Palin as McCain's VP

by: tremayne

Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 10:49


From Wikipedia:

- Sarah Palin is 44 years old

- Has served less than 2 years as Governor of Alaska

- Pro-life

- Helped to pass an ethics reform bill

- Is accused of trying to get her ex-brother in law fired and last month fired the Commissioner of Public Safety.  Investigation still underway.

-  Has four five children. The oldest deploys to Iraq next month and youngest has Down's Syndrome.

- Big supporter of more drilling

- 2nd place, Miss Alaska Beauty pageant, 1984

There appears to be a battle at her Wiki page as "brother in law" recently disappeared from it although an account of the scandal still exists without those words. This pick would seem to eliminate and indeed could reverse the "not ready for the job" argument the McCain campaign has aimed at Obama. Can they argue Palin is ready to be President of the United States? Your take?
tremayne :: Palin as McCain's VP

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Palin as McCain's VP | 162 comments
A heartbeat away (4.00 / 2)
I guess this means we won't be hearing any more "not ready to be Commander-in-Chief" arguments.
More to the point, where will Cheney be? (4.00 / 7)
Staying on as "Assistant to the VP"?

Seriously, this woman didn;t know a few days ago what the VP did, even after 7 1/2 years of Cheney.  This ticket is going to self-destruct before out very eyes by Nov 4.  How stupid do they think women are?  A pro-life former beauty queen who 3 years ago was the mayor of a small Alaska town?  Is this a job that anyone can do?

To think he was so desperate for attention that he picked Sarah Palin of all people.  He just uses people for props in his own personal drama.  This is one frightening man.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
Mimi, don't hold back (4.00 / 1)
Don't be afraid to go negative.  Attack!  Get personal! You're going too easy on these folks.  
[ Parent ]
LOL! (4.00 / 1)
I'm offended by the pick.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
piss off older women (4.00 / 3)
the women who were pissed that Obama won over Clinton are going to be even less likely to be happy with a young, unknown, token-type woman in Palin.  She might be great in 15 yrs, but she has very little experience in 2008.  

I find it hard to believe the GOP couldn't find a more experienced, rose through the ranks, proven-leader type to appeal to these women.  

No one on the GOP side can match Hillary Clinton for pure inspiration and grit.  But you think they could have picked someone a little bit more stateswoman-like.  (maybe they all refused?)

[ Parent ]
Unless they've already decided that this one is mostly over (0.00 / 0)
Think she's a rising star, and want to build a bench for the future.  Putting someone on their 40s in a losing VP spot isn't the worst idea ever, so long as they can avoid a Lloyd Bentsen moment.
[ Parent ]
I don't think McCain (0.00 / 0)
is capable of thinking it's mostly over, or that he gives a shit about building a bench for the future. More and more, this looks like sheer blind desperation. Unless there's a sexual angle, of course.
[ Parent ]
Probably true (0.00 / 0)
but if the rumors that he really wanted Lieberman are true, and that that party forced someone else on him, they could easily have run a sort of "build the party for the future" rationale on him.
[ Parent ]
She's the darling of the NRO crowd (0.00 / 0)
And the execrable Larry Kudlow. He could hardly contain himself this am on CNBC.  Even more excited than Keith after Obama's speech, because he had promoted and predicted her.

Of course, they aren't exactly, you know, typical or representative of anything except the College Young Republicans.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
scandal background (0.00 / 0)
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/...

quick find of a recent update - don't know cred of the source - but its a decent start.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare

Progressives move the goal posts (4.00 / 6)
as I wrote in the quickhit...

What this pick is about is that it's a woman, because the GOP can not run on just white southern crackers anymore. She's a safe uncle top like woman, but a woman none the less. This pick is because of progressive pressure for equality over the years. This never would happen without it.

This is annoying pick, but its also a moment for progressives to be proud that decades of work is moving the goal posts.

Maybe some day maybe Palin will thank those to whom she owes this opportunity (and bats might flight out of my butt).  

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare

good point (4.00 / 1)
n/t
[ Parent ]
more than just gender (4.00 / 1)
Picking a woman is a good move for McCain to try to pick off some Hillary supporters.

But its clear Palin was picked for more than just her gender.  She is charismatic, a solid conservative, a maverick, and appears to have a high degree of integrity (the brother-in-law issue notwithstanding).  She is however very thin on experience.  I think everyone is going to wonder whether she is ready to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, esp. with McCain's advanced age.

[ Parent ]
And it does draw attention to his age (4.00 / 1)
And the fact that he had cancer twice.  They said it several times on MSNBC.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
OK, I'm ingnorant (0.00 / 0)
Please explain this phrase:

"safe uncle top like woman"

I'm afraid I have no idea what this means.

Thanks.

Karl in Drexel Hill, PA

[ Parent ]
typo (0.00 / 0)
uncle toM

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare
[ Parent ]
Thanks (0.00 / 0)
I truly could not make hide nor hair of it until you clarified.

Karl in Drexel Hill, PA
[ Parent ]
sry (0.00 / 0)
actually trying to work too and rarely proof - its too bad most blogs like this don't let you edit your comment for a minute or two. i always notice the mistakes after clicking save, even when i do preview.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare
[ Parent ]
Aw man (4.00 / 1)
I thought it was something dirty.
[ Parent ]
Uncle Tom or Aunt Harriet? (0.00 / 0)
Is she African American, or what's the point?
[ Parent ]
sounds like (4.00 / 2)
one of those misheard lyrics that doesn't make any sense but you sing it anyway. (Like "there's a bathroom on the right".)

"I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that."
-Lawrence Summers
[ Parent ]
Yep (4.00 / 1)
Then there's Hendrix's classic: "'Scuse me while I kiss this guy."
[ Parent ]
A parody on Jimi Hendrix? (0.00 / 0)
Or unaware that the line really goes "'Scuse me while I kiss the sky"???
[ Parent ]
Parody (0.00 / 0)
There was actually a book (I'd link to Amazon, but it's blocked from work) called something like "Excuse Me While I Kiss This Guy" all about mis-heard song lyrics.  Pretty funny reading actually, has a big list of all the mis-interpretations of Steve Miller's "'Cause I speak, of the properties of love", stuff like that.
[ Parent ]
Misheard lyrics (0.00 / 0)
[ Parent ]
"The girl with Colitis goes by" (4.00 / 1)
That's still my favorite (i.e., the girl with kaleidoscope eyes).
[ Parent ]
Dang (0.00 / 0)
I had it figured for some sexual thing. Like tops and bottoms?

