August 31, 2008
Our "Little Barracuda"
The various factions of the Left have decided to “pounce” on McCain’s VP pick, Sarah Palin. What’s hilarious is that every one of the complaints about Palin by the yapping Democratic attack dogs can and should be applied directly to Obama. McCains vice presidential selection is more experienced and more qualified for the presidency than the Democratic nominee himself. That should tell you something.
They’ve basically got a glorified “I vote present” Illinois state senator running for the highest office in the land while they are complaining about a governor and, might I add, the only person on either ticket with actual governing experience. Palin stands in stark contrast to an Obama who has abundantly more baggage and a disturbingly tainted and problematic past.
I say burn the naysayers and doomsayers at the stake. It was a bold and fine pick Mr. McCain. Palin has a backbone of steel, is fiercely independent, strong minded and witty and has created her own success in life. Let the bully boys and the pit bulls circle and growl, but Palin should do you proud. McCain has to be willing to be bold, calculating and willing to take risks. Whether the Palin pick will make much of a difference remains to be seen but the maverick continues to surprise and impress as the campaign goes on. He has done remarkably well and far better than many initially thought he might. This election is Obama's to lose but the "inevitability" factor has almost completely dissipated and his pick of Biden was one born out of desperation, panic and weakness in response from increasingly effective McCain campaign strategies.
With this one pick, McCain has snapped the conservative base back into place (she is loved by pro-lifers, evangelicals, gun rights advocates, and the lovers of Liberty everywhere) and also managed to reach out to every middle class, working soccer mom type that may have considered Hillary at one time or another. It softens the appearance of the ticket, helps eliminate the “novelty” factor of an Obama candidacy, and also guarantees that history will also be made on November 4th with a McCain victory.
The low blow name-calling that is already being bantered about by Democratic talking heads is already borderline sexist and certainly joins the ‘ageism’ so evident in the attacks on John McCain. The “party of tolerance” is in fact often a very intolerant group of hypocrites and conservatives like myself never tire in pointing that out. That is just one of the many, many reasons why I do not subscribe to the intellectually and morally barren “progressive” ideology.
Here are a couple of things you may not know about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
In high school Palin was known as “Sarah Barracuda” by her classmates due to her fierce competitiveness on the basketball court. Her oldest son is in the army and is being deployed to Iraq . She was the 2nd runner up for the Miss Alaska title. She is known as a political outsider and maverick, loves mooseburgers, is witty, smart and is considered squeaky clean in a political climate that often oozes with corruption.
Politics can be really fun at times. This is one of those times. The “Right” has been so concerned about McCain yet have faithfully, if reluctantly, backed his “Nobama” candidacy. They have been scared to death of Obama and his vision of an apparent womb to the tomb socialist, Utopian state complete with hamster wheel powered vehicles and torch and pitchfork pogroms against all those who are white, bitter, Bible believing, gun owners who hesitate to hire illegals to clean their plastic wading pools. They don’t want to be micromanaged by an unfeeling, uncaring federal government that insists upon interfering and regulating every aspect of their daily lives.
The sound you now hear is millions of conservatives rushing to man the barricades against the Oprah hordes. In less than twelve hours the past sins of the maverick McCain were forgiven if not forgotten and Sarah “barracuda” Palin became some sort of amalgamated mascot, poster child, rallying point and hero of the conservative camp. The pundits will ponder the question as to whether Palin brought over the women to the McCain camp, but the truth is she brought over every male that is old enough to spout some hair on his chest or hasn’t been emasculated somewhere along the way by angry FemiNazis.
In politics, there is nothing more greatly feared by the Left than an energized and united conservative movement. They delivered the white house to Reagan, shook the very pillars of the Clinton presidency, rallied the nation to fight the vanguards of fundamentalist Islam and now they will be coming after The One and all those who weep and faint at the mere sight and sound of their new secular Messiah. The conservatives have found a rallying point, McCain has found a powerful new symbol and the Democrats who once believed they had this election in the bag are increasingly defensive in their tactics and shrill in their attacks. They have been betrayed and deflated by Bush and vilified and impaled by the Left and the media, but the elation and galvanization of a down but not out ideology that is still powerful and influential cannot be denied. And they may be the difference between a McCain victory and a McCain defeat.
The partisan rhetoric aside, I would much rather be governed by a self-made success story living the American dream with the independent and freedom-loving values of rural Alaska than by someone who is the product of the corrupt Chicago, inner city political machine. One wants you to control your life, and the other wants to control your life for you. You’ll hear a lot about “experience” in this election but just as important is the concept of freedom, common sense, morals and values. The winner of that debate is clear.
Posted by David M. Huntwork at August 31, 2008 02:35 AMDavid,
I wish the Conservatives luck in electing the first VP under State Investigation and declaring the Moral Highground coming out of their convention. For why I am sure that Mrs. Palin may be a Good Person at heart. I do believe that the Societal Mark for Elected Officals is the “Show of Improperness.” Or does being Conservative this days means that One has to give up their claim to Authority? Something for the Right of Society to think about this week and in November.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahha.
This is really getting ridiculous. Every post or article I have read about McCain’s choice of Palin as VP has been the same talking points regurgitated, swallowed hard by the loyal bushbots and regurgitated some more, and this column is no different.
Let’s do the run down to make sure Rush gives you a pat on the head for being such a good trooper and using all the right keywords.
1) Palin is more experienced than Obama, Biden, or even McCain because she has…you guessed it, governing (executive) experience.
Wow, she was mayor of a town of 6,000 people, where her primary responsibilities were to be the tie breaking vote when needed, and act as a figurehead at mooseburger joint openings and the annual Paul Bunyan lookalike contest. Then she became the Governor of a state with less people than 17 US cities, that has no state income tax or state sales tax and a budget that runs surpluses thanks to oil royalties, which she has held for less than 20 months.
2) She has a “backbone of steel”, and will stand up to the special interests and the pork projects, like a good outsider.
Too bad she was for that bridge to nowhere until she was against it. Woops…I guess that backbone might be rubber.
3) She will appeal to women who were considering Hillary Clinton.
Because as we all know it was written in the scrolls that the daughters of Eve must always vote for their own kind, even though her views are the complete opposite to Hillary’s.
4) Thanks to her christian dominionist views she will energize the base surging John McCain to victory.
Right…because a gun-toting, former beauty queen, basketball baracuda will bring out even more evangelicals than the old 2004 tactic of “fear and queers.” Well you guys will certainly need to find even more of them if you’re going to beat the record number of people who will come out to vote for Obama. Maybe check under the pews, I’m sure you could scrounge up a few more that didn’t come out for Bush in 04.
That’s pretty good, you covered all the main points, and you threw in a little “Democrats are acting sexist“…yada yada…”Obama is the One“…da da da…”Obama is the Messiah“…added a little touch of his holiness Ronald Reagan juxtaposed to the evil Bill Clinton…very good. However you do lose some points for no shout out to 9/11. You did mention fundamentalist Islam, but in order to get full points for the reference you have to actually use the numbers 9 and 11 with a “/” in between.
So your final tally was a 9 out of a possible 10 points, making you tonights champion on Talking Points Showdown. Rush Limbaugh tell him what he wins.
[Rush] Well Pops, Mr. Huntwork has won a year supply of Oxycontin…and that’s not all, he also wins an all expense paid trip to the Dominican Republic.
[Pops] That’s all the time we have on Talking Points Showdown, see you next week, and don’t forget to have your pets spayed and neutered. Bye Bye.
Posted by: pops mcgee at August 31, 2008 04:37 AMPops,
You said it so well, I have nothing to add. Lying seems to come naturally to the Republican flag waivers. Put some lipstick on a pig and they are ready to dance all over again.
Posted by: googlumpuugus at August 31, 2008 06:01 AMThe funny thing is, with her stance on abortion and use of polemics, I can’t help but hear the song by Heart, and Ann Wilson’s hard charging guitar licks every time I see her talking head. B-b-b-baraCUDa-a-a-a-a.
Posted by: googlumpuugus at August 31, 2008 06:16 AMIf the real thing dont do the trick
No, you better make up something quick
You gonna burn burn burn burn it to the wick
Ooooooohhhh, barra barracuda.
“In high school Palin was known as “Sarah Barracuda” by her classmates due to her fierce competitiveness on the basketball court. Her oldest son is in the army and is being deployed to Iraq . She was the 2nd runner up for the Miss Alaska title. She is known as a political outsider and maverick, loves mooseburgers, is witty, smart and is considered squeaky clean in a political climate that often oozes with corruption.”
So in lieu of qualifications we get a predator fish with a son heading to Iraq. However I do have to say she does look better in a dress than Guliani so if thats a requirement for a repub candidate then the movement should be tickled. If I’m not mistaken David wasnt McCain considered a maverick until he dedcided to run for President? As we can all see now thats a thing of the past. Why do you think Palin would be any different? Doea a love of mooseburgers automatically qualify one for office under conservative movement standards? Does consuming mooseburgers cause one to become politically wise in shorter periods of time than those that dont have a ready supply of mooseburgers to consume? Witty smrt and squeaky clean when compared to those that ooze corruption really doesnt set the bar that high does it? But then thats ok for the movement faithful considering the slim picking they have to choose from. The question is will the movement followers still find her squeaky clean for influence peddling by attempting to get a state policeman canned for divorcing her sister. Seems petty and vindictive to me. But the important thing you didnt mention for the movement followers is the strict adherence to the conservative borrow and spend philosphy, $20 million in debt during her short term as mayor (or $3k per resident) still reeks of more of the same to me.
Posted by: j2t2 at August 31, 2008 09:23 AMDavid M. Huntwork-
My zip code has more people than her town, my county precinct has more people than her state. She left her town twenty million dollars in debt. This is your experience? Do we need another spendthrift former governor in the White House?
Any argument you had for Obama not being president on account of his inexperience is totally screwed now. You have offered up the most inexperienced politician on a ticket since the turn of the last century.
