Live Blog from the Anchor desk 08/29/08
Good evening folks, tonight marks the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Anderson reports live from NOLA, as residents prepare themselves for Hurricane Gustav. We'll track Gustav as NOLA and the nation remembers Hurricane Katrina three years later...
There's also a whirlwind in the political arena. Take a look at our evening buzz for a complete lineup of tonight's show... an in depth look at McCain's VP Pick, Alaska Governer Sarah Palin. Who is Sarah Palin? Our reporters will tell you what they learned tonight.
Let us know your thoughts.
We’ll start posting comments to this blog at 10p ET and stop at 11p ET.
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John McCain's $5M figure will stand up until he actually answers the question. McCain dodged the question. So much for straight talk. What does McCain think is rich versus middle class?
As a Democrat who has backed Obama from the beginning this McCain choice makes me happy and terrified at the same time. What is McCain thinking? Hillary supporters are now going to be running over to the Obama Biden ticket. I just have to believe that the American people are smarter than McCain thinks.
Obama's speech was good, but he'll never be able to deliver 10% of what he's promised.
John Mcain thinks the VP of the United States should be a two term mayor of a city the size of a NY City High School and a 500 day Governor of a state with the population of Charlotte, NC. Oh Yea, he's talked to her twice in the last 6 months. He's not a maverick he's got a touch of senile dementia
Anderson, The pomp and circumstance may have been spectacular, but the speech left a lot to be desired.
The McCain/Palin ticket will bring a good check and balance team. Love you reporting from New Orleans post Katrina. Pre-Gustav. I hope the storms won't be too strong. After a week of Hurricane Fay Fatigue in Florida the wet weather I wish would be passive.
As a woman I am insulted. As an American I am scared. As an Obama supporter I am delighted. This is not about Palin, this is about McCain and his jugdement or lack there of. He met her once or twice and she was not vetted. He only chose her to win. If winning was the only thing Obama cared about he would have chose Clinton. Obama is putting his country first.
After last night's acceptance speech, could it be that the McCain camp knows they're beat and are simply putting forward a new, fresh face for the future? If so, their irresponsibility to our nation knows no bounds.
The Dems are united! All is right in the world. Regardless of who we wanted to win.. between Hillary and Barck we all want to win the White house!
The Democrats may have been united at the DNC, but those at the convention center and in that stadium in Denver are not the entire country.
Is McCain kidding. I understand trying to get the female vote, but I thought experience mattered! It is quite possible that his VP will be running the country, and honey, this ain't no soccer game!!
I think McCain is insane and this move just proves it. Does he really think Hillary supporters are going to drop the ideology she represented and vote for his ticket because he adds a woman? She has no fundamental similarity to Hillary except that they are women. It's insulting and further proof that Obama/Biden is the way to go in November.
Paolo: Believe me there is nothing in Palin's resume that will attract Obama's supporters!!! A VP pick has to be picked for other considerations than just giving you a bump in the polls.
She is also under investigation (for the firing of a town official? did I get that right?) Was she not vetted?
Enough with politics this weekend, your keeping up with Gustav, is fine. The big question we should be asking is: Is FEMA ready? prepared to move like lightning, fully facilitated, competently planned for the various potential outcomes of Gustav and/or the next weather
catastrophy? Let's get some answers on tonight's 360.
At this point I can say with total honesty that I do not feel like I'm being represented by anybody currently running. I'm not a Rep so McCain and his vp pick don't change how I feel.
I wonder if he is actually trying to lose by doing this. Maybe he, too has gotten cuaght up in the “DREAM” of possibilities and “CHANGE for a better way of life for all Americans and not some. Just maybe this John McCain’s way of subtly trying to lose without dropping out. May John McCain is secretly an Obamamanian like mikeself. LOL!
McCain is going at the womens vote from a different direction, that's all, also balancing the ticket in some ways. Alaska is a big state.
Have to say, I feel that the democratic party showed it's big heart at the convention. Kind of uplifting. This hand wringing about McCain's vp pick sort of a contrast.
I think when Biden and Palin debate Biden is just going to eat her alive.
I'm deeply concerned that McCain made a bet on our country with this selection and believes that we as former Hillary supporters are so ignorant that we would vote for a woman just because of gender and not on the issues. If you remember, Hillary said" did you vote just for me? or did you vote for me because of the issues?" Be careful, do your research, Obama Biden has more experience, credentials and more well rounded than McCain and Palin combined.
I think this is McCain's way of trying to make history on his terms. I am a Hillary supporter,but I wasn't voting for her because she is a women but because I know her.The good and the bad. I know what to expect.
I'd like to thank John McCain for handing over this election lock, stock and barrel. This was one of the most irresponsible decisions I've ever seen a Republican make. No wait, it's just like the last eight years.
Once again: John McCain - More of the same!!!
gotta disagree w/Amy Holmes assesment. where are those figures coming from? I'm a married women and I can't remember the last time I voted republican.
I agree with Michelle from CA...this has shown me that John McCain has shown poor judgment.
I have lived through a lot of elections...and I am seriously in shock. Does John McCain think this is a joke? He doesn't even know her! What is wrong with him? I hope even republicans come to the realization that this guy is a loose cannon. I hope nobody goes easy on her because she is a woman...we need to find out who this woman is...no one went easy on Hillary Clinton!
Sorry Amy... I don't need the cute and folksy...I need to know this woman is capable leader in a scary world.
Behind closed doors, I wonder what the other Republican VP wantabees are thinking?
