Just remember that.
I, of course, like many of you am disappointed to see someone who is such an obvious nutbag be received warmly at all.
In the short term, I think tonight helped her somewhat with the target demographics the GOP needs, but I think she set three important things in motion tonight by doing what she did that help us.
First, she raised the media's expectations for future public performances. Second, she showed that she could engage in harsh, partisan attacks, which will allow Biden to be far less sparing in his treatment of her in the debate. And finally, her constant return to the red meat really gives Obama the chance to paint himself as the reasonable moderate that so many independent and Democratic women are wanting to see.
For example, if she can be perceived as "tough enough", the media will certainly not let up in investigating her dubious background, the majority of which has still not been covered in detail. And you better believe that the press, after being lectured on how to do its job by the McCain camp, will not submit to its previous role as John McCain's fluffer.
Also, her views on abortion and other cultural issues are just kryptonite to the people we need out there. For the broad majority of older, undecided women, to hear that Sarah Palin is against abortion even in the case of rape or incest will be painful. As history has shown with Douglas Wilder and Jennifer Granholm, abortion can be used successfully by the left, and Obama should have little trouble convincing most of these women that McCain/Palin is out to take their rights away.
And above all, these attacks affect McCain just as much or more.
So in all, I don't think that tonight was a great win for McCain or Palin. She did well enough, which is what Obama needed her to do. If she's a player, then we're ready to go on attacking her shady background.
All in all, let's keep working and realize that all of these things are steps in a process. And the GOP did itself few long-term favors tonight.