If Palin steps down, Obama wins. I don’t understand why Culture 11 wants Obama to win.

amongst others thought Palin was a game changing pick. I’m pretty sure Palin hasn’t changed in 30 days!

until he gets those bozos under control over there.

I understand that the NRO staff all have crushes on Mitt Romney and they want McCain to lose so Mitt can run in 2012, but this is getting out of hand.

Well, Palin can put an end to all this nonesense tomorrow night.

Palin vs Biden will decide both her political future as well as the direction of the election.

I read both the original article and Joe Carter’s rebuttal. Joe did a good job in the response. But it is just shameful that he had to respond to this sort of drivel. And I wouldn’t link to them either: seems like any other leftist website…

Personally, if I were a conservative clamoring for somebody on the ticket to step down, Palin wouldn’t be the one coming to mind.

They’re free to say what they want, but they risk becoming useful idiots in the process.

The articles were less than informative. This was the final straw. I’m done with them.

I am shocked by this. I listen to Bennett Mornings on the drive in to work. I didn’t hear him call for Palin to step aside this morning, and would have driven off the road if he had done so.

than John McCain, Barry Obama and Joe “Buy me a drink” Biden PUT TOGETHER.

She is smart and a “real” person. The anti-Palin butt**s who say they are conservatives and/or Republicans need to STFU. They just embarrass themselves by exposing themselves as the elite, dilettante wimps that they are.

Your guy didn’t get picked. Get over it or at least get out of the way for real people.

Steve Forbes only claim to fame is being a prime example of the Lucky Sperm Club. Dad made all the money and Stevie thinks that made him relevant. He’s not.

Bill Bennett probably has money bet on Obama. Probably, YOUR money if you are a taxpayer.

As for Kathleen Parker, Kathleen Parker is basically a literate vagina and if she didn’t have one of those, there would be a bounty on her.

After her hit piece on the vastly superior example of the successful woman, Sarah Palin, Parker should just do her cleaning, laundry, mundane food preparation, scullery and be a repository for random male sexual satisfaction that she evidently thinks all women should be.

If these idiots think ANY other potential VP candidate could have invigorated the base and get 60,000 people to show up at rallys, they are just as morbidly stupid as they obviously are.

Forbes and Bennett are neck and neck with Bill Clinton in the race for best supporting actor(s) in a political season. Nice company you are in boys.

Palin Derangement Syndrome seems to have jumped carriers from the liberals to some Washington conservatives. Luckily, I have a immune system strengthened by Midwestern values, a Protestant work ethic (even if I am agnostic) and from eating a few mudpies as a child.

Thanks Erick for saying what so many are thinking. I am sick and tired of being dumped on by those purportedly on our side. It is awfully discouraging to be hammered incessantly by the mainstream media, and to now be subjected to constant ankle biting by so called conservatives is really getting to be too much. I’m done with NRO and The Corner too – they are absolutely sickening….and if you write to them to tell them so, they will mock you. We are doomed.

Why don’t they just state the McCain will lose the election in November 4.

That’s more understandable.

steps down because she is unqualified for the vice-presidency, can we make Obama step down since he is unqualified for the presidency?

Maybe, as a society, we’ve been too well-off the past 20 years. Reagen is a distant memory, and Jimmy Carter is such a joke now, who remembers he was ever president? Maybe society needs¹ an Obama presidency to remind us all just what a true liberal president is like? We reap what we sow? I don’t like that notion, and I’m not even sure I agree with it. Yet, I wonder.

1) needs is relative. While some people might claim to actually need Obama to win, society doesn’t need it.

Never underestimate the ability of “conservatives” to fumble on the one yard line.

Not only do they give fodder to the MSM (“More Conservative Leaders Call for Palin to Step Down!”), they let a liberal write the piece.

Truly amazing.

of Culture11.

These society class republicans(Forbes etc) just like of the DC-NY corridor are scared to death of Sarah Palin. She is so not one of them. How dare an ordinary American with no shady connections, and above all ethics have a chance at the highest office. It’s obvious McCain might be a little terrified of her. If she was unleashed, she could wreak havoc on the “establishment” which McCain in some aspect is part of, just not as much as the democrats. However in this, there is a silver lining if McCain is defeated which it almost seems like is what he wants. We had to go through Carter to get a Reagan. If this country can hold together with the destruction of what an Obama administration would do, McCain by picking Palin let the genie out of the bottle. She automatically has the name recognition and would be a top tier candidate for 2012. The way she showed how she can electrify the conservative base with one speech, she would have a good shot at capturing the nomination. After the Obma caused destruction Americans might just give her another look the way they did with Reagan from 1976 to 1980. By that time the independents will see just how hollow Obama is. Hillary will be locked out from running because it would be suicidal to take on an incumbant democrat president.

