All I can say is, keep an eye on current Wasilla, Alaska, mayor, DIANNE KELLER! Because SHE'S in charge of a town whose population has now risen to 6700, with almost 800 municipal water customers and a police department of 21 officers!

She knows how to budget! She knows how to do payroll! She can use Microsoft Word AND Excel! And HER husband wrestles polar bears.

And she's got just enough time to make her ascent -- she could maybe just take over as governor for Palin. Mark my word, the GOP ticket in 2016: Mitt Romney and Dianne Keller!

It is truly a frightening world when people are insisting that a woman so utterly lacking in qualifications is thought to be more experienced in executive and foreign affairs than a senator on the foreign relations committee who has passed legislation to secure loose nukes, aid volatile areas in Africa, help reconstruct New Orleans, and track all government contracts to avoid waste (to name just a few of Obama's accomplishments.

Obama has more executive experience just RUNNING HIS CAMPAIGN than Palin does as governor of 670,000 people.

Great move, McCain. Palin brings an electric excitement to the campaign.

Even people who don't like Mitt Romney admit that he is more qualified than Sarah Plain, and would have been more likely to bring in moderate independent voters who care about economics.

It is a sign of McCain's bad judgment and approaching senility that he chose Sarah Palin over Mitt Romney (or over Condi Rice, Joe Lieberman, etc.)

LDS are being played by the Republicans, teased and mocked behind our backs, and not even a thanks for all the work and millions of dollars contributed.

I will not be treated like a moron just because I am a Mormon. I might go fishing on election day or I might vote for Obama, but I promise I will not be voting for any Republican in 2008.

Andy

Now if the Democrats win the Oval Office, they will go down in history as the first party to vote to keep TWO women out of the White House in the same election year.

In criticizing Obama, presidential candidate McCain often claims he will put America first in all of his decisions as president. Perhaps that didn't include his decisions as a candidate. If John McCain truly expects me to believe that Ms. Palin is the best qualified Republican to be vice president, then I have some very serious reservations about any decisions he might make in the future.

This decision seriously disrespects the office of president and vice president of the United States.

Either his judgment is seriously flawed or he simply puts winning above what is best for America. Is that the GOP definition of patriotism?

Obama has no executive experience. Period.

Sarah Palin has nothing but Executive experience. I am glad to see that Obama supporters are scared. You should be.

Palin is an excellent choice and brings new life to this campaign. Obama supporters who happen to be women are already aggressively attacking Palin for being a woman, because they are also scared.

McCain will be our next President and Obama's little socialist revolution is over. Also, Hilary, sorry but Palin will be our President in 2012. Have a nice day.

Bob Barr '08

Palin has MORE experience than Obama does.

The facts are the facts. Now Obama will have to demonstrate his biggest ability to CHANGE so far. He has to CHANGE in order to combat Palin in the elections.

Utah is reeling from disappointment that Mitt didn't get the nod and bring attention to their state, dominant religion and value system. Mitt was never in contention. McCain and Romney were exchanging barbs on the stump and Mitt would have been to McCain what Hillary would have been to Obama--someone who was attempting to upstage him and draw attention to his own agenda.

I am so happy that there is now a real choice and a challenge to Berry Obama, and the obamanation that is his campaign. I feel much better and that we at least have a fighting chance.

The problem started with Bush 2000, when the Republicans had both Houses of Congress and then for some reason decided to act like victims. I voted for Bush but it was more a Vote against Al Gore. However there was a clear choice. Ralph Nader was a real spoiler and I am grateful that he ran. I was in the same local election booklet, running for an at large City Council Seat, in my then Hometown in Oregon. Had I Won I still might be there.

Lots of people who have been named as Vice Presidential Running Mates have had little or No Experience. The fear is that the person at the top of the Ticket of the Democratic Party has Little Experience.

I do not see what the difference is being the Governor of Alaska as opposed to any other state. Regardless of Population the Structure is the same. Alaska is very big, and very cold. They have unique problems. Like Hawaii.

