Palin refers to Johnston as a “gnat” and claims he “cheated on me about as frequently as he sharpened his hockey skates.” She writes that while her parents accepted her pregnancy, he wasn’t so supportive, saying the child “Better be a f**king boy.”

She has a right to be angry with Levi Johnston, and to be miffed as Cindy McCain, Megan McCain, and all the rest. However, it doesn’t mean that she has to publicly voice everything, particularly against Johnston who has shown himself to be a trashy individual over the course of the past few years.

When you treat the allegations of a trashy person like they’re worth responding to, you increase their credibility and lower yourself to their level. This is something that Sarah Palin didn’t realize which is a big part of the reason why she isn’t better positioned for a 2012 run. She’d be doing far better if she had not engaged in a tit-for-tat with playgirl model Levi Johnston. And sadly that lesson has been lost on Bristol as well.

Also, call me old fashioned, but I don’t think a 20 year old should write an autobiography. To me, the idea is patently backwards. You have someone writing their memoirs before they’ve even started to live their life.

To the Sisters, Brother, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Friends of Trig Paxson Van Palin (or whatever you end up naming him!):

I am blessing you with this surprise baby because I only want the best for you. I’ve heard your prayers that this baby will be happy and healthy, and I’ve answered them because I only want the best for you!

I’ll give all of you the same happy anticipation and strength to deal with Trig’s challenges, but I won’t impose on you… I just need to know you want to receive my offer to be with all of you and help you everyday to make Trig’s life a great one.

This new person in your life can help everyone put things in perspective and bind us together and get everyone focused on what really matters.

It’s very moving. Read the whole thing. And it occurs to me, politics and presidential ambitions aside, how much better our country would be if more people were like Palin and Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann.

Bachmann is a target for leftist personal hate and charges that she’s crazy, despite the fact that she’s taken in 26 foster kids during her life.

Both of these ladies have displayed the best of Christian character in caring for others and realizing the world doesn’t revolve around their comfort. Whether either should be in the White House is the subject of another post, but a few million just like them in communities across America could make the outcome of Presidential elections a whole lot less important.

I’ve loved every installment of Shatner doing Palin, and this is a fitting finale and her best appearance and the best sign that Governor Palin’s image is on the mend. (Hat Tip: Hot Air.)

And he got slammed with 3000 comments on a thread filled with vitriol. Other bloggers came to Morrissey’s defense, including Patterico who, despite disagreeing with Morrissey’s analysis, thought it wrong to declare criticism of Palin verboten. Morrissey is a great blogger and shouldn’t be written off, but is the reaction to him merely for suggesting Palin made a poor move?

On Monday afternoon, I listened to a friend’s radio show. He also believed Palin’s career in public office to be over, however he emphasized not Palin’s decision to quit, but the unhinged nature of the far left’s attack on her that he deemed to have succeeded in forcing her out. Several people disagreed with him, and a few hoped he was wrong,  but he didn’t get any rude or angry callers. The difference in focus is key.

If one believes Sarah Palin was driven from office because of cruel personal attacks on her children and frivolous legal allegations that have become the bane of her and her staff’s existence, with thousands of state tax dollars and personnel hours being wasted responding to idiotic ethics complaints, Morrissey’s comments are far from sympathetic:

I’ve seen a myriad of excuses on Twitter and e-mail for this bizarre resignation: her legal bills are too high, she’s putting her family first, she doesn’t want to distract Alaskans because of cheap-shot ethics complaints that are distracting everyone. None of those make any sense. If the spotlight was too much, then she shouldn’t have run for office in the first place. If she’s quitting because people are taking potshots at her, then she’s not the kind of political fighter we thought she was.

 However, much of what Palin has received, she could not have possibly anticipated, including the unprecedented abuse of Alaska’s ethics systems and that the media has decided that every one of her children is open game, from her son who’s fighting to defend our country to her single mother daughter to her infant son, who has been the recipient of the most vile cruelty. No governor of Alaska has had this happen to them, nor has any former Vice-Presidential nominee.

Beyond that, Morrissey piled on a woman who has been trashed for the past eleven months because she’s a conservative. Who can honestly blame her for leaving? Apparently, Morrissey.

 Palin is the most popular figure among Conservative Republicans. They don’t just like her policies, they like her, they empathize with her. Most Palin fans find themselves divided between the disappointed and the uncertain. Except for the few true believers absolutely sure this is a brilliant political decision, Morrisey’s unkind political obituary hit a raw nerve.

In reading the Internet comments on Palin’s resignation, I find few people angry at her, a few people wanting to dance on her political grave, but a lot of people discomfited. Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Tx.) once told how, when he saw Barry Goldwater nominated, he thought that people like him could get elected, and when he saw Goldwater defeated, he concluded people like him could not win, it was the election of Ronald Reagan that changed his mind.

 What angry conservatives may not admit is that many of our hopes and dreams have been invested into Sarah Palin. To many of us, she symbolized the idea that the ordinary middle class person can make a difference. Now, we are left with haunting questions.

 Personally, I can’t blame Palin for stepping aside under the pressure she was under. I have friends who have suffered the vicious slings and arrows of the far left and have not run for office since. Former Congressman Bill Sali was vilified by the media and slandered by the Democrats with allegations that painted the false picture that a twenty-year-old tax lien was a current problem. On top of that they had his social security number and his wife’s “accidentally” were sent out to tens of thousands of homes. The Democrats initially excused the conduct by saying Sali had brought it on himself with the twenty-year-old, long settled tax lien. Congressman Sali probably won’t run again, and I can’t blame him.

 But here’s the problem we are left with. We can’t blame these people for not running, but if decent people will not run because they do not want to be reduced to rubble by our political processes, where does that leave our nation? If these conditions prevail, who would ever consider a run for political office? Sociopaths and the grinning tools of the political establishment, who know the political buzz words, but when they get in office will do nothing to advance conservative values. Is government “by the people, for the people, and of the people” dead, to be replaced by either government “by the sociopaths, for the sociopaths, and of the sociopaths” or government by “the cronies, for the establishment, of the establishment”?

 We can’t simply dismiss this with clichés. If the odds are too great, if the heat from the leftist fire is too strong for any to withstand, conservatism is done. No matter how good our ideas, we can’t win the game if we can’t put a team on the field.

Whatever Sarah Palin does over the next few months, she has to show us she’s still fighting. If she does more for the conservative cause out of office than in it, she’ll win and conservatives with her. Otherwise, the momentary leftist triumphalism will quickly turn into long-term conservative disappointment.

Mothers go to Washington to talk about the good work crisis pregnancy centers do.

Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/podcast

The death of humor: The left’s crude and cruel humor at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and the White House’s attempt at damage control. (Hat Tip: Red State.)

Click here to download, click here to add this podcast to your Itunes

IMPORTANT: Please take our listener survey

The unready one: not able to face down evil.  (Hat Tip: Right Wing News.)

Another Teleprompter malfunction.

Geithner seeks unprecedented powers.

Liberal blogger: Cantor’s right about Geithner plan.

What Primary Challenges wrought: Arlen Specter flips on card check.

Health care facts. (Hat Tip: Club for Growth.)

Banning plasma TV in California. (Hat Tip: Hot Air.)

Should non-profit newspapers become officially non-profit?

New York college instructor proclaims late term abortionist on par with Martin Luther King, Jr.

Stopping harassment of Proposition 8 supporters.

The cost of being Sarah Palin: $500,000 in liberal attempts to bankrupt her.

Click here to listen, click here to download.

Trackposted to The Pink Flamingo, Rosemary’s Thoughts, and The World According to Carl, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Podcast Show Notes

Obama’s EPA to start regulating dust. (Hat Tip: Hot Air.)

It’s the Chicago way: Palin antagonist is rewarded with government job.

Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/podcast

Palin’s biographer finds her impressive.

Click here to download, click here to add this podcast to your Itunes.

IMPORTANT: Please take our listener survey

February 3, 2009, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin again today expressed her serious concerns with President Obama’s proposed stimulus package.  In a joint letter sent to Alaska’s congressional delegation, Governor Palin, House Speaker Mike Chenault and Senate President Gary Stevens cautioned that unrestrained spending, initiation of new programs that the states may be asked to continue after the federal stimulus is gone, and the borrowing of hundreds of billions of dollars to pay for it may result in serious economic problems in the future.

Governor Palin recently traveled to the nation’s capital to personally express her concerns with the stimulus package with business, economic and political leaders.  The trip was not an effort to endorse or lobby for the current stimulus package now before Congress.

“I agree with the decision of Senator Murkowski and Congressman Young to vote NO on the package,” Governor Palin said.

“It’s a given that a stimulus package is needed and will happen,” Palin said.  “With guaranteed spending on the table, I am arguing for needed construction projects and tax breaks that will truly stimulate the economy and create jobs, and against increased federal programs that will become a state’s unfunded mandate to continue funding for generations

For those of us who were concerned by some news reports, this is a big relief.

“Alaska and other states need to be treated fairly,” Governor Palin said. “Much of the stimulus plan we’ve seen focuses on spending for government programs that would be a burden on states to continue funding, and doesn’t focus enough on spending that actually does put people back to work and stimulate the economy. Working with our D.C. staff, I took advantage of the opportunity to speak with Democrats and Republicans to voice my concerns. I appreciate their time and assistance in paying attention to our state.”

Governor Palin discussed troubling elements in the stimulus package including provisions that punish Alaska for forward-funding education, the mass transit funding formula that will limit Alaska opportunities but will pour money into other states, and the “shovel-ready” criteria for projects that northern climates might not be able to accommodate consistently due to the shortened construction season.

The governor continues to express concerns first identified in a Jan. 7 letter to the Alaska congressional delegation about the overall level of spending and the hugely increased deficit our nation is growing. Under the legislation, the U.S. would continue sending money to OPEC nations even as it continues to borrow and miss opportunities to develop domestic supplies of energy.

“Worst of all, the stimulus package rewards states for not planning when it comes to prioritizing for things like education, as Alaska has planned ahead by forward-funding 21 percent of our General Fund dollars for this very important priority,” said Palin. “It appears only those states that did not plan ahead with education will benefit. States like Alaska should not be punished for being responsible; yet that’s what the plan means for Alaska right now.”

The governor has asked the nation’s leaders to look at these issues to ensure fairness in the stimulus package and that the package does not harm the long-term fiscal health of the nation. Contrary to some news reports, she looks forward to continuing to work with Alaska’s congressional delegation to accomplish the state’s goals.

As Jim Geraghty points out, Governor Palin doesn’t really take a stand, yay or nay on the stimulus package. She identifies issues with it, but doesn’t come out against it foursquare. Part of this is due to the practicality of being a Governor. She doesn’t have a vote on this and she has to make sure that if this thing does pass that it’s not unfavorable to her state. That said, conservatives really are looking for leadership and Governor Palin needs to show some and this would seem to be a good opportunity.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-95wkCMeUkk&eurl=[/youtube]

Ziegler has got a film project, “How Obama Got Elected.” already generated heat with his video of Clueless Obama supporters. Then came Sarah.

She’s in rare form. The Politico has some of the juicier bits:

The Alaska governor said that when she sees some of the coverage of her daughter Bristol especially “the momma grizzly rises up in me.”

Looking back on the Couric interviews, Palin said she knew things were not going well after their first session and asked the McCain campaign to pull the plug on the remaining sit downs but insisted the campaign made her go through with the rest.

“I knew it didn’t go well the first day, and then we gave her a couple of other segments after that. And my question to the campaign was, after it didn’t go well the first day, why were we going to go back for more?” she said. “Because of however it works in that upper echelon of power brokering in the media and with spokespersons, it was told to me that, yeah, we are going to go back for more. And going back for more was not a wise decision either.”

Palin criticized Couric for the way CBS “spliced it together,” saying that “so many of the topics brought up were not portrayed as accurately as they could have, should have, been.”

She also expressed frustration with Couric’s characterization of her since the interviews. After being shown a clip of Couric complaining to David Letterman that no post-election interviewer has asked Palin why she would not tell the CBS anchor what newspapers she reads, the Alaska governor responded: “Because, Katie, you’re not the center of everybody’s universe.”

Wham. It’s good to see some fight from Republican. Palin said she’d do it again becuase the country needs reform.

Ziegler’s impressions were glowing:

Largely because of absurd claims by Democrats that she was violating ethics rules by answering campaign questions on state grounds (one of several ways in which the Democrats there, who used to love her, are now totally invested in the “take Sarah Palin down” industry), we did the interview at the Palin home. At 9 am, without a security guard or handler within sight, Bristol Palin, eight days removed from giving birth, politely answered the door and Governor Palin, not yet fully put together, rushed out to tell me and our crew to make ourselves at home.

One of the things you quickly learn when you visit the Palins is that the legend that has been created around who they are and how they live is no myth. It appears to be absolutely real and everything about them seems 100% sincere. From the stuffed hunting trophies on the wall, to the Track’s military photo by the TV set, to Piper’s crayon school projects on the kitchen cabinets, everything is exactly as you imagine it might be.

