***  This pick is damaging him in every way and it is not going to help him win. ***

Are you high?!?! Since Palin came on board Obama has lost the lead he had and he's now trailing by a few points in most polls. Reg, you're in denial on this one. From the GOP point of view, Palin is a homerun. Look at the increases in their fund raising. Christ, they just pulled in $4 million in CHICAGO!!

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/09/mccain_chicago_4million_palin.html

And you don't think some of these attacks on Palin are vicious??

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html

What did the 17 year old daughter do to deserve what she's been subjected to? I remember the Clinton-ista's throwing a fit about MSNBC's "...pimping out Chelsea" comment. What Palin and her family are going through is ridiculous. Maybe you consider this "politics as usual" since the victim here is a republican. I'm sure you'd all be howling if it was Obama (or, God FORBID, Ms.Obama) who was receiving such a vetting.

I especially liked the dirt someone dug up on Palin's husband; a DUI over 20 years ago. How's that relevant? Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Obama enjoying his "Columbian marching powder" around this same time? Funny stuff.