It was a thrilling repudiation of every smear.

and I'll never forget it.  I want to see Obama do this, and I want to see him do it ASAP!

He signed my homemade sign "Women For Webb".  

The McCain approach is clearly to have Palin attack Obama, and if he or his campaign responds, call them sexist.  Poor Sarah.  Look what they did to her again. Quite astounding to me how many people actually believe she is a 'victim', which they assume will appeal to all women (not this one) and erase the fact the she is a far-far-right wing candidate with absolutely no relevant experience.

Hillary need to speak out.

Hillary and others are great surrogates, but Obama will have to do this for himself - show some passion, show some anger, kick some ass!

I do think the game plan is pretty obvious.  Her comments today show that.  And they laid the ground work pretty well.  Seems that a significant number of people think she is the victim.  Hard for Obama to slam that, but not for Hillary.  She would certainly be more effective than Sebelius and Wasserman, if for no other reason than it would make the network news.

But yes, Obama needs to start kicking.  I'm not knocking on doors for nothing.  Will we be seeing Webb on the campaign trail in VA soon?  Talk about kicking ass...

Webb would have been a great addition to the ticket ....

Having said that ....Joe Biden is doing well but you're right Obama needs to review this moment and pick up on Webb's themes (The Republicans don't want John McCains "reforms" ... they don't want to admit they've been wrong on anything).

So Palin will become they're big "make over" star yapping the same old Rovian themes.

It's time for Real Change!!

The "kumbaya" wing of the party - as Michael Moore just described them on Larry King - is afraid to fight.  Everything must be a nicety.

People like George Allen love campaigning against that wing of the party.  It is a guarantee that their jobs are safe.

The lessons of Jim Webb should be Campaigning 101 for anyone in a contested state - and especially red states.  He was tough, he was fair, and he attacked when it made sense - which is why his attacked had more impact.

I first got involved with the Webb campaign when it was Webb vs. the anti-Christ of offshoring Harris Miller.  At first my fight was against someone who posed a direct threat to my ability to take care of my family.  Thank God the people in Virginia voted for Jim Webb because at first it didn't look good for him.  Ultimately he cleaned Miller's clock - even though he spent $1,000,000 of his own money.  People saw through the anti-labor vile Miller was selling.

Then the icing on the cake - with a cherry on top - was when Senator Webb beat George Macaca Allen - who was voted by IT industry lobbyists as their greatest friend in the Senate.  He would of been the flip side of the coin of Harris Miller.

I would go as far as saying that Senator Webb is at least in the top five list when it comes to supporters of the middle class.  Overall, he is my favorite senator.  He has made a few decisions I don't agree with - but he never felt that he never needed to explain himself to voters.  When he made those tough decisions, agree or not, he would tell us why.  Many Senators don't feel the need to answer to us.

Sen Webb fought a "high road", classy campaign.
I agree -- he is a great Senator, cares very much about making a difference, he listens and responds.  I am glad that I voted for him.  He has a long history of genuine public service.

Barack is doing pretty well in his daily campaign appearances, but he needs to really lay into McSame and the vacuous beauty queen with a major speech (to ensure media coverage) laying out his politics of hope (v. fear) and rebutting the lies and smears. And you are right he needs to do it NOW before the rethug infection starts to fester. For example, he should explain how, at the Democratic convention, they only criticized rethug policies and challenge McSame to do the same, which of course he can't and won't do. And he should also explain why, too. (i.e. McSame is the captive of the Rethug slime machine, which afterall is the ultimate overpaid Washington insider cabal: Charlie Black, Steve Schmidt etc.)
It's incredible to think that McSame even has a chance, but it's all because of rethug lies, distortions and manipulation.
The fact is Obama Biden is probably the best, smartest, and most articulate presidential ticket in history, and the McSame-Barbie ticket is one of the worst!

the type of comment that turns off and alienates women voters like me.

Just can't keep away from the sexist slams, can you?
Keep trying to diminish and degrade her like this.
Don't talk about her lack of experience and record -- oh, no -- try and reduce and diminish her as a "Barbie".
How ironic that you would post this in a reply to Sen Webb's classy campaign.
The backlash has only just begun, and it is people like you who are the reason.
I was for Hillary and now I am a PUMA, and I am really angry at the misogyny and sexist crap like your post.
More and more, it seems like not voting for the top of the ticket is the right thing to do.

in our crowded public political sphere, are you going to let some intemperate or insulting remarks on one side convince you to vote for the ticket that stands against women, against the common good, and for a continued insanity in foreign and military policy?

