Repeat after me: Harriet Miers.

http://strategy08.wordpress.com

This would completely destroy McCain's experience narrative. He's moving to a change meme - he'll have to play this game on Obama's home court.

HILLARY SUPPORTERS PLEASE COME TO ME!

PLEASEEEE!

Going for the "inexperienced" vote, perhaps?

On first blush this seems incredibly "mavericky" and dumberer...

Is this even possible. I'm blown!

This is the ultimate pander. Talk about token ovaries. And they claim Obama has no experience and they offer a first-term governor--of ALASKA?

I'm blown. Just blown.

And the visuals on this are awful. Put her next to McCain and this is what you get: old man lecher.

seems a bit desperate on mccain's part. might as well shake things up i suppose.

biden will need to be careful in keeping his attacks on mccain.

don't know anything about her actually ... except she's a long way from ohio or penn.

if this is indeed true, it would be great news for Obama ... and people were describing Pawlenty as a "lightweight"????!!!! ... this will make Bush I's selection of Quayle seem tame in comparison ... the pundits are gonna be all over this one, and in the digging to figure her out, who knows what dirt will emerge ... and just think of the vp debate!!!! Awesome ...

The female Quayle.

McCain is also rolling the dice on Troopergate, which as far as I know is still being investigated.

Are they conceding?

Who?!?

Don't mock yet. Quayle won.

It can't be seen except as a desparate attempt to pull in Hillary supporters. The media pundits, basking in the glow of last night, will not kind is my guess.

McCain is eyeing the ladies on this one; those spurned by their fellow Dems who broke their hearts and went for the dude. Maybe this is smart, maybe those ladies who were for Hillary and opposed to Barack might see something here - someone has been listening to them. This could be a smart choice - I wonder how they'll look together.

About Palin:

Why Walt Monegan got fired: Palin's abuse of power
Last Friday, Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan went into a meeting with Governor Sarah Palin's acting chief of staff thinking he was going to be discussing security for the governor's picnic. He left the meeting without a job.

The abrupt firing of Walt Monegan was a shock not only to him but all of the men and women of the Department of Public Safety. The way Monegan was fired raises serious questions about the governor's true motives.

So why was Walt Monegan fired out of the blue? Why would Governor Palin send a surrogate to fire her Public Safety Commissioner and then not have a decent explanation for the public? And why would Monegan's replacement be telling people three days before Monegan got fired, that he was going to become the new Commissioner of Public Safety?

Walt Monegan got fired for all of the wrong reasons. Walt Monegan got fired because he had the audacity to tell Governor Palin no, when apparently nobody is allowed to say no to Governor Palin.

Monegan said no, he couldn't cut his budget because his State Troopers were already being stretched to the limit and public safety suffering. He said no, he couldn't cut his budget because fuel costs for planes, boats and patrol vehicles soaring, while crime in rural Alaska was putting more demands on the Troopers transportation system.

But more alarming than any budget battle, Monegan said no to firing a State Trooper who had divorced Governor Palin's sister because the guy was being maliciously hounded by Palin's family.

And not just that; Monegan's firing came after his Colonel had to reprimand the governor's office for meddling in department personnel affairs.

Let's repeat that last bit again:

But more alarming than any budget battle, Monegan said no to firing a State Trooper who had divorced Governor Palin's sister because the guy was being maliciously hounded by Palin's family.

Here is a link:

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/why_walt_monegan_got_fired

I'm wondering if Team Mr. Cindy McCain knows what the meaning of the word "vetted" is.

What a terrible display of judgment, or lack of judgement!! Unbelievable! McCain has rolled the craps once again and crashed another plane. But she was a former sportscaster and is pro-life. She is ready from day one, without a doubt.

I'm truly tickled!

I was somewhat concerned that they might pick Mittens, who would have been a formidable attack dog.

The selection of Palin will be seen a cynical attempt to woo disaffected Hillary supporters into the GOP fold.

Remember, the choice of a Number Two is someone that you would vouch for to be President in case the President is unable to carry out his or her duties. Ms. Palin, while a wonderful person, has two years of executive experience in a very sparsely populated state.

This raises questions of McCain's judgment as well as undermines his core attack against Obama of experience.

I couldn't be happier!

Been lurking here for a few weeks now, and I'm realitivly new to the polotics scene so forgive me if I sound a little bit ignorant, but doesn't this pick put Biden in a bad spot during the debates? He can't attack her without the right wing calling "sexist"...similiar to the claims lobbed at Obama during the primaries.

Well, McCain destroyed the Celeb meme that they spent all summer trying to create with his inability to remember how many houses he owns.

Now he destroys the "Experience is vital" narrative with his Palin choice.

What does he have left to run on?

Maybe there are a lot of POW PUMAs?

Alaska is almost as far from the mainland as Hawaii!

Hillary dead-enders wanted Hillary to break the glass ceiling, not just any female. I mean they were completely against Kathleen Sebelius for that very reason.

