McCain Picks Palin
Sarah Palin is the 44 year-old Governor of Alaska. She has served there for two years, and has been selected by the 72 year-old McCain to be his running mate.
I’ll echo what Josh Marshall says:
John McCain’s central and best argument in this campaign is that Barack Obama simply lacks the experience to be President of the United States. And now John McCain, who is a cancer survivor who turns 72 years old today, is picking a vice presidential nominee who has been governor of a small state for less than two years and prior to that was mayor of a town with roughly one-thirtieth of the citizens that Barack Obama represented when he was a state senator in Illinois.
Whatever you think of Barack Obama’s qualifications to be Vice Presidential, Palin is manifestly less qualified. And that undermines the central premise of McCain’s campaign.
Great pick. I’m quite pleased with it. I look forward to Palin’s debate with Biden; it will be as useless as any other Veep debate, but I suspect quite entertaining. As an added bonus, Palin comes with pending scandal.
Buffalo Girl Says:August 29th, 2008 at 11:45 am
typo? “Barack Obama’s qualifications to be VICE Presidential”
Buffalopundit Says:August 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Apparently. [sic]
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I have to say, they do see an opportunity here with the woman thing. All the woman who drank the Hillary cool-aid who are holding their noses at Obama… They’re holding a grudge and it’s smart of McCain’s team to try to bait them.
Freaking Clintons. I really believe if we lose in November it will be their fault. She should have bowed out a long time ago. She’s completely underminded Obama. And full disclosure, I didn’t see any of the convention so maybe she redeemed herself. But I doubt it.
al-alo Says:August 29th, 2008 at 11:51 am
population of Alaska: 670,053
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Love the investigation. Fires her ex-brother-in-law. A woman who used her political power for petty personal business. Not a pretty picture.
Becky Says:August 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Any woman who mindlessly flocks to McCain because he picked a female running mate really isn’t into women’s issues at all, just the idea of a woman in a top slot.
The Supreme Court is where it’s at.
The Hillary/Obama race brought a lot of excitement to the race to be President and drew in many people that otherwise may have been indifferent. Irrational Hillary haters can’t stand to hear that though.
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I certainly agree that any woman who mindlessly flocks to McCain bc of his VP choice is a dingdong.
I just wish all the Hillary supporters would stop whining. Get on board and stop sabbotaging Obama. I’m so tired of hearing Hillary supporters complaining Obama doesn’t do it for them.
I was for an Edwards/Richardson ticket. I didn’t get what I wanted either. Move on. She lost. Bow out gracefully and get out of the way. We have a general election to win.
At least with Obama/Biden, it’s about the citizens. With Hillary, it’s all about Hillary. I’ll pass on the coolaid, thanks.
And for the record, Hillary didn’t bring new people to the process. Obama, in the Dean-internet model, did.
Brian Says:August 29th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I don’t quite understand where all this Hillary is underminding Barack argument is coming from. I don’t know what people exactly want her to do - she isn’t some sort of puppet-master who controls the 18 million people who voted for her. It is a media creation used to fill a 24-hour news cycle.
The problem with the Palin pick, from my perspective, is the transparency of it. Barack is talking about changing politics, and McCain does something as cheap as this. No-one seriously beleives that McCain beleives she is the best person to get advice from when running the country, and no one seriously beleives McCain thinks she is the best pick to fill in if he dies. Will it get him some cheap votes? - of course. But it will costs him much more in terms of being seen less of a straight-talking, do-whats-right-for-my-country maverick and more or a typical politician.
minterests Says:August 29th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I am baffled by this choice, it feels reminiscent of Bush choosing Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court. She was not qualified and ended up going down in flames. An early release from the Obama campaign says it best (Politco: Ben Smiths Blog http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/):
Obama spokesman Bill Burton:
Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same.
With a true interest in discourse, what do our conservatives bloggers think about this choice?
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Hillary could have told her delegates to vote Obama. Period.
Whipee. She released her delegates.
Hilllary could have reeled in her supporters LONG ago. Yes, her campaign was historic. I commend her. As soon as she lost, she should have been about unity - not about HERself and HER run and HER mark on history.
The Clintons just don’t know how to share the stage. For god’s sake. She’s trying to make sure any money left can be used for another run. It wouldn’t suprise me if she wants McCain to win so she doesn’t have to wait 8 or 12 or 16 years to run again.
Brian Says:August 29th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Buffalomom-
I supported Obama throughout the primary season, and continue to support him strongly. Don’t fall into the Republican trap of turning on other Democrats. When Democrats fight, Republicans win. This division in the party is a trap that was created by the Republicans to continue there failed policies.
I don’t know what you honestly think Hillary can and should do. She has called for unity. Are you mad that she asked to be nominated at the convention? Maybe it was about her, but maybe it was what she felt like she owed her supporters who contributed time and money into her candidacy. Hillary doesn’t want John McCain to win - her and Bill love this country too much to do that.
dglo Says:August 29th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
A “Redneck’s” dilemma–vote for an african amercan or vote for a woman ?
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I agree with Brian. A lot of this “disunity” and “Hillary Holdouts” garbage was perpetrated by the media looking to stir up a story that just wasn’t supported by the facts. The FACTS are that the vast majority of Hillary supporters are full-throated behind Obama and Hillary made sure of that with her speech on Tuesday. I think the Obama campaign treated her with respect for her historic campaign and all the right moves were made. It was an especially nice touch to have her nominate Obama by acclamation on Wednesday.
Don’t let the noise coming from Fox, CNN, MSNBC, etc mislead you. They found a few loud whackos claiming to be Democrats and put them on TV…big whoop.
The Buffalo Bean » John McCain Picks Sarah Palin for Running Mate; Domagalski To Hold Press Conference Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
[…] UPDATE: It’s funny when supporters of Barack Obama, the most inexperienced major party candidate for president in history, try to play the experience card with Palin. […]
hank Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
dglo–that’s no dilemma in the South. The Woman gets the vote. For the racially challenged, anyway. And probably for the rest of them as well, racist or not.
