CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Callous Dem Big Wig Laughs At The Evacuation Of New Orleans

Don Fowler, former National Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, thinks it funny that Hurricane Gustav is forcing the battered City of New Orleans to be evacuated.

My RedState colleague, Absentee, caught the uncaring Fowler laughing at the fact that the dangerous category four hurricane might hit the New Orleans area at the same time President Bush is scheduled to address the Republican National Convention. Watch the following video:

Shame on Fowler!

Well done Absentee.

Palin Makes Good First Impression - Better Than Biden

Sarah Palin made a good first impression.

A new Rasmussen Reports poll finds 53% now have a favorable opinion of Palin:

Palin earns positive reviews from 78% of Republicans, 26% of Democrats and 63% of unaffiliated voters.

[. . ]

By way of comparison, on the day he was selected as Barack Obama’s running mate, Delaware Senator Joseph Biden was viewed favorably by 43% of voters.

The following video of Governor Palin, speaking at in Dayton, Ohio following her introduction by John McCain as his pick for vice president shows why she made such a good first impression:

Gallup And Rasmussen Tracking Poll Update - 8/30

Rasmussen:

McCain - 43%
Obama - 47%

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll of likely voters for Saturday finds Obama attracting 47% of the vote nationwide while McCain earns 43%. When "leaners" are included, it’s Obama 49% and McCain 45%.

That's only a one point increase for Obama.

Gallup:

McCain - 41%
Obama - 49%

The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking poll of registered voters, finds Obama leads McCain 49% to 41%.

Who Is Alaska Governor Sarah Palin And Why Is She McCain's Running Mate?

NBC's Kelly McDonnell provides some background information on McCain's VP pick, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and analyzes why McCain chose Palin:

Gallup And Rasmussen Tracking Poll Update - 8/29

Rasmussen:

McCain - 43%
Obama - 46%

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll of likely voters for Friday shows Obama attracting 46% of the vote nationwide while McCain earns 43%. When "leaners" are included, it’s Obama 49% and McCain 45%

Gallup:

McCain - 41%
Obama - 49%

The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking poll of registered voters, finds Obama with an eight point lead over McCain 49% to 41%.

Geraldine Ferraro On McCain's VP Pick - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin

Fox News contributor, and former vice presidential nominee of the Democrats, Geraldine Ferraro talks about the impact of McCain picking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate:

The Daily News article Ferraro talked about is available here:

The first are the PUMAs - which, as everyone now knows, stands for "Party Unity My A--." For them - and over the last two weeks I have received hundreds of letters from women who consider themselves PUMAs - nothing Hillary could say or do would move them. They are livid at the sexist way that Hillary was treated by the media, and even angrier at the Obama people, the Democratic National Committee and Howard Dean as chairman, for not speaking up against it.

They believe that sexism is larger than this presidential race, that it seeps into the fiber of our country and must be stopped. They are convinced that if the media had been racist against Obama, Howard Dean would have been shouting from the hilltops - and so would have Hillary. They feel the party accepted a double standard, and many have indicated that they will either vote for McCain, write in Hillary's name or just not vote for President.

By picking Palin, McCain makes it more likely that disaffected Hillary supporters will vote for the Republican ticket.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin - A Great Pick For VP

On Fox News Andrea Tantaros, explains what having Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate means to women:

A "slam dunk."

Obama And His Teleprompter

On ABC's "Good Morning America," Jake Tapper and Diane Sawyer discuss how Obama is lost without a "Teleprompter:"

That's consistent with my impression that Obama is usually heavily scripted and prefers to deliver long speeches from a teleprompter. Without that remote control from his handlers, Obama is prone to gaffes such as his infamous clingy remarks at that San Francisco fundraiser.

It also explains why Obama backed away from Senator McCain's challenge for a series of joint pre-convention debates at town hall meetings:

It's McCain/Palin

CNN confirms Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will be McCain's running mate:

The 44-year-old Palin is the first woman and the youngest person to hold that state's governor's post. She catapulted to the state's top political post after a stint in local politics, serving as mayor and a council member of the small town of Wasila.

Campaiging as a political outsider, Palin defeated two so-called political insiders to win the governor's job in 2006. She beat incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski in the GOP primary and defeated former two-term Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles in the general election.

Palin has a reputation for backing tough ethical standards for politicians. During her first legislative session, her administration passed a state ethics law overhaul.

Palin has focused on energy and natural resource policy during her short stint in office, and is known for her support of drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a position opposed by the Democrats.

[. . .]

Palin started Alaska's Petroleum Systems Integrity Office -- an oversight and maintenance agency for the state's oil and gas equipment, facilities and infrastructure. She created the Climate Change Subcabinet that would forge a climate change strategy, according to the biography.

At present, Palin chairs the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multi-state panel "that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment," the bio says.

She has been named chair of the National Governors Association's Natural Resources Committee. That panel is focused on legislation to make sure that federal policies take state priorities into account in agriculture, energy, environmental protection and natural resource management.

[. . .]

She is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and takes part in two of Alaska's most popular pastimes -- fishing and hunting.

The governor's biography says Palin's other priorities have been "education and workforce development, public health and safety, and transportation and infrastructure development."

The bio touts other achievements during her short stint as governor -- the investment of $5 billion in state savings, overhauling educational funding, and implementing a program to help low-income elderly Alaskans.

She graduated from Wasila High School in 1982 and received a bachelor of science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987.

This is a great choice by McCain and is sure to upset all the previous political calculations.

Supporters gather for McCain's VP announcement

Supporters of John McCain gathered Friday outside Wright State University's Ervin J. Nutter Center to see the presidential candidate and McCain's running mate.

The AP's Liz Sidoti reports Republican strategists close to the McCain campaign said all indications pointed to Palin. There was no confirmation from McCain or his advisers.

ABC News confirms that Tim Pawlenty and Mitt Romney are no longer in contention and will not join McCain on the Republican ticket.

Palin, Palin, Palin. . . .