"...at the foot of the master..."

What a great image for feminists to dissect.

Like I said on the other board. The game plan is mcbush announces that he is only running for one term at the convention and is grooming palin. Why else say only 4 years? I'll bet a lunch on it. That would really shake things up and set up a battle royal in 2012 between the clintons and palin. That would get clinton voters to vote for mcbush. That my friends is the entire hail mary play, throwing in a flea flicker to boot.

It's amazing that the Republicans can change the conversation almost at will and the Democrats are always left to catch up.

McCain has already won the CiC debate. I don't think Biden made a huge difference.

Now McCain is going after the "change Washington" debate and I'm sure he's going to try and turn Biden into a liability, a life-long insider.

This is the most amazing election we've ever had, from the campaign strategy point of view.

"At the foot of the master"

This only reinforces what Sullivan said yesterday. McCain seems like her guardian.

Not exactly the image of capability, is it?

Any day the age of McCain is a topic of conversation is a bad day for McCain. And by picking this young looking individual, his age will be constantly highlighted whenever they appear together.

The thing that strikes me about choosing Palin over, say Hutchinson or Snowe or Collins, is they way it highlights just how central anti-choice positions are to the GOP. If you want a women as the VP pick, its more important that she be anti-choice than that she have any foreign policy experience whatsoever.

No man is promised tomorrow.

I don't care how old John McCain's mother is. There is not a shred of scientific evidence that she has passed on her longevity genes to her son. His father died at the age of seventy one, and John just as easily might have been bestowed with his father's genes.

Tomorrow is promised to nobody, not your or I, not Joe Biden, Barack Obama or John McCain. The most important role of a VP is to be ready to be President on DAY ONE.

This quote admits that Sarah Palin isn't ready on Day One.

And foot of the master who confused Sunni and Shia one a few occasions, so it simply wasn't a misspeak.

Obama/Biden should use this opportunity to attack the master on his foreign policy understanding.

Just to reinforce that there are so many people who don't 'get' this choice. I woke up thinking it must be a fake out. He uses her to give himself a chance of getting elected. It's a longshot but he doesn't have much else. And then if he wins, she withdraws for 'family' reasons and he names Lieberman which is what he wanted. His party won't let him have Lieberman and this is the only way to get what he wants. It's easier to believe something like this than to believe McCain actually plans to govern with this woman who is already 'sretched' trying to learn how to be governor of Alaska, a large state but it only has the population of a large city.

I just can't believe this is not some kind of fake or joke. However many republicans including Pat Buchanan are getting excited about her. If Senator Obama had made a pick like this they would have cleaned his clock but good by now.

McCain would rather win an election than name a competent VP running mate.

i smell an eagleton.

i don't think she will make it until the election.

they didn't vet her well.

"HURRY, Sarah Palin, HURRY -- YOU MUST LEARN ABOUT IRAN NOW! THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME LEFT!"

This is a prelude to the late night comedians' scripts. At some point, people will stop asking about experience, which is a distraction, and focus on preparedness.

Obama, even with less experience, is prepared. He can cite a record of judgment and discuss the issues with nuance, offering a real agenda for change. This ex-beauty queen will not be able to answer questions coherently even if they wire her Amy Winehouse hair to radio the answers to her.

even with less experience than McCain

Actuarial Charts show that men, who have been deprived of having their own kitchen table for five or more years, rarely live beyond the age of seventy three.

Let's face it. This was a pick to shore up the base, and get the base energized, which is very revealing.

It's not going to be the cakewalk many people seem to think, either, campaigning against Palin, thanks to the issues raised by the Clinton campaign about media bias and sexism.

I just wonder, though, how Palin herself will react to the intense media coverage she's going to receive. This ain't Alaska, and this ain't beanball. I don't care that she was known as "Barracuda Sarah" in Anchorage. The national media is a whole different animal from press in Alaska.

BTW, how is the McCain balls checker, Uncle Joe handling on hearing this pick ? Anyone heard a pip from him ? He was so set on becoming Mcinsane's side kick.

The Old Man And The Pea Brain!

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/L/G/2/mccain-beauty-queen.jpg

Let me sum up what I think about all this:

Right now, it has been a good PR move for McLame. For about 3 days.

McLame is playing the short game.

Barrack Obama has proved over and over that he's playing the long game.

And it is taking him all the way.

Well, it's just not serious any longer. I was hoping for a real debate, but we are not going to get it. She makes a purty couch cozy for the veep's office, but remains manifestly unqualified to be school principal, much less high federal office.