I would counter the first comment by pointing out that Sarah Palin has more "executive" experience under her belt than Obama or Biden, by simply being a successful mom and wife over the last 18 or so years. My business has allowed me to be home a majority of the time while my wife worked for several years outside the home. Managing work, marriage, kids, home stuff and community involvement requires great skills in order to be done well. Sarah Palin appears to have done just that and anyone who doesn't understand those strengths is in for a real surprise. Now, if she can just help McCain speak without notes or a teleprompter.

She fought corruption in Alaska and she has actually accomplished "Change" in her state. Not only did she fight against corruption, she did it against members of her own party. In Obama's career has he actually "changed" anything in Ill? Chicago has got to be one of the most corrupt political scenes in the country and looking at how he rose and who helped him, makes you wonder. She cut wasteful spending, kept her promises and has accomplished a lot more in her 2 years than Obama has in his whole political career. Go read up on her instead of listening to MSNBC.

Obama is on the Foreign relations commitee but he has yet to hold a meeting. So that makes him a what, honorary member of that comittee. Besides the loose nooks and the pork bill, what has Obama accomplished? The help reconstruct new orleans is a plan, not an accomplishment. I can't find anything on him implenting his plan. Big difference from actually doing something and promising to do it and we know how Obama keeps his promises (campaign finance reform. You only named a few "accomplishments". Pretty easy finding Obama's accomplishments when they are so few.

Mrs. Palin, does have experience maybe not on an international level. Alaska although small in Population, is the Largest State In The Union, area wise. They cannot help it if it is 30 below 0 in the Winter and there are few hours of Day Light. Apparently they get along and stay warm. I would never want to live there but it is just because of the Cold, no other reason. I have not worn a Jacket in over 7 years and plan on keeping it that way. I swim on Christmas and New Years day.

It is unfair and Stupid to make fun of her because she is from Alaska. Is her not being well known her fault, or are we uninformed. She is very well known in Alaska, which for her is where it counted. Is she any less a Mayor because the Town has a Population of 7000. Maybe 21 Cops where enough. Which is good sized for Alaska, and not far from a much bigger city.

She has one marriage, 5 kids, the oldest 19 in The Army, The youngest just born in April. Apparently her husband a hard working honest man and her get along.

I am very dissappointed in McCain's selection. I think it was a ploy to get the women's vote. Doesn't he think we can see right through that? Hasn't it occurred to him that if he dies this inexperienced woman would be running this country? He isn't looking for a secretary for his office here! I think it shows a lack of ability on his part. I am female and a Republican but would rather have seen someone with experience such as Mitt Romney rather than this person who has only been a governor for two years. What experience is that to possibly run a country should something happen to the President. Please! Stop playing politics and look to the good of the country. I don't like Obama so now I don't know what to do. I don't like either candidate. I guess I will choose the lesser of two evils.

Why would Mcain pick a VP who has exhaustive international experience...he HAS that experience in his own career. He needed to pick someone to COMPLEMENT his ticket - not mirror himself. McCain's international experience checks Biden's...Palin's executive experience trumps Obama's. It's that simple...

Obama couldn't lead a mule to water. A country of 300,000 million people and he is the best the dems could do? What a joke!!

At first I was going to write an article for the Houston Chronicle about "the myth of McCain's judgment" until I heard her speak and saw this great mother and role model.

Statistically speaking 17% of Americans die between the ages of 72 and 76. So McCain is taking a 17% chance of this obviously inexperienced woman becoming president. That's why her experience matters. She was the mayor of a town about the size of Helper. Do you believe that the mayor of Helper has enough experience to become president?
Republicans are so transparent. No matter how much experience Democratic candidates have, it isn't enough. No matter how thin a Republican's resume might be, their experience is always more than enough. Give me a break.
If you believe that this woman was chosen because the Republicans want to break the glass ceiling, watch Palin's acceptance speach and pay attention to where McCains eyes are looking. Especially pay attention to McCain when she is talking about the glass ceiling.
She was chosen because Republicans believe that women are silly fools.

