Which brings us to the next question...

[Nine]

OK, I think this Palin pregnancy story - that the 4-month-old is actually the daughter's and not hers - is true. But whether or not you believe it, there's no denying the story has legs. So why choose her? Is McCain's campaign really that incompetent? Is someone trying to sabotage him? Is there some other strategical reason for choosing her that I can't see - some way this could actually be turned into a positive? Thoughts?

[applegrove]

1. I think the pregnancy daughter story was made up in some GOP boileroom to

make democrats look mean and bitchy. Fact are it is women older than 36 who are most at risk of having a child with down's syndrome. Palin's story of being tested and then waiting to tell the story of the baby is believable.

[Nine]

3. Do you think the airplane story is believable too?

Mothers of any age can have a child with Down Syndrome.

[applegrove]

6. I don't know enough about the airplane story to say whether it is true or not.

But I see no reason why that baby is not Palin's.

[LongDistanceRunner]

10. maybe you should actually research the evidence before you come to your conclusion

[scheming daemons]

2. If true, she looks like the concerned mother of a teenager that was protecting her future...

Lots of suburban mops will relate to that.

[TTUBatfan2008]

9. Committing insurance fraud?

EPIC FAIL.

[LongDistanceRunner]

11. No she looks like a crazed right-winger trying to protect her political career

and her family's spotless public image

[CampDem]

4. I don't believe that the baby granma story is true, but here are some thoughts:

As an Alaskan I am as surprised as everyone else about this. One strategical reason I can see for picking her is her oil and gas relationships. I think they have had their eye on her for some time up here as a rising rethug star. Big oil loves Palin and she knows them well as Alaska produces something like 10% of the US supply. She is trying to build a gas pipeline up here which has been in the works for 10 years and somehow she is very close to getting it. Some are very upset about the way the way she has handled this project and believe she is in the pockets of big oil. Her rise to political power was exceptionally quick and bloody. They joke up here about the body count of her political rivals and people who cross her landing in jail, getting fired, or getting investigated by the feds. Big oil may want her in the white house because she can have intelligent discourse about it, unlike McCain who cannot.

[sandnsea]

5. Is there baby story rumored up there?

It's the most wild thing I have ever heard. Around here, girls go visit their aunt in Portland and coincidentally have miscarriages.

[CampDem]

8. I hadn't heard the baby rumors until today

I don't believe it, though the story is strange. If she lied about flying on Alaska Airlines wouldn't the crew see that she wasn't really pregnant? Then, if she lied about giving birth at Matsu Regional hospital everyone in the maternity ward would know she wasn't there. She is a celebrity here and her pregnancy was being discussed a lot because she announced it so late and her being a mature Mom with 4 kids etc.

[KittyWampus]

7. It was a family decision if it's true. Thus, personal.

[LongDistanceRunner]

12. does that give her the right to lie to the Public?

she is not just some private citizen, she is a Governor

[Awsi Dooger]

13. Pardon me while I laugh for an hour

You believe it's true?

Probability is never a specialty around here, but this is one of the toppers.

Conspiracies are remarkably fortunate. They have no burdens other than imagination.