The Bridge thing is a joke, and the fact that you as a conservative don’t know it for that is what’s ironic to me. She endorsed it while she was running for governor, and only cut it after it became clear that the rest of us taxpayers in Hawaii and the Lower 48 weren’t going to foot the bill. How small government of her.
With this one pick, McCain has snapped the conservative base back into place (she is loved by pro-lifers, evangelicals, gun rights advocates, and the lovers of Liberty everywhere) and also managed to reach out to every middle class, working soccer mom type that may have considered Hillary at one time or another. It softens the appearance of the ticket, helps eliminate the “novelty” factor of an Obama candidacy, and also guarantees that history will also be made on November 4th with a McCain victory.
You can’t have both these groups at once, not when push comes to shove. The Hillary Supporters won’t necessarily go for Palin merely because she matches their chromosomes. They’ll look at her record on abortion and balk. The Conservative supporters, in addition, can’t save the ticket. If McCain successfully appeals to his base, and successfully convinces the rest of America that he is a hardline conservative, it will get more difficult, not easier, to win in November.
It’s not sexist to point out that somebody is just there to be window dressing. We actually put a candidate through the primaries and almost to the nomination. Hillary proved her toughness, her political ability in a trial by fire. Would Palin had been selected, if Hillary hadn’t proved so formidable? Palin’s trying to take Hillary’s Mojo, but has done nothing to deserve Hillary’s good regard.
As for Ageism, did you know that most of the people who oppose McCain on age grounds are middle aged and elderly themselves? The Presidency is a demanding job. Clinton went in there dark brown and came out bright white, and he was younger than Obama when he gained the office. Adding to age concerns are health concerns. Will we elect this guy president to see him die of Melanoma halfway into his first term?
And if he becomes incapacitated like that, just what is Palin prepared to do? There are 500 people in America for ever person that she governed in Alaska, and that only for a year and a half. There are limits to the political correctness we can reasonably apply here. The question is not whether McCain is old, the question is whether he has the strength and mental ability to handle the most demanding job in the world. The question is not whether Palin is young or a woman, but whether she has the qualifications to be on a national ticket like this, once step away from governing an entire nation.
In high school Palin was known as “Sarah Barracuda” by her classmates due to her fierce competitiveness on the basketball court. Her oldest son is in the army and is being deployed to Iraq . She was the 2nd runner up for the Miss Alaska title. She is known as a political outsider and maverick, loves mooseburgers, is witty, smart and is considered squeaky clean in a political climate that often oozes with corruption.
Fierce competitiveness is not always a positive trait. The creature who doesn’t choose his battles, who tries to win every fight may stay on top at first, but it will expend greater energy and incur more injury and thereby reduce its survival and chances for reproductive success.
Contention costs. Rove and his disciples should know that better than anybody, having supercharged Bush’s support with their battles, but exhausted and disillusioned so many people in the process of winning each and every fight that at some point, they just didn’t have the strength to win when it counted.
Though she, like McCain, has wrapped herself in the flags of this country and in the flag of change, She is essentially a Bush Republican in all her contradictions, just like McCain is. And the more we make that obvious, the more we make her irrelevant.
You talk about the whining and everything, but I hardly think that’s the proper word. We are going to pounce on her, just like we’ve pounced on every other gambit that McCain has brought out trying to bamboozle the American people. We’re going to make sure that people know every last thing they need to know about this poorly vetted VP choice, and once they do, they will choose the Democrats, because you cannot look at her and see anything else than four years of the same thing. All the McCain campaign is, is the Bush Cheney ticket standing on its head, an Old Washington insider with an illegitimate reputation for being a moderate with a poorly experienced religious conservative governor with a false reputation as a reformer.
Posted by: Stephen Daugherty at August 31, 2008 09:46 AMYes, Palin was once the mayor of a smallish Alaskan town. At the same time Barack Obama was a “community organizer” in the corrupt Chicago politics, associating with Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, and Rezko— who would later kick him back a sweet-heart real estate deal.
But then Palin went on to be governor, to deal with a state legislature, oversee multi-million dollar budgets, deal with the schools, the prisons, the state infrastructure. She traveled to Iraq and met with soldiers. She negotiated a treaty with Canada for a natural gas pipe-line (that alone dwarfs ANY “foreign policy experience” Obama might pretend to have based on giving speeches).
We know EXACTLY where Palin stands on issues that Obama has never done anything but run his mouth about. She has more experience with energy issues that Obama, McCain, and Biden combined.
She was not governor for long, but the citizens of the state of Alaska saw the same thing in her that McCain does, which is why they gave her an 80% approval rating. You don’t have to spend 30 years doing a job to show that you’re damned good at it.
And what has Obama done this whole time? NOTHING, and nobody can point to any substantial accomplishments on his part except getting liberals to vote for him in the Democratic primary. As a state legislator he set records for voting “present” in order to avoid making difficult votes. As governor, Palin had no such luxury—when it was time to make a decision, she had to make it. And she did. Time and again. And then Obama entered the US Senate, a position in which he’s done nothing but run for president.
Democrats want to claim that Palin is inexperienced? Bring it on. The TOP of their ticket is infinitely less experienced than either McCain or Palin, and no amount of absurd spin will change that.
Palin is really making the Dems sweat. Like they say, when you’re catching so much flak, you know you’re over the target.
I think Democrats are truely shocked that McCain would pick someone with so little experience on the national stage. Sarah Palin, much like Barack Obama was eighteen months ago, is a blank slate to voters. She has about 65 days to put herself out there for examination and the questions are going to be direct and blunt. She has to be in school and on the trail at the same time. I don’t know how they are going to pull this off. If she muffs a name, a position, a place name, there is going to be no mercy.
I do agree with David that the attacks against McCain because of his age is truly insulting. I am 57 and am at the point in life where many younger people regard me as being much less capable than I am. (as an aside, last summer, I rode a bicycle from Portland, Oregon to San Francisco, camping all the way. Just after I got back I happened to be riding the MAX Streetcar, standing; a younger person stood up and offered me her seat. How messed up is that?)
Also funny, George’s and Dick’s decision not to attend the convention because of hurricane Gustav. What are they going to do? What use could they possibly be in alleviating the disaster?
The truth? I know republicans shy away from the truth like a vampire from the light of day, but the truth is that GEORGE AND DICK ARE NOT WELCOME AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION!!!!!!!
Obama needed someone on the ticket with experience.
pops! You did it again!
A shot to the heart -
A light in the dark
yeah, baby baby
pops! With an ungentle shove
You show from above
Sarah’s not that innocent!
(sorry - couldn’t resist)
Posted by: Glenn Contrarian at August 31, 2008 12:24 PMThey’re not only not welcome there, Charles, but it isn’t like they have experience from the last one to offer and it would be more of an insult than anything else. Macabre as it may sound, this storm is almost prophetic.
I wish nobody harm, injury or loss, so prayers are with everone potentially at risk again.
I see that neither Bush or Cheney are going to attend the convention, which seems to be going ahead as scheduled.
How it looks this morning:
Sunday, August 31, 2008The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday—the day before the Republican National Convention is scheduled to begin—shows Barack Obama ahead of John McCain by three percentage points both with and without leaners. That’s exactly the same edge Obama enjoyed a week ago on the eve of the Democratic National Convention.
Today’s numbers show a one-point improvement for McCain, but Obama still leads 47% to 44%. When “leaners” are included, it’s Obama 49%, McCain 46%. Obama is now viewed favorably by 57% of the nation’s voters, McCain by 56%.
There have been significant changes in perception of John McCain in the two days of polling since he named Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Since then, 49% of Republicans voice a Very Favorable opinion of McCain. That’s up six percentage points from 43% just before the announcement. Also, 64% of unaffiliated voters now give positive reviews to McCain, up ten points since naming his running mate.
There has been little change in perceptions of Obama since his Thursday night speech and the Palin announcement.
Palin herself made a good first impression and is now viewed favorably by 53% of voters nationwide. Her counterpart, Joe Biden, is viewed favorably by 48%. While Palin has made a good first impression, the more significant numbers will come a week from now after the nation has a chance to learn more about her.
We’ll see what the numbers look tomorrow and then again after the Republican convention. And with people actually evacuating New Orleans for Gustav like they should have with Katrina, it looks like there will be much less human suffering this time around, thankfully.
Posted by: Rhinehold at August 31, 2008 12:42 PMI think Democrats are truely shocked that McCain would pick someone with so little experience on the national stage.
I think Democrats are truly just shocked that McCain doesn’t just concede.
Posted by: Rhinehold at August 31, 2008 01:01 PMPops
Great response! That has to be one of the most creative rebuttals I have ever read here. No only creative but true and to the point.
Posted by: RickIL at August 31, 2008 01:05 PMOh, and in other news:
Friday, August 22, 2008The latest wave of state-by-state polling, market data and national trends have pushed the Rasmussen Reports’ Electoral College projections as close as our daily Presidential Tracking Poll.
The latest numbers from the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator show Obama leading in states with 193 Electoral College votes and McCain ahead in states with 183 Electoral College votes. Previously, Obama had enjoyed a 210–165 advantage.
Currently, states with 135 Electoral College votes are leaning slightly in one way or the other, and three states with a total of 27 votes — Colorado, Nevada and Virginia — are pure toss-ups.
Looking at the polling data over the past few months has shown McCain closing in on the electoral college numbers and many states moving from the Democratic towards the Republican side.
Will this change in the next two months? Obviously back and forth, but the trend is in the wrong direction for Obama and especially his supporters who have been predicting a landslide victory in November.
Posted by: Rhinehold at August 31, 2008 01:23 PM“In high school Palin was known as “Sarah Barracuda” by her classmates due to her fierce competitiveness on the basketball court. Her oldest son is in the army and is being deployed to Iraq . She was the 2nd runner up for the Miss Alaska title. She is known as a political outsider and maverick, loves mooseburgers, is witty, smart and is considered squeaky clean in a political climate that often oozes with corruption.”
This was a list of things you may not have known about her, not a list of qualifications. Matter of fact, the sentence before that paragraph actually said “Here are a couple of things you may not know about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.”
