Factchecking Palin  —  I thought Palin's speech was quite good: well-written, well delivered.  And, as I said earlier, I think she's a genuinely engaging person, and comes across very well.  There were just a couple of problems.  One, which I have seen people notice, but which I suspect …

Text of Sarah Palin's speech  —  ST. PAUL, Minn. (MarketWatch) - Here is the prepared text of a speech given by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, as released by the party.  —  Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens: I am honored to be considered …

Focus Group: Palin Was (Alarmingly) Strong  —  Several moderate-Democrat friends of mine have been emailing—few if any would ever vote for McCain—but all agree that Palin was very strong.  The more liberal among them are a little panicked.  —  I completely misjudged how negative she would be.

OY ... LIVE MICS ARE SUCH DANGEROUS THINGS  —  Just watch (the voices are Mike Murphy and Peggy Noonan) ...  And if you're interested, the transcript ...

Palin E-Mails Show Intense Interest in Trooper's Discipline  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the running mate for GOP presidential candidate John McCain, wrote e-mails that harshly criticized Alaska state troopers for failing to fire her former brother-in-law and ridiculed an internal affairs investigation into his conduct.

McCain Camp Knocks Down Enquirer's Palin Rumor  —  From CBS News' John Bentley:  —  (ST. PAUL, MINN.) - John McCain's campaign threatened legal action against the National Enquirer today for running a story about McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, allegedly having an affair with her husband's business partner.

Clinton aides: Palin treatment sexist  —  ST. PAUL, Minn. — Sarah Palin found some unlikely allies Wednesday as leading academics and even former top aides to Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed the Republican charge that John McCain's running mate has been subject to a sexist double standard by the news media and Democrats.

Obama might pursue criminal charges against Bush  —  Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden said yesterday that he and running mate Barack Obama could pursue criminal charges against the Bush administration if they are elected in November.  —  Biden's comments, first reported by ABC news …

Disrespectful, Angry, and Effective  —  This is a strange spectacle, indeed.  John McCain has been a fixture of Washington, a darling of the media, and, for a time, an excellent spokesman for a progressive economic agenda.  (He even professed his admiration of the New Republic, when he would visit our office for lunch!)

HOW CAN SMART PEOPLE SAY SUCH DUMB THINGS ABOUT SARAH PALIN?  —  At times like these, I'm relieved that I don't cover elections.  There's bum DNA in my heart, and the agita might send me keeling over.  —  How else to react to the sight of sophisticated people saying, with impressively straight faces …

Schneider: Giuliani's ugly approach may backfire  —  ST. PAUL (CNN) - This speech is about mockery - and I wonder whether that's appealing to voters.  I really think this tone is going to turn a lot of voters off - it's ugly, it's bitter, it's nasty.  There is a bullying tone to this speech …

Pointlets on Palin  —  1. She's one of the most talented politicians in America — a natural.  You can't learn that kind of thing.  You simply have it (or you don't).  I suppose Sarah Palin will get better as a politician.  But she's damn good now.  She will not hit her stride.