Susan, it just might be that the AMERICAN people are waking up to the fact that Social Liberalism from the Democrat Party is what has put America into the Bail Out society of today. All the facts point squarely to the Democrats refusing to tone down Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac as asked by G.W. Bush 16 times and by refusing to even consider the legistation submitted by John McCain while these same Democrat leaders took some very heavy campaign contributions. On the other hand I see that Senator Obama has only been in the Senate a total of 2 years and has been running for President for 19 months of that two years and yet he is No. 2 on the take from these two organizations that started the financial meltdown.

I personally think that Governor Palin in the debate did a lot to establish contact with middle America which the left has never done or I guess will ever do as they only know how to preach to or look down at the public.

I once had an Economics professor and Political Science professor who both gave me an A++ on final thesis papers add post scripts to tone down the intellect in order to reach the wider audience. This is something that Senator Obama has been trying to do, although I do not give him much success because if the Mainstream Media starts hitting him like they do McCain and Palin he will lose the election. Look for the RNC to start hitting him hard on economic policy followed on leadership quality where he is extremely weak.

Is it possible for Susan to write a column without mentioning Hillary? Also, why did Gwen Ifill not ask Biden about FDR addressing the nation via television as President in 1929?

Susan, While I am a conservative female, I have enjoyed reading many of the opinions that you have written. I think you are fair on most points when addressing the greater issue of where politics has gone wrong. But, in this case I disagree with the experience issue. If you are going to argue experience on the VP ticket, then you have to do the same for the Presidential ticket. Senator Obama has little to no experience in all the areas that you pointed out with Governor Palin. In addition he has zero executive experience. So when you combine McCain's political experience with Palin's executive experience and her knowledge of energy issues, I think you have a much deeper ticket than Biden/Obama with Joe Biden carrying all of the ticket. Hillary would have been a different story. I am not willing to vote for someone at the TOP of the ticket who has had 2 years in the Senate and most of that time spent running for President. Palin at the VP level offers a fresh perspective and a renewed belief that the people of the USA may actually start to like politicians again.

I like Romney, and he is tremendously qualified. But if he were on the ticket, out would come all the articles about the fundamentalist LDS church and the analysis pieces and the snide Saturday Night Live skits beating up on Mormons. Many people believe this church is an outright cult. We've already had to endure attacks on Palin's relatively mainstream church (actually, she's extremely mainstream compared to Obama's "former" anti-semitic, anti-white church). Imagine what they would do to Romney, whose church believes in Joseph Smith, and that God has a wife. I feel badly that Romney can't get a fair shake. Susan's comment about Palin's believe in people living at the same time as the dinosaurs only proves my point that Romney would have been demolished in the first week of his selection. I think Sarah acquitted herself very well in the debates. She showed she is not stupid as everyone has tried to make her out to be. She has run a city and a state, and not just caucused and voted and campaigned for years on end. I am proudly displaying my sign and bumper stickers.

Sarah Palin is running for the second highest office in our country. Why aren't we demanding she answer the same caliber of questions being asked of the other three candidates? Shortly into the debate, she stated she would not be answering the questions that were posed her. I don't understand why more people weren't outraged by this refusal to answer questions, of such a general nature, they could be answered by nearly anyone following this election? If any of the other three candidates had conducted themseves in the manor Mrs. Palin had. it would have been the end of their political careers. I agree with you, Susan, I want to see the smartest person representing our country. Mrs. Palin's running mate is 72 years old, with a troubling health history. It's probable she could assume the presidency if elected. If such a scenerio were to happen, I fear we would be the laughing stock of the world.

McCain brought Palin in to appeal to the very people who don't believe in him but do believe in her. Reading some of the discussion comments he was successful. Palin seems to be full of herself with her down home folksiness to appeal to the "down home, Joe six pack, pit bulls with lipstick". Whenever the questions get too tough, she uses her folksiness as a defense and has been able to cut and run whenever it got tough. She'll be using her femininity soon, when the folksiness gets old. When that runs out, well, maybe we'll see who she is and what she's made of. I didn't like Hilary, still don't, but I agree with you Susan and I give Hilary her due. She is smart, knowledgeable, intelligent, articulate, and vice-presidential if not presidential. Palin is not. I don't want Josephine redneck in the vice-presidential seat.