Buffalomom says
We have a general election to win.
Not really. After 8 years of the other party in office, it’s yours to LOSE. In other words, if Barry Obama loses, it isn’t because he didn’t have it in the palm of his hand, polls in the margin of error the day after his grandiose bullshit speech notwithstanding.
What the Republicans have in Gov. Palin is
A Woman–many Hillary supporters, regardless of gender wanted to see the the glass ceiling in politics for women broken. They did with Gerry Ferraro in 84, and they do now probably more.
They’re unimpressed with Barry O, and feel he blew it for their girl. And regardless of what you dream about up there, there are PLENTY of democrat women and men who feel they’ve been cheated. A normal reaction to feeling cheated is being PISSED. The PUMA’s aren’t just women ya know.
Strongly Pro-Life–She didn’t abort her Down’s Syndrome child, though she could have. That’s gonna thump HARD in the hearts of women, regardless of party. And the evangelicals won’t mind that a bit either. And the pathetic liberal comeback of “she won’t have time to do her job, she’s a mother with a handicapped child” won’t set well with many Americans either.
Enjoyed the Media reporters cheering and applauding for him on the convention floor. Glad to know there’s no left bias in the MSM.
But it’s cool, because the debate between Joe “You cannot work at a 7-11 or a Dunkin Donuts in Delaware unless you have a slight Indian accent”/”My state was a slave state” Biden and Palin will be awesome.
Stand by Liberals, methinks you’ll be crying in your cornflakes yet again.
Buffalopundit Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
It’s funny to me that the Republicans have basically foresaken the two major arguments that McCain had against Obama.
1. Obama’s speech last night took the winds out of the “he’s just a ditz” sails; and
2. The selection of Palin takes away the “ready to lead” argument.
So, it’s kind of like starting out from square one.
Buffalopundit Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
And by the way, I’m being videotaped by Channel 4 for a piece their doing on blog reaction to the Palin pick.
Geraldine says Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
By Geraldine Ferraro
Former Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate/FOX News Political Contributor
It’s going to be a very interesting campaign. I must say that several months ago I said that it would be great if there was a woman on the ticket — that I felt that John McCain would have to pick someone, especially if Hillary was the nominee. But without Hillary being the nominee it’s really quite equally as important because people are looking for a smart campaign and I think this might do it.
There are a lot of women who are disaffected by how Hillary was treated by the media, by how she was treated by the Obama campaign, by how she was treated by the Democratic National Committee — [Democratic party chairman] Howard Dean not speaking up when sexism raised its ugly head in the media. They’ll be looking to see what happens now.
buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
You people crack me up. Who the hell listens to Fox News?
Hillary supporters just can’t believe there are dyed-in-the-wool Democrats who think the Clintons’ shelf life is over. I don’t subscribe to the Divine Right of the Clintons.
Bottom line: She should have admitted defeat with grace way back when.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_personality
vicky Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
BTW, did anyone mention that she has the full support of Phyllis Schafly who is really excited about this pick? No Hillary supporters will accept this ticket. Oh- she also likes moose burgers, smoked pot when it was legal in Alaska (but didn’t like it) and her husband is a snow “machine” champ.
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
It’s nothing more than a Hail Mary pass….McCain wanted to pick Joe Lieberman, but the Rove-controlled GOP hierarchy would not allow a pro-choice VP. The conventional wisdom said either Romney or Pawlenty….this selection smacks of desperation and gimmickry.
Does anyone really believe that McCain will turn to Sarah Palin for counsel on international crises? Really?
And that racist crone Geraldine Ferraro can go fuck herself
mike Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Hank, ha ha ha, you should join the minute men.
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Palin has two years as Governor, Obama has 3 as senator (half of which was on the campaign trail)-executive experience trumps legislative experience
Advantage: Palin
Palin took on her own party while on an ethics board, blowing the whistle on GOP bigwigs. Obama, as a Chi-town pol chose to be coddled by the corrupt Daley Chicago machine.
Advantage: Palin
Palin may or may not have improperly influenced the firing of a state trooper (jury’s still out), Obama kicked off his political career with loads of help from a guys whose habit is to blow up those he has political disagreements with.
Advantage: Palin
One can argue that neither has any foreign policy experience, but Palin is governor of the only state that borders two other countries, one of which has been pretty belligerent of late.
Advantage: Palin
Comparing the wannabe Veep Palin’s experience to the wannabe Pres Obama’s experience shows Obama seriously lacking, or at best in a near tie.
Get Off My Lawn Says Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
McCain laid a trap and Obama’s crew has just taken the bait and swallowed it. What a bunch of arrogant suckers.
Obama was a junior Senator from a state for about sixteen or seventeen months before he decided he was experienced enough to be president.
Sarah Palin has been the Chief Executive of a state for nearly two years… before running as Vice President.
But Obama wants to talk about how inexperienced she is.
McCain must be howling that Obama wants to make this election, suddenly, all about experience. Yes, let’s — let’s talk about the comparative experience of Obama and Palin every day for the next sixty seven days.
Dave A. Says:August 29th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I don’t know anything about Palin, so I’m interested to see how she holds up under the microscope of a national campaign.
I’m curious as to why abortion hasn’t become a central issue in the campaign, Both sides have dug in their heels on the issue, with McCain seemingly set to overturn Roe v. Wade via Supreme Court appointments. With so many Americans holding strong feelings one way or the other, why hasn’t it become a bigger campaign debate?
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
LOL Scotty. I haven’t seen pretzels as twisted as that logic to prop up a pretty ridiculous choice for VP.
Palin has been governor of the 47-largest state for a little over one and a half years - she assumed office on December 4, 2006. Before that, she was mayor of Wasilla AK (pop 7,738). To put this in perspective, Obama’s district which he represented as a State Senator was 210,000.
