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Politico Sep 3, 08 9:53 PM CDT
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Sarah Palin tonight played up her small-town credentials, cast herself as a political outsider, and took a swipe at her critics in the media during her much-anticipated address to the Republican convention, Politico reports. After formally accepting the nomination to be vice president, she took a not-so-subtle shot at Barack Obama. "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities."
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MSNBC Sep 3, 08 9:37 PM CDT
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Rudy Giuliani tonight delivered the most blistering attack yet on Barack Obama's qualifications to be president, belittling him as a "celebrity senator" with no legislative record to speak of, MSNBC reports. "He’s never run a city, he’s never run a state, he’s never run a business, he’s never run a military unit,” Giuliani said. “He’s never had to lead people in crisis." It's not a personal attack, he said, but merely a "statement of fact."
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Right-leaning pundits overheard ridiculing McCain's VP pick
Politico Sep 3, 08 6:02 PM CDT
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The hot microphone strikes again. Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan was caught today saying "It's over," as she assessed John McCain's chances in the wake of his Sarah Palin pick, Politico reports. Fellow righty Mike Murphy called the choice of Palin "gimmicky" and "cynical." The comments were picked up by a live mic after the two taped a segment today on NBC.
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ANALYSIS
Palin has plenty on her speech must-do list ... and, oh yeah, Giuliani speaks, too
Politico Sep 3, 08 5:30 PM CDT
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Tonight, Sarah Palin takes center stage at the Republican National Convention, and Politico's Martin Kady II has your viewer's guide: What pregnancy? The maverick will focus on proving she can "do the heavy lifting on policy." Geography round: Palin will drop some knowledge on "despots and dictators" to prove she can handle the terrorist threat.
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Democrat seizes on comment that 'election is not about issues'
Chicago Tribune Sep 3, 08 3:48 PM CDT
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After a day off in deference to Hurricane Gustav, Barack Obama today jumped on a comment by John McCain's campaign manager that the election "is not about issues" and would be decided on personalities, James Oliphant notes in the Swamp blog. "If you don't have any issues to run on, I guess you want it to be all about personality," Obama quipped.
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A man his age has a 15% chance of dying in one term, 33% in two
Politico Sep 3, 08 3:01 PM CDT
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With all the talk about John McCain's advanced age and the suitability of his vice presidential pick, Politico offers up some statistics on mortality rates. According to the actuarial tables that insurance companies use, there is about a 15% chance that a 72-year-old man would die within 4 years—and a 33% chance within 8.
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But McCain camp stresses she was still thoroughly checked out
Washington Post Sep 3, 08 2:25 PM CDT
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Sarah Palin did not meet with John McCain’s top veep-vetter until the day before the Republican nominee announced his pick, the Washington Post reports. Despite the apparent haste, McCain’s camp assured the public that the Alaska governor’s past had been thoroughly examined. But it wasn’t until that last meeting that Palin revealed the pregnancy of her 17-year-old daughter.
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OPINION
If McCain wins, can President Palin be far behind?
World Net Daily Sep 3, 08 1:12 PM CDT
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Sarah Palin may have been a risky choice for John McCain, but “it’s paying off, big-time,” writes Pat Buchanan for World Net Daily. She's quickly become the greatest asset the conservative movement has, according to Buchanan. The pick will energize conservatives, and give McCain a puncher’s chance at the White House. And should he win, President Palin seems all but inevitable.
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OPINION
Pundits disagree on how former McCain rival performed
New Republic Sep 3, 08 1:03 PM CDT
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Pundits from across the political spectrum were moved by Fred Thompson’s tribute to John McCain’s heroic military service. They differ, though, on how well Thompson sold McCain as the next president: Thompson couldn’t have done better, Peter Wehner at the National Review writes: “Fred Thompson did his close friend and former colleague proud. He made the case for John McCain as well as it can be made.”
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OPINION
Alaskan gov's call to 'drill, drill, drill' will resonate
National Review Sep 3, 08 12:20 PM CDT
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Sarah Palin’s Alaska experience gives her just the right expertise for a year when the price of gasoline is going to be the hot-button issue, writes Larry Kudlow in National Review . Her energy policy? “I call it drill, drill, drill,” says Kudlow approvingly. "Our abundant country can produce more energy at lower cost if government gets out of the way."
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OPINION
Cries sexism in the face of 'legitimate questions'
New York Times Sep 3, 08 12:08 PM CDT
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Sarah Palin has brought an “onslaught of wild soap opera storylines” to the McCain campaign, and his party is defending itself by insisting that “life happens,” Maureen Dowd observes in the New York Times . Palin already has a Troopergate, a pregnant teen daughter, and a National Enquirer headline —and the party that once attacked such narratives is now using them to its advantage.
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Abortion, guns, religion became small-town issues
New York Times Sep 3, 08 11:32 AM CDT
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Running for mayor in Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin brought ideological politics to a small-town race that had been focused on roads and sewers, the New York Times reports. The 32-year-old candidate defeated a three-term incumbent by highlighting her anti-abortion stance, her NRA membership, and her religious work —while the state Republican Party, never before involved in mayoral elections, endorsed her.
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Watchers agree they never left, but require an event, like Palin's candidacy, to reemerge
Politico Sep 3, 08 10:22 AM CDT
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The culture wars are heating up again, thanks to Sarah Palin’s staunch opposition to abortion and demonstrated fondness for firearms, Politico reports. Social issues have been largely absent from the campaign so far, with both candidates preferring to focus on the war and the economy. But Palin’s own pregnancy (and her daughter’s) are forcing McCain and Obama to address the issues head on.
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