We, as a country, have wandered so far away from any concept of the limited power of government that I sometimes wonder what country I'm waking up in every morning.

Do I think we'll see our military having to engage in large-scale suppressive action against citizens, as some theorize, based on the concept of the citizenry being outraged by governmental overreach and engaging in open revolt?

We're long past that point, unfortunately. Yes, people like US can envision some kind of citizen uprising, because we're strongly motivated and opinionated folks who are political junkies, tuned in to the current issues and aware of the ramifications and implications. We can see OURSELVES doing it.

Joe Sixpack's a whole other animal. He's tuned in to getting his kids to school on time, doing well at work, making the rent and car payments, rush hour traffic, what's on TV tonight, and what's for dinner.

If he pays attention to politics at all, it's only a month or two before the election... and it bores him to tears. He couldn't really care about issues in depth, it's all about sound bites. MAYBE he'll watch a debate or two; half the Joes and Janes won't even bother voting.

So while WE are getting outraged about the unconstitutional nature of the "bailouts" being proposed by everyone in sight other than Mike Spence -- Bush & Co, Obambi, McLiberal, the Congresscritters, the GOP, the Dems, and every other talking head on the Sunday Circuit -- all Joe and Jane care about is this:

"Congress and the administration are addressing the issue". So Joe and Jane heave a sigh of relief and grab another slice of pizza and a brewski, content that they'll be okay; all those financial problems are someone ELSE'S problem.

Is this a guy and gal who are going to become outraged enough to DEMAND accountability from their government, to the point of being willing to grab a gun and sacrifice the big screen, pizza delivery, bowling league, secure job, and pension plan because they're outraged by governmental overreach?

Are you kidding me?

It seems that so far Palin’s been shielded by McCain’s campaign team from making any ad hoc comments, participating in any unscripted events, or being available to reporters to answer any questions. Read the entire story here or here.

You don’t have to think about this very hard to realize the problem the McCain campaign faces.

Palin’s the red meat McCain’s thrown to conservatives to get their support. It’s been surprisingly effective.

But what’s going to happen once they can’t control the flow of conversation anymore? When the reporters get to ask whatever they want?

I know what I’d ask.

“Governor Palin, you’re FOR drilling in ANWR; McCain’s against it. How do you reconcile that?”

“Governor Palin, what’s your position on amnesty? Do you support McCain’s position as being strongly for it?”

“Governor Palin, you’ve previously stated you think ‘climate change’ isn’t a man-made phenomenon. Is that still your position? Or do you now endorse your boss’s position?”

“Governor Palin, in light of your position that ‘climate change’ isn’t man-made, do you support your boss’s proposal for Cap and Trade legislation?”

And more along the same line. And I actually LIKE Palin (though not McCain); how do you think the reporters from the Left are going to treat her? There's no way she can avoid answering their questions; that would play even worse.

There is absolutely no upside in this for Palin (and her political future) or McCain that I can see. She either has to almost totally recant her previous positions – sacrificing her credibility and “conservativeness” – or state that even though she disagrees with McCain on MAJOR policy issues, she’s still willing to run with him, essentially calling into question the depth of her own commitment to her previous positions. Either way, her position as the “conservative leavening” of McCain will be shown as the sham it really is.

She’s in the same position Lieberman was in as Gore’s VP nominee, having to advocate policies with which he strongly disagreed, and he absolutely LOOKED like a cat on a griddle when he had to do so. It also irreparably harmed his reputation as a man of integrity, a reality now facing Palin.

I just saw this article on the Townhall Home Page, entitled “McCain Pledges to Appoint Democrats to Cabinet”: here

Sheesh! Is this guy really THAT stupid? Or is this simply further evidence of the breadth of his arrogance?

He gets a helping hand with conservatives and "hold your nosers" by naming Palin, a woman with some arguable conservative chops, and promptly turns right around and promises to name Dems to his cabinet.

