Washington File

I object to my hard earned tax dollars going towards the Communist News Corporation (CBC). They are sooooo in the tank with Borat Hussein O'Bummer who has less experience than Sarah Palin AND HE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT...NOT VICE PRES. Gives me the shivers to think the most powerful nation on earth will be run by this "look at me" (who walks with the swagger that says it all) neophite from day one. He says he'll fight for the american people ~ he doesn't know the meaning of the word "fight", John McCain does & I'd vote for him in a heartbeat over BHO.BHO HAS NOOOO EXPERIENCE - YA GET THAT CBC?

Wow. What a little time and perspective will uncover! Palin is saving McCain's Presidential ambitions. Bad call on this one Henry.

Tootie, if you're going to discuss competence, spell it correctly!

Henry:- Great work.
Palin:- McCain made a grave mistake by not checking her out, he will pay for it on election day. In watching her interview with Mr. Gibson I was embarrassed with some of the answers she gave. I do not think she is ready to be president of a great country like the USA:
We need peace not war.

John Arnold, london
Are you saying that girls who get "good information on birth control" don't get pregnant?
Check out any high school in Ontario or across Canada and you will find girls from all backgrounds who are pregnant despite ALL of them going through Sex ed classes in public and high school. NONE of these are abstinence programs. A 17 year old getting pregnant would be a difficult experience for any family, it must be excruciating one with all the finger pointing busybodies "blaming" the mother. I hope if you have children it's not an experience you have to go through.

Is the Federal Government's Health Care via way of Health Insurance paying for the birth of Sarah Palin's Grandchild? If not, who is?

What do you say this morning Henry!!!!

What's sad is that another incompetant woman is placed/given the opportunity to be in a high profile job. It's almost as if there's a conspiracy to put these type of women in the spotlight. Cannot more competant women be in the spotlight???
On another note, Obama's win is now sealed. McCain has shown to be a very very poor decision-maker (senility?).

I give her two weeks tops then thy axe her.You spin the reason.

This is part one of two

To biasCBC Oakville,

Please allow me to demonstrate how your post is simply empty rhetoric posing as opinion. You make certain statements and allegations which are without merit and are simply petty trash-talk. I shall address your ignorance with logic.

1.Champ calling Palin “Ultra-conservative.” This term is commonly used to describe Palin not just by Champ or journalists but also by right wing bloggers. A review of her record and opinions supports the notion that she is ultra-conservative which is apparently why the Republicans chose her. She is meant to appeal to a certain segment of the GOP which agree with her values. It is not derogatory; it is a statement of fact.

2.Obama not called “Ultra-liberal.” Please explain positions held by Obama which would be described as “ultra-liberal”. Why should he be described this way? Besides this article is about Palin not Obama.

3.Champ and his CBC cohorts in the tank with Obama? Henry Champ is one of the finest, most seasoned journalists in the world. His objectivity is outstanding. He reports the facts, as do other CBC journalists. If you don’t like the message don’t blame the messenger. The CBC is not there to be a conduit for your opinions and it’s a cheap shot to make statements like the ones in your post just because the news doesn’t reflect your views.

4.Ditto on the “mouthpieces for socialism” statement. It’s a cheap shot that reveals a small mind that has to resort to insults and slurs without doing any homework or presenting a reasoned argument.

What's all this stuff praising McCain's "character" and "good judgement"? In June 1998 at a Republican fundraising event he told this joke (you can Google it if you don't believe me):

"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father was Janet Reno."

Very funny. Chelsea Clinton was 17 years old at the time and NOT pregnant. Janet Reno, while not bathing beauty, was a highly competent and respected public servant.

And John McCain? He was, and still is, an outrageous opportunist who masks his lack of abilities behind the label "maverick." Perhaps "malevolent" is a better adjective.

All that really matters is that Sarah Palin is not qualified to be VP of the US. She has a bachelor's degree from a no name university and a few years experience in public office. The most frightening thing about her is that she didn't have the good sense or judgment to decline the offer. God help America and all of us if the Republicans were elected and she had to step in as president.

Champ here calls Palin "ultra-conservative". Has he ever called Obama "ultra-liberal"? Obama's record shows that he is, but since Champ and his CBC cohorts are so in the tank for Obama, such language will be absent.

