Shame on John McCain, that he would exploit Sarah Palin and her new born baby, borned with down syndrome to entice voters...Shame on John McCain, that he would choose someone who is not qualified to be Commander and Chief of the United States in an unspoken event...Shame on John McCain that he neglected to choose any other senator or governor whom surpass the years and experience of Sarah Palin...a true slap in the face to them...McCain's thoughtless selection of Sarah Palin is 'exploitation of women to the fullest'...this 'maverick' needs to be 'outlawed' for the goodness and safety of this country.

The only explanation I can think of is that he (Mc Cain) is working for the writer of Saturday Night Live.....I won't miss their take on this

Paul,
Chill out dude!! What McCain did was unite his party! She believes in everything that a conservative Republican does. She is someone that the evangelicals will rally behind in a heart beat! You have got to be kidding yourself if you think that this did not help unite him with the evangelicals who he has major problems with.

As far as experience goes..well Obama has none either and he is the one in the major role of running this country if he won, she isn't going to be if McCain did. McCain has proven that he is very healthy so bringing up his age and health is ridiculous on your part.

If it's OK for Obama to do on the job training then it's OK for Palin. What's good for the goose is good for the gander!

Cindy...Ga.

I think it's a desperate pick - not desperation for McCain's campaign, but desperation for the conservative image. It's almost as if he picked her because he figures he's going to lose anyway and he at least ought to bring the national spotlight onto the type of (seemingly, so far) honest, promising, untainted politician that deserves to be in Washington. If he actually expects to win, though, he may indeed be out of his mind.

At its best, this is an investment for the future. It probably won't be a game-changer in this election, but it provides a promising model for Republican redemption after eight years of corruption and a broken party image. This is the image Republicans need in the coming elections if they want to retain their dignity (and a prayer of winning): an unspoiled Christian guided by core values yet sympathetic to dissent, a staunch opponent of frivolous government projects and earmarks, and a genuine homegrown nature-lover who will be committed to conserving the environment. After some foreign policy calrifications and national security seasoning, she could be a strong force for the future. She has not yet, however, proven herself competent to take the helm of the presidency immediately should McCain's age catch up to him in the coming years. Obama has at least had ample time to pad the gaps in his resume and clarify his policies since announcing his candidacy. Palin can take little more than her Governorship and the jacket on her back to DC.

Perhaps Johnny Mac just picked her to make himself look clean and court the PUMAs, and all of that other GOP-redemption stuff is just coincidence. But in any case, if more Sarah Palins were in Washington, maybe the right-wingers wouldn't have to resort to taking all the low roads to win elections for once.

One would certainly hope that the 72 year old McCain's health is up to par the entire 4 years if he is POTUS!!! A poor choice to be the one to step in if anything should befall McCain.

Go McCain Go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about reform, change, and equality all wrapped up in the united party (GOP) McCain/Palin
Wake Up America, do you really believe that Obama can realistically promise everything he has said on his platform. At least McCain's head isn't stuck in the clouds and knows how to reach for the attainable. I was voting for Hillary eventhough I am a Republican, but now for sure McCain.

Interesting. McCain and the Republicans called the Democratic Party's bluff by choosing a female, and it is horrible. I would expect that if John McCain chose Jesus Christ, Mohammed, or Mother Teresa (were any of these still alive), the Dems would gripe because it was McCain and those candidates wouldn't be qualified. If I have to choose a liberal with questionable militant ties (Obama) who has no experience to lead the nation or a woman who is a conservative former business owner with five children (who have different gifts and abilities just every other child in our nation), I'm going with Gov. Pallin. The only thing McCain exploited was the faiure of the DNC this election to recognize the worth of women to shake up Washington more than Obama ever will. Maybe you should all take your sour grapes and make vinegar instead of polluting a great day for women who have waited since 1984 to even have the potential of having our voices heard at that level.

Saturday night live heck. I will watching Letterman tonite. MAybe this is McCain's attempt to win over women voters. (Hey she is female therefore we must support the sisterhood. ) NO NO NO! Hillary was qualified to be Presdient and if Bill had shut up and behaived himself she might have been at least VP. This woman appears to make Obama look old and weatherbeaten. Geeze what a pick for a man who has been harping about Obama's age , inexperience, and the like for onths. What was Kay BAily Hutchenson unavailable. How bout Barbra Bush (Elder) , how bout Laura Bush come on guys. This was stupid.

