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.
Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:
McCain says Palin to do “numerous” interviews — John McCain told a local TV station yesterday that Sarah Palin would be “coming out in the next couple of days with interviews with numerous people.” — In a interview with the NBC affiliate in Portland, Maine, McCain was asked why his running mate …
Discussion:
TIME.com
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:
Balloon Juice, Eschaton, Daily Kos, American Street, Riehl World View, Taylor Marsh, At-Largely, AMERICAblog News and Booman Tribune
RELATED:
USA Today:
Palin's town used to bill victims for rape kits — WASILLA, Alaska — In 2000, Alaska lawmakers learned that rural police agencies had been billing rape victims or their insurance companies $500 to $1,200 for the costs of the forensic medical examinations used to gather evidence.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly, The Campaign Spot, AMERICAblog News and The Jed Report
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.
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:
Michelle Malkin, Jonathan Martin's Blogs, NewsBusters.org, TIME.com and JammieWearingFool
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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 …
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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Nate Silver / The New Republic:
What's the Matter with Michigan? — Why Obama is faltering in a state that should go blue. — Democrats have grown accustomed to winning Michigan by relatively comfortable margins. Bill Clinton flipped the state in 1992, bringing home the Reagan Democrats and giving the party its first win in the state since 1968.
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight.com
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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.
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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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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 …
Discussion:
Patterico's Pontifications, The Reaction, NewsBusters.org, TIME.com and Confederate Yankee
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 …
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
On the nature of elitism — Democratic activist and Hillary Clinton supporter Lynn Forester de Rothschild looks at the charge of elitism as tossed around by both campaigns and tries to correct the impression that it concerns one's background, at least as a political concept.
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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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Patrick Healy / Press Association:
McCain and Obama Call Truce for 9/11 — John McCain and Barack Obama suspended their political advertising today and left the campaign trail for events marking the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, with both men expected to make a joint appearance this afternoon at ground zero.
Discussion:
Althouse
Clive Crook:
Lipstick on a pig — One wonders how much lower this election can sink. The furore over “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig” sets a new benchmark. The idea that Barack Obama seriously intended to call Sarah Palin a pig is surely absurd.
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, Newsweek Blogs, Hot Air, NewsBusters.org, Media Blog, ABCNEWS, Commentary and Ace of Spades HQ
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.
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.
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?