Try to keep up.
And googlumpuugus, name one lie in the above article.
Posted by: David M. Huntwork at August 31, 2008 01:23 PMDavid H
This post has to be one of the longest most boring hyperbolic Sunday morning sermons I have ever read. There really is nothing new, definitive or of substance in it. Just another deceptive attempt at irritating liberals by way of Limbaughesque propaganda and brain washing. I can understand your desperation in supporting all things McCain. You really have no choice. But you will have to do much better than simply trying to convince people that Obama is some sort of evil anti Christ because he is not a devout conservative. Or do I have that wrong. Seems I also remember the right proclaiming him the One. You folks really need to make your minds up. Which is it going to be, Christ or anti Christ? Liberal minds want to know.
Good luck with that Sarah McCuddah the savior thing. I have absolutely nothing against Sara the saint. I just haven’t had time to form any good judgment on her worth of the position at hand. I could be wrong here, doubt it, but imo she will be the explosive which creates the final implosion of the McCain run. If it ends up being close indies will again decide this one. They tend to be a bit more responsible than your main party voters when it comes to their politics. They will see through the obvious weaknesses of both your candidates. The result will be that rather than again being held responsible and accountable for four more years of Bush policy they will do what is right and head our country in a responsible direction.
The “party of tolerance” is in fact often a very intolerant group of hypocrites and conservatives like myself never tire in pointing that out.
I might suggest you read the entirety of your post and consider if maybe you yourself might be guilty of what you imply others are. If you are incapable of seeing it then I might suggest taking the blinders off.
Posted by: RickIL at August 31, 2008 02:00 PMIf it ends up being close indies will again decide this one.
Indies always are, something both major parties forget.
They will see through the obvious weaknesses of both your candidates.
You mean all four of the candidates, don’t you?
Oh yeah, there are no weaknesses with Obama, I forgot. :/
Posted by: Rhinehold at August 31, 2008 02:17 PM‘a very intolerant group of hypocrites’.
Sheesh!
THEY BELIEVE they’re the real party of financial responsibility - but WHO had budget surpluses? Not them, not since before the Kennedy Administration.
THEY BELIEVE they’re the real party of protecting Constitutional rights (even the parts other than the Second Amendment) - but WHO implemented warrantless wiretapping several months before 9/11, threw habeus corpus under the bus, and has held even an American citizen for several years without a trial or even access to legal counsel?
THEY BELIEVE they’re the real party of national security - but WHO led the biggest military drawdown in U.S. history, started a war on FALSE pretenses, even now continues to violate the Geneva Convention, and still has yet to find Osama bin Laden?
THEY BELIEVE they’re the real party of family values and lawful and ethical behavior - but WHO had the great majority of sex scandals over the past eight years (several of which, unlike the Dems, did NOT involve the OPPOSITE sex), has ignored multiple Congressional subpoenas, refuses to enforce ethics laws against Republican faithful, loses MILLIONS of e-mails required by law to maintain (and does NOTHING about it), claims the VEEP is NOT part of the executive branch of government…
…and THEY call US hypocrites?
WHERE is their HONOR? WHERE is their INTEGRITY? WHERE is their desire to uphold their solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign AND domestic?
Perhaps it was outsource to Dubai with Halliburton, who now operates free of American taxes…and American law.
Posted by: Glenn Contrarian at August 31, 2008 02:26 PM1) Palin is more experienced than Obama, Biden, or even McCain because she has…you guessed it, governing (executive) experience.Wow, she was mayor of a town of 6,000 people, where her primary responsibilities were to be the tie breaking vote when needed, and act as a figurehead at mooseburger joint openings and the annual Paul Bunyan lookalike contest. Then she became the Governor of a state with less people than 17 US cities, that has no state income tax or state sales tax and a budget that runs surpluses thanks to oil royalties, which she has held for less than 20 months.
Which is *STILL* more experience than Obama. You can poopoo the experience by, once again, belittling small town America, but it doesn’t change the fact that Obama has no experience running anything even at that small size.
And trust me, there are a lot of people who are still upset about the clinging to guns and religion statement. It is not going to just ‘go away’ because Obama can give a good speech in an elemented prepared specifically for him.
2) She has a “backbone of steel”, and will stand up to the special interests and the pork projects, like a good outsider.Too bad she was for that bridge to nowhere until she was against it. Woops…I guess that backbone might be rubber.
But did she ever for ‘present’ in order to keep her political asperations intact? Did she have such a blank slate that no one can pin down how she really sees those areas that are considered political 3rd rails, like guns and abortion? I may disagree with her on one of those, but I at least know where she stands.
3) She will appeal to women who were considering Hillary Clinton.Because as we all know it was written in the scrolls that the daughters of Eve must always vote for their own kind, even though her views are the complete opposite to Hillary’s.
You assume that all of the women who were going to vote for Hillary were doing so because of her views. And you further ignore the reality that Obama has severly pissed off women by calling Ferarro a racist. Ferarro, to her credit, was on the radio friday praising Palin and welcomed knowing that she no longer bears the title of the only woman vice-president nominated by a major party (the Libertarians nominated Dr. Nancy Lord several years ago but apparently have a woman with two doctorate degrees on that ticket didn’t count).
4) Thanks to her christian dominionist views she will energize the base surging John McCain to victory.Right…because a gun-toting, former beauty queen, basketball baracuda will bring out even more evangelicals than the old 2004 tactic of “fear and queers.” Well you guys will certainly need to find even more of them if you’re going to beat the record number of people who will come out to vote for Obama. Maybe check under the pews, I’m sure you could scrounge up a few more that didn’t come out for Bush in 04.
I remember the record number of young kids that were going to come out and vote against Bush in 2004 as well…
And she has energized the Republican party and their views of McCain as I pointed out in the polling information. You can say it isn’t going to make a different all you want, but when faced with the facts, it makes it harder to do effectively.
There have been significant changes in perception of John McCain in the two days of polling since he named Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Since then, 49% of Republicans voice a Very Favorable opinion of McCain. That’s up six percentage points from 43% just before the announcement. Also, 64% of unaffiliated voters now give positive reviews to McCain, up ten points since naming his running mate.
She is also viewed more favorably than the other VP candidate.
But what is most telling, at least to me, is that the Democrats are now scrambling to show how much experience that their presidential candidate has compared to the Republican vice-presidential candiate, which points out an obvious problem that they have. I think most Republicans would have never said much about Obama being the VP, his qualifications lend themselves to that position just fine. It is his nomination as president that I think is presenting him the most trouble when compared to what a ticket should look like, experience at the top with a person who is younger and with a similar ‘maverick’ view as his/her running mate.
I think this election is going down to the wire. It may be another late night in November this year…
Posted by: Rhinehold at August 31, 2008 02:32 PMRhinehold,
No, it won’t be close. Osama received a big bounce from the convention, and even before his acceptance speech, which was watched by 38 million people, the polls showed him up 4-8 percent. The initial poll for Sarah Palin showed most people thought she was unqualified. It was a terrible pick, and that’s going to become increasingly apparent.
The problem with Palin is she nails down the votes which McCain already commanded, and she alienates the middle because of her extreme right wing views and her inexperience. She adds nothing to the ticket.
Posted by: phx8 at August 31, 2008 02:48 PMPolls show Palin does not help McCain’s chances:
“Does having Sarah Palin as his running mate make you more likely to vote for John McCain in November, less likely, or will it not have much effect on your vote?”
N=898 registered voters, MoE ± 4
More Likely 18%
Less Likely 11%
Not Much Effect 67%
Unsure 3%
Seems Republican Bloggers think Palin was a brilliant addition to the McCain campaign. General public is not so gullible.
Posted by: David R. Remer at August 31, 2008 02:58 PMphx8,
I’m sorry, but I’ve posted polling that contradicts what you have stated. You are free to believe what you want, I’ll keep looking to the facts myself. You can believe the fairy tale that this will be a landslide, but the electoral college is getting closer and closer. Rasmussen, the most accurate polling firm over the past several elections, has the electoral college down to a 10 point difference, neither one getting 270 points.
And the Republicans haven’t even had their convention yet…
And BTW, I love the ‘38 million’ thing like it means something. Apparently, if you watched the speech, it means you are for Obama!
I also love the voting with Bush 90% of the time, line, I can’t wait for that one to come out and bite you guys on the butt too… I have something special planned for that one.
Posted by: Rhinehold at August 31, 2008 03:01 PMRhinehold
You mean all four of the candidates, don’t you?
I guess in theory you are probably right. I should have stated that better. It probably should have read that in the end indies will realize which party has more weaknesses. I would never imply that any one party or candidate is perfect or has all the answers. I would think that is a reality which should be obvious to anyone who follows politics with any degree of regularity. We simply have to decide which party will best serve the needs of this country at the particular moment. At this moment in time imo I am relatively sure that the blue side holds the best possibility of putting things back in proper perspective.
Rhinehold,
The youth vote will come out at least the same, and probably in greater numbers to vote Obama this year, than they did in 2004. Most young people voted against Bush instead of for Kerry in 2004, and they really weren’t excited about Kerry to begin with. Obama has brought out the youth vote in even greater numbers during this primary than 2004, so I expect them to show up this november.
Evangelicals were brought to the polls in 2004 in record numbers based on the fear of terrorism, and gay marriage, and that’s not happening this time. Terrorist scare tactics and color coded alerts that only show up at election time will not be as strong an issue as it was four years ago. All of the gay marriage amendments on state ballots have been used up in the last two elections. How many times can you continue to ask people to ban gay marriage? To prove how desperate the Republican party has become to energize the base, just look at how radio hosts and preachers have resorted to whisper campaigns that Obama is the anti-christ. That reeks of desperation and people aren’t buying it.
Now it’s coming out that McCain actually wanted Leibermann, but when word of that made it through the Karl Rove/Ralph Reed channels, he was warned that the fundies would revolt at the convention. So Palin was a last minute decision to appeal to the “agents of intolerance” to at least trickle out of their churches and give old John a sympathy vote.