Montani semper liberi
[ Parent ]
What Color Bats? (4.00 / 1)
Maybe some day maybe Palin will thank those to whom she owes this opportunity (and bats might flight out of my butt).  

Fruit-eating? Or vampire?

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

[ Parent ]
Totally, patently cynical pick (4.00 / 8)
And I don't think it picks off any woman who might otherwise have voted for Obama.

At first glance, it would seem very hard for anyone to argue that she was chosen for a reason other than her gender.  And considering that she is staunchly pro-life, how many Democratic women really would tolerate her (particularly when we were hearing about how some would have been angry at Obama if he picked a woman other than Hillary).

The one thing it does... (0.00 / 0)
It does get the media on the story blunting the coverage from yesterday.  So they succeeded there.   I think this is going to backfire on McCain.
[ Parent ]
Follow the leader (4.00 / 1)
For someone who is supposedly "not ready to lead," McCain seems to be slavishly following Obama's footsteps. Pandering to Hillary's voters, selecting a "historic" candidate, and picking someone not experienced.

By every indication, even McCain recognizes that Obama is a true leader - in every sense of the word.

[ Parent ]
Right. But is this a trap, too? (0.00 / 0)
Does McCain DELIBERATELY pick Palin BECAUSE of the scandals surrounding her? Does he expect her to be attacked, and want to spin this into evidence that Dems are against women in the VP slot in general?

I mean, the McCainsters aren't totally dumb. There has to be some kind of reasoning behind what looks like a ridiculously  bad choice at first glance.

[ Parent ]
Shake up the coverage (4.00 / 2)
Get him some attention.

Seriously, he goes batshit when Obama is getting all the ettnetion, like when he was in the ME/Europe.  It makes the McvCain people fire wildly back.  This is to get attention for him, get the coverage off Obama and how historic he is.  He forgot Mondale already tried this.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
McCain unhinged (4.00 / 2)
I wouldn't be surprised if McCain decided this on the spur of the moment with a couple of close pals chiming in. Wouldn't surprise me if there was no campaign strategizing at all.  
[ Parent ]
Was some pressure (4.00 / 1)
Yesterday there was a story that McCain really wanted Lieberman, but Rove and his people told him in no uncertain terms no, it would piss off the base.  The NRO-Larry Kudlow wing of the party just loves Palin, though.  It also appears from what I've read that there is no relationship between McCain and Palin--he hardly knows her.  But she was pushed by the NRO crowd, maybe the Rove crowd, and it certainly is an attention-getting, dramatic pick.  It looks like they didn't really think this one through, though, since it undercuts the main argument against Obama (experience).  And while it looks mavericky on the surface, it also looks like a claculated play for attention and women's votes.  I.e., a politician's not a statesman's move. Unlike Obama's pick.  It gets people talking abnout how old he is and what a gambler he is, neither of which is a good thing for him.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
"the McCainsters aren't totally dumb" (4.00 / 1)
Do you have any evidence to back up this claim? Based on what I'm seeing, especially today, I would have to disagree. All they know how to do is smear. And Obama preemptively parried all their attack lines in his speech last night.

The ONE line of attack they had which had SOME resonance was the inexperience angle, which Obama blunted by choosing Biden and McCain just obliterated by choosing Palin. If that's not totally dumb, I don't know what is.

This is McCain's second attempt to upstage Obama, and I think it was actually worse (especially in terms of long term consequences to his campaign) than the "Lime Jello" stunt last time.

[ Parent ]
5 kids (0.00 / 0)
She has 5 kids... 2 sons and three daughters....  The sons are bookends.
thanks (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
It's about McCain re-branding himself as a "maverick" (4.00 / 2)
Like I just said in the Quick Hits thread, that's what this pick is mainly about.  The simple calculation for the campaign must be that she's conservative enough to keep their base happy, but also very outside-the-box in her identity, which could (they hope) get the media and indy voters back on board with thinking of McCain as independent-minded, mavericky, etc., just by virtue of having picked her.  
But there is a problem with media attention (0.00 / 0)
As Dan Quayle found out.

We'll see if she is ready for prime time.  She hasn't got much time to get up to speed.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
Agree with you downthread (0.00 / 0)
I made a similar comment below, in response to someone else making a similar point to yours.
[ Parent ]
he's a maverick to his own campaign! (0.00 / 0)
Sounds like McCain just off and decided this on his own, maybe with some prodding from the National Review cool kids. His campaign is totally in the dark.

UPDATE II: This morning on Fox News, McCain spokeswoman Nancy Pfotenhauer was asked about the relationship between McCain and Palin. "How well do they know one another?" host Bill Hemmer asked. Pfotenhauer said:

You're running flat into the wall of my ignorance here, Bill. I truly have no indication whatsoever the extent of a relationship that exists with the Governor of Alaska.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/...

"wall of ignorance" ... that just sounds so sweet.

[ Parent ]
Fox and McCain (0.00 / 0)
the best wall of ignorance in the business.
[ Parent ]
Hate to belabor the point, (0.00 / 0)
but I sorta can't get past the picture that in McCain's spokesmodel's there stands an acknowledged structure called a Wall of Ignorance. Presumably sorta like the corpus callosum I guess?
[ Parent ]
Not sure what's mavericky about picking an ideologue (4.00 / 1)
They can't hold off her radical right-wing ideology for long.  Independents aren't going to look at this pick as edgy when they soon realize she is just another wingnut.  If the VP pick came a few days before the election this might be an effective gambit, but with two months to go she will end up looking more extreme than she probably really is, especially if they want her to shore up the base.

Romney was the boring pick but he had the one thing that independents might have bought, the right-wing low tax economic argument.  Other than drilling and more drilling, Palin brings little to excite independents.

[ Parent ]
The only rationale for this pick is attempting to motivate PUMAs (4.00 / 1)
She really has no national identity, is not from a relevant state, was a small-town mayor before 2006, and I can't imagine anyone outside political bloggers know who she is.

But in the identity politics game, she is indeed a woman. Maybe McCain think HRC voters are that stupid.  

