Minneapolis, we have a problem…
John McCain has announced that Sarah Palin, the first term Alaskan governor, will be his running mate. I know I am going to get in trouble over this but I have got to let it out. It is official: John McCain has just had his first moment of dementia. As I looked at the possible signs of this terrible disease, I found the following symptoms:
• irrational decision making/judgment
• memory retention issues
• unclear thinking/reasoning
I am not poking fun at this terrible affliction. In fact, my grandfather suffered through it in his later years, but how else do you describe this pick that makes no sense politically. McCain has already had gaffes with the number of houses that he owns and a story about how he substituted the names of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Green Bay Packers while he was a P.O.W. in Vietnam. I know it is an uncomfortable subject, but if we can talk about race with Obama, then we should be able to talk about the affect of age for McCain.
I am still scratching my head over this one because there were much better picks ideologically (Romney), geographically (Pawlenty), and for winning the election through the Electoral College (Ridge). Heck, if the decision was focused on winning disaffected Clinton voters, Senator Elizabeth Dole would have been a much better pick.
I thought the Joe Biden pick was bad for Obama; this pick makes Obama seem like a genius. How is she expected to debate Biden? She has been a mayor of Wasila (pop: 8,571) and Biden was elected to the Senate when she was only eight years old. Finally, McCain can kiss the “not ready to lead” argument out of the proverbial window.
We haven’t even gotten to Labor Day, and this year is proving to be an election cycle to remember. In the past two months, John McCain has made a lot of good political moves to decrease the size of Barack Obama’s lead and make this a competitive race. The congratulatory television ad was a subtle stroke of politics that acknowledged Obama’s historic moment while keeping his name in the public view.
Yesterday morning, the race was close to being a toss-up…today, John McCain just gave the advantage back to Barack Obama.
76 Responses to “Minneapolis, we have a problem…”
CO,
Huh?
CO,
Huh?
As far as Obama's experience v. Palin's: Obama graduated with honors in law from Harvard, Obama choose to work in Chicago's Southside to help the poor and middle calss who had lost their jobs or had fallen on hard times. He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago (as president he does take an oath to uphold the US Constitution so understanding it is very important). He went into the state legislature and eventually became US Senator. He has traveled all over the world and met with world leaders and has their respect. His judgement on Iraq was truly right (he beleived we should have gone after the people who attacked us in Afghanistan, rather than divert our attention to someone who had no part in the terrorist attacks). While in elected office Obama has worked on a multitude of bills and has sat on various committees. In the legilature he sponsored bill a giving tax credits to low income workers, supported ethics and healthcare reform. Obama supported the Republican's predatory mortgage lending regulations which were aimed at averting home foreclosures. He was re-elected two times. Obama was chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.
In the US Senate Obama was on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans' Affairs. He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. Obama is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He co-sponsored legislation on nuclear safety, conventional arms (among others).
Palin, on the other hand, has a bachelors in Journalism from the University of IDaho, was mayor of a small town and has been governor of Alaska (with fewer people than Austin TX) for less than two years. Her legislation is good ethics reform, promoting oil drilling, and doing away with many pork-barrel projects, as well as lowering taxes.
So for those of you who believe that Obama does not have any experience or that Palin's experience is better than his, I ask you to look at their records. I'll take Obama's vast and far broader experience over Palin's thin experience (and she might be a new governor but there are many cities in the US with larger populations than her state) any day.
As far as Obama's experience v. Palin's: Obama graduated with honors in law from Harvard, Obama choose to work in Chicago's Southside to help the poor and middle calss who had lost their jobs or had fallen on hard times. He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago (as president he does take an oath to uphold the US Constitution so understanding it is very important). He went into the state legislature and eventually became US Senator. He has traveled all over the world and met with world leaders and has their respect. His judgement on Iraq was truly right (he beleived we should have gone after the people who attacked us in Afghanistan, rather than divert our attention to someone who had no part in the terrorist attacks). While in elected office Obama has worked on a multitude of bills and has sat on various committees. In the legilature he sponsored bill a giving tax credits to low income workers, supported ethics and healthcare reform. Obama supported the Republican's predatory mortgage lending regulations which were aimed at averting home foreclosures. He was re-elected two times. Obama was chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.
