Scott - here's the trick - we Dems don't like to bring this up because it's a bad spot for Obama, but... point of fact, he's only been in the Senate for the last four years.  If you base your evidence on his voting record in that time, of course it's going to look liberal.  Because of course he was going to be voting against Bush during this period!  Who didn't?  Who still supports Bush?  What's his approval rating been for the last year?  Hovering in the high twenties?  Of course he voted liberally during his time in the Senate - that's the direction the nation was in.

Look at his previous votes in Ill - and don't bring up the talking point about how he abstained - focus on the actual votes.   Look at his writintgs, his ideas - what he says he's going to do.

Is he really that different from the other Democrats?  I mean, I think he is in terms of the fact that he's smarter and more able to lead, but in terms of his voting record?  I think he's pretty standard Democrat.  Even conservative by my San Francisco tastes.

Because of course he was going to be voting against Bush during this period!  Who didn't?  Who still supports Bush?  What's his approval rating been for the last year?  Hovering in the high twenties? 

was that a trick question because here is the answer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uThoBMfcFRc

I fully expect Palin to be groomed for 2012

Good god, let's hope not.  I suspect this election will put to rest the era of the Fundie Republicans - I think of her as the death-rattle of that movement.  (Besides - look at previous VP losers - Edwards?  Went on to father illegitimate children.  Liberman?  Lost his mind.  Kemp?  Who knows where he went.  Dan Quayle?  Most successful of the bunch in that he was a signator of the PNAC.  For what that got us..etc)

I suspect that, after losing to Obama in 08 and 12, the party will have to come to terms with what defines it and they will put aside the fundies and the faux populism and become real conservatives again.  That would be a grand and happy day for America.

Incidentally, McCain's time was in 2000, the Bushies swiftboated him but good

Tragically, ironically, with the same tactics he's now trying and failing to use against Obama.

This is one of the tragedies of McCain.   Shakespeare should rise and write a play about this.

He seems like a nice enough guy - dig too deep and you find out that he's a bullying thug cheating prick, but on the surface?  Nice enough guy.  Comes across as pleasant in interviews.  Seems like the kind of guy you'd want to have with you in your Masonic lodge.  Go to dinner with from time to time.  So it's kind of sad that he's being hoisted upon his own petard in this campaign.  Poor dumb bastard...

She could run for the Senate in 2010.