Well, you can't fault the McCain campaign for playing it safe. I think this is a potentially good pick for him, although a lot of that is because so many of the alternatives (like Tim Pawlenty) would have been so manifestly awful.
Obviously, there are also a lot of risks. In an interview with Kay Bailey Hutchinson on CNN right now, Hutchinson didn't seem quite sure how to pronounce Palin's name (PAY-LIN or PAH-LIN?), let alone recite any relevant facts about her.
I DON'T think Palin will have a lot of appeal to Hillary Clinton voters, as Palin runs squarely into some gender politics taboos, i.e. the younger, more attractive, but less qualified woman replacing the older one.
But the media will love her, and both conservatives and independents will like her. More thoughts later once I collect them.
UPDATED: Essentially, this is a branding play: it both puts a fresher, younger face on a tired, old party, and reinforces McCain's image for boldness and Mavericktude.
But as one of my commenters notes, "it may be the biggest gamble in political history". A significant gaffe on an issue like foreign policy -- whether in the VP debate or in some other context -- could render the election essentially unwinnable for McCain. And don't expect the Democrats to refrain from going after her inexperience. The phrase "heartbeat away from the Presidency" appears to be in the standard Democratic talking points this morning.
8.29.2008
Multiple Reports: Palin is VP Nominee
@
11:03 AM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
297 comments
Congrats Ms. Pallin…
Ladies … look at his history … John McCain hasn't cared one IOTA about women or issues that matter to them … until he needed one politically …
He's like a no good husband or boyfriend that is selfish … only politically
I wonder if he will pay her equally.
She definitely looks nice in that picture. With her hair up and naughty librarian glasses.
I don't know about her politics, but I suspect alot of voters, neocon or not, will moaning "Madame Vice President" in their sleep.
It's possible she may end up with pretty good favorables during the campaign, but that doesn't make her a good VP pick. The argument that Obama doesn't have the experience to be President is dead with Palin as the VP candidate.
Sigh. Doesn't anyone else remember Tom Eagleton?
1) How will McCain explain why he chose her?
2) How will these two avoid looking like an old man and his trophy wife?
Nate: what are your thoughts on how Palin's trooper-scandal story will play?
Both of my relationships have been longer than Palin's tenure as AK Governor, and I'm 18.
She's also staunchly pro-life and anti-gay marriage, so any end run at PUMAs here seems misguided.
It's a base move, and it's a hope that a safe fall can lull Obama/Biden into something they don't want to do. It's Hope vs. Hope The Other Side Screws Up.
...isn't McCain scheduled to fall over and die in the next 4 years? How are they going to make the case that she'd be ready to lead in case of tragedy?
She provides a fig-leaf for only the most non-sensical female Hillary supporters.
A smart pick though. Yes, she's so so absurdly inexperienced as to make Obama look over-qualified and she's in the middle of a mini-scandal, but she's a straight demographic pick. If she can swing a percent of the female electorate, almost any percent at all, that would be enough in a close election to help McCain win.
Also, by picking a woman, he steps all over Obama's momentum from his speech last night in a way that a Romney or Pawlenty pick never would.
Oh, by the way, I say "good pick" electorally. From a governance standpoint this is idiotic and irresponsible for a man his age. I sincerely hope the American people do not elect Sarah Palin to the last two years of McCain's term.
"I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the V.P. does every day?" Sarah Palin
Recently
I hope McCain's heart stays healthy.
I'd say this is definitely an attempt to shove off the "he's too old" attacks on McCain, but I think it might turn out to accentuate them.
Regardless, I think Palin is a good vice-presidential candidate. She definitely cuts off Obama's slim hopes for turning Alaska ice-blue, and she seems likable and interesting in a way that McCain just doesn't. I think this pick could definitely attract a lot of independents.
"I DON'T think Palin will have a lot of appeal to Hillary Clinton voters, as Palin runs squarely into some gender politics taboos, i.e. the younger, more attractive, but less qualified woman replacing the older one."
This is silly analysis.
You could just as easily say the younger, friendlier, could-be-your-sister woman with actual executive experience replacing the older, bitchier woman with only senatorial and first lady experience.
Huzzah for Sarah Palin.
Well, if I'm Obama I probably don't make a push for AK anymore. But I'm thinking about the debates and whether she will be able to stand toe-to-toe with Biden. I haven't heard her speak, so I won't comment about her skills, but she has a very tough task in going up against Biden.
I must say that I find this pick to be very surprising. I know that her name has been mentioned for a long time, but I think it will likely hurt McCain as much as it will help him (though I've been wrong in the past). Why didn't he go for Hutchinson, who at least has a national identity? Perhaps he wanted to avoid having yet another senator in the mix. Very strange choice.
thearena : "It's a base move"
You better believe it is. The media remains McCain's base, they love him and always have, and Palin is a move to court them. The chance of McCain's instability and recklessness receiving any meaningful investigation or discussion just died.
Another funny thought - this isn't the first time John McCain has gone with a young woman to enhance his
political career (left his first life in an adulterous affair and married his young beer queen mistress).
I bet that is too radioactive for the Obama folks to touch, but it sure screams ot to me.
Mama from Alaska is terrified as to what this means for Obama. She's also a little proud that someone from her tiny little new state is on the national ticket, but she won't say that. "Tiny" in the, you know, figurative sense. Or electoral.
...isn't McCain scheduled to fall over and die in the next 4 years? How are they going to make the case that she'd be ready to lead in case of tragedy?
She has just as much experience as Obama. Or Lincoln, if that's your thing. Or Lady Thatcher.
omg I seriously can't stop googling for Sarah Palin pictures. She is a stone FOX.
I haven't voted with my penis since the Dole/Kemp stud tour, but I might have to this go-round.
This is clearly an attempt by McCain to revive his "Original Maverick" (TM) image so badly damaged by the Obama convention.
But, the election was NEVER about McCain and Obama doesn't need to convince voters NOT to vote for McCain to win.
America is hungry for change and clearly McCain is NOT going to bring that change.
Thus, the ONLY question is whether Obama can make enough people comfortable with him to win. And last night he hit a grand-slam.
That entire convention was designed to bring home Democrats and Democratic leaning Independents by showing that Obama isn't some crazy Muslim radical.
McCain can attack from now on, but mostly he'll be preaching to the choir (Republicans).
Palin probably shores up McCain with some Independents, but this is a Democratic base election.
Can't see disaffected Hillary supporters flocking to McCain just because he picked a woman.
They didn't just want a "woman" they fell in love with HILLARY! That's why Obama didn't pick Sebelius! He knew that would be an insult to those women.
Why should they support McCain because he picked a woman who isn't 1/10th of Hillary Clinton? Not even 1/50th!
This is a cynical pick and a desperate one.
It may work but it may be the biggest gamble in political history.
Wow, just wow.
Ok dems...here come the darts. If you want to highlight inexperience then the GOP welcomes the debate. The bigger issue is why Dems have trouble with strong women? Live by identity politics, die by identity politics. Rip her to shreds, Dems.
Panic pick. Governor of a sparsely populated state for less than two years; before that, mayor of a town with fewer than 8,000 people. What's this do to McCain's "Obama lacks experience" line of attack. McCain turns 72 today -- let's all contemplate Gov. Palin sitting behind the big desk in a couple of years. I don't know about you guys, but that just scares the bejesus out of me.
The argument that Obama doesn't have the experience to be President is dead with Palin as the VP candidate.
Why? She's actually held executive office. Obama has only ever held legislative office.
John McCain must think all women are lemmings. It's insulting. Is he betting that women will automatically line up behind his ticket because his VP has an X chromosome. And like the poster above said, this completely takes the experience issue off the table. She's been mayor of a "city" of less than 10,000 people and governor of a state with barely 500,000 people for a grand
I have no problem with strong women - I am married to one who has higher professional aspirations than me, and makes more money.
I have a problem with picking any person for VP who has only been a mayor of a teeny town in a cynical pander. This is definitely affirmative action in action.
The sad reality is that Biden should be Pres and Obama VP...the dems flipped it....let the inexperience debate begin anew. This is gonna be a lot of fun.
I don't know about you guys, but that just scares the bejesus out of me.
Because she's a Republican. If it was a Democrat, you'd be thrilled.
You see, liberals still believe that women aren't allowed to think independently. If they stray off the reservation, they're not real women. They're scary.
Please.
dkan71: sorry to be debbie downer, but everyone has an X chromosome. Women have 2 =\
also, isdnt the most prudent line of attack here for Obama to enlist Hillary's help to attack Palin ASAP? I don't see any other attack being effective, actually probably counter effective before that happens.
"Or Lady Thatcher."
Thatcher was elected to the House of Commons in 1959, held various junior ministerial positions and shadow cabinet positions between then and 1970, when she was appointed Secretary of State for Education during the Heath government of 1970-74, and was party leader for five years before the election of her Conservative government in 1979.
So, really, the Thatcher analogy is false by any measure.
Grim-
She has less exp. than both Obama and Lincoln, even if you count her years on the town council.
She might be a good pick in other ways, but adding "experience" to the ticket isn't one of them.