Some more of the legendary "reaching across the aisle".

What does this say about him? About the judges he’ll appoint, an issue so many yammer about in trying to justify their votes for McCain in spite of needing a military-grade gas mask to do so? About his ability to “listen” to conservatives?

Maybe he “listens”, but he sure as hell doesn’t “HEAR” anything!

While McCain and his Cabinet of Democrats and “moderate” Republicans (if we’re lucky!) are meeting in the White House, Palin will be in her office in the OEOB across the street, counting rubber bands.

Interesting analysis of McCain’s acceptance speech of last night Here

Some highlights to consider, particularly by those who’ve worked themselves into a tizzy over the naming of Palin as McCain’s VP nominee.

“McCain’s path to victory in November is found in setting himself apart from his own deeply unpopular party… It’s a task, like many others before them, that McCain intimates believe has been made considerably easier with his selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate.”

Yep. As I’ve written, she’s simply his conservative “beard”. Also interesting: “setting himself apart from” the GOP, yet WE’RE castigated for doing the same thing by refusing to vote for the guy. A little double-standard there? Hmmmmmm?…..

“By picking an across-the-board conservative, McCain aides argue, they’ve allayed long-festering fears about the unpredictable Arizona senator among the conservative core of the party and empowered him to move away from the party brand without unduly angering GOP stalwarts.”

To, in other words, give conservatives the finger once again. What’s new? “Hey, here’s your stinkin’ conservative! Now leave me alone while I do my thing!” Unfortunately his idea of “mov(ing) away from the party brand” means hiking to the Left.

“’The base will now stay solid,’ said a top McCain aide. ‘The VP choice helps ensure that.’” In other words, they’ll ignore the man behind the curtain.

Hey, Palinistas. May I suggest Raspberry flavor for your Kool-Aid?

Particularly of late when I’ve been taking so much flak from the McCainiacs and GOP bobbleheads who keep preaching that the Universe will implode if Obambi wins the election.

Of course, as of this date, even some of the mainstream columnists have seriously discussed the possiblility of McAmnesty naming Joe Liberalman as a running mate. Personally, I don’t think even McRino’s THAT stupid (but you never know with such a megalomaniac!), and THAT’S not even the main issue I want to address.

What I predicted with a high level of confidence has, indeed, come to pass. The National GOP has totally revised its party platform to accommodate McIdiot’s natural leftism, and it’s a fulfillment of my prophesies going back to my earliest essays in 2006, right here at The Island.

You can read the entire AP story here.

Some salient quotes:

“Republicans are putting John McCain's campaign priorities above some of their pet issues, including drilling for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and denying citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants… The panel turned back a move to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. Opponents raised constitutional concerns and said the proposal would complicate life for McCain, who has sponsored legislation giving illegal immigrants a path toward legal status but now prioritizes border security.”

"I want to give him a platform he can run on," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. "I don't want to stick my finger in his eye."

WHY NOT? He’s been sticking HIS thumb in the eyes of conservatives for decades!

“Republicans are also doing a balancing act on climate change…the platform acknowledges a human role in increased carbon emissions”

Amnesty. Citizenship for “anchor babies”. “Climate change”. Cap and Trade. Those four issues alone – all McIdiot’s positions – are enough to totally BANKRUPT this nation, and all are issues upon which the National GOP has CAVED, following the path blazed by the California GOP lo, those many years ago.

You can read the entire article for yourself, but the bottom line is that the National GOP has shown itself willing to do the same thing the California State GOP did a couple of decades ago: throw conservatives and the conservative ideology and principles under the bus, because the only thing that matters is WINNING! As a “party”! It doesn’t matter if that party doesn’t stand for anything anymore! Just a “lighter” version of LIBERALISM!

The last national party that followed this strategy was the WHIG Party in the mid-19^th Century, and BY GOD I hope the same thing happens to the GOP as happened to THEM!

And skydiving!