Do you really think evangelicals will come out in the same numbers as they did in 2004 because of who the VP nominee is?
Posted by: pops mcgee at August 31, 2008 03:13 PMRhinehold, your approach to the discussion misses the marks widely.
Look at the polling data and observe what the American people think. That is afterall, the only relevant measure of what is happening in this race.
On the economy, ability to unite this country, and bring needed changes to our system, Biden/Obama ticket has a handy lead.
On the war on terrorism, finishing Iraq, and foreign policy, McCain/Palin have a decided advantage.
So, on election day, it is likely to boil down to what voters are most concerned about personally, their financial status going forward here in the U.S., or some conflict or terrorist threat overseas.
As for the VP choices, Biden adds to Obama’s weaknesses in the foreign policy arena across party lines, Palin adds social conservative strength to McCain’s already declared Republican following, but little from outside the GOP following. This would appear to indicate that Obama’s choice helped him in the polls, while Palin adds nothing to McCain’s support outside already registered Republican ranks.
What people hope and wish for this election is irrelevant. What the polls demonstrate is the general voting public’s response, is everything. On Nov. 4, they will be polled one last time - and that makes the polling the only measure by which to rationally assess this race.
Posted by: David R. Remer at August 31, 2008 03:15 PMDavid,
I agree, Nov 4 will be the deciding factor, but you forget that most people vote for a president based on foreign policy, not economic, because as we all know it is congress that has the hand in that more than the president.
But, my point was not that McCain was going to win, nor was it that Obama was going to, only that it will not be the landslide many were hoping for and predicting, McCain has done a very good job in shoring up the race to be pretty much a tie, even in the electoral vote.
Posted by: Rhinehold at August 31, 2008 03:22 PMDo you really think evangelicals will come out in the same numbers as they did in 2004 because of who the VP nominee is?
I’ll repost:
There have been significant changes in perception of John McCain in the two days of polling since he named Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Since then, 49% of Republicans voice a Very Favorable opinion of McCain. That’s up six percentage points from 43% just before the announcement. Also, 64% of unaffiliated voters now give positive reviews to McCain, up ten points since naming his running mate.
Do you not think that a 10% point bump in unaffiliated voters is important? Even David’s polling data shows that more are more likely to vote for him than not based on the pick, 18-11 is a net 7% bump.
Posted by: Rhinehold at August 31, 2008 03:25 PMUnaffiliated voters, that’s laughable. Just look at how many people identify themselves as Republican today compared to 4 years ago. Once the Republican party proved how incompetent they were people jumped ship, and changed their status to independent. So don’t put too much stock in those unaffiliated voters numbers, it’s probably just former Republicans from 2004 coming back home. McCain is going to need to draw alot of those independents to make up for the lack of enthusiasm in his own party, and the youth turnout for Obama.
As for the electoral college numbers, Obama is doing well at holding all the states Kerry won in 2004. He is also leading in Colorado and New Mexico, with tight races in Virginia, Iowa, Ohio, and Florida. If he wins Ohio or Florida it’s over. If he wins Virginia, then all he would need is Iowa or Colorado. Or if he takes Colorado, Iowa, and New Mexico he’s got it. McCain would have to nearly run the table with all those states I mentioned to win, not as easy a task as it was 4 years ago.
Posted by: pops mcgee at August 31, 2008 03:46 PMI was in shock read this article
Palin: Surge? What Surge?
http://art-of-politics.blogspot.com
This is the end for for McCain
Posted by: John at August 31, 2008 04:25 PMPalin is as experienced as Obama
Let’s say that you do accept that (and I don’t). Is that a reason for picking Palin? The only reasons I see for picking her are that she’s a woman and has an extreme right wing perspective.
Today, on Meet the Press Pawlenty was asked about her economic experience, and he literally said she would bring her experience managing her family’s budget with her….. He said she has foriegn policy experience, because her state is next to Russia. He said she has “commander in chief” experience, because she was in charge of Alaska’s National Guard. My jaw hit the floor. It was hard for me to believe this was an adult talking, much less a public servant.
JUST HOW STUPID DOES MCCAIN THINK AMERICANS ARE?
Even Bush generally acknowledged he was inexperienced and would depend on advisors. Why are Republicans manufacturing some kind of experience for her from the thinnest possible rationales?
I seriously used to respect McCain and thought of this election as the best against the best each party has to offer. But why should voters respect McCain when he has made it so clear he doesn’t respect them? I have yet to hear a sensible rationale for adding this woman to the ticket.
Obama has spent the last two years proving his worth. He laid out a new vision and ran an incredibly discplined campaign. Yes, his resume is thin, but stellar - and his talent is obvious and, again, proven the test of time.
You ask what their differences are? Even if Obama were to come out today and be announced as a candidate - he wouldn’t have enough time to prove himself. That’s why Palin’s nomination is… surreal. She adds nothing to the ticket, and even if she is some kind of rare, unique talent like Obama, she doesn’t have enough time to make that case to the country.
The only plausible reason for picking her is that McCain thought any woman from left field would be good enough to substitute for Hillary and Obama as candidates. It means he really doesn’t get it, and it means he must really think Americans are dumb.
As for me, I’m insulted.
Posted by: Max at August 31, 2008 04:44 PMRhinehold:
Which is *STILL* more experience than Obama. You can poopoo the experience by, once again, belittling small town America, but it doesn’t change the fact that Obama has no experience running anything even at that small size.
Do we really need to point out that the stadium obama gave his acceptance speech in the other night had more people than the town she ran? He has had more than 2 million contributors, which is over triple the entire population of the state she has governed. His campaign has just shy of two million volunteers as well, and they are looking to triple that number by election day. His election campaign alone has a far higher population than her state. And you contend he has no experience running anything compared with her?
Posted by: Jarandhel at August 31, 2008 04:45 PMRhinehold, less than half of Republicans hold a very favorable view of the McCain/Palin ticket?
Wow, Republicans are a whole lot worse off than I thought, if that statistic is valid. The last one I read on the Democrat’s side was 80% favorable for Obama.
Posted by: David R. Remer at August 31, 2008 04:57 PMRhinehold, guess you forgot the winning line, “It’s the Economy, Stupid!”
No, it is not always about foreign policy. Absolutely wrong on that one, Rhinehold, as the history of elections easily demonstrates. When economic times are uncertain, presidential elections have often been determined by economic issues, not foreign policy issues.
But you are right, it is a close race by most empirical measures at this point. Except one, 56 % of Americans prefer a Democrat in the White House in November to a Republican. That generic question’s results gives a slight advantage to the Obama campaign.
Posted by: David R. Remer at August 31, 2008 05:00 PMDavid H.,
The partisan rhetoric aside, I would much rather be governed by a self-made success story living the American dream with the independent and freedom-loving values of rural Alaska than by someone who is the product of the corrupt Chicago, inner city political machine. One want you to control your life, and the other wants to control your life for you. You’ll hear a lot about “experience” in this election but just as important is the concept of freedom, common sense, morals and values. The winner of that debate is clear.
1. While what you prefer is certainly true, the rhetoric is hardly aside and the lie of self made vs political machine is complete and utter.
2. “One want you to control your life, and the other wants to control your life for you.”
We have lost more freedom under big daddy Bush than any other recent President.
3. The winner of that debate is clear. To whom? Perhaps not a lie, just wishful thinking or possibly psychosis…..
How’s that for a a few in just the last paragraph?
The “lie” I am referring to is the lie that this dink is prepared for the presidency. You know she isn’t, but you rise with a load of crap to defend your party’s position. It’s why no one listens to you anymore. It’s why this was a dumb move by McCain and will hurt him in November. As to Rinehold’s quixotic polling….grasping at straws.
This kind of minute to minute polling is meaningless, except to pollsters bank accounts.
The Dems who are still repeating the nonsense about Governor Palin being less than qualified (although she is far more qualified than Obama himself and is only running for the VP spot) need to get back on the reservation.
Don’t you realize that the Obama campaign has backed away from this talking point because it’s incredibly embarrassing to have any discussion about qualifications while Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee?
Don’t do this to your candidate. Haven’t you been watching the Obama ads and his spokespeople on the Sunday talk shows?
The talking point about Governor Palin is that she is just like Dick Cheney. Got that? Governor Palin is just like Dick Cheney. More of the same. No different at all. Exactly like Dick Cheney, just as John McCain is just like George Bush.
Those are the talking points you’re supposed to be using. Governor Palin=Cheney. Tell all your friends, family members and coworkers. Can it really be that hard to remember? And ignore that look on their face while you’re talking. They’re the ones who are crazy. Not you!.
Posted by: Loyal Opposition at August 31, 2008 05:54 PMThe boasting by liberals on the blue side is music to my ears. I love how confident they are that Barry and Joe just can’t possibly loose to an old guy and a new gal.
It reminds me of all the boasting being done by some of these same folks before the Gore and Kerry losses. They were dumbfounded then and couldn’t understand how a good ole boy from Texas with no law degree, no brain, no ability to speak French, and no war-time metals could possibly have won. So, in desperation, the liberals decided that Bush must have cheated somehow…twice. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice…shame on me.
Now comes John and Sarah, too old, too young, too white, too dumb, too (you name it). They can’t possibly win, let’s start the celebration. I hope come election night the Chicago Tribune early edition headline reading “Obama Defeats McCain” has to be hastily recalled reminiscent of the Truman/Dewey headline.
Some of the smarter liberals writing here are no doubt covering today’s gleeful boasts with prose ready to be posted to explain how this election was also stolen.
Fool me thrice…Stop playing the Game.
Posted by: Jim M at August 31, 2008 06:21 PMLoyal Opposition-
Obama has had 7 years in the Illinois state senate, the same level of government as Sarah Palin’s governorship. She has held her position for less than 2 years. Additionally, Obama has several years of experience as a US Senator, providing federal experience which Palin has no equivalent for. You may counter that she was a member of the Wasilla city council for 4 years, and a mayor for 6 years, but that still makes her total time served less than two years more than Obama, and at much lower levels of government for the majority of that time. She’s just hit the major league, with the majority of her experience in the minors, while Obama’s been playing at the major league level for a while now, if you’ll forgive the sports analogy.