Disagree (4.00 / 5)
It's about McCain trying to reinvigorate his maverick image, as I said above.  And given that most voters don't care that much about the VP pick per se (your own base cares, though only to the extent that it needs to be an acceptable pick to them), it makes political sense for a presidential candidate to make a VP pick that makes the best possible political statement about himself as a presidential candidate.    
[ Parent ]
That's the narrative in the first 5 seconds after the announcement. (4.00 / 2)
But what do you think will be the follow up narrative that will actually take hold, especially once the Dems try to define her? I think it will be...

1. McCain has just now ceded that Obama is ready to lead because he thinks Sarah Frickin Palin is ready to lead otherwise he would not have picked her.

2. McCain is very very old and could well die in office.

3. Following two, is Sarah Palin ready to lead?

None of those I would suggest, are good for McCain

[ Parent ]
Maybe our best bet is to go for McCain as desperate and/or disagreeing with himself (4.00 / 2)
As in, if he's abandoning (either implicitly or explicitly) the Obama as empty suit/not ready to lead line of attack, it shows that McCain is willing to do or say anything to win the election.
[ Parent ]
McCain is stupider than I thought (4.00 / 5)
Really? It's so easy to rip on her (lack of) experience that it's not even funny.

What a freakin' joke. To kill McCain's most effective argument on the campaign trail is the main outcome of this pick.

Same here. (0.00 / 0)
And saying "McCain is stupider than I thought" is something I never thought I'd utter.

War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength; McCain/Palin 2008
[ Parent ]
I disagree (4.00 / 3)
Sort of.

I'm extremely impressed with this pick, because it's a big risk--the kind most presidential campaigns, including Obama's, are loath to take. A bold campaign is a dangerous campaign.

I can't pretend I know how'll it turn out for him; Repugs will surely suffer anxious moments leading up to the VP debate, and I'd guess that it simultaneously increases the chances that Obama will win by a lot and that McCain will win. A risk, like I said.

In any case, it brings an element of youth, excitement, and human interest to this previously crusty campaign. And it might polish McCain's tarnished image as a maverick.

Good pick.


[ Parent ]
doing the math (4.00 / 1)
I am totally pulling this out of my arse, but maybe McSame's team is anticipating a significant bounce for Obama and decided against the safe pick (Pawlenty) and felt the had to shake things up with the risky Hail Mary pass. Or maybe they have focus group data that brought them to the same conclusion, that his only path has to go through the Mavericky route. I'd like to see if some intrepid reporter can dig this up something on this angle...

"I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that."
-Lawrence Summers
[ Parent ]
agreed, and this scares me (4.00 / 1)
I don't think we should mock this development. We should redouble our efforts.  
[ Parent ]
He is a notorious gambler (4.00 / 3)
He loves to play craps, for high stakes.

But he shouldn't do this with the country's future.  It gives an opening to really (though subtly) question his judgment.  I bet it turns many moderate GOPers (like Wall Street types, fopo types) to Obama as now the safer pick.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
McCain plays Craps, Obama plays poker (0.00 / 0)
One is a game based on dumb luck, the other on cunning, quick thinking, math, and most of all sizing up your opponents and not letting them size you up.

Which game would you rather your Commander in Chief be expert in?

[ Parent ]
In hindsight, it will be the GOP's funky consolation prize (4.00 / 1)
The baseball team that finished in last place but brought up some exciting rookies at the end of the season, that kind of thing.

For McCain personally, it will be: I got dusted but I went down in glory-- gave what might be a new look to our Grand and Very Old Party.

Plus (McCain still talking here) she's hotter. Even hotter than Cindy!

[ Parent ]
risky versus crazy (4.00 / 1)
"I'm extremely impressed with this pick, because it's a big risk--the kind most presidential campaigns, including Obama's, are loath to take. A bold campaign is a dangerous campaign."

I know what you're saying (on the progressive side, both Clark and Dean were "big risk picks"), but I just don't see what the risk is meant to get you. This "big risk" seems like the big risk of running a red light, where the benefit is tiny compared to the dangers.

I literally can not figure out what on Earth this is meant to do. The only thing I can think of is (a) some kind of PUMA thing (but, really?) or (b) by putting such a lightweight next to Biden they lower expectations for the VP debate.

[ Parent ]
I see (0.00 / 0)
it the other way, that the downside to a bad pick (Quayle) is relatively low compared to the upside (excitement, enthusiasm among the base, attracting some female swing voters, strengthening his reformer-maverick cred.)

How many people inclined to vote for McCain won't now because of Palin?

[ Parent ]
interesting point (0.00 / 0)
I think perhaps the relevant word is not "risk", but rather "unknown" -- Palin doesn't have large negatives (yet, go Dems) simply because nobody has a clue who she is. I'm a "medium-high" information voter (not as hardcore as many OpenLefters) and had absolutely zero clue.
[ Parent ]
That's a -very- good question. (4.00 / 1)
My suspicion is: many. A lot of old people who don't much like McCain, but are made nervous by Obama. Now they see McCain and someone even younger than Obama, and a woman too, and ... is it even worth voting?

I think this pick will make some R-leaning voters very uncomfortable.

[ Parent ]
the "movement" aspect helps her (0.00 / 0)
She carried a baby to term who had Downs syndrome and that is going to be a big thing for the weepy megachurch voters.
[ Parent ]
But '88 isn't that good of an example. (0.00 / 0)
Quayle was just window dressing for an incumbent VP following a popular president.  Bush I could weather any potential downsides.  He already had support of the base and 'Reagan Democrats'.  McCain has trouble with his base and with independents.  The base has little reason to get excited no matter who he picks and they are still his most solid supporters.  He needs a larger swath of independents than Obama, not only because his base is not excited but also because the base is shrinking compared to independents and Democrats.  

Palin does little to nothing to garner him independents.  She is far right on cultural issues and has no experience.  Independents have seemed wary of Obama because of his lack of experience, Palin doesn't do anything to shore that up and costs McCain that line of attack.  

The only thing I can think is that Palin will be used in an attempt to energize the base and that McCain will go maverick and try hard to stake out the independents.  Seems schizophrenic to me, but then most independents have been dumb enough to vote for Bush twice.

[ Parent ]
A lot. (4.00 / 1)
I think this loopy choice could turn off a bunch of corporate "moderates" who couldn't care less about abortion, gays, and guns but do demand stability and predictability. They knew that McCain was never a maverick except in his own image-making, but now he's really putting the future up for grabs. Plus, how many of the wingnut base will be able to bring themselves to put a female a heartbeat away, when we all know they're supposed to stay in the kitchen and not be uppity?