She did distinguish herself for her whistleblowing on her crooked fellow Republicans…but in what universe does it make sense for the VP nod to go to someone embroiled in a current, ongoing ethics investigation?
And your reference to the “corrupt Daley machine” is laughable considering Richard Daley died when Obama was 15. It’s also laughable considering Palin’s state GOP party is led by the indicted Ted Stevens and the very dirty Don Young. We’ll compare corrupt state political machines anyday.
I’m assuming your reference to “loads of help from a guy whose habit is to blow up those he has political disagreements with” is William Ayers, formerly of the Weather Underground and currently a University of Illinois professor. One fundraiser held as his home and a number of boards on which they both sat hardly constitutes the Pygmalion-like influence you’re dreaming up.
Obama has no foreign policy experience? Oh, I guess his seat on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations doesn’t count. Nor his official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa, eh?
That tripe about Palin’s having foreign policy experience because Alaska is close to Canada and Russia is the same idiotic, 5th grade level talking point that some moron on Fox News just made this morning. Hmmmm
It’s interesting to me that you’re not comparing Palin to her VP counterpart Joe Biden. Probably because you know that Biden will destroy her in the upcoming VP debate.
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
B.O Then: I have no experience, but you can trust my judgment to be President.
B.O. Now: She has no experience-she can’t possibly hold the number 2 spot.
Effing hypocrite.
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
So Scotty - McCain’s campaign mantra is going to be “My VP is just as inexperienced as we claim Obama to be?”
And let’s face facts…McCain will not make it out of his first term…he may not make it through his inauguration. He is choosing someone to be President if his ticket is elected and he chose crap
Buffalopundit Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I love the “Alaska borders Canada and Russia” talking point.
Also, Alaska’s population is 2/3 that of Erie County. Chris Collins is only one country less qualified than Palin. LOL.
Brian Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
She has a four-month old with Down’s Syndrome. Who is raising that kid? Does that bother anybody else? I know I am losing my liberal cred, but come on! Compare that family-value to Joe Biden’s.
Chris Smith Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Honestly, I think one of the primary reasons for choosing Palin was to neuter Joe Biden. He was to be the attack dog in the general election for Obama and would have destroyed a shape-shifting Romney or an unknown like Pawlenty and made Joe Liebermann look like the mealy mouthed quasi-centrist that he is; especially during the debate.
Now, Biden will have to tone down his alpha male arrogance in that debate or end up looking like a bully. I think we remember what happened to a guy named Rick Lazio when he bullied Hillary in the debates…
Palin lacks experience which shuts down that attack angle for McCain in several ways. Especially if the Obama campaign stays away from continually leveling that charge.
Limited foreign policy chops, to me, are dealt with when a candidate surrounds himself with experienced advisors who offer independent counsel. Kennedy and Clinton did it and Bush put out the experience flame as well when he chose Cheney and surrounded himself with former Reaganites and members of his Fathers administration. Obama has done this as well with Biden, Clark, and dozens of other senior policy advisors that will make up his staff and cabinet.
What this pick signals to me is that McCain will be running to the far right in this election and will change tactics to label Obama as a tried and true liberal from back in the day. The “big liberal” gambit is all he has left in his shrinking quiver of arrows. Palin is a “real” new millenium conservative with a love for Baby Jeebus, strong pro-life record, loves guns, wants to drill for oil everywhere, etc.
Brendan Loy made a great point on the experience issue:
http://theoneblog.brendanloy.com/2008/08/palin-gamble.html
The thrust of the Dems’ argument will not be that Palin is too inexperienced; it will be that McCain is being disingenuous when he argues that Obama is too inexperienced. This argument will gain wide acceptance among the pundit class, and it will also succeed with voters — largely because it is correct, and obviously & instinctively so.
Get Off My Lawn Says Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Humanist wrote “And your reference to the “corrupt Daley machine” is laughable considering Richard Daley died when Obama was 15″.
Hey dumbass, the current Mayor of Chicago is his son, Richard Daley.
indabuff Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
McCain accomplished a number things today with his VP pick…two big things…
1- Stole all the thunder away from the Obamagasmic speech last night 2- Brought on board a Washington outsider/change agent
It will be very interesting to hear her speech next week at the RNC…I don’t think this was a hail mary…I think the McCain and Co. waited to see how the DNC played before they decided.
About either Obama’s or Palin’s experience, tis a non-issue with me…
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Hi Humanist,
For a dead guy, Daley’s pretty active…
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Mayors+Office&entityNameEnumValue=30
My point about Ayers is this: If you’re the sort that throws bombs with people you disagree with, how closely aligned does one need to be to get feted at your house and essentially picked for these boards by you? Ayers was the grant writer for the Annenberg Challenge-an endeavor that Obama and his Chicago allies have attempted to dump down the memory hole by restricting access to the documents and flooding the radio stations with negative calls when these documents were finally released.
As to her ongoing scandal, the trooper in question was DWI in a patrol car, tasered his 11 year old son, and was busted poaching wildlife out of season. No investigation conducted yet has revealed any pressure by Palin to fire this guy. Which is why I said the jury’s still out…
You will get no argument from me with regard to Stevens and Young. They are as dirty as they come, and every bit as bad (or worse) as the Chicago machine. I’m not certain how much the governor can affect federal level politicos, but she has gone after corrupt state senators
“This week, Palin said the Alaska Senate Republican leadership should consider stripping GOP state Sen. John Cowdery of his plum committee assignment after his name surfaced at the Kott trial. He hasn’t been charged.
She also said Stevens’ son, Ben, should resign his post as an Alaska representative on the Republican National Committee since he’s also under investigation but not charged. Ben Stevens, a former state Senate president who didn’t run for re-election last year, hasn’t attended an RNC meeting for more than two years. ”
from here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092101724.html
Looks to be an interesting few months.
Cheers!
Chris Smith Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I wouldn’t call Daley’s government in Chicago a “dirty political machine”. It’s one of the best run cities in America with labor peace and a thriving, diverse economy.
