator, began trying to arrange a deposition of the governor days before her veep selection.
Discussion:
The New Republic, TPMMuckraker, Anchorage Daily News, Balloon Juice, rubber hose and MyDD
Mark Murray / MSNBC:
FIRST THOUGHTS: AMERICA, MEET SARAH PALIN — From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro — ST. PAUL, MN — And we thought Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton would give the most highly anticipated convention speech. Well, that was before McCain selected the first-term governor …
Michelle Cottle / The New Republic:
Palin's Handling of Other People's Pregnant Teens — Obviously, from the perspective of a progressive, there is much to dislike about Sarah Palin's politics. But this tidbit in today's WaPo strikes me as particularly offensive: … I'm sorry, but a politician who opposes abortion …
Discussion:
Weekly Standard Blog, Hot Air, Washington Monthly, State of the Day, NO QUARTER, Think Progress, The Reaction and MoJoBlog
Hope Ditto / Political Radar:
Dems Call Palin Experience Ad ‘Ridiculous’ — ABC News' Teddy Davis and Hope Ditto report: A McCain ad contrasting Sarah Palin's experience with that of Barack Obama was called “borderline ridiculous” on Wednesday by a top adviser to the Democratic presidential nominee.
Discussion:
Ace of Spades HQ, Hot Air, Little Miss Attila, TIME.com, Post Politics, Commentary and Washington Monthly
Marc Ambinder:
The Palin Pick: What We Know, Don't Know And Just Assume
The Palin Pick: What We Know, Don't Know And Just Assume
Discussion:
PoliticalBase.com Blog
Wall Street Journal:
The Beltway Boys — Even as the Obama camp ponders how best …
The Beltway Boys — Even as the Obama camp ponders how best …
Discussion:
Hot Air, QandO, No More Mister Nice Blog, Betsy's Page, michellemalkin.com, Jules Crittenden, Live Blogging and Wolf Howling
Dan Joling / Associated Press:
Palin has not pushed creation science as governor — ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — As a candidate for governor, Sarah Palin called for teaching creationism alongside evolution in public schools. But after Alaska voters elected her, Palin, now Republican John McCain's presidential running mate …
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Byron York / The Corner:
What Palin Will Do Tonight — I've been talking to a member of the McCain/Palin team this morning about what to expect from Palin's speech to the convention tonight. These speeches often feature a lot of biographical material, introducing an unknown candidate to the world.
Discussion:
culturekitchen
Ann Althouse / Althouse:
“I'm the freaking Governor of Alaska. I didn't get there by just eating mooseburgers and popping out kids.” — This is brilliant. (You will hear “f**k”... once):
Discussion:
Post Politics
Drlaura / Dr. Laura's Blog:
Sarah Palin and Motherhood — I am extremely disappointed in the choice of Sarah Palin as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Republican Party. I will still vote for Senator McCain, because I am very concerned about having a fundamental leftist, especially one who is a marvelous orator, as President.
AndrewHalcro.com:
The real politics of the Bridge to Nowhere.... With all the debate surrounding the Bridge to Nowhere earmark, I offer you a campaign photo from 2006 when the Bridge to Nowhere was considered the Bridge to Somewhere by one candidate seeking votes from the people of Ketchikan.
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Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
Bush: “McCain Wasn't ‘Tortured’” — I checked the transcript this morning and the biggest bombshell in this campaign so far, in my opinion, is the following section of Bush's speech: … Now have you ever heard someone recount what was done to John McCain in the Hanoi Hilton and not use the word “torture”?
Discussion:
Real Clear Politics
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Peggy Noonan / Wall Street Journal:
A Clear and Present Danger To the American Left — Notes from the convention: — Drafts of John McCain's acceptance speech have been bopping around the inside of the campaign for at least a few days, and a question is whether or how much it will be changed to account for the hurricane in New Orleans and the Gulf coast.
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
CHOREOGRAPHY — Since there is widespread agreement that the children of candidates should not become topics of campaign debate, it behooves us to note that the McCain campaign has almost singlehandedly made Sarah Palin's daughter a central figure in the Republican convention.
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Obama Met With Fox News Executives — At a secret meeting with Barack Obama three months ago, Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes says, he tried to clear the air with the Democratic senator by saying that his organization was determined to be fair but would not be “in the tank” for Obama's campaign.