Posted by: Jarandhel at August 31, 2008 06:41 PMIn 1948, the Tribune was run by Col Robert McCormick, a Rpblcn partisan. Today, the Tribune is less partisan, but the Sun Times is considered to be the South Side newspaper, so maybe they’ll oblige this time.
Posted by: ohrealy at August 31, 2008 06:50 PMJim M, I love the way you think that now that your party still holds to the White House by its fingernails, that the 2006 boot of Republicans from Congress is nothing more than an historical anomoly.
This faltering economy, this endless war in Iraq, and this degradation of so much in America like education, infrastructure, and deficits and debt are all products of Republicans being in charge. Do you really believe American voters are going to forget that in favor of a female face on the McCain campaign trail? I don’t think so despite Republican efforts to make it so.
But, we will see on Nov. 5. And if appropriate, I will remind you of your words here pontificating as if they had some prescience for November.
Posted by: David R. Remer at August 31, 2008 07:34 PMThe best argument I have read for a Republican president coming from a relative unknown is not from Palin, but LA Hanna.
Posted by: David R. Remer at August 31, 2008 07:37 PMJim M
Here’s a little liberal music for your ears:
Same old song
Just a drop of water in and endless sea
All we do crumbles the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
I close my eyes
Only for a moment and the moment’s gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Now don’t hang on
Nothin’ lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won’t another minute buy
dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
This is the music I will be playing when your party gasps its final death throes November 4th.
We really aren’t so different it seems you and I aspire to the same end result. The only difference is I will be able to enjoy the music. ;-)
acondo
HE IS THE ONE ANTICHRIST. HIS ENTIRE HISTORY IS CORRUPTION. LIBERALS HAVE SUCH HATRED THEY WILL VOTE FOR THE ANTICHRIST AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE FACTS SURROUNDING HIS HISTORY. THIS GUY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN HITLER. WHAT SCARES ME IS THAT HIS PLATFORM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS HITLER’S
Thank you for clearing that up for us. I am sure your fellow conservatives are proud of your representation of their views in this reply. Says a lot towards understanding the workings of neocon reasoning. Now if you will excuse me it is time to go donate some more Hitler bucks to further the “Ones” cause. I hear tell through the grapevine that he is rallying the Obama forces in an all out effort to begin the conservative extermination campaign. ;-)
Posted by: RickIL at August 31, 2008 08:13 PMLO-
It’s nonsense a number of Republicans, including many in Alaska have repeated. Look, just two years ago, the dear lady was running a town about the size of my zipcode with twenty thousand fewer people. That’s your padding on executive experience. Local level, small town. Just how the hell does this translate to being one step away from being leaders of the freaking free world!?!?
What mysterious arts of governance did she learn, while she put her small town twenty million in debt, that somehow makes up for the fact that she only spent two years in a state level position?
The Republicans seem to have a magic words approach. Whenever McCain’s soft, ultra-wealthy lifestyle is brought up, or his honesty is question, just say POW. Whenever his near total agreement with Bush and the Republican orthodox is brought up, just say Maverick.
And whenever people bring up the fact that she has only twenty months as governor, and the rest of her time was spent as a local politician in a town whose population is nowhere near ten thousand, what are the words we hear? Executive experience!
Well last I checked, nobody was ranking the experience of towns that size in the Lower 48 that highly. You’re playing that card for one reason, and one reason alone:
Desperation. Republicans must justify this decision at all costs, or liberals win. For God knows how many years, y’all have justified not making sense on the grounds of party unit.
You see, the trouble is, McCain didn’t exactly consult with y’all on the question of who he would pick. It’s like I said elsewhere, he’s trying to making himself look like he’s catching the wave Obama’s riding, so he decides to get himself a young, supposed Reformer who’s a party outsider. And to try and drink further from the Democrat’s milkshake, he sought out a woman to try and attract Hillary voters!
The way I read this, this isn’t McCain being a Maverick, this is McCain trying clumsily to get somebody on the ticket who imitates Obama’s freshness, his charisma, his reform credentials, and his good looks.
The Irony is, you have come up with a candidate who better fits your most insulting attacks than Obama ever did. She’s more inexperienced at this level, more obscure and unknown, more of a real religious radical, more part of the party’s fringe, and last but not least, a product of hype more than substance. You’ve killed the argument, by showing you had even less regard for those matters.
As for Palin and Cheney? They’re close, in certain ways. They’re both beholden to the gas and oil industry. Both hold far right views. Both back neocons ideas, but have never served themselves. They both have a record of abuse of power, firing people for mere differences of opinion, pressuring people to break laws. They want consensus in a desired form, not informed analysis of what’s going on which might contradict their desired course of action.
Jim M-
No, it’s not quite so simple. The speed of the response that you’re getting, the pushback on all sides comes from a Liberal left that has adopted the internet as its medium of choice. Whether it’s Macaca moments, long buried newspaper stories, statistics and records, the Democrats have developed a capacity not only to counteract your media operations, but attack aggressively.
The smarter liberals here are out puncturing your myths. The minute you folks announced Sarah Palin, we were on the case. It’s not much more than two days, and our people are aware of how well she’s been vetted. Just think what we’ll uncover in the next 48 hours.
Do yourself a favor, look up “cake”, “McCain”, and “Katrina” on a google image search, and you’ll find what McCain was doing. We know how he’s voted, we know he made a particularly off-color joke about “at least no Arabian Horses were killed” mere hours after Katrina struck.
We probably know a hell of a lot more about your candidate than you do, and by this time next week, Palin may have gone the way of Thomas Eagleton. Hell, we already know somebody wrote a book about her. Oh, what might we find, if we look even closer?
The rank and file Democrats are prepared to play hardball, and have the skills to do so on the substance. Take 2006 as a warning.
Posted by: Stephen Daugherty at August 31, 2008 08:16 PMacondo-
HE IS THE ONE ANTICHRIST. HIS ENTIRE HISTORY IS CORRUPTION. LIBERALS HAVE SUCH HATRED THEY WILL VOTE FOR THE ANTICHRIST AND DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE FACTS SURROUNDING HIS HISTORY. THIS GUY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN HITLER. WHAT SCARES ME IS THAT HIS PLATFORM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS HITLER’S
Give me a break. I know for a fact that the Antichrist is alive and well and living in Jerusalem. Or he’s a clone of the Real Christ, from tissue taken off the Shroud of Turin.
Or is he a Romanian who takes over the UN and…
Or this is all just another riff on the the “Obama’s scary so run” idea.
As far as evidence goes, you don’t nearly read enough of the posts. There’s plenty of it to go around. The real question is, do you care?
As far as mental gymnastics go, Palin’s far more inexperienced than Obama. You guys just jump and flip aroundt he fact by declaring that being mayor of a town of less than ten thousand souls qualifies as useful experience for the Presidency of the United States of America.
As far as “morans” go, you should know that there is a famous photo out there that uses exactly this irony in mispelling to make a not so flattering point about the man holding up the sign.
Just thought you’d like to know.
Posted by: Stephen Daugherty at August 31, 2008 08:27 PMacondo, you’re getting very close to bye-bye land in here. First, you don’t know me well enough to call me simple, stupid or an idiot!! You don’t know Max well enough to call him a “moran”….am assuming that you’re trying to spell moron. You don’t know John well enough to call him an idiot, either… and you for sure don’t know our managing editor. But while you’re still around, look, read…maybe you just might learn something !!
Posted by: janedoe at August 31, 2008 08:27 PMjanedoe
Give me hell girl!! Don’t pull any punches with that self implicated you know what.
Posted by: RickIL at August 31, 2008 09:21 PMForrest Gump-
Palin’s accomplishments? Like putting the town she was in 20 million dollars worth of debt? Barack Obama’s experience, both in elected terms and in campaigning terms is much greater. People know him.
As much as you would emphasize the same scary BS, there is little to suggest in real policy terms that Obama is a radical on this subject.
You have to entertain that conveniently unprovable notion that he’s some kind of sleeper who’s just hiding his racial animus.
Obama’s scary to people like you because he makes the Democrats look good. Can’t have that. You won’t be able to save people from themselves if you can’t scare them into voting for a Republican. Pity.
Posted by: Stephen Daugherty at August 31, 2008 09:23 PMAdmit it, you are either a moran or a partisan, but you have a low IQ and no objectivity. How do you even look at yourself in the mirror with this crap.
Most people that come to this site kind of gently slip in and feel things out for awhile in order that they might be accepted by their peers here. It is an approach that comes with some seasoned adulthood. If you will notice you will see virtually no one here, other than yourself, is referring to those whose position they are in opposition to as idiots or morons. We may refer to the message in a negative, but not inflammatory way, but not the messenger. Accusations and counterpoints can be plenty frustrating even without the name calling. It serves no purpose other than to turn people off and as a result they tend to avoid you once they have figured out that is the sort of person you are.
Posted by: RickIL at August 31, 2008 09:36 PMComment #260628 was directed at acondo. Sorry.
Posted by: RickIL at August 31, 2008 09:38 PMRickIl…. lol…guess there are a few hormones enough left to rage… ;)
Posted by: janedoe at August 31, 2008 09:46 PMStephen D
Obama’s scary to people like you because he makes the Democrats look good. Can’t have that. You won’t be able to save people from themselves if you can’t scare them into voting for a Republican. Pity.
In a nutshell Stephen. Excellent observation and so succinctly expressed. I am impressed to say the least.
Posted by: RickIL at August 31, 2008 10:55 PMBLANK is scary to people like you because he/she/they make the BLANK look good. Can’t have that. You won’t be able to save people from themselves if you can’t scare them into voting for a BLANK. Pity.
Obama scares me because there is not enough there to determine what he will in fact do. There is not enough precidence. With McCain there is.