What was particularly valuable about the perspective I had was that, I am not Charlie Gibson, Matt Lauer or Greta Van Susteren (who I understand now gets her mail delivered to the Palin home); the conductors of the three most prominent interviews done in the Wasilla house on the frozen lake at the end of the drive that has the sign “Palins” posted on a tree at the entrance. Unlike them, I am virtually unknown nationally and there was absolutely no reason for anything to be done differently as a “show” for us. We saw the genuine Sarah Palin and it is patently obvious that this is the only one that exists. She is the real deal.

As a former TV sportscaster and radio talk show host, I have interviewed a lot big-time “celebrities,” and I can honestly say that, even though you could argue that Sarah Palin was the most prominent I have ever spoken to one-on-one, she was also by far the nicest, most sincere and, seemingly, honest subject that I have ever questioned.

For context, I admit to being a fan of Sarah Palin from before she was ever named John McCain’s VP candidate. I attended her convention speech and consider it to be by far the finest that I have ever personally witnessed. But, being a world-class cynic, I also wondered if maybe there was at least some truth the to the negative media narrative that had been created about her. Maybe she really wasn’t that smart, maybe she was indeed a “diva” or a “wack job.” Well, if anything of those smears are remotely true, Palin should move here to LA permanently because she is a far better actor (not to mention better looking) than the vast majority of actresses in Hollywood.

Our interview started early and ended late (ask Barbara Walters how often that happens at this level). The Governor fully answered every question I asked, even though some of them brought up media episodes that clearly got her upset and, when the subject turned to her kids being targeted, even a little emotional. She then posed for pictures and signed autographs for the entire crew and casually discussed all sorts of topics, including how the local newspaper is absurdly still trailing the “story” that her youngest son is not really hers at all (this while Todd walked around with Trig on his back and Bristol cared for her newborn Tripp in a nearby bedroom; even Trig conspiracy theorist Andrew Sullivan would have had a hard time not seeing the insanity in his own delusions).

Palin continues to wow her base by long distance. If Palin can continue to bring it like this, watch out.

Q; Sarah Palin went around telling people that Obama palled around with terrorists. Why weren’t you able to control what was coming out of her mouth?

A: First of all, he did. The second point is in political campaigns, sometimes there are very rough things said and done. And I resent enormously some of the things that were said about me.

And what I most resent was John Lewis, a man that I admired and respected and have written about, accusing me and Sarah Palin of being racist. And Sen. Obama refusing to repudiate that. John Lewis associated Gov. Palin and me with the bombing of a church in Birmingham. That’s not acceptable. And in the debate I asked and challenged Sen. Obama to repudiate those remarks by John Lewis and he wouldn’t.

So if you want to review all of the injuries and statements and comments that were made, I would be glad to do that. Overall, it was a very honorable campaign.

I am proud of Sarah Palin. I am proud of the way she ignited our party. I am proud of her family. I am proud of her reform agenda. I could not be more proud and happy with the selection of Sarah Palin.

But I resent enormously these allegations that Sarah Palin was, quote, unqualified and many of the other things that were said about her and that she was subjected to. It really was painful for me to observe that.

I really believe she will be a big factor in the future of our party.

I’m sorry about me being harsh about me controlling Sarah Palin, but it is a little bit of a sore subject with me when I don’t think she deserved some of the criticism she got from people who didn’t even know her or hadn’t had any contact with her.

And I think that she is a wonderful person and one that I appreciate and admire and have grown to respect more and more over time.

Coulter opts to dedicate most of her column to bashing the media for their double standard in going tougher on Palin than Barack Obama. Fair points, Ann, but who is this column about, anyway? Ann gets to that eventually, writing:

Palin was a kick in the pants, she energized conservatives, and she made liberal heads explode. Other than his brave military service, introducing Sarah Palin to Americans is the greatest thing John McCain ever did for his country.

But unless Palin is going to be the perpetual running mate of “moderate” Republicans who need conservative bona fides, she will need to become wiser and better read. Even Reagan didn’t run for President in his 40s. (True Obama is in his 40s, but we are not Democrats.)

Perhaps Palin’s year is 2012, but I would recommend that she take a little more time to become older and wiser. She ought to spend the next decade being a good governor, tending to her children so none of them turn out like Ron Reagan Jr., and reading everything Phyllis Schlafly, Thomas Sowell, Ronald Reagan and “Publius” have ever written. (She also might keep in mind that HUMAN EVENTS was Ronald Reagan’s favorite newspaper!)

Yes, in a truly bizarre twist, Ann Coulter not only spends most of a column that’s supposed to be praising Palin, bashing Obama and the press, she uses the column honoring Palin to try and torpedo a Palin 2012 run.

Where does one begin to refute Coulter’s Palin nonsense?

1) The age factor. First of all, it seems somewhat of a technicality.  “Whoever, we nominate has to be 50 or over, and Palin will be 48. She fails to pass our extra-constitutional age requirement.”  You’re right, we’re not Democrats. You can tell that because the Democrats have eighty more Congressmen and at least seventeen more Senators. Maybe the Founders knew what they were talking about when they set the requirement at 35.

I hate to point this out, but Ronald Reagan didn’t run a serious campaign for President until 1976 (1968 was a favorite son candidacy) at the age of 65. I guess it’s time to print up the Palin 2024 bumper stickers.

And using Reagan as a standard of the right age to run for the Presidency is idiotic. Reagan was the oldest man ever elected to a first term. The “do everything exactly like Reagan” obsession is the most asinine thing I’ve ever heard. Sarah Palin does not need to be the next Ronald Reagan. She needs to be the best Sarah Palin she can be. No great leader becomes great by trying to be a copy of someone else.

2.   To paraphrase Hamlet, Coulter says, “Get thee to a library.” Of course, Coulter doesn’t really know what Sarah Palin has read. Coulter assumes Palin hasn’t read the Federalist Papers, hasn’t read Sowell, hasn’t read Schlafly, hasn’t read Reagan, and doesn’t read Human Events. This is a lot of assuming.

Where does Coulter believe Palin got her conservatism? Under a caribou? Palin’s views have no doubt been influenced by these conservative thinkers or by people who were influenced by these thinkers.

Plus, just like you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, it’s stupid to judge a political leader by their bookshelf. Remember that Arnold Schwarzenegger read Milton Friedman’s “Free to Choose.” Tell me what type of fiscal conservative has Arnold been?

In addition, Ann’s bookshelf judgment seems to be a bit one-sided. She viscerally attacked Mike Huckabee despite the fact that Huckabee grew up reading Schlafly, and in his 20s listened to countless Paul Weyrich lectures on tape.