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Well, you did live there… It’s possible my perception of their integrity has a partisan skew…
Chris Smith Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
This election isn’t about small things and I loathe the fact that every discussion ends up slicing and dicing things that ultimately don’t really matter. Who cares if Palin was involved with firing a trooper? Who cares if Obama had dinner with a radical? Hell, I’ve known a truckload of assholes through the course of my life and I’ve helped some real sketchy friends try to get a leg up. Does that disqualify me from holding elective office? I’ve served on community boards with some people whose past includes drug convictions and other sundry criminal offenses. Because we shared a common goal today mean that I support everything they did in their past?
We’re all too fucking cynical for our own good…always trying to find the flaws rather than the things that appeal to our better nature.
There are monumental issues facing this country right now and the question is, do you feel John McCain has the temperament, skill, ideas, and fire to solve them or do you think Obama does?
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
@Get Off My Lawn - Yes, I am aware that Richard Daley’s son is the current mayor of Chicago. And he isn’t close to being the corrupt dictator that his father was. So what “Daley political machine” could the reference be to other than the old one? You can’t possible think the current Daley runs a “machine”, do you?
@Scotty - re: Daley, see above
re: Ayers - the pained attempt by the GOP to link Obama to Ayers is a laughable stretch. The Annenberg Challenge? Are you serious?
I quote from Sadly, No! (http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/11294.html)
The basis for this nonsense is the Obama was on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge and Bill Ayers was involved in a group that organized the Chicago Challenge and that provided advice and recommendations to the Challenge. So, since being on the Board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge makes you a terrorist, let’s see who some of the other terrorists on that Board were:
First we have Edward Bottum, who was head of a Chase Franklin, a venture capital firm, as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Underwriters Laboratories. And, probably to throw the FBI off the track of his terrorist leanings, he made all of his political contributions to Republicans.
Then there is John W. McCarter, Jr., who is President of a noted terrorist front organization, The Field Museum of Chicago.
And don’t forget the philanthropist Nancy Searle, who also has cleverly concealed her terrorist leanings by contributing to Republicans.
Best of all, another Board member is Scott C. Smith, President and Publisher of the Chicago Tribune, which still openly advocates blowing up public monuments and gives recipes for Molotov cocktails in its “Food and Drink” section. Scott gives money to Republican candidates hoping to embarrass them by his connections with Bill Ayers.
Finally, all wingnuts screaming about this seem to have forgotten who Walter Annenberg, the guy who started this whole thing, was. To call him a fervent Republican and best buddies with Tricky Dick Nixon and St. Ronnie Reagan is an understatement.
Chris Smith Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
As I’m thinking more about this pick and watching this woman give an exceedingly mediocre speech…it occurred to me just how subversive a pick this is.
If she comes across as a lightweight or unqualified, the media might take up that argument. The blogosphere will be filled with pictures of Palin when she was a beauty queen in a swimsuit, and she’ll be labeled a “ditz” by fringe whackos on sites like DailyKos.
The McCain camp will use those varied insults and sleights as evidence that sexism is alive in America and he’ll use it to pull the Clinton dead-enders and the soccer Mom contingent to his side side in defense of this woman.
This is window dressing as a pick and a subversive and calculating one, in my estimation.
Chris Smith Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Speaking of little things that shouldn’t matter…she says NUCULAR. ARGH@!#@!#!@ It’s NUCLEAR! Nails on a chalkboard…
frieda Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
@LC Scotty “As to her ongoing scandal, the trooper in question was DWI in a patrol car, tasered his 11 year old son, and was busted poaching wildlife out of season.” Could you cite your source?
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
She’s a creationist. She wants to drill in ANWAR.
Good lord. McCain is hoping the nutcase right wing of the Republican party can drag his 72 year old carc’ass’ over the finish.
And with regard to the four-month old with Down’s Syndrome… Is that right? It completely bothers me. I’m all for women and all for women having careers. I have put my career on hold as my young children are my priority now. I find it creepy on many levels.
But there you have the right-to-lifers. Love the fetus. Hate the baby. (Not saying she hates her baby but man, have the baby and then not be around to care for it????)
Mr. Pink Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I like the pick of the outsider. When will the Dems learn that people are tired of the insiders:
2000: Dems Pick Two Senators for their ticket and lose
2004: Dems Pick Two Senators for their ticket and lose
2008: Dems Pick Two Senators for their ticket and….
Do you think it’s a coincidence that the last two successful Democrats for prez were both Southern Governors? The Biden pick was more of the same insider stuff.
Good job, McCain.
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Chris Smith - I thought she said NUCULAR. Thank you. Now, I’m going to go throw up my lunch. Jesus.
vicky Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Yes, her baby that was born in April does have Down’s Syndrome. She was back at work less than 5 days after he baby was born. Her daughter was holding him when they went out on stage today.
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Frieda,
Palin family accusations based on private investigators.
See here
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/08/mccains_vp_pick_palin_facing_e.html
Dan Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
1. If Edwards wasn’t such a lowlife, Clinton would be the nominee and Obama would be in Moe Udallland
2. - Palin has accomplished more as Governor in two years than Obama has done in the Senate in 4.
And wow! Buffalomom! The Bronze Age called..they want their worldview back…
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I don’t know. The Republicans can just make people believe left is right. Right is left. Down is up.
If that were a DEMOCRATIC woman up there, can you IMAGINE the grief she’d be taking?
Look, she can work and still love her baby. But it’s a little incongruent with the Republican claims that they are the wholesome party of family values… while us Democrats are just out trying to ruin the institition of marriage by allowing gays to marry.
At her age, you get tested to know if the fetus is healthy or not. She could have refused the tests - probably did if she is a lifer. Who the hell has a 4 month old baby - sick or well - and runs for vice president? I don’t agree with her priorities at all.
