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Who Is Sarah Palin?

McCain's surprise choice of Sarah Palin is a gamble that picking a solid conservative and non-Washington insider with a bit of a reformist record will outweigh the clear downside: That choosing someone with only two years in high office as back-up president undermines attacks on Obama's alleged lack of commander-in-chief readiness.

By any reasonable measure, Palin's resume should render it all but impossible to argue that Obama is too inexperienced for the gig of leader of the free world.

Palin has been in higher office as Governor of Alaska for exactly half the time Obama has been in the Senate. Before that, she served only two full terms in the City Council, from 1992 to 1996, before running for mayor of Wasilla.

To put this in perspective, Wasilla had a population of only 7,738 people as of 2004. By contrast, as TPM's Eric Kleefeld calculates, Obama's State Senate district had roughly 210,000 people -- about 27 times the number Palin repped in lower office.

Nor has Palin been tested in the grueling arena of national politics. She'll be forced to face off in a debate against Joe Biden, who's been in the Senate nearly 20 times as long as Palin has held higher office; Biden is well known to diplomats in world capitals.

On the plus side for McCain, Palin brings some much-needed "estrogen to the ticket," as one Obama hand remarked to us.

She's the sweetheart of Alaska: Attractive, young (44), a hockey mom, feminine and strong (beautiful and a member of the NRA!). Palin could appeal to a generation of women who respect strength and independence in women, but don't necessarily identify with the feminist movement. She has also managed to achieve higher office while coming across as someone who puts family before career.

There's a powerful maternal narrative, too: In April, she elected not to have an abortion when she discovered that her baby had Down's Syndrome. And for good measure, she also has a son in the army named "Track" who's set to deploy to Iraq.

The selection of Palin, of course, is also a bid for the disaffected Hillary vote, though it's unclear how disaffected that vote is now that both Clintons have offered full-throated endorsements of Obama.

Palin is also a sign that there was never much to the speculation that McCain would choose someone with indy cred. She's a solid conservative who will thrill the right-wing base.

Palin is strongly anti-abortion, and only makes an exception on abortion for the life of the woman -- excluding even rape and incest. One area where she has deviated somewhat from the conservative line is gay rights, having vetoed a bill to ban domestic-partner benefits for gay public employees.

Palin also supports the teaching of creationism in public schools, under the name of "intelligent design."

Palin also has some reformist cred that could resonate with McCain's history. In 2006 she was elected governor after running on a "clean government" platform and has shaken up Alaska by targeting corruption in local government. But she's recently been dogged by a scandal over her firing of her public safety commissioner, allegedly because the commissioner refused to fire her former brother-in-law, a state trooper, who has been involved in a nasty and long-running dispute with the Palins.


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Palin's pictures in Vogue earlier this year:

http://www.parentdish.com/photos/alaska-governor-sarah-palin/690775/

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O sweet Jesus!

O thank you thank you thank you~!


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The McCain camp has clearly lost their minds. In one fell swoop, they have completely undermined the only argument they ever had against Obama—that's he's not ready to be CinC. Not that I agree. I mean who is besides a general, perhaps. But on McCain's terms, she is far less qualified than Barack. Plus, I have to imagine that are plenty of white working class republicans who don't much like the idea of a woman being in that position at all.

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The McCain camp has clearly lost their minds. In one fell swoop, they have completely undermined the only argument they ever had against Obama—that's he's not ready to be CinC. Not that I agree. I mean who is besides a general, perhaps. But on McCain's terms, she is far less qualified than Barack. Plus, I have to imagine that are plenty of white working class republicans who don't much like the idea of a woman being in that position at all.

I've read that this cover shot was photoshopped by a Palin supporter. I haven't found the real photos myself.

Killjoy.

Sorry dude. I hope I'm wrong, but we know she did pose for Vogue so the real ones have to be out there somewhere.

If I were Cindy, I would be getting a bit nervous having this beau around my man. He has a track record, after all.

Here's a link to the Vogue photos: not too interesting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/29/sarah-palin-mccains-vp-pi_n_122389.html

Ah well...the negligee and flyaway hair was more fun. :)

Big hair. The base will love her.

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She had a photo spread in VOGUE?

How doesn't that make her a celebrity?

This story needs to be passed around and talked about quickly. She was FOR the bridge to nowhere before she was against it. This should be big!


Here's what she told the Anchorage Daily News on October 22, 2006, during the race for the governor's seat (via Nexis):

Q: Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?

Palin: Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now - while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/08/29/did-palin-really-fight-the-bridge-to-nowhere.aspx

This is better. Alaska reporter who provides an valid reasons why Palin is apart of the Alaska Corruption Club.

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/what-is-mccain-thinking-one-alaskans-perspective/

Andrew Halcro website also has the birds-eye low-down on Pallin and her abuse of power in Alaska. Check it out.

She was against the bridge in her CNBC interview as a “reformer” but was telling the folks back home that it was a great project.
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/the_cnbc_interview_the_flips_the_flops

Halcro’s version of the whole sordid story about the firing of Monegan and her attempts to cover it up, tamper with witnesses and evidence.

http://www.andrewhalcro.com/why_walt_monegan_got_fired

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Check out Wasilla city hall where Palin served as mayor.

http://www.cityofwasilla.com/ftp/tour/cityhall/Tourviewer_cityhall.html

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Check out Wasilla city hall where Palin served as mayor.

http://www.cityofwasilla.com/ftp/tour/cityhall/Tourviewer_cityhall.html

Who said no? You can't make a choice this tragically wrongheaded unless you are out of time and out of choices. So who was the number one pick who said no?

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So who was the number one pick who said no?

Everybody who watched Obama last night.

You just killed it. :-)

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I had been thinking they might have been planning on a woman all along, or at least for some time now, and that's part of the reason they were thumping the "Obama should have chosen Hillary" meme. It's about the only think that could put any real spark of newness into their campaign. But I imagine the woman they were thinking of was Kay Bailey Hutchison (hmmm, that would have been interesting -- and all-Senator race). Someone posted here that she wouldn't be interested -- she and McCain were not exactly chummy, and besides she wanted to run for governor of Texas. Maybe the McCain camp thought they could pursuade her and failed?

Thre are other prominent Republican women, but I guess Liddy Dole would have been considered too old, Lisa Murkowski has her own scandal problems, and the other Republican women in the Senate aren't conservative enough. Same problem with Christie Todd Whitman. Beyond that, the choices get pretty thin.

We're going to find out very quickly if she's ready for primetime. But I just can't see how she's ready to take over at a moment's notice. And the difference with experience is that the American people are picking the presidential nominee. The VP is picked by one person. McCain's pick, while possible rallying social conservatives, just doesn't seem to take the first rule of veep selection seriously: Do no harm.

http://pufferfish.typepad.com/

I think you don't attack Sarah here, you attack John McCain's judgement. Really, of all the candidates to be a heart beat away from the presidency, he thought she was the best candidate? VP choices aren't about the VP, (who seriously votes based on the VP?) they are about the judgement of the presidential candidate.

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Yup. McCain's first presidential decision? A swing and a miss.

As the GOP might put it, this is is "cynical" purely political choice.

