Ready to Lead?: McCain taps Alaska Gov. Palin as VP
By SilentPatriot Thursday Aug 28, 2008 12:41pm
Wow. This one came out of left field. Sen. McCain today chose first-term governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate.
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The choice is problematic for McCain on a number of fronts.
- Palin is the least qualified and experienced running mate in the history of the office, having served a total of 20 months in office, and none on the national level.
- Does anyone really want Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the Presidency should McCain become unable to serve?
- Although known as a reformer, Palin is a product of the corrupt Alaskan political machine, and is even under criminal investigation herself for abusing the power of her office.
- Can she possibly face off against Joe Biden on any issue?
- She pronounces "nuclear" like George Bush. I knew that the GOP ticket wanted to continue Bush's policies....but four more years of Bushisms too!?
- She supports Obama's energy plan, all but undercutting the one supposed strength she brings to the ticket.
Rahm Emmanuel pretty much sums it up:
"After trying to make experience the issue of this campaign, John McCain celebrated his 72nd birthday by appointing a former small town mayor and brand new Governor as his Vice Presidential nominee. Is this really who the Republican Party wants to be one heartbeat away from the Presidency? Given Sarah Palin's lack of experience on every front and on nearly every issue, this Vice Presidential pick doesn't show judgement: it shows political panic."
Andrew Sullivan says:
(C)ompare McCain's pick with Obama's: a man with solid foreign policy experience, six terms in Washington and real relationships with leaders across the globe.
One pick is by a man of judgment; the other is by a man of vanity.
She may be a fine person, but she's my age, she has zero Washington experience, and no foreign policy expertise whatsoever.
McCain has just told us how seriously he takes the war we are in. Not seriously at all.
MSNBC has a good pro/con rundown.
Some reax from around the blogosphere:
Kos sees McCain abandoning the "experience" line of attack and banking on the religious right to drag him across the finish line.
Perr sees it as a pander that puts the age issue front and center and eliminates the "experience" attack.
Marc Ambinder notes Palin's, um, light resumé on national security.
Benen says it reeks of desperation.
The Public Campaign Action fund writes: Palin Pick Underscores McCain’s Loss of Maverick Reformer Credentials
Jonathan Singer sees Palin as Spiro Agnew.
Trapper John disagrees, and sees Palin as Quayle. Or, as Cesca put it, Quaylin.
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As my husband just said, "My 18 year old grandson has more experience than this person."
And, frist?
Right field. It came from right field, and it's a shallow, insulting ploy to peal off some of Hillary's discontents.
hit her hard in the debates she is a dumb fuck. trust me i sent the obama website a email with a list of things to hit her with. She is as corrupt as they come
good job dummy
Well it is over Johnny it is over
go and lose your senate sit in 2010 to the gov. of your home state.
RudyTahuti @ 2:
Exactly.
What an odd choice. How many C&Lers knew anything substantial about her before today? I know I didn't.
Sarah Palin -- A new Dan Quayle for the 21st Century!
Paul Mirengoff of ultra-conservative Powerline posted this earlier:
"I'm very disappointed that John McCain would put someone as inexperienced and lacking in foreign policy and national security background as Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the presidency."
I think the concern of inexperience highlighted by the Mccain campaign will destroy this choice. It makes Mccain look like a fool.
I also thought the naked appeal to Hillary supporters was ridiculous. Does McCain really believe women will vote for his ticket just because he chose an inexperienced WOMAN for VP?
Dumb move by McGramps.
Yeah, I agree with 'RudyTahuti', it's an obvious attempt to attract
unhappy Hillary voters and female voters in general also I think.
Had Obama picked Hillary as his VEEP running mate I'm sure we wouldn't be reading about Sarah today.
He's got this thing about former models and beauty queens, eh?
I work with mostly republican men and they are less than impressed with McCain today. Yeah, many of my coworkers have made crude comments about what they would each like to do with Palin on a weekend trip, but they all seem to agree she's most certainly not vice presidential material.
This is too damn funny! Thank you gramps!
Someone on another blog said how nice it will to have a woman with five kids as VP. Really?
Hillary broke the glass ceiling for this?
I would assume that want to match Obama and Palin together to make him look more vpish then presidential.
Great, this is just great. I can't wait to go back to bed.
Exactly how is McSame going to be able to attack Obama now for lack of "experience" without being even more of a hypocrite? Obama can still attack Palin for her poor judgment and bad ideas.