Who is Sarah Palin? They say she has experience taking on big oil companies, when does fighting with your husband count as experience to be VP? Thanks McCain!

As an undecided Independent in an election year where change is the recurring mantra, I find it hysterical to now hear Democrats revile the Republicans for actually changing tradition and selecting of a true outsider like Sarah Palin.

Although both Obama and Palin may have scant accomplishments and thin resumes, after the selections of Biden and Palin, it appears that the Republicans are willing to make changes while the Democrats are busy speaking about it.

I eagerly awaited Obama's speech last night in hopes of being convinced that he is more substance than verbiage; after a rough first ten minutes where he took the air out of the stadium, I thought he was solid.

The republicans will wax poetic at their convention, however, for change to actually take place, both parties need to realize actions are better than words.

Sarah Palin worked her way up through the ranks before becoming governor. She had been a member of the city council, then a mayor, and was then elected governor of Alaska. She actually has more "executive" experience than Obama or Biden. She also complements McCain with her knowledge of economic and energy issues.

Could McCain gone with a "safer" pick? Of course. But this adds an energy to his campaign, and to the Republican party, that they haven't seen before. It looks like McCain still has a lot of maverick in him.

Could we really expect anything less from Paul Begala, who is so far into the tank for the Democrats that the soles of his shoes don't show? Palin is a strong pick with experience where it counts: she is the governor of a state, which makes her one of 50. Obama, on the other hand, is one of a hundred (so are McCain and Biden, by the way) Its not just the amount of experience that matters – its the kind.

Paul, seriously I could not agree with you more. Just go to show McCain's bad judgment in action. Nothing against Palin but I do not see what she adds to his ticket other then being a woman which for me does nothing to help McCain's cause

Paul...I always love your input...McCain chose this woman to get the attention off Obama and onto himself. It is so funny hearing the Republicans call him brilliant. He is not brilliant...he chose her because she is a woman...period! He's trying to get the republicans hyped up the way the democrats are...well good luck with that John Mc-Bush! The smart republicans will see through this. He didn't chose her because she he thinks she will be a good president if something happened to him...he chose her to advance himself and to win the election. It's disgusting!

As an independent, I think Mc Cain is trying his best to have Barack Hussein Obama elected president. He is probably trying to attract women voters.

Is this really what John Mc Cain thinks of the American people (women in particular)? We are much smarter than you give us credit.

His VP pick Sarah who? cannot compare with Hillary. Hillary was favored because of her accomplishments, hard work, and her life experiences. Sarah who? is not in the ballpark. What are her accomplishments, where are her references, and again Sarah who?

John Mc Cain has questioned Obama's ability to lead this country numerous times and yet he selects Sarah who?

Talk about saying one thing and doing another. John could have wrote the book .

I know that women across America are smarter than this ploy to get our votes. We know Hillary Clinton and she supports Obama. However we do not know Sarah who?

Palin is the perfect candidate to reach out to female Hillary supporters in that an equal number of them are in fact right of center moderate conservatives. Pawlin has a proven economic record, a strong moral foundation to do what is right even when it goes against the political party, and has strong social conservative values that will resonate with discerning voters. Great job McCain!

HOO-RAY for women in America!!!! BOO-HOO for the American people. It's amazing that Gov. Palin would allow herself to be exploited by the very party that she supposedly has challenged throughout her career. Senator McCain and the GOP has made a mistake in thinking that by changing the pantsuits from Sen. Clinton to Gov. Palin women will flock to the polls to vote for him. And I must say, to the women out there who have posted their comments saying that because McCain has chosen a woman they will vote for him, you have essentially pushed the woman's movement back several decades. McCain is basically exploiting this woman and you women out there who will vote for him because he chose a woman is helping you. SHAME ON YOU.!!!!!!!

I think it's ironic that Cindy is all for Palin yet condemns Obama on his lack of experience. We know you're pro McSame so anything he does is golden.

I think McCain has lost his mind. I am in shock. After last night I wasn't sure but now I am I will vote for OBAMA. Thank you McCain for helping me make up my mind.

