Bill Manzi.com

Well, how did he do? Was it as effective with Republicans as Sarah Palin? Detailed enough?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26552443#26552443

A new McCain ad, airing in Ohio and Michigan, attacking Obama for his stance on drilling. McCain directly blames higher oil prices on the domestic drilling policies of the United States, which he supported and helped to implement as a Senator. The bad economies in Michigan and Ohio need only extra drilling to be turned around. What nonsense.

Conservative commentator Patrick Buchanan, whom I am fond of citing when he is skewering the neo-cons, has penned an article that reflects conservative enthusiasm over the selection of Sarah Palin.

As the Democrats were being rudely stepped on, however, Palin ignited an explosion of enthusiasm among conservatives, Evangelicals, traditional Catholics, gun owners and Right to Lifers not seen in decades. …
For his boldness in choosing Palin, McCain deserves enormous credit. He has made an extraordinary gesture to conservatives and the party base, offering his old antagonists a partner’s share in his presidency. And his decision is likely to be rewarded with a massive and enthusiastic turnout for the McCain-Palin ticket. Rarely has this writer encountered such an outburst of enthusiasm on the right.

Buchanan also speculates that a VP Palin would likely stir revolts in the Republican caucuses designed to eliminate the power of senior Republicans who are big appropriators. A VP Palin would lead the Republican minority closer to true Republican ideals.

With Republicans having zero chance of capturing either House, and but a slim chance of avoiding losses in both, a Vice President Palin, with her reputation as a rebel and reformer, would surely inspire similar revolts in the Republican caucuses.

As Thomas Jefferson said, from time to time, a little rebellion in the political world is as necessary as storms in the physical.

Interesting stuff from Buchanan, as always, and indicative of the potential upside of this nomination for the McCain campaign. He has indeed wowed the base. Read the Buchanan column here.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/wpniplayer_viral.swf?thisObj=fo599405&vid=090308-19v_title

Governor Sarah Palin came out swinging against the “Washington elite” and the media in her debut as the Republican nominee for Vice President. She took a hard shot at Obama, with Obama’s history as a community organizer being mocked by her and other speakers.

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a “community organizer,” except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don’t quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren’t listening.

We tend to prefer candidates who don’t talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.

Did she accomplish the political goals of the speech? She definitely hit a home run with the Republican base, but what about independent voters? Non Republican women?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26535823#26535823

A new McCain ad highlighting the McCain campaigns evaluation of the relative qualifications of Obama and Palin. In the ad McCain attacks Obama for supporting tax breaks for oil companies. Now there is a novel concept. Pick a VP candidate who raised taxes on oil companies and pretend you are not for extension of ALL of the current favorable tax treatment given to big oil. Whatever the relative merits of the candidates I ask you this. Who will oil company executives being voting for in November? If you said John McCain you are correct.

A new Obama ad highlighting the strong political resemblance between George W. Bush and John McCain. Certainly going to be tough for McCain to get some political distance from the Bush Administration.

Joe Lieberman addressed the Republican convention last night, completing his turn on his former party with criticism of Barack Obama and strong support for the McCain-Palin ticket. Lieberman, who had criticized George W. Bush as the Vice Presidential candidate of the Democrats in 2000, has now changed his tune. Joe will likely be stripped of his chairmanship in January after the Democratic Party moves up to 55-57 votes in the Senate. When mentioned as a potential VP candidate for John McCain the Republican right reacted with outrage and threats to disrupt the convention. When mentioned anywhere in Democratic circles the disdain is palpable. Joe Lieberman, a man without a party. His delivery has not improved much since his disastrous performance as Gore’s VP nominee in 2000.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26518215#26518215