My blood pressure is through the roof:
John McCain was aiming to make history with his pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and historians say he succeeded.
Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era.
So unconventional was McCain’s choice that it left students of the presidency literally “stunned,” in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. “Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who’s of presidential caliber,” said Goldstein.
“I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major party ticket in modern history,” said presidential historian Matthew Dallek.
…
…
!?!?!?!
August 30th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
95% of academia are socialists, esp. in the social sciences…makes me angry, but not surprising
August 30th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Obama has cast a vote on about 10% of the bills/amendments that came through the senate during the last 2 years of his 4 years of his 4 years in the senate, and Palin is unqualified? Obama has never once been accountable for results, and Palin is unqualified?
August 30th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I know!I saw that Politico piece this morning. Double standards, anyone?
August 30th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I keep trying to get this point through but the site keeps eating it….DID NOT OBAMA ARGUE FOR PRECISELY A PALIN TYPE CANDIDATE THE OTHER NITE DURING THE GREATEST SPEECH EVER!?…those lines would be so easy to use in an ad…….now his surrogates say that it is a terrible idea?
August 30th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
MCCAIN-PALIN IS BEATING OBAMA-BIDEN!!!!!!!
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1547
August 30th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Hey, question; McCain’s talking about possibly postponing the convention (how he’ll manage that I have no idea). If he does this, how does that effect his ability to continue raising funds for the primary? I was under the impression that he could raise funds until he accepted the nomination. If that’s one week later, can he raise money for a week longer?
August 30th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Palin = worst VP choice in history
August 30th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I’m just angry McCain is not responding. He needs to ramp up his campaign. I know he is waiting after the convention to kick it into gear, but he only has 2 months to introduce Palin to the country.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Jeremy,
The weekend is a dead-time. Don’t worry about it. No one’s paying any attention to the Democratic hyperventilating.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Remember, Palin did not know for sure herself until Thursday. That could have been a mistake. With the RNC about to begin, and Gustav, will they have time to produce an ad? Probably, but it needs to be soon.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Every criticism the Obama camp can come up with is like a big, glaring mirror back at them.
What’s the old saying, “When you point a finger at someone, you’ve got three pointing back at you.”
Obama complaining and criticizing Palin for a lack of experience is like a person who is 100 pounds overweight criticizing someone who is 20 pounds overweight.
Simply. Ridiculous! And most ordinary Americans can see right through it.
I know. I talked to several people today going on errands.
Ordinary Americans.
Do. not. trust. Obama.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Someone posted this over at hotair as an idea for a bumpersticker:
I ? SARAH’CUDA
I’d like to see it on a T-shirt.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Bummer. The ? was a heart symbol before I hit the Submit Comment button.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
BUT SHE HAS MORE EXPERIENCE THAN OBAMA AND NOT THE EXCESS BAGGAGE OF THE AMERICA HATERS- WRIGHT AND AYERS….
CASE CLOSED …
August 30th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
OOPS!
and michelle!
August 30th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
This spam filter is infuriating.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Is it possible that McCain used reverse logic in picking Palin because the Palin pick will show that Obama is less experienced than her?
August 30th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Convention thought: McCain, Palin, and keynoter Rudy all represent reform.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Any upcoming race42008 votes on Cabinet positions?
August 30th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
RedState has an excellent side-by-side chart of Obama vs. Palin on experience. It’d love to see it replicated or linked here. Fantastic stuff!
August 30th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
#7. I haven’t seen your posts over the past two days, but I have a question: Are you going to continue to trash Palin for the next two months? Because if you are, you might find a more comfortable home over at Huffington Post or Kos.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1547 !
August 30th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
“I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major party ticket in modern history,” said presidential historian Matthew Dallek.
Palin has done more for Alaska in less than two years that Biden has done for the nation in over 30.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
17:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08302008/news/columnists/a_brilliant_trap_makes_dems_the_male_cha_126765.htm?page=2
Alex, be careful with the blood pressure it can lead to heart problems.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Remember when I said I’d be an asset because I’d let you guys know about possible scandals coming down the pike? I think it might be wise to learn a little more about Palin’s religion and about her church(es)…
August 30th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
With the economy in a recession and with your party’s sitting president approval rating hovering around 30% – you need to offer something more than experience. The electorate (moderates and independent who ultimately will decide the election) wants a change agent – Bush has no coattails – you got to bring in a fresh face – McCain did that AND still managed to excite the base – pretty smart move.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
#25 – Big S – I’ve been trying to defend you here – but please – no more religious persecution.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Liberal hacks. Palin is no more unqualified to lead this country than Obama. At least Palin has shown good judgment in her limited experience.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
It’s not me. I’m not going to say anything about her religion. Let’s just say that Democrats are gearing up for some attacks. They’re taking a really, really close look at her churches in Alaska, and all of their associations.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
26: Please look up the definition of a recession and take notice that our economy grew by approximately 3.3% this past quarter. Europe would dream of this growth as its socialist economies & high tax systems are dead weight.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
#28, you are correct. Palin visited her troops immediately in the Persian gulf, Obama waited for an election. Palin stopped in Germany on the way home to visit injured troops, Obama gave a speech to German’s instead. THAT IS JUDGEMENT!