Is anyone else struck by the irony that McCain just put Paris Hilton a heartbeat away?

[ Parent ]
I think it brings (0.00 / 0)
an element of head-scratching and confusion to this previously one-note campaign. The only excitement and human interest I see it generating is all the folks wondering if the old guy had a stroke or something, or if he's been lusting after Ann Coulter but settled for a younger model.
[ Parent ]
Innoculated? (0.00 / 0)
Is it possible that any attack on Palin will be taken as a sexist attack and dismissed?  

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
Sexist attacks will look really bad (4.00 / 3)
Criticism of the issues won't be dismissed as sexist.

Criticism of her anti-choice position won't be dismissed as sexist.

The Obama campaigns quick response hit both of those.

Sexist attacks ... yeah, well, they'll be dismissed as sexist.  And there are plenty of those.  If there are too many, then this may well lead to more attention on the sexism than the valid criticisms.  

So it's a really good time for people to be very, very conscious and go out of their way to avoid sexist attacks.

[ Parent ]
The GOP will attempt to paint ALL criticism as sexist (4.00 / 1)
and, given the egg on the face of the MSM after their handling of Hilary Clinton, they might just be scared enough not to push in that direction.


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
i agree (0.00 / 0)
Yes, this is smart; Biden can't really go after her the way he could with someone like Romney. I'm reminded of the debate on L.I. where Hillary won in part because her opponent (some nothing GOP lamb) started into her really aggressively; it came off as harassing and cruel to voters because he was doing it to a woman.
[ Parent ]
That's correct. (0.00 / 0)
The GOP will attempt to paint ALL criticism as sexist.

They will be much more successful painting sexist attacks as sexist.  And yeah, there will be a lot of pressure on the MSM to highlight sexist attacks.

My point is that people shoulddn't play into their game and give them fodder.

[ Parent ]
My worry is that the Dems become passive (4.00 / 1)
out of the fear of being tagged as sexists.


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
So we consider this a teachable moment. (0.00 / 0)
Attacking someone for what they DO, SAY or BELIEVE = fair.

Attacking them for what they ARE = not fair.

I really believe with enough repetition, even the traditional media could understand this. Well okay, a lot of repetition.

Montani semper liberi

[ Parent ]
Biden's best bet in the debates (4.00 / 1)
Is to go after McCain, McCain, McCain.  Don't ignore her or appear to be dismissing her, but don't attack her.  Go after McCain, make her attack Obama (that should be rich!) and his positions (which she will have to learn quickly, along with McCain's positions).

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
Big deal (0.00 / 0)
Nobody votes for VP. Though we can probably forget Alaska.
I just watched part of a YouTube video clip (4.00 / 3)
of her being interviewed by Glenn Beck.  The main topic seemed to be her argument that we could be self-sufficient if we exploited Alaska's oil and gas resources and that this is what Alaskans want.

Based on that brief exposure to her, I couldn't help but get the feeling that, if picked, this would be part of her potential value to McCain--offering a Republican version of energy independence through domestic drilling.

But, with McCain's age in play, it seemed that someone so unknown, inexperienced and, presumably, not very knowledgable about many national and international issues, would raise the question of whether she was even remotely qualified to be president if something happened to him.  But maybe they calculate that any attempt to raise that issue by Dems would give them a chance to throw it back at Obama.

For what its worth (maybe nothing), my brief superficial impression was that she was fairly intelligent and well-spoken, but not necessarily ready to handle the attention, responsibilities, questions, etc. that she'd get as McCain's VP pick.

Based off the clip (0.00 / 0)
Would she make a good debater, especially against a legend like Biden? How about on the attack?
[ Parent ]
She thinks there is enough oil in Alaska for our entire country? (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
The oil-industry candidate (3.00 / 4)
Palin is an unquestioning supporter of drill here drill now so that's what she brings to the table. Everything else is secondary, screw the polar bears, screw the environment. Palin did not join Alaska in the Western Climate Initiative but signed up as an observer instead.

She's appealing and well spoken on TV but she said several times this year it was unlikely she'd be picked as VP... maybe because she knows she's not capable? But she's ambitious and competitive so what the hell why not.

How is she going to campaign full time with a baby? Is that any way to treat your child? Can she handle the VP duties and also raise a baby, a 7 year old, and a 13 year old?

My friends, please welcome the Mayor of Wasilla and her eskimo First Gentleman.

[ Parent ]
racist (4.00 / 1)
...and her eskimo First Gentleman

That kind of racist s%*t is unnecessary, unseemly, unwelcome and has no place here.

[ Parent ]
what racism? (0.00 / 0)
He is a native eskimo, and he is called the First Gentleman on the Governor's web site.

If you think that is racist, blame Palin.

[ Parent ]
doubly racist (4.00 / 1)
It was racist the way you called attention to his heritage, implying it was a deficiency.  The fact you can't see that makes you doubly racist.

BTW, I have visited northern Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories.  I never once heard the term "Eskimo".  It was always "native" or "Inuit".  See Wikipedia: "In Canada and Greenland, the term Eskimo is widely held to be pejorative and has fallen out of favor, largely supplanted by the term Inuit."

[ Parent ]
doubly nonissue (0.00 / 0)
The only implication of deficiency is in your own brain! If Eskimo is a racist term I guess the Voice of America, AP and Reuters should be informed of that.

Palin's husband, Todd, is of native Alaskan Eskimo heritage. He is an oil field production operator for BP and also is a four-time Iron Dog snowmobile race champion.

http://voanews.com/english/200...

[ Parent ]
Racist and sexist! (4.00 / 1)

Did you have a problem with Obama, Dodd or Edwards campaigning while raising small children? Do you think Obama can't handle his presidential duties while also raising a 7 and 10 year old?

She's a politician - attack her on her political stances. Like you did in your first paragraph.

 



John McCain thinks we haven't spent enough time in Iraq
[ Parent ]
raising babies (0.00 / 0)
Obama, Dodd and Edwards aren't nursing mothers. There is a difference...
[ Parent ]
Are 7 and 10 years old still nursing? (4.00 / 1)


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
What are you, the lactation police? (4.00 / 3)

Women breastfeed and work all over the world, and have been doing so since, well forever.  As a  politician, her schedule is something she controls and she is actually in a better position to breastfeed than women who work set shifts. 