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No doubt! All the talk about how picking the BP (whoops, that is supposed to be VP, but I'll let it stand because Palin is owned by big oil) being the first choice a candidate makes and shows thier leadership potential, that talk wasn't just about Obama, was it?

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But I just can't see how she's ready to take over at a moment's notice

Remember when we were speculating about Obama's VP pick?  Fitness for office hardly ever came up.  It was all about horse-race plusses and minuses.

Tell ya what:  I'd pick her in a heartbeat over Spiro Agnew or Dan Quayle.  (Yeah, I know, that's not saying much...)

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Remember when we were speculating about Obama's VP pick? Fitness for office hardly ever came up. It was all about horse-race plusses and minuses.

Actually, no it wasn't. Some of us {ahem!} voiced objections to suggestions of Tim Kaine and Mark Warner primarily on the grounds that they had no experience in national politics or foreign policy, and part of the argument for both Biden and Richardson was their considerable experience in foreign policy.

Shoot, I was looking forward to seeing Biden go after Mitt Romney. I'm afraid the VP debate is going to end up so one-sided that Biden will have to pull punches to try to avoid Palin winning the sympathy vote.

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"But I just can't see how she's ready to take over at a moment's notice."

That's a moot point. McCain/Palin will lose by 10 to 15 percent.

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Her personal narratives doesn't matter...people don't care about all this sympathy vote on "POW" and "Down Syndrome" kids.

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You got it! She's a woman with 50 kids, one's disabled - POW!

I have not seen anyone yet say outright that this is an affirmative action pick, which I would argue is precisely not going to endear McCain/Palin to professional women. Making the case for Palin as VP requires semantic and cognitive gymnastics -- it also requires that one make the election all about energy and abortion.

What can one say: Americans like to vote for underperforming incompetents. Intelligence? We don't need your stinking intelligence! We got a pro-life, pro-drilling, beauty queen right here!

will this effect the parnell/young recount?

That's "less than two years of experience" and no national portfolio at all.

Everybody should get on the pro-Hillary boards ASAP. Republican trolls masking as feminist Hillary supporters are pretending to be excited by this announcement and loving McCain for it.

This is such a bad choice for McCain that I can only think everyone else on his "short list" turned him down.

Thank you Grampy McSame.
She's a creationist too!

So the message is: Let the war on science continue.

Oh Goody, the feminists will love her. Someone in McCain's camp should be fired for this - and I think McCain should be first in line.

A friend made an interesting point- Thomas Eagleton redux? Hey, if McLame wants to withdraw her name, bring it on. Then it will be 1972 2.0

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I found myself wondering how Sarah Palin running for VP would affect the AK congressional election.  That made me wonder what ever happened in Don Young's primary.

Looks like it's still too close to call.  DY has a narrow 0.2% lead.  There's the hilarious irony of hanging chads and ballot challenges.

Life imitates art?

Is McCain that desperate? And stupid? I had this argument with someone recently -- I said there's no way he'd pick a woman, because who would he pick? It was Carly Fiorina or some unknown Alaskan. I said he'd never be dumb enough to pick the unknown Alaskan. I guess he did. At least it was a huge surprise. =P

Carly Fiorina would have been even worse for McCain; she has business experience, but most of it is from running HP into the ground.

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Quite a surprise. This was tailored to Hillary supporters and Hillary supporters only. She doesn't even bring a state (ok, maybe, since Alaska was almost in play).

Maybe the Republicans, after seeing the Democratic movies of Barrack's coming-of-age and Biden's challenges, figured they wanted a heart-tugging movie too.

She brings 3 electoral votes (already tied to the Republican), but does she bring anything new?

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First of all, I doubt that John McCain can even spell her name, let alone picking her as his VP. This is a Rove move. McCain has almost zero chance to be elected without tapping the discontented Hillary voters, so this is aimed at them. It is a message to women: you want a woman president? Here you go. Probably within 3 years. (And, even more malleable than little George was.)

I'm keeping my fingers crossed - surely she posed for Playboy?

If you have not done so, just for your own personal amusement I recommend that you go look at NRO's Campaign Spot and RedState.org to see how this pick is going over in a parallel universe. Truly mind-boggling...

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Tell us please - I ain't going over there.

It is worst that stated. But, good comedy! Something like green onions with tomatoes!

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"Has executive experience Obama can't touch. Leader of the biggest state in the union. A true reformer, not embedded with Chicago-style pols." Lots of similar harping

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Leader of the biggest state in the union.

Good Lord. "Big" in terms of square mileage and that's about it. The state probably has more bears than people. And the major source of employment there is government.

LOL! Those were good for a laugh. She's a fisherman and a hunter! That's honestly why they are excited! Lame!!

What planet do they live on? Truly breathtaking. Thanks.

We better be careful not to make her into a sympathy figure. Any criticism of her will be spun by the Republicans as sexism.

My advice: ignore her completely. Say nothing at all about her. Concentrate all your criticism on John McCain. After all, that is who we have to beat.

Leave Sarah to just twist slowly in the wind.

There is no upside into beating up on a women VP nominee. It would backfire, and I think that is what the Republicans are counting on.

Yeah, you hit the nail on the head, mate. Anyone who attacks her will be digging a hole that McCain will use to his advantage, just like his POW status.

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Could not agree more! That is why they picked her. She is vaccinated against all attacks by Dems because she's a young woman with a disabled kid - POW! Obama-Biden should just ignore her and focus their attack on McCain.

However, her selection may piss off Independent women voters - it looks like McCain just picked another attractive woman to help him out of a jam.
Sen. Kay B. Hutchinson (R-TX), when asked about Sarah Palin, said to CNN "I don't know her."
Might be some "mean girl" cattiness that could be exploited. Nothing is more irritating to women who worked hard to get where they are to have a pretty young thing get the prize.

Not if it's Hillary doing the attacking.

Yeah, you hit the nail on the head, mate. Anyone who attacks her will be digging a hole that McCain will use to his advantage, just like his POW status.

In principle I think you're right. But no one seems to have suffered from ridiculing Harriet Meyer, did they?

Precisely. In the debate, for example, Biden should never even discuss her affirmatively. Just talk about McCain the entire time. Her lack of experience and qualification will be readily apparent to everyone watching.

That is precisely what they are counting on - Democrats criticizing Palin so that they can play the sexism card.

It will be no different from what happened last month after Obama made the comment about how he looks different than the other faces on US currency and the GOP unanimously screamed "RACE CARD!"

As Eric Kleefeld mentioned on the front page (and you should always listen to people named Eric because they are quite bright), the Obama team needs to recruit HRC to attack Palin - if they feel the need to do so at all.

ahem. I beg to differ. There is no variety of incivility that the republicans have not exploited and embodied, and this hasn't disadvantaged them...and this includes incivility towards women. The first time I had the misfortune to lay eyes on Bush pere was during his remarkably ungentlemanly performance against Geraldine Ferraro in the VP debate (yeah, I know, but she was a woman). Of course, it would probably play out as yet another of those circumstances where the MSM screams bloody murder about something democrats would do, while willing to stay silent if the same behavior were demonstrated by republicans. Would probably be best, in the end, to have Hillary be the designated grenade tosser in this situation, though.

