Nightline's Daily Line

Grades A, C, C, F
For those of us on the fence, this speech was extremely negative. I would be happy to see the day when one party's way of trying to get ahead is not by bashing the other but offering real answers to the many issues we face. Having voted Republican in the last couple of elections, I can guarantee that that won't be my choice this time. The sneering, sarcastic remarks by both Sarah and Rudy were uncalled for and highly unprofessional and more is expected from those that want to lead the country. What horrible examples for the youth to follow. Maybe they were appealing to the youth that can't vote with the type of attitudes and mocking that occurred. More was expected. I am no longer on the fence.

Palin did great and we learned more about obama in her 30 min speech than obama and the media has reported on in 2 years. Look out Washington here she comes.

Nasty speech that will probably turn off swing voters.

I give it a "D".

What was John McCain thinking when he asked Palin to be his running mate!!! She is way out of her league. She is ridiculously inexperienced and tonight's speech made me truly dislike her.

Her downfall may be she is too polarizing. She took great liberty in distoring Obama's positions, when in fact, she not only agreed with many - she practically lifted one of his speeches.

jjmpls then vote for the other party, plain and simple.If you are somehow intimidated by Sarah Palin, then slide on over to the other side and jump on the Messiah bandwagon, it's going down.

Terrific speech! I predict McCain will get a huge bump in the polls out of this.

Sarah Palin is a Breath of Fresh Air that Washington is not ready for. Yes there are skeletons in her closet, but that makes her human. She has more experience on how to Govern than any of the other candidates. So, B. Obama, Beware - the tigress is going to get you. She said she cleaned up the Politics as Governor. Now due to 'sour grapes' some Democrats feel that they just have to blast her good name to kingdom come because she clamped down on them and they almost hate her for it. I give Sarah straight A's tonight. Never have I listened to a speech and actually connected with the person giving it. I hope the Democrats in Alaska will come to their senses about her ex-brother-inlaw and realize that he is the jerk. And the person whom she fired, as Governor she has the right to fire and/or hire as needed. He just wants his 'minute' of fame in smearing her name. I'm ashamed of these people. Sarah is a fine and upstanding person and to say such untrue rumors about her is awful. Dem's you need back to school for some courage to know when you are wrong and admit it.

She was great and I didn't think she would impress me.

George must be scared of the GOP who declared war on the media today.
"B" for filling in the blanks on her political record? Gimme a break. She is hiding from reporters.

I think Gov.Palin did a great job tonight. I especially appreciated the comment she made about working for the people and NOT the media.

She Hit a Home run

All the Obama followers are going nuts every where. That is a good sign.

I love all the bloggers who are trying to blast the GOP for being "nasty." Give me a break. The media is absolutely ridiculous in their scrutiny. All Barack Obama did during his speech is say "enough" about 2,000 times. All this guy does is ride the anti-Bush bandwagon and hope time doesn't run short on him. Before the convention bounce he was already falling behind in the polls. Good for Palin to stand up strong! I agree that Rudy crossed the line a couple of times but the reality is the GOP's message tonight stated the TRUTH of Obama's so-called policies, although he really doesn't have any. He doesn't stand strong on anything. What kind of meat should the GOP give when Obama doesn't give any substance of any sort except "enough." I say enough of the sideshow Obama and show us that you know what you are doing once GQ magazine and the tabloids stop calling for your picture. I give it an A, B (she should have addressed the scrutiny more), A, A+

How mean spirited and nasty tonight was.
It made me sick to watch Mrs. McCain
laugh at at all the sneering. I felt like I was watching the Romans laugh at
someone being eaten by the lions, eager
to see blood; Mrs. McCain being one of tthem. Is that what we want for a first
lady? I voted for George Bush and regret it. I will not vote Republican
this time!!! Not a chance. We don't need another war man.

You have to be kidding me if you think this was a great speech. Too negative is right. Obama was respectful and factual. Rudy and Sarah were just nasty. They call themselves real Americans? If so I don't want to be one.

Sarah Palin blew the Dems out of the water and showed us what she's made of- determination, grit and a smart and brave women who is not afraid of the liberal media or the slimbags trying so desperately to take her down. She's got more going for her than Obama has ever hoped to have- she is just as good a speaker and yet guess what? She's actually DONE something and proven herself. She's an asset to McCain and although the media is trying to compare her to the Dem Presidental Candidate, she is running for VP - but watch out- she's on a path to even greater things. What a breath of fresh air and hope for the future of our country. Isn't that what it is all about? I don't think that after the election I'll be interested in sitting around having a Obama worship session when the rest of the world walks all over us or, worse yet, decides to blow us to kingdom come because Obama would have to gather a group together to sing KumByYa before he could make a decision to act!
Wake up America!! This is real!