August 30th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
29: Good, that will give more reason to reopen up the pandora’s box on Obama’s Church.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
#32, I know, Big S has not idea about politics. Like the DNC wants to talk churches……..
August 30th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
#29 Whatever church she is affiliated with – it would be hard to find one more controversial than the “Church of the Hatred for America” founded by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Spam filter eating my comments again.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
You know what has to drive Obama nuts? That Palin is the person he tried to con the country into thinking HE is.
You want post-partisan leadership? How about taking down your own political party’s corrupt machine.
She is FAR more qualified than he. This MSM b_s is getting old. Does ANYONE in the MSM question Obama’s credentials? Because he is a first term, part time senator, he has less big office experience than Palin. He has NO executive experience. She has run a business, met payroll, run a government which, as Huckabee pointed out, has basically all the same elements of the federal government on a smaller scale.
When Obama even bothers to show up, he’ll sit in a committee meeting, maybe say a few words, and (on VERY rare occasions) he may even vote.
Let’s be accurate here guys. Obama is a 2 year Senator, and a 2 year candidate.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Uh … what about Sargent Shriver and Ferraro. Agnew was close. FDR was a former assistant navy secretary when he ran with Cox. Edwards was a less than one term senator who could not even get reelected.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
#30 – OK – I’m not going to argue about whether or not we are in a recession – let’s just agree that going forward, most folks are concerned about where the economy is going, not where it has been – and when people are losing their home, don’t have enough money for gas, and are nervous about keeping their job, they focus a lot more on the election.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
#36: Great point.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
women eneegized. http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=8927705&nav=menu102_2
August 30th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
energized*
August 30th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Obama’s “experience” is in liberal academic sycophancy, not the real world. There’s also a lot of “selfless” self-promotion making up a large part of his career. How does that compare to the “silly woman” who only ever ran a family with five kids, a city government, several campaigns, and the Office of the Governor of Alaska?
August 30th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
#36…ditto……filter seems to be eating my posts…i’ll try again…Obama’s people can be easily boxed in by using Barry’s own arguments from the greatest speech ever….Obama argued precisely for a Palin type candidate…new, fresh, off the radar…now his surrogates don’t believe hom on that point…obama’s own words HAVE to be exploited in this debate
August 30th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
#42, do not forget, she was a business owner and Chairman of the Alaskan Oil and Gas Comm, while Obama was a community organizer.
August 30th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
More Hillary supporters moving to McCain. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/08/30/ddn083008palinweb.html
August 30th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Kris, 44: Thanks. I’d add more but for the blasted spam filter — is the filter now under HuffPo management or something?
August 30th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
38. Gas prices? Obama admitted that he wants gas prices to go up. And Palin is very strong on energy, which should be 1 of the 3 big issues in this campaign. The Dems want very high fuel prices because then they can continue to try to harness the U.S. into a socialist mess.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
What’s the comparison on Hillary versus Sarah, BTW? Hill rode her hubbie’s coattails into politics, and Sarah? Are the feminists OTL?
August 30th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
This tale of the tape between Palin and Obama is a must read, and hilarious.
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/aug/30/tale-of-the-tape-sarah-palin-vs-barack-obam/
August 30th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
#36 – “That Palin is the person he tried to con the country into thinking HE is” I don’t think Obama really knows who he is – his father abandoned him – raised in a white world – never felt like he belonged – became angry about it and found purpose and meaning to his experience from the Reverend Jeremiah Wright and the “Church for the Hatred of America”.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
#42…socialist and/or marxist is more accurate than even liberal
August 30th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
#38 – yes, gas prices are high – creates inflation – that’s bad. Yes – Palin (and McCain) have the right solution for energy and she would be extremely effective in promoting and defending McCain’s energy plan.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Hey, the WAPO published the background on the VP process, including names. A must read! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083002377.html
August 30th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Alex,
If you are trying to say Obama is inexperienced, you are seriously mistaken. Not only was Obama a COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, he also has had strange and exciting experiences with the elderly, he is a great oritator like Jesse Jackson, I think he passed a reform bill in Congress, AND he is inspirational.