Ha ha ha! This pick is so bad! I can't believe McLame picked her- such a bad choice for him. Such a great choice for the Democratic Party. Needless to say, I feel very, very good about our chances this fall.

This smacks of desperation by the McSame corporation.

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Can you believe this shit?


I really am ROFLMAO.

I think this pick can be a bit more lethal than some of us are realizing. She is energizing the repub base and she can appeal the(is there any left?) Hillary Clinton supporters who are not backing Obama. Oh she could do pretty well out west as well and with an 80% approval rating she has some appeal that she can help portray. DO NOT take her lightly, this could be a tough pick for us Dems. It changes the game because it would be historic in it's own right if McBush was elected because of Palin. Time will tell how this one goes.

This feels like a real Hail Mary pass. Their internals must be terrible. I wonder what she will say about equal pay for women, which I think is one of the real sleeper issues of this election?

Repug Senator Kay Hutchson and Carly Ferrino are less qualified than Sarah Palin? They have to be pissed at this selection because someone with less experience than them got the job. but when Kay was being interviewed by Andrea Mitchell, she didnt loooked thrilled to say the least.

I have a strong suspicion that a pick like this might seriously piss off female journalists like Andrea Mitchell and Candy Crowley. It is insulting to them.

As covered previously, Carly Fiorina has business experience. Unfortunately for her, it's mostly involved running Hewlett-Packard into the ground, and thus you wouldn't really want that type of experience anywhere near a ticket. McCain had very good reasons for passing her over. As for Sen. Hutchinson, she's apparently pro-choice, or at least insufficiently rabidly pro-life for a lot of the Republican base, and seems to have other ambitions (like Governor of Texas).

As covered previously, Carly Fiorina has business experience. Unfortunately for her, it's mostly involved running Hewlett-Packard into the ground, and thus you wouldn't really want that type of experience anywhere near a ticket. McCain had very good reasons for passing her over. As for Sen. Hutchinson, she's apparently pro-choice, or at least insufficiently rabidly pro-life for a lot of the Republican base, and seems to have other ambitions (like Governor of Texas).

Will she be referred to as "exotic" since she's not from the 48?

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LOL!!!!

I think we all should start talking about the "exotic" background Gov. Whatsherface has -

No, she'll be referred to as "exotic" because she posed topless.

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sully has this litte nugget of joy

An Ambers reader writes:

I thought you might like to know that under the heading of "Sarah Palin on Foreign Policy" at the On The Issues site for her, this is what's listed:

"No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org."


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but according to the mccain campaign

"she understands the importance of supporting our troops."

whew-well...that makes me feel better knowing she'd be a heartbeat away from the presidency. but you know she can handle it because she has one of those yellow ribbons on her car.

She hasn't gone toe-to-toe with Putin over the Bering Straits?

Why did McCain choose this Putin appeaser?

her son is set to ship out to iraq on sept 11 actually.

i suppose that'd be an opening to ask her if she agrees with all of mccain's votes on vets, etc...

This is a good analysis by Kate and Greg, and I think it provides some insight into why the savvy poltical vets running the McCain campaign these days decided to throw this particular Hail Mary.

I think there's some danger in writing Palin off too quickly merely because she is unqualified. This is, remember, a nation that re-elected George W. Bush. And if you think about who is likely being targeted by this pick, it's probably safe to say we are not dealing with an especially well-informed or rational segment of the populace. People in red states have been voting against their own interests for years, and it's quite possible they'll decide Sarah is a good ole gal by way of much the same, if you will, "thought" process that led them to want to have a beer with George.

Also, what difference does it make whether she can stand up to Biden on the issues? Televised debates are not won on points but on perception. If she hangs in there and acts feisty on stage, and commits no class-A blunders, she will be acclaimed the winner, by virtue of the expectations handicap that always favors Republicans.

Personally I am worried.

I agree. She's a religious fanatic, a doctrinaire Republican and something of a hick. They're going to love her in Bush Country.

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after Obama declared he would end the war on science, mccain picks some one who thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.

You make some good points. But I am not worried. At least not about her. I am worriedd about what you said above... we're a nation that re-elected Dubya! I worry about the electorate more than anything. (you may have been saying the exact same thing, of course)

Nothing is a given. If it were Hillary and Barack or Barack and Hillary; If it were Feingold and Clark, Bill Clinton and Al Gore... I'd be worried. Something is wrong. And it needs afixin'!

I want to see major movement in the polls in the next couple weeks. If that does not happen, I'm buying one-way tickets to France for me and my wife! Heh-heh.. kidding... (er, not really)

You make some good points. But I am not worried. At least not about her. I am worriedd about what you said above... we're a nation that re-elected Dubya! I worry about the electorate more than anything. (you may have been saying the exact same thing, of course)

Nothing is a given. If it were Hillary and Barack or Barack and Hillary; If it were Feingold and Clark, Bill Clinton and Al Gore... I'd be worried. Something is wrong. And it needs afixin'!

I want to see major movement in the polls in the next couple weeks. If that does not happen, I'm buying one-way tickets to France for me and my wife! Heh-heh.. kidding... (er, not really)

Better change your plans. They don't let you double post in France.

Everyone seems to have forgotten whats-his-face ... Bu$h senior's VP. Right! Dan Quail! A nobody from nowhere that ended up nowhere, but was VP for 4 years and gave us nothing but public ridicule of his incompetence.

Everyone seems to have forgotten whats-his-face ... Bu$h senior's VP. Right! Dan Quail! A nobody from nowhere that ended up nowhere, but was VP for 4 years and gave us nothing but public ridicule of his incompetence.

The debate angle is the one (and only) thing that concerns me -- there's a danger that "big gun" Biden will get up there feeling so (deservedly) OVERqualified next to her, that he'll come off as smug, condescending, etc. (like Gore rolling his eyes at Bush in '00). Choosing Palin sort of short-circuits what everyone's been waiting for -- Biden just laying into Romney or somebody -- and means that Biden will have to moderate that hearty self-confidence to make sure he doesn't seem like a dick...

OMG! The argument against Palin is here (from 2:50)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pak-rH0dCeA&eurl

"[A]s for that V.P. talk all the time, I’ll tell you, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the V.P. does every day? I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that V.P .slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here for the rest of the U.S., before I can even start addressing that question."

OMG! From the first time I'm seriously considering that we'll have a November landslide.
Still, there's a election to win, so, let's go to work, people.

That video is priceless.

Guess you didn't read the comments. They're predominantly positive.

Forgive me if I don't put much stock in the comments of Republicans.

If Karl Rove was a liberal, this picture would be making the rounds:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioassets/photos/2007/2/9/14603_2.jpg

it's a may/december ticket

Zod was laughing his ass off at that one.

oh man ... it took me a second to get it ... but when I did - very very funny.

How, I ask, can you put a woman on the ticket who doesn't even believe in women's issues? How pathetic.

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My thoughts exactly!

Leave it to the GOP to choose an "anti-woman" woman to be the VP.

And if McCain wants independents picking someone who thinks Intelligent Design should be taught in schools is just stupid.