Yeah, family values. Gag.
frieda Says:August 29th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Thanks LC, now on the distaff side, this from DC’s Wonkette.com
“… the guy Sarah nominated to replace the guy she fired apparently forgot to mention that he’d been reprimanded when he was a police chief for sexual harassment of his assistant. Apparently he liked to give neck rubs and lingering hugs - very brotherly stuff, he says. Unfortunately for Sarah, this led to a public uproar, and now the guy has resigned after a week or so on the job.”
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Mom,
Why is a mom with a young baby and a career so incongruent with “family values”?
Would the issue be different if, say, the Obama’s had a 4 month old infant?
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Dan - the LATE Bronze Age!
Come on. If that were a Democrat up there you’d have all those asshole conservative women talkshow hosts bashing her for being a shitty mother.
What does that beeyatch Ingrahm say about Palin?
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Frieda-Whoops.
If true that’ll leave a mark..
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
LC — you are missing my point.
Republicans claim to be holier than thou when it comes to all things “family.”
If she were a Democrat, Laura Ingraham and all those horrible Republican talking heads would berate her as neglectful mother. They would say she’s doesn’t have her values or priorities straight. No question about it.
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
“Palin has accomplished more as Governor in two years than Obama has done in the Senate in 4″
The fail is strong with this one….
She got an ethics bill and a pipeline construction act passed thus far. She vetoed a ban on benefits for partners of gay and lesbian state employees. She sold a jet purchased by the prior administration on eBay for $2.1 million.
Since being sworn into the U.S. Senate on January 4, 2005, Barack Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, the Lugar-Obama Cooperative Threat Reduction Act, the Coburn-Obama Transparency Act, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act and the Iraq War De-Escalation Act. He has held assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment, Public Works, Veterans’ Affairs, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He was chairman of the Senate’s subcommittee on European Affairs. He has made official state visits to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. All this, of course after being the keynote speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, seven years as a Illinois state senator, twelve years as a constitutional law lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, becoming the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review, etc.
But he never finished as the runner-up in the Miss Alaska Beauty Pageant, so what does he know?
mike Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Palins’ five children are Track, 19; Bristol 17; Willow 14; Piper, 7, and baby Trig. Those are hippie kid’s names, wonder if Flint has any polaroids of her.
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/begala.palin/index.html
Give it to Begala on this one.
Palin a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people, will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight. Her personal story is impressive: former fisherman, mother of five. But that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Give it to Begala here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/begala.palin/index.html
Palin a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people, will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight. Her personal story is impressive: former fisherman, mother of five. But that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Brian Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
She has a four-month old with Down’s syndrome!!! If I had a four month old with Down’s syndrome, I wouldn’t want to go to the movies for the evening. She will be gone for the next two months.
She returned to her job as governor after three days. When I had my baby, who was perfectly health, I took 2 weeks off.
I will say it: She is a shitty mother. She is putting her own ambitions ahead of her child. I would say it if it were a Democrat too. If she were President, she would probably put herself ahead of this country as well.
minterests Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I can not help but point this out:
“Palin’s conservative credentials certainly aren’t in question. Among other things, she has backed the teaching of “intelligent design” as an alternative to evolution. “I am a proponent of teaching both [evolution and intelligent design],” Palin said in a debate during her run for the governor’s office.”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12978_Page2.html
Intelligent Design taught in our schools, please, please give me a break!
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
(Sorry if this comment appears more than once.)
Begala is good here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/begala.palin/index.html
Palin a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people, will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight. Her personal story is impressive: former fisherman, mother of five. But that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Buffalo Geek Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Sarah Palin and The YouTubes…
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margin: auto;
}
.gallery-item {
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%; }
.gallery img {
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
}
.gallery-caption {
margin-left: 0;
}
…
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
“I am a proponent of teaching both [evolution and intelligent design],” Palin said in a debate during her run for the governor’s office.”
gaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
minterests Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Scotty, I don’t understand you point, please explain. It is good to see you posting!
Get Off My Lawn Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Bufflalo Mom is a sad, bitter, sorry excuse of a human being. As a matter of fact she did get “tested” with an amnio and decided to have her child. You all protest too much and are grasping at straws. I believe that this choice has you all shaking in your boots over the prospects of your rooke Obama being taken to school by that “old man” McCain.
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
That last comment was a wail of anguish…
mike Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Poor bufmama, she took a beating.
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
“I am a proponent of teaching both [evolution and intelligent design],” Palin said in a debate during her run for the governor’s office.”
Christ….yet another GOP’er building a bridge to the 19th century.
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Get Off My Lawn - Great. All the more to my point. If she had an amnio she CHOSE to have that baby. Love the fetus; hate the baby.
Oh you precious little fetus.
9 months later… sorry kid. It’s been three days! Back to work.
God I hate Republicans.
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Shaking in our boots?
Yeah. What Begala said:
John McCain needs what Kinky Friedman calls “a checkup from the neck up.”
In choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate he is not thinking “outside the box,” as some have said. More like out of his mind.
Palin a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people, will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight. Her personal story is impressive: former fisherman, mother of five. But that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
For a man who is 72 years old and has had four bouts with cancer to have chosen someone so completely unqualified to become president is shockingly irresponsible. Suddenly, McCain’s age and health become central issues in the campaign, as does his judgment.
In choosing this featherweight, McCain passed over Tom Ridge, a decorated combat hero, a Cabinet secretary and the former two-term governor of the large, complex state of Pennsylvania. iReport.com: ‘McCain pick might be a gimmick’
He passed over Mitt Romney, who ran a big state, Massachusetts; a big company, Bain Capital; and a big event, the Olympics.
He passed over Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Texas senator who is knowledgeable about the military, good on television, and — obviously — a woman.
He passed over Joe Lieberman, his best friend in the Senate and fellow Iraq Kool-Aid drinker.
He passed over former congressman, trade negotiator and budget director Rob Portman.
And he also passed over Mike Huckabee, the governor of Arkansas.
