Progressive Indiana

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
SURPRISED  —  I wasn't sure what to expect from this speech tonight.  But I was pretty sure, as high-stakes conventions speeches almost always end up being, that it would be good.  But I really don't think it was.  It certainly wasn't bad.  He didn't say anything embarrassing or have any real flubs.

David Bauder / Associated Press:
More than 40 million people see Palin speech  —  NEW YORK (AP) - Barack Obama apparently isn't the only “rock star” in presidential politics this year.  —  After days of intense media coverage about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's qualifications, more than 40 million Americans tuned …

CNN:
Sex writer: There's something about Republicans  —  ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) — Sex columnist Dan Savage and author of the popular San Francisco sex advice column “Savage Love,” made his way to St. Paul, Minnesota, to attend the Republican National Convention where he is filming a piece for HBO's “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

Sasha Issenberg / Boston Globe:
The death of a taboo  —  ST. PAUL — One of the most enduring taboos in American politics, the airing of graphic images from the September 11 attacks in a partisan context, died today.  It was nearly seven years old.  —  The informal prohibition, which had been occasionally threatened …

The Politico:
McCain's acceptance speech  —  Here is the prepared text of Sen. John McCain's acceptance speech:  —  Thank you all very much.  Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans — the privilege of accepting our party's nomination for president of the United States.  And I accept it with gratitude, humility and confidence.

Bill Sammon / Fox News:
EXCLUSIVE: In New Book, Woodward Says Bush ‘Failed to Lead,’ Even as Surge Succeeded  —  WASHINGTON — Bob Woodward, who wrote two books praising President Bush and then a third harshly criticizing him, is out with a fourth tome that renders a mixed verdict on Bush, lauding the president's surge …

Scarecrow / Firedoglake:
McCain's Acceptance Speech: Shameless Hypocrisy and Narcissism  —  How is it possible for a politician as cynical as John McCain to get away with a statement as arrogant and narcissistic as this: … Unselfish?  Putting country first?  Whom does he think he's kidding?

Ed OKeefe / Political Punch:
Palin Accuses ‘Obama/Biden Democrats’ of Attacking Her Family, But Campaign Can't Name One  —  Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin sent out a fundraising solicitation today that charged that “the Obama/Biden Democrats have been vicious in their attacks directed toward me, my family and John McCain.”

New York Times:
Obama Camp Turns to Clinton to Counter Palin  —  ST. PAUL — Senator Barack Obama will increasingly lean on prominent Democratic women to undercut Gov. Sarah Palin and Senator John McCain, dispatching Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to Florida on Monday and bolstering his plan to deploy female surrogates …

Fox News:
Obama: Surge Succeeded Beyond ‘Wildest Dreams’  —  The troop surge in Iraq has been more successful than anyone could have imagined, Barack Obama conceded Thursday in his first-ever interview on FOX News' “The O'Reilly Factor.”  —  As recently as July, the Democratic presidential candidate declined …

Joe Klein / Swampland:
What a Community Organizer Does  —  Slowly, slowly, I am recovering from the extremely effective bilge festival staged by the Republicans last night.  And while there is much to discuss, there was one item, in particular, that has to be considered infuriating: the attack on Barack Obama's service …

Mara Reinstein / The Huffington Post:
I'm Voting for McCain... And Yes, I Wrote the Us Weekly Cover Story  —  “Shame on you for writing that article!  Shame on you!!!”  —  “I'm calling you because what you wrote is so politically slanderous.  I'm shocked that a woman would do that.  You are a disgrace to your gender and your country.”

CBS News:
Ways To Win … This week's polling continues to show voters waiting to decide about Sarah Palin (see yesterday's poll on Palin).  But in interviewing done yesterday, 83 percent of registered voters said that spouse and family of a candidate will not affect their votes.

Washington Wire:
RNC Picks Up $1 Million After Palin Speech  —  Brody Mullins reports from St. Paul, Minn., on campaign finance.  —  Sarah Palin's speech to the convention Wednesday night energized conservatives, allayed concerns of some nervous party insiders - and inspired excited Republicans to donate …

Ben Smith / The Politico:
Palin raises $8 million — for Obama  —  Obama's coffers have been filling since Sarah Palin attacked him repeatedly in St. Paul last night.  —  An Obama aide confirms Drudge's report that Obama has raised about $8 million from more than 130,000 donors and is on pace to raise $10 million by the time McCain reaches the stage tonight.

Ezra Klein / American Prospect:
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS.  —  Chris Hayes fires back on Giuliani and Palin's mockery of “community organizers”: … Adam Serwer agrees: … But look, let's call a spade a spade: When Giuliani sneered about community organizers on the “South side” of Chicago, it's pretty clear what he's saying …

Gallup:
Gallup Daily: No Dent in Obama Lead So Far  —  Obama holds 7-point lead in latest results  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama continues to hold a lead over John McCain, 49% to 42%, in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update.  —  The results are based on interviewing conducted Sept. 1-3.

Mike Soraghan / The Hill:
Westmoreland calls Obama ‘uppity’  —  Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland used the racially-tinged term “uppity” to describe Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Thursday.  —  Westmoreland was discussing vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's speech with reporters outside …

ABCNEWS:
Fired Alaskan Official Says Palin Hasn't Been Truthful  —  Monegan Says He Was Fired For His Refusal to Fire Governor's Former Brother-In-Law  —  The fired Alaskan official, whose dismissal has become the subject of a state senate committee's investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin …

Alexander Marquardt / CNN:
Obama didn't expect ginger treatment from Palin  —  PITTSBURGH (CNN) - Senior Obama adviser David Axelrod appeared unfazed by Sarah Palin's tough speech in St. Paul Wednesday night, telling reporters Thursday Barack Obama watched a bit of her speech and took it in stride.