McCain’s Desperation VP Pick
CNN confirms this morning that John McCain has selected Alaska GOP Governor Sarah Palin to be his VP pick. According to many who know her she has a “dynamic personality” and came into office in 2006 with a pledge to reform Alaska’s notoriously corrupt government.
As a woman candidate, she will undoubtedly draw much attention as this is only the second time in history that a major party has selected a female VP candidate. She was also a runner-up to Miss Alaska in 1984; she is definitely an attractive woman.
The question, however, is why Sarah?
Think about the VP’s job. It’s to step into office on a moment’s notice in case the President pulls a William Henry Harrison and days a month after taking office. This is always a real possibility, but with McCain’s advanced age and prior health issues, the succession issue is even more important this year. It was especially incumbent upon McCain to pick somebody who would be ready to serve in a moment’s notice.
Is that Sarah Palin? She was elected Governor 18 months ago. Before that, she was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. She is 43 years old and has served a fraction of even Barack Obama’s time in non-local political office. Despite her longtime support for ethics reform, she is under state investigation right now for abuse of power in the dismissal of the Commissioner of Public Safety.
The centerpiece to John McCain’s argument against Barack Obama is that he is too inexperienced to lead right now. That he is unprepared for the Presidency of the United States. Agree or disagree, that’s McCain argument.
This VP completely undercuts that argument. If McCain is unable to serve in his first term, a woman with 18 months of experience beyond the Mayoral level (and this ain’t NYC) will have to step in and serve as leader of the free world. She has virtually no public profile outside the state of Alaska and carries no major message or agenda that makes up for her lack of experience. She is attractive, athletic and has condemned the notoriously-corrupt Alaska GOP. And she is a social conservative who opposes abortion rights and so is acceptable to the Christian right (meaning her appeal to pro-choice women is limited).
But is that why she should be the VP? I get the strange feeling that John McCain watched Obama’s performance last night and decided he needed to shoot the moon in order to have a chance. He knew that a standard-issue pick like Pawlenty or Romney would not do it. Some will see this as a bold pick. It is.
But it’s also an act of desperation. McCain panicked, and once the novelty wears off, he and Palin will have some tough questions to answer regarding her appropriateness (experience, judgment, vision, etc.) to serve in the highest office in the world on a moment’s notice.
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48 Responses to “McCain’s Desperation VP Pick”
I don't know if I would consider this a “desperation pick”. I mean, given her stance going after corruption. Hasn't pork-barrel spending been one of the things that McCain has been going after? Seems a bit fitting for me. Everyone else considered just kept the media talking.
I would agree with you about the experience issue. McCain won't be arguing that anymore. But now, all of Obama's defenders about his experience are going to use the same arguments against Palin's lack of experience? After all, if we are going to start arguing experience, we need only look at the past 8 years and see what experience has gotten us. Isn't that a key point the Obama camp has been arguing, essentially trying to neutralize the “experience” issue?
All those conservatives who laughed when Obama picked Biden saying it was a “desperation” pick trying to cover his in-experience.
This is a smokescreen trying to attract some disaffected Clinton voters. They don't want these people to look at the issues or the party platforms, just the sex of the person running.
jchem,
The point isn't for Obama to go after Palin for inexperience. It's to prevent McCain from doing the same to Obama.
And as for cutting pork-barrel spending, her record in a notoriously corrupt state is still quite thin. OK, she's had a good start in her 18 months in the Governor's chair. And I suppose she should be commended for turning down offers to build an extravagant Christmas display in Wasilla or something. But let's face it, she has done nothing but talk about reform up to now.
Elrod,
I agree with you. McCain has essentially thrown the experience issue off to the side. He has to have some sort of reason for it. Maybe he'll go after Obama over something else?
“But let's face it, she has done nothing but talk about reform up to now.”
I agree with you here too. Although, I will say that this is exactly what the Repubs have been saying about Obama all this time.
I shudder to think how she'll do against Joe Biden in the VP debate…I've never heard of Palin until this morning, so I have no idea what her oratory skills are.
[...] that Obama does not need to be arguing how important experience is. Elrod / The Moderate Voice: McCain’s Desperation VP Pick — CNN confirms this morning that John McCain has selected Alaska GOP Governor Sarah Palin to be [...]
You all are kidding right? Questioning Palin's experience when the top of your ticket has less. Your party blundered by not picking Hillary and then compounded it by not respecting her enough to make her your VP. And now your party will pay accordingly. McCain's pick is change we can believe in. Smart women can be respected and excel. None of that 99 problems and a bi-ch ain't one of them hip hop stuff you get from Obama's campaign. Respect for women. Try it.
