Watching Palin’s Speech

For the record, the "Country First" slogan has been around for a few weeks now.

As a female Hillary-supporter- turned Obama supporter, I really don't think this move is going to snag many votes from her camp.

For me its similar to when Rove asked Michael Steele to run against Martin O' Malley for the '06 Maryland governorship ,in the hopes of picking up disaffected black voters who were disappointed that an African-American wasn't leading the Democrats ticket. It didn't work, because blacks saw that Steele did not represent their stands on issues.

Also, it renders useless McCain's argument that experience matters-- because Ms Palin is most obviously less experienced than Sen Biden. Karl Rove himself said that the thing that matters most in a running mate is that they would be ready to take over the presidency in a heartbeat. Given McCain's age, that has to be a big consideration for voters.

Pawlenty was bad enough, but this is worse for the GOP.

A clever though cynical pick from a man who's claiming to put "America First." A woman with a thin resume (Bachelor's degree from University of Idaho) - minimal experience (less than two year's as governor of a state with a population equal to Fort Worth, Texas after being mayor of a town with 5,000 residents) - and my personal pet peeve an inability to pronounce "nuCLear" (replay the speech - she said, "NUCULEAR") !

Life is short and unpredictable. A 72 year old man should understand that. There are plenty of qualified Republican women (Whitman, Hutchinson, Rice, etc.) who could have been considered. This pick might serve John McCain's candidacy - but should he win it gambles with this country's future.

David,

The only thing that I saw was that she didn't seem comfortable pausing at the applause lines and then starting up again. I don't think she was disjointed or that she was rambling. IMO, I thought she did quite well. She didn't try to come off as some perfect politician who spent the past two weeks or so rehearsing this speech. And for anyone who thinks the McCain camp isn't going after those Hillary supporters, her reach out to them was pretty obvious and maybe even a bit effective (18,000,000 cracks in the glass, more work to do, etc.).

I will agree that she did look a bit starstruck up there, but perhaps that fits into the whole "outsider" persona that her and McCain are now going after.

This should make for an interesting VP debate, like a trainwreck with no physical bloodshed. Even if Biden scales back the forcefulness of his replies to avoid the "OMG SEXISM" whiners who will inevitably pop up, he's going to dance circles around her on every major policy position.

Bread and circuses.....

It's not really about Americans anymore is it.

Let's see, it took that "wealth of experience" VP candidate, Joe Biden, a little less than 12 hours to forget the name of his running mate in Springfield.

How could he manage to do that to such a clean and articulate candidate?

I think the courageous pick for McCain would have been Condi Rice. That said I'm looking forward to learning more about Palin. There seems to have been some degree of impulsiveness about the pick, which by itself introduces a certain element of risk.

The VP debate has the potential to be "entertaining". I've seen the opinion expressed that Biden will have to tip-toe around her, the suggestion being she may be too fragile to go in the ring with him. Is that how we want to be viewing a possible president?

casualobserver,

he was probably practicing his Indian accent so he could go into the 7-11...

That aside, JSpencer, I think picking Rice would have been an even worse mistake. I mean, nothing like doing what Obama is accusing you of (Rice is part of the 8 yr hiatus of rational thought we've been through). I've said on another thread that I shudder to think what the VP debate is going to be like. Who knows, conventional wisdom be damned.

If McCain wanted to steal Obama's headlines, couldn't he have just gone streaking through a Dodgers game?

I don't mean to be malicious or disrespectful, but unless there's a lot more to Palin than I saw from her speech and read on her wikipedia page, I just don't understand this pick--even as an attempt to pick off Hillary supporters. Her resume consists of 18 months of governing a state of just over half a million people, ten years of being mayor of a town of 8000 people, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho... I mean, I was never a fan of Hillary, but I never doubted her intelligence or intellectual capacity to be president... maybe I'm just a snob.

Finally, a real American on one of the tickets and not a political talking head. This woman is real, not a manufactured candidate but an impressive person with a list of achievements and not just speeches.

As a Libertarian, I can say this:
I was going to vote for Barr, but after reading the hateful crap that you on the Left have posted about a basically unkown woman - You have convinced me to vote for McCain.
I never agreed with the Left or McCain.
However, you have honestly enraged me to the core.
TP, FDL, KOS, - your other sites!
Maybe it is because I was raised by a single mother,
How dare you and what right do you have?
I only hope that you will have to meet me in person someday!

cfpete,
Would it be too much to ask for you to place your vote based on some sort of substance?

1) Jumping the Shark
2) Shame on you John McCain-you are using her out of fear.
3) Everyone is getting caught up in this and not seeing clearly: It is not a good role model- no matter the level of accomplishments- if a mother of young children is so heavily invested in her "other" job that someone else has to hold her little baby because she can't. She is not understanding or connecting on the most basic fundamental level. She is not fulfilling or honoring her first most important responsibility-that she chose. It makes her and her motives suspect and shows a deficit of character that isn't erased by the mindless title "hockey mom." She is cheating the most important people to her.That is her as much as everything else that is being said.
4) Applauding this "Super Mom" persona is and has been as dangerous to women as "Super Model" is to our daughters. This is not improving the world by setting up failure.
5) I have a maverick personality. It served me in my career-18yrs, and then again as a full time mom-22 years. I took each job very seriously -I broke the glass ceiling-and I raised a great human being to benefit the world. I know there is no magic way to do both together- the right way. Every woman or man who is aware and honest knows this.
6) I wouldn't want her as my mother. I don't want her as my (possible) president.