Champ and his cronies are journalists, they're mouthpieces for socialism.

When Palin's husband was arrested for a DUI, Obama was snorting cocaine by his own admission. Which is worse? But Champ doesn't mention that.

Has CBC covered any of Obama's flip flops on trade, gun control or abortion? Didn't think so. Has it looked into William Ayers or the Annenberg Papers? Thought not.

Canadians should not be supporting this pathetic excuse for a news organization with their taxes.

BC from Edmonton (That's an odd mental image):

BHO is Barack Hussein Obama II. Yes, that's his full name, and he got that middle name long before Saddam Hussein started making news. (Saddam Hussein helped the coup that brought the Ba'ath party to power in 1968; Obama was born in 1961, and named after his father.)

Does this journalist even READ what he writes? Is he aware of what he is saying? On the one hand it is said that the teenage pregnancy of Palin's daughter is "off limits", but then he writes an entire column suggesting that this is a reason why Palin was not properly screened. If her daughter's life is "not relevant" to the campaign then journalists should be held accountable for their words. That would mean shutting up about what is ostensibly none of their business.

Who's BHO and why do people insist on attempting to create their own language on here? "Clinton News Network"??? Give me a break.

Re: Stew. Thanks for that info Stew. The rest of us backward and uninformed Canadians will go outside and turn our antennas by hand to see if we can pick up FOX.
And if that's the only station you draw your information from, do us all a favour and stay in the US.

if all else fails for McCain as a result of his incredibly dumb decision to pick Palin, he can probably count on the chads at the voting machines in Florida to fall his way.

Stew:

"Try watching FoxNews for example."

Fox News?

You mean the network whose anchor, about 6 months ago, turned to the camera after interviewing one of their correspondents Oliver North (yes, _that_ Oliver North) about an incident on the border and said, "Well, everyone knows there are thousands of al-Qaeda cells in Canada."

You mean _that_ Fox News?

As a Canadian living in the US, and having access to more objective news sources than CNN - often known here as the "Clinton News Network" - may I suggest that there are other sides to this story then just what BHO (he is embarrassed by his middle name) has to say. Try watching FoxNews for example. I do realize that the rest of the world loves BHO, as they see him as a weak leader with no experience that they will be able to push around, but give me a break and stop quoting everything that he says as if it came from God.

These people (the right wing religious types) are "President" Harper's base supporters. They are the special interest group he panders to. Does this make anyone else uncomfortable???

You know, just wondering

Cheryl said: "If I had the choice to vote in the American election, I would vote for the person that, if something were to happen to them, the Vice-President would be capable and competent enough to lead the country."

Two words: Dan Quayle

This is a response to the first poster, Alan, from Toronto.

Your position is that the stories about Palin's past are not important, or would be overlooked if she were a man, or that pursuing these stories is somehow un-Canadian because we treat women better. Or Something.

Take a look at Palin's credentials and ask yourself, honestly, if a man with those credentials would have to field hard questions about fitness to serve in that position. You're darn right he would, and rightfully so. She is not being picked on because she's a woman, it's the other way around, that she is getting a pass (in being considered for the position in the first place) because she's a woman.

Every woman I have talked to is appalled at this choice, even those who are aligned with Palin philosophically. The complaint is that Women's Rights, and the feminist movement, are all about being treated equally, not having one of your own stumble into a high office to strategically help someone else. The manipulation is blatant, even brazen, and it psses off women who can think. The charges of her selection being strategic to steal the disenchanted you-go-girl Hillary supporters are hard to counter.

What is becoming more clear by the day is that McCain saw something of an opening after Obama picked an establishment guy and struck fast with his pick to steal the Democrats thunder the day after their convention. He didn't do his homework, he is paying the price, it reflects on his ability to make decisions and it's news, contrary to what you say.

Obama struck a committee to vet a VP early on and settled on Biden. That he is a safe bet is somehow a negative for you. What is the opposite of safe? Many would say Palin. If you have doubts about who is the better person to be VP and be ready to step into the President's shoes in a pinch, try to picture the VP debate between the two. I know I'm looking forward to it, as long as Palin doesn't get pulled before the end of the game, that is.