Don't be dissin' on Mooseburgers.
Anyone who thinks Palin is a good VP choice, check out this video here. Skip ahead to 2:50 and then come back and try to tell me she's a good choice.
Good lord what a cynical, vacuous pick.
"Overrated said...
Ok dems...here come the darts. If you want to highlight inexperience then the GOP welcomes the debate. The bigger issue is why Dems have trouble with strong women? Live by identity politics, die by identity politics. Rip her to shreds, Dems."
Your name isn't the only thing that's "overrated."
Why would Obama bother to attack Palin? She's the VP candidate! And since WHEN has the VP ever decided an election?
Correct Answer: NEVER!
You have to go back to 1960 to find an election where the VP delivered ONE STATE (Johnson delivered Texas for Kennedy).
The VP debates are surrogates attacking the opposing PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, not each other.
That's why they are generally such a snooze fest that few bother to watch them. The media makes a big deal out of VP debates, but really they tend to change nothing.
Even Lloyd Bentsen destroying Dan Quayle changed nothing. Voters just don't vote for VPs and that's not going to change this time.
premature posting...
I meant to say for a "grand total of 2 years"....That's basically like being the mayor of Mesa, AZ
Why? She's actually held executive office. Obama has only ever held legislative office.
For two years. Of Alaska.
McCain has never held executive office either.
Obama is the next Lincoln while Palin is a few years removed from mayor of a small Alaska town....Lord help us with the piles of Moose manure on this website
So let's get this straight. You complain that your opponent is too young and inexperienced, so you pick a running mate who is younger and less experienced.
She's also the mother of a 4 month old baby with special needs. Is his mom being the VP really in this child's best interests?
if it is Palin...well, first things that come to mind
1)Forget Obama using Palin's lack of experience against her - that's not important - it means that McCain weakens dramatically the use of inexperience against Obama.
2)Some women will now be more likely to vote for McCain/Palin.
3)Some men will now be more likely to vote for Obama/Biden.
4)It reinforces McCains Maverick (TM) image, which is nonsense but widely believed it seems.
Overall? Decent choice, it's a gamble but McCain needs to gamble or he's toast. However, she hasn't been vetted much at all, has a scandal already hanging over her head and the images of her next to McCain will be...interesting.
If it fails, expect McCain to get absolutely smashed now, a swing of even a couple of percent against him could cause him major problems.
Bold, game changing pick. Never say McCain is a timid man.
Isn't it PALE-in? I'm at work with no access to talking heads to tell me how to pronounce it.
She's also the mother of a 4 month old baby with special needs. Is his mom being the VP really in this child's best interests?
One would presume she could get a nanny.
Mmmm, no suprise... gramps is pandering to the mindless PUMAS who will vote for anyone with a vagina.
This does shake up the election. As far as I think this is a pandering choice-it is a good one. She may be inexperienced... but shes a women. That is all she has,
I can see her being called out too... though. She is from Alaska.. which can be pushed to be out of touch with the rest of the country.
She is involved in a scandal too. All you have to do is google her name and state trooper and you get a page full of this. My bet is.. the media talks about "women women women" and not her lack of experience or scandal
This is either going to be a great bouncer or a dead flopper. Palin will either take in a whole bunch of women or flop dead with lack of experience and that scandal.
Makes it interesting
Let's be fair. McCain didn't have a single good pick. His internal polling probably shows bad news and he hit the panic button for the only possible gamechanger.
It's a pure hail mary, which means it's the right pick because he has to go for the hail mary right now to win. A Romney or Pawlenty would have guaranteed a loss; now he has a chance at least.
But wow...seriously? It's come to this for McCain?
Ok Cugel...then why are you so upset? Drink some more Obama Kool-Aid and count to 10 before posting again. Its all good.
That's idiotic.
She's been a governor of a small state for 19 months!
Before that she was a small-town councilwoman and mayor.
She has a bachelor's degree in journalism of all things!
How on earth does that qualify her to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Obama said his first and most important criterion for picking a VP is, is that person ready to be President?
Obama: 8 years in Illinois state legislature, 3 1/2 years United States Senator, President Harvard Law Review, Consitutional Law Scholar, Professor Chicago Law, Author, Prescient grasp of foreign policy, amazing orator ...
I mean come on, how can you even compare these experiences?
Now lets get HRC front and center to ask these questions.
Why? She's actually held executive office. Obama has only ever held legislative office.
So has John McCain. They wouldn't bother going there.
What I see Palin delivering to the McCain campaign is a huge boost of media attention. There's not a politician in America right now that the camera loves more. Plus she has a good story - the All-American Girl. So long as it holds up once the oppo research starts to dig, she presents great frontage for a campaign that is struggling with depth and content.
McCain has just raised his campaign from the grave. Admit it.
>10% chance Palin is a positive for McCain. She could turn out to be amazing since we nothing about her as a campaigner etc.
90% chance she is a net negative. This is a reactive move to the fact the dems had HRC so close. It is a tone deaf pander to HRC supporters. Does the McCain camp realize that the Hillary supporters didn't want just anyone they wanted Hillary Rodham Clinton as President.
The experience argument against Obama just became laughable.
To think the women that poured their hearts and souls into HRC's campaign are going to go, "Hey she's got a vagina like Hillary so now McCain has my vote".
I'll say it again. Wow, just wow.
Obama isn't ready to be C-in-C, but Palin is? McCain just lost even more of the little respect he had from me as a politician.
The VP debate is going to be so fun to watch. A six-term US Senator versus someone who has spent the majority of her political career on the city council of a town of less than 10,000 people.
Yeahhhh, she held an executive position in a state of 670k people. An average urban county has more people than that.
Did you Republicans ever ask yourself that Palin with no national experience or attention can actually be comfortable in her own skin as a VP nominee with all eyes on her???
Sarah Palin(AK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll2z9HwTNQk
Remember the Everclear Song in 2004- Volvo Driving Soccer Mom.
Where do all the porn stars . when the lights go down. I think they moved out to the suburbs . They became blonde bland middle class republican lives with blonde bland middle class republican children with blonde blande middle class Republican lives.
I'd like to remind you guys that polls demonstrated that women were less likely to vote for McCain if he picked a female VP.
Ilywrch, I thought of Tom Eagleton as well, though I can't really think of any particular reason why I would have. On the surface, it's a demonstration of McCain's defining feature, imho: his capacity for sheer cheek. This is a verycheeky VP pick, who on the one hand is conservative enough for the hard right, but has an image of a (smoking hot...sorry, couldn't resist the truth) reformer and Washington outsider. In terms of the VP debate, I have no idea how well she debates, but Biden, while likely licking his chops at whomever was going to be at the table with him, now has to be super-effing carefully to avoid a flareup of his foot-in-mouth disease...no wisecracks, Joe, plox, kthxbai. I don't think that McCain or his people honestly think this will convert women per se, but I think it's a pick designed to reinforce his image as a change agent that Obama picked apart last night, which is definitely the most important factor for him coming down the stretch. It's very interesting to say the least, and it should bear watching how they roll her out and how she will perform on the national stage...this certainly ain't Juneau, now is it?
I sense a strong tone of sexism and ageism on this website. Those are two terms I learned a lot about from my very liberal college prof at Vandy. Interesting...
You have to hand it to McCain for one thing though! Although Mitt Romney was the attack dog he needed and he just couldn't stand Mitt Romney! America is spared 2 more months of the Mittster!
Hugely funny hypothetical "dialog" with McCain about his VP choices:
" The V.P. thing has me down. How am I supposed to top Joe Biden? With Tim Pawlenty? His name sounds like a high-fibre breakfast cereal, eat Pawlenty and help your digestion. It'll only remind people I'm old.
I'd like to pick Joe Lieberman. That'd be some straight talk. And he'd deliver Florida. Those old Jews down there, they don't like the schvartzes, do they?
They don't like Republicans either but they sure like Joe! If only we didn't disagree on everything except Iraq. The base would go crazy if I picked him, damn snake handlers.
I'd love to tell the base to screw themselves. I'd love to take Karl Rove and shove him right up the base's...I gotta stop thinking that way...all of his guys are working for me now. I've forgiven him for South Carolina eight years ago, don't need to carry that around. I'll tell you what, he gets me elected that old boy earns a get out of jail free card.
Everyone's telling me choose Mitt, choose Mitt. And see that Ken Doll face staring at me every day asking Mr. President, Mr. President, can I abolish social security, and the whole time he's waiting for me to keel over so he can step in?
While I was staring down the Vietcong he was on a Mormon mission to France and I'm supposed to help this pampered, venture capitalist Sears mannequin get a leg up on his dream job? I don't think so.
What's a venture capitalist anyway? Note to self: bone up on this economics thing! And who names their son Tagg? It's a dog's name! Tagg Pawlenty! Sounds like dog food. Good thing Tim's son isn't named Tagg. That's one for the plus column. I love Joe Lieberman, though. He'd never name his son Tagg. Tagg Lieberman? It's not right."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seth-greenland/what-is-john-mccain-think_b_122160.html
She's also the mother of a 4 month old baby with special needs. Is his mom being the VP really in this child's best interests?