For months, the McCainiacs have said they will run on his judgment and experience. In his first presidential decision, John McCain has shown he is willing to endanger his country, potentially leaving it in the hands of someone who simply has no business being a heartbeat away from the most powerful, complicated, difficult job in human history.
mike Says:August 29th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Her husband is Yup’ik Eskimo, maybe they put the baby on an ice flow.
Ward Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Well, the pro-Hillary bloggers all seem to have their dress over their head on this one, rueing how Barry missed the bus on picking a woman for VP. And Pundit has 63 comments on this thread, compared to seven on his thread on Obama’s now-forgotten acceptance speech.
Looks like The One may have been been upstaged somewhat.
Hey, Buffalomom–do you hate me? We’ve never met.
mike Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Two words: Thomas Eagleton, she will be lucky to last until september 1.
Buffalomom Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
I heart you, Ward! xoxoxo - What I should have typed was I hate Republican hypocracy. If you’re not a hypocrite, well, xoxox.
Palin dissed veep job - classic! What a dope.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080829/pl_politico/12969_1
Maybe her selection is just a joke to distract from Obama’s wonderful speech last night. Desparate times…
Becky Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Why is McCain getting a pass on the Keating 5 scandal? It was quite the big deal and in the news for a long time. He did not come off smelling like a rose. If it’s irrelevant now due to time passed, so is his status as a former POW.
By the way, many pro-choice women also would have opted to give birth upon knowing that their baby would be born with Down’s Syndrome. It’s not a nomination for sainthood. Most women would have opted to spend more time at home with their newborn too, even if they could afford a nanny.
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
While this choice was good for shock value and taking the headlines away from Obama, as a long-term strategy it seems pretty futile and reckless.
Joe Biden has actually met and negotiated with foreign leaders. Palin hopes she can cook them a mooseburger.
Get Off My Lawn Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
U.S. Senator (INSERT DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE) today announced that he has selected “Progressive” Democrat Governor (INSERT NAME) to be his running mate and to serve as his vice president.
“Progressive” Governor (INSERT NAME) is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.
“Progressive” Governor (INSERT NAME) has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us – Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.
In Alaska, “Progressive” Governor (INSERT NAME) challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the “bridge to nowhere” that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.
As the head of Alaska’s National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, “Progressive” Governor (INSERT NAME) understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.
“Progressive” Governor (INSERT NAME)has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today.
Come on you liberals you can admit it. Dismiss your state of denial. If the above scenario had happened last Saturday and Obama had picked a “Sara Palin” as his running mate (instead of Cranky/Arrogant/ Sexist Joe Biden), Thursday night would have been the second time this week that Oprah “cried her eyelashes off”.
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
@Becky: You’re not allowed to ask McCain about the Keating 5 scandal because he was shot down and held prisoner by the Viet Cong for five and a half years. In fact, everying is explained away by Teh POW!
- dumped his disabled wife and 3 kids for a blonde beer heiress and violated miltary rules against adultery while doing so? POW!
- tossed off a brutal joke about Chelsea Clinton at a fundraiser (”How come Chelsea Clinton is so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father! hyuk-hyuk!) POW!
- abandoned most of his long-time principles to adopt radically right wing positions in this Presidential campaign just to suck up to the Religious Right and the neocon nutjobs that got us into Iraq? POW!
-cheated by listening in to the questions asked of Obama in a joint forum in front of evangelicals a couple weeks ago? POW!
- doesn’t know how many house he (well, his wife) owns? POW!
POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW!
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
@Get Off My Lawn - you are so right. Obama had a chance to pick the most unqualified VP candidate in history, not to mention one mired in an abuse of power scandal. And oh yeah, is virulently anti-choice (even in cases of rape and incest) and wants to install creationism, (cough) er “intelligent design” in our schools.
What a missed opportunity.
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
@ Ward - 38 million people watched Obama’s speech:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080829/ap_en_tv/cvn_obama_s_audience_1
but you’re right…seven comments on a blogpost is pretty lame. Surely we could have had dozens more saying “That was fucking awesome”
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
About the ID issue…
“In an interview Thursday, Palin said she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms:
“I don’t think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn’t have to be part of the curriculum.”
She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state’s required curriculum.
Members of the state school board, which sets minimum requirements, are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.
“I won’t have religion as a litmus test, or anybody’s personal opinion on evolution or creationism,” Palin said.”
source:http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Well, that’s very reassuring that the members of the state school board, who are appointed by the governor are free to ignore her when she prattles on about intelligent design and all the pretty flowers and animals God created and how much of a dick Charles Darwin is. Uh-huh.
And of course, all these intelligent design clowns are very quiet about it…more of a personal belief, nothing to share, nothing to, say, promote or proselytize.
Becky Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
@Ward “Well, the pro-Hillary bloggers all seem to have their dress over their head on this one, rueing how Barry missed the bus on picking a woman for VP. And Pundit has 63 comments on this thread, compared to seven on his thread on Obama’s now-forgotten acceptance speech.
Looks like The One may have been been upstaged somewhat.”
Obama made absolutely the correct choice in Joe Biden. McCain did not with Palin…I actually breathed a sigh of relief upon reading of the selection.
Does anyone seriously believe that the primary goal was anything other than picking a female to attract the allegedly disaffected Hillary fans?
Obama’s speech is not forgotten or upstaged. It was great and everything we could have asked for. However, we’d much rather pick on errant things like the Palin pick than praise the successful like Obama’s speech. Eight is enough!
hank Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Change we can believe in—
Is picking a VP running mate who was in the Senate when the Presidential candidate was in Junior high, and John McCain was getting beat up by the NVA
That’s how you bring change to washington.
Palin Runs AK
Palin spent her life living closer to Russia than Obama has ever even stood.
The DNC’s own site labeled “DONATE NOW TO HELP US DEFEAT THE NEXT CHENEY” Didn’t even have Palin listed as a possibility.
Face it–McCain chopped off Obama’s convention Bump–nobody’s talking about him today, just Palin.
McCain snookered the DNC, and Rove’s grinning from ear to ear.
