Morning Talk Shows Abuzz With Palin Pick

Sarah Palin ruled the political morning shows today at the expense of Barack Obama's historic speech last week, Politico reports:

• John McCain rebuked criticisms that Palin was unqualified to be "a heartbeat away" from the presidency. “She’s been commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard," he said on Fox News Sunday. "She’s had judgment on these issues."
• On This Week and Meet the Press, Republicans Sen. Lindsey Graham and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty chimed in that Palin has been "in charge of the National Guard" and a "commander in chief."

• On This Week, John Kerry called her part of the "flat-Earth caucus," saying McCain had “chosen somebody who doesn’t believe climate change is man-made.” He also called Palin's candidacy "almost insulting to the Hillary supporters."
• Pawlenty nearly touched on Palin's support for teaching creationism alongside evolution in public schools. “Allow them both to be presented so students could be exposed to both,” he said on Meet the Press.
• Hurricane Gustav was a hot topic on several shows, but only insofar as it affected the Republican National Convention.

(More Sarah Palin stories.)