And just in case you don’t believe me.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Have you guys seen this? I’m furious…
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/absentee/2008/aug/30/fowler-fouls-hurricane-is-gods-favor-to-dem/
August 30th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
#55, Link doesn’t work.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Nevermind, it started working now, for some reason.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/absentee/2008/aug/30/fowler-
fouls-hurricane-is-gods-favor-to-dem/
See if it does now
August 30th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
You know what I think the secret is to Palin’s charisma?
I think a lot of regular Americans (women AND men) look at her and say, “If I were ever in public office, THAT’S the kind of politician I’d want to be.”
By the way, it’s occurred to me that if the country spends the next two months debating whether Palin or Obama is more qualified to be President, McCain wins.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
#59, bingo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 30th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Do you we have to look at BO’s squirrely face?!
August 30th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
You guys better hope there’s no video of this – Palin has a Michael Dukakis problem that will not sit well with moderate women, let alone Hillary supporters.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
61. I’m trying to donate to McCain’s campaign on-line right now, but I keep getting error messages. Is anyone else experiencing this? Are so many people responding to Sarah’s email (sent from John McCain’s website)and contributing that the site is over loaded?
August 30th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
62: Palin may need to take a look at Romney’s playbook in shifting the linebackers, i mean social issues.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
#63, yes there is a huge influx of donations. Call them and give the CC # on the phone. That is easier.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Hey #7 Ditzy, oops sorry, Dizzy, Worse than George McGovern’s choice of Tom Eagleton who had to be replaced by Sargent Shriver because poor Tom had health problems- mental health problems? Check your history before making such statements.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Zogby has McCain/Palin up 2 over Obama/Biden.
Entire poll takes after Obama’s speech and McCain’s selection.
http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews1547.html
August 30th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I now see that others have linked the same poll earlier in this thread. Man, I’m slow on the draw.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Off topic: It will be interesting to see how Bobby Jindal handles Gustav, as compared with how Kathleen Blanco handled Katrina? The real failure during Katrina was not the federal government, but the Louisiana state government. Maybe Jindal’s effective handling of Gustav will put that line of argument to rest and show Democrats how governing is really done.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
The newspaper in Duluth interviewed woman and asked them questions about Palin (VP). Palin received nearly 100% support from these woman. http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=73090§ion=News&freebie_check&CFID=78956990&CFTOKEN=82578190&jsessionid=8830dbe546544a5d4e57
August 30th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Where is the money going that is being donated to the McCain website? I thought he could only use the money until the convention started and then he would have to accept public funding? So if he got $7 Million online yesterday where will all that money go? To the RNC fund?
August 30th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Dude. You misspelled ass. HTH. HAND.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Bryan, you can donate up until the McCain speech. If they raised $7 million is the first day, that is huge.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
What is your agenda, goofball? Do hot, assertive, and reform minded hockey moms make you feel sexually inadequate or something? Yes, you super-genius, she’s pro-life. It may surprise you to learn that lots of Republicans are pro-life. It’s been a plank of ours since the Reagan era. This may come as a further shock to your delicate system, but Sen. McCain is pro-life too. Gasp! The Horror! I hope there’s no video of Sen. McCain arguing that life begins at conception in front of a national audience!–oh, wait, there is. Saddleback springs to mind.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
This is how you defend Palin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h0w8YBZccI
August 30th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Yes. He can turn a phrase. He also wrote several autobiographies. Don’t forget that. I just wonder how long he would be our president before he would seek a higher office.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
You guys better hope there’s no video of this – Palin has a Michael Dukakis problem that will not sit well with moderate women, let alone Hillary supporters.
She has an easy way out of that. She obviously would just claim that she was talking about her personally, and that she’d never try to force her views on others.
Duh.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Obama did write that book, dotan, yes! He did!
To paraphrase Krauthammer: he’s an accomplished author, well-written on his favorite subject: himself.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
More problems with women?
August 30th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Also, is the age of the white man as President over?
If Obama wins, obviously.
If McCain wins, he serves one term and Hillary likely wins, or perhaps Palin runs and wins.