Where are the books she's written? The law review articles? The scholarship? The legislation she's written? The policy positions? The commitment to public service?

Why not nominate Monica Goodling?

Abandoning her 4-month old baby will be going over like farts in church. I gotcher family values.

Tom Ridge would have been real trouble. We may see him yet. My money is on Eagleton Redux.

This is just not serious. McPastit will be loosing in a landslide.

Pax,
M.

McCain/Palin = Regis/Kelly

Un. Fucking. Believable.

I'm listening to the Tavis Smiley radio show and I'm taken aback by how his guests Julianne Malveaux and Cornel West are bashing Obama's speech as basically a failure, Malveaux especially who is particularly effusive of the Clintons. They're both pushing the line that Obama was rejecting his African American heritage by not mentioning MLK by name, etc. Malveaux appears delusional saying that Obama is in danger of losing the the black vote and the young vote and suggested that no one came out of the stadium on fire. The woman is insane.

so it appears that McCain told Wallace on Fox (appearing tomorrow) that Palin is his 'soulmate'
hmmmm.

McCain is a cheap, selfish, SON OF A BITCH who would endanger the security of the United States on the off chance he will be elected president.

Ike is rolling in his grave at the thought...where are the rational Republicans???

I hope we're not just hearing from the "rational Republicans", or that they are being drowned out by the wingnuts who view politics as a sporting event and it's all about "their side" winning the "game".

where are the rational Republicans???

There are handful left, and they're saying nice things about Barrack Obama.

Did you know you have the reply function blocked?

Thanks. We'll "muddle thru"...

That's almost a bumper sticker for McCain-Palin.

You know what I find ironic is the "journos" like Campbell Brown & Andrea Mitchell, who throughout the election cycle were harping on Obama's experience, have a expression of WTF on McCain's decision on their faces. And especially as women to see an unqualified women being picked instead of Hutchinson, Snowe etc.

For me, this is the bottom line:

Because of his advanced age, there is a very real chance that McCain could be stricken by a disabling medical condition or, God forbid, even die in office.

Who would then be commander in chief and in charge of national security? A totally unknown and untested political rookie, a young woman who was selected by the president, not by anyone's vote.

It's utter insanity. And as dangerous as it gets.
I feel sick....

Looked at another way, you could say this:

McCain has some fucking nerve indeed comparing future President Barack Obama to Paris Hilton, and then adorning his troubled candidacy with this Beauty Queen.

I think the notion that Palin may have to take over for an ailing McCain, and you know, actually sit across the table in a crisis situation from a true hard-ass like Putin is gonna scare the bejeebus out of a good many GOPers.

Scares me, too, come to think of it.

I want John McCain to have good health and a very long life. I really wish him every good thing.

Just stay out of the White House is all. It's been a great run. 72, time to retire, go on Letterman, have some bellylaughs, enjoy Cindy's money, and we'll all smile with you, Senator.

I am just blown away that in 2008 a presidential campaign would say that a woman will sit at the feet of a male master.
Did someone turn back the clock and we're back in the 1950s? This is frightening, not only the statement but the lack of response from the women in this country.
It makes me feel that the GOP plan to use Palin to actually weaken the women's movement. Women beware!

The implosion of McCain is happening right before our eyes.

http://pufferfish.typepad.com/

The implosion of McCain is happening right before our eyes.

http://pufferfish.typepad.com/

Reminds me of the old SNL skit in which little Danny Quayle is sitting on Bush Senior's lap.

This time around the possibilities for humor and outrage are even better. Dirty old man McCain sits little Sara Palin on his lap to "teach" her about foreign policy.

That would pretty damn funny, methinks.

Let's have a show of hands. How many people think that the McCain team intends to teach her anything beyond what it takes to get beyond interviews and the debate? If they were to get elected, she would be in the back kitchen making biscuits for her husband, not touching any of the levers of the government, or even knowing what, never mind, where they are. Let me see, one, two, that's not many hands.

The experience argument may be missing the point. We effectively rule out the vast majority of Americans if one must have negotiated with hostile foreign leaders or served as a commander in a war in order to be fit to be the president. So what about preparedness? Obama and Biden (and Clinton and even McCain), have demonstrated that they are interested in foreign affairs and served on foreign policy committees and traveled abroad and met world leaders to show that they understand global politics. Does Palin even have a basic understanding of global politics? Is she at all interested in foreign affairs? Does she have any knowledge of the factors involved in the Iraq war? Although she and Obama have spent comparable time in elected office, there is no comparison of their preparedness to deal with foreign policy.

