I've given the XX Factor bloggers the benefit of the doubt regarding their discussion of Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama. I think it entirely reasonable that someone could prefer Obama to Clinton (I did and do). They then (again, reasonably in my view) were skeptical of those who claimed to support Clinton and then refused to get behind Obama, noting that on any reasonable policy grounds, Obama is far more appealing to Clinton voters than McCain.

Then they go loopy for Sarah Palin? The "girl cleats" are out for her, but not for Senator Clinton? Wow. I don't know what to say. My apologies to all those who I thought were overly critical of these writers' treatment of the primary.

I'm not sure what the hell is going on in politics at the moment. I've seen more changes in the way politics have played out in the last 18 months than I ever thought was possible. Consider the Iraq War alone. Eighteen months ago, it was a complete shambles and it looked like a clincher issue for the Dems. Eighteen months later, the Bush administration is negotiating an exit agreement with a somewhat stable Iraqi government and we have a Republican Presidential candidate with a son who served in Iraq and a VP candidate with a son on the way there. It's an issue that has been completely diffused by the Republicans.

At the rate we are going, I'm going to have political whiplash.

On a personal note, I never thought in my life that there would be a day, where I would not support the Democratic candidate. On the other hand, I'm not supporting the Republican candidate either. It's been a hell of a year and a half.

EML:

Eighteen months later, the Bush administration is negotiating an exit agreement with a somewhat stable Iraqi government and we have a Republican Presidential candidate with a son who served in Iraq and a VP candidate with a son on the way there. It's an issue that has been completely diffused by the Republicans.

Just an FYI... McCain still opposes any kind of draw-down or withdrawl of troops. Iraq, Obama, the American people... even Bush is now negotiating for redeployment. But John McCain? To this day "We must bring our troops home in victory, not defeat!"

The issue isn't neutralized yet because John McCain still hangs onto a position that's been long-since irrelevant.

Just for the record, Biden's son is also deploying to Iraq this fall. And I'm not sure that the issue is so completely neutralized--not only are we not out yet, but it still is an issue about judgment.

LuxLawyer, I agree. This is ludicrous. I mean, okay, it's a very clever pick for McCain. And I'll admit to smiling at the thought that we will have either a black President or a female Vice President come next January. But that doesn't mean I'm going to fall down and worship the ground Sarah Palin walks on. She's a hard-right Republican on virtually every issue.

Slate XX-Factor writers hammered Hillary with vitriolic hatred and then offered worship at the temple of Obama. NOW they find McCain's VP pick wonderful, delightful, perfect, and inspirational?

NOW they recall that they are feminists? It's too damn late!

"NOW they recall that they are feminists?"

If by "recall" you mean "forget," then yes.

He's said that he would support a drawdown when the generals and the Iraqis support it. Guess what, the Iraqis want it. It's their country. What part of that do you NOT understand.

From what I've read about her, she is a die hard republican... but what the republicans say they are, not how they actually act. She's a real fiscal conservative apparently. I didn't know those still existed in government. If McCain somehow wins this election, let's hope he puts her in charge of the budget. After all, he doesn't seem to care about economics anyway.