I agree that Palin lacks the experience necessary to be VP or Prez… Her short time in politics is a blessing for the GOP since she doesn't have much of a record to look at. Some if it seems a bit heavy-handed (the Matanuska Maid Dairy closure for instance).
Even though the GOP may claim that Obama is weak on foreign policy (and this from a party that supports McCain, who can not even find Afghanistan on a map), Obama has been involved in politics a lot longer and has shown better judgement on Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan than any of the GOPers. Obama has believed all along that we shoudl go after bin Laden, even after Bush couldn't even be bothered by him.
What is Palin's views on foreign policy? Actually does she even have any?
My sense is that McCain feels that he brings the foreign affairs experience (such as it is) while Palin is supposed to appeal to women (and her appeal will be limited given her being a runner-up as Miss Alaska and her pro-life stance) and domestic issues. The GOP will argue that Alaska is the largest sstate in the union (even though it has a population less than the size of Austin, TX). Her greatest strengths will be her lower taxes philosophy and maverick image…. not afraid to stand up to her party apparatus…. (I guess she has never had to deal with Karl Rove.)
This was McCain's first big decision as a potential president, and he has just given us what can only be seen as a rather sad display of judgement. (Then again, this may not be his judgement at all, since he has so clearly given up the reins to the same handlers who managed our last dear leader)
Palin's downside is foreign policy, but her upside is an appeal to women & her shrink-government & kill-corruption mentality.
I had predicted her as the outside choice a couple of days ago because the “fresh face” Obama brings was mirrored by McCain's experience. Biden's experience, and his downsides, are countered by Palin's freshness, gender, and total outsider status. Palin is an out-of-the-box choice and if a truly mike-magnet motor-mouth like Sen Shumer calls it “desperate,” I am persuaded to believe it may be brilliant.
Believe it or not, a majority of Americans detest the MSM, inside-the-Beltway political elites, and the Hollyweird/academicide celebritard culture prevailing in US politics. The Hate-America left despises Middle America which quietly returns the favor. The numbers are with Middle America.
es6913,
Have you just started watching or paying attention? Experience or lack thereof has been a central issue ever since this whole thing started. It's only obvious to ask the question; since McCain has been doing it all summer. And your comment about respect for women is just silly. The only reason you seem to be siding with Hillary is because she isn't on the ticket. If she was, I'm sure you'd be one of the first people telling everyone how evil you think she is.
Let me see if I understand. A Chicago politician chooses a career Washington insider and tells us we need change. A Maverick Republican, who has worked effectively with someone like Ted Kennedy on major legislation, picks a woman, married to a union member, who has cut government spending and confronted government corruption–that is change.
Daveinboca, you may be right, this just might turn out to be a clever choice for the R's, but I think you're jumping the gun by referring to it as “brilliant”. The irony here (one of many) is that McCain's strength is supposed to be in the realm of foreign policy. This decision really brings that into serious question. Does the GOP have enough time to get Palin prepped for a debate on foreign policy with Joe Biden? If I was a republican I would be very very worried about that debate.
The Dems should only attack the Palin choice on experience in reaction, because they then have to argue that 2 years of Senate work is good enough, but 2 years of governorship is not. Instead, it's probably best if they take a “we agree Palin is qualified and therefore so is Obama” tack.
The Dems should only attack the Palin choice on experience in reaction, because they then have to argue that 2 years of Senate work is good enough, but 2 years of governorship is not. Instead, it's probably best if they take a “we agree Palin is qualified and therefore so is Obama” tack.
A great Obama ad would play McCain's own complaints about running a neophyte for the WH, then show Ms. Palin.
A great Obama ad would play McCain's own complaints about running a neophyte for the WH, then show Ms. Palin.
Kritt,
if that were to happen, McCain could take a cue from Hillary: “I am John McCain and I do not approve of that message”.
I think its safe to say that the Repubs have more footage of the Dems badmouthing each other than the Dems have of the Repubs doing the same. I don't think that would be a productive “battle”.
Kritt,
if that were to happen, McCain could take a cue from Hillary: “I am John McCain and I do not approve of that message”.
I think its safe to say that the Repubs have more footage of the Dems badmouthing each other than the Dems have of the Repubs doing the same. I don't think that would be a productive “battle”.