In the US Senate Obama was on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans' Affairs. He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. Obama is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He co-sponsored legislation on nuclear safety, conventional arms (among others).
Palin, on the other hand, has a bachelors in Journalism from the University of IDaho, was mayor of a small town and has been governor of Alaska (with fewer people than Austin TX) for less than two years. Her legislation is good ethics reform, promoting oil drilling, and doing away with many pork-barrel projects, as well as lowering taxes.
So for those of you who believe that Obama does not have any experience or that Palin's experience is better than his, I ask you to look at their records. I'll take Obama's vast and far broader experience over Palin's thin experience (and she might be a new governor but there are many cities in the US with larger populations than her state) any day.
Minneapolis?
Minneapolis?
casualobserver:
“The myopocy of the left tilt here…”
what's “myopocy”? is that a real word?
casualobserver:
“The myopocy of the left tilt here…”
what's “myopocy”? is that a real word?
I haven't heard Palin speak yet. In fact, I've just started reading her bio today. If she can reliably and passionately present her own life, there will certainly be a lot of appeal. Most politicians point to their grandfather or great grandfather, the coal miner, the mill worker, etc. Palin still lived that life until 2 years ago. Husband an oil worker, parents with a hunting camp,…. She's personally attractive and actively managing motherhood with a successful political career (as in she just gave birth in April!) A small town mayor. And she's got a record of turning in people of her own party who do the wrong thing when both parties in Washington are famous for shielding their own member's ethical violations for the perceived party good. A lot of people will see themselves in her or at least a version of who they wanted to be.
Whether these appealing characteristics grab more people than a Romney or other pick would have, I have no idea. It should be noted that both of her previous significant political victories came against people who had many years of experience, so she should not be discounted as obviously naive.
One thing the Dems could seize on pretty quickly to hamper the folksy, I'm-like-you image, is to highlight her apparent opposition to putting polar bears on the endangered species list as well as her strong ties to oil. Are her ties to oil the way to go when we are supposed to be seriously seeking alternatives? And those polar bears are pretty popular. Most people couldn't care less if you wipe out the snail darter, but polar bears get a reaction.
I haven't heard Palin speak yet. In fact, I've just started reading her bio today. If she can reliably and passionately present her own life, there will certainly be a lot of appeal. Most politicians point to their grandfather or great grandfather, the coal miner, the mill worker, etc. Palin still lived that life until 2 years ago. Husband an oil worker, parents with a hunting camp,…. She's personally attractive and actively managing motherhood with a successful political career (as in she just gave birth in April!) A small town mayor. And she's got a record of turning in people of her own party who do the wrong thing when both parties in Washington are famous for shielding their own member's ethical violations for the perceived party good. A lot of people will see themselves in her or at least a version of who they wanted to be.
Whether these appealing characteristics grab more people than a Romney or other pick would have, I have no idea. It should be noted that both of her previous significant political victories came against people who had many years of experience, so she should not be discounted as obviously naive.
One thing the Dems could seize on pretty quickly to hamper the folksy, I'm-like-you image, is to highlight her apparent opposition to putting polar bears on the endangered species list as well as her strong ties to oil. Are her ties to oil the way to go when we are supposed to be seriously seeking alternatives? And those polar bears are pretty popular. Most people couldn't care less if you wipe out the snail darter, but polar bears get a reaction.
Another thing missed here is that if McCain wins and adheres to his one term limit that means Obama lost and Palin would be running against Hillary with 4 years as vice president as well as her other experience not to mention being a woman vs woman.
If McCain loses as many expect him to do, the GOP did not want to take down their best and brightest in a blaze of glory.
This pick by McCain was a sure sign to me that they understand they are going to lose the election in November.
If so then why bring down the future with them???
Another thing missed here is that if McCain wins and adheres to his one term limit that means Obama lost and Palin would be running against Hillary with 4 years as vice president as well as her other experience not to mention being a woman vs woman.
If McCain loses as many expect him to do, the GOP did not want to take down their best and brightest in a blaze of glory.
This pick by McCain was a sure sign to me that they understand they are going to lose the election in November.
If so then why bring down the future with them???
“casualobserver:
“The myopocy of the left tilt here…”
what's “myopocy”? is that a real word?”