Oh #### me. Are you that much of an asshole about every parent's choices?
My oldest son has special needs too - presume to tell me what career choices my wife and I should or shouldn't make, to my face, and it will earn you a swift punch on the nose, buddy.
"The VP debate is going to be so fun to watch. A six-term US Senator versus someone who has spent the majority of her political career on the city council of a town of less than 10,000 people."
Biden will look sexist if he attacks her. He is in quite a pickle now, isn't he?
I am glad that McCain has acknowledged that experience is a non-issue. After all he believes a 1 year 7 month govenor of Alaska can lead the free world.
Underlining my earlier point on the other thread:
McCain HAD to do this.
Let's be honest: John McCain clearly wanted Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman, but he was afraid to buck his party's choice ideologues. So then they looked at Mittens, but having a baker's dozen homes wasn't looking so hot. So he figured that with Pawlenty, he might make a play for Minnesota, but that got shot down over the last week as it become increasingly obvious that Biden would wipe the floor with him in their debate.
Throw in Obama's ground-shifting speech last night, and it was clear that McCain had to throw a hail mary to just remain in the game, much less be competitive.
So we get Sarah Palin, who has a fairly compelling personal story and is an attractive woman, but has scant political experience, zero name recognition outside of political junky circles, faces an ethical investigation by her own legislature, and will now be forced to run a grueling national campaign despite having an infant child at home.
Those are the marks of desperation, and really, given his precarious electoral position, John McCain had no choice.
MSNBC chatter:
"Chuck Todd
They really wanted to pick a woman, and there were no obvious choices."
Pat Buchanan
"Biggest political gamble I believe just about in American political history...that is not hyberbole. I can think of no choice of VP that approaches this."
Joe Scarborough
"I can't imagine a woman that's been a governor for a year and a half, but to debate Joe Biden on Georgia, a remerging Russia, an emerging China and India, on the Middle East, my God, how does she do that?"
A HAIL MARY indeed. Enjoy it while it lasts, wingnuts. McCain had to do something, anything bto stop the bleeding. He desperately needed to energise the conservative nutbase, and get them to the polls. Otherwise this election was heading toward a landslide.
Now, the Obama campaign have to define her. First things fucking last, hit the campaign trail hard over the weekend.
Virginia Conservative said...
McCain has just raised his campaign from the grave. Admit it.
As an Obama supporter, I agree. The game did just in fact change.
Good choice, McCain.
Fun Fact:
There are 16 cities in the US with more people than Alaska. Number 16 is Austin, Texas. The next smaller city is Fort Worth, Texas
Overrated said...
I sense a strong tone of sexism and ageism on this website. Those are two terms I learned a lot about from my very liberal college prof at Vandy. Interesting...
-----------
You're insincerity is only exceeded by your partisanship.
wow, i'm shocked!. i never saw this one coming.
i was so sure it was going to be romney, then when i saw on fox earlyer that they said he wasnt going to be it i thought lieberman.....which would have destroyed the party. she is a great pick this will sure up alaska so obama should try in another state.
44 years old; no Federal government experience; less than 2 years as Gov.--her only Statewide experience; former runner-up to Miss Alaska...Hmmm...Can anyone else in the Republican Party so overturn the Obama lacks experience mantra?
it gives the wow factor but ...
it doesnt help with any of the swinging states in the way romney might or biden might.
Its more a general attempt to split the female vote whilst keeping his base happy.
Either way it will be a historic election - and maybe thats part of the mccain thing -he wants the story not to be whether there will be a minority president but whether there will be that or a Female vice president.
The inexperiance factor particularly given mccains age and health is an issue for the media.
And if JM wins, then she would have a huge advantage in the GOP primary next time - are the GOP ready to have a woman president?
it gives the wow factor but ...
it doesnt help with any of the swinging states in the way romney might or biden might.
Its more a general attempt to split the female vote whilst keeping his base happy.
Either way it will be a historic election - and maybe thats part of the mccain thing -he wants the story not to be whether there will be a minority president but whether there will be that or a Female vice president.
The inexperiance factor particularly given mccains age and health is an issue for the media.
And if JM wins, then she would have a huge advantage in the GOP primary next time - are the GOP ready to have a woman president?
"John McCain must think all women are lemmings. It's insulting. Is he betting that women will automatically line up behind his ticket because his VP has an X chromosome. And like the poster above said, this completely takes the experience issue off the table. She's been mayor of a "city" of less than 10,000 people and governor of a state with barely 500,000 people for a grand"
Why must you be so demeaning to women? It's not possible that Palin brings assets to the table? It's not possible that McCain believes she will make a good VP? No, of course not, with the democrats it's of course a sexist move on McCains part...she couldn't possibly hold her own right?
Some of the people on this site, on both the right and the left, are embarrassing. If you're so blindly partisan that you can't acknowledge certain points then I don't know what to tell you. Is she experienced? No. Do I think experience matters? No. I don't agree with Obama on much but I certainly agree with his "Judgement>Experience" line.
Its a solid pick from a media perspective, but man... that scandal is ugly- her "my cabinet serves at my pleasure line is disturbingly like the bush line about federal prosecutors"
i dont see her pulling PUMAs so much as giving McCain a pro-life runningmate who's not utterly worthless. Its a clever tactical move, but i dont think it will play out strategically. Am curious to see her speak at the convention though.
In a overwhelmingly democratic year, every credible argument for McCain over Obama begins with the phrase "In a dangerous world...", and contains the words "safety", "security" and "Islamic fundamentalist extremism". And now this 72 year old cancer survivor promotes the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (population 8400) to the job of taking over the security of the nation should anything happen to him health wise. It's a pick of no substance, with which he hopes to create a firestorm of media celebrity of the type that he's spent a solid 2 months (successfully) decrying about Obama. He's also bought into the myth of the PUMA - rabid feminist women supporters of HRC ready to support any woman at the drop of a hat. The real Clinton supporters who are available to be persuaded by McCain are the army of white blue collar men (democrats by not highly partisan ones) who supported her because they were persuaded by her campaign that Obama was risky, inexperienced and unready to be president in dangerous times. How does McCain's Sarah Palin gimmick look to those voters?
My secretary is a life-long Catholic Democrat who cannot get over the Obama hurdle. She supported Edwards (hates him now) and not Hillary. She says she will not vote in this election, because she does not trust Obama. But she's been rediculing Palin as a pick for the last 45 minutes. Says it's "irresponsible".
Dumbest . . pick . . . ever.
Even moderate Republicans will be offended by this pick, much less independents.
This election just became a landslide.
Wow.
I guess McCain is more desperate than I thought after the DNC.
I think Palin seems like a skilled politician, but she seriously undercuts the "experience" argument.
Strange choice. Very conservative values...under investigation for abuse of power...and linked to big oil in a few ways. She seems to walk right into the Dems' argument that McCain is more of the same. But, the stagecraft of choosing someone with different gonads might dupe a few people. Who knows?
It looks like this nation needs to have a deeper debate on who is the most experienced candidate to be President. Let's do it!. Palin as VP or Obama as Pres. You make the call...
She looks appealing - don't take that as sexism; that's about all most of us know about her - and her positions appeal to conservatives.
It at least shows that McCain's a gambler. Either he figures Palin provides that oomph he needs to get to the finish line or he figures he's fucked anyway and might as well go out with a bang of his own choosing. I can't see another circumstance where he'd make this pick - though I'm sure someone will enlighten me.
Even wingnuts have to admit this showcases utter McDesperation. Palin only energiizes in the short-term.
It doesn't change the VP debate at all. Biden is the toughest debater in either party. The Republicans know it and McCain couldn't put up a typical pick like Romney, Portman, Pawlently or Ridge. Palin is a disarming tactic, but it won't work. She has ZERO experience, other than governing a small state for 2 years that'll likely go for McCain...unless, that is, he's genuinely worried it could go to Obama. She's anti-choice, and has a corruption scandal hovering over her head. Palin also supports indicted coot Ted Stevens.
The Palin Pick (?)
I find it a curious choice and something of a transparent attempt to woo disaffected female voters. That said, the point of these things is to win and I think McCain will have made a smart, strategic characterization in picking Governor Palin.
First, let’s face it, Obama wound up having a good convention and made a good speech. He can be made defensive on the issues: national security, taxes and energy. But he has the Big Mo’ right now. That his biography remains sketchy and incomplete is perhaps the last hurdle he has, until he vaults to the Presidency.
McCain needs to do something to arrest Obama’s momentum and all the publicity he is getting coming out of Denver. McCain cannot afford to be reduced to a quasi-irrelevancy in this campaign or he will lose. Given Barrack’s big night and the universal acclaim of the punditry (overdone), McCain needed to force a turn over now and the Palin pick will do that in the way that no other pick would not.
Might it backfire? Time will tell. But unless you are a Thomas Eagleton, you don’t screw things up too bad as number two on the ticket. The Palin pick may be a bit like forcing a foul at the end of a basketball game when you are behind. Yes, you send your opponent to the line where he may score more points, but you too get a chance to get the ball back.