Let's stick to the points raised, rather than attacking Champ as being biased, shall we?

"Troopergate" is not about wanted to fire a State Trooper who was actually disciplined for actions he was accused of. It involves Governor Palin firing a state official who refused to fire the trooper in question. Got it? The actual trooper, AFAIK, is still on the job. A state official who resisted political interference from the governor, was fired.

Obama's wife sure hasn't been off limits. The problem *I* have with the teenage pregnancy is that Palin has voted against funding for comprehensive sex education. She only supports "abstinence-until-marriage". The US has an estimated 750,000 teenage pregnancies every year. That's at least partially attributed to the kind of "education" that Palin supports. Short version - it's the hypocracy.

McCain had *3 months* to choose a VP. IMO, he chose Palin for 3 reasons: campaign optics (young, attractive, female), pressure from the (far) religious right, and compatibility (she agrees with him on all major issues and she will defer to him due to her lack of experience).

Just because someone doesn't like McCain, doesn't mean they're biased towards Obama. Many of us have actually looked at the issues and made a deliberate decision.

Ron:

"The daughter's pregnancy timetable of April would certainly nullify the rumours of her first delivery of a child stated to be that of her parents union."

She has more than one daughter.

My friend ran across the very same rumour on a celebrity gossip site, and when she explained the timeline given (Palin continued her speech while her water broke, got on a plane to fly from Texas to Anchorage, got out of Anchorage [which has an excellent preemie ward], and had the child in the middle of Nowhere, Alaska) I just put it down to vicious
mudslinging tactics by the Democrats.

Now that this whole thing has come to light, I have to wonder.

What apalls me most is that the Republicans are using the anti-homosexuality approach (hate the sin, love the sinner) to excuse what they would have torn apart in the family member of a Democrat candidate.

What I find astonishing is that the American people would even consider having a 44 year old woman with no experience and the background that she has and is now coming to light to be the possible President if something should happen to McCain!

If I had the choice to vote in the American election, I would vote for the person that, if something were to happen to them, the Vice-President would be capable and competent enough to lead the country.

From what I can see, Sarah Palin is just not what the American public and the world needs. What we need is a strong leader like Obama and his running mate.

But that's just my opinion.

I watched a report on CBC news early yesterday evening (about 9 pm PST) about Palin and speculation that the first baby was not hers. Apparantly, she gave a speech in Texas ... her water broke while in Texas ... she flew back to Alaska ... she drove past 3 hospitals ... then gave birth in a clinic ... and one of the local papers ran pictures of her not looking pregnant. I don't see this in the news today and was I dreaming? I'm not supporting one side of the story or the other but why is it being suppressed? Even if the CBC report was off base, it makes a relevant story of how they falsely reported this and they should retract. What's going on?

I think Henry Champ is an excellent journalist who harkens back to a day where unbiased reporting was priority. I don't agree with the posts cutting up this article, he is not expressing his own opinions or forwarding an Obama agenda. The purpose of this article is to outline all the potential issues that are going to fuel attacks from Palin's oponents. Whether or not you agree with that all of the above mentioned fiascos are legitimate or not, the point is well taken. Palin is a serious liability for McCain...

Re: Alan from Toronto.
We are not talking about Mac's Milk here Alan, or whatever it is you do. And I am definitely not diminishing the importance of women in politics or business. But give your head a shake. This is a woman who supposedly just acquired a passport for a publicity visit to troops in Kuwait of all places. A real hot spot these days. Perhaps part of a larger geography lesson yet to come.
To have us believe that she is the most articulate and politically qualified woman in the Republican party is simply insulting. To put her that close to the White House is simply crazy.

I am shocked and saddened by many of these postings. Loaded with presumptions and judgment. There was a time I would have given Canadians more credit. Certainly I thought Champ was a better thinker.

As a businessman, for three decades I have preferred to hire women. There is much less shoot from the mouth bravado and wild rationalization to justify positions taken.

McCain has a three decade record of sound thinking and judgment. He was making decisions when Obama was fighting acne. Don't be so hasty on this decision. And don't discount Palin on the basis of experience. At least she's sat in chair ALONE making decisions. Obama has always been in the pack... not one decision ALONE except to pick a VP and he went for OLD SCHOOL, beltway, the safe pick... no change there... just TALK.