But I defnitely think the days of 2 all white, all male tickets are over
August 30th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
79. BigS, truth is a defense.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Big S, are you serious??????????
btw a new poll out shows her approval ratings are still above 80%.
August 30th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Larry Johnson at Noquarters just posted a kick-ass article about the Palin-Smearing that’s going on. Good read. Take some time to browse the comments. The more people learn about Sarah, the more they like her.
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/08/30/smearing-palin/#comment-642953
August 30th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Palin really intrigues me (along with Pawlenty) because she seems to understand the difference between the Kingdom of the Left Hand and the Kingdom of the Right Hand.
Few Evangelicals clearly show that distinction. Pro-lifers need that conviction to promote respect for life in a religiously pluralistic nation.
I hope Palin-type politicians are the future of the party.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
We know Palin has a Buchanan problem. Does she have a Ron Paul problem too?
August 30th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I think it’s interesting that Kavon isn’t banning you Big S. You’re behaving like a Daily Kos troll.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Big S, we need the Paul and Buchanan supporters to win. She is uniting the party. Thanks God!
August 30th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
85- Big S did you even watch the freakin video?! She was asked why Ron Paul was popular in Alaska and so she talked about him being independent from the party like she is.
What is a matter with you man? Why do you hate Sarah Palin so much?
August 30th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
If anything, it’a a Ron Paul solution. Paul had millions of supporters online and fundraising. If McCain can bring them on board and recreate the fusionism Reagan had, all the better.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
The “She’s inexperienced. She’s unsophisticated.” taunt isn’t going to go away. So go with it.
Her response is, “Yeah, I didn’t go to Columbia and Harvard. I didn’t hang out with all those elite college types. I’m not sophisticated like that. I spent my life getting qualified by being with normal people, doing normal things. I’m qualified to understand the ordinary jack or jill, which is more than the other side can say.”
August 30th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
What I love about Palin, for all the non-credit and belittling she is getting by the MSM (D-USA), is how much authority she can speak from on major issues.
She can speak about fighting the War in Iraq because her son is serving there.
She can speak about being pro-life both because of her youngest son and from being a woman (I think a lot of the backlash comes from men speaking about abortion and what women should do with their bodies, where as I feel pro-choice women will be more receptive to Palin on the issue because she’s a woman like them)
She can speak about energy policy and drilling in ANWAR because that’s her state and she knows all about it.
She can speak about tax and economic policy because she was a small business owner and her husband is a blue collar worker.
She’s a great pick with an endearing personality and more experience that preparers her to be president and the VP candidate from her tenure as an executive than Obama has skipping Senate votes in his quest to BE president and I’m proud she’s on our ticket.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Rick, Palin is going to give an amazing speech next week, and it will bring voters over, because the bar is being set so low by some of these “people”.
Just remember, her speech yesterday was probably given to her a couple of hours before the speech, and she did it without as Obamaprompter.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Just because I’m critical of the new heroine of the right wing, people are calling for me to be banned. next, they’ll be calling me sexist. Y’all ought to read Heather MacDonald’s article.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I realize it’s the weekend and all, but why has no one posted the Zogby poll?
August 30th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
#87
If Republicans become the party of Paul and Buchanan, they’ll lose by a landslide.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Big S, you have said nothing sexist, you are just ruining this blog for the rest of us like-minded center right bloggers. As I have said to you before, I am a pro-choice, pro-gay rights Republican, and I love this choice.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
#75, Kristofer, thanks for the reference. That was good. I loved the beautifu way the lady from New Mexico answered the question about Palin’s experience. It was short, sweet and to the point. We should all memorize it and mass produce it.
Alex, thanks for these two items of misogyny. All those talking heads from the MSM and Dem leadership are guilty of this, first to Hillary and now with Sarah. However if anyone questions to lack of experience of their messiah, that person is labeled a racist.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
oops, beautifuL
August 30th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
None of my posts are showing up
August 30th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Well if our ticket was Paul/Buchanan I’d agree with you. It’s not.
They key is to get those voters on your side sub rosa. Like Reagan was able to do.
There’s a whole much of Paul/Buchanan libertarian types in the West.
If they jump on board, that’s all the better for McCain.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
#95…try reading his post again…i don’t think he said that…geez, your ability to reason is scraping low at tano like levels
August 30th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
How ’bout Henry Wallace?