In the end this election will not turn on Biden/Palin. It will turn on who Barack Obama is. After two years of campaigning will still don’t know. The only real personal testimony about the man at his convention came from his wife and brother-in-law for crissakes!
Sarah Palin? An immortal name or another footnote in history? Dunno. The answer will turn on how much more we find out about Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko and John Does yet unnamed.
McCain by picking Palin has stooped the train from leaving the station with him left on the platform. Now let’s see what he does to be back on board.
Boy I'm going to enjoy watching the right-wingers who post here squirm as this pick goes down in flames, taking the McCain campaign with it. Buh-bye.
Too early for me think how this will influence this race.
For sure: Obama can stop advertising in Alaska. It's safely red now. Well, I'll wait to see the first poll.
I think this may have a bigger influence on the Alaska Senate and House races. Spec the House race.
"I DON'T think Palin will have a lot of appeal to Hillary Clinton voters, as Palin runs squarely into some gender politics taboos, i.e. the younger, more attractive, but less qualified woman replacing the older one."
This and other male comments are making me wonder if some of the guys here even know any women.
She is a great news story for a few days. She will not appeal to most women voters. Most women voters are pro-choice.
Alaska has a population of 670,053. She's a governor? Looks like basically a Mayor. Bring back Giuliani.
This was the best pick of a series of unappealing picks that John McCain had.
I went to school in Alaska for my post-grad, right as Palin beat Frank Murkowski (and I'm freaking out because my original home is Arizona, so I know both Repub candidates at least fairly well). Palin's likeable and is a staunch conservative both socially and fiscally.
That said, I don't think a pro-life female who MIGHT be president will be enough to sway most women. I think that McCain has started to believe the hype about how many PUMAs and disaffected women are out there. I just don't think there are that many. To be honest, Obama's more than likely got his 85% of registered Democrats he needs to win, no matter what.
That said, kudos to McCain for the pick. Basically, he and his advisors know that they are going to likely lose. They need a HUGE game changer to eke out a victory. Palin is conceivably that game changer. I just think when women, who tend to be pro-choice and pro-gun control, find out Palin is pro-life and more conservative in her stance on firearms, the pick won't retain the massive number of women McCain needs to win.
As an independent though, I do like Palin. I agree to a larger degree with her social stances. That said, she's a bit too big oil for me, I don't like her on drilling, and when it's all said and done she won't be President, McCain will. And I'd much rather have Obama be President rather than McCain.
I knew she was a staunch social conservative, but it looks like she's a loopy creationist too. Nice!
Oh comeone top shelf, there is a difference between being inexperienced, and oblivious! If this woman can point out on the map the country of Georgia, I shall vote for McCain-Palin.
This is a joke of a selection that has nothing to do with how well of a VP she could be or a president if called upon. This plays into two categories, novelty and media hype.
Her big problem will the the VP debate.
Biden doesn't have to attack her necessarily, just answer the questions on foreign policy.
Then it is up to her to match. The VP debate will get a lot of attention this year just because of her, so it will matter. Because of McCain's age, any serious gaffes will be magnified.
Biden doesn't have to worry about being sexist, but more about being solid on the foreign policy questions. He needs to complicate the debate somehow, introduce something complex like afghanistan/pakistan border sovereignty issues and then hope she drops the ball.
Palin might be okay, even effective, but this is a purely political choise that reeks of shameless pandering and desperation. How does McCain explain with a straight face that she is the most qualified one for the job?
Overrated: I plead guilty to sexism. I went to Swarthmore, aka Kremlin on the Crum as noted by Spiro T. Agnew, and for such a progressive population, the amount of sexism and even xenophobia was astonishing. I'm guilty myself, but I'm not sure why it happens.
Putting aside my partisan feelings, it actually does scare me to think this woman would be a heartbeat from the Presidency. I mean, she's not much more qualified than I am!
I do think McCain will win some women's votes with this choice, but he will also lose some men.
First, lemme just give a big HA! to the idiotic and massively hypocritical claim that any Dem here is being sexist, although you have certainly highlighted a talking point that will no doubt be repeated ad naseum any time anyone attacks the poor innocent woman that was recruited by the progressive maverick and woman's rights advocate McCain. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll protect her since no doubt he doesn't think she is capable of protecting herself.
Next, I absolutely agree that this was both a necessary and bad choice. Obama pulled an Eminem in 8 mile with his speech last night, taking away what little ammunition McCain had to drive his campaign forward. Going for shock value, as hypocritical and judgmentally poor as it is, was the only way for him to even stay in the game.
Alaska governor Sarah Palin has canceled her appearance at the ceremonial unveiling of the Alaska State quarter at the state fair today in order to accept the party formerly known as Republican's nomination for John McCain food taster. The giant cabbage judging contest will be judged in her absence by Ted Stevens, currently out on bail. The former mayor of Wasilla will take a leave of absence from her position on the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, and will return under cover of darkness after the election in November. McCain acknowledged that there is no reason for Ms. Palin to clean out her office, because she will want to keep her present job.
Dan Quayle in a dress.
"McCain has just raised his campaign from the grave. Admit it."
VC, I will admit no such thing, because McCain's campaign has never been dead.
"More thoughts later once I collect them." While you and I are on different sides of the political spectrum, I admire your honesty. At least you're willing to admit that this choice is leaving you feeling completely blindsided. Frankly, any Obama supporter who is NOT willing to admit that this choice scares him/her to death has lost all credibility with me.
Alaska has roughly the population of Memphis, Tennessee or Charlotte, North Carolina.
Next stop the White House?
A cute move, but I think we all see through it.
Very slowly now, let's try to understand that executive competence emerges from a holistic interplay of MANY DIMENSIONS. "Experience" is ONE DIMENSION.
Now, Obama's resume is light on executive experience. Everybody knows! But we don't care, because BHO is a transcendent statesmen and a compassionate intellectual. He's, literally, a world-historic figure. He's going down in the books, my friends.
So, cool, give him the nomination and let's watch him work.
On to Sarah. Palin's executive experience is completely ephemeral. So what are the countervailing superlatives? Why give her a 1-in-6 chance to step in as leader of the free world?
Ummm...she probably sucked a lot of dick while "saving her virginity" for her oil-well-drilling hubby?
Wow, I'm convinced.
Colin Powell's endorsement of BARACK OBAMA is now an absolute guarantee. McCain has basically announced to America he's not to be trusted on National Security.
On a brighter note for Republicans, these two fringe right-wing clowns can keep the "Drill, Drill" campaign talking point going for a while.
One other thing. It'll be interesting to see how gullible women are. Very interesting.
Gomer-
Blindsided? Yes.
Confused? Yes.
Scared? No.
Why? See first two answers above.
Another thought: If McCain wins, she is likely to run herself in 12 or 16. Even if McCain wins now, just imagine a Schweitzer/Clinton/Warner/Biden/whoever is the Democratic candidate than vs. Palin race.
This will be interesting to watch.
Ok, I got it... Look at McCain's official statement on Palin. She's his attempt to hold up a mirror to Obama. McCain is saying, "This is what inexperience looks like". The way he frames her accomplishments is very similar to the way Obama frames his own. The McCain camp's disdain for the "The One" seems to have clouded their judgment.
Look at the polling and the way that McCain significantly outperforms in the "ready to be President" question. McCain think he can beat Obama/Biden all by himself. Talk about an ego.
p.s. This is the type of affirmative action that Republicans have been bemoaning for a generation. They are really going to regret this.
Karl Rove was trying to defend the pick on Fox, stammering a bit, then you could almost see him say to himself "Oh the hell with it" and he just stopped talking in mid-sentence.
Even Rove can't make a case for Palin.
Don't worry about her child, which is a rather sexist line to take...presumably she has either a husband or enough money to get a nanny. Worry instead that she doesn't even know what a VP DOES. She's just been asked to take a position she can't even describe.
And regarding the "mayor of a small city" remarks, Alaska's population is around that of Milwaukee, WI. This is not a big state in any terms other than land...vast, empty stretches of land. Last I checked, moose do not require government. Heck, the current mayor of Milwaukee at least had a ten-year congressional career.
Liberal sites are freaking out.
Some moonbat on Kos said shes shaking in fear!
Unbelievable. She's been governor for two years of the state ranked 47th in population, mayor of a town of 7,800 and she's under legislative investigation for allegations that Palin fired Alaska's public safety commissioner because he refused to fire the governor's former brother-in-law.
Wouldn't that make a better choice as McCain's Attorney General?
Sidebar: the woman in the office next to mine who has been a solid McCain backer just walked into my office and yelled, "McCain is an idiot!"
I think I like this pick...
She asked the world less than 30 days ago what, exactly, the Vice President does every day. Check the YouTube link above at 2:50. That disqualifies you right there and then. You don't even know the job. The rest is political theater.
Yes, gomerpyle, the choice scares me to death, because it is a gamble, it might pay off, but most of all, it might pay off and this person could actually be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. It is not a choice that demonstrates good leadership or judgment.
Here's what I don't get: if McCain wanted a woman, why didn't he pick Kay Bailey Hutchinson? That would be an exponentially better choice.
