Well, I was impressed that she asked for my vote at the end of her speech.

A Big-O named politician failed in that regard last evening.

Sent by Scorned | 2:32 PM ET | 08-29-2008

ha! Thomas-Palin! Talk about a dream ticket!

Sent by nix | 3:04 PM ET | 08-29-2008

Her experience on the world stage is nonexistent.
The fact that she has 5 children is, in my opinion,
irresponsible in a world that is already suffering from over-population. She has a right to have this many children but is it morally responsible? She seems a nice, talented, and strong person but is she
prepared and able to assume the presidency if McCain is not able to perform his duties? I am deeply skeptical about her abilities in this area.
I consider this a very risky move on McCain's part, basically nothing more than a political cheap shot
to lure the female vote, and this does not speak well to me in considering McCain's judgement....a very important quality in who I want as president.
I feel much more comfortable with the Obama/Biden team.

Sent by L DeJong | 3:16 PM ET | 08-29-2008

McCain has chosen a cheerleader and nothing more.

Sent by Lucien | 3:35 PM ET | 08-29-2008

I think it's a great opportunity for Sarah. What is interesting is that Sarah Palin praised Obama's energy plan..but as of 12:30PM Et(08-29-08),that link was pulled from the web!
Fortunately Google saves everything!
This is like putting lipstick on McCain's bad policies(Bush policies)
Thank you!

Sent by peter jacobs | 3:40 PM ET | 08-29-2008

It's apparent from the comments here so far which side of the aisle NPR attracts more of it's audience from.

I think she's not much riskier than Obama when it comes to experience, but she, at least, is in the right slot on the ticket: #2. I don't know if it was a good choice (even if McCain is elected it may turn out to be short-sighted), but it has certainly restored some of my interest in a race that was losing it. She looked and sounded sincere, strong, and committed to ethical and honorable public service. We'll see if the investigation in Alaska proves that wrong.

Sent by Curtis | 4:07 PM ET | 08-29-2008

In my lifetime there are 3 presidents who have left office before their term was up: FDR, Kennedy, Nixon....3 critical periods in our nations history in which a seasoned person had to take over the presidency. You better believe that part of my decision process will be the "one heart beat away"
consideration. Palin as president? Yikes!

Sent by rich | 4:24 PM ET | 08-29-2008

As a woman, I was absolutely insulted at the insinuation that women swing voters might be swayed to vote for a McCain-Palin ticket in place of Hilary Clinton. A feminist and Obama supporter from the beginning, I never have understood the concept of voting for a candidate based on gender. But this is a new low in the over-simplification of political demographics. For the McCain campaign to bank of the idea that women voters aren't intelligent enough to tell the difference in policy and values between Hilary Clinton and a right wing conservative governor from Alaska, is truly appalling. Anyone who genuinely supported Hilary for her politics would never think of voting for the conservative pairing the republicans now offer. And if you were supporting her because of her gender; well isn't that the very definition of sexism?

Sent by Erin Dougherty | 5:16 PM ET | 08-29-2008

We, as a nation, have been so poorly educated as to the actual job the President and Vice-President have that it is much easier for the candidates to turn the election into a popularity contest. The media(including NPR) has been complicent in this endevor by emphisising the "man-on-street" oppinion over the facts about the candidates stands and the impact that those stands will likely have on the future of our nation.
Why is it that "The Daily Show" is the only place where we can hear the complete reversal of the Republican leadership stands on issue after issue.
Americans are ill served if the only information they get on the candidates in this election are the common people.
Because , let's face it, the common people... well... they're common.

Sent by Russell | 11:31 AM ET | 09-04-2008