Us Pastafarians will be up in arms!

The Pastafarian revolution against McCain begins now.

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This puts Roe vs Wade in the forefront folks.

The question that Dem women will ask themselves is do they want a woman in the White house just because she is a woman knowing full well that that pick means that Roe vs Wade will be overturned?

It is really time for Dem women to go on the OFFENSE on this pick. Hillary once again is going to have to be very important in this general election.

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Here's how big the crowd was that Obama spoke to last night:

It would have accommodated ten towns of the size Gov. Palin was mayor of only two years ago, and still allow for a 4,000 piece marching band.

LOL -- that's a big band!

Not to knock Wasilla or The Last Frontier altogether, but you could put almost three times the population of JUNEAU into Invesco Field last night...

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She'll be forced to face off in a debate against Joe Biden...

Hmmm.  I guess we won't see the bloodletting we all expected.  I mean, the guy who sponsored the bill protecting battered women...  Can't see it.

New McSame Campaign Theme: Beauty and the Beast!

ROFLMAO for McLame's VP!!!

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I think there's some danger in writing Palin off too quickly merely because she is unqualified. This is, remember, a nation that re-elected George W. Bush...Personally, I'm worried."

And personally I"m not the slightest bit suprised that you are.

That's you function.

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Please! Angry Hillary voters! I've got a woman on the ticket, see! Isn't that what you want?! Vote McCain!!

Pu-lease. Less than two years as Gov, anti-choice, hard right wing and with a scandal that has some legs? She's the Dan Quail of 2008, all teed up to be schooled by Joe Biden.

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Hey all, brief introduction. I'm a longtime reader but I haven't posted in a very long time. I usually read the previous days posts so I don't spend 100% of my time on the site. However today I'm working for home so what the hell.

I have two comments. First, Palin has at least given McCain one of his wishes. Since she was rolled out in the MSM they haven't said one word about Obama's speech. Of course they are talking about some of her negatives as well as her positives so that's the double edged sword Obama has been dealing with for a long time.

And 2, I just saw cheerleaders on MSNBC's coverage of the official announcment. Really? McCain want's high school/college cheerleaders at this event?

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Why are you surprised?

Y'all haven't been paying attention. Go back and find still photos from '04 of McLame campaigning with Commander Coocoo.

I know y'all think I overstate - I think y'all are way too naive. Bush threw his daughter, Jenna, at McLame. McLame likes them young and usually blonde, but -

This may actually be good for Obama - initial reaction was hugely positive as it often is. Then, they spend the entire next few days analyzing the hell out of the speech and pointing out all kinds of perceived faults. But McCain has effectively shut down any chance for republicans to spin the speech, allowing the CW on the speech to set.

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I hadn't considered that. Good call.

Good Call! Shift the discuss away from the Democrats and on to the repug$! I wonder if McCain realizes he just screwed the pooch by naming his VP nominee so soon?

It's great! The subject's not just "is Palin a good VP pick", it's "is Palin a good REPLACEMENT for McCain?"

The MSM goes from "How awesome is Obama" to "How old is McCain".

I heard the new campaign slogan from another blog:
Ailin' and Palin 08!

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Hiya.  Welcome to the food-fight.

Since she was rolled out in the MSM they haven't said one word about Obama's speech.

True.  But that was gonna happen no matter who he picked.  Well, maybe the unexpected aspect of her being his pick does give the wagging tongues a bit more fuel.

McCain want's high school/ college cheerleaders at this event?

I did hear he was having a hard time filling up this 12,000-seat venue.

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Hiya.  Welcome to the food-fight.

Since she was rolled out in the MSM they haven't said one word about Obama's speech.

True.  But that was gonna happen no matter who he picked.  Well, maybe the unexpected aspect of her being his pick does give the wagging tongues a bit more fuel.

McCain want's high school/ college cheerleaders at this event?

I did hear he was having a hard time filling up this 12,000-seat venue.

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Hiya.  Welcome to the food-fight.

Since she was rolled out in the MSM they haven't said one word about Obama's speech.

True.  But that was gonna happen no matter who he picked.  Well, maybe the unexpected aspect of her being his pick does give the wagging tongues a bit more fuel.

McCain want's high school/ college cheerleaders at this event?

I did hear he was having a hard time filling up this 12,000-seat venue.

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In terms of attacking, is she going to be an attack dog against Obama? She has already praised his energy policy.

Biden doesn't need to attack Palin nor does Obama. Biden and Obama just need to attack McCain.

Democratic women can attack Palin. Hillary can attack Palin.

Here's the quote:

"I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska’s natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs," Palin says in the release. "The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs."

Governor Palin also acknowledged the Senator’s proposal to offer $1,000 rebates to those struggling with the high cost of energy.

"We in Alaska feel that crunch and are taking steps to address it right here at home," Governor Palin said. "This is a tool that must be on the table to buy us time until our long-term energy plans can be put into place. We have already enjoyed the support of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, and it is gratifying to see Senator Obama get on board."


No surprise, the link to the press release is down.

Let me be clear: it was a bold choice. But also a stupid one.

McCain has, without a doubt, completely destroyed his message about experience. Sarah Palin has no experience of any kind except two years of executive experience for the third smallest state in the union.

I can't wait to see McCain and Palin standing next to each other. She's gonna look like his granddaughter.

Oh my,,,,,,, McCain alone on the campaign trail with a beauty pagent queen,,,, what will Cindy do to keep Gramps' pants zipped?
Shall there be two 'Edwards episodes' on the '08 campaign trail? This has the makings of a grande soap opera.
Simply boggles the mind.

Is the counter attack to Obama's nomination?

We were told to see the Republicans responding to last night speech?

I am just wondering!!!


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Um they officially responded last night:

they were totally gobsmacked. They know that last night they heard the next president speak.

They are panicked.

Personally I am worried.

Have you seen the Vogue cover??

This pick contradicts everything the McCain camp has been slinging at Obama. Celebrity? Inexperienced? Poor judgement? The cable pundits are fumbling for words..I'm filled with glee (at the moment).

This is being called the worst VP pick since Dan Quayle. A stunner. McCain just threw the "experience" meme under a bus. Totally self defeating.

Kos has a post up on her ethics issues, the State legislature has authorized an investigation into her controversial firing of Alaskan
Public Safety Commissioner.

http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/478090.html

Quayle=Palin. But, Reagan was *loved*...Bush? Not so much...

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Bill Burton says:


"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same," said Bill Burton, Obama Campaign Spokesman.

McCain, judgement you can...you can...Oh Cripes, we're in deep shit.

"I can't wait to see McCain and Palin standing next to each other. She's gonna look like his granddaughter."

yup. he's going to look even older than he actually is.

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This is stunning.

And frankly, I don't think it's going to go over the way the McCain camp apparently hoped it would with women voters.

It's insulting: women voters will vote for a woman, no matter what she stands for? Seriously?

"Troopergate" is going to hit the airwaves, big time.

Stunning.

Isn't that what some of the die-hard Hillary supporters have said?

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I know one was quoted as saying that she voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004, and she voted for Clinton only because she was a woman.

Still, I think it's such obvious pandering that it's going to backfire.