A very good pick by McCain. Playing it safe would guarantee a defeat. A close loss, perhaps, but still a loss.
This gives him some fighting chance, imo.
She may also help in CO and NV - must have Western states.
Regarding experience issues - Obama's only relevant experince is running his presidential campaign (and doing it well, I must say). That's all, really. Palin at least had some executive positions, and had to run a state for a year. Both are master self-promoters. Both managed to stay away from notoriuosly corrupt political machines (Dem machine in Chicago, GOP machine in AK). The difference is that Palin actually took on this machine with some success, something Obama would never do. So yes, in my book they are about equal, with a small plus to Palin.
My wife, a big Hillary supporter, was leaning toward Obama (despite disliking him intensely). Now she intends to vote McCain-Palin. A sample of one, but true.
"if McCain wanted a woman, why didn't he pick Kay Bailey Hutchinson?"
pro-choice.
Mike,
Be fair. Nobody knows what the Vice President does!
Virginia Conservative:
Some moonbat on Kos said shes shaking in fear!
Well, she should get the hell over it. It's just a VP pick.
What YouTube link?
To everyone that was voting for McCain because of experience, I would like to welcome you to the Obama camp. We're happy to have your votes.
When it comes to experience, Obama destroys Palin. And she is not too far from the presidency considering McCain's age.
Biden-Palin debate is now a perfectly gift-wrapped storyline for our lazy, biased media. It's the spunky all-american girl up against the imposing overdog. Palin will 'win' the debate just by staying onstage.
I'm disappointed that we don't have the spectacularly hateable Mitt Romney to kick around.
Politically, she's a fun choice, a likable spokesperson for the campaign. Governance-wise, it's even a bigger disaster now if they get elected. This is now the Cheney-Bush ticket, if Bush had ovaries.
What a sexist viewpoint on how the women are going to react -- I thought that viewpoint went out with the fifties.
What woman is Palin replacing?
Claire McCaskil, Jean Sibelius, and Michelle Obama are disliked and distrusted because they participated in the trashing of a fellow woman on unjust sexist grounds. Gender traitors and Michelle has the gall to suggest we support her after that.
To frame the sexist nature of the comment in the other gender: lots of men are being spiteful about McCain because his hero credentials are bigger than theirs are.
Stealing a line from Kennyb, not to pick on him but because he delivered in the most succinct fashion what I want to offer a counter to: "Putting aside my partisan feelings, it actually does scare me to think this woman would be a heartbeat from the Presidency. I mean, she's not much more qualified than I am!"
My reply: Putting aside my partisan feelings, it actually does scare me to think that this man from Chicago would actually occupy the office of President. I mean, he's not much more qualified than I am!
I'm wallowing in laughter at the irony.
I think he may not have chosen Kay Bailey for two reasons. I have read he cannot stand her and I think she is pro-choice or at least opposed to overturning Roe v. Wade.
Palin: Better than Admiral Stockdale
I take it back. Some of my fellow Dems are being incredibly sexist. Cut it out guy. This is a bad pick for so many reasons it is utterly stupid and counterproductive to start acting like you agree with McCain's views on women.
Good choise.
Sarah is an intelligent women.
Let´s see the debates with the old Joe.
As an Obama supporter, I would like to say THANK YOU SWEET JESUS for Sarah Palin!!! Having chosen someone younger and less experienced than Obama, we may look back at today as the day McCain lost the election.
Don't get me wrong... I feared a female pick... like Kay Baily Hutchison or maybe a surprise like Christine Todd Whitman. But not Sarah Palin! I simply didn't think McCain was that stupid.
Palin is the one person who can manage to make Obama look older and more experienced, completely undercutting John McCain's experience argument. (Which, by the way, is his main argument.) If McCain thinks an 18-month, 44-year-old governor is Ready on Day One, then he is essentially admitting that Obama is qualified as well.
And as for getting support from the Hillary crowd... I think they will see Palin for the insult she is. There may have been some Hillary fans who voted for her solely because of her sex. But mostly they supported her because they believed she was Ready on Day One. If anyone is the exact opposite of Ready on Day One, it is Sarah Palin.
Palin is so appallingly inexperienced that she wasn't even governor at the beginning of this presidential campaign. Little more than a year and a half ago, she was serving as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. Wasilla. Population 5,470. McCain thinks this person is qualified to step in if the unthinkable occurs?
The vice president's most important job is to be able to serve as leader of the free world at a moment's notice, possibly in the wake of an assassination or terrorist attack or some other moment of world crisis. Not only that, but McCain is a 72-year-old cancer survivor. He really thinks Palin is ready to be president???
Yes, there will be excitement surrounding this decision. Certainly it's a bold, daring move. But this isn't the first time a desperate campaign has tried to change the game by picking a female VP. McCain will gain some excitement and enthusiasm from the pick, but he will lose many independent voters who might have supported him based on security/experience/qualifications.
Palin is a desperate, ill-considered pick. As an Obama supporter I am literally jumping for joy. :-)
If someone can just tell me what this woman knows/stands for I would be happy?
This is all I know, she has been a governor of a state that has a population of 670,000, before that a mayof of a village, not even a town, is pro-life, eats mooseburgers looks hot, and has five kids.
If anyone can tell me her opinions on Irag/Afghanistan, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac possible bailouts,or the huge deficit problem I would much appreciate it?
I forgot Kay Bailey was pro-choice.
Doesn't hurt her in Texas though.
I do like Palin, though. You have a lot of sexist women out there who think they are owed something who will vote McCain/Palin because she's on the ticket. I just don't know if that "a lot" is enough. I doubt it.
Do you think that there are sexist Republicans who are now going to vote Barr/sit this one out?
I have seen the views of a few women, a couple Ds and a couple Rs, on my Facebook...they all panned the move, but it's a negligible sample size.
Wow, I'm seeing a LOT of sexism on this thread.
I guess we can expect this from the party that belittled Hillary Clinton.
It's pronounced PAR-is HIL-ton.
If the PUMAs had an ounce of brains, they'd notice that voting for McCain now would mean that the first woman president would likely be Palin.
This is just funny. Predictable, but funny. Getting on Obama's case for having been a Senator for only 3 or 4 years, when 3 years ago Palin was the mayor of a city of 8000.
Did you know that the 13th District of Illinois, which Obama represented in the State Senate, has a larger population than Alaska?
Isn't Palin currently under investigation by the Alaska State Legislature for firing the State Public Safety Commissioner because he wanted to fire a state policeman who was her former brother in-law? Can someone in Alaska share some light about what's going on in Juneau?
Here's a serious question for Republicans. Why would she join a losing ticket? Her stock will be even lower if she seeks the nomination in 2012 or 2016. It just utterly seems insane to me, but entirely expected.
Surely this is the shortest ticket in history. In fact, is Palin taller than McPeanut? It doesn't look good.
These are important questions that need to be answered.
For some reason, the RSS feed for the site is delayed. I thought for a moment that both Deadspin and mental_floss broke the story before you. Congratulations, you beat Fark to the story!
I can see probably only the hardcore she-woman man-haters-club voters would be more likely to vote for McCain. But I think this balances out the Republican ticket -- experience vs newcomer.
I guess this also means McCain can't run the "inexperience" angle in his attack ads.
The thought of Obama taking that oath of office in January is more real now than it was last night. For that, I am happy.
I wish her luck in the future managing the local moose hunts.
This absolutely gives Dems an opportunity to become the majority party in America.
On foreign policy, stress McCain's anti-vet voting record. Have Biden hammer McCain's confusion about names and facts in Iran and Iraq. Have this lead back into McCain's age/senility. Especially during the VP debates, Palin will be unable to defend on any of these points.
On the economy, the best line is anti-corruption / corporate influence. This issue has had under-the-radar appeal for a couple decades, (as exemplified by Nader). Palin's ties with big oil, along with McCain's oil money from his off-shore drilling flip could bring this issue to the forefront. Very populist, very blue collar argument.
2 things.
1. I agree that this was the best move McCain could make. This is partly because the other options were so bad (though I also admit that it reinforces the 'maverick' claims)
2. There seems to be much confusion on 'identity' politics and in particular the nature of Obama's historic candidacy. Yes, supporters are in part motivated to elect the first African-American president, but it certainly isnt the case that we would wnat ANY African-American. Obama is truly an exceptional candidate in terms of reflection, intelligence and oratory. I'm not saying he has no weaknesses, nor that he can't be beat, but people need to wake up to his popularity, and not assume it is because of identity politics or because he's a celebrity. I'm not saying Palin doens't also have qualities, but we certainly havent seen them (yet?).
I imagine Vladimir Putin will look into Palin's eyes and see the letters M I L F.
Doesn't this destroy McCain's entire argument against Obama? "experience" / "ready to lead" ???
Why does the Democrat Party always belittle women?
All these attacks are REALLY sexist.
What? Of course you can fault McCain for playing it safe. You play it safe when you're ahead. When you're behind, you take risks.
Jon-
Generally, "hardcore she-woman man-haters-club voters" are pro-choice.
When I went in my car and turned on the radio and heard the announcement, I was never more excited!!!!
