memeorandum: The Palin Puzzle — McCain had been steadily gaining on Obama … (Marisa Katz/Washington Post)

1:10 PM ET, August 30, 2008

Top Items:

Palin's Trooper'Gate: Beating MSM distortions to the truth — It's been over 12 hours now since Alaskan Governor, Sarah Palin, has been named as GOP choice of Veep. Already, a desperate Obama camp of supporters are in search of talking points... other than the obviously poor choice of …

Discussion: Hot Air, protein wisdom, Feministe, The Strata-Sphere, The New Republic, Washington Post and Macsmind

The Politico:

6 things the Palin pick says about McCain — The selection of a running mate is among the most consequential, most defining decisions a presidential nominee can make. John McCain's pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says a lot about his decison-making — and some of it is downright breathtaking.

Discussion: Associated Press, The Impolitic and TIME.com

Washington Post:

Exclusive: Chief Fired by Palin Speaks Out — The July firing of Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan by Gov. Sarah Palin, who was announced as John McCain's running mate on Friday, has unearthed a stream of soap-opera-like details about Palin, her husband, her family and top state appointees.

Gail Collins / New York Times:

McCain's Baked Alaska — It is conceivable that some people will think John McCain picked Sarah Palin to be his running mate because she is a woman. I know you find this shocking, but I swear I have heard it mentioned. — McCain does not believe in pandering to identity politics.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, The Mahablog, neo-neocon, Prairie Weather, NewsBusters.org and American Prospect

William Yardley / New York Times:

Palin, an Outsider Who Charms — Her father shot the grizzly bear whose hide is now draped over the sofa in her office. She, too, hunts and fishes. She runs marathons. She delivered her fifth child during her first term as governor. They call her husband, the reigning champion …

Discussion: Washington Post, The Swamp, Spin Cycle, The Huffington Post, Tennessee Guerilla Women, The Strata-Sphere, Change & Experience, USA Today, The Caucus and Wall Street Journal

Jonathan Martin / The Politico:

The story behind the Palin surprise — John McCain on Friday announced a running mate whom he met only six months ago and with whom he spoke just once on the phone about the position before offering it in person earlier this week. — McCain's first encounter with Sarah Palin came …

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Guardian, The Agitator, Flopping Aces, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, BeldarBlog, AMERICAblog News and TIME.com

Rasmussen Reports:

Palin Makes Good First Impression: Is Viewed More Favorably than Biden — Sarah Palin has made a good first impression. Before being named as John McCain's running mate, 67% of voters didn't know enough about the Alaska governor to have an opinion. After her debut in Dayton and a rush …

Discussion: Power Line, FiveThirtyEight.com, Hot Air, TalkLeft, Change & Experience and JammieWearingFool

Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:

Obama tiptoes around Palin in new ad — They may have run the “Bush is still is his running mate” ad regardless of who McCain picked, but this spot from Obama's camp reflects just how careful they're now playing the Palin selection. — Unlike what Team McCain had with Biden, there are no obvious video or soundbites to use.

Discussion: BeldarBlog and Althouse

Washington Post:
Palin Focus of Probe In Police Chief's Firing

Discussion: Weekly Standard Blog, New York Times, TPMMuckraker, Roger Ailes and The Huffington Post

Marcus Baram / ABCNEWS: Palin Could Be Deposed in Probe

Will Lester / Associated Press:
Clinton urges support for Obama, says stakes high

Discussion: Associated Press, TalkLeft, Sadly, No! and Yahoo! News

Jonathan Alter / Newsweek:
McCain's ‘Hail Sarah’ Pass

Discussion: Newsweek Blogs, The Confluence, Fox News, Daily Kos and Jack & Jill Politics

The National Organization for Women (NOW) web site:
Not Every Woman Supports Women's Rights

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, Neptunus Lex, Talk To Action, Media Matters for America, Religion Clause, MyDD, GlennSacks.com, The Politico, Dean's World, Open Left and NARAL Pro-Choice America

Dan Balz / Washington Post:
With Pick, McCain Reclaims His Maverick Image

Discussion: Prairie Weather and Tim Blair

MTV Newsroom:
Sarah Palin, Republican Vice-Presidential Nominee, Plugs Romney …

Discussion: Newsweek, THE CUNNING REALIST, DownWithTyranny! and The Political Inquirer