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Still, I think it's such obvious pandering that it's going to backfire.

I think so, too, certainly among anyone who takes feminism seriously.

There may have been people who said they supported Hillary just because she was a woman, but I think if you questioned them on that a little more deeply, you'd find it wasn't exactly the case. The reason Hillary Clinton had so many die-hard supporters was because she was Hillary. She is an extremely capable woman, a very deft politician (except when she lets advisors pull her off the track), and what the country was wowed by Tuesday night was what a lot of us had seen in her all along.

The kind of loyalty she had from her supporters is not going to go to just any other woman, and it's insulting for the McCain people to even imply as much. It's like McCain trying to make a chat with five reporters in front of Schmidt's Fudge Haus in Columbus, OH, look like the equivalent of Obama's address to a crowd of 200,000 in front of the Victory Column in Berlin.

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Bill Burton says:


"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same," said Bill Burton, Obama Campaign Spokesman.

McCain's "gravitas" just took a huge hit!

I'm watching CNN and they really have no idea what to say about this pick. They're having huge difficulty defending this pick...

It may also be that they're working without a script. They probably had scripts ready for Pawlenty, Romney, etc. They haven't prepared for Palin.

Nothing could prepare them for the Palin pick.

While this might sound a tad over the top, it looks like McCain just handed Obama the keys to the WH.

Nothing could prepare them for the Palin pick.

While this might sound a tad over the top, it looks like McCain just handed Obama the keys to the WH.

No, it wasn't a pundit. It was some old female governor, or former governor trying to defend Palin from a woman's perspective. She didn't know what the hell to say.

Clarence Thomas in a dress...

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So this is McCain's idea of the most qualified Republican to be president if he should pass. Barack supporters please repeat after me.

Judgment

Judgment

Judgment

Judgment

Judgment

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"Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same," said Bill Burton, Obama Campaign Spokesman.

In addition to the main points regarding experience there are some other aspect to this gift from McCain.

1. This give us a chance to link McCain with Ted Stevens and friends. That's a bonus. There must be a long history of association--peas in a pod.

2. With all the competent and experienced women in the republican party this is an INSULT to women-- a corrupt beauty pageant queen from the smallest state in the country. If I were a female republican governor I would be pissed!

Palin's nickname is "Barracuda".

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Why are you surprised?

Y'all haven't been paying attention. Go back and find still photos from '04 of McLame campaigning with Commander Coocoo.

I know y'all think I overstate - I think y'all are way too naive. Bush threw his daughter, Jenna, at McLame. McLame likes them young and usually blonde, but -

The crowd in Dayton sings "Happy Birthday" to 72-year-old JM as he intros his 44-year old totally inexperienced VP pick. I'M LOVIN' IT!!!

I wonder what the "ex Hillary" chick for McCain in that ad they ran who thinks that McCain is for upholding Roe says now....

As stated on ABC:

In July, Palin told CNBC's Larry Kudlow that "as for that VP talk all the time, I tell ya, I still can't answer that question until, until somebody answers for me: 'What it is exactly that the Vice President does everyday?'"

This is going to be an interesting test in Doublethink for the 37 remaining Hillis44-PUMA diehards. They profess to be furious because "experience matters," not because Hillary was a woman.

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Yuppa!

:):):):):)

Does anyone know anything about this site. Is the picture of Governor Palin that they have posted legit? If it is, then McCain may have a problem.

http://jockoftherock.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html

The reason that I think that there may be something to the picture is because of her picture on the cover of Vogue. Take a look at it:

How will that image sit with the fundy base of the Republicans?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uExTzMIDd1Y/R2O5nKq9_tI/AAAAAAAAATE/At2bb_K_3ao/s1600/Sarah-Palin-Vogue.jpg

he's getting ready to bring her on stage right now!

The pick of Palin is important for what it says about McCain's thought process.

In a time of crisis and concern:

- Obama makes a smart pick - a person with experience, someone who will complement Obama's talents.

- McCain rolls the dice with a pick designed to win a particular voting bloc.

This is once again more evidence that the only cause McCain want to serve is himself.

a corrupt beauty pageant queen

She came in second place.

More than anything else, the choices of Biden and Palin make it clear that Obama thinks hard about the future of this country, while McCain thinks hard about how to get elected.

Well put livetoad, I LUV that line

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Yeah, that was very well put indeed.

As stated on ABC:

In July, Palin told CNBC's Larry Kudlow that "as for that VP talk all the time, I tell ya, I still can't answer that question until, until somebody answers for me: 'What it is exactly that the Vice President does everyday?'"

As stated on ABC:

In July, Palin told CNBC's Larry Kudlow that "as for that VP talk all the time, I tell ya, I still can't answer that question until, until somebody answers for me: 'What it is exactly that the Vice President does everyday?'"

Sorry for the double post.

Comments are working completely wonky for me today.

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but can she spell "potato"?

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but can she spell "potato"?

McCain is more a creature of the press than his actions. And, yes it can and most likely will get worse than Palin's selection. If ever their was a concession to defeat this selection is it.

I'm watching McCain's rally now. MSNBC pulled back for a wide shot. Are there even a thousand people there?

LOL. They were doing "the wave" earlier. Those Repubs sure know how to throw a party, don't they?

Well, she's got great cheekbones.

Seriously, though, this pick smacks of desperation. If Ridge had been picked, McCain really could have stood a chance. But I guess his pro-choice stance killed it. Definitely looking forward to the VP debate, though. Holy smokes!

Yup. Ridge made me nervous...

Paris, Brittney ---- Palin! Talk about celebrity, check out this vogue cover.

http://kodiakkonfidential.blogspot.com/2007/12/sarah-in-vogue.html

photoshop.

The wingnuts are so juiced up about Palin, I bet K-Lo just had her first orgasm. Our little K-Lo's becoming a woman!

So far in this past hour.. I have learned this about Palin:

She doesn’t know what a VP does. (See my other comment above)

She praised Obama’s energy plan.

She praised Obama’s call for a $1,000 rebate for working families.

She wants creationism taught in public schools.

She is currently under investigation.


...lovely.

The Palin choice, I think, reveals a good bit about the McCain camp's thoughts about the electorate. I really can't shake the notion that they think we're idiots. That is, this strikes me as a shallow, desperate attempt to capture certain voters and as such, is disrespectful towards those voters.

The thought that most often follows is my worry that the Obama camp may think too highly of the electorate's thoughtfulness - but after the success of the convention, those concerns are giving way...

Well, to their credit, they don't their we're ALL idiots. Just enough of us, maybe, to get them elected again. Hey, it worked twice w/Bush, why the hell not try again, eh?

Clearly, this signals that he's hanging the whole election on "responsible drilling", right?

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Looks to me like Grampy just threw the fight.

To combat this all BO needs to do is put out an ad featuring Hillary, Chelsy, Oprah, Elizabeth Edwards talking up BO record on women's issues.

Well, she's got great cheekbones.

Seriously, though, this pick smacks of desperation. If Ridge had been picked, McCain really could have stood a chance. But I guess his pro-choice stance killed it. Definitely looking forward to the VP debate, though. Holy smokes!