Seems ironic to me that left-oriented posters have so little faith in a woman to learn quickly and be competent. As Bill Clinton has said, "I suppose no one is really prepared."

I have to wonder, what female voters did McCain think he was going to steal away from the Democrats by having a right wing, ant-abortion nut as his VP? Anyone who would vote for Clinton would have been pro-choice. Does he think that women would vote for him because he has a woman as a vice president, and not vote with their conscience? Isn’t that a sexist strategy!

Champ, is missing the point of the Palin nomination. It was never intended to "flip" votes from Obama to McCain. The real problem Obama has, as Champ noted in a previous article, is that he can not seal the deal. Obama's support has peaked and far too soon.

In this landscape, McCain doesn't care about states where Obama's leads are solidly in place, he picked Palin to give his run energy in States where he has a chance.

Every state in the SW and NW is in play except for California and Washington. States that could have gone to Obama like Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Minn, Iowa, Missouri, McCain has a real chance of winning now with a female VP who is a sports hunter and mother of 5 who faces her own personal life challenges as a working woman.

After just a brief review of the numbers. I see Obama safe only in California, Washington, Illinoi, Hawaii, New Jersey, and the states north of NJ. Biden because he was born in Pennsylvania may deliver it and a couple other blue collar states, I'll throw them Wisconsin, Michigan (hardly a sure thing though) but I doubt Florida will go for Obama this election and if it doesn't the Obama / Biden team has no chance.

Obama is at 231 without Flordia and even with Flordia only at 258, 270 is the win point and all the momentum is with McCain / Palin. It is still too early to call the election but the strategic landscape clearly favors McCain / Palin.

I think the CBC and Mr. Champ, like many other media commentators are still in shock over the Palin nomination which they simply can not process. (My resume is on its way : )

But in all seriousness, as an ex-pat who has travelled to all but a few states here in the USA I seriously doubt that Obama will win. The numbers and the momentum are not with Obama / Biden to even try to hang onto a lead, he doesn't even have one at the moment.

Canadians should very seriously prepare for a McCain / Palin white house.

Is that baby she claims to be hers, really hers? There are photos of her when she was supposed to be pregnant, but does not look so.

Is this a cover-up for her daughter's first pregnancy? Inquiring minds want to know and should know.

I don't recall ever reading of or seeing a "maverick" that is so eager to please everyone. Senator Maccain has seemed to
Im - Palin - ed himself.

As if any of you who are acting all non-plussed at McCain's VP choice weren't already hopeless Obamaphiles. Obama's experience? Obama's family? Off-limits! But Sarah Palin's family is fair game, eh?

Go on! Keep those attacks coming! American voters are going to see them as sexist, irrational rantings of Obamatons who are easily angered by any suggestion that their Messiah may actually lose.

Someone should write a book called "What the American voter does in the ballet booth" cause I can't see that the voters do much thinking when they can't even understand what the Republicans are doing to the population of the USA. Guess they have that complex that demands they inflict pain on themselves and everyone else to. I can only say "God have mercy on them for they know not what they do"

The daughter's pregnancy timetable of April would certainly nullify the rumours of her first delivery of a child stated to be that of her parents union. But should this current pregnancy not come to full term for whatever reason, we will be none the wiser.

Scott from Amsterdam - older mothers are routinely encouraged to have testing to determine the health of the baby. Because children with Down syndrome are often born with heart defects, it is helpful to know if surgery will be needed in utero or immediately following birth. There's nothing hypocritical about wanting to ensure the health of the fetus and to prepare for contingencies.

While from every rational angle this choice of Palin was an abysmal one, and dangerous for North America and the world, one should not be too quick to dismiss its effectiveness in galvanizing the Rethuglicans' reactionary & evangelical base. As George Lakoff has pointed out (see his column on Alternet), this was designed to push all the emotional hot buttons in the base, and so, by its own narrow logic, was actually quite well conceived. All of the excellent criticisms of her that have been voiced already will simply be cast as elitist, "liberal media" (hah) attacks on a True 'Merkin, and they'll even have the gall to cast the criticisms as misogynist to boot. The base will turn out in droves, even if she is forced to withdraw sometime this month. In that case, they'll see that "McCain tried to do the right thing, but them libruls played dirty"(!), and still turn out in Nov. Never underestimate the power of fear and resentment, deliberately manipulated.