Unlike the vast majority of mothers she's not providing her own transportation, and she can breastfeed while she's en route and someone else drives or pilots.

 (There's also this newfangled thing called a breast-pump, which allows women even great flexibility.)

All this of course, assumes that she is a nursing mother.  We know so little about her, I'm surprised that you're positive she is.  

It's really disappointing to see this sort of sexist attack on OpenLeft.



John McCain thinks we haven't spent enough time in Iraq
[ Parent ]
But you are preaching to the choir, mostly... (4.00 / 1)
The view above, questioning her judgment as a nursing mother will be a topic for discussion in red households over the coming weeks.  Will the dutiful, Republican wife agree with her husband that Palin is getting out of line?  "Her duty as a mother should have come first, so don't get any ideas!" says the husband.

I think it admirable that she is taking on this job considering  the risks, but will the base look at her positions and find agreement or will they wonder how she can reconcile those positions with the fact that she won't even follow those values herself.  I imagine cognitive dissonance will reign as it always does on the right, but I bet a lot of old school Republican men and their evangelical brethren will cringe a little.  

[ Parent ]
I think you and I are in agreement, Ricky. (4.00 / 1)

I was addressing T. Maysle, who seems to have some issues with mothers - but not fathers - who work outside the home.

I agree with you that the choice of a mother with young children will throw any number of "traditional values" voters (male and female) into confusion.   Cognitive dissonnance is always a good bet with them, but it should still be fun to watch.



John McCain thinks we haven't spent enough time in Iraq
[ Parent ]
Geez (0.00 / 0)
I hope you never have to go to the emergency room, because you know there's a good chance one of the nurses who saves your life may have a baby, a 7 year old and a 13 year old at home.

Also I hope you do your own taxes, because what if one of the CPA's you are counting on also has a baby, a 7 year old and a 13 year old?

This may come as a shock to you, but lots of women have children, yet still manage to hold down jobs! Even important jobs. We do what needs to be done because it needs to be done.

If you want to attack Palin, attack her for her wingnuttery, for which there is no excuse. Don't attack her for being a wife and mother.



Montani semper liberi

[ Parent ]
An outside possibility for McCain now eliminated? (4.00 / 1)
Someone (I think it was Nate Silver) suggested last night that McCain might want to consider a one-term pledge to blunt some of the pressure that Obama put on him last night.  I don't think that was ever going to happen anyway, but choosing Palin surely eliminates it altogether.
Obama's Best Tactic (4.00 / 8)
Is to throw Hilary Clinton at her and just let Clinton tear on her from now until the end of the election.  Clinton would probably go along anyway since she wants to be seen as the one to break the glass ceiling.  
Using Biden (0.00 / 0)
Would be a bad idea against Palin, and he needs to take it easy on her in the VP debate.  Remember when Gore so utterly destroyed W. that Bush actually came away winning the night?  I can see a GOP spin now where Biden is so good at the debates that the GOP wins the spin off of sympathy.  
[ Parent ]
Bush didn't win the night (4.00 / 3)
The media called it for him, and kept calling it for him until voters stopped believing their lying eyes.

I agree though, I think the VP debate is going to be very important this year.  Biden has a reputation for going off half-cocked, especially when under stress.  If he gets pompous and overbearing with Palin's lack of FP experience, that could really backfire with low-info female voters.  

And the media will be only too happy to pile on.

A Hail Mary pass by McCain, but a good one.

[ Parent ]
What Taylor said below (0.00 / 0)
Gore didn't utterly destroy Bush, but he did decisively win the debate. The gasbags handed it to Bush and kept repeating that it was Bush who won the debate. It wasn't voter sympathy for the loser.

This is a different situation, and a different time.

[ Parent ]
...above... (0.00 / 0)
yeesh
[ Parent ]
I think McCain just motivated HIllary to get real engaged (4.00 / 4)
I can easily see Hillary now getting totally psyched to get back into the fray.
[ Parent ]
hopefully (4.00 / 1)
or she could think "smart move John. See Obama, you should have picked me." But even if she's thinking that I think she showed at the convention that the smart political play right now is to strongly back Obama.
[ Parent ]
the smart play for Hillary is to help .. (0.00 / 0)
Obama win .. she'll remain well thought of .. and the rest .. trying to undermine him would only come back to bite her .. because people would blame her for his loss .. not only that .. but playing devil's advocate for a second .. its been proven now that the Clintons can be beaten .. so would 2012 really be any easier for her? .. it wouldn't .. because there still is an anyone but Clinton feeling out there among a lot of Democrats(because of Iraq .. NAFTA .. losing Congress so quick during Bill's presidency .. you name it) .. so that it would open the door to someone like Schweitzer(whose popularity is growing) .. or Feingold(who a lot of the netroots loves .. despite a couple stupid statements lately)
[ Parent ]
So his central memes are going to be (4.00 / 3)
-- connecting with "real Americans". Mayor of a tiny town in Alaska, hard worker rose to governor.

-- role model for ambitious women. Get the PUMA vote, if there is one.

-- big push on oil drilling as energy solution.

He'll get some emotional lift from her, but I can't see that overcoming the negatives. Maybe she'll get him Alaska's electoral votes, but the "heartbeat away" question will become central to the commentary, and maybe even the debates. Obama's alleged unreadiness will be off the table. If she's really pro-choice, McCain loses way more than he gains.

All in all, McCain couldn't have done better in terms of getting a big buzz for a while. Longer term, she's looking like the embodiment of a concession speech.

She's not pro-choice (0.00 / 0)
She appears to be fairly strongly anti-abortion.

War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength; McCain/Palin 2008
[ Parent ]
Oops (4.00 / 1)
Picked up the "pro-choice" claim from a bad source. Scratch that.
[ Parent ]
She is a member of Feminists for Life (0.00 / 0)
according to Wikipedia

Feminists for Life and here is its Wiki entry.

I wonder if pro-life conservatives will support someone who considers herself a "feminist"?

[ Parent ]
i agree (0.00 / 0)
on the short-term, long-term point
[ Parent ]
What are our memes? (0.00 / 0)
Kos is already on the rampage with "Palin = Quayle."
[ Parent ]
Kos on a rampage? (4.00 / 1)
never.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare
[ Parent ]
"heartbeat away" (4.00 / 2)
is the obvious and necessary one. It will just have to be used judiciously. Done right it will knock McCain out for good.