So far in this past hour.. I have learned this about Palin:

She doesn’t know what a VP does. (See my other comment above)

She praised Obama’s energy plan.

She praised Obama’s call for a $1,000 rebate for working families.

She wants creationism taught in public schools.

She is currently under investigation.


...lovely.

Spreading photoshopped pictures of her won't help. All we need to say is, more of the same: Big Oil, anti-choice and corrupt.

The Palin choice, I think, reveals a good bit about the McCain camp's thoughts about the electorate. I really can't shake the notion that they think we're idiots. That is, this strikes me as a shallow, desperate attempt to capture certain voters and as such, is disrespectful towards those voters.

The thought that most often follows is my worry that the Obama camp may think too highly of the electorate's thoughtfulness - but after the success of the convention, those concerns are giving way...

Watching the live stream, I just can't believe this is happening -- though I look forward to seeing Tina Fey impersonate her on SNL

The selection of Palin, of course, is also a bid for the disaffected Hillary vote,

I really can't fathom any other reason for this pick.

She's against everything PUMAs stand for, with the exception of the fact that she happens to possess two X chromosomes.

I can only fathom two reasons for this pick: (a) They want to neutralize Biden's ability to attack; and (b) eye candy for the Bubba vote (ummm, which they've pretty much already got, unless they think Biden was competition for that).

Of course, there's a third option: McCain and his people just don't know what the f*ck they're doing and they're going random now.

Are you watching this???


I'm speechless.

So far in this past hour.. I have learned this about Palin:

She doesn’t know what a VP does. (See my other comment above)

She praised Obama’s energy plan.

She praised Obama’s call for a $1,000 rebate for working families.

She wants creationism taught in public schools.

She is currently under investigation.


...lovely.

The Palin choice, I think, reveals a good bit about the McCain camp's thoughts about the electorate. I really can't shake the notion that they think we're idiots. That is, this strikes me as a shallow, desperate attempt to capture certain voters and as such, is disrespectful towards those voters.

The thought that most often follows is my worry that the Obama camp may think too highly of the electorate's thoughtfulness - but after the success of the convention, those concerns are giving way...

To combat this all BO needs to do is put out an ad featuring Hillary, Chelsy, Oprah, Elizabeth Edwards talking up BO record on women's issues.

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Looks to me like Grampy just threw the fight.

Anyone else listening to Palin's protracted introduction of her family?

This can't be for real.

I don't know why I find this funny, but her husband's name is Todd.

I hear Gilda Radner in my head.

Clearly, this signals that he's hanging the whole election on "responsible drilling", right?

Sorry for the double posts. The commenting function on this site is being wonky.

New title to this thread: "Who *WAS* Sarah Palin"

The Palin choice, I think, reveals a good bit about the McCain camp's thoughts about the electorate. I really can't shake the notion that they think we're idiots. That is, this strikes me as a shallow, desperate attempt to capture certain voters and as such, is disrespectful towards those voters.

The thought that most often follows is my worry that the Obama camp may think too highly of the electorate's thoughtfulness - but after the success of the convention, those concerns are giving way...

She sounds like a complete hick.


Well Golly!. Shezzam. Gomer Palin comes to Washington.

There's no way that Palin was McBush's first choice. Keep digging! There's a good story out there about who turned down this fruitcake.Also, I notice that the stock markets are tanking this morning--coincidence?

Sorry for the double posts. The commenting function on this site is being wonky.

New title to this thread: "Who *WAS* Sarah Palin"

What a way to pick up chicks!

She just said 'Nucular'. Terrific

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This is absolutely, positively an affirmative action pick. It's cynical and calculated to steal Obama's thunder.

...what a way to try to pick up chicks!

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She says "nukular", so she's bound to connect with the loyal Bushies

If gas prices keep dropping (which they usually do after Labor Day anyway), energy isn't going to be nearly as urgent an issue as McCain might have been banking on with this VP selection. It's already faded since the "drill here" frenzy of a few weeks back.

And the election will come before people start getting their winter heating bills.

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Still, I think it's such obvious pandering that it's going to backfire.

Unfortunately, something I saw in the newspaper today or yesterday said that there was a good chance that Hurricane Gustav would result in higher gas prices after Labor Day.

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This is absolutely, positively an affirmative action pick. It's cynical and calculated to steal Obama's thunder.

I swear I just saw John McCain staring at Palin's behind for a good ten seconds while she was speaking at the rally. Amazing.

Plus, did anyone else notice mccain looked to be fiddling with his wedding ring during her speech...

Plus, did anyone else notice mccain looked to be fiddling with his wedding ring during her speech...

and did anyone notice mccain fiddling with his wedding ring during the speech

and did anyone notice mccain fiddling with his wedding ring during the speech

did anyone else see mccain fidgeting with his wedding ring during her speech?

did anyone else see mccain fidgeting with his wedding ring during her speech?

did anyone else see mccain fidgeting with his wedding ring during her speech?

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I know that looks are not supposed to matter, but Gov. Palin looks like the checker at the grocery store, the Junior League President, or the PTA mom and her speaking voice and cheerleader presentation fits that persona. Where is the gravitas? The first thing that comes to mind is why is this woman not home taking care of a new baby with special needs? That may sound sexist, but when Elizabeth Edwards cancer returned, I thought the same thing about the Edwards. Why were not refocusing on their young children instead of the Presidential Campaign? Palin went from Mayor, to heading an industry board to Govenor of a sparsely populated state. I can't wait to see her debate Biden.

well, the pta is how she got her start in politics. like three or four years ago i think...

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Yee arrghhh, matie! Tis war I seak!

Is that Van Halen they are playing? welcome back to 1991...

Gramps prob thinks the music is too loud...

...what a way to try to pick up chicks!

Palin is a female George W. Bush.

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Didn't the Democratic primaries and ultimate ticket force McCain to do this? What are the chances he would have picked a woman had the Dems not put up Hillary and Obama? I see this as a credit to the Democrats. It was hardly being an original maverick for McCain to pick a woman - he knew he had to match the Democrats in terms of an innovative ticket or risk looking even more like an old, rich, white man.

This is an empty ticket that panders to women, expecting us to fall in line because they picked a she.

Nevermind the fact that the Republicans just killed a bill in the Senate that would have made it easier for women to hold employers' feet to the fire when it comes to unequal pay for equal work.

Pure tokenism: Palin 2008 = Ferraro 1984.

This is a typical decision made of the particular brand of shrewdness and cynicism one has long come to expect from the Republicans, particularly in electoral races: they have, in effect, assigned one of the most potentially powerful positions in the country to another Quayle – and, for that matter, another Bush –, someone against whom one must resist flaunting his or her lack of both knowledge and good judgment for the simple fact of this person's ostensible "likeability." As with Quayle and Bush, Palin will align herself as firmly with the "common Joe" as possible, so much so that attacks upon her intellectual and geopolitical understanding and capacity will, by many, be seen as unfair bullying; a preposterous assessment, to be sure, but an effective one to engender in others on the part of the Republicans. This is a card they have played quite effectively in the past, and, despite how bewildering it is, it often works. Obama's campaign should not, however, attack her judgment, nor should they demean her lack of experience; this would play right into the Republicans' aim of gaining sympathy for, and not trust in, Palin and her abilities; the Republicans have demeaned her enough by awarding her this position, and it would be disastrous should the Democrats follow suit. Rather, they should use this to question the judgment of McCain, asking how someone who has used the vast majority of his attack time against Obama to denigrate him for his lack of experience could put so much faith – indeed, enough to believe that she could, and would, fulfill his goals as President to the same degree he is capable – in someone with even less experience than Obama. They should not take this as an opportunity to pounce on Palin, but as one to display the utter hypocrisy that has defined McCain as first a Senator and, now, as a presidential nominee. This is not, as many have suggested, a stupid decision on the part of the Republicans; it is merely a cynical and demeaning one.

