John McCain isn't President (and, hopefully, never will be), but already he's more like Bush than Bush, with lie after lie. Now, Palin is proving to be more like Cheney.

From MSNBC:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A campaign spokesman says Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won't speak with an investigator hired by lawmakers to look into the firing of her public safety commissioner.

McCain campaign spokesman Ed O'Callaghan told a news conference Monday that the governor, the Republican nominee for vice president, will not cooperate as long as the investigation "remains tainted." He said he doesn't know whether Palin's husband would challenge a subpoena issued to compel his cooperation.

The campaign insists the investigation has been hijacked by Democrats. It says it can prove Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan was fired because of insubordination on budget issues -- not because he refused to fire a state trooper who had divorced Palin's sister.

The Alaskan Republican-controlled congress appointed the Troopergate investigator. So, how can the investigation be tainted? So much for Palin's so-called platform of reform and transparency!

What is Sara Palin's idea of foreign relations and national security? Ok.....here goes.

WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR more WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR hell bent on WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR the hand of God WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR God will guide her WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR Iraq was behind 9/11 WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR!

After watching Sara Palin's first interview with Charles Gibson, it seemed like I'd just watched a high school senior in debate class. Actually, I believe a high school senior could have articulated a better answer to most of his questions.

I don't believe for a moment that Senator Obama was referring to Sara Palin when he made his recent "lipstick on a pig" remark. But, I'll say it loud and clear:

"Sara Palin is a lipstick wearing pig!"

I believe it as much as I believe Obama is the only way we can get this country back on track. As Obama supporters, it is our job to repeat the truth about Sara Palin, over and over again, until the message gets through to everyone.

Sara Palin is a liar, tyrant, religious zealot, and a questionable parent. We have no need for her in the White House, with or without McCain.

Barack Obama is my candidate and I agree that he and his campaign should focus mostly on John McCain and his many failures, including his choice of Palin. However, that doesn't mean Obama's supporters should be quiet. We should not let Palin off the hook or shy away from criticizing her.

Most of us are not members of Obama's campaign, and, as such, do not have to honor the campaign's sort of "hands off Palin" stance. Furthermore, during the primaries, we were told repeatedly by Obama supporters that Obama can't be judged by what his supporters say. I didn't really believe it at the time, but now, it makes a lot of sense. It is our job to expose Sara Palin and John McCain. Most importantly, we need to hammer the media for not covering the truth of these pigs including Palin's odd background and strange ascent.

I believe it will take a few days for Independents and some Republicans, who still have souls, to digest a few details from the Repug convention. For example, the Republicans forgot to mention how they are going to save the American economy. In fact, McCain and his surrogates demonstrated their intent to continue the economic policies that have caused Americans to lose 605,000 jobs just this year. Average family incomes are down $2,000 and buying power is as low as it has been in decades.

Republicans did not provide any substance on meat-and-potato issues like the economy, health care, dependence on oil, or the Iraq war. In the coming year, due to spiraling health care costs, employers will pass on higher premiums and deductibles to their employees, who are already feeling the pinch from spiraling fuel costs. In many cases, many more Americans will simply lose their health care coverage.

The Republicans couldn't keep Code Pink and pro-Ron Paul protesters out of the convention hall during their nominee's acceptance speech. It turns out, the Ron Paul supporter was an Iraq war veteran. It was such a nice touch for McCain to classify them as "ground noise and static."

Also, during McCain's acceptance speech, the Republicans further demonstrated how out of touch they are with America, and how far they will go to exploit things for political gain. As he spoke, they displayed a picture of Walter Reed Middle School (in North Hollywood). They thought it was Walter Reed Army Medical Center. McCain intended to use Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the idea of our injured troops for his political gain! However, McCain has become a master at using his own POW history for political gain, and he demonstrated it yet again, during his speech. It was shameful and pathetic.

McCain and Palin lied about various details concerning her record as governor. For example, she bragged during the convention that she put her predecessor's luxury jet up for auction on eBay. Yesterday, McCain applauded her action in front of supporters, but took it a step further by claiming Palin sold the jet for a profit. It turns out, while she did put it up for auction, the jet didn't sell. The state later sold it for a loss through an airplane broker. Now, the buyer is seeking $50,000 from the state for maintenance costs.

I have faith that Independents and some Republicans will take note of all the little omissions, mistakes, and lies. I believe they will vote for Barack Obama, who will lead our country out of the mess created by 8 years of Republican control in the White House, and 6 years of Republican control in the Congress. We can't survive 4 more years of McCain/Bush/Palin.

I read a story on ABC News’ website regarding McCain's pick for VP. It concerns her education history. It seems that, before graduating from college in 1987, the person McCain chose switched colleges more frequently than Cher changes costumes during a concert. Well, maybe not that frequently. Apparently, she switched colleges at least six times in six years. In the fall of 1982, she attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo, but left after just a few weeks because of the constant rain. This is according to the author of "Sarah" by Kaylene Johnson. Strangely, you’d think McCain would have discovered that the Hawaii-Hilo registrar has no record of his VP candidate ever attending. I would think it would have at least thrown up a red flag.

McCain judgment is at question. His choice for VP traveled, with a friend to Honolulu, enrolled at Hawaii Pacific University, but only attended during the fall of 1982. Then, she switched to North Idaho College for the spring and fall of 1983. It seems she didn't go to school in the spring of 1984, but attended classes at the University of Idaho for fall 1984 and spring 1985. I wonder what happened to their candidate in the spring of 1984.....hmmmm. Again, what does this say about McCain’s vetting process. By McCain’s on admission, the only reason the VP exists is to step into the shoes of the President upon his/her demise.