What a fabulous pick to make this ticket a strong conservative ticket now. This pick will unite the base that would've been a bit divided with either Pawlenty or Romney on the ticket.
Smart move by McCain... This may be a huge risk, but after the DNC attack on McCain for hating females, this is a smart move!
MCCAIN PALIN 08!
Who does this pick appeal to? In the end it's the base, who John maybe originally upset by mentioning pro-choice candidates such as Ridge and Lieberman. But you know the base is going to be there, and if Mac wants to win this election, his main target should be Clintonites and Independents.
I think the Independents will shrewdly pick up the transparency of this pick, realizing that McCain can't criticize Obama on beign too inexperienced when his VP has even less experience, and ditto that on foreign policy.
I can't imagine Clinton fans running over to McCain just because of Palin, who seems to disagree with Clinton on just about every single issue.
In the end, this strengthens the base, but will it hit hard, especially when the VP debate rolls around and the Biden goes at it? I just can't see it happening.
Palin has captivated the attention of the nation, if not the world.
An arresting choice.
Perversly, she will help McCain make the case against Obama on the expereice ground, just as Obama's Biden pick neutralized the age and Washington insider lines of attack against McCain.
I think McCain has won on both picks, Biden and Palin.
Now he just needs to have an unconventional convention and we will be off to the races, my freinds, we will be off to the races!
On the experience question - first off, every VP candidate has their weakness, but I hardly think that takes the argument off the table.
Obama-Biden puts the inexperienced party on the top of the ticket, not the bottom.
But anyhow, picking Palin suggests McCain doesn't intend to focus on experience, but rather to run a "maverick" campaign. This makes sense because, once he takes public financing, he is broke.
Ken,
The likely next president is a man with a few years in the Illinois state senate (a job so un-demanding he was able to maintain a full teaching load at U of Chicago) and 2 years in the senate (before he ran for president). He is a lawyer who has never tried a case, a "professor" who never published an article, and a community organizer who described himself as a failure in that regard.
And you're worried about the VP.
Except, Mulerider, Obama IS more experienced than I am. I have never run a national campaign for President (successfully, so far), I have never won an election for national offce, only a local one. I have never LOST an election for national office. I have never served in the U.S. Senate (and there are probably less than 200 people alive that have). I have never had to detail policy positions on most every issue that would confront me as President. I have not spent over a year traveling to all 57 states and listening to thousands of voters (couldn't resist). And I am not an historic candidate that inspires millions and has raised more campaign money from more people than any candidate in history. Maybe Palin can gain some of this experience in the next 2 months, though...
A number of commenters on both sides seem to be thinking about how the Obama campaign should "attack" Palin.
Answer: they should't. Ignore her when you can, say something blandly positive when you can't.
The reason she's a bad choice is that she closes off a number of lines of attack on Obama, most notably inexperience.
All in all a good pick given the field of candidates.
The Pros -
1) Photogenic - call it simple, but it never hurts to look good on camera and Gov. Palin certainly does. The media will love having pictures of her up.
2) Ties down Alaska - I don't think Alaska was ever seriously going to go for Obama, but hey, this slams that door shut just in case.
3) Some people WILL vote for their demographic. Some women certainly will base their vote solely on the fact that Gov. Palin would be the first female VP.
4) The only truly "outside of Washington" figure on either ticket. In the past this has been an effective theme, even if the ticket cannot play it too much given McCain's Washington connections.
5) It's exciting! Something we have not seen much of from the McCain campaign. This will be a lot of fun to watch at the convention and in the campaign!
6) The Dems will have to be careful on how they go after her, especially with Biden. He will need to balance being gracious and polite with highlighting differences (he should be able to do that). Obama will still need Clinton to go after Palin, who knows if she will?
The Cons
1) Facing some daunting electoral math, Palin does not close the deal on a state outside of Alaska. I thought that Romney would have guaranteed Nevada and closed the gap in Michigan (yes I know some of you disagree). Not that Biden did this for Obama, but Obama has more paths to the White House.
2) Sexism. Let's be frank, there are some voters who will not vote for a President based on race. There are also voters who will not vote for a female VP. Not fair, grossly sexist, but still a small percentage of the electorate. The beauty queen image reinforces this negative and unfair stereotype. Hillary Clinton is an entirely different figure, particularly when it comes to experience, which raises the next concern...
3) Experience question. National exposure is a plus when people question your experience. Palin has little to no national exposure. The fact that McCain could die, and she could become President as early as next year, may unsettle some voters a LOT more than a freshman Senator leading the Oval Office with Biden behind him. Being governor of Alaska does not come off as impressive.
4) She makes McCain look OLDER.
5) Scandal. First rule, "do no harm". The pick is a gamble if there is ANY skeleton in the closet. The ongoing investigation is a cloud, but who knows if it will amount to anything? But it's a cloud and expect that one to surface because it's current and because Alaska in general has corruption problems right now.
6) She's still conservative. Because the base does not know her, she will have to heartily communicate her conservative credentials at the convention and in the campaign. That's a turnoff for Independents and for some women. It's a similar challenge to what McCain faces and a downside to an unexpected pick.
I still think she's a better pick than Pawlenty, although I liked Romney better. There's a lot of risk, but also reward. It also shows guts, which the McCain campaign should be credited for. Perhaps in 24 more years they'll consider throwing up a Presidential candidate who is not male and not Caucasian. ;)
Well, congratulations to the Palin family, first off, but this looks like an awful pick from the Lower Forty-Eight.
A 44 year old VP- any 44 year old, not merely a reasonably photogenic woman- is going to make Grampy McCain look even older than he does otherwise. Suddenly he's making his age even more of an issue.
This also should take the experience and 'ready to lead on day one' right out of the GOP playbook as well- although Palin has some executive experience, it's not particularly extensive and includes some fairly significant scandal surrounding the firing of the Matsunaka Maid Dairy board and the recent flap over using her office to wage a personal vendetta against her former brother-in-law.
She's pretty much an unknown outside of Alaska, and if McCain is needing to fight for those three EVs, it's a sign of a long night coming on the 4th of November
Virginia Conservative said...
Why does the Democrat Party always belittle women?
All these attacks are REALLY sexist.
August 29, 2008 10:58 AM
Which of course is why you chose an adulterous old man who abused his crippled first wife and calls his current wife a cunt and a trollop, and denies women equal pay. Yes, the GOP really is woman-friendly, isn't it?
To mee it looks like the McCain camp pannicked over the reaction to Obama's speech and felt they had to make a desperate lunge for the PUMAs. I don't think this speaks well of his decision-making under political fire and it steps all over one of their own themes concerning Obama's so-called "inexperience". And in spite of Overrated's bravado, I don't think that particular debate is one the GOP will "welcome". They will try to handle it and spin it as best they can, but this woman's resume is so painfully sparse, it's just something the GOP will have to live with. But "welcome"? Nahhhhh...
I just don't see how anybody with a brain can take McCain seriously at this point. He is a floundering, sputtering joke.
Saying someone is "inexperienced" or "naive" is a sexist attack.
God, I'm gong to love turning Democrat identity politics attacks right back on you guys!
Palin is a move a pure and utter desperation. McCain saw the Dem Convention and threw a Hail Mary.
A 72yr guy with questionable health who picks a VP with the experience of a mayor of a town of 8,000 and a 19mth governor of a state with less people than some congressional districts. her only qualification McCain looked at was gender. McCain showed the US his decision making skills and they are poor. McCain makes an argument about judgement and expereince and then picks someone with no experience and shows bad judgement in doing so.
Btw, she is under ethics investigation, is quoted as not knowing what the VP does, agrees with Obama's energy plan over McCain's. Should I keep going the list is long. Dud McCain vett anyhting about her besides being XX and instead of XY.
PeteKent said:
"Palin has captivated the attention of the nation, if not the world."
Oh Pete... you are such a dumbass...
Actually, other than Palin, I think the Huckster might have been his best choice. That would've thrown a bone to the evangelicals, and the Huckster is pretty likeable. I guess that fact wouldn't have offset his terrible policy as far as Independents go, though.
From VC:
I guess we can expect this from the party that belittled Hillary Clinton.
ROFL. Funniest comment of the thread so far! My hypocrisy meter just went off the scale.
"This is all I know, she has been a governor of a state that has a population of 670,000, before that a mayof of a village, not even a town, is pro-life, eats mooseburgers looks hot, and has five kids."
Two points from that;
(a) Do conservatives have a fixation on mooseburgers? How is it anywhere near relevant? Hell, I ate Quorn once or twice, will I get made Secretary of the Interior?
(b) By the looks of it, most of the male commentators on this site are positively drooling over Gov. Palin, which if repeated over the whole nation must really piss off millions of wives/girlfriends.
But seriously... I think that she could well be the weirdest pick since Arthur Sewall, who William Jennings Bryant chose in 1896 mainly because it was hoped that he would bankroll his campaign. I think that she'd be a dangerously inexperienced VP with McCain being the age he is, but we're still to see how people react to her. By the annecdotal evidence served up on this thread, the response is very mixed, and rather depends on prevailing personal sentiment.
