First semi-conscious reaction to this morning's big news : McCain's chosen a Monty Python alum as his running mate?
Slightly more caffeinated reaction: McCain's chosen who as his running mate?
Sarah Palin? OK, according to her entry at Wikipedia, apparently she has some very strong reformer credentials, and has a history of bucking the Republican establishment. I can see both elements attracting the attention of the McCain campaign.
But doesn't her selection cripple the McCain argument that Obama's lack of experience should preclude him from being elected President? She has no national political experience, and has only been in statewide office since her election as governor of Alaska in 2006. I think the pendulum on experience may have swung back to a position where the Obama campaign can use that 3 a.m. phone call advertisement that Clinton used against Obama during the primaries.
I'm still looking to learn more about Mrs. Palin, but I have to be honest in thinking that my first reaction is that the nomination offers nothing substantive toward governance of the country, but is simply a brazen appeal to those demographics still upset the Hillary Clinton isn't on the Democratic Party ticket in some role.
Alma Sove from San Diego
August 29, 2008 at 05:38 PM
I'm getting word from non-affiliated but definitely more conservative-minded friends and relatives that the Palin VP nomination is going to help McCain win in Nov. There's a feeling that disengaged women voters unlikely to have voted at all will come out and help McCain win, simply b/c Obama "stole" the thunder from a woman (even if they wouldn't have voted for Clinton!) There's something about the inevitability of Obama's nomination that is rubbing people the wrong way. Disenchanted or disinterested voters are looking for any reason to vote one way or another. The risky move of choosing Palin might be enough.
If McCain wins the election, I think his VP pick will be analyzed as one in a list of determining factors. This certainly helps him regain the sheen of "maverick" patina.
Chris
August 29, 2008 at 06:10 PM
My parents have lived in Alaska for the last 16 years - Palin shines because of some pretty corrupt characters she has replaced. This pick is an entirely political gimmick - when I hear the rationale of voting based on a gender scorecard or a get even scheme, I find it hard to believe that anybody politically engaged enough to be that fired up on behalf of women would act in a manner so obviously and stupidly self-injurious.
Among other curios that Im sure will surface regarding Palin - she recently boarded a plane AFTER her water broke, while carrying a Down Syndrome baby (higher rates of fetal stress) - becaus she wanted the baby to be born in Alaska and not Dallas. Not the kind of judgement I'm looking for in a VP...........
Candace Suerstedt
August 29, 2008 at 06:42 PM
I am still absorbing this information. It is staggering that McCain and his advisers think that "disgruntled women" care so little about this country that they would vote gender over the good of the country.
Think of the worst-case scenario if this team managed to get elected. This woman could become the so-called leader of the free world.
Regain his "maverick" patina. Alma? I think McCain has proven that he actually has no understanding of what is required to be President of the United States. It occurs to me that this may be an indication of how McCain's mind works. He may be using himself as a yardstick by which to judge her capabilities and if he really thinks she could replace him in the event of his death, he may not really understand how limited are HIS abilities to serve.
Alma Sove from San Diego
August 29, 2008 at 07:31 PM
Hi Candace,
I meant McCain would appear more like a "maverick" to undecided voterse than he has recently, since he's been towing the extreme right party line lately. This is also the perspective of some of my more conservative friends & relatives. No way picking a fairly unknown, 2 year governor would've been many other Republican nominees' first choice. Plus, her record speaks to going against the grain, another boost to his maverick image.
I thought he'd pick Romney honestly. Romney seemed much closer to the ideas McCain's been pursuing, although the two didn't seem to get along very well during the debates. Then again, getting along wasn't the point of the debates.
A Musing Reamus from Carlsbad
August 29, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Who?
Okay, so shs said no to "the bridge to nowhere" and refused to take the money. She was Mayor of a town and served on the City Council prior to that and made an unsuccessful run for Lt. Governor before becoming govenor two years ago, She also catches fish, braids rugs and names her kids "Willow" and such.
Candace, it may say a lot about his fitness to serve, but it may say a lot too about his fitness to even pick. Slate.com this AM quotes a McCain "insider" as saying (I paraphrase here). We want the Hillary votes, we either get them or we lose. Its that simple.
It may well be.
Chuck
from Escondido, CA
August 29, 2008 at 08:54 PM
The professional media seems to have been caught be surprise and doesn't have the canned biographies ready to go. That and her resume really is pretty thin. Not much of a paper trail on the wider national issues. I'm with Chris and very curious what she's going to look like after a bit of scrutiny. I'll give McCain credit for some brilliant timing though - he certainly pushed Obama's speech off the top of the news.
Steven
August 29, 2008 at 09:32 PM
I'm so disgusted by this move... This move is just to get in the women voters, nothing more, IMO...
Chuck
from Escondido, CA
August 29, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Steve, you sound like you think it will work. I'm still optimistic that most women voters have at least some interest and motivation beyond the gender of the candidates.
A Musing Reamus from Carlsbad
August 29, 2008 at 09:42 PM
No one is caught by surprise by her lack of a bio. She has one. (See Slate, Washinton Post.com, etc) There is just the simple fact that there is nothing in there!
She is going to be a heartbeat away from beinhg Commander of all American Forces and the BEST job she ever held before her two year stint as Governor is Mayor of a town in Alaska?
Please. The onl;y briliant thoing McCain did was get the speech poff page one and replace it with a travesty.
Send in clowns. Don't bother they're here.
Dave
August 29, 2008 at 09:57 PM
She isn't the Presidential nominee she is the (Vice presidential nominee better then your wind bag VP) and still has more executive qualifications then your Presidential nominee and doesn't associate with the weather underground, racist and gangsters. I'll take ours over yours any day.
Jane
September 02, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Palin is inspiring. Women from both sides of the aisle will vote for her in droves. Why? Because we women can see her true value where you men cannot.
She is the only one out of the four who has an ounce of executive experience. From Mayor to Governor, she knows how to manage. Men will ignore a woman's experience, promoting her only when she is needed to fulfil an affirmative action worksheet.
A Musing Reamus from Carlsbad
September 02, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Well, Jane, I am glad we got that all straightened out.
Now that we know, I hope Donna Frye gets the next nod from some Democrat.
And oh yeah, all men are pigs. I had forgotten that part.