Susan, Sarah Palin has more experience then Obama has running a government. I am from the Delaware county originally and I know Biden is arrogant and obnoxious. I was shocked that he was Obama's choice for vice president. Biden wants to be president so bad (failed attempts) that I would watch my back if I were Obama. I watched the Vice President debate and Biden was untruthful in how he feels especially with statements about Obama and the constitution. I watched for years that smirky grin Biden gets when he is irritated and he was annoyed with Sarah. Hillary can thank the new media for her loss and again Obama is now against his stand on many issues that he was for when he ran against Hillary. She would have won if he stood for what he does now. I admire Sarah Palin and I do admire Hillary for I see her working on the next presidential election that will not include her is Obama wins. Hillary is shrewd where Palin is with strong spirit.

Hilliary IS smart. But she is tainted by Bill's picadillos. Plus, Bill sucks all the oxygen out of the room, so they cannot appear together and Hilliary still have stage center. Frankly, Obamas senate history is not even worth mentioning. He started running for president immediately upon arriving, and he did nothing other than follow the voting of his Democrat and Cong Black Caucus Mentors.

Hilliary, Bill, Biden nor Obama resonate with white middle class americans at all. McCain barely either. Palin does and the more the snobs of the media and elite lefts ridicule her....the more that middle class white Americans get angry and vindictive to the Democrat machine. Obama is a creation of that machine only. Otherwise, he would never get noticed.

Palin the person is a delight, but Palin the voice of beat down and insulted white Americans is STRONG. Many have given all they are going to give to the greed and corruption of the Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Charlie Rangel activists that have kept disharmony and race baiting alive long after it should and would have died absent their slime. American citizens want to see honesty and civility back, but not pansy nanny state government driven socialism. America is soft from what happened from the seventies on. The political parties just found folks to sell the partisan issues to, and roped that bunch in. They have kept the fighting going...and the media goads it on...otherwise, how can you fill up 24 hour cable news and a thick print newspaper or a weekly magazine.

The bailout by Congress may have doomed both party leaderships, and about 2/3s of the encumbants. Never have I seen such citizens anger, and it is growing. I think it might even survive the opening seasons of network TV even!

Obama does not represent any recognizable American group. He is not of the AfroAmerican heritage, and he is bi-racial....not black. He is too educated to get down with the poor folks, and altho he has the rhetoric, he does not have the walk....he isn't even a good basketball player. He is trying, but he only appeals to Bush haters who would elect a gorilla is it talked as smooth and had the warchest his handlers have taken in.

Even if Obama is elected, he will have an angry and disbelieving public that will learn to jump on his every mispoken word and misdeed...and the DEMs will have no other party to blame but themselves. If he wins in 2008, he will never last two terms, and if he and the DEMS mess up ANYWHERE, Hilliary won't have a prayer in 2012.

The Dems do better if McCain wins, has one term, and Hillary comes back in 2012....by then, McCain would have a middle ground administration and the Congress would have settled down some....and her middle ground positions would have a better chance against his age. Palin will still be too green to run for Pres in 2012...and by that time, she will be sick of Washington too. IMUO.

Susan, You are usually a cut above the typical liberal voice. However, you've become just another uttery plebeian and boring Palin basher. An example of your silly liberal crap is "tax breaks for big oil". It's an example of one of your remarkably stupid and inaccurate points. Actually, it's tax breaks for business owners, those how actually produce goods and services, the very backbone of our economy. No, not a bail out for friends of Frank, Dodd and theirs friends, but real American heros, the entrepreneurs.
Sarah Palin is a very serious threat to liberals, not because she is inexperienced, but because she is able to break out of the typical mold of todays political candidates who have absolutely no core values, and can effectively communicate those values to the voters. Your candidates are unintelligent hypocrites.Unintelligent, because they tell us, or you, what they think you want to hear. Sarah Palin, tells everyone who she is and what her values are EVERYTIME.
She will shine the light of truth on your socialist candidate, and expose him for the disingenuous fool he is, and we conservatives love every minute. We can only hope that McCain gets out of her way.