McCain and Palin stand for appointing justices for the Supreme Court that will work feverishly to end a woman's right to choose which course in her reproductive and sexual life is best attuned to her own liberty and pursuit of happiness; the right wing judicial jihad also stands for severely curtailing ordinary Americans' access to the courts and substantive due process rights to protect the well-connected and the powerful. John McCain will vote against the Lilly Ledbetter Act, which would legislatively overturn the atrocious decision that the conservative court implemented that essentially guts a law intended to prevent sexual discrimination in labor practices.

Which is more important to you -- the occasional sexist remark, or the huge and hugely important substantive differences between the tickets when it comes to trying to get us to the level playing field in society where women are treated equally to men?

Elsewhere I have also seen you, as the wife of a veteran, question Obama and Biden and how true their intentions are towards veterans. Every step of the way, John McCain fought against the recently enacted Webb-sponsored 21st Century GI Bill. McCain has been with Bush in lockstep in opposing increases in health care budgets for the VA and to help our veterans recover from PTSD and other mental health illnesses as a result of their tours of duty. McCain is willing to start any war ("Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran", "There's going to be more wars, my friends, and more casualties") without any regard as to whether or not the cause is worthy of the lives of our military and their families -- he is an original neo-con.

These are enormous differences.

If you can truly be convinced to vote for Obama and Biden, I will do whatever I can in a substantive and 100% truthful manner to get you (and hopefully your husband) to pull that lever. It's that important to me and to the future of our country.

Write a diary, explain your concerns, let's have this debate. But please don't let the occasional slight and mean word be the way you make your decision.

Sarah Palin is NO Hillary Clinton. Compared to Hillary, she barely has legislative experience.  On abortion rights she is on the extreme right of the republican party.  She has ties to the Alaskan Independence Party, an anti-American party, whose founder even refused to be buried on American soil.  You may be angry but the republican party is trying to game you.  McCain-Palin are nothing but 4 more years of bush.  

on this blog, apparently, I wish to reply to moonpie. I completely understand your hatred (that is, your more-than-plain-distaste) for Barbie doll remarks, believe me. Nevertheless: Enlightened self-interest, taking the long view, keeping your eye on the main prize: ALL should tell you to work your heart out for Obama in this election, and vote for him. Turning your back on him at this juncture out of moral superiority over a slight (probably not even intended, as such, as a matter of fact--- and intentions DO enter into this) is utterly self-defeating.

I must say, I am astonished that any true feminist is still sulking over Hillary's electoral defeat and wants to swat flies with a sledge hammer by being vindictive or assessing blame for offensive remarks by one of Obama's supporters against the candidate himself, and, in effect, support directly or indirectly the misogynist and hateful Republican slate. Mrs. Palin is even more extreme on women's issues than McCain.  My generation (I will be 78 years old in December) grew up during the Depression, our older sisters and some of us went into the factories to win World War II, but were crammed back into domestic roles when the men returned after V-J Day, then, with our daughters, fought for the ERA; when that was crushed, we managed to create the social revolution which allowed Hillary even to think of running for the highest office in the land, not to mention Mrs. Palin herself. If it were not for people like me, neither one of them would ever have been where they are, nor would Carla Fiorini (or whatever) fired from Hewlett Packard, now supporting McCain.  

Mrs. Palin benefitted from the very Title IX which the Republicans generally despise; she has been groomed by the right wing and GOPAC, been assisted along the way by extreme right wing leaders and is scarecely an "outsider," and was apparently handpicked for elevation to the candidacy for V-P by Karl Rove himself (and even he had a hard time convincing McCain---- I'd love to have heard that conversation). Look at her history, look at her pastor, look at her spiteful vindictive bullying of opponents from School to mayor to governor, look at her lies (on earmarks, Bridge to Nowhere, civic debt in her home town), look at her Dark Ages attitude on women's issues---- like any Queen Bee she cannot tolerate a female rival, although she cultivates submissive fawning by fellow women, in my opinion) which attitudes, if enacted into law as she obviously intends they be, would forestall almost every other woman from rising to the same level of achievement as she herself has done. I do not denigrate her apparent grace under pressure, her competitive ability, her rapid rise from PTA office to town office to governor, not by any means. I do question her spiteful character, her honesty, her extreme policy beliefs, her "vision" for where the country should go, her hostility to the very government in which she seeks an office. I find her wanting in every respect.  

It scares me to think anyone would buy into someone so extreme.  But since all she has done is slam Obama, people only hear that.  Granted, Obama can't let things slide, but it puts him in the touchy position of replying to the VP candidate, not the Presidential one.  I'm sure that's part of the plan.  

Though I did hear Bill Maher say last night that Palin is thinking of dumping McCain from the ticket.  

Sit out the election. Maybe McCain/Palin will win and roll back equal pay protection, ban abortion, and show the young women of America that it doesn't matter if you're qualified so long as you're hot and have good fashion sense. That'll show 'em!