Assuming this pick is McCain's signal that he wants to put energy policy at the front of the line, Dems will have an opportunity to knock down the "drill our way out of the crisis" propaganda for once and for all. McCain = old guy clinging to the 19th Century -- wring every last drop out of the dying oil economy, whatever the cost to the planetary life support system. Obama = a guy who understands that the petroleum economy is dead, that the oil market is global, that selling more US oil to China will not help American workers, and that this is our last chance to bring in the age of renewable energy before it's too late. This has been a hard issue to get attention on. Maybe McCain is going to fix that. If he does, he loses bigtime.

[ Parent ]
In 2005 Palin was mayor of a Wasillia (pop. 8,500) (4.00 / 2)
I'd work that into the talking points.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W...

John McCain

you got a problem with Wasillia? (4.00 / 3)
Huh, do ya punk?
[ Parent ]
Whatever (4.00 / 1)
Wasilla is no Tanaina.  
[ Parent ]
So, plenty of executive experience! (4.00 / 1)
And Obama and Biden have none!

"In your face!" -- Homer Simpson.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3

[ Parent ]
Party Like It's 1984 (4.00 / 1)
Who knew Mondale would be running this year as the Republican presidential candidate?
Anyone Play Poker? (4.00 / 3)
The choice of Palin is like going all-in with a pair of twos.  This is the ultimate definition of desperation.  She better be one hell of a speaker.
Initial reaction from a few pundits matches yours (4.00 / 1)
Via Kos, it looks like some of the pundits are characterizing the pick as a colossal risk/gamble.  If that really sticks, then it probably undermines McCain's desired "I'm a maverick again!" reaction from the media.
[ Parent ]
all in with a pair of twos... (0.00 / 0)
when you've got a hunch that your opponent's got a full house, aces/jacks.

War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength; McCain/Palin 2008
[ Parent ]
Bit of a shocker... (0.00 / 0)
But a good pick.  

Initially, I don't see McCain getting a huge bump out of this.  The upside for him, ironically, comes the more she gets criticized.  Disaffected female voters may find themselves identifying with her own struggle, and rally to her more the more she's called "not good enough."

Obama, Biden, and any male surrogate of the campaign should say nothing critical or dismissive about her.  The media will anyway of course.  But leave it to Hillary or another female surrogate to criticize, if anyone does it.  

Really? (4.00 / 4)
With all due respect, picking a woman with less than 2 years of experience as a governor of a tiny state (in terms of population) and no foreign policy experience who also is under investigation for abuse of power is not exactly a choice which reinforces McCain's whole campaign narrative about strength, experience, and reform.

If the Democrats are on their game, they'll paint her as the crooked, unqualified desperation heave she is.

And I somehow doubt Clinton's voters are really going to identify with an unqualified former beauty queen as somehow representing the struggle of the feminist movement. McCain is pandering, and it should be obvious even to the most strident PUMA.

[ Parent ]
If Clinton's female fans (0.00 / 0)
switch to a stridently anti-abortion hack as their new role model, screw 'em. Yeah, yeah, politics is supposed to be addition, but Dems will be better off without anybody that dumb or nuts. I even wonder if she'll bring out the extremist base all that much. She's anti-abortion and a gay hater, true, but do the trogs really want to see a female out of the kitchen and a heartbeat away? We'll see.
[ Parent ]
Why Not Hutchison? (4.00 / 1)
Why is Kay Bailey Hutchison not accepting the VP nomination right now?
Knows McCain will lose (4.00 / 3)
And what's to remain untarnished for a run for gov of TX
[ Parent ]
This is a great sign (4.00 / 2)
because to me, it signifies that the McCain campaign has rested its chances on picking up whatever disaffected Hillary voters could possibly be left after this convention.  (And to them, I say don't let the door hit you on the ass--no big loss there.)  They're THAT desperate?  This is really all they have?  Why else would they pick someone who exemplifies the weakness of inexperience, especially with McCain being the candidate who's statistically more likely to die and need the VP?

You owe it to yourself to listen to This American Life's fantastic and common-sense explanation of the economic crisis.
McCain/Palin (4.00 / 3)
The Prickly POW and the inexperiend Beauty Queen.

Sounds like a bad sitcom.

Beauty and Beast (0.00 / 0)
parodies are in the future, no?

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
Re: Beauty and Beast (4.00 / 1)
This by the way is a good example of the kind of sexist attack I was talking about as important to avoid.  Unless of course you want to dramatically energize Republican women, alienate women supporting Obama, and swing undecided voters in the McCain direction.
[ Parent ]
She was in a beauty contest, no? (0.00 / 0)


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
beauty queen (0.00 / 0)
While Barack Obama was directing the Developing Communities Project in Chicago and working for Business International Corporation, Palin was competing in the Miss Wasilla and Miss Alaska beauty pageants. Are we just supposed to ignore that? Palin entered herself in beauty contests so that everyone could judge her looks, that's says something about her personality and attitude toward sexism.
[ Parent ]
It says she needed money for college. (0.00 / 0)

She attended the University of Idaho on a scholarship of some kind. Miss Alaska offers scholarship money for college.  

If you want to focus on what she did as a kid, she probably spent more time working on her basketball game:  she captained the Wassila team when they won the Alaska small-school basketball championship.  She played the championship game with a stress fracture in her ankle, hitting a critical free throw in the last seconds of the game.

Let's focus obsessively on what that says about her personality, shall we?

Or, and here's a radical concept, why not attack her political experience and political view, since, she is, after all, a politician?

 



John McCain thinks we haven't spent enough time in Iraq
[ Parent ]
here's a radical concept (0.00 / 0)
Get an academic scholarship based on academic performance ... if you can qualify ... instead of beauty pageants.

The Palin family is majorly into beauty pageants. Todd Palin was a judge in the 2008 Miss Alaska Pageant.

[ Parent ]
Again, attack on the issues. (0.00 / 0)

It would be a shame if sexism led us to weaker attacks that can also antagonize swing state female voters. (Judging how people get money for college? Not a progressive approach.)

Palin's pro life, she's tolerant of creationism, she's pro drilling, she supported the bridge to nowhere, she's involved in a scandal and has limited experience. This VP choice is a pinata!



