The Bailey Tape

Very eeeenteresting.

It takes a little while to get going, but it's certainly damning for the Palin administration.

Rasmussen

Rasmussen says Palin made a good first impression:

Sarah Palin made a good first impression. She was unknown nationally before being introduced as the GOP Vice-Presidential pick but is now viewed favorably by 53% of voters nationwide. Her counterpart, Joe Biden, is viewed favorably by 48%. While Palin has made a good first impression, the more significant numbers will come a week from now after the nation has a chance to learn more about her.

However, looking at the crosstabs, it shows that among independent voters, the selection of Palin makes 9% more likely to vote for him, and 31% less likely to vote for him. It looks like the pander may not pan out as well as Republicans had hoped.

Links

NRO: David Frum is worried, and even more so now than when the pick was announced. Take-away lines:

If it were your decision, and you were putting your country first, would you put an untested small-town mayor a heartbeat away from the presidency?

and

So this is the future of the Republican party you are looking at: a future in which national security has bumped down the list of priorities behind abortion politics, gender politics, and energy politics.

Some perspective from an Alaskan blog: “Is this a joke?”

On the day of her selection, a right-wing news site (Newsmax.com) reports that she doesn't believe mankind is having any effect on climate. I wonder what McCain thinks about this:

A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.

Also, the interview shows that she doesn't really know what she's talking about on energy issues:

I thought when we hit $100 a barrel for oil it would have been a psychological barrier that would have caused Congress to reconsider, but they didn't. Now we are approaching $200 a barrel. It's nonsense not to tap a safe domestic source of oil. I think Americans need to hold Congress accountable on this one.

Today's oil price? $117.49 per barrel. That's still expensive, but it's not "approaching $200 a barrel".

Power Line Blog, which wasn't all negative on Palin (they're Social Conservatives, after all - but smart) says:

The most important thing McCain has going for him in this race is the perception that he is the serious candidate. Choosing a running mate who will be widely perceived as unqualified would go a long way toward squandering that advantage.

I agree.

Later, they offer this assessment in an update to the post linked above:

UPDATE: OK, it's later. I'm worried about Palin. I'm afraid she may be the Geraldine Ferraro of 2008. If she really is the nominee, will it come across as a desperation move, a Hail Mary, as Mondale's choice of Ferraro did in 1984? I'm afraid so. Her experience just doesn't justify a place on the ticket.

Paul Mirengoff offers this detail:

A friend who is toiling at the convention on one of the committees reports that Palin's selection was greeted by "thunderous applause and a standing ovation." (The reaction from Alaskans at the convention apparently is more mixed -- a sign that she's been a genuine reformer there).

Maybe they just know something about her that the rest of the delegates don't...


PZ Myers is unenthusiastic.


amazingdrx provides a few details on the Troopergate scandal.



MORE...

Pat Buchanan

Yesterday after the VP nominee announcement, Pat Buchanan told MSNBC viewers that Sarah Palin was a "Brigader" for him in 1996 - that is, she helped organize and raise funds for his campaign.



What kinds of things was Pat Buchanan saying in the mid-1990's to win Palin's admiration? Go here to find out. Among my personal favorites is this gem.

Most recently, Buchanan's joined up with the MSNBC network as a commentator, and wrote a book blaming Winston Churchill for World War II. He has a history of anti-semitism, homophobia, and sympathy for the Confederacy as well as tyrants around the world.

Does Sarah Palin still agree with him?