One thing Biden will have to watch out for is looking like a bully during his debate though.

and the media coverage today is going to be hilarious ... lots of people--including the majority of Republicans--have got to be thinking, "is this a joke? you're kidding me, right?"

Team kamikaze. Is he kidding??!?

Greg, that was my thought, too. Here we have an elderly candidate running for office-- is this woman really ready to take over leading the country if something happens to McCain? Really? They are totally pandering to disgruntled Hillary supporters. I don't think it will work, especially if Hillary campaigns hard for Obama and points out Palin's *utter* lack of readiness for national office.

I wonder how many of the indicted and convicted Alaskan politicians she has had dealings with. My guess is all of them. McCain must really trust his vetting people.

We'll, she's pretty. This is great news for John McCain!

Nothing can undermine the "Celebrity" attack as the guy who has appeared on Leno 12 times and a former beauty pageant.

Palin? A first term governor of Alaska? With a scandal right now? Is this for real?

McCain is trying something that only Mondale did before? Remember what happened then...

McCain fucked up big time. BIG TIME!

If McSame picks anyone other than Lieberman, he's toast.

LOL....McCain the gift that keeps giving.

Why would McCain pick his granddaughter as his running mate? And Palin is currently embroiled in a 'Trooper scandal.'

McCain is throwing the election!!!!! This guy is useless and doesn't respect the American political process.

Wait for the Republicans chime in after he start to go down.

How completely awesome. McCain's main line of attack against Obama is that Obama is an inexperienced prettyboy. And so he picks as his VP runningmate an even less experienced, even prettier individual. PERFECT!

If you go to the Sarah Palin section in the On The Issues website, and scroll down to "foreign policy," thereis nothing. It says, "no stance recorded." Kind of says it all, doesn't it?

Excellent. There goes the "He's not ready to lead," meme. McCain is an old man who's been used hard, and there's a real chance his veep might have to step in. This chick is probably smart and savvy, but does ANYONE want her in the White House, running things?

Obama is the celebrity, but Palin is a former beauty pageant winner.

Some thoughts:

*They think they can get angry Hillary voters who haven't already moved to McCain. I think they're wrong but it may be their only chance. This could be a desperation pick.

*That said, the base loves her - she's the Cornerite, NRLC, Club for Growth pick from heaven. It might seem like a "mavericky" pick, but how can it be "mavericky" if it's a base favorite?

*But the base already rallied around McCain, even though they don't like him. A pro-choice pick might have pushed some folks back to "staying home" but how much more base support can he get if he's already pulling in like 90+%?

*Nobody knows her and she's a half-term governor of Alaska...Alaska. Sorry, she's even more inexperienced than Obama...much more.

*Biden will eat her alive at the debate...but he'll have to be careful about not looking like he's beating up on the lady.

*I really can't see how they can keep up the "inexperience" attacks. McCain is 72 with a history of cancer. From a risk perspective, Palin would be closer to the Oval Office than just about any veep in recent history.

*This is the end of McCain's opposition to drilling in ANWR.

*She parochial, she has middle class appeal, she's got five kids, one in (or heading to) Iraq and one with Down's Syndrome. She's like the conservative version of Joe Biden, only much younger and much less experienced.

I don't see this helping them. I think they're overestimating their potential for winning over pro-choice, Dem/Dem leaning Hillary supporters.

But, whatever - this year we have 3 Senators, a 72-year old, two 40 somethings, a woman, and a black man all involved in the presidential race. Talk about diversity.

Perhaps others were withdrawing? The VP debate strategy will need revision, as I doubt Biden will be able to eviscerate her as he would Romney et al. Also, I think a shortened convention would be a blessing to McCain because there's not exactly an all-star bullpen to chose from.

Sooo, all the feminists can vote for the black 'inexperienced' man or the inexperienced female to be back up CinC.

Just brings that talking point front and center with the fall back being 'experienced' McCain.

Race vs. gender is all this Presidential campaign is going to be about from this moment forward.

America get ready for more of the same.

Hopefully. Obama will focus on McCain's abysmal record on women's rights from family planning to health care to minimum wage. McCain does not support women.

This is nothing but Kathleen Blasco in LA vs. Bobby Jindal all over again. Katrina is the only reason Louisiana's elected Jindal the second time around.

Given concern about his age, I was sure that McCain would pick someone with a lot of experience. In reality, his age is probably the #1 negative for McCain. This pick severely exacerbates that.

Damnit!! There goes Alaska...and all those huge electoral votes.

Joe Biden is going to tear the stuffing out of Palin during the debate. I'm getting my popcorn ready...lol

See. While I understand the inexperience thing, I still think this is a bad pick for us.
The number of offensive jokes about Mccain sleeping with her already makes me worried about the same kind of "female s0olidarity" phenomenon we have seen in the primaries.

Stop it with the chauvinistic jokes

I can't wait for the national security and foreign relations debates between her and Joe Biden! That should be ALL one-sided!

