NO LOVE FROM HOME: ALASKA'S BIGGEST DAILY PAPER REJECTS PALIN, BACKS OBAMA

"...few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range." --Anchorage Daily News, Sun. Oct. 26, 2008, "Obama for President."

Sweet. Just nine more days left in the national relevancy of the half-baked Alaskan. Start the countdown until the Palins' fairytale snowmobile turns back into a pumpkin and the governor's $150,000 GOP-financed designer gear reverts to rags.
Here's the editorial in today's Anchorage Daily News...
anchoragedailynews.com

PALIN THE 'PIT BULL' IS JERKING THE GOP LEASH -- CAMPAIGN STAFFER SAYS VEEP CANDIDATE IS 'GOING ROGUE'

"'(Palin) is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone...she does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. Also she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: divas trust only unto themselves as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom.'" --anonymous John McCain adviser, to CNN.

Sarah Palin showing she has a mind of her own? A dangerous concept. But both CNN and the National Journal are reporting that this may indeed be happening as Palin the self-proclaimed "pit bull" at times jerks on the leash her GOP handlers have held on her and is at times breaking free, often to bad results as she desperately tries to boost her free-falling poll numbers that may drag presidential nominee John McCain down with him. The links to the stories can be found here:

cnn.com
politico.com

PALIN'S DISMISSAL OF FRUIT FLY RESEARCH IN NATIONAL POLICY SPEECH DEBUT IS VP CANDIDATE'S LATEST GAFFE

This is getting to be unbelievable. This candidate is making gaffes faster than we can keep up with and post. Today she tries to play scientist and falls on her face. We should ask her to slow down. On second thought: Naaaaah! It's too darn entertaining! You bet'cha! Check out the latest, fromthinkprogress.org, in text and video.

thinkprogress.org

HOW THEIR MESS WAS MADE: NY TIMES, NEW YORKER DETAIL HOW MCCAIN'S IMPULSIVE, UNINFORMED CHOICE MAY COST HIM AN ELECTION

"...after McCain’s speech brought the convention to a close, one of the campaign’s senior advisers stayed up late at the Hilton bar savoring the triumphant narrative arc. I asked him a rather basic question: 'Leaving aside her actual experience, do you know how informed Governor Palin is about the issues of the day?' The senior adviser thought for a moment. Then he looked up from his beer. 'No,' he said quietly. 'I don’t know.'”
--Robert Draper, the New York Times Magazine, "The Making (and Remaking) of John McCain," Sun. Oct. 26, 2008

It's only 11 days until John McCain may retire to his suite in the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix and rue the day he gambled by picking a running mate so risky it cost him an election victory.
Here are two detailed, fascinating accounts of how the selectiuon unfolded, first in the New Yorker and then in this Sunday's New York Times Magazine. The Times Magazine piece begins its coverage about the Palin pick on Page 5.

newyorker.com
nytimes.com

WHO'S THE BIGGEST MONEY-MAKER THIS MONTH IN MCCAIN CAMPAIGN? SARAH PALIN'S MAKEUP ARTIST

Another one from the "you've got to be kidding" file. Turns out not only is Sarah Palin a liability and a drag on John McCain's presidential candidacy, but she's also a financial albatross. First the RNC spends $150,000 on her wardrobe for the Republican National Convention, then the GOP has to back up the Brink's truck to pay a stylist more than anyone else this month to doll up Caribou Barbie. The New York Times has the stylist story, while the Associated Press has Palin saying she's actual a frugal shopper -- unless, of course, she's campaigning.
nytimes.com
yahoo.com

ROSEANN CASH: I'D BE A BETTER VP THAN PALIN

Hard to argue the singer's points. Then again, my cat is better qualified than Sarah Palin. But my cat can't write and Cash can. Here's Cash's piece, that recently ran in The Nation.
the nation.com

RED SHOE DIARIES: GOP GETTING DRESSED DOWN BY CAMPAIGN DONORS FOR PALIN WARDROBE DYSFUNCTION

"Palin's fashion budget for several weeks was more than four times the median salary of an American plumber ($37,514). To put it another way: Palin received more valuable clothes in one month than the average American household spends on clothes in 80 years. A Democrat put it in even blunter terms: her clothes were the cost of health care for 15 or so people." --Sam Stein, the Huffington Post.

It was almost too good to be true when it became news last night: The Republican Party shelling out crazy loot to play dress-up with their vice presidential candidate. But the controversy is just getting started, as Republicans everywhere are outraged. Us? We're laughing all the way to the checkout counter. Check out this Sam Stein column in the Huffington Post.

huffingtonpost.com

Next, a piece on ABC News, in which Florida's Republican Gov. Charlie Crist expresses surprise over Palin's clothing allowance.

abcnews.com

Here's the GOP outrage, which you can read below:

politico.com