JS, I'm actually more interested in the debate between McCain & Obama on foreign policy, especially Obama's job as chief of the EUR subcommittee on the SenForRelCommittee—which has not convened since mid-2007. I think McCain can box Obama's ears on Europe and the Middle East on Foreign Policy.
Bob Shrum of all people is worried about the impact Palin will have, although he is usually wrong, I trust his judgment more than Chuckie Shumer's [who actually bragged to me at a Sag Harbor dinner party that he was the first Jewish kid on Harvard's basketball team---given CS's reliability, I gotta fact-check that some day!]
Seriously, Palin appeals to a lot of women & small-town folks who feel the Dems are about Urban special-interest coalitions & identity politics. Palin trumps Obama's race ace with a gender ace.
The funniest line yet is some female Obama spokesman complaining that the town Palin was mayor of has only 9000 people. Guess how many votes Biden got in the primaries!!! You just can't get enuf Kool-Aid to fill Dem gullets.
BTW, Palin is the only one of the four candidates with true govt executive experience.
JS, I'm actually more interested in the debate between McCain & Obama on foreign policy, especially Obama's job as chief of the EUR subcommittee on the SenForRelCommittee—which has not convened since mid-2007. I think McCain can box Obama's ears on Europe and the Middle East on Foreign Policy.
Bob Shrum of all people is worried about the impact Palin will have, although he is usually wrong, I trust his judgment more than Chuckie Shumer's [who actually bragged to me at a Sag Harbor dinner party that he was the first Jewish kid on Harvard's basketball team---given CS's reliability, I gotta fact-check that some day!]
Seriously, Palin appeals to a lot of women & small-town folks who feel the Dems are about Urban special-interest coalitions & identity politics. Palin trumps Obama's race ace with a gender ace.
The funniest line yet is some female Obama spokesman complaining that the town Palin was mayor of has only 9000 people. Guess how many votes Biden got in the primaries!!! You just can't get enuf Kool-Aid to fill Dem gullets.
BTW, Palin is the only one of the four candidates with true govt executive experience.
kritt, I'm afraid Obama talking about Palin's inexperience would be an ad that McCain would show over and over……you just don't have a sense of irony, do you?
They are running for EXECUTIVE office, wherein the experience of Obama is nil, and Palin was a mayor & a state governor.
Game, set, match.
kritt, I'm afraid Obama talking about Palin's inexperience would be an ad that McCain would show over and over……you just don't have a sense of irony, do you?
They are running for EXECUTIVE office, wherein the experience of Obama is nil, and Palin was a mayor & a state governor.
Game, set, match.
Agreed, daveinboca. Senators have no experience that is appropriately Presidential, which is why I will not vote for…. Senator McCain?
Agreed, daveinboca. Senators have no experience that is appropriately Presidential, which is why I will not vote for…. Senator McCain?
what? So 18 months in a state that has more Square Miles but Less human beings than Chicago makes her a better Governor? What's her biggest decision she's had to make? Lunch with BP execs or lunch with Exxon?
There were smarter women McPander could have picked. This is a kowtow to the right wing extremists. Biden's going to Rickroll her big time. She's a pretty face, just like Britney and Paris, and has her own plane-big deal.
hmm…beauty pageant queen, hockey mom, anti abortionist, huntin' fishin' trappin pistol packin momma….definite qualifications for Veep. i think Paris would have been better.
what? So 18 months in a state that has more Square Miles but Less human beings than Chicago makes her a better Governor? What's her biggest decision she's had to make? Lunch with BP execs or lunch with Exxon?
There were smarter women McPander could have picked. This is a kowtow to the right wing extremists. Biden's going to Rickroll her big time. She's a pretty face, just like Britney and Paris, and has her own plane-big deal.
hmm…beauty pageant queen, hockey mom, anti abortionist, huntin' fishin' trappin pistol packin momma….definite qualifications for Veep. i think Paris would have been better.
Was Jack Kennedy a governor or executive officer? Nixon? Ford?
Abraham Lincoln?
Survey says” XXX”
nope, all from the Legislative branch.
game called on account of ignorance from Dave in Fla.
What is this BS that you have to be a governator to be President? Is that on the official requirements list? It's just a recent trend that seems have become conventional wisdom, it is not fact. Stop making yours up, they don't count.
Look at how well our last governor has done with the country.
Was Jack Kennedy a governor or executive officer? Nixon? Ford?
Abraham Lincoln?
Survey says” XXX”
nope, all from the Legislative branch.
game called on account of ignorance from Dave in Fla.