Isn't the image of Palin learning at "the foot of the master" a bit misogynistic? Is she his subservient slave?

It brought the image of Princess Leia chained to Jabba the Hutt to mind.

The HILARITY of it all ... roflmao

I'll be honest here folks. I surf the web comfortably seated in a wingback easy chair. If the McCain campaign uncorks any more zingers like the Palin/vp one, I will have to install a seatbelt, shoulder harness and probably a passive restraint system on my chair to keep from falling out of it. I am also careful about beverage consumption while reading about this stuff too.

So how does Sarah like campaigning so far?

The first-term Alaska governor told reporters she was having fun in her new role. "It's great to see another part of the country," she said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080830/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_convention_rdp;_ylt=Aucw.RsG27Y_KAlNjk7kt.ys0NUE

Should we find out just how many of the 50 states our potential Vice-President has visited prior to her nomination?

“Who am I? What am I doing here?”

Admiral James Stockdale Vice-Presidential Debate 1992

Sullivan is just rolling them out, he is on fire:

McCain Unplugged
30 Aug 2008 10:12 pm
Does he even hear himself?
"She's not from these parts and she's not from Washington. But when you get to know her, you're going to be as impressed as I am."
When you get to know her. He met her once before he interviewed her last week.

Saw a fascinating post on San Jose Mercury news comments... here's the theory (my interpretation of it, anyway):

The Palin nomination has dulled the Obama/Biden momentum and media wave by sheer dint of its shock factor. McCain et al let the media chew awkwardly on it for a week, maybe two if the convention is muted by hurricanes. Then, Palin announces that she's realized the responsibilities of the campaign and VP post would do harm to her fragile Down Syndrome infant, that her first responsibility is to her family, that it's a great honor but that she must decline. Then, McCain selects a more suitable VP candidate, getting a poll bump as relieved supporters (and media) laud the honorable family values mom and heap praise on McCain's boring (but solid) replacement.

McCain upside:
1. Effectively flattened the Obama post-convention surge and media fawning.
2. Turned the heads of the mouth-breathing Christian right, filling them with positive sentiments about his being "on their side".
3. Gets a boost even with a mediocre VP selection after Palin, simply out of relief that this obvious minor-leaguer is out of the game.
4. Media is thrilled they didn't have to dance with the sharp knives on a helpless daft hockey mom.
5. A few crazy women stay on the train just because McCain showed faith in a female candidate.

Downside:
1. Depending how it plays out, he appears rash/cynical/both.
2. If media gets after Palin scandals/incompetence quickly, it could appear she was forced out rather than choosing her family over the Vice Presidency. This would destroy the McCain campaign.

I guess maybe I'm paranoid, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it play out this way.

"learn foreign policy at the foot of the master"

SCENE- A HOSPITAL BED IN THE ICU

MCCAIN (wheezing) "Sing it back"

PALIN "Uh, bomb bomb Iran.."

MCCAIN No you cunt! It's (cough) Bomb bomb BOMB Iran. Three bombs you trollop!

PALIN Where's the plug on this thing?

"learn foreign policy at the foot of the master"

SCENE A HOSPITAL BED IN THE ICU

MCCAIN (wheezing) "Sing it back"

PALIN "Uh, bomb bomb Iran.."

MCCAIN No you cunt! It's (cough) Bomb bomb BOMB Iran. Three bombs you trollop!

PALIN Where's the plug on this thing?

Someone's go a terrific video up on YouTube, titled: Reckless Judgment Puts Nation at Risk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJHJC5geXEo

Remember the aspect in the movie 'American Grafitti' about how the friends of the guy who was heading away from town to go to college, how they got down on him for wanting to be more, to aspire? Karl Rove and his henchmen thoroughly understand that sentiment and are masters at exploiting it. Down-home American women who never went anywhere or aspired to something larger, who live between the coasts are going to determine this election. These are the sort who loathe Hillary. But put a glamorpuss who played sports in high school, has five kids, didn't get an abortion, has moxie and knows how to fix moose burgers up for election and it is not hard to predict where these uncurious minds will break in an election, particularly with such a polished candidate as Obama on the other side. Never mind national security or experience. Life is full of absurd turns of events in the face of right and reason. Rove knows full well that he must pull off a stunt which will bring out these women to vote in droves. The vice presidential debate may well be the one to watch. Obama had best put a strong leash on Biden.