John McCain thinks we haven't spent enough time in Iraq
[ Parent ]
issues (0.00 / 0)
And beyond those few issues where Palin has a record, she just parrots McCain. Maybe all the campaign needs to do is paint Palin as a clone of McCain on the issues. And McCain is a clone of Bush. So Palin is a clone of a clone, a 2nd generation xerox.
[ Parent ]
Not the Queen, the #2! (0.00 / 0)
And the Queen, the real Miss Alaska 1984, is Maryline Blackburn, a, guess what?, African American singer!
http://cdbaby.com/cd/maryline2
:-)
[ Parent ]
Her biggest advantage (0.00 / 0)
that shouldn't be underestimated is that she will fire up the conservative base. This just increased Republican turnout.

I agree that this pick is weak in several ways, as identified and described above.

To me it's a bit of a wash.

Does she motivate the base more than any other realistic pick would have? (0.00 / 0)
Joementum (and I guess Ridge) were clearly base-angering risks because they're pro-choice, but any acceptable Republican on the ticket was likely to motivate their base somewhat.
[ Parent ]
How can she fire up a base that knows nothing about her (4.00 / 1)
She will fire up the right-wing internet bloggers and the 1% of the Republican party that reads those blogs.

The vast majority of Republicans cannot be fired up by someone they have never seen before from the tiny state of Alaska. The McCain Campaign will have to "educate" the public about her in the next couple weeks to make her relevant.

Romney was a much better pick.  

[ Parent ]
"from the tiny state of Alaska" (0.00 / 0)
That's funny. It is rather small, all tucked away down there somewhere off the coast of California, right next to Hawaii. :P
[ Parent ]
I really think you're overestimating how much it will fire up the conservative base (4.00 / 1)
Will if fire up Rich Lowry and the National Review folks and the hundreds if not tens of hundreds of conservatives online? Yes.

But I don't see how it fires up the millions of conservatives that it needs to when she is absolutely, 100% unknown to anyone in the lower 48 besides the most politically engaged conservatives who are online.

[ Parent ]
As we speak (0.00 / 0)
Rush Limbaugh is celebrating the pick and he has millions of listeners. This time tomorrow, wingnuts will know all they need to know about her -- she's a social conservative.
[ Parent ]
Conservative cred but still a women (0.00 / 0)
She might bring out more conservative women who didn't like McCain, but she also dampens the support of wingnut men who think women should stay at home, don't underestimate the sexists in the GOP.  That rationale seems a wash to me.  This is just a desperate grab for the news cycle or some attempt at securing his place in history as the first Republican to pick a woman.  I think he knows he is going to lose, but this secures him some lasting legacy.
[ Parent ]
Let's keep in mind (0.00 / 0)
that a female VP candidate is nothing new. Been there, done that with Ferraro, remember? If that "breakthrough" did nothing to help even the Democratic ticket, why would a repeat work with Republicans? I just don't see this setting off any fireworks among the base.  
[ Parent ]
Firing up the base (4.00 / 3)
Palin will fire up the evagelical conservative base IMMEDIATELY by her bio, and especially the story of her son with Down's syndrome. This is the opposite of the POW story - McCain looks heroically tough, Palin looks heroically tender. They will also love her style, which is very down-to-earth. If Biden outdebates her, they will love her all the more.

It fires up the romney/conservative establishment base because what they love, more than anything, is a completely inexperienced, virtually blank-slate ideologue whom they can manipute and advise to their heart's content. Bush was a great front for Cheney/Rumsfeld/etc. - and she will be an even better one.

So it's a terrible pick. But it's so bad, and in such weird ways, that it will be harder to deal with. I mean, what we ought to say is, "This is a joke, right?" Can't we say that?

[ Parent ]
Nothing impressive about this (0.00 / 0)
At best, this selection does nothing for McCain.  At worse, it undermines his core attack strategy (lack of experience).  This election is all but over, and we get to take back our government!
For once I agree with Joe (4.00 / 4)
Scarborough has a good comment on the Palin pick. Paraphrasing, he said, "How in the world is she going to debate Georgia, the middle East, India, China, etc. with Joe Biden? You've gotta be kidding me."

Um, yeah.

Karl in Drexel Hill, PA

Because if Biden overdoes it in the debate (4.00 / 1)
He'll be branded as a misogynistic old man that couldn't help but beat-up on the young woman.

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
Yes (0.00 / 0)
The man who authored the Violence Against Women Act is a mysogynist. He'll be careful though I'm sure.  
[ Parent ]
Its an emotional argument; no logic needed (0.00 / 0)


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
Hence the second sentence (4.00 / 1)
I was merely pointing out there exists a defense via going on the offense if the worst happened.
[ Parent ]
This is just another way that McSame shows that underneath the blather he (4.00 / 2)
really does think that a lot of Americans are stupid and that image beats all else

A cynical blantant attempt to get some disgruntled Hillary voters and f***  putting "Country First" because this choice makes Dan Qualye look like a Rhodes Scholar

Palin = (Huckabee + Romney) minus experience (4.00 / 1)
This is, objectively, a truly incredibly bad pick - um, wait, a SCARY pick. Small-town mayor IN ALASKA, then governor OF ALASKA for less than two years?

But this is NOT a maverick pick - if it is spun that way, it is out of ignorance. Palin is picking up love notes at National Review (truly conservative, etc.) AND the evangelical base will see her as not only "one of them" but also heroic (b/c of pro-life actions). This is picking up both the Huckabee and the Romney sides of the party, without their negatives nationally (i.e. rather nutty populist evangelical, and rich, too-slick guy).

Oh, except that maybe Romney and Huckabee ACTUALLY HAVE POLITICAL RESUMES??? That one can actually imagine them speaking to Putin???

Wow, just tells us something REALLY scary about McCain's judgment (as if we didn't know...).

Palin = Quayle (4.00 / 3)
This is definitely the operative analogy.  Palin is the darling of the folks at "The Corner" on National Review Online.  They have been agitating for her for months now.  She is THE choice pick for movement conservatives.  This is the opposite of a Maverick pick.  This is a please the base with one of their own.  A hard core anti-abortion woman that has a soft veneer and little experience.  This is exactly the Dan Quayle pick.  He was the right-wing's guy and they still defend him to this day.  Now, the initial media reports, which don't know anything about her, will show this as a buck tradition pick.  This will get him some credit for "change."  But once the campaign starts it will be a hard ideological battle, with Schmidt at the helm doing an '00 and '04 redux at a time that Republican brand is at a low water mark.  A very risky pick for them.  Unless she is way smarter and way more articulate than her resume would suggest, the pick should be a disaster.

