2 million turn out for Palin

Okay, that's a serious exaggeration. Credible crowd estimates are elusive, but by all accounts Sarah Palin will outdo the 15,000 people that turned out for George Bush in The Villages four years ago. A Fire-Rescue captain put the crowd at more than 25,000, which seemed accurate. The McCain campaign, citing the local fire marshall, puts the crowd at 60,000.

Traffic has been clogged for hours. Barracuda Sarah is doing soon, and right now Aaron Tippin is warming up the sweaty crowd. He hailed "the chance to get some real live Americans up in Washington" with McCain-Palin, and drew big cheers for his new ditty, "Drill Here, Drill Now!"

A plane is flying overhead with a banner declaring, "The South is Palin Country. (AP photo)

Comments

Thanks Buzz for making light of this Gov. Palin. I knew she would create a huge turnout, she shares the values of so many of Florida, not all but many. I wonder if you will post photos like you did for obama.

And not a word from you yesterday on McCain attending his 50th reunion with the men he served with. Thanks for being fair and balanced.

palin, a brainwashed fundie ala bush.

draconian to say the least!

†he spt, NOT fair and balanced...

My last post to such a jack a... as Smith and his sell out to the Obamanation!!!

well how many turned out? where are the photos?

so many that CNN didn't get their early enough to secure a good spot to do coverage. Even they underestimated how many would turn out.

Palin can keep up with the Obama one liners! She is good at that and has great comedic timing.

[jim]

I would like palin debate hillary clinton and i'm not a clinton fan, she clinton would wipe the street with her on every thing or she might take it easy on her because she is new to the washington circle just wondering how it would come out i guess we will never know or it could happen in the senate if mccain gets elected

[john]

A quick story -- S. Palin was at her church awhile back for a program. Part of the program was about God's retribution. The speaker's example was how a palistenain (sp) loaded up a truck with explosives, drove the truck through a check point and then blew the truck up killing some Jews. [That is the tone that he had.]He indicated that it was ok since killing the Jews was retribution and they deserved it since they had not been "converted."

This view can manifest it self with power foreign policy and reflected back with power, no education loans, racist policies -- a modern share cropper life.

Of coarse McCain said nothing and Palin never got up and left in protest.

Drill here, drill now = your backyards, frontyards, bedrooms, neighbors, churches, etc.

Go Sarah!! McCain-Palin November win!

[KrisB9]

Drill here, drill now, drill right into your retirement accounts and suck out all your life savings. Palin/McCain = country last.

30,000

Looking forward to viewing photos - big crowd. Central Fla. LOVES SARAH!

[Eric]

Hooray for war! War is awesome! Go McCain and Palin!!

[Sarah Palin: here is the problem. I'm no dumb blond.]

Back in 2002, when his reputation as “The Man Who Saved the World” was at its peak, Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, came to Britain to pick up his knighthood. His biggest fan, Gordon Brown, now the UK prime minister, had ensured that the citation said it was being awarded for promoting “economic stability”.

During his trip, Mr Greenspan visited the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee. He told them the US financial system had been resilient amid the bursting of the internet bubble. Share prices had halved and there had been massive bond defaults, but no big bank collapses. Mr Greenspan lauded the fact that risk had been spread, using complex derivative instruments. One of the MPC members asked: how could this be? Someone must have lost all that money; who was it? A look of quiet satisfaction came across Mr Greenspan’s face as he answered: “European insurance companies.”

Six years later, AIG, the largest US insurance company, has in effect been nationalised to stop it blowing up the financial world. The US has nationalised the core of its mortgage industry and the government has become the arbiter of which financial companies should survive or die.

Financial markets have an enormous capacity for flexibility, but market participants need to be sure that there are rules, and a referee willing to impose them. Permanent damage has been done to the financial system, despite the extraordinary measures of Messrs Henry Paulson, the US Treasury secretary, and Ben Bernanke, the Fed chairman, to address the problems that stem from the actions of their predecessors. As Mr Paulson has suggested, he is playing a hand dealt by others.

Many blame the Greenspan Fed for this mess. They are right, but not for the reason often cited. It is unfair to say low interest rates are to blame. In the past decade, there is no evidence the US suffered from excessive growth leading to inflation. The economy needed low interest rates and a fiscal stimulus to avoid a severe recession. The Fed was right to do its bit.

Where Mr Greenspan bears responsibility is his role in ensuring that the era of cheap interest rates created a speculative bubble. He cannot claim he was not warned of the risks. Take two incidents from the 1990s. The first came before he made his 1996 speech referring to “irrational exuberance”. In a Federal Open Market Committee meeting, he conceded there was an equity bubble but declined to do anything about it. He admitted that proposals for tightening the margin requirement, which people need to hold against equity positions, would be effective: “I guarantee that if you want to get rid of the bubble, whatever it is, that will do it.” It seems odd that since then, in defending the Fed’s inaction, he has claimed in three speeches that tightening margins would not have worked.

