Top Items:
Ben Smith / The Politico:
McCain on Palin — A tough interview with a Maine reporter yesterday, in which McCain speaks on Palin's national security experience. Uncharacteristically, he's much more at home on the domestic policy side. — At one point, he says that Palin “was right” on Russia and on Iran.
Discussion:
TPM Election Central
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Joe Sudbay / AMERICAblog News:
McCain finally answers some questions — or tries to answer some questions. He's terrible. — NOTE FROM JOHN: Watch McCain about a minute and a half into the tape, when he's asked what National Security credentials Sarah Palin has. He replies “energy.” The reporter goes, no, I asked you about national security.
George Bryson / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Critics: Under Palin, Wasilla charged rape victims for exam — Two state leaders lashed out at the public record of Gov. Sarah Palin on Wednesday as witnesses in a new “Alaska Mythbusters” forum coordinated by supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Discussion:
American Street, Eschaton, At-Largely, Daily Kos, Riehl World View, Booman Tribune and AMERICAblog News
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Associated Press:
Former GOP senator calls Palin a ‘cocky wacko’ — PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Former Rhode Island Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee has called vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin a “cocky wacko” and said her selection as John McCain's running mate has energized supporters of Democrat Barack Obama.
Discussion:
Jonathan Martin's Blogs, Michelle Malkin, NewsBusters.org, JammieWearingFool and TIME.com
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Andy Barr / The Hill's Blog Briefing Room:
Palin Sought Guidance from Rick Warren — Pastor Rick Warren got a call from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) this week seeking help in dealing with the “unfair, unjust attacks” the GOP vice presidential candidate believes she has come under. — On a Los Angeles radio show …
The Politico:
Autumn Angst: Dems fret about Obama — Polls showing John McCain tied or even ahead of Barack Obama are stirring angst and second-guessing among some of the Democratic Party's most experienced operatives, who worry that Obama squandered opportunities over the summer and may still be underestimating his challenges this fall.
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Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Kagan: Knowledge Is Elitist — Robert Kagan says it's elitist to expect a President of the United States to be knowledgeable about national security issues: … Based on the structure of the situation, it's plausible that Kagan is just being opportunistically dishonest here and trying to say something useful to the Republican ticket.
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David Paul Kuhn / Yahoo! News:
GOP foreign policy experts cool on Palin — In state after state, rally after rally, Sarah Palin is generating record levels of enthusiasm among the Republican base. Crowds chant her name, congressional candidates cite her in their ads and there are numerous reports of a surge in grass roots volunteers for the McCain campaign.
Discussion:
Balloon Juice
Bloomberg:
Palin May Move to Block Subpoenas in Trooper Case — Sept. 11 (Bloomberg) — A top law enforcement official in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's administration is considering steps to block a legislative probe into allegations she improperly fired the state's No. 1 police official.
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Karl Rove / Wall Street Journal:
Obama Can't Win Against Palin — Of all the advantages Gov. Sarah Palin has brought to the GOP ticket, the most important may be that she has gotten into Barack Obama's head. How else to explain Sen. Obama's decision to go one-on-one against “Sarah Barracuda,” captain of the Wasilla High state basketball champs?
Frank James / The Swamp:
Palin's experience OK: Illinois's Dem guv — Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Chicago Tribune photo by Michael Tercha.) — by Rick Pearson — Illinois' Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich admits he can't field dress a moose and his hunting targets tend to be more along the lines of state legislators in his own party who don't trust him.
Nancy Dillon / NY Daily News:
Reports that Track Palin vandalized school buses aren't true, says pal — Despite snowballing reports and rumors, Sarah Palin's eldest son, Track, was not part of the gang of four teenagers who criminally vandalized — 44 Alaska school buses in 2005, a key culprit told The News. — “Track wasn't with me.
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Howard Fineman / MSNBC:
Obama's woes have nothing to do with ‘lipstick’ — Howard Fineman on the candidate's pride, strategy and stump speak — Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. gestures as he speaks during a town hall meeting in the library of Granby High School in Norfolk, Va., Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2008.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, The Stump, Hot Air, Media Blog, NewsBusters.org, ABCNEWS, Commentary and Ace of Spades HQ
Joe Klein / Swampland:
McCain's Health Care Tax Increase — A new rule here: Rather than do the McCain campaign's bidding by wasting space on Senator Honor's daily lies and bilge—his constant attempts to divert attention from substantive issues—I'm going to assume that others will spend more than enough …
Gallup:
Gallup Daily: McCain 48%, Obama 44% — McCain has held significant lead for last four days — PRINCETON, NJ — Registered voters continue to express a slight preference for John McCain (48%) over Barack Obama (44%) in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking presidential trial heat.
Keith Olbermann / MSNBC:
Republicans have hijacked 9/11 — An American tragedy made into a political commodity — SPECIAL COMMENT — As promised, a Special Comment about our sad anniversary tomorrow. — Or, more correctly, what our sad anniversary tomorrow has been turned into by the presidential administration …
Joe Klein / Time:
Sarah Palin's Myth of America — Sarah Palin has arrived in our midst with the force of a rocket-propelled grenade. She has boosted John McCain's candidacy and overwhelmed the presidential process in a way that no vice-presidential pick has since Thomas Eagleton did the precise opposite …
Beth Reinhard / Naked Politics:
Christian leader calls Obama “scary,” points to “Muslim roots” — The Muslim-peddling about Democratic nominee Barack Obama continues, mostly through lies trafficked over the Internet, but also in questions raised in polite company by well-known and influential members of the political establishment.
Matt Stoller / Open Left:
Did McCain Tamper with the Drug Enforcement Agency to Protect His Career? — You can Digg this post here. I have more video from Gosinski) — A whistleblower is coming forth against John and Cindy McCain, and the picture he is painting is not a pretty one.