From Talking Points Memo:

“Earlier I noted Andrea Mitchell’s reference to reports that the McCain camp had just sent a team of GOP lawyers up to Alaska to do what I guess you’d call a post-vetting of Sarah Palin. Now George Stephanopoulos appears to have more. … The much bigger deal is the expanding trooper-gate investigation, the fact that Palin lied in her Friday speech about her purported opposition to the Bridge to Nowhere, her apparent former membership in the secessionist Alaska Independence Party, and more.

“…What [these issues] show pretty clearly now — in addition to the news that the McCain campaign is only now sending in a vetting team — is that John McCain didn’t do any serious vetting of Palin before he invited
her to join his ticket and, he hopes, become Vice President of the United States.

“Fundamentally, of course, this is about John McCain. And the real issue here is what this slapdash decision says about his judgment.”

Once upon a time, McCain was the Maverick, the man of Straight Talk. Somewhere along the way, he got muzzled, bent – assimilated – and lost that spark that made people on both sides of the aisle warm up to him.

I don’t think he’ll win this election, especially not after this. He can’t backtrack on Palin, no matter how Britney Spears her situation gets. That would only emphasize how ill-vetted she was in the first place.

And congrats to Obama for having the class to answer the media’s questions on Palin by saying that all candidates’ families – especially their children – should be off limits to wonks and waggers. He refused to to nibble on that bait.

He may not be the most experienced guy, but I don’t question his leadership ability. He had the sense to research and select Joseph Biden, after all. He chose his running mate after much deliberation, and picked someone of intelligence, greater experience, and with challenging thoughts/opinions/perspective. That says alot about leadership: whom you add to your team and why.

You can’t say McCain did as much due diligence. I don’t care how many years he spent in the Senate: his judgment is still in question. Look at Bush & Brownie (Michael Brown, formerly of FEMA during the Katrina catastrophe): the fate of the country depends on the team our President assembles & appoints.

We need a President who’ll do this with real thought, care and consideration as to experience and ability. Although I preferred Hillary, I’ll still support Obama over McCain. I don’t care if McCain selected a female running mate: I vote on values, not vagina!