None of the Republican intelligentsia thought this race would be close, and they all were settling in, preparing for the inevitable Obama cake-walk. Let’s be honest: a lot of these people remember the Clinton administration as the “golden years”: a lot of careers were made, and there was plenty of easy book-advance money flowing out of Regnerey Press and other publishers for the latest Clinton hit-job. Our Republican pundit class is desperate to get back to those days. It’s easier (and more lucrative) to snipe from the sidelines than actually come up with the ideas with which we lead the country.

Further, pundits like Peggy Noonan have been trying to establish their “independent” credibility by praising Obama now, in order to cash in on that reputation later down the road when it’s safer (and more lucrative) to criticize him. To my eyes, Noonan, with her dismissive comments about Palin caught by a hot mic at the convention, has revealed a total lack of ideas and principle this election. She even stooped to making excuses for Jeremiah Wright — not OBAMA, mind you, who attended the church for 20 years, but actual excuses for WRIGHT and his racism. No disciple of Reagan could support Obama and write the crap that she has.

It is ridiculous and dishonest for this pundit class to be carping about Palin. They are being completely led by the MSM. Palin energized the party at the convention. Because of her, McCain has actual crowds at his speeches. She has given 3 national interviews (Gibson, Couric, and Hannity), which of course were going to be shredded by the liberal media. Does Kathleen Parker et al really think otherwise? Watch the interviews again. In reality, she was acceptable with Gibson, terrible with Couric, and great with Hannity. If McCain is falling in the polls it is his own fault. He is at the top of the ticket. It’s his advisor running the campaign. Sarah Palin has done her job. For the Republican pundit class to be throwing one of our brightest stars under the bus, on the basis of ONE FREAKING INTERVIEW, is pathetic and shows that they are willing to damage the party long-term for short-term gain.

The Republican party is in transition. A new generation — Palin, Pawlenty, Jindal — is emerging. For our pundit class to be taking a dump on Palin, when she has energized so much of the Republican base, can be explained by only one thing — the pundit’s financial self-interest.

I think most of the writers of these negative stories don’t know a blasted thing about Palin.

Some folks from our side said the same thing about Biden last week,for disagreeing with Obama on coal..ect remember? Blogger diarrhea is not new. Forget it,we have more important issues.

and never make it up to bat much less to
first base.
Governor Palin’s experience exceeds
Obama’s hands down. This is the argument. Let them prove Obama has the
experience to lead. Palin has proved she
can.
Stop going on the offensive, criticizing
Sara Palin, and ignoring the deficiencies
in their Presidential nominee. She has
proven herself. He has not. Our team
belittling her only elevates their
“empty suit” nominee.
These kind of comments make my blood boil. Put the fight where it belongs.
Prove him to be what he is. Go after Obama not our nominee.

Which means they’ll intentionally balance good lead articles with bad lead articles.

That’s what you get when you try really really really hard to not be seem one-sided. You get mediocrity.

suddenly sprouted in my neighborhood. Sometime between last Thurs. and today. This is a very republican district, but I took it as a sign that the economic news has finally shaken people out of their apathy, at least here in the heart of Peter Roskam territory.

My little piece of sky brightened considerably, driving through my neighborhood and seeing NOT ONE sign for the O. I know there are libs living all around here. But NOT ONE sign for the O.

I will not succomb to pessimism. At least not today.

---

Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

From what Im hearing, and seeing, there are WAY more McCain/Palin signs than Obama signs going up, and for good reason. The silent majoirty may not be answering the telephone right now when the pollsters are calling, but we’re putting up signs and most importantly we’re going to VOTE come November, and quite frankly its more because of Sarah Palin than John McCain. She has FAR more, and better, experience than Obama, she is the most popular Governor in America, and that’s because she’s been the BEST Governor in America. She is the future of our Party, and the future of our Country. No doubt some people don’t like that, they want somebody else, maybe themselves, to be the future of our party, and they’re lashing out. They’re going to be embarassed tomorrow night, just as those who criticized Sarah before her Convention speech were embarassed. I hope somebody is taking names, as each person who turns on Governor Palin, the greatest Vice Presidential selection of all time, deserves the scorn they’re about to receive.

The reason Palin has been diminished is because the stupid McCain campaign management. I think he freaked out when he saw the crowds for her. He is a megalomaniac that wants to control everything but delivers nothing.
As to to Forbes and Bennett they are two loosers of the past.

Sarah Palin brought it. She gave them momentum and put Obama on the back foot for the first time in the whole election cycle.

What did they do with that? A cheesy character ad that looks like everything Republicans are assumed to be guilty of in Federal campaigns.

McCain suspends his campaign to aid the bailout deal, and leaves himself vulnerable to getting pounded by Obama the entire time, and then reverses himself to do the debate. He thus appears BOTH weak (since the bailout failed anyway) AND indecisive, since he went to the debate after saying he wouldn’t.