What is this BS that you have to be a governator to be President? Is that on the official requirements list? It's just a recent trend that seems have become conventional wisdom, it is not fact. Stop making yours up, they don't count.
Look at how well our last governor has done with the country.
McCain is an “Ex-Maverick”, and unlike being a Marine, once you leave that you are no longer considered one. Once you “flip” , you need to go into the Witless Protection Program.
McCain has flip flopped on his strategy just as he has flipped on everything that made him a “maverick” to begin with.
McCain is an “Ex-Maverick”, and unlike being a Marine, once you leave that you are no longer considered one. Once you “flip” , you need to go into the Witless Protection Program.
McCain has flip flopped on his strategy just as he has flipped on everything that made him a “maverick” to begin with.
I guess paca ain't voting for Obama either, as he is an [absentee] Senator with no executive experience. I guess the dude who keeps saying McCain doesn't have a chance is flailing away full-time in the witless fashion Dems naturally are drawn to [Obama's campaign mgr calling McCain a "schmuck"].
I believe ignorance is the strongest suit RN brings to the game, as Reagan & Ike were the two greatest POTUS in the last fifty years. I will admit ex-govs. Clintoon and James Earl Give-away-the-store were disasters…..
I guess paca ain't voting for Obama either, as he is an [absentee] Senator with no executive experience. I guess the dude who keeps saying McCain doesn't have a chance is flailing away full-time in the witless fashion Dems naturally are drawn to [Obama's campaign mgr calling McCain a "schmuck"].
I believe ignorance is the strongest suit RN brings to the game, as Reagan & Ike were the two greatest POTUS in the last fifty years. I will admit ex-govs. Clintoon and James Earl Give-away-the-store were disasters…..
So last night I lamented the lack of substantive criticisms of Obama's speech that were not talking points, name-calling, and predictable. Hardly any. Then I said I'd read enough left-ish blogs to know similar things would happen with McCain's speech, but it appears I didn't even have to wait that long. Less than 24 hours did the trick.
Palin is a person with positive and negative qualities. It is possible to discuss them without the overblown rhetoric. Isn't it?
So last night I lamented the lack of substantive criticisms of Obama's speech that were not talking points, name-calling, and predictable. Hardly any. Then I said I'd read enough left-ish blogs to know similar things would happen with McCain's speech, but it appears I didn't even have to wait that long. Less than 24 hours did the trick.
Palin is a person with positive and negative qualities. It is possible to discuss them without the overblown rhetoric. Isn't it?
That was my point, Daveinboca. Both presidential candidates have legislative experience. We can't hammer just Obama on lack of executive experience without hammering McCain as well. I'm sorry that point didn't get through.
That was my point, Daveinboca. Both presidential candidates have legislative experience. We can't hammer just Obama on lack of executive experience without hammering McCain as well. I'm sorry that point didn't get through.
Daveinboca- And what exactly does running a city and then a state have to do with foreign policy? Diplomacy? National security? Biden has her beat on all three counts.
So– game, set and match!
Daveinboca- And what exactly does running a city and then a state have to do with foreign policy? Diplomacy? National security? Biden has her beat on all three counts.
So– game, set and match!
pacatrue– she seems to have high energy and enthusiasm, and is less corrupt than the usual Alaskan pol. But that's just not enough.
pacatrue– she seems to have high energy and enthusiasm, and is less corrupt than the usual Alaskan pol. But that's just not enough.
Palin is not married to a union member, her husband is in charge or sit one broad of a major oil companies that will benefit from the oil drilling in ANWR.
she had not done much to stop corruption but i do think that it is a good pick for Macain in the poltical sense in that she will appeal to younger conservative women by being anti choice, to progressive women for being a “feminist”, but i am concern about older conservative women in that they believe a woman place is in her husband shadow.
than agin, maybe the older conservative women would vote for her because she is in MaCain shadow? This great for MaCain but lets just hope the older conservative women vote for Palin by overlooking their belief that she belong in her husband shadow.