The second incident stems from spring 1998 when the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission expressed concern about the massive increase in over-the-counter derivatives. These have been at the heart of the counter-party risk in the crisis. Mr Greenspan suggested new regulation risked disrupting the capital markets.

At the turn of the millennium, with no move to tighten margin requirements, a feedback loop sent share prices into orbit. As prices rose, more brokers were willing to lend to buy more shares. As share prices went up the buying continued, until the bubble burst. To create one bubble may be seen as a misfortune; to create two looks like carelessness. Yet that is exactly what the Greenspan Fed did.

Bruised by stock market losses, Americans bought houses. The mortgage industry used securitised bonds to ensure that the people who initiated the mortgage did not worry about getting paid back; risk was packaged and sold to others. This time Mr Greenspan did not just stand aside. He said repeatedly that housing was a safe investment because prices do not fall. Home owners could wait out any downturn. Is it any surprise that so many people thought if the world’s financial genius held this view it must be all right?

Even as things went completely wild, Mr Greenspan dismissed those who warned that a new bubble was emerging. It was just a case of a little “froth” in a few areas. Later, after waiting until 2007, two years after he left office, he conceded that “froth” had been his euphemism for “bubble”. “All the froth bubbles add up to an aggregate bubble,” he told the Financial Times.

This time, as with the equity bubble, the mistake was not to set interest rates too low; it was to stand back as wildly imprudent policies were pursued by mortgage lenders. Indeed, any lender would have been encouraged by his words in April 2005: “Where once more-marginal applicants would simply have been denied credit, lenders are now able to quite efficiently judge the risk posed by individual applicants and to price that risk appropriately. These improvements have led to rapid growth in subprime mortgage lending.” Well, he was right about the rapid growth in subprime lending.

Mr Greenspan was in charge of supervising and regulating much of the banking industry for two decades. The Fed says it is responsible for ensuring “safe and sound banking practices”. It is right that other regulators should have stepped in, too – the US regulatory structure has not kept pace with market changes . But given the Fed’s institutional importance and Mr Greenspan’s personal stature, does anyone doubt that the Fed could have used its limited powers to ensure a closer examination of what was going on?

Mr Greenspan realises that something big has happened and describes it as a “once in a hundred years” event. But then, you do not get Alan Greenspans coming along every day.

where are the photos? There were plenty yesterday from obama.

[Eric]

A photo of Palin would only be a photo of a photo, an image of an image. She isn't a real candidate; she's an idea, a simulation of a person who attracts the Republican base.

She's even programmed--think about it: Pre-scripted "impromptu" speeches, rehearsed interviews.

Come on, people, her one Constitutional responsibility would be to break a tie vote in the Senate. And the hard-core Republican base is bowing down to her like she's what they've been waiting for all these years. They've been waiting for a vice president?

Is Obama the New Hitler?? Could very well be.

http://papundits.wordpress.com/2008/09/21/is-obama-the-new-hitler/

6:08 PM

Sounds like you just described Barack Obama!!

FoxNews -- Fantasy and baloney.

They've been waiting for a vice president?
Posted by: Eric | September 21, 2008 at 06:08 PM

Richard Cheney?

20,000 for Obama in a big city like Jacksonville and 25,000 for Palin in a dinky place like the Villages. Looks like the VP is more popular than the Messiah!!!!

[Eric]

Sounds like you just described Barack Obama!!

Posted by: | September 21, 2008 at 06:13 PM

How so? Really, explain; because Obama has been campaigning for a year-and-a-half. Plenty of voters know him as a politician and a person. He's written two books, has academic credentials, and on and on.

What does Palin have besides a belief that the war in Iraq is a "task from God," a face for journalism, and a brain to attract the more thoughtless of American voters?

[Lee]

This is a move in the right direction for fair coverage of both candidates. Thank you.
Eric,why are you comparing Obama with the vice presidential candidate? Afraid how he stacks up experience wise with the Republican presidential candidate?

[Never believe or trust a Republican]

Most Republicans are very full of themselves. They try to sell themselves as the answer to all things, but in the bigger picture you can't trust one...Just look at the current administration; and McCain who happens to be part (he votes their way & no matter how he pitches himself as being reformed), of this administration is not different, he's a liar and is speaking so badly about his own party, like I said he is so full of himself and pious.

[Andy]

I'm curious to know who paid for the plane banner ad. They ain't cheap.

Also, any reports about what she said? Did she answer any questions?

Did she get to speak with any of the people who came to see her? Did she give any interviews to local journalists?

Anyone who went, I would be very interested to read what you have to say. It was too far away for me to go ...

All I have to say, Eric, is at least Gov. Palin doesn't need a teleprompter to speak her message or to keep her thought process flowing. And many people describe Gov. Palin as authentic and down to earth (a far cry from your statement a "photo of a photo" or an "image of an image").

For everyone who says Sen.Obama is an eloquent speaker isn't listening very well when he is on his speech stumps. I really like when he uses the crowd to make his hesitations appear planned!

Drill this!

