[charles m]

Romney was really never considered. Both Romney and Pawlenty were essentially media decoys.

This article completely undercuts the Dem's accusation that McCain picked at last minute (after Obama speech) and didn't even vet Palin.

[FlingWingFlyer]

This was a good article and an interesting read. All the political BS was omitted and it just presented the facts as they learned them. That’s what the media used to do back when I was younger and the world wasn’t so damned political and mean.

[paudio]

The info about Palin was brought to Ohio on Thursday with private jet was wrong, then. She has been in OH for a couple days by then. It was her family that flew that night.

[LibertyRocks]

This is sweet!!! I love it. And in the Washington Post no less!?!?! I'm in complete shock, to tell you the truth. You may have to revive me here in a minute! Thank you so much for posting this... FWF, you said it so eloquently. It's SO TRUE!

I'm so excited about this. :)

[LibertyRocks]

"an FBI background check"

Speaking of which... Democrats want to put someone who couldn't pass an FBI background check in the White House and in charge of our Military? What are they -- insane??? How can you possibly justify someone who associates with known terrorists being given TOP SECRET CLEARANCE??????

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

Secretary of State: Lieberman
Defense Secretary: Petraeus or Powell

[Carley]

Month ago Rasmussen polling had her at the top of the list.

Larry Kudlow interviewed her twice.

She was the guest on CSPAN in February and did a great job with the callers and the questions from the host.

Sarah is the real deal!

[SE Mom]

Wow- I am struck by the clever differences between this piece and the one run by the NYT’s this morning on the same topic.

It’s worth reading the two of them- the info is similar- though the WaPo piece gives a LOT more depth. The NYT’s focuses on “right-wing evangelicals” as THE reason- see their headline:

“Advisers Say Conservative Ire Pushed McCain Away From
Picking Lieberman”

VS WaPo headline:

“Palin Made an Impression From the Start”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/us/politics/31reconstruct.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[snowsislander]

I wonder if Senator McCain or his wife is a source. The recounting of the meeting down by the creek would seem to me to most likely have come from one of the participants, and I don’t imagine that Governor Palin would have the time to be giving out such accounts to the press given the massive upheaval her life has taken in the space of just four days.

[The Mayor]

Great post.

[SuziQ]

Rick Davis, McCain's campaign manager and the person at the point of the vice presidential process, said there was no abrupt change of course in the final hours. Nor, he said, was Palin selected without having gone through the full vetting process that was done for other finalists. That process included reviews of financial and other personal data, an FBI background check and considerable discussion among the handful of McCain advisers involved in the deliberations.

In other words, she wasn't pulled out of nowhere, just to appease women voters; she was considered from the start. If she appeals to more women than might have voted for John McCain already, so much the better!

[SuziQ]

Since McCain had vetted so many in his search for a Veep, he’ll be in a great position to have his Cabinet ready as soon as he wins the election!