He’s been weak all along on attacking Barry’s ties to Fannae/Freddy. ONE ranging shot when he should be PUMMELING BO over this. He should be latched on like a pit bull. He should have Palin launching the attacks all across the midwest.

Instead, they’ve got her in “debate boot camp” and she appears every bit as much unprepared as the media wants her to seem.

McCain has quite possibly run the weakest post-Convention Presidential campaign since Presidents started campaigning. And that’s not Palin’s fault. That’s his own.

And the attacks on Palin from the National Review crowd have far more to do with their own insecurity about her attack on their ‘presumed’ position as the leaders of the Conservative Movement than her ability to lead said movement.

It wasn’t the Nat’l Review crowd that reinvigorated the Conservative movement in the 90s. It was Gingrich and the Contract w/ America Republicans. If it takes losing this election for the Movement to figure out where it’s soul is again…and it will be very close to Gov. Palin…then so be it. True Conservatism is far more important than any one election. Especially of a pragmatist who is failing by the standards of pragmatism.

Gov. Palin is going to stay the VP nominee come what may. We are not the Democratic party of NJ/MN/etc. that substitutes a candidate after the deadline when the polls look bad. This is the presidential race – you stick with the team as is and you fight like heck to win. Even assuming that swapping her out was a good idea (and I’m not saying that), there is no possible scenario that it could be done without making Sen. McCain and the GOP in general look like idiots. We may lose this election, but we should not throw it away out of some kind of pique. If you think the media are circling like sharks now just see what they’d be like if you chum the water by tossing her overboard.

The “leadership” at least.

They are so quick to fold. So quick to give in to public pressure. So easily embarrassed by fellow Republicans and their conservative principles. So quick to throw each other under the bus. So quick to apologize for their conservative beliefs. So quick to go for the short-term gain while surrendering to the long-term loss.

Democrats, on the other hand, stand by each other through thick and thin. Through sex scandals and racist remarks and freezers full of cash. They don’t apologize for the freaks in their party, they milk them for cash and use their nutroot energy to fuel outreach and registration campaigns. They don’t give in on issues that are important to them, they dig in a hammer the issue and hammer it and hammer it until society begins to agree with them, or until their disciples who were interns 20 years ago are now running the show, or until our side is just too tired to fight.

I get so sick of it.

Caveats: I’m a libertarian who supported Bush in 2000 and was mildly pleased with him before the terror obsession, inexcusable cronyism, and the contempt for transparency, reasoned discourse, and world opinion became evident.

Additionally, I’m in the camp who thinks Palin’s candidacy is a ridiculous farce.

With that said, here is my response. I doubt Erick cares, but someone else might.

More interestingly, see [Ross Douthat] (http://rossdouthat.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/hearnoevilseeno_evil.php) response.

He’s right about this — at least if you’re interested in the vote of rational independents like myself.

If not, well…good luck with the redstating…

FWIW my sense is that if Republicans don’t seriously re-align themselves, America is staying blue for a couple decades. We need to become the party of Goldwater again…

I am a Democrat and came to this site to post and gloat over the victory that will come undoubtedly to Obama.

But, on my way to gloating I was distracted by something I didn’t anticipate — well-reasoned, intelligent discussion by conservative posters (and some Republicans).

My hats off to AKSteve, achance and Badill above. I expected to meet the enemy, not fellow Americans who obstensibly care about the country as much as I do.

The two main issues being discussed above are Palin’s selection and Obama’s eventual victory. Neither will destroy this country, my brothers.

I will admit that Palin is an incomplete cipher, although my inclination is that she is not among the best and brightest this country should demand of its leaders.

Simultaneously, I believe that Obama has the right qualities at the right time. There are forces in history and his time has come.

But, as I was reading your posts, it occurred to me…there would be no Obama if we hadn’t elected GWB twice. No, that isn’t quite fair…there would be no Obama if GWB hadn’t failed so spectacularly.

So, maybe, the enemy you fear at the door was invited by yourself.

I am a Democrat and came to this site to post and gloat over the victory that will come undoubtedly to Obama.

But, on my way to gloating I was distracted by something I didn’t anticipate — well-reasoned, intelligent discussion by conservative posters (and some Republicans).

My hats off to AKSteve, achance and Badill above. I expected to meet the enemy, not fellow Americans who obstensibly care about the country as much as I do.

The two main issues being discussed above are Palin’s selection and Obama’s eventual victory. Neither will destroy this country, my brothers.

I will admit that Palin is an incomplete cipher, although my inclination is that she is not among the best and brightest this country should demand of its leaders.

Simultaneously, I believe that Obama has the right qualities at the right time. There are forces in history and his time has come.

But, as I was reading your posts, it occurred to me…there would be no Obama if we hadn’t elected GWB twice. No, that isn’t quite fair…there would be no Obama if GWB hadn’t failed so spectacularly.

So, maybe, the enemy you fear at the door was invited by yourself.