3.  Do politicians really get wiser with more time in office? The reality that this is not the case leads many conservatives to support term limits.

4. Finally, Coulter argues that Sarah Palin should spend the next decade as Governor of Alaska (never mind that come 2014, Sarah Palin has to leave the Governorship, and thus can only remain six years) and that she needs to wait until she’s finished raising her kids. Isn’t this the same argument heard from liberals earlier in the year? Indeed, Coulter skewers the argument earlier in the piece.

And it should be noted, that no one’s writing open letters to Bobby Jindal suggesting he needs to stay in Louisiana and raise his children. Whatever arguments are raised against the Bobby Jindal bloomlet, his kids aren’t one of them.

Certainly, Sarah Palin should take her family into consideration (as should every candidate or potential candidate) but the idea that you have a National Columnist bossing Sarah Palin around on this is more than a little bit unseemly.

Ann Coulter was a Romney woman in the 2008 primaries. If she wants to push that point of view, that’s her right. However, in a piece that was to honor Sarah Palin as the conservative of the year, Coulter in short order trashed her as an unlearned fool unready to lead her party or the nation.  With honors like this who needs hit pieces?

If Coulter feels this way, she should have left the honors to someone who would actually honor Sarah Palin. Instead Coulter decided to show herself classless by using the editorial to minimize Palin and to try to knock down Palin’s 2012 Presidential hopes. In my view, Coulter’s incoherent piece undermined Coulter more than it did anyone else.

1. Please make your check payable to: Wasilla Bible Church

2. Mail your check to:

Wasilla Bible Church
1651 W. Nicola Avenue
Wasilla, Alaska 99654

Tomorrow, Saxby Chambliss has his run-off election with Jim Martin and given that it’s a close race and holding on to his seat is incredibly important, he could have just about any Republican he wants on the campaign trail for him today. He could have John McCain, Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Bush, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Mitch McConnell, you name it — out there campaigning for him in crunch time.

Yet, he’s spending the most important time of the campaign appearing as often as humanly possible with Sarah Palin. I guess he didn’t get the memo from all the Inside-the-Beltway super geniuses in D.C. who’ve said she’s political death, dragged down the McCain campaign, is a sure loser, etc., etc., etc.

Well, tomorrow night, if Chambliss comes out on top — and I think he has a good shot at it — there are going to be two big winners in this race: Saxby Chambliss and Sarah Palin.

Erick Erickson of Red State fame and an actual Georgian, writing in Human Events had this to say:

Palin, in fact, still draws rock star crowds of thousands of Republicans eager to hear the one candidate they’ve connected with this year. In Augusta, on a post-holiday Monday morning at 8:30 a.m., the crowd was several thousand people. She can energize and excite Republican voters in a way John McCain never could…

Barack Obama will not campaign for Jim Martin in person. He has targeted a few radio ads on urban and African-American radio stations. He has also done targeted automated phone calls to Democrat voters. But he will not show his face in Georgia for Martin. Palin, on the other hand, is criss-crossing the state raising money and turning out the vote for Saxby. She is, no doubt, mindful that the media will trumpet a Chambliss loss as another defeat for Palin. The headlines are predictable: “Palin Causes Chambliss to Lose Georgia”.

Of course, polling shows that will most likely not happen. The media will respond by ignoring the Palin factor. Republicans, however, should pay attention to it. For the entire month, the Chambliss campaign has gotten the same question: “Is Sarah Palin coming?” No one has cared about Huckabee, Romney, Giuliani, or McCain. Palin is all anyone wanted.

On Monday she drew massive crowds for Saxby. Today, those excited masses are going to vote for Chambliss, largely because Sarah Palin asked them to.

My first reaction to this idea of Sarah Palin as the source of Chambliss’ victory was that I didn’t buy it. Polls showed Chambliss up by as much as 7 points. Though, some polls showed it as close as 4. Then came last night’s result, which with 97% reporting shows a 57.4% to 42.6% win, a 14.8% margin of victory, a virtual landslide for Saxby Chambliss.

I think at the end of the day that if Sarah Palin doesn’t show up in Georgia, Saxby Chambliss still wins. But by nearly 15 points?  No way. Palin’s appearances galvanized the base of the party in a way that I don’t think anyone else’s appearance did. This isn’t to say Huckabee, Romney, McCain, or Giuliani were unhelpful or didn’t matter, or that calls from the RNC and HuckPAC into Georgia didn’t help. But the big difference between  the final polls and the final results seems to indicate an “x” factor and I think that factor is Sarah Palin.

Palin holds a unique spot in the party as much as some folks want to deny it. People in Georgia are probably sicker of politics than anyone in the country. For most of us, November 5 marked a return to normal after a long campaign. For Georgians, Election 2008 was the campaign that wouldn’t die.

And yet, thousands showed up for Sarah Palin’s stops in Georgia on a Monday. Who else could draw a crowd of Thousands to come out to a political rally on a work day in December, in a state where folks have got to be thoroughly tired of politics? It’s a power of a leader that the party regulars love and believe in. Contrary to what some folks wish, she’s not going away.  If Bob McConnell’s smart, expect to see here at least once if not more during next year’s Virginia’s gubenatorial race.

It’s a nice ad, though I’m not sure the money was well-spent on running it. Most non-political folks and some political ones don’t want to hear any more about 2008. It’d probably be better as a web ad.

I had to muse at CNN’s piece headlined“Palin in Obama Administration” with this opening graph:

Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said Wednesday she would be honored to help out President-elect Barack Obama in his new administration, even if he did hang around with an “unrepentant domestic terrorist.”

The way this is written, you get the inference that Palin would be willing to serve in the Obama Administration despite his being friends with an unrepentant terrorists. However, the more you read the story and if you actually listen to the interview, it becomes apparent that Palin’s talking policy, not serving in the administration.

Yes, she’s troubled by the association, but the election’s over and you got to help the President-elect when you agree. There’s no contradiction in there.

The one question that’s getting some liberal hay is when Palin was pressed by Blitzer in the CNN interview and said she had no major new program or initiative she was going to announce for the governors or the nation to take.

Why doesn’t she have anything? Here’s a hint. She’s one Republican Governor of 21. She’s not Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association, and she’s no longer the VP Candidate. For her to give a Speech pushing a new initiative would be tacky.

Second point, it’s nine days after the election, it’s too soon for her to do something that would be seen as prepping for 2012. 

Finally, she doesn’t need it. Americans have already made a change, and before they hear another plan, they’re going to want to see how Obama works out for a while before they hear a Republican plan to fix what Obama did wrong.

If this is 2011 and she doesn’t have a bold new plan, it’s another story, but nine days after the election, I don’t think anyone really wants a new plan.

