Palin was very effective as an attack dog yesterday evening, and should not be underestimated in the future.

The fact that she is a woman is one reason she was picked, to appeal to some independent or alienated Democratic voters. However, her sex doesn't explain her politics or policy priorities. Neither does the fact that she was mayor of a small town (actually a town which has shrunk in population from 8500 to 5000 in this thread); small towns, like large towns, have a variety of political residents but some people do like to generalize.

I love the negative generalization by McKain about politicians who graduate from elite colleges and universities. Would he make an exception for GWB, an undistinguished graduate of Yale? But again what a stupid criteria to use in a public forum for characterizing a politician's qualifications for leadership. Is McKain suggesting that the Republican party rename itself the Know-Nuthin' Party? Again, I expect, it is another Karl Rove programed appeal to the so-called blue collar voters. Well, such appeals worked well enough in 2000 and 2004 to "win" the elections. Let's hope and work hard enough so they don't get away with it again.

I have to admit that McKain's "desperate" choice for a Vice Presidential running mate appears to have been a good one, at least better than she initially appeared. I can hardly wait for the film version of "Mrs. Palin Cleans up Washington"!

Charley Noble