Democrats got their ass whooped, pride shook, and money took—all in one day.
GET USED TO IT. IT’s going to happen again and again.
Buffalo Mom–I don’t hate ANYONE–Not even Mike.
But you hate Republicans.
Do you kiss your kids with that mouth? Hope not.
minterests Says:August 29th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Scotty, it sounds like she was back peddling a bit to me, from the article you linked to she originally said:
“Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both.”
Saying “teaching both” two times.
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
38 million people watched Obama’s speech last night, maybe millions more:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080829/ap_en_tv/cvn_obama_s_audience_1
But yeah, 7 comments on a blog post is kinda lame. We should have had dozens more, all saying the same thing - “That was fucking awesome”
Our attention is on one of the most ludicrous and gimmicky VP choices in modern history. Dan Quayle thinks this woman is unqualified. McCain-Palin ‘08 should change their name to Henry-Punky Brewster ‘08
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Hank - I want some of the glue you’re sniffing
Kevin Hardwick Says:August 29th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
It’s a great pick!
Foreign policy experience would be nice, but most governors (Clinton, Carter, Reagan, Bush 43) don’t have a lot of it. What they do have is executive experience. Palin has more of this than all 3 of the other presidential/v.p. candidates combined. Unless McCain drops dead in the first month, Palin will have time to acquire foreing policy experience on her frequent trips to the funerals of foreign leaders. As for the “small state” argument, I didn’t hear many folks complaining about Howard Dean for this reason in 2004, although Alaska has about 60,000 more people than Vermont.
The only thing that could spoil the Republican victory party is if someone digs up serious dirt on her. I doubt the Governor of Alaska has had to worry about the New York Post going through her garbage like a New York governor would have to. But unless they find something, it’s game, set and match for McCain.
The Humanist Says:August 29th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
So, Kevin - Palin’s 20 months in office as governor trumps Joe Biden’s 35 years in the U.S. Senate, including tenures as Chairman of the Senate Committees on the Judiciary and Foreign Relations?
Why would we need to dig up dirt on her? She comes prepackaged with an ethics scandal!
And Howard Dean was in office for almost 12 years as governor, after 4 as Lieutenant Governor.
LC Scotty Says:August 29th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Current rumor at DU-the baby she just had was actually her 16 YO daughter’s illegitimate child.
Very classy, those guys!
Buffalopundit Says:August 29th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Shorter thread:
REPUBLICANS: She’s Susan B. Anthony and Colin Powell wrapped up in an ultraconservative, hockey mom body. Her 2 years as executive of a state with 670,000 people is equal to 100 years as President of the World. As Alaska governor, she is the first line of defense against an imminent Russian invasion.
DEMOCRATS: She’s a lightweight who is embroiled in controversy, and has taken away several of McCain’s signature attacks against Obama. Although she satisfies the moose-hunter constitutional requirement to serve, she is a cynical ploy by McCain to try and attract female voters who still pine for a Hillary presidency. While people are concerned about Obama’s experience, he has selected someone with all the experience one would need. OTOH, McCain has experience but is quite old and has selected a veep with even less experience than Obama.
Even shorter thread:
REPUBLICANS: We love her! Obama sucks!
DEMOCRATS: Ha ha! Obama rocks!
Ward Says:August 29th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Damn, Alan–you should just put up a link to the bottom of this thread, so folks can skip the folderol and go straight to the money-shot! Mille grazie!
Kevin Hardwick Says:August 29th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
No, Humanist, John McCain’s foreign policy experience trumps Obama’s. So does Biden’s, for that matter. Palin’s executive experience trumps everbody’s. BTW, I would agree with lawn’s earlier trap comment. This is exactly the sort of debate Republicans are looking for. If we’re talking about experience rather than change in 9 weeks, then New York might even be in play. (I don’t expect this to be the case, though, as eventually the Democrats will recover and get back on message.)
TheRover Says:August 29th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Excellent choice! I liked her the most of everyone being talked about although I was certain she was a longshot at best. Washington outsider, woman, not an eastcoast RINO, pro-life. She’ll energize conservatives and maybe help McCain transition into the exec role. She understands taxes kill and profit gives life. I’m with Prof. Harwick on this one. Impending scandal? Over a firing of some sort? Anybody remember that guy named Elliot?
“NOBAMA”
“Keep The Change”
Queen Carlotta Says:August 29th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I have to laugh at all the Barry Obama supporters go out of their way to slander Gov. Palin. To read the terrible comments from “BuffaloMom” about Palin’s choice to have a Down Syndrom child was downright scary. With filthy mouth bitches like “BuffaloMom” (Mom via turkey baster), Republican rule will be guranteed for the next two generations.
So much for an era of political change… The ony change that would occur with the election of Obama would be insults and division under the Democrats rather than Rove.
Shame on the alleged Obama supporters comments on here.
Queen Carlotta Says:August 29th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
So much for Obama’s statement that “we can disagree w/out being disagreeable”
BuffaloMom illuminates that only more division, hatred and insults can be expected with a Barry Obama Presidency.
mike hudson Says:August 29th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
buffalomom calling someone “a dingdong.”
now that is priceless.
meanwhile, after enduring weeks of relentless negative campaigning by the convicted criminal jon powers, jack davis has decided to hit back with some “character” advertising of his own.
and, while powers features things dan rivera and len lenihan invented in his commercial, davis hits the high points — powers’ fraudulent charity, his practice of scraping a meager living off of campaign contributions and his criminal record.
10 out of 10!
mike hudson Says:August 29th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
professor hardwick and hank are both, as usual, quite correct in relation to the upcoming presidential contest. and queen carlotta is correct about the turkey baster buffalomom waddled down to tops to pick up. i saw her there.
KevinP Says:August 29th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
We could finally have someone in the White House to whom we could masturbate and people are complaining?
mike hudson Says:August 29th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
this just in…..
buffalomom was actually eating ding dongs — purchased with food stamps — at the time she called the governor of the great state of alaska a dingdong….
