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Palin delivered tonight. So much for her claimed "inexperience" translating to a weak and vulnerable VP candidate who'd never taken a national stage in the televised spotlight.

I can tell she did a particularly good job because the follow-on comments from Democrats sounded more like loud squabbling among a kindle of kittens than logical analysis. And, of course, after a few days of raking her over the coals about her family life the media got all whiny when speakers started returning fire at the "liberal media."

It was a good night. Huckabee did good, the governor of Hawaii did good, Giulianni did good, and I think Palin exceeded expectations.

Some of the talk yesterday was that Palin reviewed what the speechwriters had prepared for her for Wednesday, then she scrapped a significant portion of it and said she'd do it herself; that they could review it later Tuesday night. Evidently it became an all-nighter, and I have a feeling that was because the speechwriters and campaign personnel were negotiating with her about the content she had changed/scrapped/written.

I don't know if this is original, but I like it. One of the news critters, after Palin had been referred to as a "soccer mom" or "hockey mom," quoted Palin as saying, "Do you know what the difference is between a Pit Bull and a soccer mom? The soccer mom wears lipstick."

I'll certainly be watching the RNC tonight to hear her speech. In G.H.W. Bush's campaign, Dan Quayle started speaking to everyone right after the announcement that he'd been picked as the running mate. He was coming off as nervous and jittery, like a squirrel suddenly thinking about being VEEPOTUS. The McCain campaign handlers have controlled Palin more, allowing only pre-planned appearances after the announcement, and no press interviews. I have a feeling restraining Palin and McCain from talking in unplanned situations hasn't been easy.

Palin has a lot riding on her message and delivery tonight, but I have a feeling she'll do quite well.

Oh, as an aside, I didn't realize it until I read an article yesterday, but Palin has over an 80% approval rating as governor. Not bad.

srothstein wrote:All in all, I think announcing this now was a much better strategic move for the candidacy.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:What really distresses me about this entire thread it that it is nothing more than a page from the National Inquirer. This unsubstantiated garbage doesn't deserve a discussion. If this event turns out to be true, then people have a right to discuss it, according to our forum rules, but why are we lending credibility to something that, at this point, is far worse than the early days of the Clinton administration when the media was correctly vilified for making jokes about Chelsea Clinton's looks?

And now maybe we can quench this Topic: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26496189/

ST. PAUL - The 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is pregnant, Palin said Monday in an announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child.

Bristol Palin, one of Alaska Gov. Palin's five children with her husband, Todd, is about five months pregnant and is going to keep the child and marry the father, the Palins said in a statement released by the campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Bristol Palin made the decision on her own to keep the baby, McCain aides said.

"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us," the Palins' statement said.

"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support," the Palins said.

The Palins asked the news media to respect the young couple's privacy.

"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media, respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates," the statement concluded.

Shame on all the bloggers and rumor-mongers.