Given that Obama had served on a Chicago board with Ayers and approved funding of a leftist educational project sponsored by Ayers, one might think that the unrepentant Ayers-Dohrn couple might be of some interest to the national media. But no, reporters have been too busy playing mini-badminton with every random spitball about Sarah Palin, who has been subjected to an atrocious and at times delusional level of defamation merely because she has the temerity to hold pro-life views.

How dare Palin not embrace abortion as the ultimate civilized ideal of modern culture? How tacky that she speaks in a vivacious regional accent indistinguishable from that of Western Canada! How risible that she graduated from the State University of Idaho and not one of those plush, pampered commodes of received opinion whose graduates, in their rush to believe the worst about her, have demonstrated that, when it comes to sifting evidence, they don’t know their asses from their elbows.

Liberal Democrats are going to wake up from their sadomasochistic, anti-Palin orgy with a very big hangover. The evil genie released during this sorry episode will not so easily go back into its bottle. A shocking level of irrational emotionalism and at times infantile rage was exposed at the heart of current Democratic ideology — contradicting Democratic core principles of compassion, tolerance and independent thought. One would have to look back to the Eisenhower 1950s for parallels to this grotesque lock-step parade of bourgeois provincialism, shallow groupthink and blind prejudice.

I like Sarah Palin, and I’ve heartily enjoyed her arrival on the national stage. As a career classroom teacher, I can see how smart she is — and quite frankly, I think the people who don’t see it are the stupid ones, wrapped in the fuzzy mummy-gauze of their own worn-out partisan dogma. So she doesn’t speak the King’s English — big whoop! There is a powerful clarity of consciousness in her eyes. She uses language with the jumps, breaks and rippling momentum of a be-bop saxophonist. I stand on what I said (as a staunch pro-choice advocate) in my last two columns — that Palin as a pro-life wife, mother and ambitious professional represents the next big shift in feminism. Pro-life women will save feminism by expanding it, particularly into the more traditional Third World.

As for the Democrats who sneered and howled that Palin was unprepared to be a vice-presidential nominee — what navel-gazing hypocrisy! What protests were raised in the party or mainstream media when John Edwards, with vastly less political experience than Palin, got John Kerry’s nod for veep four years ago? And Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, for whom I lobbied to be Obama’s pick and who was on everyone’s short list for months, has a record indistinguishable from Palin’s. Whatever knowledge deficit Palin has about the federal bureaucracy or international affairs (outside the normal purview of governors) will hopefully be remedied during the next eight years of the Obama presidencies.

The U.S. Senate as a career option? What a claustrophobic, nitpicking comedown for an energetic Alaskan — nothing but droning committees and incestuous back-scratching. No, Sarah Palin should stick to her governorship and just hit the rubber-chicken circuit, as Richard Nixon did in his long haul back from political limbo following his California gubernatorial defeat in 1962. Step by step, the mainstream media will come around, wipe its own mud out of its eyes, and see Palin for the populist phenomenon that she is.

Kind thoughts from the other side and I also agree with Paglia about Palin going to the Senate. Going to the Senate could be deadly for Palin’s presidential chances. Americans are neither rash nor foolish enough to elect a first term U.S. Senator as President….Oh, never mind.

I guess the only bright side of being in the Senate, it’s the only job you can blow off for two straight years without being fired. If Senator Stevens holds on in Alaska and is re-elected to the Senate and then forced out, I’d expect that Lt. Governor Sean Parnell (R-AK) who made a strong run for Congress earlier this year to run for the Senate while Palin stays Governor.

The other thing I found noteworthy is I’ve noticed is that in both her interviews with Matt Lauer and Greta Van Susteren, she invited both of them to their home and made food for both of them. The Palin’s home is a nice-looking middle class home. Her kids run in and out freely, she answers questions while making dinner. It’s a type of interview and a method I’ve not seen politicians use. It brings you closer to them.

I think folks who are betting that her negatives right now are some impediment to any future run for national office, are missing the boat.

CBS reports how Obama must work to win over the media (because they’re so skeptical.) (Hat Tip: Newsbusters.)

Plus will Obama be “ruling” January 20.

He may not have done anything yet, but let’s have a National Holiday anyway. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.)

Obama’s tax dilemna.

The magically disappearing “Change Agenda” (Hat Tip: Wizbang Blog.)

The magically appearing Minnesota ballots. (Hat Tip: Red State.)

Extreme leftwing activists attack a Michigan church. (Hat Tip: Blue Collar Muse.)

Click here to download, click here to add this podcast to your Itunes.

IMPORTANT: Please take our listener survey

Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/podcast.

Trackposted to Rosemary’s Thoughts, , Faultline USA, third world county, Right Truth, The World According to Carl, DragonLady’s World, Rosemary’s News and Ideas, The Pink Flamingo, Cao’s Blog, and Democrat=Socialist, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

For example on the ABC News 20/20 special, ABC showed a series of clips of her delivering the same line repeatedly at stop after stop.

I’m shocked that a candidate for national office has a speech that they deliver over and over again. When delivering 2-3 speeches a day, why don’t they write 2 or 3 different speeches every single day?

The reason that most canidates (not just Palin) have standard stump speeches is one of pure practicality. They don’t have time to write several new speeches a day and they don’t have a whole lot new to say from day to day during the same campaign.

The repetitiveness of the speeches bores political junkies who would like to watch every speech on television, but for your average American who doesn’t watch a thousand rallies, it’s new to them, so it’s okay.

Then CNN discovers *shock of all shocks* that Palin’s speech varies from one location to another.

*Gasp!* Really?

You mean she doesn’t highlight her differnces with the audience she’s speaking to. How…polite of her. Do other politicians go out of their way to antagonize their audience by highlighting areas of disagreement such as Palin would do by bringing up nuclear power in Nevada?

I’m sure Obama would. I remember when Obama was asked about abortion at the Saddleback Forum that he told the audience there, the same thing he did at NARAL. He said, “The first thing I’ll do in office is sign a bill removing all restrictions from abortion, so that your daughters can get abortions without your permission and you’ll have to pay for abortions for any reason whatsoever.” Actually, I think he said something about it being above his pay grade to know when unborn children get rights.

Finally, we all have all the phony scandal stories coming out of Alaska. It seems that while Governor Palin has made solid ethics reforms, and is earning atmospheric approval ratings that some people don’t like here and are upset like:

• The mayor she defeated for re-election.
• Bureaucrats she fired.
• Other political opponents.

I’m dumbstruck by the media’s shock. Apparently, the only acceptable way to reform government is in a way in which you leave all government personnel on staff and don’t ruffle any feathers.