No, the real word is myopia….
But, in a posting forum of people who have a proven track record of NOT knowing how uncommitted voters will break, why confine yourself to reality?
“casualobserver:
“The myopocy of the left tilt here…”
what's “myopocy”? is that a real word?”
No, the real word is myopia….
But, in a posting forum of people who have a proven track record of NOT knowing how uncommitted voters will break, why confine yourself to reality?
You seem to be in a bad mood today, casual….
You seem to be in a bad mood today, casual….
One thing I want to add… more of a clarification…. I may not think she's the best pick for McCain but I'm not dismissing her either. I can see her appeal to certain people. Personally I still don't think she'll get McCain any significant number of votes.
Bottom line: She said during her speech today that she supports McCain's policies (and McCain supports Bush's) so what does she really bring, other than a woman who toes the GOP line?
One thing I want to add… more of a clarification…. I may not think she's the best pick for McCain but I'm not dismissing her either. I can see her appeal to certain people. Personally I still don't think she'll get McCain any significant number of votes.
Bottom line: She said during her speech today that she supports McCain's policies (and McCain supports Bush's) so what does she really bring, other than a woman who toes the GOP line?
“You seem to be in a bad mood today, casual….
”
Not at all. I've done some rejiggering to potentially defer 50% of my 2009 wages into a non-qualified tax-deferred plan to weather out the possible foray into 4 years of socialism. It can only be upside potential from here on out.
“You seem to be in a bad mood today, casual….
”
Not at all. I've done some rejiggering to potentially defer 50% of my 2009 wages into a non-qualified tax-deferred plan to weather out the possible foray into 4 years of socialism. It can only be upside potential from here on out.
The analysis comparing Obama's background to Palin's is absurd on it's face. The election was, and will continue to be about McCain vs. Obama. The people who were for McCain will stay with McCain, he just might get a little stronger support from his right wing fundamentalist base (which what this selection was all about). The people who were for Obama will still be with Obama.
The difference is that this selection blows up McCain's bid for the undecided middle. For the rational person in the middle, if they were looking for a reason to go with Obama vs. McCain , this selection sealed the deal for Obama. If someone was really UNDECIDED there is no way that person would go with McCain in light of this selection. This selection also seals the deal with any undecided voter who thought that McCain was actually a moderate on choice.
And the debates–what a disaster. Palin vs. Biden–you have got to be kidding me. And those people that think that Biden will overplay his hand and be too aggressive like Rick Lazio vs. Hillary, don't worry about it. All Biden needs to do is attack McCain and ignore Palin. Be nice, be polite but slice and dice McCain like a ginsu. And what will Palin be able to do.
Mayor of a 6,000 person town followed by the governor for 1 1/2 years of a state with less population than your standard suburban county. My county executive has more experience running a government operation.
The analysis comparing Obama's background to Palin's is absurd on it's face. The election was, and will continue to be about McCain vs. Obama. The people who were for McCain will stay with McCain, he just might get a little stronger support from his right wing fundamentalist base (which what this selection was all about). The people who were for Obama will still be with Obama.
The difference is that this selection blows up McCain's bid for the undecided middle. For the rational person in the middle, if they were looking for a reason to go with Obama vs. McCain , this selection sealed the deal for Obama. If someone was really UNDECIDED there is no way that person would go with McCain in light of this selection. This selection also seals the deal with any undecided voter who thought that McCain was actually a moderate on choice.
And the debates–what a disaster. Palin vs. Biden–you have got to be kidding me. And those people that think that Biden will overplay his hand and be too aggressive like Rick Lazio vs. Hillary, don't worry about it. All Biden needs to do is attack McCain and ignore Palin. Be nice, be polite but slice and dice McCain like a ginsu. And what will Palin be able to do.
Mayor of a 6,000 person town followed by the governor for 1 1/2 years of a state with less population than your standard suburban county. My county executive has more experience running a government operation.
I mostly agree with joep-
except I also think its about showing women that the GOP can be more progressive— and not just nominate white males.
I mostly agree with joep-
except I also think its about showing women that the GOP can be more progressive— and not just nominate white males.
To Sarah Palin: “Honey, you just ain't got the pantsuit.”
To Sarah Palin: “Honey, you just ain't got the pantsuit.”