This whole affair is becoming positively Pythonesque! Michael, do you know this woman?

Palin knew of her child's Down's Syndrome several months before the birth. Palin claims to be against abortion under all circumstances. So why is it she had a test done during her pregnancy if there is no way she would abort? What a self-serving hypocrite.

Palin used to be a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, which has been pushing to have Alaska secede from the United States. And yet Palin now runs under the motto, "Country First". What a self-serving hypocrite.

I wonder if her daughter and 'future son-in-law' have had any say in keeping the baby and/or getting married. Given Palin is a life-time member of the NRA, it's probably a shotgun wedding.

From the German point of view it is very obvious how shortminded the appointment of Palin was from McCain. Now everybody can understand how conservative "christian" philosopy is misused to fool the public.

Although we are pressed with our windows to the nose, the choice of Sarah Palin as the Republican VP candidate is of significant consequence to Canada.

Take the hypothetical situation that McCain somehow manages to win the American election, and then succumbs immediately to another bout of cancer or some other disease. This political neophyte would be in charge of thousands of nuclear weapons, forced to deal with international issues involving Russia, China, India and the European Union.

America's inevitable collapse in such event would have broad implications for Canada, since we are the mouse sitting atop the elephant's back.

All the Presidential candidates went through a rigorous vetting process called the Primaries. This person was chosen by one man acting in haste because his popularity was sinking in the polls. It was a rash act of desperation and shows McCain's true character, a man of poor judgment.

At this point, McCain is damned if he keeps her, damned if he dumps her. All in all, I would say his choice of Palin was the best possible thing to happen in this election cycle.

But the media and the public have every right to question every possible fact about Sarah Palin. She entered the arena. Now she will have to live with the consequences.

Palin's almost immediate acceptance of McCain's offer, is all that is needed to underscore her lack of ability to fill this position of VP, and possibly a fifty-fifty chance of becoming the President.

McCain said there was an immedite affinity sensed between them when they met. They may indeed see eye to eye, however, when was failing to look before leaping, and rash, impulsive descision making based on a "gut feeling" indicative of suitability for this pair to lead the U.S.?

McCain has to do more explanating, FBI check that was never done? and they say a different story. like really Ms Palin you have a better job to do and take care of your children.

and now bush praise McCain that he is ready to lead the nation ...hummm, ya right, with speedy decision like that, its not too impressive.

will enjoy seeing her devoured over the next few weeks,

maryjennifer whittall said "Someone should tell Sarah Palin that she already has a job and that is being a grandmother."

Uh... WHAT? You're not saying that any woman whose daughter becomes pregnant should give up whatever career she has and take up the role of "being a grandmother?"

By extension, then, are you saying that had Palin stayed home and been a "mother" her daughter would not have got pregnant.

Maybe I'm misinterpreting your comments, but it sounds like you don't believe women should be in the workplace at all.

Why do some people assume that a lack of information about birth control is the reason for teen pregnancies? Even with careful and consistent use of chemicals and contraptions, two teenagers are likely to get pregnant. At that age, their fertility is amazing. I appreciated Obama's reminder that his mother was 18 when she had him. Aren't you lefties glad she did?

Two conventions, two messages.

Democrats: "This is election is all about you."

Republicans: "This election is about an attractive-looking nobody and her teenage daughter's child."

What's everybody talking about?

The Republicans are still the uncontested masters of distraction politics.

Who's to blame - those who create the spin, or those that consume it?

What a terrible time we live in.

Either you vett an appointment, or you don't. The Republicans state that they vetted Palin and yet all the people one would expect the vetters to talk to, were never canvassed. What were they thinking?
Frankly, I think Trooper-gate is really important because as the highest official in Alaska, Palin broke the law if she fired the highest cop for not firing her former brother-in-law (who was in the middle of a messy divorce from her sister). It's possible to take Palin's focus on the family too far--and this seems to be one such case.
Also, it's important to understand that the entire purpose of the Alaska Independence Party is to work for Alaska's independence from the U.S.. Their slogan is something like: Alaska first, Alaska always. For a country that is constantly talking about America first, this has to be a conflict of interest.