Better experience, better judgement and better speech, for a VP candidate, than a presidential candidate, B.O.

The biased media is treating Sarah unfairly.

What do you mean by "turn the page" on the Bush Administration? The Bush administration is keeping this country safe!!!

What kind of woman would put up with the"Cold State Hot VP" buttons the delegates were wearing tonight? Once again the GOP shows it's ugly sexist underbelly.

ACCF

She fired up the "base", but she comes across as sarcastic and petty. Her belittling Obama for working as a community organizer and other snotty remarks just give Hillary good ammunition to shoot her down. She definitely removed any inhibitions the press or Obama campaign may have had in going after her. The real test will be whether the McCain campaign will turn her lose for a news conference or let her campaign alone. I doubt it. She proved she can very effectively deliver a prepared speech, but she may not be able to discuss or defend it. Also, the speech included many very obvious untruths about both her own record and what Obama proposes to do.

ACCF

She fired up the "base", but she comes across as sarcastic and petty. Her belittling Obama for working as a community organizer and other snotty remarks just give Hillary good ammunition to shoot her down. She definitely removed any inhibitions the press or Obama campaign may have had in going after her. The real test will be whether the McCain campaign will turn her lose for a news conference or let her campaign alone. I doubt it. She proved she can very effectively deliver a prepared speech, but she may not be able to discuss or defend it. Also, the speech included many very obvious untruths about both her own record and what Obama proposes to do.

This is an excerpt from her speech.

"Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines ... build more new-clear plants ... create jobs with clean coal ... and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal and other alternative sources."

Notice how they had to spell the word NUCLEAR in a way that she would read it correctly. Does that remind you of any one? GW maybe. Plain ol McSame. If America allows another unqualified person to occupy the White House for another 4 years, we will truly be the laughing stock of history.

How come McPlain's economic plan was not touted. Oh, yeah as his campaign manager stated, it is not about the issues.

For a comparison of what Sarah Palin said to the actual facts, go to http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/03/attacks-praise-stretch-truth-1/

Did she fill in the "blacks"????? uuhhh, you might wanna change that.

Can someone correct the second question. I dont believe the Republican party has every "fill in the BLACKS", I believe you mean "fill in the BLANKS" on her political record and family. May blacks as well as all Americans would like to be filled in!!

A, C-, B+, F = Avg. C-

They've effectively killed their appeal to independents and moderates.

Gov. Palin's speech injects a new dose of energy into this race with her speech. The energy flows in bipartisan directions, and probably will have the least effect on the undecided voters. The mocking and belittling of Sens. Obama and Biden is a transparent attempt to tarnish them. Even when she was right, the tone was arrogant and patronizing. Anyone who has worked as a community organizer knows that the tasks are as huge as being an elected official -- but the outcomes are intangible, invisible, and sometimes just not there, despite the best of intentions. A failing grade for Gov. Palin, but like Barack Obama she sure can give a stirring speech! The difference is that she stirs up mud from the bottom and he stirs up hope from the top.

The second comment I have is that all of her allegations about the Democratic ticket were true, but failed to include the specifics that change the entire meaning of the charge! This is classic pulling the wool over the eyes of the voters, but I know that Obama and Biden will help us pull that wool out and put it to better use. Some examples of this deception -- they will raise taxes (without specifying that this will affect the richest few as a liability but the vast majority of the country as an asset). Another example, McCain is the only man who has fought for this country!?! Well, yes, he literally has done so, and no one has or can rightfully question his bravery, courage, and determination. But I think that any citizen who does things such as pay their rightful taxes and obey the laws, for example, is also fighting for this country.

The BIG ELEPHANT at the convention that no one is talking about is that this country has lost lives (irreplacable) and other resources such as dollars (replaceable) to wage a war that we were told was started for one reason -- Hussein had weapons of mass destruction that he presumably was going to use against the USA. This was false, of course, but no one (McCain included) is taking responsibility for this. Waging a war based on lies, and then gaining from it personally, goes against everything the Constitution stands for.

If it is true that Obama voted "present" instead of yes or no 130 times, I'm guessing that at least some of these times he did it for pure political protection. But I am certain that more than once he used his "Ivy League" education to actually think about a complex issue and recognize that neither option was the correct one. As a bumper sticker once said -- "Join the Republican Party, don't think twice. We've already done all of the thinking for you!"

she came across as angry, sarcastic, and condescending.

