The following guest post is offered by Dan Conley, a former speechwriter for Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

The debate over Gov. Sarah Palin has devolved into something very typical — jokes about her relative inexperience, followed up by righteous indignation over the “condescension” being shown towards her.  Both sides are missing the real point.

We voters simply do not — and will not — know enough about Governor Palin by election day to make an informed decision about her.

By choosing a candidate with no public record on any foreign policy issues and most domestic policies, McCain has insulated his campaign from any attacks on his Vice Presidential ideology.  Palin is known purely for her positions on Alaskan issues and a few cultural issues she has decided to become known for.

Now that she’s the VP nominee, Palin will just assume all of John McCain’s positions on foreign and domestic policies.  It’s what a VP candidate always does.  But in this case, when she has never been asked to express her opinions or her thinking behind those views, we’re left with a terrifying national scenario — if John McCain were to die shortly after taking office, we would elevate someone to the Presidency who could be in support of anything … fill in the blank.

If the McCain campaign is being truthful and did in fact vet Palin fully, then they are guilty of hiding Palin.  Unlike other longshot candidates like Bobby Jindal, she was kept off the campaign trail and away from the Sunday talk circuit.  What they’ve done is taken the well-developed GOP strategy for Supreme Court justices … drop them into Circuit Court slots shortly before tapping them for the top job … to avoid a paper trail which could cause a public backlash.

This strategy is cynical, undemocratic and frankly, unpatriotic.  Americans have a right to know who they are elevating to the Presidency.  The McCain campaign is using Gov. Palin for tactical political gain with no regard for the voters’ right to select a candidate who they know and trust.

The choice of barley experienced Sarah Palin has stunned presidential scholars and pundits.  Some critics point out that this is McCain’s judgment powers on display.  Others note that McCain has consistently moved to the right following his securing the nomination.  He has now left independents and moderate Republicans wondering how they can do anything other than vote for Obama.  Obviously this election will be about church and state, guns and personal choice.  These will be the wedge issues that will be used in this election.

The economy, Katrina, Iraq, War on Terror, Immigration, Healthcare are so so yesterday…

McCain throws Hail Mary in first quarter

By Jay Bookman | Saturday, August 30, 2008

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It sure has been interesting watching the reaction to John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate. On the right, it has been greeted enthusiastically and even ecstatically. On the left, it has been greeted warmly as well, as evidence of desperation and poor judgment by McCain.

For the moment, the pick has at least succeeded in patching a McCain weakness by generating excitement among the base of his party. The Republican core likes — no, they love — Palin, and they are absolutely convinced that their own excitement will be echoed by excitement among independent and female voters.

I just don’t see it.

The biggest reason is the experience issue. With a younger presidential candidate, it wouldn’t matter as much, but McCain is 72. And while the GOP would like to counter that Palin is as experienced as Obama, I don’t think the general electorate is going to buy that.

Whatever you think about Obama, he has earned his prominence and the top spot on the national ticket by beating both the Clintons in a hard-fought primary battle. Palin, on the other hand, has been plucked from total obscurity with nothing to suggest she is conversant with national issues.

I also think it is easy to underestimate the importance of experience in the national media spotlight. The glare is unforgiving; it is not the place for on-the-job training, and as governor of Alaska you just don’t get exposure to it.

Then there’s the matter of Palin’s role in getting her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper. I don’t know how that story will play out, but the fact that it still does have to play out — coming to light only in July, with an investigation still underway and depositions yet to be taken — suggests how half-baked the choice really was. A presidential candidate who was confident of his chances would not have put it all at risk with such a pick.  Click here to read more in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Meanwhile…

Scholars question Palin credentials

David Mark, Fred Barbash Sat Aug 30, Yahoo News

John McCain was aiming to make history with his pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and historians say he succeeded.

Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era (last 50+ years).

So unconventional was McCain’s choice that it left students of the presidency literally “stunned,” in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. “Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who’s of presidential caliber,” said Goldstein.

“I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major-party ticket in modern history,” said presidential historian Matthew Dallek.

That includes Spiro T. Agnew, Richard Nixon’s first vice president, who was governor of a medium-sized state, Maryland, for two years, and before that, executive of suburban Baltimore County, the expansive jurisdiction that borders and exceeds in population the city of Baltimore.

It also includes George H.W. Bush’s vice president, Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle, who had served in the House and Senate for 12 years before taking office. And it also includes New York Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, who served three terms in the House before Walter Mondale chose her in 1984 as the first female candidate on a major-party ticket.  Click here to read more at Yahoo News.

We were struck by this account of Obama’s speech and we want to bring it to you. Our thanks to TruthDig; a liberal blog that we follow.