Someone should tell Sarah Palin that she already has a job and that is being a grandmother. She needs to provide the guidance and support to her daughter that so obviously was missing when that child got "in trouble".
I speak from experience when I say that being a grand-parent requires patience, understanding and a great deal of time. Time? Palin should quit politics and take care of her pregnant, teen-aged child.
Ask any grandmother what she thinks of this dame It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. And common.

this story of the red vp gets juicier every minute.i can't wait till she takes on joe biden in a debate.he will absolutely devour the alaska governor.

Given all the time, money and resources that every major corporation puts into head-hunting their CEOs and upper administrative positions, one really has to wonder what the Republicans, and particularly John McCain, are thinking. This could be one of the most monumental political gaffes of the decade; a gaffe that most of the rest of the world is hoping would happen and thus jeopardize the Republican stranglehold on the White House. It's up to the Democrats to capitalize.

What does the arrest of Palin's husband for drunken driving a million years ago got to do with how she performs her duties in office. That's so shallow in my opinion. We all make mistakes irrespective of our positions in life and that's the one thing that people tend not to accept.

Sour Grapes Henry - nobody picked her and although her experience she has backbone and the ability to expedite her agenda, which is to serve the people, I do think experience is overrated when you look at the value added by the self interested opportunists that Cheney and Rumsfeldt became. She will get things done and complements McCain perfectly - I am no Republican but this is a stroke of tactical genious. Makes the Obama combo look like a Happy Meal.
Yes Henry, I think you have been in Washington too long, nothing you write about is very important ......

I was astounded with McCain's decision on this - unbelieveable. It is an entirely cynical appointment that is quite rightly coming back to bite him. She was foolish to accept, which is another damning element of this fiasco. Palin is not remotely qualified for the position of VP by education, training or experience. I accept that others have also been appointed in the past who should not have been - such as Quale (sp?) - but I think Palin has hit a new low, certainly in recent decades. Others have said it better than me, but politically correct appointments made for such transparent motives seldom fool anyone. Times have changed and I am sure that one day a woman will be President. Hillary Clinton was without question qualified for her party's nomination, to state the obvious. That she lost and was not appointed VP by Obama does not obscure this fact. (Indeed, she can than her spouse for not getting the consolation prize.)

Obviously, this will been proven over the next few weeks, but I suspect McCain's decision in this arena will cost him a great deal of potential support. Disaffected Clinton supporters and independents/undecideds will not jump to the Republican camp because of Palin. Indeed, many will be repelled.

Now, if he'd appointed Hillary Clinton.....that would have been interesting!

I find it ironic that issues that are sticking to Palin are the ridiculous 'non-issues': 1) Her daughter is pregnant, and somehow in the dopey logic of the religious-right this considered a scandal. Yawn. 2) Trooper-gate -- I can't speak to any ulterior motives Palin might have had to want the trooper fired, but he *did* taser an 11 year old. I think that was reason enough to side with Palin on this one. 3) Governor tries to secure money for her state through all legal means ... again I don't see the issue.

And yet there are so many good reasons to question Palin's competence: 1) The total idiocy of her abstinence-only sex education policy (How's that working for you Sarah?) 2) Her support for teaching creationism in science class ... clearly her science textbooks where dated before 1859. 3) She doesn't believe in man-made global warming. Yes, let's disregard our best evidence, and go with 'belief' on this one. That'll work. 4) She can count oil revenue, but not polar-bears.

Sigh ... I just don't understand America. I suppose I never will.

These posts from Champ are so hilariously pro-Obama it appears as though they have been written by his handlers. It would be impossible for a journalist to intentionally convey their place in the tank for a candidate. Please stop while you have an ounce of credibility left.

CNN, John Stewart, Steve Colbert and SNL are gonna eat this up! American Politics at its best! Couldnt write a better script... I want to play poker with some of these Republican pundits on CNN because they have got to be the biggest liars I have ever seen when defending the Sarah Palin choice. They all take a big gulp and shrug their shoulders when defending this choice.. I kinda feel sorry for them but I cant turn the channel. Next up.. Sarah was a stripper to pay off her college tuition.. cant wait

First, I respect Mr Champ. However...