Posted by: Honest at August 31, 2008 11:45 PMRickIl,
I agree with your commet #260628
Acondo,
Why I try and stay independent on an Issue, you might want to reconsider your words. For why I will concur that Senator McCain has the right to chose his own VP. I wonder if the Republicans want to have the first Lady they nominate for VP to be the first VP in Americas’ History to have an active investigation going on during an Election?
Yes, the Conservatives may chose Mrs. Palin this week at their convention; however, I do not believe that the Ladies of Society are “Stupid” or that much of an “Idiot” to vote for a Candidate that by any other Principle or Standard would be Media Meat based solely on a single Issue. For if McCains’ VP Pick was a Man, would the Right even consider his Name in this Historical Election?
Posted by: Henry Schlatman at August 31, 2008 11:54 PMThat said - Obama should win, shouldn’t he? He’s a machine (DNC, Black Liberation grass root) made man that thinks he is a leader but actually is just really good at reading other peoples speeches.
I don’t know… From Rasmussenreports.com
When asked who will make a better leader and whose values are closest to your own, voters generally give McCain the edge by several percentage points. Changing that perception will perhaps be Obama’s biggest challenge in the next two months.
And it doesn’t help that:
Voter confidence in the War on Terror is at the highest level ever recorded since Rasmussen Reports began regular tracking in January 2004. Fifty-four percent (54%) of American voters now think the United States and its allies are winning the war. The previous high-water mark for optimism—52%—was reached a handful of times in September and October 2004.Optimism about the situation in Iraq is also at an all-time high. Forty-eight percent (48%) now expect the situation in that troubled country to get better over the next six months. Only 17% expect things to get worse. In addition to being the most optimistic assessment ever recorded, these numbers reflect a remarkable turnaround over the past year. Last August, just 27% thought things were going to get better while 47% were pessimistic.
Kind of took the wind out of the sails for that easy step into the White House for the Dems. Landslide? I don’t think so, this is a horserace even with the smear campaigns by supporters of both candidates in full swing.
Posted by: Rhinehold at September 1, 2008 12:17 AMLook, just two years ago, the dear lady was running a town about the size of my zipcode with twenty thousand fewer people.
And Obama was leading… well, hmmm…
Posted by: Rhinehold at September 1, 2008 12:19 AMBTW, David, it’s not Monday yet but…
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) — On the eve of the Republican convention, a new national poll suggests the race for the White House remains even.Posted by: Rhinehold at September 1, 2008 12:38 AMA CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released Sunday night shows the Obama-Biden ticket leading the McCain-Palin ticket by one point, 49 percent to 48 percent, with the statistical margin of error.
The survey was conducted Friday through Sunday, after both the conclusion of the Democratic convention and Sen. John McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.
A previous CNN poll, taken just one week earlier, suggested the race between McCain, R-Arizona, and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, was tied at 47 percent each.
“The convention and particularly Obama’s speech seems to be well-received. And the selection of Sarah Palin as the GOP running mate, also seems to be well-received. So why is the race still a virtual tie? Probably because the two events created equal and opposite bounces assuming that either one created a bounce at all,” says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
Obama’s acceptance speech in front of a crowd of more than 80,000 people at INVESCO Field in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday night wrapped up the Democrats’ convention. It was one of the most widely watched political conventions in history.
Obama was leading….hmmm…..a large congressional district and touring the middle east….hmmmm.
Which experience is more directly applicable to a Presidential bid…gee, that’s a tough one.
Those building permits and several thousand dollar police budgets are certainly complex and world shaking.
Posted by: googlumpuugus at September 1, 2008 12:45 AMFirst, let’s hand it to the McCain team and give credit where credit is due. The pick of Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee for VP has sucked the oxygen out of the air and changed the discussion away from the Democratic National Convention, Obama’s acceptance speech and his 38 million viewers. Bloggers, pundits and talking heads have discussed little else since Palin was named. If taking the focus off Obama and the Democrats was an objective, (and I’m sure it was) Palin has already been a huge success.
Now back to reality.
The president of the student government at my local high school has more constituents than Palin did as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. (Given the shortage of viable Republican candidates this election season he probably made McCain’s short list too.) But please, don’t insult my intelligence by claiming that her “executive experience” is in any way preperation for the job of President of the United States. It’s not and you know it’s not and the American electorate will see that it is not. If you want to question Obama’s experience and qualifications for the job, make your best case. But, offering that experience as proof (or even evidence) that Palin is ready for the job of president makes it look as if you feel the electorate is stupid and will buy whatever foolishness you float.
Let’s be honest, had McCain selected Jeffery Dahmer or Bozo the Clown as his running mate many of you (including David M Huntwork) would be writing with equal passion about what a brilliant choice that was. You fool no one with this silly argument about Palin’s experience, least of all disaffected Hillary voters. No one is that dumb.
As anyone will tell you, it’s not about experience, it’s about judgment! And if this is an example of John McCain’s judgment, God help us all if he is elected.
Posted by: RMD at September 1, 2008 12:51 AMJohn, I’d quit linking to nutjob blogs. It’s not helping your cause or your arguments.
Posted by: David M. Huntwork at September 1, 2008 01:04 AMI’m about as liberal of a democrat as one can get. If you take all else out of consideration I would certainly agree that Obama’s resume is certainly thin to be taking on the presidency. My preference was Hillary Clinton because of this very issue. She had the edge over, say, Joe Biden, because of her husband, who I’m sure everyone would admit is the last successful president we have had.
Add to all this the fact that John McCain is the most impressive republican candidate we have had, well, in my humble opinion, in my lifetime (Eisenhower). He is a much better man then he has been portrayed or then he has acted in the last year.
I can’t vote for him. He is the nominee of the republican party, a group composed in large measure of liars, criminals and incompetents. (it’s the last i fear the most). As good of intentions that McCain may have, they will be quickly and completely subverted by those who truly run the show with this group (no one actually thinks that w was running the party, do they?)
I guess what impresses me the most about Obama is that Hillary Clinton was easily the presumptive nominee of the party. A year ago there was not even a second place. He beat her; he stood the criticism and examination that comes with achieving the nomination. It really is a sort of crucible, a test, and I think he comfortably withstood it. Having “executive” experience is really a questionable measure of how good a president will be. Jimmy Carter was a governor and, as it turns out, a micro-manager. He drove his staff crazy because he was unable to delegate (as I have heard). Ronald Reagan was indifferent to the actual hands on management of the federal government. Clinton was certainly successful and i sense a good manager. Bush jr. was a governor for six years and he has every possibility of being the worst president in U.S. history, by most objective measures. He is not even welcome at his own party’s convention. (Please, no one say that he has to stay in Washington to oversee the hurricane relief. He would have nothing positive to add) As far as general experience is concerned I think the most qualified president we have ever had would have to be George H.W. Bush, Congressman, Diplomat, head of the CIA, Vice President for eight years. He sought and was denied a second term, a great indication that he was not a successful president.
I guess the main indicator of success is the ability to attract and galvanize support for a course of action; whether your target audience is the Congress, foreign leaders or the general public, if you have the ability to do this then you have a core quality of a successful leader. Obama has this, and I think McCain too has this quality. It’s going to be a close election, decided by three points or less, (because of racial issues), with Obama on top.
So, to me, it’s kind of silly to be comparing “executive” experience between Obama and Palin. Palin will have the opportunity over the next 60 + days to do what Obama has already done. Good luck to her.
…and even if she is some kind of rare, unique talent like Obama, she doesn’t have enough time to make that case to the country.
-Posted by: Max
What “rare, unique talent” would that be? Reading from a telepromptor or slaying a Clinton?
Posted by: David M. Huntwork at September 1, 2008 01:10 AMOf course logic does not prevail. Palin is a perfect match if one wants BIG OIL to continue to run the country. They apparently want an extension on their lease of the Republican Party.
A Wiki seach on Palin is worth your time. Among others things you will find she was a suporter of Alaska’s famous “Bridge to Nowhere” until it gainned national noteriety. Then she flip flopped.
She also believes that a woman that is raped and impregnated by her assailant and has an abortion should go to prison. Thats a pretty tough sell to HC suporters.
One would have hoped that her lack of experience would put an end to the Reps charges of lack of experience of BHO but apparently,as stated previously. logic does not prevail. There was another presidential nominee from Ill. with even less experience, only one term in the state legislature and two years in Congress. He won the election. That would be Abraham Lincoln. Give it a rest.
Obama was leading….hmmm…..a large congressional district and touring the middle east….hmmmm.
As was Palin. And the state senate district that Obama was running before he was elected was about twice the size as the city Palin was the Mayor of…
Which experience is more directly applicable to a Presidential bid…gee, that’s a tough one.Those building permits and several thousand dollar police budgets are certainly complex and world shaking.
You can poopoo actually being a commander-in-chief all you want, but she has that on Obama, and she’s not even running against him, is she? That’s the funny part as I see it, you are spending your time trying to win an experience argument against a VP candidate, not against a presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, the pick took the sails right out of the Convention bounce and the Republicans haven’t even gotten up to speak at theirs yet. Ooops.
Posted by: Rhinehold at September 1, 2008 01:36 AMI guess what impresses me the most about Obama is that Hillary Clinton was easily the presumptive nominee of the party. A year ago there was not even a second place. He beat her; he stood the criticism and examination that comes with achieving the nomination. It really is a sort of crucible, a test, and I think he comfortably withstood it.
I’ve never understood this rewriting of history… Obama was placed in the top 5 after his speech in 2004 and I even wrote on this blog that the press was gushing after him in 2/2007 http://www.watchblog.com/thirdparty/archives/004824.html.
The fact is that had the black vote not come out for him (is that less cynical that looking for the female vote with Palin as McCain is accused of), the states of Michigan and Florida participating in the debacle that they created and the fact that Edwards took much of Hillary’s steam away from her early in the race, it most likely would have been harder for him to win the nomination.