Obama uses telepromters too. And besides he shouldn't he has been running for President 22 of the 48 months he has been in the Senate. He should not need a teleprompter.

[Lourdis]

Obama uses telepromters too. And besides he shouldn't he has been running for President 22 of the 48 months he has been in the Senate. He should not need a teleprompter.

Once again, Eric, you give me reason to respond.

Campaigning for a year-and-a-half I would hope helps people know he's a politician, but not quite sure how writing books having nothing to do with politics, and having academic credentials makes him more of a politician?

It just shows me that he hasn't had much time to represent the people - isn't that what a politician is supposed to do? Oh, that's right, it's all about him! Now you know why people like Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin.

thanks for this photo from another media group. You didn't send anyone to cover it did you?

[you've gotta be kidding]

Is it true that Palin took no questions from either reporters or the crowd?

[Eric]

First, on this: "Eric,why are you comparing Obama with the vice presidential candidate? Afraid how he stacks up experience wise with the Republican presidential candidate? Posted by: Lee | September 21, 2008 at 06:39 PM"

Because I was challenged on my "image of an image" comment; someone said that it sounded like I was describing Obama. So I defended Obama.

Second, on this: "not quite sure how writing books having nothing to do with politics, and having academic credentials makes him more of a politician? It just shows me that he hasn't had much time to represent the people - isn't that what a politician is supposed to do? Oh, that's right, it's all about him! Now you know why people like Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin. Posted by: | September 21, 2008 at 07:34 PM"

Writing autobiographical books and having academic credentials both show depth and thought. I want the person who represents the American people to have such characteristics. And, whoa, Obama "hasn't had much time to represent the people"? Tell that to the people in Chicago.

Bottom line is this: We all have different political philosophies. When I write mine out, it aligns best with Obama/Biden and worst with McCain/Palin. I have been extremely disappointed--and saddened--to hear McCain's war rhetoric ("Bomb Iran" and "maybe that's a way of killing them"), and it scares the heck out of me to hear Palin say the war in Iraq is a "task from God."

McCain Palin will score an electoral landslide in November. It won't be close. She's energized the party and independents - given a reason to vote FOR McCain Palin as opposed to just against Obama.

Now, McCain Palin will win in an electoral college landslide.

Palin has energized the base AND independents.

Now, folks have a reason to vote FOR McCain Palin. McCain is known and can be trusted to fight for us; Palin IS us.

McCain Palin will win an electoral college landslide.

[Whitey]

The white vote is with McCain/Palin!!!

So is the horny business partner vote!

girlygiel be an alaksa ho what takes all comers.

[Eric]

"McCain Palin will score an electoral landslide in November. It won't be close. She's energized the party and independents - given a reason to vote FOR McCain Palin as opposed to just against Obama. Now, McCain Palin will win in an electoral college landslide. Posted by: | September 21, 2008 at 08:48 PM"

. . . and then we can all be proud that we opted for another four years of warmongering, environmental carelessness, deregulation, and an overall giving over of the U.S.A. to disinterested capital. Go McCain/Palin! Then who will the next failed administration be to "energize the party" with death rhetoric?

The Democrats offer a new direction.

The Republicans offer a senile, old, adulterer, warmonger and a vindictive, adulteress, milfwannabe who thinks the Constitution is her morning dump.

… nuff said

what direction did Democrat Jim McGreevy offer? Or John Edwards, Kwame Kilpatrick?

both parties have good and bad. Let's focus on issues and not stupid stuff like this.

8:53 is drinking the McCain Kool-Aid,

McCain will is not leading in any of the Kerry states, Obama is leading in all the Kerry states plus Iowa and New Mexico, 6 votes from victory. It will be an early election night and a sad one for the Republicans.

8:48

Palin has energized the Republicans and turned off the Independents and Moderates, do you read the news??? You don't, probably at home right now watch Faux News, talking about how great McCain is.

Palin went from the most popular nominee to the least popular in a week, she is not even bringing over women. Obama will win the Women's vote by 10 points. The American people aren't stupid, putting America in Palin's hands would be a disaster, if you thought Bush was bad you aint seen nothing yet.

[Florida Voter]

Noone even heard of this woman a month ago. She cant give press interviews or do a free flowing debate and you want her to be a heartbeat away from president. No thank you.

[obama is toast]

All of the networks put the crowd at over 60,000. Why does the Obama Times feel that they have to play down this event? Where is the truth meter now? It's time for REAL Change and not empty words from an empty suit!

[obama is toast]

All of the networks put the crowd at over 60,000. Why does the Obama Times feel that they have to play down this event? Where is the truth meter now? It's time for REAL Change and not empty words from an empty suit!

[Country First, Hollywood Last!]

Why not headline with Palin draws bigger crowd than Obama?

Oh, I forgot SPT hates GOP.

NObama, NoBiden, No How, No Way!

[Phil J.]

Energized Independents? I'm an Independent and I CAN'T STAND Sarah Palin. Go away, far away Sarah.