He was Agriculture secretary. Of course, I give him no credit for his executive positions in the Communist Party but I am sure liberals would disagree.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
#100
Very little is sub rosa in modern politics.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Big S, McCain was not going to pick Bernie Sanders. I am sorry, but that was not going to happen.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
#92, my understanding was that she received a generically written speech Thursday night and personalized it prior to Friday noon. I think she is incredibly likable. But that will not be enough. She has 10 weeks to tell people who she really is. So does Obama.
We want to tell the world that he is “exotic” (i.e. not like them and not able to understand them and their needs)
We can’s change who she really is. Watch the first 90 seconds of her speech. She is nervous. She is stepping on her own lines and applause. McCain tries to tell her twice to slow down and just let them come to her. (Henry Higgins to Eliza Doolittle) Everyone else has been sharpening their campaign skills for 18 months and she’s been running AK. She’s not going to make up that ground before the election.
So go with it and turn it against them
August 30th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Hello- you mean to tell me JOHN EDWARDS just 4 years ago would have been qualified for President if something happened to Kerry??? 1 term do-nothing Senator following a sleazy trial lawyer career? Did we hear word 1 about Edwards being inexperienced for VP? NOPE. There’s your double standard, in more ways than one.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Kristofer:
I wasn’t looking for Bernie Sanders – I was hoping for a VP nominee who was
1.) Qualified
2.) Not going to be a drag on the ticket
We got neither of those.
In the meantime, I’m pointing out the weaknesses that people here would like to ignore so that they are not surprises when McCain-Palin gets bludgeoned with them in debates and campaign ads.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
107- We’re not ignoring them. They’re spurious and we’re fighting them.
1) She has sound judgment, a record of reform, executive experience, expertise on the most important issue of the present (energy) and all the right positions on the issues.
1a) She’s running for VICE PRESIDENT. You are electing John McCain. Palin will most likely be going on diplomatic trips and clapping at the state of the union and doing whatever else VPs do (when they’re not evil movie villains).
1b) If the unlikely happens and she ascends, do you think it’ll just be “well, Sarah, you’re on your own. Good luck!” McCain will assemble a strong cabinet of the finest people that will help guide her every step of the way, not to mention whoever she chooses as the new VP. This is not a one (wo)man operation you know.
2) She’s not. Many, many women are going to be intrigued and if even a small number join the ticket, we will be in great shape. Most of all she’s likable and has a compelling story and wonderful family (the baby is political gold). She unites the base which many other candidates wouldn’t do too. Also, many independents want someone who is a regular person, who understands their struggles and is not a jaded politician. A true CHANGE candidate. They got it.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:08 am
Well, Big S, if you read the Weekly Standard which is as close to an official McCain statement, it came down to her or Lieberman, with Ridge and Pawlenty on the outside.
But it was really between her and Joe. Now, Joe would have been a very diifcult pick.
What makes Pawlenty more qualified than her?
Is she qualified? You may not think so, but then again 18M thought Obama was qualified, so who knows
Net drag? With Schmidt, Salter, Black and others running numbers I dount they’d have picked her if that was the case.
I’d say any objective observer would concede that they have McCain at a much better place at this moment than just about anyone thuoght possible.
Way better than Dole in 96, Bush in 92, Ford in 76.
So, they seem to know what they’re doing.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:09 am
Big S:
“Kristofer:
I wasn’t looking for Bernie Sanders – I was hoping for a VP nominee who was
1.) Qualified
2.) Not going to be a drag on the ticket”
So you whine on a conservative blog instead of joining your friends over on MyDD. Your liberal talking points don’t have much currency here.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:58 am
I have an idea. Why don’t you go straight to hell and point out to the many who dwell there Gov. Palin’s “weaknesses that people would like to ignore” as you put it. Because up here we have the Democrats and their flaks to perform that service for us.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:03 am
Looks like I hit a nerve. Just don’t say you weren’t warned in August about the catastrophe in November.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:48 am
Big S,
Palin a drag on the ticket????? Are you for real? How did McCain raise $7 million on line in one day? This board- which had been a civil war battlefield between Rombots, Huckanuts, Rudyites, and Fredheads- is now almost unanimously enthusiastic for this ticket. The McCain campaign- which had to now been suffering an enthusiasm deficit to the Obama campaign- got a much needed shot in the arm. All the conservative radio hosts (Limbaugh, Hannity, et al.) absolutely love her.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:02 am
Good or not good, there is a line coming from Joe Biden in the debate that is almost guaranteed.
” Governor Palin. I know Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is a good friend of mine. Governor Palin, you’re no Hillary Clinton.”
