RE: Governor Palin's preformance from last Thurs. 10/02 evening debate:

"The precipitation in the Iberian peninsula is concentrated primarily in the flat, low-lying central regions..."

Scott Benowitz, Rye, New York, U.S.A.

Re.failed politicians,I believe it was Plato who observed that anyone who sought high office should not be entrusted with it.

Eddy, Bury St.Edmunds,

Loved the article. Can we have replacements for Piers Morgan and Russel Brand. Though unfortunately they'd probably just replacing each other.

Dean, Southampton, England

Jan C,

You're kidding, aye? If not, then 'Lowing' is the noise cows make. As described in the article. From 'Away in a Manager' - The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes...etc. Well, it is nearly Christmas.

Great article as usual Rod.

Sooty, Edinburgh,

as a gay american from a blue state the prospect of her being elected fills me with dread. and amusement..to quote the religious fanatics who hijacked this government. " we are in the end times"

rik, boston, was the usa

Some Americans recognize Sarah Palin's debate performance was nothing more than a 90-minute stump speech. And she apparently reads so many newspapers a day that she can't name one of them... Can I come live with you if the Republicans win again?

Lori Chandler, Guerneville, USA

McCain needed a dumb running mate to make him look smarter.
And, what what does a vice president do anyway.
What horrifies me is that McCain has a heart attack and a menapausal Palins finger hovers over the nuclear button..

brian bunting, Chorley, United Kingdom

Palin was less adept at disguising avoidance of answering a question than Obama, McCain or Biden.
When Bliar reejcted Mandy, he declinced. Mandy put Brown in his place. Mandy was New Labour. In it's hour of greatest need, who else should lead the final battle agians the Tory toffs?

Harlan Leyside, Basildon, England

And Barack Obama has the experience of...?

And as far as who knew facts in the debate, Joe Biden thinks the US and France kicked Hezbollah out of Lebanon.
He mentioned something about Bosniacs too.
And he's got experience 127 years in the senate.

lisa, portland, usa

This is from the country that has Gordon Brown John Prescott and Peter Mandelson in charge of the country. You showed us! Sorry, can't finish this comment laughing too hard...

Simon, St. Louis, usa

Sarah Palin. We have an English comedian called Michael Palin. The main difference is that I laugh with Michael and laugh at Sarah.

She survived the debate because she'd learned the scripts beforehand. If she had been honest and answered questions it would have been as hilarious as previous times

Alan Davidson, Bournemouth,

Rod Liddle is a wet end.

Comments posted by such wet ends and published by this "news" source have about as much relevance to the American voting public as do stories on Rime Royal and Fox Hunting...

Good luck with your 15 seconds of fame, Roddy...

American Voter

Tran, Salem, U.S.A.

If Sarah Palin has the intellect and experience of a whelk, where does the average Labour politican stand?

peterj, Aberdeen, uk

Can Rod explain what animal a woman would be mimicing by "lowing"? Is it a bakewell tart that is nice and nutty? I have no idea what "lowing" is?

Jan C, Swansea,

Recently returned from a wedding in the UK some of you Brits were afraid of me because Im from Alabama US Minds changed after brief conversation (Im sure the ale helped). However, I was very surprised at the contempt and ignorance of (most things) America. 'YA'LL' got it wrong on Palin +socialism

John Akridge, Alabama, USA

Dont worry about Sarah Palin -- her fifteen minutes are nearly up. Most Americans vote their wallets or investment portfolios, and most are going to blame Republicans for the market crash. But lighten up on Mrs. Palin, fellas -- she's adding a bit of zest to the proceedings but nothing more.

Rufus P. Firefly, Arlington (Virginia), USSA

It's not true, Chris. Europe couldn't care less if our railways are privatised, public owner or run by Martians. They were privatised because parts were unprofitable and the Major administration (in conjunction with utterly incompetent civil servants) was incapable of turning them around.

Zoe Robinson, Manchester, UK

You pretty well nailed Palin! Biden had to "fight" with one hand tied behind his back, while Palin did her "cute" comedy routine. She lacked in humanity and warmth though, like a programmed android. Joe Biden showed himself to be the authentic one of the two when he told about his family tragedy.

Donna Hughes, Story City, Iowa, USA

Dunno about Sarah Palin, but Barack Obama's running mate has revealed the intellect and political experience of....who is he/she again? The backing of Obama by the dim-witted Hollywood mafia and their counterparts in New York and beyond should be all voters need to know to vote Republican.

David, London,

I read somewhere that the railways were nationalised in this way because it was the only structure that was acceptable under EU rules. Does anyone know if this is true?

Chris Thompson, Rotherham, England

Whelks have pretty shells -- alright, alright, so does Sarah Palin. But I'm sure that if you were to investigate the matter properly you would find that whelks occupy an important place -- alright, some place -- in the ecosystem.

Now, can you say the same about her? Don't be mean to whelks, Rod.

Nick, St. Catharines, Canada

Sarah Palin has something none of the other candidates have: actual experience running things, aka "executive experience". This puts her head and shoulders above Biden, who probably couldn't run a successful lemonade stand. The presidency and VP are *executive* jobs, and experience counts!

Barium, California, USA

Jimmy Carr is very funny, and Sharon Osbourne is married to fame, not mother to it.

John, Edinburgh,

What does it say about the English when in most countries a comedian is a comedian but in England he is a comic 'genius' .
Jimmy Carr is not funny.

Douglas Maxwell, Richmond, Yorkshire

I wonder if the subsidy required to run the secondary rail routes closed by Dr Beeching (MIke, Newbury) would have been anywhere near the threefold increase in public subsidy required by the railway since 1996.

Rob, Leeds, England

Gordon Brown is simply incompetent.
Why did mcCain choose someone as arrogantly ignorant as Sarah Palin over other intelligent republican candidates? She has no credentials as her interviews clearly prove & the VP is a job way over her head, george bush at least had some brains next to him.

heath, surrey, UK

Rod

Hilarious on Palin. I must say that you don't pull any punches. Great stuff...

Paddy Briggs, Teddington,

Make the police take off their medals [unless they were serving soldiers] and take off the ridiculous flat hats. Blair's problem was he liked the look in the mirror and was media man instead of a policeman. Appoint a major from the army instead.

jane fleming, WHITTLESEY, United Kingdom

I chose to believe that, by appointing Mandelson, Gordon Brown is finally showing us his sense of humour.
'I'm toast anyway so let's have a laugh.'

tim knight, birmingham, england

Why do people persist in the myth that the railways were better when they were state run? They were NOT . They were truly appalling. As for Beeching, you can imagine the sort of article Liddle would be writing if the taxpayer was still subsidising every little branch line.

mike, Newbury,

OK, someone likes Jimmy Carr. I think Amy Winehouse is a terrific singer and others can take their choices, BUT how could anyone with more than four brain cells support Sarah Palin?

David, Bromley,

Sorry Rod - agree with most of that cept the part about Jimmy Carr - the guy's a comic genius - ok he is insulting, but read between the lines - he makes alot of astute observations about our society

Richard Loach, London, UK