Palin totes a gun and eat mooseburgers -- she reflects the very best Republicans can offer in these chilling times. Her being right next door to Russia will make her an excellent foil to Putin, and her state's ties to oil will ensure that oil will flow to keep us flush with the stuff to maintain the American way of life! Alaska is still America's final frontier and to have such an executive by the side of McCain paves the way for a new Republican party. She's very excited to be visiting Washington DC and will include notes about her adventure in the PTA newsletter back home!

You folks who are lauding Palin's "executive" experience crack me up. Either you are homers trying to put a positive spin on a terrible choice, or you really think that this beauty queen is an "excecutive."

Sure, she is a nice person, and a maverick - she had nothing to do with going after corruption in AK; Ted Stevens was under investigation before she was elected - but executive experience?

What a freaking joke.

I grew up down the road from the woman, and i have siblings who adore her. i also have siblings who think she is incompetent.

but none of them see her as qualified for even being head of the cookie fund on a national level.

To spin Palin as a good choice is laughable.

If you see McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as a slap in the face to Mormons, how do you feel about Obama's choice to pick Biden of Harry Reid? The dems must hate Mormons too.

Romney does have less executive government (not business) experience than Palin (albeit a small city/state) and he has some major flip flops (e.g., abortion). Romney didn't hold on as long as Huckabee, and didn't do as well as Huckabee. That is a major weakness to Romney.

That being said, Romney will definitely have a place at the table.

This Republican is tired of the GOP using conservative issues to keep my vote, while taking the party way off course.

This Republican is tired of the GOP being an arm of BIG OIL.

This Republican is tired of the GOP taking my Home State of Utah for granted.

This Republican is tired of the GOP thinking nothing needs to be done for Utah because we are the “Most Red of the Red States”.

THIS REPUBLICAN BELIEVES IT IS TIME TO TEACH THE GOP A LESSON.

THIS REPUBLICAN BELIEVES IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE.

THIS REPUBLICAN BELIEVES IN THE AMERICAN ENERGY REVOLUTION.

THIS REPUBLICAN BELIEVES IN KEEPING $700 BILLION IN OUR ECONOMY, INSTEAD OF THE ECONOMIES OF OIL PRODUCING NATIONS.

Search pickensplan --- go there and sign up ---- invite everyone you know

HELP TEACH THE GOP A VERY VALUABLE LESSON THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!

THE GOP DESPERATELY NEEDS A WAKE UP CALL!

THE GOP IS NOT LIVING WITHIN THE COVENANT!

It is most disturbing that you would refer to the DEMOCRAT candidates as women. Shame, shame

This Republican says let Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico go Blue this election cycle----- TEACH THE GOP A LESSON.     

We will finally get an ENERGY POLICY THAT PUTS OUR NATION FIRST, INSTEAD OF PUTTING BIG OIL FIRST.

We will get the AMERICAN ENERGY REVOLUTION, which will:

Create NATIONAL SECURITY (Drive down price of oil and take away our adversaries power, stop the Russian resurgence too)

Create ECONOMIC PROSPERITY (The American Energy Revolution will create whole new industries with millions of high paying jobs that cannot be outsourced overseas, we will save $700 Billion per year on imported oil, our companies will export high tech energy solutions to the World)

Save the World’s ENVIRONMENT (We will reduce carbon emissions, pollutants, etc and will clean up the air, water, and soil)

Conserve OIL (We will save some oil for future generations, there are chemicals, medicines, advanced materials, etc that are yet to be invented that will only be made from oil, why should we waste it by burning it for transportation fuel)

SO COME ON FELLOW REPUBLICANS IN Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico LETS TEACH THE GOP A LESSON AND GO BLUE FOR THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

The most important thing is stopping Obama's socialist movement. Unfortunetly Mit Romney is just unelectable. Not only because he is mormon (which is unfortunate) but because he is incapable of getting the women who are just left of center and still burned that Clinton isn't the nominee. He is also just as borring as John McCain. Sarah Palin is the republican parties only chance. She has the warmth and star quality that Mcain and Rommney lack.
All that being said I thing she is very capable of the V.P. nomination. I mean really what exactly was Cheney doing before? Exactly. She has executive experience, she has stood up for what is right and has a consistant record for upholding conservative values. I also think she is an inherently good person. Which is more then I can say for many if not most of our political leaders today.