But, Kerry won that nomination much easier in 2004 and it didn’t get him anywhere during the election. Using this as a sign of his ability is all well and good, provided it is not the ONLY thing you are using…
Posted by: Rhinehold at September 1, 2008 01:43 AM(because of racial issues)
WTF does this mean?
Posted by: Rhinehold at September 1, 2008 01:46 AMBTW, I think this commentary by John Podhoretz pretty much summs it all up.
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/jpodhoretz/24771
Posted by: Rhinehold at September 1, 2008 02:13 AMRhinehold,
Sorry, no atttempt to predetermine her incompetence, here, despite John and your attempts to run from the obvious irony of your defense of her bona fides after pummeling Obama’s.
I will always poo-poo someone who throws around terms like commander in chief to describe what one is in the tub wearing the skipper hat and pulling his little boaty and ducky through the suds.
Posted by: googlumpuugus at September 1, 2008 07:29 AMForeign policy knowledge is something you can’t fake. It takes a broad body of knowledge, critical analysis skills, and intellectual capacity. Obama has already demonstrated his acumen in this area - his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan are quickly becoming policy. He has certainly demonstrated more skill and better judgment than the current administration or his competition. Palin has yet to show us any understanding of events outside her state. I’m sure Joe Biden will give her a chance to show what she knows in the VP debate. McCain has really demonstrated only a surface knowledge of the issues - he has a lot of explaining to do to as far as I’m concerned.
What the country cannot afford is something akin to what we have had for 8 years - a president that has no foreign policy skills who has to take advice from his staff and who seems to be guided only by ideology. It has yielded disastrous results. I don’t see anything from McCain to suggest that he has the capability much less Sarah Palin. If JFK had not had the intellectual capacity to understand US-USSR relations and listened to some of the advice he got during the Cuban Missile Crisis we might have gotten into a global nuclear war. I don’t trust McCain’s judgment in these matters much less the Alaskan Governor.
Posted by: tcsned at September 1, 2008 09:47 AMBelow is poll material from Zogby, after
McCains pick of Palin. Lets see what happens by the end of the week.
“Zogby Poll: Equilibrium in the POTUS Race!
Brash McCain pick of AK Gov. Palin neutralizes historic Obama speech, stunts the Dems’ convention bounce
————————————————————————————————————————
UTICA, New York - Republican John McCain’s surprise announcement Friday of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate - some 16 hours after Democrat Barack Obama’s historic speech accepting his party’s presidential nomination - has possibly stunted any Obama convention bump, the latest Zogby Interactive flash poll of the race shows.
Data from this poll is available here
The latest nationwide survey, begun Friday afternoon after the McCain announcement of Palin as running mate and completed mid-afternoon today, shows McCain/Palin at 47%, compared to 45% support for Obama/Biden.
In other words, the race is a dead heat.
The interactive online Zogby survey shows that both Obama and McCain have solidified the support among their own parties - Obama won 86% support of Democrats and McCain 89% of Republicans in a two-way head-to-head poll question not including the running mates. When Biden and Palin are added to the mix, Obama’s Democratic support remains at 86%, while McCain’s increases to 92%.
After the McCain “Veep” announcement on Friday, Palin was almost immediately hailed as a strong conservative, and those voters have rallied to the GOP ticket, the survey shows. Republicans gather in St. Paul, Minnesota this week to officially nominate McCain and Palin as their presidential ticket.
Does the selection of Sarah Palin help or hurt John McCain’s chances of winning the presidential election in November?
8/29-30
Zogby Poll One Week Ago: Does Biden Help or Hurt Obama?
Will help him
52%
43%
Will hurt him
29%
22%
Will make no difference
10%
26%
Not sure
10%
9%
Overall, 52% said the selection of Palin as the GOP vice presidential nominee helps the Republican ticket, compared to 29% who said it hurt. Another 10% said it made no difference, while 10% were unsure. Among independent voters, 52% said it helps, while 26% said it would hurt. Among women, 48% said it would help, while 29% said it would hurt the GOP ticket. Among Republicans, the choice was a big hit - as 87% said it would help, and just 3% said it would hurt.
Pollster John Zogby: “Palin is not to be underestimated. Her real strength is that she is authentic, a real mom, an outdoors person, a small town mayor (hey, she has dealt with a small town city council - that alone could be preparation for staring down Vladimir Putin, right?). She is also a reformer.”
“A very important demographic in this election is going to be the politically independent woman, 15% of whom in our latest survey are undecided.”
“In the final analysis, this election will be about Obama vs. McCain. Obama has staked out ground as the new JFK - a new generation, literally and figuratively, a new face of America to the world, a man who can cross lines and work with both sides. But McCain is the modern day Harry Truman - with lots of DC experience, he knows what is wrong and dysfunctional with Washington and how to fix it, and he has chosen a running mate who is about as far away from Washington as he could find.
“This contest is likely to be very close until the weekend before the election - then the dam may break and support may flood one way or the other.”
The interactive survey shows that 22% of those voters who supported Democrat Hillary Clinton in their primary elections or caucus earlier this year are now supporting John McCain.
Among those who said they shop regularly at Wal-Mart - a demographic group that Zogby has found to be both “value” and “values” voters - Obama is getting walloped by McCain. Winning 62% support from weekly Wal-Mart shoppers, McCain wins these voters at a rate similar to what President Bush won in 2004. Obama wins 24% support from these voters.
Other demographic details are fairly predictable, showing that the McCain/Palin ticket heads into its convention on Monday with numbers that may fuel an optimism they may not have expected, and that many would not have predicted, especially after Obama’s speech Thursday night.”
Posted by: Oldguy at September 1, 2008 10:54 AMRhinehold, please don’t play dumb. “because of racial issues” was an explicit comment, no translation should be necessary. When poor, rural, uneducated white folk go into the voting booth they are going to have a bias against Obama. Why?
Because he is black.
Re: Obama’s possibilities a year ago, September 2007, months before the Iowa caucus. He was given no chance. What are you suggesting, that Hillary was the underdog?
Talk about rewriting history.
David M. Huntwork-
The way you speak about it, you’d imagine one could just blunder into defeating the Clintons. The Clintons who had support of the party elders, the party machines. The Clintons who took the biggest Democratic States on Super Tuesday.
Obama, to gain this nomination, had to win enough states by a great enough margin to catch up to her, then surpass her. He minimized her margins and kept his high.
He bypassed the usual donor base for the Democrats, which supported Clinton, and built his own, which scored record numbers of contributors and immense amounts of money to spend.
Having won, the man has moved DNC headquarters to Chicago He moved his party’s headquarters.
Obama has proved to be an aggressive, effective leader That’s his unique talent. McCain’s not proven so good at doing that job.
Rhinehold-
Obama’s senate district is in the middle of Chicago, and most likely has about 215-225 thousand people in it, many times more than in Palin’s town.
Why are you resorting to such lame arguments to defend her? She was impulsive pick on McCain’s part, and the rest of the GOP is trying to rationalize things on the basis of the fact that they’ll lose if they go along with the common sense read on the facts.
Posted by: Stephen Daugherty at September 1, 2008 01:24 PMDavid, the polling data you linked to is very helpful, but seems more inconclusive about whether Palin will help than what you suggested. Like you said, let’s discuss the data. Most of the comments here (no specific reference to anyone here) are unfortunately highly anecdotal.
Palin excellent: 27%, good: 25%
Biden excellent: 18%, good: 26%
More likely to vote for McCain: 22% (less: 20%)
More likely to vote for Obama: 15% (less: 11%)
I would consider these results to be fairly even, although it looks like Palin did receive a surprisingly enthusiastic welcome from the GOP base.
However, the poll also indicates that McCain is still 80% to Obama’s 44% (Bloomberg, LA Times) on having necessary experience to govern. Granted the question is specific to the candidates and not the ticket, but given the context with the veep questions, that this comes after the Palin announcement is still significant and may undermine the Left’s claims that Palin’s lack of experience will hurt the ticket.
In other categories, McCain is ahead on Russia, terrorism, integrity, and patriotism.
Obama is ahead on energy, economy, change, and empathy.
As to who holds the advantage on Iraq, the polling results are inconclusive.
Oldguy, are the statistics you cited for Palin and Biden really exactly identical? That seems strange.
Posted by: Gandhi at September 1, 2008 01:58 PMOn a second look, the experience discrepancy polling data is older than the veep announcements. So McCain may no longer lead 80% to 44%.
Posted by: Gandhi at September 1, 2008 02:00 PMObama’s senate district is in the middle of Chicago, and most likely has about 215-225 thousand people in it, many times more than in Palin’s town.
Reread what I wrote, I said state senate.
Why are you resorting to such lame arguments to defend her?
I’m pointing out facts and highlighting the hypocrisy of the Democratic Party. Something I like to do alot. Like when you tell us how the Dems are tired of being treated badly by the mean nasty right but forget to mention all of the things the left has done over the years which are arguably just as bad. It starts to ring hollow.
She was impulsive pick on McCain’s part
That is your opinion. Nevermind that she was on the top 5 list of most people talking about the pick for months, just because the ‘pundits’ thought that he would go with a more conventional pick doesn’t mean that she hasn’t been considered by the campaign for the variety of reasons that it has given.
It starts to wear thin, to be honest, to see people assume they know what is going on in someone else’s mind and then set out their arguments based on what they see as obvious fact.
The left says ‘the only reason she was picked was because she is a woman’. It doesn’t matter that she offers way more to the ticket than that, it is the reality on the left so they run with countering that. McCain himself has stated that he has no delusions about being able to bring Hillary voters to his side, that the reason he picked her was her strong conservative views as well as being a strong ‘maverick’ if you will. Please point to me the one person who has that quality in the other candidates brought up? Condi RIce? No. Romney? No. Would it have been great if she had been governor for more than 1 1/2 years? Yes, it would. It would have been nice if your candidate had some history for us to look at running anything other than a campaign for president.
But that doesn’t take away from what she is and what she brings and to me it seems pathetic the things I have been hearing from the left, which I am sure you will explain away, as you always do, that you get it from the right all of the time. Because we all know, two wrongs make a right.