Peter Baker / New York Times:
Choice of Palin Is a Bold Move by McCain, With Risks

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and Washington Post

CNN:
How McCain chose Palin

Discussion: Anne Schroeder's Blogs, Washington Monthly and Washington Post

Peter Wallsten / Los Angeles Times:
McCain's choice of Palin is a risk

Discussion: MSNBC, Daily Kos, The Caucus and The New Republic

Chris Bowers / Open Left:
McCain's Been Running Longer Than Palin's Been Governing

Discussion: Alas, a blog, Wonk Room, The New Republic and Washington Monthly

Van Jones / The Huffington Post:
Palin: You're no Hillary Clinton

Discussion: MyDD and small dead animals

MSNBC:
Palin faces ethics investigations in Alaska

Discussion: Bring It On!

David Frum:

Palin — The longer I think about it, the less well this selection sits with me. And I increasingly doubt that it will prove good politics. The Palin choice looks cynical. The wires are showing. — John McCain wanted a woman: good. — He wanted to keep conservatives and pro-lifers happy: naturally.

Discussion: Swampland, James Fallows, Electoral-vote.com, marbury, Jack & Jill Politics, The Other McCain and The RBC

Mark Steyn / The Corner:
The hostess with the moosest

Discussion: TigerHawk

David Frum / National Post:
Palin the irresponsible choice?

Discussion: Outside The Beltway, Election Law, Real Clear Politics and Agence France Presse

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

QUOTE OF THE DAY.... I'm not sure if the McCain campaign has thought this line through. … First, it's not an especially good idea for top McCain aides to joke about whether McCain is going to survive four years in office. — Second, it's not an especially good idea to describe McCain as …

Discussion: pandagon.net, TPM Election Central, New York Times, Lance Mannion and The Politico

Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
How McCain picked Palin

Discussion: Grasping Reality … and War and Piece

Alexander Mooney / CNN:
Clinton congratulates Palin

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Founding Bloggers and Gateway Pundit

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

KARL ROVE'S BRILLIANT ANALYSIS..... Looking back at Karl Rove's campaign analysis from earlier this month, this might be the single funniest thing I've read in a long time. … Yes, the real problem with Tim Kaine is that he's only been governor of a large state for three years, and before that, he was only the mayor of a mid-size city.

Discussion: TalkLeft, Think Progress, Talking Points Memo and Roger Ailes

Celticdiva / Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis:

BREAKING: McCain Campaign heading to Alaska to investigate — A very reliable source overheard Republican spokesperson McHugh Pierre state TODAY that he had spoken to the McCain Campaign. They are coming to Alaska tomorrow to check out the “Troopergate” investigation.

Discussion: Mercury Rising, Firedoglake and Angry Bear

Lisa Demer / Anchorage Daily News:
‘Troopergate’ inquiry lurks

Discussion: Kevin Drum and The Huffington Post

Suzanne Gamboa / Associated Press:

Ron Paul followers gathering for own convention — Featured Topics: - John McCain - Barack Obama — WASHINGTON - There's no room at the Xcel Energy Center for maverick Ron Paul, so his acolytes have packed their cars, hitched rides on “Ronvoys” and will pitch tents at Ronstock '08 …

Discussion: Reason Magazine, Donklephant and JammieWearingFool

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:

Palin Ad Starring Ted Stevens Already Scrubbed From Palin's Campaign Website — That was quick. This morning, an ad from Sarah Palin's 2006 gubernatorial campaign featuring an endorsement from scandal-plagued Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was available on Palin's campaign Web site.

Discussion: The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, The Politico, MyDD, Think Progress, Spin Cycle, The Daily Politics, Marc Ambinder and Newshoggers.com

Glenn Thrush / The Politico:
Dems armed with Palin opposition

Discussion: The Reaction, The RBC and The Daily Dish

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:

Three Words — Think about what the Palin pick really says about how McCain views this campaign and how he views his potential responsibilities in national security. — Think about what it says about the sincerity of McCain's own central criticism of Obama these past two months in foreign affairs.

Discussion: Stop The ACLU and The Jed Report