Lots of pressure on her (4.00 / 1)
Good point at the end there.  After Biden was picked, I argued here that he'll be reinforcing in the sense of getting people to think, "hey, Obama and Biden are both people who actually know what the hell they're talking about," a welcome contrast to the Bush years.  

But unless Palin has some hidden superstar qualities, she can't help but come across as a lightweight (no one knows who she is, so she'll have to prove herself), and that can only reinforce the reassuring competency that people will see in both Obama and Biden.  And to the extent that she comes off as being not ready for primetime, it could reinforce doubts about McCain's judgement, a theme that Obama hit pretty hard last night.    

[ Parent ]
there is a lot of faith in americans in this thread (4.00 / 2)
I see a lot of comments saying this was a bad pick because she'll flail against biden, or rob mccain of the experience claim, etc.

y'all are giving the american people a lot of credit for using rational intelligence to make voting decisions. going back to 1980 i see no evidence for supposing this is how they will evaluate the players in this contest.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare

[ Parent ]
Celebrity without Experience - a wingnut version of Jesse Ventura (0.00 / 0)
With the Palin pick, McCain gets instant celebrity credentials - picking a wingnut version of Jesse Ventura (who was also the mayor of some small place before becoming Governor).

So the Republicans can now jettison the celebrity and experience memes against Obama.

Take a look at the cutie that won the Ms. Alaska title! (0.00 / 0)
http://www.marylineblackburn.com/

I know this may sound slightly racist, guessing a person's favorite candidate just by looking at her photo, but all minority polls say she's probably supporting Obama!

[ Parent ]
And this has what to do with politics? (0.00 / 0)
C'mon.

John McCain thinks we haven't spent enough time in Iraq
[ Parent ]
Are elections only about politics (0.00 / 0)
or about smart advertising, too? Imho it has some value regarding media attention if Miss Alaska 1984, the girl who trumped Sarah Palin, publicly declares she wants Barack Obama for president!

And just in case you haven't noticed, the winner, Maryline Blackburn, is African American.

[ Parent ]
Opportunity (0.00 / 0)
Well, looks like we can get some attention on the scandals in Alaska:  "Tubes" Stevens, "Bridge" Young, Veco oil, all the Alaska corrpution, etc.  Did McSame just highlight the Alaska mud surrounding the former beauty pageant contestant and all the Alaska GOPigs?  

I'd be interested in hearing the reaction from candidates Begich and Berkowitz, and what they have to say about Palin.


Good point about the scandals. (0.00 / 0)
I can see much of the chatter getting focused what she knows and when did she know it. Alaska has less than a third the population of Chicago. How is it possible for the top of your own party to get away with larceny all these years without you knowing it? How come you didn't blow the whistle? How come you're still part of the Alaska team of thieves? You were governor, and Alaska's no New York or California, so how could you just let this happen? Do you still support Stevens and the rest of the indicted?
[ Parent ]
Experience (0.00 / 0)
"This pick would seem to eliminate and indeed could reverse the "not ready for the job" argument the McCain campaign has aimed at Obama."

You expect these arguments to make sense?

Will Ferraro return to the scene? (0.00 / 0)
I know she got pretty bad during the primary, but if she was looking for a chance to revive her standing, this is is.  A reminder that Democrats were willing to pick a female VP 24 years ago.

I also really like the thinking behind that quick hit on Palin getting equal pay as Cheney.  Do Republicans really want a campaign with prominent gender equity issues?  That helps them...how exactly?

Sacrificial lamb ticket? (0.00 / 0)
Hard to see how a woman so inexperienced helps John McCain in any way, especially when his age and health problems have been at issue. Sarah Palin wouldn't be anywhere near a "maverick" choice; her record plays to the GOP base. Frankly, Joe Lieberman would be the maverick choice, the "f--- you" to the party leadership that has boxed McCain into a corner and made him particularly vulnerable to charges of flip-flopping (yes, Gov. Bill Richardson's line was effective). Lieberman would worry me more than a little bit. To me, Palin would suggest that McCain is more interested in keeping some kind of media circus going than actually winning the election.

"This ain't for the underground. This here is for the sun." -Saul Williams
Fuck '84s #2 - the #1 sure looks like an Obama fan! (0.00 / 0)
Name is Maryline Blackburn, a singer and voice over artist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M...

Now, go to her site and look at her pictures!
http://www.marylineblackburn.com/

Well, what do you think, do you think it's likely she supports Obama or what???
:D

I guess cute Ms. Blackburn would have no problems with some media interest and like starring in an Obama ad...

No strategy (0.00 / 0)
This pick sort of seems to me like it fits into a common theme for the McCain campaign and McCain specifically. In the face of any sort of crisis they tend to just "shoot from the hip" or fly off the handle with a rash response that seems to make sense in the short run but with no  consideration for long term strategy.

McCain himself is terrible about doing this in foreign policy. His response to the Georgia situation of demonizing Russia and basically pushing for a new Cold War completely ignored the fact that we really need Russia's cooperation on Iran (which McCain supposedly considers incredibly important) and climate change, among other things.

I feel like maybe they saw the big bounce Obama was getting in the polls, flipped out, and decided they needed to throw a hail mary. In the short run the pick steals the spotlight a bit from Obama's speech, satisfies the base, and might woo some undecided women. In the long run it completely destroys their experience and celebrity arguments and moderates won't be too thrilled when they find out she's a far right ideologue.

This would all be a lot more likely if they somehow didn't finalize the pick until after Obama's acceptance speech.

Again, attack on the issues. (0.00 / 0)

It would be a shame if sexism led us to weaker attacks that can also antagonize swing state female voters. (Judging how people get money for college? Not a progressive approach.)

Palin's pro life, she's tolerant of creationism, she's pro drilling, she supported the bridge to nowhere, she's involved in a scandal and has limited experience.  This VP choice is a pinata!

 



John McCain thinks we haven't spent enough time in Iraq
Palin as McCain's VP | 162 comments
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