Top Items:
James Fallows:
The Palin interview — It is embarrassing to have to spell this out, but for the record let me explain why Gov. Palin's answer to the “Bush Doctrine” question — the only part of the recent interview I have yet seen over here in China — implies a disqualifying lack of preparation for the job.
Discussion:
TalkLeft, The Daily Dish, Taylor Marsh, Kevin Drum, Eunomia, The Washington Independent, Balloon Juice, Ben Smith's Blogs and Obsidian Wings
RELATED:
Anne E. Kornblut / Washington Post:
Palin Links Iraq to 9/11, A View Discarded by Bush — Gov. Sarah Palin linked the war in Iraq with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, telling an Iraq-bound brigade of soldiers that included her son that they would “defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans.”
Discussion:
The Flack, Wonk Room, Hot Air, Firedoglake, The Swamp, New York Times, Confederate Yankee, D-Day, Liberal Values, JustOneMinute, The Plank, Political Machine, www.redstate.com, The E&P Pub, Flopping Aces, The Long War Journal, Stop The ACLU, DownWithTyranny!, Towleroad.com, Spin Cycle, Pajamas Media, Wonkette, Right Wing News and NewsBusters.org
William Kristol / Weekly Standard:
Stupid or Malicious? — The Washington Post distorts Palin on page one. — Here are the headline and the first two paragraphs from an article posted online that apparently will be on the front page of Friday's Washington Post: … Kornblut's interpretation of what Palin said is either stupid or malicious.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish, The Moderate Voice, Washington Post, pw, Commentary, American Power, Michelle Malkin and Cold Fury
New York Post:
ABC'S BUNGLES — BOTCHES MAR PALIN INTERVIEW — LAST night, Sarah Palin had her first big-time media interview with Charlie Gibson on ABC World News Tonight. — At times, Palin seemed to know less than she should. On the other hand, Gibson sometimes seemed to “know” things that just aren't so.
Discussion:
pw
Jack Shafer / Slate:
Palin vs. Gibson, Round 1 — THE ABC NEWS ANCHOR FLUMMOXES THE GOP AMATEUR. — Without being smarmy about it or unfurling gotcha questions, ABC News anchor Charles Gibson demonstrated that he knows volumes more about national security and foreign policy than does Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
Kimberly Kindy / Washington Post:
A Tangled Story of Addiction — Consequences of Cindy McCain's Drug Abuse Were More Complex Than She Has Portrayed — When Cindy McCain is asked what issues she would champion as first lady, she often cites one of the most difficult periods of her life: her battle with — and ultimate victory over — prescription painkillers.
Richard Starr / Weekly Standard:
What Exactly Is the ‘Bush Doctrine’?
What Exactly Is the ‘Bush Doctrine’?
Discussion:
The Corner, Ben Smith's Blogs, Power Line, TPM Election Central, Associated Press and TalkLeft
Nitya / Political Punch:
Barack ‘Isotoner’ Obama to Take Off his Third or Fourth Pair of Gloves and Get Tough — Like any number of Democratic candidates before him — Mike Dukakis, Al Gore, John Kerry — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, is once again declaring that he is going to take off the gloves and fight back against attacks from the Republican party.
Discussion:
The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, Hot Air, Political Radar, Weekly Standard, Swampland and Stop The ACLU
RELATED:
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Obama camp seizes on ‘divorced’ comment — After a week on defense, Barack Obama's campaign is roaring back with a new theme for attacking John McCain: “out of touch.” — In a conference call with reporters on Friday morning, the Obama campaign seized on a comment by McCain in Thursday …
New York Times:
Obama Plans Sharper Tone as Party Frets — Senator Barack Obama will intensify his assault against Senator John McCain, with new television advertisements and more forceful attacks by the candidate and surrogates beginning Friday morning, as he confronts an invigorated Republican presidential ticket …
Lydia Saad / Gallup:
Battle for Congress Suddenly Looks Competitive — Democrats' double-digit lead on the “generic ballot” slips to 3 points — PRINCETON, NJ — A potential shift in fortunes for the Republicans in Congress is seen in the latest USA Today/Gallup survey, with the Democrats now leading …
CNN:
Sea floods Texas island; get out or ‘certain death’ — HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) — Floodwaters surged into Galveston Island neighborhoods Friday morning with the center of Hurricane Ike still more than 200 miles from landfall. — On the Bolivar Peninsula, northeast of Galveston …
RELATED:
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Obama to pressure McCain on openness — Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) plans to release 10 years of his tax returns on Friday morning, pressuring his Republican counterpart, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, to do the same, Politico has learned. — The move is part of a fresh aggressiveness from Barack Obama's campaign …
RELATED:
Matt / Think Progress:
On ‘The View,’ McCain Falsely Claims Palin Never Requested Earmarks As Governor Of Alaska — Appearing on “The View” today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) falsely claimed that Sarah Palin never requested earmarks as the governor of Alaska. “Not as governor she didn't,” McCain told Barbara Walters after she noted Palin “took some earmarks”:
Joe Klein / Swampland:
The McCain Tax Increases—Continued — Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former Director of the Congressional Budget Office and current chief McCain economic advisor, is an honest man—which means he's something of a liability on the Straight Talk Express. A few months ago, he admitted to my colleague …
Sam Stein / The Huffington Post:
McCain Pre-Palin: Mayors And Governors Can't Handle National Security — When does being a governor or mayor for a short period of time not disqualify your credentials on national security? When you are John McCain and your task is to defend your vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
The Politico:
Zach Wamp — Rep. Zach Wamp has represented Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District since 1995. — He serves with seniority on the House Appropriations Committee on the Energy and Water Subcommittee and as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.
Charles Babington / Associated Press:
Analysis: McCain's claims skirt facts, test voters — WASHINGTON (AP) — The “Straight Talk Express” has detoured into doublespeak. — Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a self-proclaimed tell-it-like-it-is maverick, keeps saying his running mate, Sarah Palin …