Chris,
I can absolutely guarantee that I disagree with you on almost everything except social issues.
I am pro-choice, don't really care about same-sex marriage, and hey - if people want to commit suicide - fine with me.
However, it took you on the left literally about 20 minutes to denigrate this woman.

Look, you are a tool - a pundit -a political hack.
You will do whatever your overlords at the Democratic Party tell you .

Why don't you go through the archive of this site and see if you have ever disagreed with the position of the Democratic Party.

I don't really care about your opinion because I could write a program to say exactly what you do based upon the talking points released by Your Party.

In fact, maybe you are a script. If not, I hope you are getting paid.

cfpete, I hope you will also see that others have defended the pick. At least, I have generally in 2-3 comments now and I am also an Obama supporter. Please do not choose the future of this country based upon which random commenters you hate the most.

cfpete,
I disagreed with Obama when he supported warrantless eavesdropping and telecom immunity with the rest of the party. I think Obama's health care plan is weak compared to Edwards' or Clinton's. Biden is far too bellicose for my liking, as is most of the Democratic establishment. I want to see affirmative action move to a 100% class based program. I think they are far too imbalanced on the issue of Israel/Palestine. The bipartisan stimulus checks were a joke. They've done very little to hold back Bush and nothing to bring his war in Iraq to a close.

So shut. It. Up.

Pacatrue-- well said.

Besides- I don't think its hateful to point out that she has only 18 months of governing a state that's completely different from Washington (except for the corruption aspects, LOL) as experience.

Karl Rove is advising the McCain camp and recently said on cable tv that the most important quality for a VP is that they can take over in a heartbeat. I have never agreed with him before, but I agree with him now.

Chris,
I didn't say anything about Obama. But I will.
He is trying to win the Presidency. Certain issues must be muted or distorted to achieve that goal.
Whether one believes those distortions is another matter.
I am inclined to believe his softening on such issues as being anti-trade is complete B.S.
I believe that he will favor what is probably your position.
You know, I have to disagree with that position
My family, not myself, exports agricultural goods from this Country.
The business was not doing too well until we took advantage of the export market.
Sorry, but I don’t have enough money to support those family members because of your protectionism.
I am supposed to believe that Obama is no longer anti-trade.
Yet, I am inclined to follow the money – just like I do with the Republicans – and it seems that unions and midwest agri-business are major contributors to the Party.
The growth in Citrus exports has come predominately from Asian markets.
I guess I should hope that they won’t punish our industry for the Country’s protectionism.
Hope - sounds like a good solid long term plan.
What you people fail to realize is that certain people do work in exporting industries -
seven members of my family and about 50 seasonal employees to be exact, not including pickers.
We have never received the vaunted agricultural subsidies. We will receive some money for Citrus research this year, but no direct subsidies.
We never really asked for the subsidies or the inspectors that had never seen an orange outside of a grocery store. We thank America for that and for ignoring our industry.
You see, all that Government has ever brought us is hardship.
We received all the oversight and costly requirements of corn growers without the juicy payments.
So thank you! I will thank you some more when your protectionism screws us again. Your benevolent Government. Finally, we will have to close this business founded in this Country in 1926. Everything does have to end.
My family members working in the business have always supported the Republicans because of trade policy. I have the luxury of throwing my vote away because I have a nifty University job. At least the Libertarians also support free trade.
I disagree with the Republicans on many things.
I would have never voted for Obama because of trade issues.
I planned to vote Libertarian and leave it at that.
After reading many blogs of the Left, I have come to the conclusion that you are no better than the extreme Right.
That is also why I find Obama’s promise of post-partisanship to be B.S.
You are the base and that is not what you want, is it?
You want blood.
So I will vote for McCain - he probably will not win – but I certainly know that Bob Barr will not win. For my family and because I trust the Democratic Party, just like the Republican Party, to take care of their special interests.
Another thing: Do we still have a Congress in this Country? Based upon the media coverage, one might believe we are electing a King.

Another thing: Do we still have a Congress in this Country? Based upon the media coverage, one might believe we are electing a King.

Yep. Elected King is the right term for it. We can thank Cheney and the rightwing base for that.

Anyone that is willing to vote for Obama is not an American, or a Christian. You will regret putting him in office once you see his true colors, no punt intented. As for Palins supposed lack of experience....Are you forgetting Obama only has 2 years?????? She is the right choice for McCain, and that is how I am voting!

Obama has no real experience in government at all. He has been on the road after college, and has no track record of anything great like Palin. She is in charge of keeping us safe from Russia! They are very close to the Alaskan border you know, or do you? President Clinton promised health care for all, and had 8 years to do it!!!!! You people will believe anything Obama tells you! Wake up and realize he full of it!