Is anyone else as confused as I am that the "biased, sexist" media is praising her speech as much as they are?
What exactly did she do that was so noteworthy? Read well from a TelePrompTer? Display the well-worn Republican character attacks on opponents? Convey absolutely no ideas or expertise on anything? Demean and belittle her rivals for sake of her own ego gratification?
If this is truly what it takes to win at all costs, then McCain/Palin will do quite well.
If people can see through the absolute lack of substance and smears they both seem to excel at, then this country has a chance to recover from eight long years of complete presidential failure.

What I am enjoying the most is reading the fawning reviews from right-wingers. One teleprompter speech and suddenly she's "The One." Who knows? Maybe if she gives a few more speeches in front of adoring crowds Democrats can start calling her a celebrity.
Pathetic.

The Pro Obama New Republic did a focus group and found out Palin was "alarmingly strong." And now they are extremely worried.

This election is basically over. Obama may as well get use to just going back to the senate cuz that's where he'll be.

Very divisive, sarcastic speech focused on belittling the opposition rather than tackling the problems America faces. No new ideas. I found her mocking of Obama's community service work to be childish and her attack of his executive experience to be ignorant given Obama's orchestration of a pretty well organized, 2 year, 2100 employee, $400 million campaign that defeated the Clinton dynasty.

I hope all of you out there didn't waste too much money sending it to Obama. Oh well.

It's going to be wonderful having the first woman VP be a republican.

I guess you dems won't be able to say we GOP don't like "strong women" anymore. In fact there are a lot of stereotypes you'll have to drop.

Whoooo hooo! What a great, great night.

As a voter that felt he had no good choice in this election Palin won my vote. She is the only one out of the whole group that feels real to me. If you thought Obama's speech was good it is only because your mind was made up before you heard the speech. Obama hit all the talking points and that seems to hit home with the media and people that like to talk about change. The fact still remains that he has done nothing that I have heard of yet to support why I should beleive him and that he is not just a lot talk.

I can't believe that after all the hype on the dem side, we republicans are going to end up winning, yet again.

:)

Lots of enthusiastic blacks in the RNC crowd tonight. Who knew?! Brave, brave people. They probably get harrassed.

A on my report card! It was a great night for Gov. Palin; very impressing. I sure wish the mainstream "media" would spend half as much time investigating Obama's background and associations in his past as they have spent trying to destroy this woman before she was able to deliver her first speech. McCain Palin has my vote!

This independent is voting McCain/Palin.

Mere, trust me, two months from now you'll wish the election was tonight - Palin's nasally recitation will be a distant memory a week from yesterday and she'll be right back trying to explain how humans and dinosaurs roamed the earth 6000 years ago - if McCain lets her near any reporters.

"Change is not a destination and Hope is not a strategy"
Rudy Guiliani

Amen!

I'll translate for Watson:

"I'm scared to death."

Lol. You guys fool no one.

I'm underwelmed. Just a bunch of attacks and no solutions. How is this going to make anyone better off? The tone is so different from the uplifting DNC last week. Too bad I watched this before going to bed because now I have this negative energy in my house. I had to watch Obama's speech from last week to wipe the negative energy away. Thanks Barack. You make me feel like there is hope for us afterall.

Leslie,

Yes, I was underwhelmed too...last week at Obama's speech. I agree. All talk with no matching track record.

We all agree.

Rudy and Sarah Palin BOTH laid out how this democrat ticket is such a joke.

A dangerous joke. They will lose and they will lose BIG.

That reminder of how last week the democrats couldn't even say "islamic terrorists" was very very powerful.

Really makes you think. Awesome.

Legendary and historic.

I was in tears, esp with the shots of the POW colleague of McCain in tears, and the shot of Trig as she talked about her committment to parents of special needs children.

This speech will go down in history as one that has broken barriers, and all children watching will know that if you work hard enough in what you believe in, you can achieve anything in this great country of ours.

Thank You, Vice President Palin, for letting me be a part of history.

I like war, and luckily I'm too old to fight, so I'll definitely be voting McCain.

Sarah gets an A all around, very impressed with her this evening. ABC News however, a clear F for following a feel good moment for so many with a wormy Brian Ross dirt digging diatribe.
You almost won me back after that Diane Swayer debacle yesterday. Almost. Chia*

I grew up in a small town the size of Wasilla.

People like Sarah Palin are why I left.

I don't want the likes of her anywhere near the White House.