Susan,
As someone who has been trapped in two of your classes not too long ago, I'd like to inform you of a few things likely unknown to you, not that you would care beyond your pathetic Liberal sick mind.
Back then, we had a discussion I doubt you remember...I was on the conservative side of a fierce argument with you in class, and afterwards you took me aside for a "friendly" piece of advice...." "You might want to rethink that point of view, " you said..."it will probably be difficult to not take into consideration your unevolved point of view come grading time..."
A threat, wouldn't you say? I cannot tell you how glad I was to reply to you. "mess with my grade because you dislike my point of view...and I WILL take your life."
I remember so vividly the color draining from your face when you understood I meant what I said, and so seven months later I received the A that I earned. I doubt we exchanged more than a hundred words for the entire remainder of the term.
I use this anecdotal episode to illustrate the depth of your foul capabilities when your liberal POV is attacked, either in debate or in a real argument.
Here's something for you over which to lose sleep.... Obama will LOSE, you hear me? Obama is nothing more than an empty suit being propped up by that other useless obstructionist dipstick, Tom Daschle who, other than yourself, could possibly be the most poisonous human in any realm of politics.
Obama's qualification is nothing more that a very small novelty. He's half black (not even entirely black, but half is enough to claim himself as a black candidate...his ONLY qualification.
If this man were not a Ni**er, he wouldn't have gotten two steps in the primaries, let alone the election. This is his ONLY contribution, along with his hateful, anrgy wife.
This is a novelty election, something like electing the first Dog to President. Obama has not a single qualification, NOT ONE....other than the novelty of being a Ni**er, the first to be considered for US President.
And, yes, dear, I freely use the expression Ni**er...because I do not believe that a few angry old ni**ers like Jackson, Sharpton, and all the other race baiters have the right or the entitlement ti limit my freedon of speech or expression. As I am an Officer and a Gentleman, I cannot imagine I would permit these epiteths to leap out of my mouth in hurtful attack to a person (any person,) but I reserve the right to do and say whatever the hell I wish.
So, Susan, Prof, ...one other thing...You are such a good example of someone who has been educated far, far past your intelligence...your POV and comments have become boring to the max, resulting in, among other things, the following:
Obama will lose, no doubt about it. There are lots of Bubbas out there who do not want a black tribal white (purple?) house in their Government. These Bubbas will come out in droves, to shut the lid on this worthless candidate.
What should be worrying you (perhaps you've thought of this, perhaps not...) but what you pathetic libs will; see in your futures is 4 years of McCain / Palin, and then we'll have eight solid years of Palin / Cantor? or Palin / someone. Hillary is dead, dead, dead. Why in the Wide World of Sports would we elect Hillary, whose only positive novelty was being a female, when we have a genuine woman, steady and solid in Sarah Palin?
Mrs. Clinton, for whom I almost feel sorry, might have made a good President but for her toxic husband, easily the worst person ever to be elected President. She, unfortunately, also is the most humiliated disrespected doormat of a woman in the US political history, and I know not a person who does not feel this way. She has been a human toilet for Billy boy, and this trio of losers need not ever be in the political limelight beyond this last convention.
Politically, Hillary is dead. Bill is dead, Chelsea is nothing. You're looking at a Palin ticket in 2012, with an appropriate running mate.
I look forward to hearing your pathetic squealing and woe-is-meing when this happens...but, then, you never know...you may succeed in turning out enough poisoned minds from your classes that you may yet have an effect of these matters.
I wish you no harm personally.... leave me alone and you will receive the same courtesy. Break THAT rule, and you have no idea, no idea whatsoever. You attempted to bully and cheat me once, you took your licks, we're even. Be a smart girl and leave it at that.
Barely Respectfully,
EG

This is the greatest country in the world (contrary to the statement expressed by Mrs. Obama). It was established by American Patriots in Christian principals. It is clear that Sara Palin believes in these principals and is up to any fight the left wing and liberal press has to throw at her. Why are Susan Estrich and other lefty's not seeing through Obama like they say they see through Palin. He refuses to discuss his college years and has totally made those years "off limits". What is he hiding (my bet is radical and terrorist friends and his radical writings about our government)? What about his relationships with known terrorists and racist pastor? He was sure in a hurry to distance himself from his 20 year spiritual leader when he knew he was going to lose votes. He is a pretty boy with smooth words but he sure has a lot to hide (at least Palin has not tried to hide her past). She is believable, Obama is not. She does not know everything, does Obama (absolutely not)? She is a VP candidate and will probably never be president as McCain is a very strong 72 (I thought age discrimination was against the law like race and gender). Obama might be president and that scares anyone that is a true American. We don't want a Moslem that associates with radicals (as he has proven to be). This is a Christian country (yes this is a Christian country no matter how much that disturbs you). Radical Muslems are the biggest threat we have to our way of life (liberals that want our country to become socialist are the second). Yes, Sara does not know all the answers, but I trust that she is more capable as a VP then Obama is as the president. CBS, NBC, CNN and ABC are making smart educated conservatives sick with their bias and negative ness against McCain and Palin. They are giving Obama a free ride. If Obama is elected, we are in for the biggest socialist leader in American history. I fear for my children's freedoms and Christian lifestyle. When Americans stop being good people, America will stop being great. I think Sara Palin is good and her heart is in the right place to be a heartbeat away.