If you’re going to reform government, guess what? You’re more likely that not going to show some bureaucrats the door.  And some powerful people you defeated (like her 2006 Independent opponent for Governor who brought the troopergate allegations) are going to have axes to grind. The same thing goes for powerful interests who will undermine you every step of the way.

Good governors will do their best to do what’s right for the people. Along the way, they’ll make enemies. Now, in the Internet age, some of these enemies will take to blog attacks. I’ve had at least one bitter Alaskan show up in the comments of the blog to compare Governor Palin to Hugo Chavez. I’ve had quite a few Arkansans show up to attack Mike Huckabee. In both cases, neither contingent represented the majority of their state.

However, the media is not only breathlessly reporting every half-baked rumor and allegation about Sarah Palin to come across their desk but treating it as if it’s 100% gospel truth. Media people who are famously skeptical about sources seem to treat uncritically claims of people who have obvious grudges against the Governor, never even considering, “Well, duh, this guy doesn’t like her, she took away his mayor job and then defeated him by an earth-shakingly embarrassing margin when he tried to make a comeback.”

Instead, Christmas has come early for some bitter malcontents in Alaska who never dreamed they’d be able to get payback to Sarah Palin for smashing their political machines like a still uncovered on the Andy Griffith Show. The media is willing to act as their tools, starring in the role of “Stupid” and hoping that you and I will play along.

Selective editting in the Palin interview with Charlie Gibson.

The real Sarah Palin on the Bridge to Nowhere, spending, and earmarks.

A Canadian abortionist fears that Palin’s election could reduce abortion of downs syndrome babies. (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

Obama getting arrogant with financial supporters. (Hat Tip: Director Blue.)

Obama runs ad attacking McCain for not sending e-mails. McCain doesn’t send e-mails because he can’t due to his war injury.

Plus Sarah Palin’s qualification defended by Obama’s Democratic home state governor. (Hat Tip: The Corner.)

The New York Times on qualifications to be Veep now and then.

The insipid questions asked on the View.

An Ohio Democratic leader’s sleezy proposed line of attack to turn Ohio blue. (Hat Tip: The Corner.)

The Truth about McCain’s sex education ad.

Obama supporters try to play a con game on pro-lifers.

A website forms to help Obama’s destitute half-brother who lives on $12 a year.

Unprecedent spending rates are leading to a national trainwreck. (Hat Tip: Save the GOP. )

Plus: Government in action. $119 million for a total of 40 jobs. (Hat Tip: Right Mind.)

When Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer joked about committing election fraud in Montana’s 2006 Senate Race was there truth in the joke?

A Google news search leads to a billion dollar stock loss.

Another crazy gun lawsuit filed against Craig’s list. (Hat Tip: Gun Watch.)

Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA) continues to show outstanding leadership through the hurricane season.

Music from Torley on the Piano via the Podsafe Music Network.

Click here to listen, click here to download.

Trackposted to Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Woman Honor Thyself, The World According to Carl, Pirate’s Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Cao’s Blog, Phastidio.net, WINGLESS, Democrat=Socialist, NN&V, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

UPDATE

For a non-political perspective from someone who doesn’t eat, drink, and sleep this stuff, my mom was mad at Charlie Gibson, and her opinion of Sarah Palin was not diminished.

• Obama picked up Joe Biden not because it’d excite the base, but because Joe Biden will be able to help Obama govern.

• McCain picked up Sarah Palin because it’d excite the base, not because Sarah Palin will be able to help McCain govern.

If only Republicans put as much effort into governing as they put into running campaigns. I think that the election and reelection of G.W. Bush proved that Republicans only care about winning elections, not about actually governing this country.

So Barack Obama cared about governing because he chose a VP with a lot more experience than him who could help him manage the country , particularly on tough foreign policy matters. So, what the left is saying is that Obama is noble for doing what the left has accused President Bush in doing by choosing Dick Cheney. Would that be the change we can believe in?

I think that Senator McCain did choose someone who could help him govern, as well as win the election, and yes, step in should something happen to him. McCain really doesn’t need a Foreign Policy wonk on his ticket. John McCain knows foreign policy quite well, thank you very much.

However, outside of the military, McCain doesn’t have much executive experience, Governor Palin does. She also brings a strong understanding of energy issues that in a time when energy is such a problem for our country is vitally important.

I think Senator McCain sees a troubling situation in Washington, and a place that’s in desperate need of reform. Those who are part of official Washington are, for the most part, part of the problem. They’d be half-hearted in fighting big spending at best. If something should happen to him, Washington would just be business as usual. There are some exceptions to this, but good reformers have spent a lot more time tilting at windmills that whether they could handle the executive responsibilities of the Presidency.

Sarah Palin has experience cutting spending and reforming ethics in her home state. She’s had to work with a legislature. She’s had to actually govern departments and balance budgets. She’s shown the ability to take bold steps for reform. She’s shaken things up in Alaska and I think what Senator McCain wants to do when he’s elected President.  

The Senate is not the fount of all wisdom, neither Washington, DC. Having been there for 36 years doesn’t mean that you’ll make the right decision when crisis strikes. One of America’s most experienced Presidents was James Buchanan, Buchanan had six terms in the House, 2 1/2 terms in the Senate, and a 2 year stint as Ambassador to Russia and Minister to Great Britain, and 4 years as Secretary of State, including during the Mexican-American war. He was a great Washington insider and under his Administration, the Union split apart and he was impotent to stop it.

McCain understands that Washington is broken, and if you’re going to fix a dysfunctional system,  you probably need someone from outside that system to help. Buchanan proves that experience as a Washington insider won’t make you a great President, but tenacity, courage, and dedication to service are at the foundation of great leadership. Sarah Palin has these qualities in spades.

When CNN commentators begin describing her as a “metaphysical force,” I’ll rethink my assessment. When major newspapers run columns asking if she’s “a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being… who can actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet,” I’ll consider the comparison. When her supporters create their own special salute, I’ll chew over the theory. When celebrities talk about recording time “Before Palin and After Palin”, let’s talk. When her supporters say her nomination warrants another chapter in the Bible, I’ll concur. When people begin selling her unfinished meals on eBay, I’ll see the parallels. When “Palin-alujah” becomes a chant, I’ll recognize the similarities. When people brag about shaking hands with hands that have shaken hers, then I’ll nod in agreement. When Todd Palin tells audiences that his wife will heal our broken souls, I’ll concede.

Obama’s speech had more negative attacks than Palin’s. (Hat Tip: Instapundit.)

As Palin becomes one of America’s most popular political leaders, Oprah refuses to have Sarah Palin on her show and one liberal bloggers suggests the media should claim revenge by ignoring Palin.