Come on, she's qualified. Who would you rather sleep with, Sarah or Joe? She was a beauty queen! She's got my vote, hubba hubba.
Paul Mirengoff of Powerline posted this earlier:
"I'm very disappointed that John McCain would put someone as inexperienced and lacking in foreign policy and national security background as Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the presidency."
I think the concern of inexperience highlighted by the Mccain campaign will destroy this choice. It makes Mccain look like a fool.
This is going to be a disaster equal to Hewlett-Packard's appointment Carly Fiorini as presidunce. Women should be promoted/elected based on qualifications just like men and not to prove how "progressive" their backers are.
Can you say Jump the Shark?
This pick shows just how poor John McCains' judgement is, and how desperate his campaign has become. The vanity and ego of this man is scary. He is 72 and doesn't seem to mind putting someone like this a heartbeat away from the Presicency. He will and is doing anything and everything to win this election. Our future and and childrens' future is at great risk.
Did I make a mistake or did I hear her refer to JOHN GLENN instead of John McCain at the very beginning of the tape?
McSame wooing Hillary supporters is really rich. The right wing hates
the Clintons!!! The corporate media will probably play right into it
though.
McSame ought to have to explain why he laughed and said "that's an
excellent question," when that vile lady at a McSame fundraiser asked
him,"How do we beat the bitch (Hillary)," many months ago.
The you tube of that ought to be all over the lefty blogs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLQGWpRVA7o
Just read somewhere that throwing her into a debate with Biden will be like throwing Howdy-Doody into a knife-fight.
*chortle*
From the AP itself:
She has more experience catching fish as a former commercial fisherwoman than dealing with foreign policy or national affairs.
Nuff said........
The real important question is this: who has better legs, Condi or Sarah?
Yeah, I noticed the "NUCULER" thing as well. Another idiot Repug.
I will say, though, that it probably was a well thought out, smart pick for McCain. If you are to believe there are a lot of disaffected Hillary voters, Palin's a good pick (I really hope I am wrong); if you think a lot of conservatives might not vote for McCain because they don't trust him, Palin sounds like a pretty tried and true conservative; that last statement is especially true, given that she is a woman and is Pro-Life, and is an NRA member.
As far as the experience thing, the repugs will turn that around on Obama. But, then, I have to point out that, God forbid someone die while in office, McCain's likelihood of doing so is probably higher than that of Obama's due to his age and history of cancer, leaving the choice of Biden vs. Palin.....no choice at all when it comes to experience.
Not knowing too much about Palin right now, she seems like a likeable person, but the repug ticket still scares the hell out of me because of McCain's relationship with Bush; because of his propensity towards going to war (Neocons advise him); because of what they may do to widening the gap between rich and poor; and because of what they will do to the Supreme Court. If McCain/Palin win, that means they likely will win the Supreme Court....and then we are doomed to a conservative cave for a generation or so.
Is anyone else really looking forward to the VP debates this year? I never thought I'd say what I just said...
A female Dan Quayle?
mrbadmood @ 5:
Keep in mind Dan Quayle won.
A Perfect Fit: Dinosaur McCain Picks Palin-ontologist
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=2779
My great-great-great-great (maybe then some) uncle William Seward must be breakdancing in his grave.
McCain just lost.
To quote a TV commercial, "Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy!"
I love how McCain tries to get closer and say something to her and give her a peck on the cheek after she's finished her speech and she keeps inching away from the creepy old dude who's getting too close... until it dawns on her that that's part of the deal.
Oh, and one more thing..... I cannot stand repugs, but we need to be cautious about McCain/Palin. Very, very unfortunately, Bush the Elder won with Dan Quayle back in 1988. He had a "mispronunciation" problem as well, in addition to a misappropriation problem with grammar....in spite of the idiot dunce, Bush still won.
SassySandy @ 25:
We have come a long way since Dan Quayle and we have grown since then. McSame and his VP pick is a freakin joke.
Melton @ 28:
Maybe McCain will pull a Bush on Merkel stunt with Palin!
sciguy @ 6:
No kidding. I mean, the reason the PUMAs always gave for disliking Obama was that he was inexperienced. Even if that was a cover for racism or something else, somehow I doubt that an inexperienced, anti-choice woman is going to sway them over.
orcas @ 349:
you can't possibly be serious
I bet the Joint Chiefs of Staff would love to have her calling the shots - would set us up for a military takeover
I'm really trying to understand why experience is now "off the table."