From The New Republic:

Iraq: "our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [American soldiers] out on a task that is from God."

Creationism: "...don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides."

Global warming: "I'm not one, though, who would attribute [global warming] to being man-made."

Energy: "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that."

"Bridge to Nowhere": "I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

Alaska's secessionist party: "Your party plays an important role in our state's politics ... keep up the good work, and God bless you."

Also:

Gay rights: Opposes  benefits to gay couples, opposes same-sex marriage.

Abortion: According to On the Issues, Palin said she would "Choose life, even if her own daughter were raped."  Also, says that the "Only exception for abortion is if mother's life would end."

Stem cell research: According to On the Issues, Palin opposes stem cell research.

Education: According to On the Issues, Palin "Supports teaching intelligent design in public schools." Also, believes parents should be able to "opt out of schoolbooks they find offensive."  Says "Faith-based materials ok in homeschooling." She "Opposes explicit sex-education programs."

Foreign Policy:  No clue, since she has no experience in this area.
 

Foreign Policy:  No clue, since she has no experience in this area.

Unfortunately we are the foreigners:

Alaska's secessionist party: "Your party plays an important role in our state's politics ... keep up the good work, and God bless you."

slam, as the whole reason Palin is worrisome is that she's obviously very strong, articulate, smart, and ruthless.  Nothing vacuous about her at all.

As for moonpie, I understand your anger about sexist comments, but in fairness to Shenandoah Democrat, no one talks more about Barbie than Stephanie Miller, who has nicknamed Palin "Caribou Barbie".  Frankly, I find it pretty funny.  I'm not of the same generation as Teddy, but I'm old enough to remember being told I couldn't have a paper route because I was a girl, that I couldn't become a professional because I was female, that women couldn't be leaders because they're "too emotional".  I get it.  But I also think women need to get over themselves and not freak out every time someone makes a sexist comment and then use it as a reason to have doubts about something which should be a slam dunk.  So people say silly or derogatory or crass things.  How does it promote the cause of women, who want to be viewed as thinking, rational beings, to base political decisions on whether someone has said something annoying or offensive?  I find the whole PUMA thing perplexing, to say the least.  Wasn't the point about Hillary that she was a strong woman who was promoting an agenda important not only to women, but to our society and our country?  Do you really think it's okay for the PUMAs to continue pouting and threatening either to vote for McCain or stay home and put their futures and their families' futures, and this country's future at risk?  

Dangerous? Yes. Extreme? Yes. Inexperienced and unqualified for VP?  Yes.  But "vacuous?" No.

As to the PUMA's, I agree with you, it's completely perplexing why anyone who's not a right winger would even consider supporting McCain-Palin and risking our country's (and planet's) future.  It makes no sense at all, no matter whether you like Obama or not.  We simply can't afford any more years of Republican misrule and disastrous conservative policies.

THATS funny.

That George Bush tried to copy the title "The Sum of All Fears" when writing a book about his experiences with Senator Webb...

Let's go Hokies!

Will this message get to him....

Or is he insulated by those same advisors that worked (so well) for Gore and Kerry?

Obama are you listening?

I want to extend my heartfelt apologies to moonpie and all women (and some guys too) who were offended by my comments about Sarah Palin as a "Barbie". I hope no one was offended by my comment that she is a "vacuous beauty queen", but if they are, I also apologize for using that term.
Please understand that I am deeply offended by Palin's position on a long list of issues.
In particular, as a former Earth and Environmental Science teacher at a Virginia Governor's School, I find her views toward teaching creationism particularly offensive and outright stupid! (if not illegal).
Further, as a former resident of Alaska while a Field Engineer on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, I find her attitude towards exploitation of Alaska's resources to be short-sighted and misinformed. (I know as a petroleum geologist that all the oil and gas in Alaska will not make a significant dent in America's enormous thirst for fossil fuels.)
Finally, as the son of my father, the second white child born north of the Arctic Circle in Alaska,at Fort Yukon,in 1917 (my uncle was the first), I am embarrassed and disgusted that this so-called "frontier woman" is representative of the "Last Frontier". My grandfather, who built a log cabin hospital and brought the first X-ray machine in North America north of the Arctic Circle, would simply be disgusted by the lack of intelligence and awareness she has displayed towards science and the real needs of Native Alaskans.
I thank you, moonpie, for motivating me to prepare a more detailed discussion of these points which I will submit to this blog as well as the Anchorage News.  
I hope you will accept my sincere regrets.

While your specific choice of adjectives may have been ill-advised, the point of your post, and the truth of its substance, were quite clear.

The focus on a few poorly chosen descriptors in your post as defining the meaning of your post was BS, IMHO.