Real Vetting Roundup

"The vetting process was completely thorough and I'm grateful for the results." - John McCain

As the true vetting of Sarah Palin continued yesterday, we learned more about John McCain's pick for vice-president. Here's a recap of what we learned about the person John McCain thinks should be a 72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency:

• She was involved in yet another ethical scandal, this time relating to her firing of a longtime local police chief, who "says he was fired because he stepped on the toes of Palin's campaign contributors, including bar owners and the National Rifle Association."
• Although the McCain campaign has stressed her command of the Alaska National Guard as "experience," she never issued a single order.  Watch CNN's Campbell Brown call McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds out on his spin on this and more here.
• Video surfaced of Sarah Palin at her church just three months ago, claiming that regardless of what policies are enacted, it doesn't mater if "people of Alaska’s heart isn’t right with God."  Palin also claimed that American soldiers have been sent to Iraq "on a task that is from God." (Full videos here and here).
• She can't "fix" Washington when she's played the Washington game so well:

  Wasilla had received few if any earmarks before Palin became mayor. She actively sought federal funds -- a campaign that began to pay off only after she hired a lobbyist with close ties to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who long controlled federal spending as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He made funneling money to Alaska his hallmark.

  Alaska, by the way, ranked #1 in earmarks last year.



• She lied--and continues to lie without shame--regarding her alleged "opposition" to the Bridge to Nowhere.
• A 62 page opposition research document from Alaska was released, filled with strange tidbits like the fact that she presided over a wedding at Wal-Mart ("it was so Wasilla") and that she once "founded a company called "Rouge Cru" -- what she called a "classy" way to say redneck -- in case her political career didn't work out a few years ago."
• Just two weeks ago, she sat in the pews while her pastor delivered an anti-Jewish sermon.
• In a candid, caught-on-tape moment, Peggy Noonan states the obvious--McCain's selection of Palin was "political bullshit" and nothing more than a gimmick.
• Yesterday morning, we learned that the Troopergate report was due out on the eve of the election, October 31st.  Yesterday afternoon, we learned that the investigation would probably be delayed because the star witness suddenly decided not to testify.
• Two days ago, longtime chair of the AIP, a secessionist party, stated that Palin attended their 1994 Convention: "Palin was at the convention in 1994.  She was there." Yesterday, he said he couldn't remember.
• Speaking of the secessionist party (and the fact that is has been confirmed that Sarah Palin's husband has been a member for almost a decade), we learned that the FBI did not conduct a background check on Palin.
• The McCain camp worked the refs before Palin's speech, claiming that the media were being sexist by asking questions.  Meanwhile, in the reality-based world, McCain's National Co-Chair stated that the press coverage has been "completely fair."
• Palin isn't helping McCain in the polls. In fact, it's Obama who is enjoying a Palin bounce.

All that, in just 24 hours.  But members of the press, John McCain is telling you to back off asking questions, so you should just trust his judgment.  Because clearly, from what we have learned in just the last five days, judgment is something McCain has by the bucketful.