TruthDig.com; August 29th 2008

By Bill Boyarsky

DENVER—There is a ritual to attending a sports event in a big stadium. The fans arrive with great hope. Crowded together, they revel in the contest. Finally, they leave, either celebrating or glumly demanding that the coach be fired.

The 85,000 Democrats leaving Invesco Field on Thursday night loved their coach. In a speech that rose beyond the occasion, Sen. Barack Obama changed the dynamics of the presidential campaign. With fire in his eyes and politeness thankfully forgotten, he finally put Sen. John McCain on the defensive, most notably mocking the Republican’s claim that he’s best suited to be commander in chief.

“If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament and judgment to serve as the next commander in chief, that’s a debate I’m ready to have,” he said.

“John McCain likes to say that he’ll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell—but he won’t even go to the cave where he lives,” he declared. “And today, as my call for a time frame to remove our troops from Iraq has been echoed by the Iraqi government and even the Bush administration, even after we learned that Iraq has a $79-billion surplus while we’re wallowing in deficits, John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war.”

On the final night of the Democratic National Convention, I walked the two or three miles from the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver to Invesco. I didn’t want to be jammed on a shuttle bus on my way to witness this historic moment. Many others felt the same. Sidewalks and streets were packed with happy-looking men, women and children. At Invesco the line of men, women and children waiting to get through security stretched far beyond the stadium.

The stadium filled slowly. It takes time to go through metal detectors. At 2 p.m. I was alone in a row of seats just beyond what would be the football end zone. Four hours later, Invesco was filled, except for a few seats in the farthest reaches. Click here to read more at TruthDig.com.

More People Saw Obama’s Acceptance Speech than viewed Olympics Opening Ceremonies

New York Times, August 29th 2008

Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday as an estimated 38 million viewers watched on television, setting a new record for convention viewership, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Mr. Obama’s speech — a historic one given his status as the first African American nominee of a major political party — reached significantly more viewers than the comparable addresses in 2004. Coverage of John Kerry’s acceptance speech in 2004 had 24.4 million viewers; coverage of George W. Bush’s convention speech that same year drew 27.5 million.

The audience estimate of 38.3 million means that Mr. Obama’s speech reached more viewers than the Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, the final “American Idol” or the Academy Awards this year, the Associated Press notes.

Furthermore, the four-night Democratic convention ranks as the most-watched convention of either party, Democratic or Republican, since Nielsen began measuring conventions in 1960.

The four nights of “common coverage” by networks — 10 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday — were viewed by an average of 22.4 million households, Nielsen said Friday. Previously, the highest-rated Democratic convention occurred in 1980 with 20.5 million households watching, and the highest-rated Republican convention occurred in 1976 with 21.9 million households watching.

Click here to read more at the New York Times.

Critics say that this choice eliminates “Experience” as an election issue. But is a 44 year old former Mayor of Wasilla (a town of 6,000 people) ready to be a heart-beat away?

Detriot Free Press, August 29th 2008

DAYTON, Ohio — John McCain pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the 2008 presidential election season when he named Sarah Palin, the 44-year-old governor of Alaska, who calls herself a hockey mom, as his vice presidential running mate just after noon today.

Many McCain supporters and pundits expected he would name either Michigan native and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney or Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Even inside the arena where he announced his choice, as word spread that it would be Palin, many of the Republicans were unfamiliar with the first-term governor, a former beauty queen (runner-up for Miss Alaska) and point-guard (called the Barracuda) for her state championship high school basketball team.

Before becoming governor she was the mayor of the small town of Wasilla in Alaska. She is married to a commercial fisherman, who is also a union member, a mother of five and started in politics as a PTA member. The couple’s oldest son, Track, is in the Army and is headed to Iraq next month.

“I didn’t know what to think when I heard her name on the way over here,” said Cherie Carroll, 69, of Beaver Creek, Ohio. “But after seeing her, I fell in love with her. She’s obviously a woman of tremendous energy.”

After the event, Carroll turned to her husband and asked, “What was her name, again?” Click here to read more in the Detriot Free Press.

The New York Tmes points out that she would be the first woman ever nominated by the Republicans.  A former beauty pagent queen, she is seen as someone who can attract those Hillary supporters who are dis-affected even she firms up McCain’s anti-choice agenda.  Click here to read more in the New York Times.

Bush appointed US Attorney Troy Eid (2006) tries to “poo poo” the assassination plans despite arrests, a confession and seized weapons.

BBC News, August 26th, 2008

At least three people have been arrested in the US over an alleged plot to kill US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, reports say.