I think it is wrong to call Obama a muslim, as if that were something bad, and claim he is not US born. In that same regard I think it is bad that the Obama campaign runs ads calling McCain old and then start up rumors that Palin’s baby is not her own. In 2004 we had manufactured documents presented as factual by news organizations, books by long time opponents to Kerry being published and Michael Moore being touted an important American and being invited to the Dem Convention.
To write on here, with a straight face, that the Dems are above it all and are just getting tired of being pushed around is beyond the pale, Stephen. Reagan was ridiculed for being an actor by the left repeatedly, Quayle was never given a chance even though he had more experience in government than Obama, the Republicans in Congress in the 90s were accused of wanting to starve children and throw grandparents out into the cold. Now they are called evil routinely by the left who then get ruffled if someone questions their patriotism. Neither should be being done, but what I find ridiculous is the attempt to walk the high road while slinging in the mud.
The fact is that a VP has only one function unless the president dies, but to hear your side tell it McCain has one foot in the grave already, as if he is going to fall dead by March of 2009. It’s interesting to see how the party of unity, the party of the people, treat women and the elderly when they are not liberals, isn’t it?
The funny thing is that it looks like Obama is the only one on the left getting it right, he even had to stop his own campaign from looking like fools when they started with the same nonsense that the left is throwing out here. I’m sure that he would appreciate you following his lead, perhaps he should send out another email blast?
Posted by: Rhinehold at September 1, 2008 02:12 PM“In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman”. Quote from Margaret Thatcher.
It seems that everyone is focusing on the players on not on the playing field in this election. Liberals promulgate policies based mainly on feelings. If it feels good it must be good. Feeling good describes their opposition to drilling here. Feeling good describes their promotion of national health care. Feeling good is their purpose in withdrawing from a war that is finally going well. Feeling good is an excuse to plunder from the wealthy and corporations.
On all the major issues of this election polling favors the Conservative position. Majorities favor drilling here, favor pursuing our winning strategy in Iraq, favor keeping health insurance private, and favor lower taxes.
When American’s enter the voting booth in November will they cast their vote for the personality of the candidate or the position of the party on the issues of the day?
Neither party in the past two years have shown the American public any concrete evidence of change, of understanding the depth of voter despair, of the ability to do the job for which they were elected. If this is true, American’s will have to look beyond the faces and speeches of the candidates and examine the core philosophy of each party. Hands down, the conservative philosophy of governing is most popular and will win the day.
Posted by: Jim M at September 1, 2008 02:21 PM
“in other words, the race is a dead heat.”
An unnecessary and unpopular war,conducted in a manner conducive to profiteering.
An aborted attack on Social Security.
Katrina.
The economy in a ditch, with excessive inflation and massive deficits.
All that talk about the Republican party self-destructing.
The Democratic party with enough spending money to end poverty.
The greatest wide screen spectacular in American political history.
And, the polls are a dead heat?
Liberals have become the Republicans greatest ally and the bane of the Democratic party.
IMO, Hillary/Obama would be up 10 to 15 points.
IMO, Richard Gephart would have defeated Bush in 04.
Your “Jeffersonian” candidate is young, inexperienced, and the new kid on the block in this election cycle. The dirt being thrown at Obama by the Republicans is the new dirt for this cycle. It plays well to a captivated audience.
Hillary Clinton is a seasoned veteran of the political wars and well aware of how dirty the Republicans play the game.
In 2000 and 04, it wasn’t Diebold that killed the beasts, it was dirt. The dirt the Republicans had to throw at Hillary was old dirt, mostly discounted by a majority of the voters. She was very popular in working class circles.
If liberal luck holds true to form, they may be nominating Obama in the next three election cycles.
Posted by: jlw at September 1, 2008 02:30 PMRhinehold-
Reread what I wrote, I said state senate.
Yes, I know. That’s twelve million people divided by 59 seats. If I were talking about Obama’s US Senate Experience, I would be saying he represents the full twelve million.
I’m pointing out facts and highlighting the hypocrisy of the Democratic Party. Something I like to do alot. Like when you tell us how the Dems are tired of being treated badly by the mean nasty right but forget to mention all of the things the left has done over the years which are arguably just as bad. It starts to ring hollow.
You’re using the Republican’s talking points, which are objectively underwhelming. Twenty months ago, she had executive experience only in a town whose land area was smaller than my zipcode, and whose population is about 20,000 less. The Republicans barely vetted her at all, which is why the Democrats have so many interesting things to say about her.
It’s not some magical thing. We’ve had good bad and indifferent presidents from the ranks of its governors. It’s just not what I would treat as conclusive data for saying she has genuine experience.
The rumors about Trig Palin originated in Alaska, from what I know. This was another reason that good vetting would have been a nice idea. When confronted on that count, there would be a ready made response, rather than uncomfortable seconds of silence.
The Democrats are tired of getting pushed around, and some are willing to follow these kinds of rumors. But should you counter by saying all of us do this? Many of us opposed it.
The fact is that a VP has only one function unless the president dies, but to hear your side tell it McCain has one foot in the grave already, as if he is going to fall dead by March of 2009. It’s interesting to see how the party of unity, the party of the people, treat women and the elderly when they are not liberals, isn’t it?
Two generalizations do not make a right. Age is an issue in terms of capability, and a legitimate one, made more so by the inexperience of his running mate. Palin seems to have been chosen as a “mavericky” compromise in the place of Lieberman or Tom Ridge. Her pick is a political pick, much more than Biden, who adds real expertise on a number of subjects instead of casual acquaintance with them.
Biden also has the virtue of not being connected to a party that seeks the departure of his home state from the union.
Jim M-
Everybody thinks the other people are operating on feelings in politics, while they are the rational ones.
But everybody uses their feelings on matters to shape their decisions. That is a scientific fact. What’s also a fact is that people’s feelings are influenced by what they’ve thought through.
The rationale on drilling is a combination of Teddy Roosevelt (conservation to preserve wilderness intact) and Al Gore (ending our dependence on Carbon Dioxide emitting fossil fuels) If you’re trying to break an addiction, scoring a new stash is not the best idea.
On National healthcare? It’s businesses that pay too much for healthcare to pay their workers well. It’s people denied treatment that could save their lives and keep them productive. It’s the threat of a biological attack or natural epidemic that finds its way first through those who have to muddle through the day when they get sick instead of getting the help they need.
On the war, it’s a strategy that never worked like plan, and that has us tied down in Iraq, without enough forces to respond to any other crisis in the world without abandoning our other commitments.
Hands down, the conservative philosophy of governing is most popular and will win the day.
Party identification has shifted ten points away from Republicans over to Democrats.
Posted by: Stephen Daugherty at September 1, 2008 02:49 PMTwenty months ago, she had executive experience only in a town whose land area was smaller than my zipcode, and whose population is about 20,000 less. The Republicans barely vetted her at all, which is why the Democrats have so many interesting things to say about her.
Which you want to dismiss but is more ‘leadership’ experience than your POTUS candidate. Do you not find it ironic that this pick now has you comparing the razor thin resume of your POTUS candidate against the Republican VP candidate? Do you really want to keep going down that path, it is obvious that Obama does not want to.
It’s not some magical thing. We’ve had good bad and indifferent presidents from the ranks of its governors. It’s just not what I would treat as conclusive data for saying she has genuine experience.
It is different to say that her experience is not a complete indicator of her ability to be the VP candidate and to say it doesn’t matter. I agree with your above statement, which is different than saying that her experience is meaningless because she comes from a smaller town than NY.
The rumors about Trig Palin originated in Alaska, from what I know. This was another reason that good vetting would have been a nice idea. When confronted on that count, there would be a ready made response, rather than uncomfortable seconds of silence.
And if someone let loose a rumor that Obama had once been a mamber of the Black Panthers, would he have come out immediately with documentation and proof of it not being true or would he have, rightfully so, ignored it as the minutia that it is?
Her pick is a political pick, much more than Biden, who adds real expertise on a number of subjects instead of casual acquaintance with them.
That is your take. Others might not see it the same…
Biden also has the virtue of not being connected to a party that seeks the departure of his home state from the union.
No, just a history of making stupid statements, lying, plaugurism and racsim. Woo Hoo!
Oh, and being a Washington insider who is seconded only by Obama in voting the party line as much as possible. “Obama voted in line with fellow Senate Democrats 97 percent of the time in 2007 and 2005, and 96 percent of the time in 2006”. And the senate has a worse track record and approval rating that even Bush does…
Posted by: Rhinehold at September 1, 2008 03:08 PMGandhi, thanks for actually looking at the stats and discussing some hard data, instead of proferring anecdotes and opinionated conjectures.
Yes, the stats you cite demonstrate that except for the base of each party, the VP choice has little traction in the polling data.
Again, it comes down to whether the voters are focused on foreign policy issues or domestic economic issues in November. There the polls are unequivocal (at this point in time) as to what the outcome of the election is likely to be.
I say this with one caveat. The Biden VP choice did not raise a storm of protest on the internet or in the media circles. The Palin announcement did. That may show up in polling data by the end of this week, if the VP choice makes any difference on the public at large. We will have to wait and see.
Still, the polling preference for a Democrat over a Republican with a spread of more than 6 points, will be significant, if it holds, or widens. Obviously, both campaigns will be working on shifting that spread. But, in part, the ability to shift that number depends on money and outreach to the public. Here again, the money favors Obama.
One last factor. Gustav. The McCain campaign’s decision to scale back the GOP convention due to Republican’s record on Katrina, does not bode well for the McCain campaign. That reduced media coverage and exposure to the public audience, especially on this Labor Day when vastly more eyes are on the TV than a regular work day, is likely to have an effect as well on the polls in the coming week or two.
All other things being equal, and looking at these factors above, I would guess Obama’s polling numbers go up by 2 to 3 points by the end of this week, nationally. But, there is no of being sure all other things will be equal. We shall see.
Posted by: David R. Remer at September 1, 2008 03:57 PM
Another one. Palin’s husband has DWI arrest