Commentary: Is McCain out of his mind?

(CNN) – John McCain needs what Kinky Friedman calls “a checkup from the neck up.”

In choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate, he is not thinking “outside the box,” as some have said. More like out of his mind.

Palin a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people, will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight. Her personal story is impressive: former fisherman, mother of five. But that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

For a man who is 72 years old and has had four bouts with cancer to have chosen someone so completely unqualified to become president is shockingly irresponsible. Suddenly, McCain’s age and health become central issues in the campaign, as does his judgment.

In choosing this featherweight, McCain passed over Tom Ridge, a decorated combat hero, a Cabinet secretary and the former two-term governor of the large, complex state of Pennsylvania. iReport.com: ‘McCain pick might be a gimmick’

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Why This “Hillary Holdout” Is Backing Barack

On June 7th, my heart was broken. The candidate of my lifetime and my dear friend Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton suspended her historic Presidential campaign.

Over the past two months I have become the poster-child, in the press, for the so-called Hillary holdouts; Hillary Clinton supporters who were angry and frustrated with the way she was treated in the primary and post-primary and weren’t ready for unity. I was frustrated at the incredible amount of misogyny in our political process and in our media. And I was embarrassed that my party, and its leadership, never came to her defense when she faced a barrage of attacks based on her gender.

I still bear some wounds, but I’ve thought long and hard about the issues I support and that I believe in and Hillary has led me to understand that Senator McCain supports little of what I champion.

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Obama’s Speech Lures Some Fence-Sitters as Others Await McCain

Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) – Barack Obama‘s speech last night left Janell Mader, a 32-year-old lifelong Republican, “a little overwhelmed” — and likely to vote for him in November.

“All of the concerns or questions that I had have been answered,” Mader, a homemaker from York, Pennsylvania, said of Illinois Senator Obama, 47, the Democratic presidential candidate. “John McCain‘s going to have to do something pretty incredible next week for me to be convinced that theRepublican Party deserves another four years.”

Mader was one of a dozen undecided voters from across the U.S. who discussed their impressions both before and immediately after Obama accepted his party’s nomination at Invesco Field in Denver on the closing night of the Democratic National Convention.

Some of these persuadable voters had been leaning toward Obama and others were leaning toward the Republican candidate, Arizona Senator McCain, 72. Many said they were impressed by the address. While some of the voters said the first part of Obama’s speech was short on specifics, he ultimately allayed their concerns, and most had a positive view of the convention.

At 77, Elizabeth Roszel has never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate, though she is considering backing Obama this year.

`Very Good Case’

The Democrat “has a very good case and I’m feeling very positive about him,” said Roszel, who lives in Philpot, Kentucky. “Now, I have to hear the Republicans,” who are scheduled to gather next week in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Going into the convention, Obama’s task was to convince these undecided voters that he could match his campaign’s message of change with substantive proposals for addressing the economy, health care and the war in Iraq.

He made his case, said Kathryn Martin, a 64-year-old registered nurse from Miami Lakes, Florida, who voted for Senator Hillary Clinton, 60, in the Democratic primary.

“I’m sold,” Martin said. “I think we’re ready for him.”

Oprah: “I Cried My Eyelashes Off!”

DENVER — First word on Barack Obama’s historic nomination acceptance speech from a bevy of celebrities in attendance was decidedly partisan: “It was excellent,” Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie said. “It was amazing.”

“Incredible,” said Jessica Alba simply, before joining Fergie, Rosario Dawson, Wilmer Valderrama and Kerry Washington at a private exit from Invesco Field. Alba was at the speech with husband Cash Warren.

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