LOL at everyone who, like me, was like who? Sarah Palin? Alaska?

I guess being this transparent leaves no question to the real motivation.

@April, first comment, don't be naive, she is well aware of what he is doing, remember she is also agreeing to all of this, which means, she is also exploiting her situation.

In the words of Anderson Cooper: What were they thinking?????

Senator McCain is playing with America's intelligence, because he would have never pick a female, especially an inexperience one to be next in line for commander in chief if he wasn't so scared of Obama. I really think Obama is going to win this election because is isn't stooping down to petty politics like John McCain to win this election. John McCain is playing with every female intelligence. He wouldn't have pick her,if he didn't think he could win over the Hillary voters.

Geez, that wouldn't have anything to do with ANWAR and the alleged OIL there???

Cindy from GA, you just said:

"McCain has proven that he is very healthy so bringing up his age and health is ridiculous on your part."

There are people who are in their 40's in the best possible shape that drop dead for many reasons. So, to say that him being healthy and bringing up his age is ridiculous, is wrong. Its a very important point. if McCain is elected and drops dead, a VP with NO foreign policy experience will now be in charge of the free world. This is something you really want to chance?

We'll have a few days of excitement of his pick, followed by a few days of more excitement from the Republican convention. Then, once the honeymoon is over, people will start to take a step back and take a better look at this choice and make a better decision based on their judgment, not their emotions.

This is the equivalent to meeting a girl on a Monday, going to Vegas that weekend and eloping. Sure it's exciting at first, but at some point you have to go back home, and find out all the things you never knew about this person. Some may be good, some may be bad, but the bottom line is, you just don't know.

America has been dating Obama for 19 months now. We certainly know enough about him to make a sound decision based on facts.

Wow ! wow! well , we now know the kind of maverick , the maverick who does not put women first but politics first .how on earth
would you talk about putting country first when u put the national security interest into the hands of this good woman when she has never travel outside this country except on vacation or the one one time she met the troops in Iraq .Hmm! i wonder what a Putin and Palin meeting would go.

With you Paul all the way

Okay this proves why we can’t send FATHER TIME and the ICE PRINCES to the White House; at 72 Senator McCain has shown that he is not competent in making decisions for the Republican Party not to mention the nation. Republicans are gasping all over and one thing is for sure I don’t think George W Bush would have even made a stupid mistake like this. The reality is McCain has served the Presidency up on a silver platter to the Democrats. His decision today has only guaranteed one thing; there won’t be any Moose stew served at the Inaugural ball.

The RNC I’m sure is scratching their heads.....lol

Yet another indication that mccain doesn't really have his party's backing, Gov. Sarah Palin seems very nice but not exactly VP or POTUS material.

To compare Obama to Palin is absurd and shows how desperate Republicans are to show a good face on a very poor choice

Is McCain out of his mind? – That's an affirmative! But Paul, I already knew that long ago, but I appreciate you giving me the chance to confirm it! He's also out of Park! Who left the gate unlocked? How unconscionable to let a man of his age and apparent condition to wander aimlessly about in such a large city! Congrats Obama on our Next President of the United States of America! And what an excellent choice we made!

Democrats can no longer pretend to be the party of equal rights when they passed over a woman of experience twice, first for President then for VP for a man who has less qualifications for the job.

I know who Sarah Palin is and like her. As more Americans learn more about her they will too. She is a huge backer of drilling for oil and natural gas, as most Alaskans are despite what the lower 48 think or say, while having the experience of actually running a state for two years; something if she would have done for a single day would be more than the self admitted largely failed community organizing of a small portion of a city by Obama. I will take a freshman Governor over a freshman Senator any day. She is a woman who knew her youngest child was going to be born with downs syndrome and still chose to have the child; a woman who knows abortion should not be used as birth control and no doubt someone republicans can rally behind. Also she is a person who has fought for government reform.
And not to diminish, someone the Obama campaign can continue their sexist tactics on. How angry they must be that the history line can now be used on both sides and that the cracks in the glass ceiling may be cracked first by the republicans.
To go completely off topic for a moment; she's hot too. What? A man can be good looking but a woman can't? You bunch of sexist swines. LOL.