Us Magazine loses thousands of subscribers over unfair attacks on Governor Palin while Sally Quinn backs off earlier criticism of the VP Pick.  (Hat Tip: Red State.)

McCain’s acceptance speech outdraws Obama.

Obama’s attempt to pick up moderate evangelicals failing. (Hat Tip: Jill Stanek.)

Obama’s plan to radicalize American youth. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.)

Unemployment has gone up to 6.1% after the last economic stimulus package didn’t work. Obama’s solution? Another stimulus package. Change, anyone?

Democratic Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-NY), who is in charge of writing America’s tax laws doesn’t seem to understand them and is also blissfully aware of how much income he’s getting. Where are those people who are upset about McCain not knowing the number of houses he has when you need them? (Hat Tip: Wizbang Blog.)

Plus one man takes on the attempts of states to copyright their laws and forbid people from distributing them. (Hat Tip: Club for Growth.)

Plus a consequence of gay marriage: dealing with homosexual weddings in prison.

Plus our 2nd Amendment update.

The growth of Public Virtual Schools.  

A victory for freedom of religion in Anaheim.

Music from Torley on the Piano via the Podsafe Music Network.

Click here to listen.

Another leftist blogger rumor bites the dust, while the media reports and then fails to retract vicious false rumors about Governor Sarah Palin that join a long list of proven liberal lies, and irrelvant issues.

Click here to download, click here to add this podcast to your Itunes.

IMPORTANT:  Please take our listener survey

Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/podcast.

Assn. of Community Organizations for Reform Now: ACORN members, leaders and staff are extremely disappointed that Republican leaders would make such condescending remarks on the great work community organizers accomplish in cities throughout this country. The fact that they marginalize our success in empowering low- and moderate-income people to improve their communities further illustrates their lack of touch with ordinary people.

And we get this bumper sticker from a left wing blogger:

Jesus was a Community Organizer, Pontius Pilate was a Governor

Jesus was, of course, not a community organizer. He was an itenerant preacher, however the clear point, I guess is to complete the gratuitious comparison between Christ and Obama, and perhaps to show how humbly community organizers think of themselves.

Oh no, the GOP just lost any hope of getting support from ACORN! Seriously? ACORN is a group that’s well-known for committing voter fraud while registering Democratic voters including deceased people and fraudulent applications. How will the Republicans win without ACORN? Indeed, each group that’s listed is basically a left wing group.

Jesus was a Community Organizer, Pontius Pilate was a Governor

Jesus was, of course, not a community organizer. He was an itenerant preacher, however the clear point, I guess is to complete the gratuitious comparison between Christ and Obama, and perhaps to show how humbly community organizers think of themselves.

Republicans didn’t disrespect community organizations. However, I’ve know a lot of people who’ve done good in their communities with non-profits and none have used the label “community organizer.” It’s reminiscent of someone describing their experience as a waitress as “food service specialist.” In other words, it’s politically correct resume puffing and it’s a term that doesn’t communicate what exactly he did or what his efforts in Chicago really accomplished. And it, along with Obama having edited the Harvard Law review and teaching law school and running for President is being used to puff the resume of the least qualified presidential candidate we’ve seen in at least 68 years.

Thoughts on the Republican Convention and John McCain’s acceptance speech.

Obama’s wussy response to Palin. (Hat Tip: Patterico.)

The Media v. Sarah Palin:

The Washington Post misrepresents Palin’s record on funding for teen pregnancies. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.) while CNN uses Daily Kos to misrepresent her record on Special Education.

Several PUMAs knew about a potential Palin pick in June.

The media sends Joe Biden friendly hints to be hard on Palin.

CNN’s Campbell Brown may be in the tank for Obama, but Fox’s Chairman tells Obama to his face how it’s going to be. (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

Obama/Biden: bringing America together by prosecuting the heck out of the last Bush Administration.

Democratic Mayor Kwame Kirkpatrick’s (Detroit) graceless exit.

Plus which is better? Vouchers or tax credits? (Hat Tip: Right Mind.)

Click here to download, click here to add this podcast to your Itunes.

IMPORTANT:  Please take our listener survey

Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomypc.com/podcast.

Trackposted to The Virtuous Republic, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Allie is Wired, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, Right Truth, The World According to Carl, The Pink Flamingo, Leaning Straight Up, and Democrat=Socialist, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

The numbers are in from last night’s speech. Palin’s speech drew: 37.2 million, or 1.1 million less than Obama’s even though her speech was carried on 6 networks while Obama’s was carried on 10. (Hat Tip: Colussus of Rhodey.)

Ted Nugent comes out for McCain/Palin.  (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

Let me correct the record now. Sarah Palin does not have an 80% approval rating. It’s 81.6%. (Hat Tip: Club for Growth.)

Scrapple Face parody: Obama proposes funding foreign policy training for girls.

DFO on the term “Trailer Trash” which has been used by classy HBO commenters.

Left Wing quote of the day:

It was that good. No, she’s not qualified, and the substance was thin, but my God — that was perhaps the greatest bit of political theatre I have ever witnessed. Her critics in the media and in the opposition may regret having piled on quite so enthusiastically, and with so little heed for who they hurt — or angered. Watching the tumultuous, ecstatic reaction in the hall, I was reminded of the famous words of the Admiral Yamamoto after Pearl Harbour: “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant, and fill him with a terrible resolve.”

(Hat Tip: Reformed Chicks Babbling.)

Local reaction to the Palin Speech:

Clayton Cramer:  “This is one of the world-changing political speeches of our generation. She is a powerful, but very natural speaker. Obama has just lost. Palin will be extraordinarily qualified to run for President in 2012.”

Kevin Richert: “Palin is still going to have to make the case that she has the command of the issues that come with the vice presidency. I didn’t hear that Wednesday night, and wouldn’t have been realistic to expect it. This speech was Palin’s chance to present herself to America and fire up the faithful, and she aced it on both counts.”

Wow, in less than 3 days, Richert has poked fun at Obama’s over the top rhetoric and now preparing a glowing review of Sarah Palin’s speech. Is there an invasion of the body snatchers that’s beginning their work at the Idaho Statesman?

I don’t know, I guess it may be spreading. This afternoon, I gave my first donation to the McCain-Palin compliance fund. Six days a go, I would have rated that with pigs flying, along with me getting a McCain-Palin bumper sticker.

No surprise here. This ’tis the bumper sticker for conservatives. It’s available on McCain Store for $1 plus $3 shipping.

