While I was away, McCain thought he was being all shrewd by taking on a Token on the ticket, but since that time things have begun to blow up in his face. Or have they? Could an unwed pregnant teenaged daughter of the GOP's presidential VP nominee be a boon for the party? If you are reading the fundie blogs, then you'd believe it. Here's a round-up of what locals are saying about Sarah Palin, the controversial top story subject of the day:
Dave Winer:The radical right wing blogs are predictably complaining and
slinging mud at people who pass on stories about McCain's choice for
vice-president, but that shouldn't change a thing. 
Latest: The Washington Post reports she led a 527 founded by indicted-for-corruption Senator Ted Stevens. So much for her being a reformer and maverick.
The current First Lady made some menacing remarks
probably aimed at the press, indicating that she wants this VP
candidate to be treated specially because she's a woman (that's how I
interpret it) but the answer has to be no. If the press has any
integrity, after such a challenge, they should go deeper and press
harder. We, the electorate, have a right to know everything about this
person who would be a 72-to-76 year old heartbeat away from the
presidency. Even healthy people who are 76 have medical problems, and
McCain hasn't been all that healthy.
I have so much to say about this...As a side note: From a purely spectator perspective: Is this not the best election ever?!
Here and There:I don’t watch TV, so this clip was my first brush with a Republican
accusing someone of disrespecting women by questioning Sarah Palin’s
qualifications to be president.
Now, I don’t always agree with the Ragin’ Cajun (James Carville),
but all he did was lay out his argument for why Palin is “uniquely”
unqualified for the job, and going as far as to bring up Olympia Snowe,
a sitting senator, who is a qualified woman, if a woman was what McCain
really wanted.
Then, lo and behold, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota trumpets the “you’re disrespecting women by saying that” line.
Watch, if you can bear it...
Tim Redmond:
[S]olidify the base, and try to attract working-class people in
heartland and southern states who have been badly hurt by Bush but
might have trouble relating to a Harvard-educated African American.
There's really no secret about the strategy here: The GOP has used race-based and culture-based fearmongering for years.
The Default Attorney:
So, for god's sake, will someone please call the hounds off of Bristol
Palin. She is not running for office, and surely there are more
relevant discussions to be had about whether her mother will be a good
vice-president than her fertility. This could be anyone's family, and
there is no reason to politicize this.
If anything, she was
nominated because she is a mom, with mom values that a lot of people
can identify with. If we start attacking her for having a "real world"
mom problem that, so far, she is dealing with gracefully, this will
only blow up in our faces, because we will then be insulting all those
people who identify with her.
I mean, hell I identify with
her. I'm from a small town where there wasn't much to do. I know that
kids can get pregnant early, regardless of political affiliation,
believe it or not.
Valleywag:
Did you know Sarah Palin was a hacker, too? We already suspected there
was nothing the Republican vice-presidential candidate couldn't do.
While serving as Alaska's governor, she just had a baby. Even as she
runs for office, she's preparing to be a grandma and planning her eldest daughter's not-so-coincidental wedding. Google has revealed
the superwoman from the north's background as Miss Wasilla, her career
as a sports journalist, and other highlights of her resume. But rifling
through computer files for evidence? Not a problem for Palin.
[more as I find them]
