It all depends on your definition of "executive experience". And that's something the MSM decides (with Republican help of course).

But...you are so spot on.

I really dig your post and when ever I am feeling down or depressed about this election I seek you out. Thanks Bob. I may never reach your level of readership but goodness knows I have to quote you on plenty of occasion (whenever I am not fighting the wingnuts that make comments on my web site). Thank you. I really enjoy your point of view. Oh yea, I agree. I too am sick of the barbecue media with their inane talking point and never giving credit to Obama for anything. I said it over 8 months ago that they would never give him any props for all that he has done or the level of control that he has exercised which shows he is ready to lead. Why? To keep their own viewership going. Who would be looking if they told the truth that McCain did not stand a chance? Thankfully, McCain caved to his base and picked Palin and have pretty much cooked his own goose. I just wish we could vote tomorrow and get this farce over and done with.

Simply put, Obama's executive experience has been tested and vetted by Democracy--At first blush, Palin does not seem ready to step in at any moment--but I honestly think the larger issues goes to (again) McCain's judgment and temperament. Let the media go after the OBVIOUS weakness of this choice--I think Obama should focus on the fact that essentially McCain just picked anther Cheney as far as the issues are concerned. They should gpo after her on issues alone--the fact that she LIED in her debut about the "bridge to nowhere"--that she wants to teach creationism in the Public School system; the fact that she is against abortion even in the case of rape or incest--and myriad quotes on the record about specific policy issues.

I think the one thing that does co9ncern me is the Veep debate--The BBQ media is already planting seeds for a TRIUMPHANT Palin debate by way of the "lowered expectations" narrative that was birthed during the 2000 election, and has helped the right-wing and Bush ever since. The debates will matter, and this debate will be important--I think Biden will do very well, and come across very well--but the media will really want to paint it as a Palin victory.

Will someone please kill this IDIOTIC narrative? I am so sick of the STUPIDIZATION of America--

The real point is we're dealing with the same electorate, aside from those who've turned of voting age in the past 4 years, that we dealt with in '04. How the hell did Bush get elected to a second term?

The gun nuts are going to vote Republican because they need AK's and rocket launchers! Just imagine how many rednecks got a woody watching her siting up her target while visiting the troops!

The pro-lifers are in large part opposed to most forms of birth control to-boot (I wonder if it's true that Eskimos practice anal sex as a form of birth control?), so that vote stays in the red column.

Add the fact that Palin is also a global warming denier (or at least a doubter) and she's pro drill, drill, drill .............. well, yeah that votes locked up! It's biblical for chrysake! They're our god-given resources!

Toss in her desire to have creationism taught in public schools (and a rumor that she once considered censorship in public libraries) and you have the perfect far-right, up-tight wing-nut!

It's the sheer stupidity, and Talibangical radicalism, of about one-half of the voting public that should scare the hell out of us! Remember the recent attack at Tennessee Valley Universalist Unitarian Church, and the murder of Bill Gwatney!

Kill, kill, kill, drill, drill, drill! And along comes a new cheerleader!

The bottom line is McCain is 72 year old and has health problems and could die today or tomorrow! When this sinks in and people start to reflect and consider what a President Palin REALLY means due to her very real lack of national and international issues, policies and procedures, and her intellectual capacity or incapacity, people in all good conscience, for the safety and welfare of this country, will not vote for McCain. He has made a colossal mistake in judgment.

It goes further than the executive experience argument. Obama wasn't grabbed from obscurity and named the nominee. He campaigned for it and was thoroughly(!) vetted by the voters & the press. We selected him! Palin was picked by, apparently, one person. To compare the two methods and say that one is as valid as the other, as the GOP has been doing, is patently absurd.