On experience

I'm beginning to like Slate Magazine more and more. They've got some great stuff up about Palin and their output on her is pretty balanced and thought out.

I like this piece by Fred Kaplan:

'As for the equally bizarre claim that Palin knows about foreign policy because Alaska borders Russia, via the Bering Straits, again, I don't get the connection. Has she ever dealt with a Russian? Do the Russians plan to invade Alaska? Or is this more another case of learning through osmosis?

Let's get real. If a Democratic candidate had picked such an off-the-wall running mate, the Republicans—Giuliani, Gingrich, and Gaffney among them—would be howling with derision. And rightly so.'

And Timothy Noah predicted before it was given that her speech will be overpraised :

'But convention commentary abhors a vacuum. Everything that happens must be milked dry for significance, real or imagined. So before Palin steps up to the podium, TV commentators will go on and on about how crucial it is that Palin do well, because her viability as a vice-presidential candidate will hang in the balance. After Palin steps down from the podium, TV commentators will fall over themselves with astonishment, feigned or sincere, at Palin's brilliant performance. "A star was born here tonight in St. Paul," they will say. "This speech eliminates any doubt that Palin is ready for prime time," they will say. The extravagance of the praise will reflect, in part, the press's guilty feelings about its recent excesses in beating Palin up. Some talking heads may even crow that this splendid performance shows Palin is ready to be president, should tragedy befall President McCain.

Don't believe a word of it. Palin may or may not be ready, but her speech won't tell you anything about that, and the commentary will tell you less than nothing.'

Maureen Sullivan: 'cruel and unusual'.