Your Abbreviated Pundit Round-up

Some serious Palin discussions going on. And some serious re-evaluation of Obama, who for all the hype, has been under-estimated by the press.

Ruth Marcus:

The spin on McCain's choice of the Alaska governor is that it reinforces his maverick credentials. I see it the opposite way: It undermines them. McCain looks like any other calculating politician, willing to do whatever it takes to win.

Bob Herbert:

It was as though the Champagne had been on ice for half a century or more. On Thursday night, with Barack Obama formally accepting the Democratic presidential nomination at Mile High Stadium in Denver, African-Americans from coast to coast and beyond felt they might now dare to pop the corks.

Frank Rich:

The main reason McCain knuckled under to the religious right by picking Palin is that he actually believes there’s a large army of embittered Hillary loyalists who will vote for a hard-line conservative simply because she’s a woman. That’s what happens when you listen to the TV news echo chamber. Not only is the whole premise ludicrous, but it is every bit as sexist as the crude joke McCain notoriously told about Janet Reno, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

Given the press’s track record so far, there’s no reason to believe that the bogus scenarios will stop now

Clive Crook:

Those who came to Invesco Field on Thursday witnessed something they are unlikely ever to forget. Barack Obama gave an electrifying speech that silences—for the moment at least—doubts in the Democratic party that they have backed the right candidate. He commanded this vast sports stadium with calm authority, there were no false notes, and the attention of his audience never wavered. His listeners were enthralled, and they left believing they will win in November. After this, they were asking, how could the country fail to elect their man president?

Shannon Coffin (NRO, where for the most part the commenters are happy with the choice, with creeping unease):

The choice also says a lot about McCain.  First, that he is a bit desparate.  McCain likely thought it would be difficult to make a splash with a conventional Republican sidekick.  Changing the subject from Thursday's Obama-thon would be difficult with Mit Romney or Kay Bailey Hutchinson (who would have been an awful choice anyway) by his side.  The choice of Palin certainly gives us all something new to talk about.   And she is fresh, smart (as far as I can tell from a brief time studying her), enthusiastic and energetic.  But it is a bit of a political Hail Mary pass.  Second, that he is one arrogant SOB.   McCain is essentially telling the world that he doesn't really need a Vice President.  It is hard to imagine Palin playing the same sort of role that modern Vice Presidents like Gore, Bush, Cheney, or Mondale played.  Rather, the Office would seem poised to return to the "proverbial warm bucket of p***" category.  McCain has thus made a purely political play without regard for the governance concerns.  And how could he really have a good idea of how she would govern?  My understanding is that he only met with her once before choosing her.

David Frum:

If it were your decision, and you were putting your country first, would you put an untested small-town mayor a heartbeat away from the presidency?

Added: Greg Cote:

I would briefly interupt this mostly-sports blog ("Hey what're you doing? STICK TO SPORTS!!") to offer a quick take on this week's campaign suicide by Republican presidential candidate John McCain. It was a joke, right? He's going to go on Leno, slap his knee, say he was just kidding. Right? He's going to open his convention Monday night by announcing his real running mate. Right?

   Actually, of course, the choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was very popular. Unfortunately it was mostly very popular among Democrats.