General world consensus in 2004 was that the US was insane to even think about re-electing Bush, but we went thru with it anyway. Tho just barely.

But what I'm really wondering is: when was the last time anyone but so much effort into analyzing the choice of VP? And when did it really make a difference in the election?

Last question first: maybe LBJ in 1960? Kennedy really benefited from that choice.

First question last: I'm drawing a blank.

I'm thinking that this choice is a bit of a smoke screen. McCain will draw in a few of the Christian fundamentalists and some of the female voting fence-sitters, and maybe a few who vowed they would only vote for Hillary as a Democratic choice. But it's still going to get down to voting for the Main Man for each party.

Brian, thanks for copying Al's unwarramted personal attack.  It's content and wording speaks volumes most especially when he knows he's on ignore.

That's hilarlious. If that had really been Scott's intent, he would have just
come out and said it.

My very first reply to his link came "right out and said it" with the quotation marks pointing out that there was nothing unbiased about his post. 

Al, we don't have any idea if that was "unbiased" and cannot even honestly make an educated guess as to if it was or not.

Shame on Al for thinking every one is so stupid as to not be able to see that.

I confess that I haven't even read the article you linked to yet, Al, but the first thought that came to mind is, do we really care what Canada thinks of our political choices?

Good point.  America's first priority should be what's good for America.  What the rest of the world thinks should be secondary.  With the support we give so many nations, it's kind of like a parent/child relationship.  The parent has to do what's best for the family even if the child throws a tantrum and doesn't like it.

Given the fact that she was governor of Alaska, it seems entirely possible to
me that some Canadians know more about her than most Americans.

I wouldn't agree.  According to this article, in Alaska, as of the time this was written last year, her approval rating was 90%, making her the governor with the highest approval rating in the nation.  I would say the people in Alaska would be a better guage than any Canadian.  As for the other 49 states, I'd say they were probably on equal footing with our northern friends.  Saying they know more because they are closer is absurd as saying she's better on foriegn policy because Alaska is closer to Russia.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/00 0/013/851orcjq.asp