Palin reminds me of Tina Fey.

To Anonymous ---

You say no one sees her as qualified for even being head of the cookie fund on a national level...

Do you think Barack has the qualifications to run a McDonalds?

(If you had to pause to consider the question, I think we already know the answer...!)

To Grimble: Obama has NO and I repeat No executive experience, whatsoever! Being a community organizer, a state legislator and a US Senator amounts to NO executive experience.

Sarah Palin had served five years in elected office before Obama even entered the Illinois State Legislature. She was a mayor, which is an executive position. She is a governor, which is an executive position. She has much more experience in public office and much more executive experience than Obama. Being a mayor and a governor is LIGHT YEARS ahead of serving in a state legislature. In a legislature (or US Senate) You don't have to make anything work. All you have to do is, sit in hearings and flap your gums.

Sarah Palin isn't at the head of the ticket. John McCain is. Obama, who has no executive experience, is at the head of the Democrat ticket. There's a huge difference. On top of that, she has a lot of energy experience and she's right on the issues.

I was really hoping it would be Mitt, but She is VERY, VERY, impressive. Go Sarah!!!!

Anyone comparing Palin's experience to Obama's is simply nuts. If you don't know what Obama did in the Illinois state legislature it's because you're too lazy to look it up. He was very active and legislatively successful in the areas of ethics, healthcare, tax cuts for middle class families, and predatory-lending regulation. He was about as active as a state legislator could be. But of course, people keep repeating that he did nothing because Rush said so. By the way, his senate district in Illinois is FORTY TIMES larger than Wasilla, so if you're counting being a bumpkin mayor as "Executive Experience" that in any way qualifies someone to be second in line to hold the nuclear football, you need to have your head checked.

And to those of you saying that Palin's other laudable qualities -- being a mom -- qualify her for the nuclear football, tell me: what separates here from the millions of other equally qualified people. I haven't heard ANYBODY say ANYTHING FAVORABLE about Palin that couldn't be said about millions of other people.

Is there anything the GOP could do that you people WOULDN'T bend your brains backwards to find a way to defend?

To St. George: I don't believe you are really a Republican.

Trying to teach the GOP a lesson amounts to a pathetic committment to your country. My country means more to me than that.

If Obama is elected, you will have a far-left socialist in the White House. No matter how many mistakes the GOP may have made, my country doesn't deserve that.

I see that my last comments did not make it to print because they were critical of Mr. Obama. Has the censorship of speech against the "chosen one" begun in Utah as it has been in Chicago???
I guess I was too naive to believe that when he had 18 million voices silenced in Denver that my voice would be heard. Welcome to The United Socialist States of America!

To "Hey Grimble,"

Not sure where you get your information, friend. Palin's anti-corruption work in Alaska pales in comparison to the sweeping bipartisan congressional ethics reform Obama spearheaded when he got into the U.S. Senate. Another of his very first legislative acts was to create a system for tracking government contracts and grants to prevent no-bid contract corruption and government waste. This acts were on a scale orders of magnitude larger than the tidying up Palin did as governor.

And your claim that Obama's never held a Foreign Reliations Committee meeting is simply wrong. It has met several times, and Obama has done crucial work on keeping loose nukes out of the hands of terrorists and hostile nations -- probably the single most important anti-terrorism issue right now. He's done important legislative work related to sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Isreal, and several other issues.

You Googled and read too quickly. You came across something on Fox about how Obama was criticized for being the chair of the European SUB-committee and not holding any meetings. But that's because the committee decided to conduct Obama's subcommittee business within the meetings of the full committee.

Get your facts straight.