Bad Choice

The Choice John Mccain makes is clear. He is abviously choosed palin to direct America into third more time of distress and loose. Palin was already connected with corruption for favouring her brother inlaw in her state of Alaska. This is clear that Palin has a problem at home what do you expect of the national level. she will clearly direct the nation into corruption and take the footprints of Goerge Bush and Mccain policy.

@ Melissa in LA...there is a big difference in Obama and Palin.

First, he is running for the pres spot where he will make all of the decisions. Palin is not.

Second, she has more experience than Obama by balancing her states budget, by bringing down her states taxes by 60%, by going into her states politicians and rooting out the corrupt ones and getting rid of them, by turning down earmarks and doing away with them in her state! Obama has done none of that!

Cindy...Ga.

Palin unqualified as first term governor, but Obama qualified as first term senator???

Please.
You Obama supporters don't have a clue to how you sound to people.

I woke up and I hoped this was a joke. Sad to say McCain looks Desperate to get some of Hillary's votes. I can't vote for him any more. 24 hours has done allot to sway me to Obama. A great speech by Obama showed me how serious and ready he is to be President. Unfortunately McCain has shown me he doesn't put any thought into his actions.

Most of us women don't vote for a woman – we vote for a person who is interested in women's rights. Does anyone know what woman's right Governor Palin is on the side of?
When I first saw Mrs. McCain with a cast on her arm, I thought she had knocked him over the side of the head...had to do a google search to find out what happened to her arm.

McCain is out of his mind. Palin is a nobody from Alaska who likes to hunt and his against abortion and for drilling in her own state. Obama 08 time for a change of the last 8 years of the polocies of the Bush administration. If you like how things are going in the country and like the war then go ahead and vote for grandpa and soccer mom.

Palin is a horrible choice and McCain just lost my vote with it – he's being a maverick on this and while being a maverick in the Congress is one thing gambling with the country is another. I thought he had better judgement.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

McBush just made it clear that he drew the short straw when brains were given out. What a joke he is and the pick of a woman who uses her power to fire Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex. (To those that don't think she didn't abuse her power, try opening your mind. However, I'm sure the Republican Machine will get her off. )

Also, what woman would leave her children, one of which was born this year, to be V.P. of the U.S? It clearly shows it's all about her and what she can gain. She's just like the "good-ole boy" network she says she fights.

So, thanks McBush for handing Obama back the Clinton women.

OBAMA '08

McCain is simply trying to win the vote of Summer Wheatley.

I think he is out of his mind, I am a conservative Democrat , I take offense at Palin, when she spoke of breaking the glass ceiling once and for all, she has Hillary Clinton to thank for that for paving the way, My God I hope and pray the women and the people of America see behind this republican ploy . Palin won't be the leader as VP , she will be doing what the big boys want her to do when it comes down to it , I don't think she has a clue what she is geting herself into, she doesn't know how they play the game in Washington.The VP we know does the bidding of the president when it comes to the republican party , we have seen that for the last 8 years and I for one don't want 4 more years of it. Its scary to think , that something could happen to John Mcsame and she would be in charge of this country. God please don't let McCain win this election ! Enough ! No More ! No How ! No Way ! No John McCain ! No Palin !

Mc cain has competetly lost his mind. I am speechless and outraged. This is an irresponsible and dangerous choice. Also, does MC Cain really think that women has no mind on their own?????
the republican party is a joke!

i know that i am voting for Obama! thanks MC Cain for helping me to make my choice!

Jeff in LA – you just proved our point!!! Obama (in his 40s) could also drop dead. And where would that leave us? With a wind-bag in his late 60's who has already had an anyerism. He may have limited foreign policy experience, but no experience at all doing anything else but voting to spend other people's money. He has never had a real job in his life. Never had to pay payroll taxes or even meet a payroll, for that matter. Let's just hope McCain lives as long as his mother – 93.

LOL I Agree with the Saturday Night Live comment from a previous poster. Can't wait. I actually was considering voting for McCain. I'm a veteran ad writer who's worked on a few political campaigns in my career – I'd like to share a few slogans based on his Veep choice. They all rhyme good , like dumb slogans should!-
Vote McCain if you're insane.
McCain. Because the President doesn't need a brain.
McCain. Why not? The country's already down the drain.