The suspects planned to shoot Mr Obama in Denver, Colorado, during his speech accepting the nomination to run for US president, CBS4 TV station reports.

Police seized weapons and drugs as they made the first arrest on Sunday.

However, the US attorney for Colorado, Troy Eid, said he was confident “there is no credible threat” to Mr Obama. The attorney’s office in Denver is due to hold a news conference later on Tuesday to discuss the incident.

The alleged plot is being investigated by the Secret Service, which is responsible for overall security during the four-day Democratic Party convention in Denver, the FBI and also the joint terrorism task force, officials say.

‘Confession’

The first suspect was held on Sunday in Aurora, after he was stopped by police for driving erratically in a rented truck, reports say.

Police then found two rifles in the vehicle along with camouflage clothing, walkie-talkies and methamphetamine.

The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Tharin Gartrell.

Mr Gartrell’s alleged associate, Nathan Johnson, 32, was arrested shortly afterwards in a Denver hotel.

The third man was held after jumping-out from a six-floor hotel window. Reports say Shawn Robert Adolf, 33, broke his ankle and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

One of the suspects told authorities they were “going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a… rifle,” CBS4, a local television channel reported.

Ted Kennedy is reportedly traveling to Denver to make a speech before the Democratic National Convention tomorrow evening.  We look forward to watching it on NBC at 7pm tomorrow evening.

Kennedy to Address DNC

Boston Globe, August 24th 2008

In a development that is sure to bring the house down, US Senator Edward M. Kennedy is expected to attend the Democratic National Convention, most likely to deliver a speech tomorrow night.

Kennedy is battling brain cancer, and his doctors are said to be worried that his treatment has compromised his immune system and that attending the convention could put him at further risk. Still, the senator has recently told people that he has a speech written for the convention and that he badly wants to come, pending a final medical consultation.

Buzz has built among Massachusetts politicos that Kennedy would come, and today a source close to the family confirmed that he had made a decision to come.

“He is definitely planning to be here,” said the Kennedy family confidant. “The whole Kennedy family will be in a special section. It should be quite moment.”

Kennedy’s family is also convening in Denver, including sister Jean Kennedy Smith, sister-in-law Ethel, nephews Joe and Stephen Smith, and nieces Kathleen Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy, who will also address the convention.

A Kennedy speech is usually a convention highlight, and Kennedy revels in an address that elicits a regular response from the crowd.

Given Kennedy’s illness, this year’s speech should be especially poignant.

The senator was very active in the primary campaign, endorsing Barack Obama and hitting the campaign trail for him.

In our view, this is a good move that emphasizes the need for all Democrats to get together.  Defeating neo-Konservatism is the priority now.

New York Daily News
Kenneth Bazinet, August 23, 2008

WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton is expected to release her delegates and urge them to vote for Barack Obama during a meeting Wednesday with New York’s conventioneers, the Daily News has learned.

“She is going to strongly encourage everyone to support Obama,” said a party official made aware of Clinton’s plans.

Most ex-candidates release their delegates to vote any way they wish, but this move is designed to quell fears that the Clintons’ loyalist followers are still miffed that Obama prevailed and will boycott his candidacy.

Recent polls shows that the majority of Clinton backers already have moved into the Obama camp, but there are still some rogue holdouts the Clintons hope to convert - or at least silence.

Many states are throwing out voting machines like the ones purchased by Jan Brewer for Arizona

Problems include vanishing votes, breakdowns and vulnerability

Associated Press, Aug 20th 2008

The demise of touch-screen voting has produced a graveyard of expensive corpses: Warehouses stacked with thousands of carefully wrapped voting machines that have been shelved because of doubts about vanishing votes and vulnerability to hackers.

What to do with this high-tech junkyard is a multimillion-dollar question. One manufacturer offered $1 a piece to take back its ATM-like machines. Some states are offering the devices for sale on eBay and craigslist. Others hope to sell their inventories to Third World countries or salvage them for scrap.

A few more are holding out hope that the machines, some of which were purchased for as much as $5,000, could one day be resurrected. Thank you, Jan Brewer.  Click here to read more at the Dubuque, Iowa Tribune Hearld.

This year we are expecting about a dozen proposed constitutional amendments and citizen initiatives to be on the ballot.  On the evening of Septmber 24th, we will hold a Initiatives Forum to discuss the various propositions and their merits or demerits.

The Honorable Janna Vanderpool of the Pinal County Superior Court will act as moderator.  We expect to have most of our local candidates from Pinal County and Legislative District 26 to help us understand the details.  The evening will start at 6pm and will be over by 8pm or earlier.  We have reserved the Coyote Room in the main clubhouse of HOA#1 for the event.  Hope to see you there!