It is the Democrats not the Republicans that are in need of altering their campain stratagy.
All this talk about executive experience.
What America needs is a good moral leader. And, gladly the Republicans have come up with a great choice.
Let the left squirm, While we see how America votes this go-around.

She is a great mom, having given birth to to 4 children. Her daughter became pregnant at 16, and when the baby was born, Ms Palin took it in as her own. She is an awesome mom!

Read some Alaskan newspapers. Very interesting.

Palin only inspires the most hardcore republican base. She does nothing to bring voters over who otherwise would have voted for Obama or even those undecided like myself. Even those dissapointed that Hillary was not the VP choice likely have nothing ideologically in common with Palin. Very few will vote for her simply because she is a woman. The bottom line is can anyone see her leading this country as commander and chief. I think very few honestly can. I am still undecided as between McCain and Obama but Palin did nothing for me other than raise serious questions regarding the McCain-Palin ticket. If I had to vote tomorrow it would be Obama - largely because of my confidence level in Biden versus Palin if either had to step into that role.

I think she'll be great for this country. A solid woman that can't be pushed around just because it would help her gain popularity by the voters. A hunting momma of 5! That's what the white house needs!!

When Rev. Michael Pfleger give he's now well known "sermon" at Trinity United Church in Chicago, (so much for left-wing seperation of church and state) he said among other things:

"I really believe that she (Hillary Clinton) just always thought ‘This is mine.' ‘I’m Bill’s wife. I’m WHITE. And this is mine. And I just gotta get up. And step into the plate.'

And then out of nowhere came, ‘Hey, I’m Barack Obama.’

And she said: ‘Oh, d__!’ WHERE DID YOU COME FROM!?!?! I’M WHITE! I’M ENTITLED! THERE’S A BLACK MAN STEALING MY SHOW."

The irony about these comments is, one could almost say Sarah Palin, a white woman, has stolen Barack Obama's show a little bit.

There's nothing that is bigger of a nightmare to the democrats than a very attractive, well spoken, mother of five, who votes republican.

Well democrats, you've just met your worst nightmare. Go SARAH!

Palin has an 88% approval rate as governor. Not too many government officials reach that goal! She could be at the top of the ticket and whip Barack Obama just by women's votes alone. She's done more with energy than Barack's lip service and stupid suggestions of eliminating oil within 10 years....are he and Oprah giving us oil using people new cars?
Say goodnight Barack...your big education didn't bless you with common sense.

Sarah Palin has more experience than Barack Obama

at changing diapers!

The GOP is making the same mistake with Palin that they made with "W". She is photogenic and ambitious, but has no real track record of accomplishment. At least you can't fault the intellectual capacity and achievements of the ruthless, but talented, individuals like Romney, and Darth Cheney.

For all you GOP basher's out there yes Mitt Romney is more qualified than Sarah Plain, we hate moderates also. The "moral majority" don't really care that Barack H Obama II, jumped to his biggest lead since late July in public opinion polls, they won't vote for a person raised by a single-mom, "as for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. Isaiah 3:12", that will set America backward in time for another 40 years, with a socialist utopian country to "get rid of" and start over again. Back to the America it was, to the time of President George Washington, till today. Right now, public opinion polls don't mean squat, they are made to make up a news story on slow days, and, only a few thousand to less than 200 partake in them. The moral Republican majority, and the Christian right, will come out in droves this November, and when they vote at those polls, it'll really count. Till than - stuff these O'bot / Obamacon polls where the sun don't shine.

Cats | 9:02 a.m. Aug. 31, 2008

My commitment to my Country is much greater than the commitment made by those who have hi-jacked the GOP and turned it into a Members Only Club for Big Oil.

Long gone are the ideals, visions, and dreams of Ronald Reagan that made the GOP so much better than the Democrats.

The GOP has moved so far to the right, and has done nothing the past 7.5 years except look out for Big Oil, Corporate America, and the wealthiest families.

TIME TO LET THE GOP, WE ARE WISE TO THEIR HIDDEN ADGENDA.