In principle I think you're right. But no one seems to have suffered from ridiculing Harriet Meyer, did they?

Pure tokenism: Palin 2008 = Ferraro 1984.

The only explanation I can come up with for the pick is that nobody else contemplating any kind of future career in the GOP was willing to end it by attaching themselves to such a boat anchor; this really was the best they could do.

In a way, I almost want to give McCain a little credit here for not ruining the career of anyone by picking them for his loser ticket. At least this won't hurt her in her rise from mayor of a town of 9,000 people to governor of a state with only a few more than that to whatever is next on her trajectory: spokesperson for Field & Stream, perhaps -- since the RedStaters are in such euphoria about her stalking and angling pastimes?

This is a typical decision made of the particular brand of shrewdness and cynicism one has long come to expect from the Republicans, particularly in electoral races: they have, in effect, assigned one of the most potentially powerful positions in the country to another Quayle – and, for that matter, another Bush –, someone against whom one must resist flaunting his or her lack of both knowledge and good judgment for the simple fact of this person's ostensible "likeability." As with Quayle and Bush, Palin will align herself as firmly with the "common Joe" as possible, so much so that attacks upon her intellectual and geopolitical understanding and capacity will, by many, be seen as unfair bullying; a preposterous assessment, to be sure, but an effective one to engender in others on the part of the Republicans. This is a card they have played quite effectively in the past, and, despite how bewildering it is, it often works. Obama's campaign should not, however, attack her judgment, nor should they demean her lack of experience; this would play right into the Republicans' aim of gaining sympathy for, and not trust in, Palin and her abilities; the Republicans have demeaned her enough by awarding her this position, and it would be disastrous should the Democrats follow suit. Rather, they should use this to question the judgment of McCain, asking how someone who has used the vast majority of his attack time against Obama to denigrate him for his lack of experience could put so much faith – indeed, enough to believe that she could, and would, fulfill his goals as President to the same degree he is capable – in someone with even less experience than Obama. They should not take this as an opportunity to pounce on Palin, but as one to display the utter hypocrisy that has defined McCain as first a Senator and, now, as a presidential nominee. This is not, as many have suggested, a stupid decision on the part of the Republicans; it is merely a cynical and demeaning one.

Pure tokenism: Palin 2008 = Ferraro 1984.

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Didn't the Democratic primaries and ultimate ticket force McCain to do this? What are the chances he would have picked a woman had the Dems not put up Hillary and Obama? I see this as a credit to the Democrats. It was hardly being an original maverick for McCain to pick a woman - he knew he had to match the Democrats in terms of an innovative ticket or risk looking even more like an old, rich, white man.

This is an empty ticket that panders to women, expecting us to fall in line because they picked a she.

Nevermind the fact that the Republicans just killed a bill in the Senate that would have made it easier for women to hold employers' feet to the fire when it comes to unequal pay for equal work.

watching msnbc, andrea mitchell is already saying that Palin will help win the battlegrounds states for McWar...

Chuck Todd is almost buying it...

Pure tokenism: Palin 2008 = Ferraro 1984.

Sarah Palin hates Polar Bears.

Coca Cola uses polar bears in their holiday advertising and they invented the image of Santa Claus as we know him.

Therefore, Sarah Palin hates Christmas.

At least this false syllogism passes for logic in Republican circles.

visions of harriet miers...

watching msnbc, andrea mitchell is already saying that Palin will help win the battlegrounds states for McWar...

Chuck Todd is almost buying it...

Pure tokenism: Palin 2008 = Ferraro 1984.

This is a typical decision made of the particular brand of shrewdness and cynicism one has long come to expect from the Republicans, particularly in electoral races: they have, in effect, assigned one of the most potentially powerful positions in the country to another Quayle – and, for that matter, another Bush –, someone against whom one must resist flaunting his or her lack of both knowledge and good judgment for the simple fact of this person's ostensible "likeability." As with Quayle and Bush, Palin will align herself as firmly with the "common Joe" as possible, so much so that attacks upon her intellectual and geopolitical understanding and capacity will, by many, be seen as unfair bullying; a preposterous assessment, to be sure, but an effective one to engender in others on the part of the Republicans. This is a card they have played quite effectively in the past, and, despite how bewildering it is, it often works. Obama's campaign should not, however, attack her judgment, nor should they demean her lack of experience; this would play right into the Republicans' aim of gaining sympathy for, and not trust in, Palin and her abilities; the Republicans have demeaned her enough by awarding her this position, and it would be disastrous should the Democrats follow suit. Rather, they should use this to question the judgment of McCain, asking how someone who has used the vast majority of his attack time against Obama to denigrate him for his lack of experience could put so much faith – indeed, enough to believe that she could, and would, fulfill his goals as President to the same degree he is capable – in someone with even less experience than Obama. They should not take this as an opportunity to pounce on Palin, but as one to display the utter hypocrisy that has defined McCain as first a Senator and, now, as a presidential nominee. This is not, as many have suggested, a stupid decision on the part of the Republicans; it is merely a cynical and demeaning one.

In principle I think you're right. But no one seems to have suffered from ridiculing Harriet Meyer, did they?

watching msnbc, andrea mitchell is already saying that Palin will help win the battlegrounds states for McWar...

Chuck Todd is almost buying it...

watching msnbc, andrea mitchell is already saying that Palin will help win the battlegrounds states for McWar...

Chuck Todd is almost buying it...

Of course he'll pick up votes with her. Get real. Estimates show Barr pulling 5 or so (even up to 7) percent from the Republicans, and Palin will fix that right up.

The comparison really does make Obama look like the elder statesman.

I personnaly think he would have been better off with Romney. But that's saying I'd rather eat nails over shattered glass.

watching msnbc, andrea mitchell is already saying that Palin will help win the battlegrounds states for McWar...

Chuck Todd is almost buying it...

Clarence Thomas in a dress.
Think about it....

Didn't I see a Lifetime movie about this? Or maybe a Movie of the Week? Plucky first-term governor chosen to be VP, only because the party needs a woman on the ticket? (She agonizes over her decision with her husband and her husky dog in her cabin in front of the fire. All but the dog are wearing oversized turtleneck sweaters.) She decides to go for it; she's charming during the campaign and surprise! wins the election. Then the Pres. has a heart attack during the swearing in. So our heroine battles with WH staff and cantankerous Senators on her own to stamp out evoution and substitute intelligent design in all science classrooms in the country! In the end, of course, she wins everybody over. Copious drilling in ANWR for all! The end.