How does this pick make Obama immune from McCain's claim that "Heh. My backup has as much experience as their point man."
Note that I think it's a stupid argument, but I frankly don't agree with those who say that it eliminates one of McCain's attack strategies. Once the meme is out there, perpetuated by the media and absorbed by the public, who knows.
Eh, we'll see.
unfrozencaveman @ 360:
Agree completely. However choosing Palin does neutralize the constant Repub bleating about inexperience. Best for us to stick with the issues and things that are relevant.
BTW, the Hillary "issue" was fabricated. It's now done with. Can't argue that GOP lie anymore.
Ruthless People @ 309:
at least it wasn't Frick and Frack.
Palin's praising Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton, two of the people the reich wing has demonized most over the years....that was until they thought they needed them and their supporters to win an election of course.
Clearly McCain and Palin will do anything to win even if it means embracing the leebruls, that's conservative moral conviction for ya!
rb @ 364:
Great. Now find something to talk about that is actually relevant and important to voters, pal.
Riddle me this: Palin was married on 8/29/88...oldest boy is already 19. Is it possible momma already had one in that very productive oven of her's at the altar?! What is Track's DOB?
scruzman @ 366:
Hey, she's not past menopause yet, don't count it out!
rdnkjw @ 369:
That's why she named him Track. She was running down the aisle!
Ruthless People @ 367:
Situational morality by the party of selfish opportunists--it's the Neocon way. Speaking of conviction, looks like Palin might be on her way to a conviction too, maybe her and Ted Stevens can be cellmates.
rb @ 339:
OMFG! That's BRILLIANT political strategy! You've just GOTTA send that to McPain's campaign!
IH @ 259:
Sounds like the perfect metaphor for the last 8 years.
This feels like the Republicans drinking their own Kool Aid.
The whole PUMA thing was at least 80% manufactured by Republican operatives. They invented a narrative about women being reluctant to vote for Obama, based on some fairly dicey polling to that effect that likely had more to do with loyalty to Hillary in particular than in dedication to electing "a woman."
But, there was a Rove opportunity there, so they began this campaign to split the Dems which has pretty much fizzled out. I can't imagine that anyone who has decided to vote for Barack Obama will change their mind on the basis of this choice.
As for the undecideds, there may be a current there of people who want to see a woman on the ticket who will be impressed by this, but I gotta believe they would have been much, much, much, much more impressed with Kay Bailey Hutchinson.
Hutch and Biden, by the way, THAT would be a debate worth watching.
And I would also imagine that there's an equal current of moderate to conservative males (or male-oriented voters) who are not interested in voting for another "heckuva job" underqualified, overgroomed stepford PTA fembot.
This feels like nominating Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Why would Bush do such a thing? It's the weakness of the Rove mentality that says that image is EVERYTHING and substance is NOTHING.
The truth is that image is a great tie breaker and can even trump substance, but substance ultimately has to be there.
So, I'm seeing him lose as many votes as he gains. The votes he gains with this are probably in comfortable red states and the votes he loses are probably in the swing states who just want to see some qualified people run things for a while.
What it is, tho, is the game-changer everyone is talking about. "Ooooo! This is a game changer!"
Who likes game changers? The people losing the current game.
Ruthless People @ 371:
And maybe that is why she is pro gun - there was a shotgun in that marriage.
rb @ 364:
5 years in a hospital and jail makes someone qualified?
Besides, everyone knows McCain sold out to the Vietnamese and broke the Code of Conduct. I'm surprised he gets away with this sympathy ploy. If his POW mates could have gotten a hold of him, he wouldn't be here today. Some hero....
i think McStain is already "unable to serve"
I can see where this came from, and where they hope to go with it.
1. She's a woman (with a high squeaky voice). Maybe...just maybe she can net up a few thousand disappointed female voters that wanted to see Hillary get in the White House again (e.g. puma)
2. She has a son (I think) serving in the armed forces...maybe even in Asia. Wow...another war hero. (Wonder if he is a company clerk?...or what?)
3. She's young...he's f*cking old as dirt.
Just like so many other repuke "judgment" examples lately, this is a pretty pathetic one.