TheRover Says:August 29th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
100th post…..she has better legs than Biden too.
bluedog Says:August 29th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Dr. Hardwick, had she been governor for 10 years like Dean had this would be different, but jumping from being the Mayor of a town of about 6,000 people and then only having been Governor for about 2 years doesn’t constitute major executive experience and has no security experience.
If Barack Obama is a ‘roll of the dice’, then Sarah Palin is playing Russian Roulette.
therising Says:August 29th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I am absolutely floored, and pissed, at this.
You would think that a Presidential Candidate would pick a VP based on a combination of (a) a person who will help him get elected, and (b) a person most qualified for the job.
McCain has absolutely thrown (b) out the window.
This is absolutely disgusting.
Kevin Hardwick Says:August 29th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
So, Bluedog, what security experience did Gov. Dean have that Gov. Palin doesn’t? Again, Dean was going for the top spot where he’d need said experience on Day 1. Hopefully, Palin will have a long foreign policy apprenticeship Under McCain (although, of course, nothing is for certain). And if it’s years of experience that is so important, shouldn’t that be even more important for the top of the ticket? I certainly think so.
Chris Smith Says:August 29th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Why are we talking about Howard Dean in 2004? How is that germane to the discussion?
Chris Smith Says:August 29th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
If Palin comes across as a lightweight or unqualified over the next couple of weeks, the media might take up that argument and press it. The blogosphere will be filled with pictures of Palin when she was a beauty queen in a swimsuit, and she’ll be labeled a “ditz” by fringe whackos on sites like DailyKos.
The McCain camp will use those varied insults and sleights as evidence that sexism is alive in America and he’ll use it to pull the Clinton dead-enders and the soccer Mom contingent to his side in defense of this woman.
This is window dressing as a pick and a subversive and calculating one, in my estimation.
Final question for the Palin supporters: Do you think this is the absolute best the Republican Party had to offer as a Vice Presidential nominee? If so, how is she markedly better than the runner up choices of Crist, Pawlenty, Romney, Huckabee, Ridge, Powell, Guiliani, Portman, Hutchinson, etc?
This is a pick that was based on winning an election and not governing whereas Obama’s pick was the absolute opposite. Biden is not an inspiring choice as a candidate, but serves as a wise choice as a counsel to a President.
Finally, gotta say, I love Palin’s “Fargo” ayyyccent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAM57-62IS0
“So dyyyat was Mrs. Lundegaard on da floor in dare. And I guess that was your accomplice dare in da wood chipper.”
Dave A. Says:August 29th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
As a democrat set to vote for Obama, I’m not ready to write off Palin yet. I don’t agree with most of her (conservative) positions, but I’m intrigued to see someone there who’s not part of the Harvard-Washington-Insider-Good ‘Ol Boys’ Club. If experience isn’t as important as judgment, then it may be turn out to be an interesting summer.
All in all, I’ll ignore what Michael Moore and Ann Coulter say about her, and make up my own mind. I doubt she can change my vote, but it’ll be a helluva show.
Queen Carlotta Says:August 30th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Chrissy Smith… what’s up? I thought you were part of Barry Obama’s “Change We Can Believe In”? Isn’t part of Barry Obama’s lure is that Americans can “disagree w/out being disagreeable?”
How exactly is Barry Obama and his supporters part of “change we can believe in” when they slander a woman for having a Down Syndrome child or talks with a different accent? You can take that Obama “change” and shove it up your filthy fat arseholes.
Chris M Says:August 30th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Palin represents true feminism: a woman with strong innate principles (morals?) who determines her own destiny. Who balances family and professional life. Who has made tough choices in both realms, and has succeeded. And who is tough as nails.
She is the liberal “feminist’s” nightmare.
McCain hit this one out of the park. She will draw votes from all but the most hardened Leftists. And she will do it with class, and a sincere smile. And she will once again rise to the occasion, and do a fantastic job.
I am a conservative, and have not donated to McCain. Until today.
Buffalo Hodgepodge Says:August 30th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Professor: you have to absolutely be kidding me that this is a great pick. If you’re looking for political executive experience, choose from any of Romney, Huckabee, Crist, or Pawlenty. If you’re looking for business executive experience, there’s Fiorina, Meg Whitman, or Fred Smith. If it’s a woman, then Christie Todd Whitman or Kay Bailey Hutchinson.
I’d take Michelle Obama as Vice President over Sarah Palin any day.
dippity doo Says:August 30th, 2008 at 6:07 am
hey hudson - saw your newspaper in the latest crappy ad by Davis… so can you tell me how you’re not connected to him again?
McCain’s VP pick at least has those sexy librarian glasses.
It was a cheap political stunt to go after Clinton’s female base. Do we really want to pick a president who would set us up for failure over four years just to try and win an election?
I can’t believe one of the Rochester Republican blogs said that this was the greatest choice he could make and it was a great pick… now that’s stretching it a bit don’t you think?
Of course these are the same Republicans who think Davis is a good choice for Congress.
Chris Smith Says:August 30th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Queen Carlotta on her trusty steed of certitude and haughtiness. I’m not slandering the woman in any way, I do actually love the Fargo accent.
Facts Plz Says:August 30th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Queen Carlotta, I could not agree with you more.
Both ‘Brian’ and buffalomom have revealed their particular self rightous versions of misogyny with a breathtaking savagery. Absolutely amazing comments. Oh well, now we can just “consider the source” regarding whatever else these characters say.
Facts Plz Says:August 30th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Queen Carlotta, I could not agree with you more.
Both ‘Brian’ and buffalomom have revealed their particular self righteous versions of misogyny with a breathtaking savagery. Absolutely amazing comments. Oh well, now we can just “consider the source” regarding whatever else these characters say.
Greg Says:August 30th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Considering how little the VP actually does I see no issue with her having a baby
hell, VP probably has less duties than a governor