And then I went and put a few names through -- it's totally a mix of longtime Republican donors with a history of throwing a few thousand every now and then at a random interesting Democrat, whom nobody in their right mind would have expected to turn into big Obama financial backers, and longtime Dem donors who only give a few times per election cycle and have continued in this election cycle to give money to the DNC, Emily's List and other Democratic party groups not aimed at specific candidates.

Looks rather like media people running around waving their arms and shrieking "FIRE! DEFINITELY A HUGE, RAGING, UNAMBIGUOUS FIRE!" over wisps of something that might be smoke, or possibly steam off a coffee cup, or maybe just dust.

it's totally a mix of longtime Republican donors with a history of throwing a few thousand every now and then at a random interesting Democrat

I think it was on TDS where I heard that this strategy (giving a TON of money to the candidate you support, and a minimal amount to the opposition) is to prevent the opposition from being able to say "And look who he's taking money from!!" during the campaign.

She has the same foreign policy experience Dubya had -- an international border on her State.

I remember them talking about that. Oh lawdy.

I'm not convinced it's a bad strategy on McCain's part.

What has everyone been talking about with McCain? His age. Palin is young.

Besides independents, whose votes are (supposedly) up for grabs? Pissed off HRC supporters who have been portrayed as thinking that HRC wasn't given the chance because she's a woman. Palin's a woman.

Also, McCain is the ultimate insider, despite his "maverick" status. You don't get much more outside Washington than Alaska.

yeah, but he didn't pick a qualified woman.

If he had managed to get Condi, then I'd find him formidable.

Still have no worries.

[link]

In an interview just a month ago, she dissed the job, saying it didn’t seem “productive.”

In fact, she said she doesn’t know what the vice president does.

Larry Kudlow of CNBC’s “Kudlow & Co.” asked her about the possibility of becoming McCain ticket mate.

Palin replied: “[A]s for that V.P. talk all the time, I’ll tell you, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the V.P. does every day? I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that V.P .slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here for the rest of the U.S., before I can even start addressing that question.”

She also believes Intelligent Design should be taught in schools.

yeah, but he didn't pick a qualified woman.

I agree. But, sadly, this country has shown time and time again that being qualified is not necessary to win an election.

If he had managed to get Condi, then I'd find him formidable.

I think Condi would be a disaster.

I've got McCain's speech on right now (what? I'm off work and thought the noon news was on), and I'm chagrined to think that Palin is a hottie. She's SO the type I always go for.

Anyway, McCain is SUCH a boring-ass speaker. He's so lame. Today's his birthday; I think it's his 200th or something.

I'm not convinced it's a bad strategy on McCain's part.

What has everyone been talking about with McCain? His age. Palin is young.

Besides independents, whose votes are (supposedly) up for grabs? Pissed off HRC supporters who have been portrayed as thinking that HRC wasn't given the chance because she's a woman. Palin's a woman.

That's what I'm worried about.

Plus, she's got the official Cute-Ass-Kids(TM), and her oldest son (Track) -- she just said this -- enlisted in the Army last year; he deploys to Iraq on September 11.

Fuck, man -- how did McCain find her? The only better choice he could have made would have been Condi Rice. And *she* doesn't have a shiny family with a son going to Iraq.

Admittedly, though, I don't know shit about her, so hopefully she's just a stunt candidate and Team Obama can poke holes through the whole thing.

It also knocks the "experience" question right off the table, so that could work well for Obama. McCain's 72 and has battled cancer. Is a first-term Gov ready to serve as President?

This is what I'm hoping.

The one part I'm not looking forward to is the GOP spin machine painting Biden as a misogynist the moment he steps up to the podium - it's the only card they'll have to play in the VP debates, and I don't doubt they'll hit it as hard as they can.

Yeah, but -- he was behind the Violence Against Women Act. That's about as anti-misogynist as you can get.

Convention-related note to Teppy: Over at Shakesville, Liss is kind of wowed by Obama's speech. She doesn't have a post about it, just comments in other people's posts, but she watched and listened with an open mind and was seriously impressed.

Hmm. I'm glad to hear that, but Shakesville is still WAY too bitter against Obama for me right now.

I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the V.P. does every day?

1 - Casts the deciding vote in the Senate

2 - Maintains the integrity of the space-time continuum

3 - Shoots friends and enemies (see Cheney and Burr).