One of the great sights of American political life — a YouTube moment if ever there was one — was to see the doughboy face of Newt Gingrich as he extolled the virtues of Sarah Palin, a sitcom of a vice presidential choice and a disaster movie if she moves up to the presidency: “She’s the first journalist ever to be nominated, I think, for the president or vice president, and she was a sportscaster on local television,” Gingrich said on the “Today” show. “So she has a lot of interesting background. And she has a lot of experience. Remember that, when people worry about how inexperienced she is, for two years she’s been in charge of the Alaska National Guard.”

It’s a pity Gingrich was not around when the Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known by his nickname Caligula, reputedly named Incitatus as a consul and a priest. Incitatus was his horse.

Pardon me, but did Richard Cohen just compare Governor Palin to a Horse? Yes, I believe he did. National Organization for Women, where are you?

Meanwhile, Ed Schultz was showing himself the epitome of enlightened thinking:

Liberal radio host Ed Schultz was telling listeners Monday that Palin was an “empty pantsuit” who had set off a “bimbo alert.”

(Hat Tip: Campaign Spot.)

Of course, many liberals aren’t stupid enough to mouth off on the record. However, as Rob Dreher pointed out,  there are some journalists with misogyny who will be far quieter about it:

Earlier, I got into a slightly heated conversation with a black male big-city journalist who describes himself as a Republican. He hates the Palin choice. Absolutely despises it.

“Let’s face it, she’s white trash,” he said.

Excuse me?

“She’s trailer trash.” He then went on a tear about Bristol Palin, and brought up things about Sarah Palin that have already been debunked, or were flat-out lies. He concluded by confiding that women are bad news — especially black women — and that all they really want is to use men sexually (the language he used was rather more colorful) to get ahead in life. This is how he came to father a child out of wedlock years ago, he explained.

If one thing, perhaps at the end of this election we can bury the idea that somehow misogyny or racism is limited to a single party or ideology.

“We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.

“Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates.”

Senator McCain knew about this and didn’t disqualify her from the ticket. Good for him. This has nothing to do with Governor Palin’s ability to serve as Vice-President of the United States. It is a personal detail about Governor Palin’s daughter that has become public because of insulting insinuations against her, alleging that  Governor Palin’s latest child is actually her grandchild. Rubbish and bull, stop watching so many soap operas.

I think what it does say is that the Palins respect the value of human life. The baby is a gift from God, not a punishment as the other party would tell us. My prayers are with the Palin family and the upcoming marriage, as Bristol seeks to give her child a home with a father, and  for that she should be commended.

I also hope and pray that Bristol’s decision and the support her mother is providing will be an example to encourage women in similar situations to choose life. Who knows how many lives will be saved by this high profile decision to choose life and personal responsibility, no matter what the cost.

Also, the Palin family is releasing information that the Governor’s husband, Todd Palin had a DUI when he was 22:

Sources close to Sarah Palin tell The Brody File that the husband of the GOP Vice-presidential choice, Todd Palin, was arrested and charged with Driving under the Influence of alcohol back in 1986. He was 22 years old at the time. He was driving in a truck with some friends in the small southwestern Alaska town of Dillingham when he was pulled over for the DUI.  As is customary, he was taken to jail briefly. Sarah and Todd Palin were high school sweethearts so they were dating at the time. The Brody File can also report that there was no accident or injuries.

Sources close to Sarah Palin also tell The Brody File that Todd Palin has been “forthcoming about the situation and has indicated that it was a lesson learned from when he was younger.”

Given that this didn’t involve the candidate and occurred more than two decades ago before the two were married, this seems irrelevant, but could have been sat on by the Lamestream Media for another October surprise-2000 style even though Todd Palin isn’t the candidate.

I don’t find either disclosure disturbing or in any way calling into question the fitness of Sarah Palin. What I do find sad is any family forced to air dirty laundry because a media whose thirst for juicy news includes no bounds of decency, and people who spread hateful rumors across the Internet.

Things like this are why it’s so hard to get good people to run for office.

UPDATE:

Senator Obama weighs in:

Politico’s Carrie Budoff Brown reports: At a press avail in Monroe, Mich., Barack Obama on Palin: “Back off these kinds of stories.”

“I have said before and I will repeat again: People’s families are off limits,” Obama said. “And people’s children are especially off-limits. This shouldn’t be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin’s performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. So I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. You know my mother had me when she was 18 and how a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn’t be a topic of our politics.”

Obama is right and I think this is the absolutely correct response.

He went on to say that his campaign had nothing to do with the outrageous blog posts of the paw few days and I believe him. I don’t think his campaign is stupid enough to go there.

Get a freaking grip. I assure you the American People are wondering what Democrats are freaking out about.

Indeed, I addressed it in a previous post, but BTD raises an excellent point and the comments thread is a fascinating reminder that not every member of the Democratic Party has lost their mind. Bluegal cluelessly tries to agree in the comments:

For all of McCain’s “Country First” and “I’m ready” talking points this decision that he made after meeting her once goes to his JUDGMENT.  

What McCain did was dangerous and shows just how cynical and arrogant he is.

Another commenter, Columbia Duck, points out the problem with this:

Because he’s got to be crazy to pick a woman with equivalent experience to Obama. /snark

this is the experience argument packaged another way. it’s still a loser.

Unfortunately bluegal still didn’t get it:

You can have all the experience in the world but if you don’t have good judgment what good is that experience?…McCain thinks it is okay to gamble with the country’s future. He has shown this time and time again.

Columbia Duck comes back:

If you question McCain’s JUDGMENT by saying he picked someone too INEXPERIENCED, than that is still the EXPERIENCE argument. It’s just once removed. the only additional factor that would make it criminally dangerous (or whatever you said) to pick the very inexperienced Palin while it’s dandy to pick the inexperienced Obama is that she is a woman.

You say it’s a gamble to the country’s future to pick an inexperienced Palin – but Obama has little more experience. Isn’t that a gamble as well? Do you really want to litigate that argument for the next two months?

This is a loser argument for Democrats this year. Dem strategists have been walking into it with the Republicans all day and they end up looking like idiots. It should stop.

Unfortunately, bluegal still doesn’t get it, but I don’t have all night to keep up with this. Lansing Quaker warned fellow liberals:

In the zeitgeist to demonize Palin right out of the box — to change the narrative — it’s going to cause terrible backlash. Democratic Underground has even front paged the RIDICULOUS story criticizing the AUTHENTICITY OF HER CHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME and now the Right-Wing blogs are picking it up.

This is going to hurt Obama in a huge way once Palin actually changes McCain’s numbers. Especially if this type of attack line keeps up.

Read the whole thread.  I have to say there are some smart people at TalkLeft. Fortunately, for Republicans, no one seems to be listening.