This first thought that crossed my mind when hearing this pick is that McCain's top 2 or 3 choices all withdrew their names after last night.

Why does this remind me more of a Ferraro "just because she's a woman" pick than anything else?

Maybe he's trying to recreate the Mondale electoral success

This is a pick of pure political cynicism. Ny McCain's own standards, Gov. Palin's only qualification appears to be that she is a woman who will show that he is doing something independent, original and maverick. But women may well be insulted that he tries to appeal to them with a choice who clearly would not otherwise have been chosen. He hopes to get some buzz to counterbalance the effect of Obama's acceptance speech. The campaign apparently decided that with Obama's choice of Biden that the experience argument might not work anyway and that none of the other choices could stand up well in a debate with Biden. With this choice, the assumption is that Biden will not be able to attack easily in a debate. Of course, this is really mistaken because Biden's attacks will be on McCain and it is his superior knowledge and experience which will contrast with Palin. McCain is probably also assuming that the Obama campaign cannot easily attack without being viewed as sexist, but there is a secret weapon in the Obama campaign quiver to discuss the qualifications of this choice-HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON.

"Senator Biden how does the Obama administration get the Russians out of Georgia?"

"Governor Palin how does the McCain administration prevent the moose population going through garbage cans in town?"

Alaska's Palin Faces Probe
Star GOP Governor
To Be Investigated
For Abuse of Office

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121746477267499109.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Palin is currently under state investigation for allegedly firing a state appointee because he wouldn't shitcan her sister's ex-husband.

That can't help.

she's going to be a heartbeat away from the presidency with a 72 year old man (who, just by his age alone) is more likely to die sooner rather than later.

great pick! maybe now some women will like him even though he doesn't believe in equal pay or women's rights.

More dirt on palin:
http://www.adn.com/front/story/471366.html

Another worry is much like the POW card, there is now the misogyny defense.

This isn't going to be a cake walk - Obama and Biden will have to watch how they attack now. Biden can't get all smarmy during the debates because he'll look like a bully.

This is to get the woman vote. Purely a political move - but it could pay off.

Now McCain is not going to be able to argue a few things about Obama:

1. His lack of experience since Palin has even LESS experience.

2. She comes with a scandal already so all of Obama's supposed scandals ie Rezko can be counteracted by Palin's scandal.

3. This puts Roe vs Wade up in the forefront on whether we want to overturn this since the supreme court.

4. The question is this that if the PUMAs wanted to vote for McCain because they wanted to defeat Obama so that Hillary could run in 2012, do they just want a woman or do they want Hillary?

This is the one pick that scares me, simply because I am not sure how the Obama campaign will attack her. But I think, at the very least, it gives us a break because it takes the inexperience argument off the table. There's simply no way that he can argue that Obama is too experienced when he picked someone less experienced. And if there was any issue that was going to hold Obama back, it's that one. (Not that all Republicans are bigots, but they already had those who had a problem with Obama's race.) Like I said at Kevin Drum's blog, I'm worried, but not panicked.

MSNBC is talking about Palin's "troopergate," how she fired someone for not firing her ex-brother-in-law. I can't believe they're saying this -- MSNBC is saying that her ex-brother-in-law beat her sister, and she was taking it personally, so she'll probably "get a pass" on this ethical lapse. Excuse me?? What this demonstrates is someone who is willing to abuse power for personal reasons, willing to abuse power to get revenge. This is truly scary. If Dems don't play this up, they're nuts.

I find it difficult to believe until I see her on stage with McCain. She must have some serious positives to counter the obvious Biden/Palin debate comparision, Obama's a celebrity so i choose an ex-beauty pagent winner, and she's ready to be president if I kick the bucket in office...

How can anyone be afraid of this choice?

"Ooo, Biden has to be careful." "O noes! This is scary for Obama."

I don't think so! McLame just cut his own throat - again.

and what's up with comments?

I know next to nothing about Sarah Palin, but I assume the majority of voters no even less.

I would expect that McCain will get little or no bounce from this pick.

The RNC is shaping up to be a mess. The juxtaposition to the DNC, the lack of talent, and of course Gustav all point to a bad convention. Maybe not much bounce there either.

Obama may have a 10 point lead once polls absorb the convention. He can hold it.

Do we dare say it? L... L... Land... Landsl...

Oh McCain, its your birthday, you didn't have to give us a gift!!

Now I feel embarrassed, we didn't give you anything!

WTF? Who wants a complete unknown with almost zero experience a heartbeat away from the Presidency when the candidate is 72???

And she's gonna debate Joe Biden? Oy.

I think the deal was just sealed. Obama will be the next President. Hallelujah!

I find it difficult to believe until I see her on stage with McCain. She must have some serious positives to counter the obvious Biden/Palin debate comparision, Obama's a celebrity so i choose an ex-beauty pagent winner, and she's ready to be president if I kick the bucket in office...