McCain-Palin rally to expect masked protestors with a hint of Rocky Road ..

John McCain and Sarah Palin are due in Strongsville this afternoon for a campaign rally, and while we knew to expect big crowds, we're now getting word that a group donning grim reaper masks plans to protest across the street from the venue.

"Change to Win" claims to represent a number of major unions, including the Teamsters.

An email claims that about 100 members will be posted on Royalton Road in Strongsville, right across the street from the McCain-Palin rally. The notice claims the workers feel McCain is a "job killer" so they plan to wear the masks while protesting McCain's job plans.

The release also says:

"The groups will be joined by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream entrepreneurs, who will be unveiling their 'Hugger Mobile.' The Hugger is a Ford F150 van that features a life size statue of President Bush and Senator McCain locked in a warm embrace."

Since there are often threats of protests that don't materialize and since I'm not assigned to cover the event, I don't know how much validity there is here. Still, if the protest happens as scripted, I'm not sure how much coverage it will receive either .. but visually, it sounds like something that will draw video cameras.

I also wonder if any of the crowd will turn on the local news crews as was alleged to have happened at Palin's recent stop in Alabama.

Thoughts here?

P.S. If you're going .. and B&J are there, can you bring me back some ice cream? :)

Palin's interview leaves much to debate while Biden's gaffe makes many roll their eyes

After watching Katie Couric's interview with Gov. Sarah Palin, a few things come to mind.

Watch Part 1 here:



Watch Part 2 here:


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First, I just don't feel that I know her positions any better now than I did before she began chatting with Katie. Palin quotes support for John McCain's policies but seems disheveled on some of the specific foreign policy questions. Maybe it's just nerves.

Second, I didn't quite understand her chest-thumping about keeping America safe should Russia's President Vladimir Putin or other Russian aircraft fly into U.S. airspace saying:

"It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation,
Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our tate. "

When Palin says send those out, it sounds as though she talking about sending U.S. aircraft out to ensure our airspace stays safe.

Since when would that be the Governor's job?

While as Governor, Palin is charged with using Alaska's National Guard in a state emergency, it would NOT be her job nor would she have the authority to order military planes into the air to keep tabs on a foreign military force. That authority belongs solely to the Federal government and the White House.

If she's just wanting a pat because the Federal troops are located in her home state, then that seems a bit hollow because she really didn't have a choice in the matter. It just comes with being Governor of Alaska. I certainly understand Governor's taking credit of troops in their home state doing a good job (Stickland praising the flights from Wright-Pat into Iraq for example) but is she trying to say she has a hand in the Alaska fighter planes' missions?

Does anyone else interpret her response that way? or am i way out in Bering Sea somewhere?

Third, Palin mentions getting credit for foreign policy experience because her state is wedged between Russia and Canada. Now, she's never been to Russia but she has been to Canada. So wouldn't that make the Governors of all the northern states (Washington, Minnesota, etc.) that share a border with the Maple Leafs just as qualified when it comes to foreign policy as she is?

Fourth, I did learn more about her with her comments about Israel. Sort of.

While Palin got a bit "stumbly" with Katie, I think the Governor was trying to say that the U.S. could make its preferences known to Israel without second-guessing how Israel conducts itself with regards to Iran. I'd be surprised if Palin doesn't rework that argument and practice a cleaner response prior to her debate with Sen. Joe Biden.

That's my take on the interview .. what did you notice?

By the way, did you see Biden's mistep in talking about the past? If not, it's a classic and perfect for the Daily Show ... check it out here:

John McCain speaks one-on-one with Channel 3 News

Sen. John McCain granted a one-on-one interview with our Senior Political Correspondent, Tom Beres, today.

Obviously this is a big week for McCain as the first debate with Sen. Barack Obama is slated for Friday.

Watch it in it's entirety.