I grew up in a small town the size of Wasilla.

People like Sarah Palin are why I left.

I don't want the likes of her anywhere near the White House.

I think the speech was informative and the information sealed the deal that I will NOT vote for McCain/Palin. I agree with others that Mrs. McCain acted horrible, disrespectful and mean. I am not sure what this group of people are doing but it doesn't seem to be very honest.
GRADE: D...not passing.

If you think she is nasty, you should consider what she has taken in the past 5 days -- she fights back. It doesn't seem nasty at all, it is a revenge: do not look down on me, I will fight back. I like her strength and courage.

Rudy reminded the WORLD that Obama got his Georgia-Russia response wrong for THREE WHOLE DAYS...until he FINALLY came out and said the same thing McCain said.

Whoa. Makes you think.

chele, you're getting Cindy McCain mixed up with the mean Michelle. She's the angry woman, remember? Until they softened her image because her numbers were so low.

So you're backasswards.

Who needs substance when you've got sarcasm? She was mean; very abrasive.

Jo, agree completely! The Georgians are DEFINITELY worth going to war over! Even if it goes nuclear. Better everybody dies than the Russians think they're tougher than we are!

Millions of women will now vote for McCain/Palin. She is the best thing to happen to this election.

Whooo hooo! Not only do we get a great president, in 4-8 years we get Palin.

Yeeehaw!

I give Governor Palin the same grades as George. ABAA.

I find it very humorous reading all these Obama supporters' posts.... I really suspect most of these people posting are Obama supporters who are paid to do so. So transparent. LOL.

I agree with someone I heard talking about the upcoming VP debates... "Biden had better bring his A game". I'll bet Obama is really happy he doesn't have to debate her... hahaha Get your popcorn ready!!!

Okay, I've changed my mind after tonight. Do you think Obama will get mad at me?

Straleno, say what you will, but it took Obama three days to get it right.

He blew it and he knew it.

He's the biggest lightweight to ever enter this race.

John Mcsame and his running mate are both a joke. Ms. Palin's voice and tone were just way too much for me to stomach and I can't wait for her to face the reporters and the people. Then we'll know exactly what she's not made of because I have a feeling she's clueless and way out of her league.

Obama didn't even know that Russia has veto power on the UN Security Council.

This guy is so uninformed it's pathetic.

Jo - your numerous comments don't equal numerous people - the Flat Earth Society's days have come and gone - no reasonable person is wowed by 4000 zealots eating up the same paper-thin attack lines. At least voting for McCain will almost be like voting for Bush - that should make you feel better.

Jo -- calm down a bit.

We get it -- the dumb-ass contingent is all excited!

You folks scare me.

Yeah, Sandy, too much for you to take. Uh-huh.

But the last 4 days of Sarah Palin bashing by the Obama team AND the media were "just right" for you, eh?

I'm sure.

Nice try but you guys lose. BIG TIME

Let's get real! Sarah Palin had a good speech writer. No one can possibly believe that she wrote her speech, if she had the intelligence to write this well, we would have heard about her before Friday! Furthermore, please stop comparing her to Barack Obama, a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University. She went to Idaho College (no disrespect intended). She is a VP candidate. Obama is running for President. If you must compare, it should be Palin vs Biden.

Jo, you said "Lots of enthusiastic blacks in the RNC crowd tonight. Who knew?! Brave, brave people. They probably get harrassed." Really? Were you actually watching the speech as the camera panned the crowd? Really? I started to count and I literally was able to count the black people I saw on one hand. Palin was totally sarcastic reading from a speech created mostly by the McCain campaign speech writer. Yes she's only been on the national scene for a week but if that's the only speech she can come up with, we are in trouble. And yes I'm as white as they come.

McCain/Palin just got every small town voter in America with these two speeches tonight.

It's over.

people dont seems to get it. This is not about Palin, this isnot about Obama or McCain. this is about the US and among all three Obama is the best option.

Nah, I saw lots of enthusiastic blacks. Fox showed them, the other nets were afraid to.

Glad to set you straight. Lol.

leche,

Yeah, obama better than mcCain. Riiight.

Sure. Nice try.

Grade D. The swing voters are not like the diehards GOP. They want concrete stuff and this lady dont have it.

BeaPhilly,

They ALL have speechwriters. So get a clue.

This was a 44 year olds first speech in front of millions of millions of people.

She did incredible. And anyone objective would admit it. You're just sickened that she's going to be the VP.

good.