If the thought of Palin being just "a heartbeat away" from the presidency makes you afraid, then you should really be afraid of having someone like Obama being "no heartbeats away" from the job. We're talking about someone who has only 3 years in Congress, 2 of which he has spent campaigning to be President. The ironic thing is, just about all of the other candidates in the Dem Primary were more qualified to be President. Hillary was infinitely more qualified than Obama. And yet in an act of committing the most cynical Affirmative Action hiring in history, the Dems nominated the least qualified person for the job.

Question that requires intellectual honesty: If Obama had been just another white guy running for President, would the Dems still have picked him as their candidate?

Dear Ms. Estrich, Perhaps, Sen. Mccain does need a miracle but I submit if Obama is elected even a miracle will not save the USA. Obama is a fascist in sheep's clothing. his teachers are Castro, Farrakan, Chavez, Wright , AD Nausem. He is a master like all of these people of saying much but little or nothing. He speaks to the idiots in their own language, Today, that is a large audience. I would suggest Obama will install a Supreme Court that will, ultimately, obliterate the Bill of Rights. Number one on the list, the Second Amendment, number two the First Amendment. He will use you and your associates to effect the repeal of the whole kit and kaboodle and then he will get you as well. The rule of law will become a memory. The cry from the press, oops, what press?? You don't exist anymore.

Susan, do you think you hit a nerve!? I think many of us who support Palin know that she doesn't have a grasp of all that has gone on for the past 40 years like Biden. But, if that is the experience we are talking about, then no thanks. Where has "experience" gotten us? How many elections have we heard, "Are you better off than you were before?" "We need better education." "We need health care." Has experience rectified that? NO!!!!!!!!!! The voice of "experience" Biden himself said, "Obama is not ready to be president." Sarah Palin gets my vote, if for no other reason, she actually cares. She hasn't been around for 36 years or 2 years running for president. I also think people are sick of the media and opinion columnists not addressing that Obama does not bring experience, period! He is not a heartbeat from the presidency but a vote away. When I look at the people he has hung out with over the years, that alone makes me scared. Dress a pig in a suit and it is still a pig! (No, I'm not calling him a pig, it's just an illustration.) I'll take my chance with Palin that she will learn fast, surround herself with good people, and really try to do what's right for the people not the politics.

This crisis has shown me that the people we thought were so smart really aren't any smarter than the rest of us. At this point I believe that average citizens sitting around a kitchen table would make better decisions than the likes of Pelosi, Frank, Obama or McCain. That is why I like Palin so much. She is more like me than anyone in Washington. She is more normal than anyone in Washington. She's not rich (funny how every one of our leaders quickly become millionaires while in public "service"), she has a mortgage and car payments to pay, has children that she can't afford to send to good colleges at today's prices and knows how hard it is to survive these days. She is me. I am her. I don't care if she isn't a policy wonk or if she can't handle a gotcha assault from KC. She IS smart and she IS real. If she makes decisions as a politician I know MY family's interests come first, and that's what matters to me.

Wow, do you feel like you hit a raw nerve, Susan? I am tired of hearing about "experience". Biden has nearly 40 years of "experience." Has experience of the same politicians being in office over and over changed anything? For the past 40 years that we have heard education, better jobs, more money in the pocket, tax the rich, health care. After all that "experience" things are worse than ever. Biden sure has "experience" so liberals should listen to his voice of "experience". Biden's voice of "experience" has plagarized, embellished, and made really stupid gaffes. Biden's "experience" said, Obama is not ready to be president. Ah, but the voice of "experience" changed its tune when it was politically profitable - you mean I get to be VP! We are also tired of hearing "experience" when Obama has none. So, why do you trust his voice? Palin is not "experienced" and how I thank God for that. She seems to genuinely care about the people since she was not waiting in line to be president. I know she showed a case of nerves a couple of times, but she's smart and she'll learn a lot in 18 months just like Obama did. Michelle Obama is not want I want as a first lady. She does come across angry and now hides that since she is well-rehearsed. Give me McCain, and God forbid, should he die, I'd rather have Palin than "experience." She'll do just fine.