MSNBC is endorsing Palin, and Andre Mitchell is leading the endorsement, Chuck Todd is almost buying it!!!WOW


MSNBC is endorsing Palin, and Andre Mitchell is leading the endorsement, Chuck Todd is almost buying it!!!WOW


anyone who named their child "track" should be disqualified from having any influence over anyone else's child.

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anyone who named their child "track" should be disqualified from having any influence over anyone else's child.

LOL! And the youngest one is named "Trig". I don't think that is a nickname, either.


OMG! McCain is toast. I guess those years as a POW effected his brain.

It's over.

The women will not go for this.

This is a joke.

Wake up Toto, this is not Kansas.

She's an opportunist.

I live in Wasilla and she just threw the State of Alaska under the bus when we needed some real governance.

She won the governorship on her good looks alone and now she's allowing herself to be McCain's token female - a total traitor to Alaska and Women's Rights.

Trooper-gate pales in comparison to her propagandizing a mining/clean water proposition just this past week.

Prop 4. Look it up TPM - maybe Alaska issues DO matter now.

BTW I think they have 'set up' Ted Stevens to get him out of the way.

Why not our U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski? She's got a helluva lot more experience than Palin.

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Maybe because of something like this?

Andre Mitchell is endorsing Palin, unbelievable. MSNBC is endorsing her...Micthell is already saying that she is going to win the women, and the clinton supporters...

Chuck Todd is almost buying it!!!

Unbelievable...

the media have really decided to endorse McWar...I thought last night that the media were going to change the narrative story, but It did not last long...

She's an opportunist.

I live in Wasilla and she just threw the State of Alaska under the bus when we needed some real governance.

She won the governorship on her good looks alone and now she's allowing herself to be McCain's token female - a total traitor to Alaska and Women's Rights.

Trooper-gate pales in comparison to her propagandizing a mining/clean water proposition just this past week.

Prop 4. Look it up TPM - maybe Alaska issues DO matter now.

BTW I think they have 'set up' Ted Stevens to get him out of the way.

Why not our U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski? She's got a helluva lot more experience than Palin.

Andre Mitchell is endorsing Palin, unbelievable. MSNBC is endorsing her...Micthell is already saying that she is going to win the women, and the clinton supporters...

Chuck Todd is almost buying it!!!

Unbelievable...

the media have really decided to endorse McWar...I thought last night that the media were going to change the narrative story, but It did not last long...

Andre Mitchell is endorsing Palin, unbelievable. MSNBC is endorsing her...Micthell is already saying that she is going to win the women, and the clinton supporters...

Chuck Todd is almost buying it!!!

Unbelievable...

the media have really decided to endorse McWar...I thought last night that the media were going to change the narrative story, but It did not last long...

She's an opportunist.

I live in Wasilla and she just threw the State of Alaska under the bus when we needed some real governance.

She won the governorship on her good looks alone and now she's allowing herself to be McCain's token female - a total traitor to Alaska and Women's Rights.

Trooper-gate pales in comparison to her propagandizing a mining/clean water proposition just this past week.

Prop 4. Look it up TPM - maybe Alaska issues DO matter now.

BTW I think they have 'set up' Ted Stevens to get him out of the way.

Why not our U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski? She's got a helluva lot more experience than Palin.

Just heard (did not see) her acceptance. Am I being too harshly partisan, or does she sound like a dimwit? "Eye-raq," "Eye-ran," and our recent favorite, "Nook-yoo-lar."

Hard to describe, but she sounds at once light-weight and grating, like someone who knows very little but will nonetheless insist she knows better.


Backlash?

I conducted an informal focus group at lunch at a Max & Erma's in Columbus, Ohio with a group of middle-aged women (basically by me overhearing their conversation). They were not happy about the choice of Palin. They said that it was a slap in the face to women Clinton supporters to choose a younger, better looking, more inexperienced woman than Hillary, and, as one of them said, if they think that women are going to vote for McCain just because Palin is a woman "they've got another thing coming."


Apparently, more than a few Republican women agree. According to MSNBC's early coverage, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison had a lot of difficulty defending/explaining McCain's choice.

The point Andrea Mitchell was making was that there are so many Rep women are better qualified, that choosing Palin is something of an insult to them.

The other dishy item, is how much younger she is than McCain, young enough to be his daughter, easily. She's unlikely to make waves or show McCain up, something that might have been a problem with some of the brighter bulbs in the Republican party.

I can't wait to hear what all of DC pundits have to say about her "gravitas" and ability to take over, should something happen to McCain.

RRF, this is the best news I've heard in regard to Palin all day. Thank you so much!

anyone who named their child "track" should be disqualified from having any influence over anyone else's child.

Backlash?

I conducted an informal focus group at lunch at a Max & Erma's in Columbus, Ohio with a group of middle-aged women (basically by me overhearing their conversation). They were not happy about the choice of Palin. They said that it was a slap in the face to women Clinton supporters to choose a younger, better looking, more inexperienced woman than Hillary, and, as one of them said, if they think that women are going to vote for McCain just because Palin is a woman "they've got another thing coming."


I've been following TPM for about a year now. Not until this morning did I decide to post a comment. I get the obvious reactionary points re: Palin: no national experience, undercuts the mclame campaign's (let's face it) effective narrative re: Obama lacks experience to occupy the white house, obvious pandering to the hillary undecideds etc, etc...

But as an independent and newly-minted political news junkie, I think there is a potentially effective counter-punch the republicans can offer. When you take your car to the mechanic you've gone to for years, you don't get worked up over the fact that the mechanic's assistant just started a few months ago. Ie, Palin's nomination and the obvious outcry by the Dems over her inexperience may end up re-focusing the experience comparison at the top of the ticket.

Also, Palin's an attractive, younger woman who is v conservative and has good, albeit short, track record of up-ending entrenched politicians. I think her gender may prevent prolonged, continuous offensives by the Dems while allowing Mclame to claim he's intent on cleaning up Washington, too. Now that's the biggest "me too" BS argument in the world, but it will find listening ears.

Didn't I see a Lifetime movie about this? Or maybe a Movie of the Week? Plucky first-term governor chosen to be VP, only because the party needs a woman on the ticket? (She agonizes over her decision with her husband and her husky dog in her cabin in front of the fire. All but the dog are wearing oversized turtleneck sweaters.) She decides to go for it; she's charming during the campaign and surprise! wins the election. Then the Pres. has a heart attack during the swearing in. So our heroine battles with WH staff and cantankerous Senators on her own to stamp out evoution and substitute intelligent design in all science classrooms in the country! In the end, of course, she wins everybody over. Copious drilling in ANWR for all! The end.

Backlash?

I conducted an informal focus group at lunch at a Max & Erma's in Columbus, Ohio with a group of middle-aged women (basically by me overhearing their conversation). They were not happy about the choice of Palin. They said that it was a slap in the face to women Clinton supporters to choose a younger, better looking, more inexperienced woman than Hillary, and, as one of them said, if they think that women are going to vote for McCain just because Palin is a woman "they've got another thing coming."