After a missed spring 1984 session, McCain’s VP choice moved to Palmer, Alaska where she attended Matanuska-Susitna College in the fall 1985. Then, she switched back to the University of Idaho for the spring and fall 1986, and spring 1987 when she graduated. Oddly despite her journalism degree and self-professed curiosity and love of writing, she did not work for the college newspaper or college television station.

Because of privacy laws, none of the colleges are allowed to release her grades, and at least two of the colleges claim McCain’s campaign did not make any sort of inquiries. Her "official" bio only mentions three schools. I believe there could be an "interesting" back story to explain the frequent school changes, missing block of time (spring 1984), omission of half the schools she's attended, and not practicing her self-professed love of journalism while in school. I think there's a story here. I believe McCain has a serious problem with judgment considering how important the VP could be under his proposed presidency. I guess we'll just have to stay tuned.

Last night, John McCain said he fell in love with his country while being tortured in Vietnam. I'm not disrespecting his immeasurable service to the country. However, as we all know, McCain supports Bush's ideas on torture. So, what about all of the foreign detainees that the United States is torturing? I hope we are not inflicting the same kind of injuries as befell John McCain. However, I wonder how many of them have fallen in love with their respective countries or organizations as a result of torture inflicted by government. I think we all know that Bush and McCain have increased, not decreased, the threat of terrorism. Some have said that McCain's acceptance speech was one huge confessional of Republican failures over the past 8 years. It's just nice that John admits it.

Obama wants to keep the campaign focused on the important issues like the economy, health care, national security, and the war in Iraq. I get it. But, there are social issues that will also affect this election. I do not agree that Sarah Palin and family should be completely off limits. Especially, when she proudly parades them out on stage for purely political purposes.

Sarah Palin believes in teaching abstinence instead of sex education. Sarah believes women should not have the right to choose, even if they are raped. Those are two critical and valid social issues that should be discussed in this campaign. Her beliefs should be put to the test, and Bristol Palin is the best way to do it! She's 17 years old, 5-months pregnant, unmarried, and still in high school. Where were her parents to help guide her through the issue of sex and its consequences? Her soon-to-be-shotgun-wedding boyfriend doesn't even want children, according to his own Myspace page. Sarah Palin is wrong on these issues, as she is on every other issue. Bristol's pregnancy is the best testimony of her parents' utter failure.

Speaking of failure as parents, what about Trig Palin? He's four months old and suffers from Down's Syndrome. Obviously, Sarah Palin chose to have unprotected sex after the age of 40, an age when something like Down's Syndrome is more likely to occur. Before she gave birth to Trig, Sarah and Todd knew he was afflicted, but she chose to carry him to term, and there's nothing wrong with that.

However, Sarah also chooses to work instead of staying home with her baby. Again, there's nothing wrong that, except this child will need special care and education for the rest of his life. Shouldn't he get that from one or both of his parents? Sarah is the Governor of Alaska and is now running for Vice President. One would presume those two activities will take up most of her time. So, she's probably not a stay-at-home mom. But, I'm not saying she should be just because she's a woman. Todd Palin is a champion snow machine racer, commercial fishermen, and oil field manager. Those activities probably preclude him from being the stay-at-home dad. So, who's taking care of Trig? It's obviously not his parents. They don't both have to work. I'd think, under the circumstances, one of them should be the stay-at-home parent.

I believe Obama knows what's most important to Americans in their daily lives, but I believe the issues of abortion and sex education are also important. Democrats should be bringing up Bristol's circumstances as an example of what happens when a Republican wants to impose something like abstinence on everyone, but fails to teach her own child to just say no to sex. Sarah Palin did not "walk the talk." Democrats should be bringing up Trig's circumstances to illustrate the consequences of having unprotected sex and choosing to carry a child with a known chromosomal defect to term, and the reality of both parents assigning their care-giving responsibilities to someone else.

I'm sure I've offended somebody with this diary, but I just had to get it off my chest.

Considering all the dirt coming out about Sarah Palin (and how it is failing to stick), I believe the woman's coated in Teflon. The more that's revealed, the more support she garners from evangelicals. At this point, if she and her husband were actually brother and sister, she'd get away with it. In fact, I'd expect Obama to once again remind us that "family is off limits." While I may be jokiing about that last part, the bottom line is any attempt to attack McCain's VP will only garner more support for him. I believe Obama and Biden are smart enough to know it.

I agree with a point made by another diarist. Obama gave his wonderful, deeply inspiring speech on Thursday, but what have we heard since from him and his campaign? We've been told that family is off limits. I strongly believe Obama and team should be attacking McCain on a hourly basis. Instead, they have practically dropped off the media radar and out of the public conscience. Granted, it was the Labor Day weekend and the media completely fabricated a national disaster (in the form of Hurricane Gustav).

However, please consider this. Every single day since Obama introduced Biden as his running mate, the Republicans have attacked Senator Obama on lack of judgment and experience. The criticism during the Democratic convention was almost intolerable. Even if we'd had 10 category 5 hurricanes, the Republicans would have stayed on the message. Democrats have more lessons to learn from the enemy.

I'm hoping today will be different. I hope Democrats start attacking McCain on his poor judgment and lack of understanding of economic issues. I believe all the attacks should be directed only at McCain. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Palin decided all of this is too much for her family and dropped out of the race. But, that's a whole other diary.