@ anna -
"To frame the sexist nature of the comment in the other gender: lots of men are being spiteful about McCain because his hero credentials are bigger than theirs are."
Um, to me being a hero means advancing science and cultural humanism. McCain's credentials are ZILCH on both counts.
@ Mule Rider -
"My reply: Putting aside my partisan feelings, it actually does scare me to think that this man from Chicago would actually occupy the office of President. I mean, he's not much more qualified than I am!"
Yes, because we clearly can't infer any special competence in a person who ascends from the Illinois state senate to the Presidential nomination IN FOUR YEARS. Clearly no competence involved in raising $500M from scratch, organizing the largest political campaign in American history, or inspiring an entire country by sheer force of vision.
No competence to infer---NONE! Especially not when this person has the prodigious political advantage of black skin!
You guys are just sexists.
We're this a man, you would never say shes inexperienced. Lose your male privelege!
I guess Harriet Miers wasn't available.
Subliminally the Palin pick brings up the question of expereince and if you wondera bout her expereine to be VEEP, you damn well better worry about his to be Prez.
2 term governor from a state smaller than 16 cities. She might as well be the mayor of Austin TX in some respect.
no foreign policy experience and a heartbeat away from the presidency? with a 72 year old president? .. i dunno...
Seems to me the biggest risk is splashback from the Ted Stevens trial and the other corruption investigations underway.
Even if Palin is too green to have gotten her hands dirty with Alaska's apparently ubiquitous kickback schemes, there's no way her fundraising base is that clean. Alaska's too small a state.
Right now the DNC researchers are salivating over the ways they can connect the dots between Palin, Stevens, and the culture of corrupt Republican fundraising.
They'll be able to paint her as a new generation of more of the same.
Wait a second...
Look at the O/B camp's strategy as laid out at the convention. Why would Biden even debate Palin? I don't mean literally, of course. She would still be on the stage, but Biden probably wants to talk right past her, and attack McCain/Bush policies. That's a lot easier to do without looking misogynistic. If she can't defend the policies, she's not going to help her side much.
God, but you people are loaded to the gills with vitriol to spew in every direction.
First off, the experience/inexperience stuff is BS that will boil off instantly. Comparing one party's presidential candidate to the other's VP candidate doesn't work and isn't sensical. Frankly, Sarah Palin has a point when she says she doesn't know what a vice president does on a day-to-day basis.
This was an excellent pick by McCain -- far better than Romney. Because if you look at it in the macro, the big picture, this is 4th and 8, down by 4 in the 4th quarter, on the New England Patriots' 40 yard line. McCain is probably going to lose either way, and has two choices:
1. Punt. (Pick Romney or, worse, Pawlenty like everyone expects.) Play it safe; hold the margin of defeat down and at least look respectable.
2. Go for it. (Pick Sarah Palin.) The most *likely* result is you lose by a bigger margin, but it at least introduces the possibility that maybe you could win.
There were, in my opinion, precisely two VP options available to McCain that might conceivably make a difference, however small, in this election: Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee. Huckabee because he'll draw out the religious-conservative base, and Palin because she's very conservative (base appeal) and also, from what I've seen of her, photogenic and provides a good sound bite (positive press relations).
I support neither Obama nor McCain -- I'll be voting for Bob Barr -- but as a kind of outside observer, I think this was a move McCain had to make. Risky, but that's just the point: He HAS to take risks! If he doesn't, he's going to lose.
Crusty old guy and effervescent younger woman.
If they don't win the election, this team should immediately earn consideration for a Fox News primetime show.
Comparing Barack Obama's experience with Sarah Pallin and George W. Bush's experience.
Barack Obama(IL)
Illinios State Senate 1997-2005(8 years)
US Senator(2005-present)-less than 4 years)- Serves on the Foriegn Relations Committee.
Sarah Palin(AK)
Wasilla City Council 1992-1996
Wasilla Mayor- 1996-200?
Governor- 2006- less than 2 years.
No Foriegn policy experience
George W. Bush.
TX Governor 1995-2000- 5 years.
VC -- you are so full of shit.
Pointing out the weaknesses of a horrible candidate is not sexist.
And I'm referring to McCain.
It is also not sexist to talk about what a horrible candidate Palin is.
Careful with that 'gender card', VC. You only get to play it several thousand times before people get sick of hearing about it!
Eve, stop being a self-hating feminist. You're belittling a professional woman and her accomplishments.
This is so much fun! I'm going to love using the Democrat gender card right back at them for the next three months.
Its a Hail Mary that is underthrown and will be intercepted.
Its a desperatation call, and it LOOKS like a desparation call.
Why? because all of the challenging of leadership and experience, and he picks a 1 year alaskan governor who has no real other credentials other than being a woman. And he does it too late, after Hillary Clinton has pretty much reconciled the majority of women, and after the Democrats have branded themselves as the fighters for women. And he is trying to play to emotion right after the vast majority of holdouts have gone their release of anger, and have thrown their emotion and their purpose back behind Obama.
Hillary's women holdouts you will often find as middle aged/older, or feminists who are angry at sexism. John McCains history of infidelity, rumors of a recent affair with a lobbyist, and him picking a young naughty librarian looking woman just to play identity politics looks bad on him and his judgment. It looks purely as what it is. Identity politics. If he was to pick a woman VP with the credentials or even the apparent potential to benefit him in any other way than identity politics, it would have been a smart pick. He instead looks as if he had to go with some gimmick in order to jump in on the historic juggernaut that the Obama Campaign is becomming.
Many of the women in the democratic party will take offense to McCains apparent line of thought that they are naive enough to manipulate into voting for a woman who isnt even a fraction of Hillary clinton, just because they wanted to vote for Hillary clinton. With her beliefs going against what these woman want, directly, all it takes is for hillary to point it out any identity politics advantage sarah palin brings is shut down.
This would be like. The equivalent of if Obama had barely lost. Black people were angry and dissapointed, but forgave and realigned themselves with the democratic party ready to move foward with the same unity theme comming into play for the entire convention. Then on the next day after a major inspiring movement launches and excites the entire nation. John McCain picks some Random ass uncle tom black dude to add to the ticket who brings nothing to the table, stands for nothing most black americans have as their primary issues, but thinks he can win the black vote. This is what just happened. It was a bone headed pick.
HILLARY CLINTON is going to shut her down. She is going to look bad against Biden. McCain is going to look bad against Obama. Obama/Biden now OBVIOUISLY looks more like the stronger leadership ticket. The republican party loses the "experience" argument. She makes McCain look even OLDER. And McCain's age and health now again becomes an election issue. Does McCain plan to serve 2 terms, or be a lame duck placeholder? If something happens to McCain in the comming years, will Sarah Palin be a suitable president?
1. McCain lost the hispanic vote
2. McCain lost Virginia
3. McCain lost the election
The pick is desperate bordering on reckless (A McCain trait).
There is no sports analogy for this. The game is far from over and a hail mary, swing for the fences type comparison doesn't work.
McCain needs to live with this pick the rest of the campaign... it is not a one time shot at the end of the game.
It might be akin to deciding to blitz on every down for the rest of the game.
let's not feed the conservative trolls here. they're trying to grasp at the straws of what little they have left going for them.
it will be interesting to see how hillary will campaign against her...
This is the YouTube link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pak-rH0dCeA
Go to 2:50.
This happened on July 31, 2008.
Two years ago she was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, population 7,084 in 2003). WAAAAAAHOOOO! (as they used to say on HeeHaw)
Now she's running for VP?
So 72-year old John McCain has a massive stroke and is incapacitated -- or dies in office.
I'm sure Gov. Palin has lots of experience fixing potholes in Wasilla, but what does she know about Iran's nuclear aspirations? or... or... or.....
YIKES!!!!!!!!!
Interesting that campaigns are picking Veep candidates from non swing-states these days.
'00: Wyoming / Connecticut
'04: " / North Carolina
'08: Alaska / Delaware
VC is just trying to be cute, and of course trying to deflect the fact that he thinks the only thing a black person should be president of is their local rap music club.
Someone may have said this already but...
How long before McCain calls her a trallop and a cunt?
Am I right ladies? Am I right?
Thinking a bit more about this:
How the Dems attack her is a big question which might swing a significant no. of votes 2 options.
- She is a hugely inexperienced person from nowheresville and given JMs age etc she might well be president, there is no history of scrutiny at a national level of her unlike BO.
- Scandel scandel scandel
Though as an outsider its good to see the former maverick going back to his roots, saying what he thinks and go all out for a victory - death or glory.
Oh and he couldnt get much further away from Bush could he?
Bravo Eve!
VC is still grasping, grasping at any hope.
This pick is not bad, but I do not see it as a game changer. The negatives counter the positives.
Hillary Clinton was a very unique candidate, who also happened to be a woman. We're about to understand how unique when inevitable comparisons to Palin are made.
The media coverage is also not gaga, more surprised and laced with the "McCain's campaign must be desperate storyline".
And now they are saying that the RNC will be postponed if a hurricane is impacting the Gulf next week.
Also interesting that the Dems are all of a sudden interested in "experience" instead of "change."
Maybe they'd prefer she just get back in the kitchen?