I HAVE BEEN A REPUBLICAN SINCE I FIRST VOTED FOR REAGAN AT 18, AND IT DISGUSTS ME WHAT BUSH/CHENEY AND BIG OIL HAS DONE TO THE GOP.

IF MY SPEAKING OUT MAKES ME NOT A REPUBLICAN, THEN SO BE IT, MAYBE THAT IS SO FOR MANY OTHERS TOO.

It's a sad day in American politics when Republicans believe that someone is qualified to be vp of the United States because she's a good mom. She may be good at baking apple pies, but having betty crocker with her finger on the button of a nuclear weapon is a scary proposition. The world laughed at Republicans when they elected Bush, not once but twice. They realized what would happen, and it has. Now the Republicans want more of the same. George Bush in a dress as vp. The world is laughing again.

Okay, Cats, by your logic, ANYONE with ANY job that has the word "Executive" in the title, even if it's a town with 21 police officers, counts as "Executive Experience" that qualifies one to hold the nuclear football.

Well goodness, why wasn't my ward's Executive Secretary in the running?

Please, keep harping on the word "executive" while ignoring Obama's work fighting nuclear proliferation, working with volatile African nations, proposing a withdrawal timetable that the Iraqi government more or less adopted, etc. etc.. It makes the self-parody all the more entertaining.

Sure he secured loose nukes and kept them out of the hands of terrorists! But he didn't have "executive" in the job title! Let's pick that pretty lady who did! Because she can make a spreadsheet! Because she's an executive!

Hilarious.

What a great choice. I don't know about there in the States, but up here in Canada everyone knows you don't mess with a hockey mom.

I can't wait for the new ad.

It's 3 AM. Putin's just invaded another democratic nation. He didn't count on one thing though, Palin's up and she's wide awake (hockey moms are used to getting up at 3 AM). And everyone knows you don't mess with a hockey mom first thing in the morning.

"The world laughed at Republicans when they elected Bush, not once but twice."

It didn't happen without the help of the Democrats, since they are the larger of the two main parties. The way I see it, the Dems are just as responsible for Bush as anyone else.

You're ridiculous. Obama didn't do snot in the senate. Keep dreaming. And yes being a Governor of the largest state in America, larger than most countries, DOES qualify as executive experience. You know, the same office, Reagan, Carter, Clinton, and Bush held before they became president.

But as pointed out on this mornings talking heads, America is disenchanted with both candidates and is looking for someone they can relate to, someone who shares THEIR values. Palin does that. I would almost be willing to throw my principles out the door because I know Palin is a good honest woman. A mom.

But you don't get it and that is why you are supporting a Socialist for office. And if you represent Obama, I assume we will get the same sexist comments from his other supporters.

Let's put this issue to bed right now. Here's what presidential scholars have to say about Palin. Now of course, the bible thumpers out there will discount it, but then, they support an ex beauty queen, ex sportscaster, journalism major, over a man like Biden who has 36 years experience and a law degree. Anyway, from an article......"Presidential scholars say she(Palin) appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era. So unconventional was McCain’s choice that it left students of the presidency literally “stunned,” in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. “Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who’s of presidential caliber,” said Goldstein.

“I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major-party ticket in modern history,” said presidential historian Matthew Dallek. If elected vice president, Palin would appear to have the least amount of experience in federal office or as a governor since John W. Kern, Democrat William Jennings Bryan’s 1908 running mate."

You're post just reminded me about what I've found to be true about Republicans. They're big on preaching about taking responsibility, but not real big when it actually comes to taking it.

To "Re: Grimble Deux,"

Huh. You claim "Obama didn't do snot in the senate." But you have absolutely no response to the list of things I provided that he DID do in the senate.

Meanwhile, you're desperately turning to geography rather than population to claim "largest state." Salt Lake County has a larger population than Alaska. ROCKY FOR PRESIDENT!

Palin certainly doesn't share my values! I DON'T think a 13-year-old who gets raped by her dad should have to carry the baby. Palin does.