McCain is obviously grasping for those middle ground voters and Hilary supporters. It seems like he was shooting for the shock value to get momentum for his campaign going into the GOP convention. It seems to be working as everyone is talking about how shocking the choice of Palin truly is, where as we have barely had time to take in Barack's speech. This I fear may be a stunt to get those votes just to get to Washington. He's just adding appeal. I am excited to see what she's got in the VP debate in October.
Paul, Denver
2 meetings, are you kidding me. As a woman I am insulted and pissed off.
A very sad day for GOP,,,,McCain really underestimate Americans women voters by thinking that they will just vote for somebody he just met once. You kind have to wonder how bad he would like to get this job...
McCain and his surrogates hit Obama hard claiming he does not have the experience to be President. Taking that into consideration Obama named a VP choice with a ton of world experience. Now here you have the conditions where a VP can give advice to the President but with McCain’s choice if anything happens to him she has no VP in place to give her that experience and knowledge she needs on day one. She would have to wing it and I do not like the idea of our country being run on a wing.
Paul Begala is SOOO RIGHT!! This is not only scary it is petrifying to think that this woman could be president should McCain drop!!! What is he thinking?? Oh I forgot, he's not thinking! Does he think so little of women, that he actually believes he would receive their vote just because his VP choice is a woman?! I find that not only insulting, but ludicrous! I think McCain is in for a rude awakening...and what about her children? Who will be caring for her youngest while she's on the campaign trail???
It's funny....McCain gets knocked for trying to get Hillary's voters, but Obama doesn't receive any grief for picking Biden, who one could say is a strategy for trying to appeal to military with his son in Iraq. You can disagree, but that's the way I see it. Maybe McCain picking someone who describes herself as a "hockey mom" is just what this country needs because to me the government is way out of touch with the middle class. They have no idea how different policies affect the average person. Maybe a well qualified "hockey mom" will have the touch. I'm more comfortable with Palin being a heartbeat away than with Obama being the actual President!
I wonder how many countries are laughing themselves silly over McCains vp pick. Does anyone think that this will improve the way we are viewed world wide. I certainly hope the USA is not judged by one old foolish mans choice. Shame on McCain.
Why does anyone think that she has the credentials or the right to put her name anywhere near the list of great men that have occupied that office. It's an insult to this country and to the great men who founded it.
So McCain really is the flip-flopper the Dems have been saying he is. No surprise there. Remember Senator, was Kerry's speech? The "old" McCain verses the "new" McCain
How can Obama be quilfied to be a president with bo experiance and
Gov.Palin not qulified even though she has more execitve experiace than all the men on the ticket
She only has 63 days to make her case. I am not a McCain supporter because I don't think he has the judgment or the temperment to be Commander in Chief and this proves it.
If you are a woman and feel so strongly about Hillary and so negative about Gov. Palin, you wouldn't have voted for Senator McCain anyway. I have a lot of respect for Senator Clinton, I was disappointed that she wasn't chosen as the VP. I have not make my choice yet and refuse to make it before I have all of the facts.
I agree with everyone. This lady can't be compared to Hillary Clinton.
I'm a woman and yes I am insulted.This is just pandering and anyone who can't see that is blind as a bad.She doesn't represent my values and McCain is just about winning which is what he said Obama was.This is pandering for votes and reckless.
Thank you Senator McCain....what the democrats would not do, you have done. Governor Palin is an awesome choice.
Ingrid D, You have a good point. Maybe we should wait until we see a Biden/Palin debate before passing final judgement.
I wonder if John McCain would have chosen Sarah to be his running mate if Obama chose Hilary as his VP. I doubt she would have been his choice and feel this is a game of checkers....your move, my move.
It was obviously more important to him to energize his base rather than pickup moderate and Independent voters. I can't help but feel that the evangelical base of the Republican Party would have turned out to support McCain if only to prevent an Obama win. By choosing such an inexperienced running mate and particularly such a social conservative, McCain has left all of those moderate and independent voters out in the cold. I've been a McCain supporter for years, but I can't help feeling a little offended at this choice. Obama has my vote.
Selecting a woman who has goverened a population Half the size of Orlando, to possibly be the leader of the free world is insane. She's outside the beltway, and Mccain's out of his mind.
Evening....
Sarah Palin reminded of Tina Fey at first glance this morning.
But, like many, I too am confused by this choice. And a co-worker from across the office said out loud "Who the hell is she?" and he is a die hard Republican, he was confused too. I do not know what to make of it.
From what I have been hearing and reading all day, I'm still sort of "what the-?"
Now how would he know all that after only meeting her once! And plus she's under investigation for abuse of power just like Bush and his cronies! Please America this is a very dangerous choice! She may be a dynamite person but she's not ready!
This young woman has a very young child with Down's Syndrome. How can she be a good and caring mother for her baby and be a heartbeat away from the Presidency at the same time. How could she even consider taking this on? It is totally ludicrous and a very bad move by McCain. I think that it is a disgrace to women. She is a mother!
What does this say about McCain's beliefs? He has talked for months that he believes Sen Obama is not qualified enough to be president because of his lack of experience. His pick for VP reflects the fact that he does not actually believe that (and instead it's just him playing politics). What does this say about his other things he says he "believes" in? How many other things is he just playing politics with?
I think John McCain actually wants to loose this race for President,
he must feel that Obahma is the better choice, otherwise he would not choose in such an irresponsible way. God forbid that anything would happen to him, could I feel safe and trust that Ms Palin could run the country????!!!!!!
This certainly is not the caliber and quality of Hillary Clinton. I am insulted as a women with a brain that this has become just a matter of women vs. men.