Who would want this TOTALLY inexperienced in ANY WAY with government outside of that bustling state of Alaska (oil, oil, and fish) to take over the US government when senile old john is put in his straight jacket after losing his composure, or worse yet, being wheeled out from in front of the propaganda network tube after his massive heart attack???
I'm sorry old man, but you really showed you are a damned fool. Where was rove when all this shit came down? ...sitting on the thrown, indesposed?
This is truly pathetic.
After watching the Democratic Convention, listening to Senators Obama and Biden...a DREAM TEAM made in heaven, for this screwed up mess left by the current administration to clean up; this is pitiful.
john is an idiot. The repug party is DOA. Watch the red states turn blue faster than you can shake the dice, and finally the government will be changing back over TO THE PEOPLE again...taken from corporate theives and these crooked politicians in the neocon/fascist party.
Nice going john. you hit this one OUT OF THE PARK.....except it was a paper bag full of shit.
Her son is shipping off to eye-rack.
The ministry of propaganda will off the kid in order to boost her bona fides.
We will be inundated with POW and Grieving Mother crap non stop.
Stay tuned for the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE ticket.
These fuchers are going to try to out-martyr Jesus !
Ruthless People @ 371:
Brilliant!
unfrozencaveman @ 376:
But why is she against gay marriage? Naming her son Trig shows she must be open to it.
wow...just wow..In's with alaska, big oil, and has nearly ZERO experience . Love that she didn't know what a VP does and she's already facing investigation for abuse of power. I anticipate future sex scandals cause you know it's only a matter of time before creepo McSame decides Cindy's too old for him too.
"McCain/Palin: alzheimers with a side of MILF"
rb @ 382:
Sure. He sold out. He knew he was safe so he could play "hero." Duh.
Derisive denigration of Sarah Palin as a dunce, underachiever and a nobody will be met with raucous thunderous standing ovations at every Democratic Party rally in America. Unfortunately, preaching to the choir aint gonna get Obama into the White House. Ya gotta convert millions of undecided white voters of Pennsylvania, Florida and Ohio. That is where the battle will be won or lost. Ad hominem attacks on Palin will not get the job done. If Dems think Palin is unqualified; prove it in the debates with Joe Biden. Refrain from all the other horsecrap. Attempts to dismiss and diminish her credentials with media soundbites is a losing strategy.
She was under investigation by Democrats until they realized that she can sack a whole host of people in the government at will, and she did. People talk about reform and "throw them out," well Palin is a person that was doing just that. I'm surprised someone in Alaska hasn't put a hit out on her.
And how can you say she was a product of corruption? An answer to it, maybe.
Damn, she did call him John Glenn.
276, we live in a different century! A woman beside a man brings balance. To recite from the good books, Deborah a wise woman brought victory to the Israelites and defeated their enemies.
I think Palin will be an exciting ticket for the women who are unhappy with Obama or McCain. She brings to those women some hope that GWB stole.
What is Rice doing with Bush? Is she not a woman constantly making mistakes with her "not so experienced" resume.
I might go on another rant later, but for now I'll stop criticizing Gov. Palin's credentials to be on McCain's ticket. If McCain wins, she'll be vice-president and that's a job that technically only requires the ability to wake up and see if the president is still alive and occasionally break tie in the Senate.
It's not about experience, at least not totally. I think it's safe to say that most of us here can acknowledge that John McCain has been around the Senate for longer than Obama, but we disagree with his positions and his vision for the country, while favoring the policy ideas that Sen. Obama proposes. Obama, who has experience working to get his positions enacted at the local, sate, and now at the federal level, has selected a running mate who brings even more federal-level experience as well as a pre-existing working relationship with him. McCain, on the other hand, has spent the past few years abandoning most of the positions that he's worked for during his years of experience and that made many of us respect him once and has taken on a running-mate who doesn't seem to add much to the ticket outside of her gender. We're voting for a team in November, and I think Obama/Biden is the stronger team.
rb @ 380:
rb @ 380:
Google it yourself and learn something, lazy ass. And yes I do know lots of community organizers and others who unlike you, involve themselves in our system and do redemptive things.
So there you go, you've heard it. Get to work and get an education like most of us do here instead of being ignorant.
McStain @ 357:
Well ... she was a beauty queen ... apparently lots of people though she was attractive, but back to my point - I would really hate to see this sometimes intellectual (and always entertaining) forum turn into the rabid, mouth breathing, knuckle dragging circle jerk of hate you find on the right. I'm no fan of Governor Palin, but to try and reduce her to (as someone posted earlier) a "Trophy Veep" is playing right into the republican's hands.
