And just how does the level of Gov. Palin's experience differ from the credentials of Mr. Obama, the Democratic nominee for President? At least she has executive experience - effective, apparently, since she has an 80% approval rating in Alaska.

And who is the running mate on the Democratic ticket? The 6th longest-serving Senator, picked specifically for his "foreign policy experience" to provide at least some knowledge in that area since Obama has none. Not exactly a monument to the concept of "change", eh?

And is it not a good idea to have a female cantidate for the second-highest elected office in the U.S.? Or is "diversity" only appropriate in certain circumstances?

I am sure that we will be provided with enormous detail regarding the background and qualifications of Gov.Palin. If only the mainstream press would be as diligent in dissecting the background of the neophyte Democratic Presidential nominee and his connections with the sleazy Chicago political machine featuring convicted criminals such as Tony Rezko. Or with radicals such as former member of The Weathermen William Ayers and Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Or perhaps the close ties with Marxist Frank Marshall Davis.

You said: But a candidate with no views, no experience, no reasonable qualifications...but YOU forget Palin is governor of Alaska. How did you miss THAT little fact? So she must have SOME experience, eh? Like being able to campaign and WIN, knowing what issues are important to her constituents, how to work with other governors, and elected officials. Stop looking at her skirt and look at her resume--you might find some qualifications, bubba.

We know nothing of Gov. Palin other than an ever widening stream of ethical challenges that paint her as anything but a reformer.

McCain doesn't trust Palin to speak off script, so why should we trust Palin to be president.

Some naive types cynically argue that Palin is as qualified as Obama, and yet Obama has been on the public stage for many, many months - debating an intellectual powerhouse like Sen. Clinton over 20 times. Obama's thoughts and ideas about policy and strategic action have been thoroughly vetted as well as questioned by Democrats, Republicans and journalists. Obama has been taken to task on his broad vision and the details of his policy - and he has triumphed so far.

Palin has done one interview with one journalist and annoyed him by refusing to veer off script as well as by failing to grasp some of the basics such as the "Bush Doctrine."

Tonight's townhall meeting was pre-ticketed and all of the tickets were RSVP'd by/at and distributed by official GOP offices. In other words, it was a pre-selected audience.

Palin might be a fine president, but we have no reason to believe that at this time and this is not like a trial where one is innocent until proven guilty. Everything is at stake here. McCain is statistically likely not to make it through the next 8 years. Isn't it rolling the dice with Palin behind him?

Palin was not chosen for her qualifications but for her identity: she's against reproductive choice for women. Palin is simply along to help McCain appeal to the Right Wing base.

In other words, she's a simple slap in the face to us liberals. Conservatives are supposed to lap that up - especially since Rush Limbaugh (who was railing on McCain hard through the spring) was the one praising Palin before she was picked.

Palin would be a joke except for the fact that we stand to lose so much if she winds up as President.

Worse, the selection of Palin as a running mate tells us that McCain is not in it for the country, but for power - and at the convention, he spoke about himself a great deal more than he spoke about policy or the Republican platform.

Palin is indeed a slap in the face.