And a reply to Sweeney. BIG difference between Alaska and illinois.
BIG difference between a "Who the heck is she?" – and a guy who lit up a National convention years ago with his speech – and thinking. Admittedly Obama is a little light in experience – but he's been on the national scene for quite a while. I am a pretty strong Republican – but I've been inspired by him for years – and I'm voting for him. Who the HECK is she? Governer of the 47th least populated state vs the 5th most populous? I mean, seriously, AK's got like 600,000 people. But if you count the polar bears, I think that ups it to around 700K. She's got way less cred than a mayor of New York! Ridiculous!

I have a unique perspective on the pick of Palin for McCain’s VP. I think McCain has changed his mind and has no interest in the White House. To save face, he has to appear to put up a good campaign but in reality by picking no experience Palin he has set himself up to fail. I believe this is McCain’s self desired ticket out of the White House.

What about her baby when she is on the campaign trail for months?

Sarah Palin is a mother of a 4-month-old down syndrome child. The office of Vice President is too demanding of a mother with the responsibilities of an infant with special needs.

Sarah is clearly aborting motherhood as a result of her political aspirations.

Motherhood is the most important role for a mother with children. Our society is in desperate need of mothers to be accountable for their personal responsibilities to their children.

Sarah Palin should put her Vice Presidency career goals on hold until her role as a mother has been fulfilled.

Motherhood is a neglected responsibility in American Society. Sarah Palin is the poster child of deferred maternal needs to an infant.

McCain is truly out of his mind. I as a woman am highly insulted by his selection for VP! What are you thinking about, McCain? Sara Palin is the governor of a state where there are more reindeer than people! More polar bears than REAL issues!! And, how can a REAL MOTHER, the highest honor that a woman can have effectively run the country AND TAKE PROPER CARE OF HER CHILDREN?

I get that Palin has been Alaska's governor now for, WOW, nearly a year and a half. How amazing!!!!!!!!!!! Of course, there are fewer people in the entire state of Alaska than there are in my city. And balancing a budget in a state that is obscenely OIL RICH, that must be REALLY difficult. But, hey, I'll give that to her.
But can someone tell me, please, why we keep hearing about Palin's PTA EXPERIENCE as if it was an impressive part of her resume????. PTA credentials beng touted as part of her story????
If that wasn't so flippin' crazy, it would be just plain funny. Can't wait to hear what Leno and the other late night folks do with that exceptional information. Maybe McCain and the Republicans will dig even deeper and find out that she ran a Girl Scout troup or better yet that she was a 4-H leader. Or maybe she wrote for her high school year book. Now that's the kind of credentials I want to see as we find ourselves dealing with the Russians and the Iranians. Once again, I say, "Beam me up, Scotty!!!"

Not at all....he is a man of honor and one who does not let others make his dicisions for him.....I think his choice of V.P. was an excellent choice....she is a very smart lady and one who is not afraid to take on corruption which is running rampant in Washington...she will straighten out the corrupt politicians....her and McCain are the dynamic duo that will clean up injustice in Washington...so watch out Obama...and as for Biden....you showed your true colors at the convention....you were a very good friend of McCain and you also was one of the people who claimed Obama was too inexperienced to be president, now you are standing at his side....you can be bought and you keep saying McCain voted with Bush...didn't you vote with Bush in favor of the Iraq war.....You ran for presidential election on a number of occassions and no one wanted you...I believe you quit after only getting 195 votes....now Obama has picked you as his running mate....like we want you in office if something should happen to him....yup you are exactly the type of politician Obama was talking against when he said we needed change and what did he do....he went against his own values and chose you an old time poor excuse of what we don't want in Washington!!!

I really do think Mr McCain is insane, and so is any one who would waste gasoline to go vote for him.

Stop criticizing Gov. Palin! What we need in DC is a courageous "reformer" willing to shakeup the status quo of a totally disfunctional and incompetent federal government that has been run by career politicians who are more interested in self gains rather than welfare of the common citizens.
I compliment Senador McCain for choosing Gov. Palin. It's about time to bring in a fresh face willing to curb the wasteful spending of taxpayers' money.
Experience is not really an issue if we staff the government with honest, knowledgeble and competent people, instead of incompetent political appointees. Paul Begala should know this!!!