She sounds like Herb Tarlek's wife.
orcas @ 327:
Orcas, there are different levels of experience, and I'd imagine that if Barack Obama selected someone like, say, Gavin Newsome, who's the mayer of San Francisco as his running mate, that you'd be jumping all over him for his "horrible, inexperienced choice". Of course, Gavin Newsom has been a mayor longer than Sarah Palin's been Governor, also in a city with a larger population than the entire state of Alaska.
As far as the Hillary supporters are concerned, I believe once they learn that she's staunchly anti-pro-choice, she believes that creationism should be taught in schools, learn that her husband works for BP and she supports drilling in ANWAR (as well as every other pro "big oil" position), learn she supported a constitutional ban on gay marriage, as well as threatened a lawsuit to stop the listing of polar bears as an endangered species amid fears that it would hurt oil and gas development in the bears' habitat off Alaska's northern and northwestern coasts.
Yeah, I think they'll think it through...
rb @ 380:
These were the same old lame arguments the Hillary fanatics tried to level in the primaries. There's a difference between a long resume and life-long excellence. Sure Obama has had a shorter wait in line, but that is due to his own hard work and planning. This drives lifers like McCain and Clinton crazy who feel he's taking their spot. It might be a good idea to lay-off the experince thing with Obama now that Palin is on the ticket.
Just send the keys to the White House to Obama NOW and LEAVE.
How about overlooked Repubs for VP? The RUMAs (Republicans Under Massive Abandonment) are already taking to the streets to whine their grievances.
Come on! There have to be a few who aren't under investigation like Sarah Savior that he could have picked.
On the plus side she has more experience than George Bush did as the honorary Governor of Texas. If, however, Palin goes head to head with Biden in a debate she'd better insist on an epidural, five kids notwithstanding.
That speech was weaker than light beer!
Oopsie: great-great-great-great (maybe then some) grand uncle...
Don Davis @ 26:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VivRK14w6oM
outtheoffice @ 30:
I will hope and pray you're right.
Sarah is a great choice for the republiscums. The mother of five certainly has the experience required to help McDepends with his changes. Additionally, being the mother of a Down's child gives her a perceived ability of working with a mentally impaired person.
Sarah Palin, we know Hillary Clinton...you are no Hillary Clinton.
A choice that says to me: "I really don't want the fuckin' job. I'm just kicking you assholes hard in the nuts for 2000. Love, John McCain"
Hahahahahhahahhahaha!
I love this speech!!
Indeed. And you guys are the threat to be overcome.
Holy shit! He picked a candidate who pronounces it NUCYOOLAR!
He's not a prophet. He's an instigator.
Right. Our actions in the Middle East have had nothing to do with the oil markets. Oh, and you idiots have been touting all month how oil prices have been coming down, so you know, Russia/Georgia, not hurting so much.
Doing the mothers of our military proud! I'm a mom who wants a leader who'll keep my kid in Iraq no matter the political costs! ***Shudder!***
Could this woman sound more like a nitwit? Profiles in courage are often found in books? DUH! I half expected her to say, "You know, so often we find them in books entitled Profiles in Courage."
Yep, as usual, the Republicans are putting a PROFILE in courage on the ballot. Not a candidate of courage. A biographical STORY.
Yes, "almost 88 years" is a special anniversary in just about every culture. LOL.
Yes, that other "look, we nominated a woman for our VeeP" choice, and then went on to one of the biggest losses in modern electoral history overestimating the power of symbolism to overcome the perceived weaknesses of a candidate too-closely-associated with a greatly lamented president. Seriously, this is a great speech!
By making you vice president?
So, basically, you guys are now . . . . . Obama?
Uhh, Sarah? That would have been the line in which to mention your candidate's name. Wow!
Oooooo-kay. Thanks, I guess.
Good luck, guys. If your party weren't so cavalier about cheating, I'd almost relax.
Well, in Palin's defense, the way she abuses science in defense of aerial hunting, makes her the perfect Republican. They'll get some votes.
Now be fair. She has just as much experience as Dumbya did when he became prez and look how well he did.
Jesus. He could not have picked a better candidate for Obama. Are they so sure she can get through this corruption investigation now that the news org's will be all over it?
McSame - Phalin
Says it all.