Alaskans Speak (In A Frightened Whisper): Palin Is “Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, And Mean”  —  “So Sambo beat the bitch!”  —  This is how Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin described Barack Obama's win over Hillary Clinton to political colleagues in a restaurant a few days …

Thanks, Guys  —  The media's attacks on Sarah Palin backfire.  —  The editors of THE WEEKLY STANDARD believe in giving credit where credit is due.  The presidential race looks a whole lot better today than it did two weeks ago.  For this, thanks are owed to two men—Barack Obama and John McCain …

Republican Recycling  —  This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage.  Guerrilla campaigning.  They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Gallup Daily: Obama's Edge Shrinks to 2 Points  —  Election Preferences Nearly Tied Again, 47%-45%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama's advantage over John McCain has been shrinking since the start of the Republican National Convention, and is now down to just two percentage points — 47% to 45% — too close to call.

Sarah Palin will be missing from action Sunday a.m.  —  As is The Ticket's custom, a post listing the entire roster of appearances on this Sunday's interview programs will pop up Saturday at noon PDT (3 p.m. EDT).  —  But here's an advance heads up, in part because of who WON'T be found on any of the chat shows.

Obama rebukes Palin on earmarks  —  TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — Barack Obama made his first direct criticism of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on Saturday, saying she pretends to oppose spending earmarks when she actually has embraced them.  —  Speaking to 800 people …

George W. Palin  —  Frum again: … This decision is not worthy of a great power.  Whatever skills Palin may turn out to have, however fabulous a person she may turn out to be, even if she becomes the Eva Peron of Christianism, McCain … He winged this.  That's the critical, unavoidable, devastating point.

THOSE OF US WHO ARE ABOUT TO TIRE SWING ...  It always brings a tear to my eye when I see the Grey Lady hopping on the McCain tire swing.  But there she goes.  Yesterday the McCain campaign was all mum on the Walter Reed/Green Screen goof until deep in the evening when they released …

McCain, Obama Set Joint Sept. 11 Appearance  —  Laura Meckler reports from Colorado Springs, Colo., on the presidential race:  —  The rancor of the presidential campaign will come to a pause on Thursday as Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama jointly visit Ground Zero …

The Vanishing Republican Voter  —  I LIVE IN WASHINGTON, in a neighborhood that is home to lawyers, political consultants, television personalities and the chief executive of the TIAA-CREF pension fund.  Not exactly an abode of the superrich, but the kind of neighborhood where almost nobody does …

An Adviser Puts His Stamp on the McCain Campaign  —  ST. PAUL — It was what aides to Senator John McCain describe as probably the worst night of his campaign.  As Senator Barack Obama claimed the Democratic nomination before a cheering sea of faces on national television …

Inhofe says patriotism question will sink Obama  —  ST. PAUL, Minn. — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe predicted voters' uncertainty over whether Barack Obama really loves his country will help Republicans win the White House again in November.  —  A spokeswoman for the Democratic nominee …

The Trail  —  One of the most compelling anecdotes in Sarah Palin's repertoire is that she auctioned off the Alaska governor's jet on eBay after taking office — a swift move made by a reformer hoping to clean up the excesses of her predecessor.  —  In fact, the jet did not sell on eBay.

Palin inexperienced?  Not really  —  Greta van Susteren took a look at the “inexperienced” criticism of Sarah Palin by interviewing people who worked with Palin in Alaska.  She spoke with the current mayor of Wasilla, which is — surprise! — one of the five largest cities in Alaska …

Palin's Hockey Rink Leads To Legal Trouble in Town She Led  —  WASILLA, Alaska — The biggest project that Sarah Palin undertook as mayor of this small town was an indoor sports complex, where locals played hockey, soccer, and basketball, especially during the long, dark Alaskan winters.