I understand your heartbeat away about Palin, just suppose that McCain ,Biben, Obama ,Bush and Clinton had been in charge of the day care where you children has been being care for and it was now in the mess that the white house and washington has got america in, would you pick one of those four to care for your child or someone off the street, what have we got to lose with a monkey in place of ,experence is why we are where we are today, the only choice we have is some one new . Because of the actions and failure of the past with our elected officals that is not an option the person on the street is the only help we have left if it be Palin or the next person coming down the st. any would better than what we have had or have now, wake up america.Bobby

lady you such a hater!! Finally we got some who doesn't play political games!! Sarah Palin and John is the best choice.

How ironic the Dems mantra that Palin, the GOPs Vice Presidential candidate, is inexperienced when in reality she has far more experience than the Dems Presidential candidate, Obama. The left seems to think that if they repeat a lie long enough people will buy it. I'm afraid that might just be true, although I pray that come election day a miracle will occur and folks will wake up to the fact that the little experience Obama has was given him by the corrupt left leaning Chicago machine led by their hero and domestic terrorist, Bill Ayers. How is it even possible in America that a candidate for the highest office in the land can have terrorist friends and backers. Susan Estrich and other Dems seem to have a brain. How can she and they be so willing to be led to the slaughter. Have they all been brainwashed? Are they all members of the same club? The get your party's candidate elected at any cost club? Don't they know that terrorists worldwide are praying to Allah for an Obama victory. Do they not wonder why that is? The I know how to spend your money better than you do, nanny state that Obama subscribes to is upon us unless he is stopped on election day. Please! Let's stop him.

It is simply amazing at the audacity that some individuals believe that they can whole heartedly demean those who have sacrificed their personal live to take a the lead of our country. Sarah Palin is the type of candidate that, as middle class American, I can look up to. She has come from a solid family background with a secure foundation that we, as Americans, have drifted away from. Our country needs a true leader that will put our security and prosperity first. Not someone who would easily bring dishonor and failure on the shoulders of those true Americans who have bled and sacrificed over the history of our nation to give us the liberty and right to vent and complain about our government. Ms. Estrich, have you ever served your Country? Have you sacrificed for your fellow American?
As for the economic turmoil we are facing today, only two people are to blame. The person who underwrote the home loan and the person who signed the documents. No one held a gun to their heads to complete that deal. Sure Wall Street has a lot of blame, but so do all of those greedy Americans who sought loans that they could not afford. We are all responsible for our actions, let us all deal with our own issues without government intervention.

I'm with the Palin supporters. Like the rest, I think it's hypocritical to say that Palin isn't qualified to be VP, but Obama somehow is. I also find it amusing that putting Palin on McCain's ticket is "pandering," but trying to nominate Hillary wasn't. Actually, come to think of it, Palin has more experience than Hillary, too. What has Hillary done except sit quietly in the US Senate for the past eight years, and live in the White House for eight more as the First Lady? What notable legislation did she sponsor? What leadership or initiative has she shown? What accomplishments does she bring to the table, other than orchestrating a coverup of Vince Foster's "suicide" and making a killing overnight in cattle futures. Hillary.....experienced. Pffft. Meanwhile, we've got a down-home, rock-ribbed conservative who has the same problems as the majority of us and has already been elected governor...and done a damn fine job of it so far at that. I keep telling myself that if McCain loses, there is nothing to stop Palin from seeking the nomination herself in 2012. If she does, I hope she taps Bobby Jindal (gov of Louisiana) as her running mate.

Where do you get the idea that the economic crisis is aresolt of "failure of Republican ideology." It was liberal Democrats that pushed for subprime mortgages loans that is the real cause of the crisis. It is the liberal Democrat ideology of trying {trying with governmental intervention} to get all Americans mortgage loans that has led to the current crisis. No way shape or form can the free market be blamed for the mess.