Not saying this Lloyd Bentsen destruction of Dan Quayle will be as effective on Palin. Just saying that it obliterated Dan Quayle on national TV and he had far more experience then Sarah Palin. A whole generation has never heard the line and Biden will certainly
us it the first time Clinton’s name is brought up. And, let’s face it, Palin is on the ticket to secure those disaffected Hillary women and she HAS to bring it up in the debate.
Fascinating to see if it will be just as destructive with a new generation of voters.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:06 am
Craig,
Benston’s line on Quayle was so effective because it was new and original. It was a short, straight right that noone saw coming. Now the line has become a cliche.
But if Biden wants to give plagiarism another chance, who am I to stop him?
August 31st, 2008 at 8:15 am
Rick ( the first )
Unfortunately, there is an excess of euphoria here instead of cold hard calculations. What makes me most nervous is the following:
John McCain, in one of the very first examples of presidential decision making, picked Sarah Palin after meeting her once. He relied almost totally his staff, Schmidt and Culverhouse, and decided on Wednesday last to pick Palin.He knew a heck of a lot about at
least a dozen potential VP candidates and picked the one he knew the least about ? Why ?
Sarah Palin accepted after her earlier interview when she indicated she didn’t think the Vice president’s job had much substance, but she didn’t really know what he did.
Sarah Palin is the only one of the four candidates who can claim any business experience, but the media will pounce on Wasilla’s $ 15 Million sports complex on a $ 3.5 Million town budget as a personal example of pork, her own personal example of the ”
Bridge to nowhere” The town of Wasilla is still in debt over this one decision.
Sarah Palin has been so insulated in Alaska that she knows very little about her own country, particularly the lower 48.
Many women will realistically look at the prominent GOP women Senators and Governors and Businesswomen and ask what OTHER qualities Palin has because she has such a tiny resume
So I don’t know and I am worried there very well could be a female backlash for such an obviously condescending pick.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:24 am
MWS
Well the blogs are being eaten again so I’ll try again.
It would be even worse if Biden attributed the line to Lloyd Bentson and remarked that it was used in an earlier debate with a GOP VP candidate named Dan Quayle. Lot’s of folks know of Dan Quayle and it would attempt to tie Palin to Quayle, which is not a great
idea.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:34 am
Completely with you Craig.
This was a desparate choice not because she is “bad” or “she will lose us the race” but because from a political science point of view we can’t say with any certainty what will happen.
We don’t know how the independent women and disenchanted Hillary women will take to her. Thus, the boos that were heard in Beaver yesterday when she mentioned Hillary – were they negative to Hillary or to Palin’s mentioning of her?
The choice blows the experience message and raises the age issue and McCain/Palin become the “change” ticket. Will the moderates and independents in battleground states choose them over O/B?
These and many other questions say McCain had no solid data except his own doubt that he could win with a traditional to back the choice. It was so “unknowable” that you can’t even calculate the risk. But that also means it could work. All we have to go on is McCain’s gut.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:54 am
Craig,
The Corner had a wonderful rebuttal to that line, if Biden decides to use it. “There you go again, Senator. Plagarizing”. It’s absolutely perfect.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:16 am
Matthew,
Great response, except most viewers…
a. Probably don’t know what plagiarizing means.
b. Have probably vaguely heard of Dan Quayle, perhaps in a derogatory context.
c. Would have their attention drawn to a comparison that the GOP doesn’t want to go to.
Best line would be to ignore it. If Palin responds, it will make it the highlight of the debate and the MSM will plaster the whole issue in the news , like multiple houses.
It’s just another indicator of how incredibly risky this pick was and how very little McCain thought seems to have gone in to it.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:19 am
Rick ( the first )
Also, kind of a silly remark but kinda serious.
Do NOT have any pictures of McCain and Palin together again. It looks like the Grand Dad congratulating the granddaughter on her graduation from college and slipping her a check. I’m not kidding. These photo ops are horrendous.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:32 am
Palin’s response:
“Margaret Thatcher knew Neil Kinnock. Neil Kinnock was a freind of hers. And you, sir, are no Neil Kinnock.”
August 31st, 2008 at 10:28 am
Big S your problem is that you are OBNOXIOUS and OPINIONATED and have BIG MOUTH!!!!!!!!
August 31st, 2008 at 10:50 am
118. “Thus, the boos that were heard in Beaver yesterday when she mentioned Hillary – were they negative to Hillary or to Palin’s mentioning of her?”
Or were they Obamabots planted in the audience?