Palin gave and excellent speech. It’s great to see McCain selected a running mate with true leadership skills, class and an interest in helping to put America back on track. She did a great job of laying out a vision for the country, and responding to recent media attacks on her personal character.

Leche,

I suggest you go over to The New Republic. They're pro Obama. They had a focus group and they viewed it as "alarmingly strong." They are now very worried.

Trust me, Obama is too. They aren't sleeping well tonight. I guarantee you.

fixed news. hmm, no wonder. Did you even try and switch to other channels? I did.

Jo,
Rural America have not forgoten Bill work, they dont lougth when people are called bitch or cancer.

Palin was unappealingly sarcastic, mean spirited, and dishonest. Here snide remarks were a real disappointment.

Not once did I hear health care in all the mud slinging. I guess that's not going to happen once again under the Republicans. If you have more houses than you can keep track of, who needs to worry about paying for health insurance?

I love how the tables have turned and now liberals are being sexist and asking "Can a woman handle all of this with a family?"

And liberals are saying no....and republicans (!) are saying yes!

Who would have thought we'd live to see THAT day? Lol.

Wow! What a knockout woman! That was a remarkable speech. She gets all A's from me. I was hoping her speech was going to last longer because I wanted to hear more ideas. She was awesome, clear and had a great presentation. She didn't come across as bitter. I felt like, Obama, who? Biden, who? She came across as intelligent and as a caring person. I hope more exciting people come into politics like Sarah. We need more people like her.

Randy, I heard it. I guess you weren't listening.

Try harder next time.

A 7 years old can read paper. we have seems the Nazi with more enthousiasm in fron of hilter.

If you had asked me a year ago if the Rebublican Party had a shot in this years election, I would have given a resounding NO!
I am amazed at how divided the Demacratic Party is. I believe the Washington power brokers never expected Obama to win the nomination, they just wanted to bait and switch voters. As mush as I dislike Hillary, she has much more experience than Obama and is more qualified for the position.
Wake up Democratic Party! I was ready to switch affiliations this time around but you are incapable of putting up a canditate that is a viable choice for main stream Americans to get behind. No matter how many celebrity soundbites and elitist interviews make it onto the clearly liberal media channels, the majority of the American population does not identify with them, and they don't identify with the majority oif the American population. We are going to wake up on November 5th to news reports and headlines of "Four More Years!" McCain was not my choice for the nomination, but I voted for him because he was the only candidate that had a shot of beating Hillary or Obama. Every other person I have spoken to that voted for McCain voted for him for the same reason. It turns out that he is also the only candidate that if elected, will reach across the aisle and effect any type of change that matters to the majority of the population. If the Democratic Party doesn't reinvent itself and grasp onto the issues that realy matter to Americans, we are going to continue to have a one-political party system in this country for a long time to come.

A+ on all grades

I love how the righteous dems and the media trash Palin this past week, attack her, attack small towns, attack country people, attack EVERYTHING...and then tonight they whine and moan...

"they were too mean" (sniff, sniff)

LOLOL. What a bunch of wussy babies you are. And everyone knows it.

Get some balls.

Sorry it wasn't her speech. While it well delivered it was long on zingers and short on substance. Fired up her base, but the independants will not but it.

Perhaps she should remove the lipstick and tell us where she stands.

Real men are voting McCain/Palin.

The conservative base is pumped up like never before and that is what will doom Obama.

And the more they trash Palin, the more they will lose.

Chup, don't be scare, brother. Would you like to move to another continent ? Africa, maybe. There are people who are dying to come to America.

I'll translate for "Thinking"

I'm worried and I PRAY TO GOD Independents don't like McCain/Palin.

well, trust me, we just picked up their vote tonight. And tomorrow will be great too.

President McCain - get use to it!

Once again on election night, the democrats will be left with their jaws open in shock as they lose YET ANOTHER election.

All by their own repeated mistakes.

The big talking point tonight (that you can tell the Obama team released and the media is parroting) that someone else wrote her speech!

Well, knock me over with a feather, who knew that other people write politicians speeches??!!!

That's all you got?! Nobody cares. They LOVE Sarah Palin.

LOLOL. They're toast and they know it!!!!

Little Piper Palin stole all of America's hearts tonight as she kept wiping little Trigg Pain's bangs across his head.

Even Diane Sawyer commented on how she loved seeing that.

America is in love with the beautiful Palin family!!! :)

I was going to vote for McCain. I work in the community but she really trashed us. I am really sorry to hear this. I might not vote this election at all or may be vote for third party. I am not really happy like other republican.

Sorry at least as a community workers, we should be honored for helping hard working people.