Palin is not married to a union member, her husband is in charge or sit one broad of a major oil companies that will benefit from the oil drilling in ANWR.
she had not done much to stop corruption but i do think that it is a good pick for Macain in the poltical sense in that she will appeal to younger conservative women by being anti choice, to progressive women for being a “feminist”, but i am concern about older conservative women in that they believe a woman place is in her husband shadow.
than agin, maybe the older conservative women would vote for her because she is in MaCain shadow? This great for MaCain but lets just hope the older conservative women vote for Palin by overlooking their belief that she belong in her husband shadow.
lgrf….. So when Palin says her husband is a member of the steelworkers' union, she is out and out lying? Or maybe you just don't know what you're talking about. I worked for Amoco which was bought by BP which owns the major part of ANWR—-Palin's husband is a contractor who works on projects with BP and is also a union member, mind-blowing as that might be to people who know nothing about real-world oil industry conditions.
kritt….. I guess an unsophisticated fella like yourself doesn't understand the many problems several border state governors have with adjacent nations. I was an FSO [if you know what that is] & worked in DC on border problems with Canada & Mexico. The governors of the states were involved with the Dept of State on each issue. Alaska has important international situations concerning fishing rights dealing with Russia, Japan, & other nations, including Canada, that involve extensive consultation with both DC & international NGOs.
I'm sure this is all over your head, but among the states, Alaska &Texas & California, Arizona & Florida all have extensive bilateral & multilateral relations with many NGOS & the governors of those states have to understand a myriad of foreign policy issues—-McCain probably understood this well as he is highly placed on the Commerce Cte among others.
Typical mind-boggling condescension or silliness is part of the Dem approach to politics, as when Obama's campaign chmn called McCain a “schmuck” yesterday.
I just won the tournament, though I doubt that you'd understand why.
lgrf….. So when Palin says her husband is a member of the steelworkers' union, she is out and out lying? Or maybe you just don't know what you're talking about. I worked for Amoco which was bought by BP which owns the major part of ANWR—-Palin's husband is a contractor who works on projects with BP and is also a union member, mind-blowing as that might be to people who know nothing about real-world oil industry conditions.
kritt….. I guess an unsophisticated fella like yourself doesn't understand the many problems several border state governors have with adjacent nations. I was an FSO [if you know what that is] & worked in DC on border problems with Canada & Mexico. The governors of the states were involved with the Dept of State on each issue. Alaska has important international situations concerning fishing rights dealing with Russia, Japan, & other nations, including Canada, that involve extensive consultation with both DC & international NGOs.
I'm sure this is all over your head, but among the states, Alaska &Texas & California, Arizona & Florida all have extensive bilateral & multilateral relations with many NGOS & the governors of those states have to understand a myriad of foreign policy issues—-McCain probably understood this well as he is highly placed on the Commerce Cte among others.
Typical mind-boggling condescension or silliness is part of the Dem approach to politics, as when Obama's campaign chmn called McCain a “schmuck” yesterday.
I just won the tournament, though I doubt that you'd understand why.
daveinboca: “I'm sure this is all over your head…” and “I guess an unsophisticated fella like yourself…” and yet in the last paragraph, “typical mind-boggling condescension… is part of the Dem approach.”
Pot, meet kettle. If your first two comments aren't condescending, I don't know what is.
But I'm going to stop fighting with other commenters. I hate taking time trying to score points on one another. I want to learn about the best way to govern our nation. by learning from all of you….
daveinboca: “I'm sure this is all over your head…” and “I guess an unsophisticated fella like yourself…” and yet in the last paragraph, “typical mind-boggling condescension… is part of the Dem approach.”
Pot, meet kettle. If your first two comments aren't condescending, I don't know what is.
But I'm going to stop fighting with other commenters. I hate taking time trying to score points on one another. I want to learn about the best way to govern our nation. by learning from all of you….
Uh- I guess you know it all daveinboca— except maybe who you're talking
to, lol- I'm not an unsophisticated fella– I'm a middle-aged, well-educated
lady who does not think a dispute over fishing rights is in the same league
as dealing with 2 wars, international terrorism, world wide economic
collapse from an increasing scarcity of resources, reoccurence of cold war
tensions, holding off the burgeoning military and economic power of China,
trying to mediate a peaceful settlement between Israel and Palestine, etc
etc. But if you want to think that it is, pls don't let me stop you.
Uh- I guess you know it all daveinboca— except maybe who you're talking
to, lol- I'm not an unsophisticated fella– I'm a middle-aged, well-educated
lady who does not think a dispute over fishing rights is in the same league
as dealing with 2 wars, international terrorism, world wide economic
collapse from an increasing scarcity of resources, reoccurence of cold war
tensions, holding off the burgeoning military and economic power of China,
trying to mediate a peaceful settlement between Israel and Palestine, etc
etc. But if you want to think that it is, pls don't let me stop you.