Virginia Conservative said...
Saying someone is "inexperienced" or "naive" is a sexist attack.
God, I'm gong to love turning Democrat identity politics attacks right back on you guys!
But you're admitting right up front that you don't really believe a damn thing you're saying, so what's the point?
Getting under your skin, that's the point.
LOL...the conservatrolls attempts at becoming faux-feminist advocates is just precious.
Biden wrote the violence against women law. At the debates, he'll probably greet her by saying "Hunnie, you look GORGEOUS!" Biden is a charmer, folks.
I'm still flabbergasted at how utterly insane this is.
How long before McCain calls her a trallop and a cunt?
About the same time as Biden calls Obama a "negro" and a "monkey"
It won't happen. On either side. America is better than that.
Clearly Obama's speech didn't sink in with you hate-mongers.
Getting under your skin, that's the point.
Translation: I am a flaming troll. Get used to it!
BOs camp comments
JM put a former mayor of 9000, a heartbeat away from the presidency...
This is definitely affirmative action in action.
NOT because she is a woman, but because so many women with actual experience with foreign policy and domestic politics were passed over. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Condaleeza Rice.... I cannot believe this is for real.
"I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the V.P. does every
day?" (Sarah Palin)
Biden wrote the violence against women law.
Which is constantly criticized for being unconstitutional, and is expected to be repealed if it ever makes it to SCOTUS.
I can't wait to see what the Dobson Focus on the Family people have to say.
Will they approve or disapprove?
Some historical trivia from CNN's political ticker:
The last major party VP nominee with less than two years of experience in statewide or federal office was Spiro Agnew in 1968. Agnew is also the last sitting governor to be chosen as a major party's VP nominee.
"And don't expect the Democrats to refrain from going after her inexperience. "
How can the go after her "inexperience" she has far more than Obama and she has executive experience neither Biden or Obama have. She sits in a state sitting on a sea of oil and wants to drill it as do the vast majority of Alaskins. She faces the Russian empire. She knows a lot about native american rights.
She is an outstanding pick. I can't wait to see her in the White House in 4 - 8 years. God Bless America
I just watched several clips of interviews. She is just a typical wingnut parrot that's pretty. A little shrill, a little strident, but that's the way the goopers like them.
My bigger point is you've used idnetity politics as a stick to beat the Republicans with for the last forty years. Now we get to do the same to you. Have fun getting a dose of your own medicine!
Is McCain insane?
http://www.ktva.com/ci_10026165
so many women with actual experience with foreign policy and domestic politics were passed over. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Condaleeza Rice...
Oh please. You know if it was Rice, you'd be calling her an Uncle Tom right now.
And saying she has no experience in domestic policy.
The local evangelical group loves her - she has plucked all the right cords as far as they are concerned.
John Sydney the Third knew he was toast - the convention brought the massive majority of PUMAs back into the fold. His only hope is expanding his existing supporters. He already had those motivated by party affiliation, he needed all the evangelical supporters he could buy and picked accordingly.
While liberals will snicker about her being a 'trophy VP', they are the perfect traditional evangelical couple - dominate in charge male, subservient appearing 'moral' female. They can be 'radical' by promoting their idea of the ideal married couple. Works in all sorts of subliminal ways on his target audience that doesn't even believe there is a subconscious!
Be interesting to see how it will play out - the MSM will cover her initially because of her camera appeal but I bet she will have a tight leash when it comes to message - don't expect her to do much talking off the cuff.
She's hot looking. She has more experience in Government than Barack ( The middle Name than shall Not be Named) Obama, and has great conservative credentials.
After reading all the posts above, the left wing trolls are nervous, as she has ten times the experience that Odumbo has, and the pick demonstrates just how inexperienced Odumbo really is and what a dangerous thing it would be to elect him tot he oval office. Question,
If my Vice-President is 3 years younger than Obama, but has 10 times the experience in Government the differnce between Obama and McCain is the width of the Grand Canyon
All in all a good pick. They are going to go after Odumbo on his lack of executive experience.
Now, on to the important thing-
On this date in history, August 29, 2004, in the Rasmussen Presidential Tracking Poll, President George Bush led John Kerry 49% to 47%.
For final results, please see Presidential Inauguration January 2005.
Virginia Conservative,
First, please see my above post.
Second, you're right that some 'identity politics' defenders reach for the sexist/racist criticism (though i think that is a greatly overrated claim).
But in any case, you're mistaken if you think that the Palin choice can be compare to Obama or Hillary. We genuinely dont know much about Palin, and given her low national profile, and the admittedly left-field nature of her choice, her limited experience is arguably the defining thing that we ALL know about her. I certainly dont know anything else other than she is pro-life, apparently a former 'Miss somewhere', and has 5 kids. Sorry, that's all I know, and i dont think the Republican Party has been sending out lots of info to coutner that.
With respect to Obama and HRC, this wasnt true for most of the campaign. In their cases, criticisms were often directed at them that ignored their talents and skills, and instead focused on silly details that everyone knew was code for racism or sexism.
I genuinely think it is harder to pin a 'sexist' label on the concern that Palin is not experienced. Is that not a fact? And do we know ANYTHING else about her? Do you DENY that she was chosen in large part because she is a woman? Do you think that a 44-year old governor of Alaska with 19 months experience would have been chosen if he was a he (especially given the 'experience' card that has been very successful for McCain)? Can you think of ANY Republican women that would be better qualified that wouldnt raise other difficulties (ie. pro-choicers?).
And how about: do you think Obama is considered such a compelling candidate ONLY because he's African-American?
Finally, note that i think Palin IS a good choice for McCain. I just think you need to be a bit more honest about why, and also about why Obama is considered such a strong candidate.
Obama just lost the election. This is the BEST VP pick in forty plus years.
I don't see that anyone has made the parallel, so I will.
This reminds me of Mondale picking Ferraro in 1984. It has that same "gimmick" smell.
"Kay Bailey Hutchison, Condaleeza Rice...."
pro-choice, pro-choice.
this is the republican party, after-all. at the presidential level there are certain givens.
So if you want to know why other women were passed up, that's your answer.
bjb
They already have. Called her a mayor of a town of 9000 thats clueless on national affairs.
Another take:
So it's official - John McCain has thrown a Hail Mary and tapped Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. The trad med types are ga-ga about what a game-changing choice Palin is. And they're right. It is a game-changer. The Palin pick takes a race already leaning toward Obama and pushes it further into his corner.
Why? Because Sarah Palin is the most unqualified VP nominee in modern history, with the possible exception of Admiral Stockdale.
She's worse than Quayle.
After his selection in 1988, Dan Quayle was rightly lambasted as a dim, inexperienced lightweight with no real pertinent experience who was named by George H. W. Bush as a gimmick - a case of an old, out-of touch candidate trying to appear relevant by teaming up with a much younger pol. Now, Palin's not Quayle - by all accounts, she's quite bright. But she's fantastically inexperienced, far more so than Quayle was when he was tapped. And she possesses an attribute far worse than Quayle's stupidity - she's a big corrupt wheel in Alaska's big corrupt Republican Party, arguably the most corrupt political apparatus in the United States.
We're told that McCain really wanted to pick his old friend Joe Lieberman to run with him, but that Karl Rove and the rest of the elite Republican politburo nixed the idea, and told McCain that he had to take a conservative. And as he has at every step of his campaign, the one-time "maverick" sold out to the venal, icy core of the Republican leadership, and acquiesced by selecting Palin. Palin is really a Republican after Rove's heart - she's a product of the party that produced the indicted Ted Stevens and ethically tarred Don Young, and she's embroiled in a Troopergate scandal of her own, with state investigators looking at serious allegations that Palin abused her office by pressuring the state Public Safety Commissioner to fire "an Alaska state trooper involved in a rough divorce from Palin's sister." Sounds like a woman after Karl Rove's heart.
In addition to further associating McCain with the Republican culture of corruption, the Palin pick undermines one of his main anti-Obama narratives. It's going to be laughable to hear McCain assail Obama's supposed lack of experience after naming the first-term governor -- only one-and-a-half years into her term -- of the 47th largest state to be his running mate. Palin lacks any foreign policy experience, and is bereft of even the two core areas of policy expertise that governors are supposed to bring to a ticket -- ag policy (Alaska doesn't have much in the way of traditional agriculture) and urban affairs (Anchorage is the 65th largest city in the US, behind giants such as Corpus Christi). She's easily the least experienced running mate in recent memory, which is pretty scary, given McCain's age and his history of cancer.
By picking Palin, McCain revealed his desperation to make a splash to rival the genuine excitement generated by the Obama campaign. But desperation leads to poor decisions -- and McCain's Hail Mary, like most last second desperation moves, is destined to fail miserably. He's smeared himself with the pungent mud of Alaska Republican corruption, while cutting the legs out from one of his most reliable attacks against Obama. And he's presented Americans with the prospect of electing a dangerous neophyte to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, behind a man whose life expectancy is less than two presidential terms.
We all expected McCain to pick someone underwhelming to run with him. But we never could have expected a pick worse than Quayle. Yet that's what we got.
Thanks, John!
Post a Comment