Spike Lee -- whom the Times Union blog photographed sitting to Suffolk Legis. Vivian Viloria-Fisher's right at the Denver parley -- spoke with Newsday's Liz Moore in the airport en route back to LaGuardia. Some quotes, bound to be found provocative in some circles:

"It was a historic night," he said. "I hope people look at the contrast of the faces what they've seen in Denver versus the faces they are going to see in Minneapolis.

"The faces in Denver were true American faces -- white, black, brown, young, old. Minnesota’s going to look like an Arizona golf club. You know what that’ll look like."

"An Arizona country club. That is the face of Arizona: Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Howdy Doody-- that's 1950. We’re in the 21st century!

"In 2040, white Americans will be in the minority. I don’t think the GOP has gotten the email yet.

"The most photographed black people in America will be the two black Republicans at the convention. They’re going to get more airtime than John McCain.

"They’ll pull some Negroes off the shelf and stick them out there, but we know what that is. What you saw last night is a new America.

"It was the 45th anniversary of Dr.King's 'I have a Dream' speech.

"It’s not a coincidence.It’s a movement.

"Barack said it last night: McCain doesn’t get it."

Just then, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown walked up to introduce himself to Lee and shake his hand.

"Keep shoveling that snow!" Lee said. "I'm just kidding."

Brown noted that he grew up in Hollis, Queens with Russell Simmons.

They talked about how ...

Some hours ago, we noted here that Sarah Palin was a pretty good choice politically, at least compared to the alternatives.

She's risky, but it's a deep pick, with multiple dimensions. If the Dems want to attack her experience, they'll be drawn into a debate about whether she has more or less experience than Obama -- and if they're caught up in trying to prove their No. 1 is as good as McCain's No. 2, they'll lose.

But what about substance? Beyond the talking points, it's pretty clear that Obama's campaign itself is an achievement far surpassing anything Palin has achieved. She's got a pretty thin resume -- and there's certainly a case to be made that she's not anywhere near prepared for the breadth and depth of domestic and foreign governing and policy challenges she would face as president.

There are arguments that she is adequately qualified, and people who will buy them, but there are also lots of people who will see her as totally unqualified. If you believe that, then you have to conclude that McCain chose an unqualified person because he needed her political assets to achieve his ambition.

So, if that's what you conclude -- what becomes of his "Country First" slogan? Don't you have to conclude that he's put the country at risk to achieve his personal ambitions? Here's what one friend and former colleague, a woman and a longtime admirer of McCain, e-mailed today:

"I take back anything positive i ever said about john mccain....he put an unqualified, inexperienced light-weight a heart beat away from the presidency. reckless, unconscionable and utterly unforgivable. i'm done with him forever....he put politics ahead of the welfare of the country. i expect that of bush, not john mccain. i feel completely betrayed."

That's not a prevailing reaction today. But it's out there.

One of the great breaks John McCain has made with the Bush administration that appeals to centrists, independents and swing voters is his position that global warming is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

Sarah Palin apparently hasn't gotten there yet. From a recent interview with NewsMax, a conservative news site:

"Q. What is your take on global warming and how is it affecting our country?

Palin: A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made."

This reflects a perilous aspect of the selection. McCain has selected a woman, but a woman who is a pretty doctrinaire conservative -- not just on abortion and guns, but also on evolution, gay rights and global warming.

If the goal is to attract Hillary backers who might find McCain palatable because he has developed an image of being less doctrinaire than Bush, what good does a woman do if she's a woman who's going to erode the moderate image?

And not just on social issues, which are matters of faith and values, but on issues of science. Isn't belief that human activity contributes to global warming pretty mainstream at this point? Doesn't it give McCain himself pause to be picking someone who doesn't get it yet?

First, a pool report on Obama and Biden meeting Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Then, the McCains and Palins grab some ice cream in New Concord, Ohio.

Read a very nice primer on Palin from an Alaska blogger on Mudflats:

She is against listing polar bears as an endangered species because it interferes with development. She favors letting hunters shoot wolves from airplanes. She favors ANWR drilling, which McCain opposes (so far). She favors a Canada route for a gas pipeline instead of an Alaskan route, which is a jobs issue.

A good rundown of the chronology on the firing of her state trooper brother-in-law. This description of her political appeal:

Wasilla is the heart of the Alaska “Bible belt” and Sarah was raised amongst the tribe that believes creationism should be taught in our public schools, homosexuality is a sin, and life begins at conception. She’s a gun-toting, hang ‘em high conservative. Remember…this is where her approval ratings come from. There is no doubt that McCain again is making a strategic choice to appeal to a particular demographic - fundamentalist right-wing gun-owning Christians.

And this description of Wasilla, where she was mayor:

Behind the Mug-Shot Saloon (the first bar I visited when I moved to Alaska long ago) is a little strip mall. There are street signs in Wasilla with bullet holes in them. Wasilla has a population of about 5500 people, and 1979 occupied housing units. This is where your potential Vice President was two short years ago. Can you imagine her negotiating a nuclear non-proliferation treaty? Discussing foreign policy? Understanding non-Alaskan issues? Frankly, I don’t even know if she’s ever been out of the country. She may ‘get’ Alaska, but there are only a half a million people here. Don’t get me wrong….I love Alaska with all my heart. I’m just saying.

And, another post here.

Sarah Palin and McCain have already done their family People interviews, and People has a release out -- including the news that Palin is still nursing her latest baby.

On whether she’ll be able to balance the vice-presidency with her family’s needs: “She’s heard that her whole life—the challenges of being a female mother in the work force,” says the governor’s husband, Todd Palin. “I remember the first time she ran for mayor on of her fellow council members told her you can’t run for mayor because you’ve got three negatives: Track, Bristol and Willow. Those are the three kids we had at the time. So, when you tell her that kind of stuff, she just gets fired up. We’re an Alaska family that adapts.”

Gov. Palin, who is still nursing her son, tells PEOPLE she’s used to multi-tasking: “What I’ve had to do, though, is in the middle of the night, put down the Blackberries and pick up the breast pump. Do a couple of things different and still get it all done.”

Full release after the jump.

At least on that level, Palin is a success.

Talk about seizing the headlines -- an unknown ex-beauty queen for vice president will always trump some speech, won't it?

Via TPM.

“We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain. While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate.”

Which is interesting -- quite diplomatic, and balancing her recently expressed support for the Dem ticket with her interest in sustaining support from her gender-conscious supporters. Compare it to, say, Rahm Emanuel:

"After trying to make experience the issue of this campaign, John McCain celebrated his 72nd birthday by appointing a former small town mayor and brand new Governor as his Vice Presidential nominee. Is this really who the Republican Party wants to be one heartbeat away from the Presidency? Given Sarah Palin's lack of experience on every front and on nearly every issue, this Vice Presidential pick doesn't show judgment. It shows political panic."

And here's a description of her from the Anchorage Press: "A small-town, angel-faced mother of four, an avid hunter and a fisher with a killer smile who wears designer glasses and heels, and hair like modern sculpture, who's taking it to the boys ever so softly."

Picture of her from her beauty queen days and now, via AP. Definitely not Dick Cheney:

Watch them here or here.

"We send our congratulations to Governor Sarah Palin and her family on her designation as the republican nominee for Vice President. It is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics. While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward Governor Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign."

Here is a report the TPM website did a couple of weeks ago, summarizing the state of play. And here's a recent TV news report from an Alaska station, posted via TPM:

So, for the moment, there seems to be the potential for a distraction here.