Her husband's DWI over 20 years ago. Don't drag the family into this, not even the husband.

"She was a member of the Alaska Independence Party." When, how long, what was her role. etc. Mr Champ makes a negative comment and leave the reader to assume the worst. Hardly a full report on the matter.

The Bridge to Nowhere. If the bridge was to nowhere and the plan scrapped, then the money that was raised and spent went to real road improvement. That was a saving. AND she didn't keep the money as claimed. You Mr Champ reported it was/will be spent on Alaska roads. So which is it? Did SHE keep it for herself or is the money being spent on projects in Alaska?

Her biggest problem, according to Mr Champ's article, is Tropper Gate. Shame on you Mr Champ. You found her guilty without any evidence or findings.

The biggest no-no was mentioning her daughter. If she is a none issue, don't mention the situation at all. The word "pregnancy" is used three times in the article: more than any allegation made against Mrs. Palin.

Bad report Mr Champ. Try again.

Anyone with an ounce of intelligence should be able to see right through Palin

Mac Daddy brought her in to win over bible thumping evangelicals....

She along with the Republicans are done

It doesn't really matter what skeletons are in her closet. Republican strategists (marketing executives) have always been good at selling their product to gullible, ignorant peons (and there are a LOT of them).

Plus, she's a devout Christian, which seems to be the absolute be all and end all for a very large portion of the population. She could drink a bottle of vodka and drive into a pack of elderly people and still get approval if she says she asked God to forgive her.

Also, let's face it, Americans are overwhelmingly superficial (so are we Canadians), so having a relatively young and attractive female as VP candidate would be enough to win the votes of more than a few dimwits out there.

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."
-Winston Churchill

She sounds like a true Republican.

Given the 60 odd days Americans will have to get to know Palin, McCain's decision is reckless.

Either he is still making crucial decisions with his 'gut'not his brain, or his team of advisers are shockingly shallow and desperate.

I think most older women will be appalled at her having 5 kids in light of her obvious ambitions. Maybe if she had spent a little more quality time at home with her daughter there might not be a pregnancy. This would also be born out by the under 45 group who also know you cannot have it all.

What a flub, the dems practicality handed it to them and they still mess it up.

I am afraid it is going to be another close race

I suspect the republicans have (VERY secretly) decided to lose this election, and let the democrats end up looking like losers in 2012 - after 4 years of hopelessly trying to fix what the republicans did to America from 2000-2008. The democrats are more than half-certain to fail at turning the American people around to their way of thinking during the 4 years they've (probably) got. Giving up 4 years now for 8 years 2012-2020 could be a smart move on the part of the GOP.

If that sounds crazy, just remember TWO things: 2000 and 2004.

This is the kind of impulsiveness that has marked McCain's career. It has made him kind of attractive and freewheeling over the years, even for those who do not share his politics. By some emerging accounts, he wanted Lieberman but faced strong opposition from Rove, for whom Lieberman was too liberal to appease the base. McCain didn't want Romney, Rove's choice, and wanting to make a quick announcement to take the news cycle away from Obama and the Democrats went with Palin.

Impulsiveness (as in McCain's "first to open his mouth" response to the Russian incursion into Georgia) is not the trait most valued in a President. Sober, reasoned, response is what is needed. McCain ain't the guy.

Sarah Palin's a milf.

"Everyone agrees this pregnancy story is not relevant to Palin's nomination and should not become campaign fodder."

I disagree. Ms. Palin is an ultra-conservative. She makes these issues part of her politics; intelligent design (creationism wrappped in a different bow), anti-abortion and abstinence rather than sex-ed and birth control.

I wonder if, in light of her daughter's teenage pregnacy, Ms. Palin still believes that abstinence is still the best policy or would she rather that her daughter had some good information on birth control and std's.

McCain continues to provide evidence of poor judgment. As Obama said (and rightly so)... "Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than 90 per cent of the time?"

Palin is just one more nail in that coffin. It will be interesting to see how long she'll be on the ticket.