In a suprise move, Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) has been selected as John McCain's running mate. McCain did a brilliant job keeping things under wraps, as the media swirled over the belief that it must have been Tim Pawlenty, and if not him, Mitt Romney, Tom Ridge, and Joe Lieberman were sure to be on top.
The selection of Sarah Palin was met with praise from the GOP, and mixture of shock and critics from the Democrats. Certainly part of the thought process was to get some Hillary voters. She is also a strong 'classic' Republican and pro (life), something many questioned on McCain.
My initial thought was that it would hurt McCain's experience argument, but from a better prospective, McCain's experience didn't go away. As far as executive experience, Palin is in better shape than Obama. So how could Obama even think about trying to raise that argument. He has had one year in the senate, and two years of campaigning.
I believe McCain is taking a chance, but my initial feelings are that it is a winning chance. I don't see it hurting, but it has MORE than potential when it comes to helping him.
We will see...
The selection of Sarah Palin was met with praise from the GOP, and mixture of shock and critics from the Democrats. Certainly part of the thought process was to get some Hillary voters. She is also a strong 'classic' Republican and pro (life), something many questioned on McCain.
My initial thought was that it would hurt McCain's experience argument, but from a better prospective, McCain's experience didn't go away. As far as executive experience, Palin is in better shape than Obama. So how could Obama even think about trying to raise that argument. He has had one year in the senate, and two years of campaigning.
I believe McCain is taking a chance, but my initial feelings are that it is a winning chance. I don't see it hurting, but it has MORE than potential when it comes to helping him.
We will see...
12 comments:
well its nice to know that you have great hits here.
This topic have a tendency to become boring but with your creativeness its great.
With all the media attention surronding this pick, along with the GOP convention coming up, it would swing in McCain's direction soon.
It's a high risk, high reward pick.
The risk is not so much that Obama will go after Palin's experience (his surrogates and Dems will do that), but that it disarms McCain from a very effective attack: Obama is not ready to be president. Putting partisanship aside, McCain cannot make that argument and pick Palin as his VP, especially not given his age. Palin could become President as early as 2009 if McCain wins in November. Voters' comfort with that is what will help or hurt him most.
I agree that she helps nail down the base, although the GOP base is very loyal to its candidate. Perhaps she motivates more of them to go out and vote. She might bring in some women who will vote for her purely because she's a woman, but don't underestimate sexist men who can't stomach a female VP or Prez.
She also delivers Alaska, which some polls had shown close. I can't imagine Alaska actually going for Obama, but hey, no way will that happen now.
There is the ongoing scandal, but I'll give the McCain campaign credit that there's not much to it if she's on the ticket.
I liked Romney better than Palin in terms of electoral advantage. There is some desperation in this pick, but that does not mean it was a bad one. Besides Romney, the GOP field for VP was not strong.
The only knock on Romney is that he has about as many houses as John McCain has.
Personally I don't care, but the media and democrats would have had a field day with that fact.
CORRECTION 'election junkie'
in your initial blog here you wrote: [Palin] is pro choice, something many questioned on McCain.
I think you meant to write PALIN is pro-life, and clearly she is,
not just by words but actions:
Palin had a child in April, Doctors diagnosed him with Down's Syndrome...they recommended ABORTING...PALIN said a clear 'no way' ... That's from a 'career'
woman with 4 other children, and in her 40's. She said NO TO ABORTION...because 'the life of every child matters'
and what a representative for the needs of the disabled? I think she would understand EUTHANASIA is not an answer.
and who bettter to explain 'the wealth of oil' in Alaska and that it won't harm the environment, than one who lives in Alaska?
and her husband is a common fisherman [summers] ie: LABOR.
and yes he also works for BP Energy, but is UNION.
Palin 'represents' MANY in this nation...women, married women,
women who work, the disabled,
the military [her oldest son will be going to Iraq next year] She's a camper, hunter, she understands the need to conserve the environment, she slashed her salary when she was a mayor and
slashed taxes by 60 percent.
She's fiscally and socially conservative. She wanted a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
BUT ... she has friends who are gay.
ahhh boy, "the wisdom of Solomon"
is our next President John McCain, who very much understand the military needs and National Security.
For John McCain to pick a woman (Sarah Palin) as his vice-presidential running mate, it truly is a sign of desperation to win over female voters overall, especially those who have been disappointed that Hillary Clinton failed to win the presidential nomination among the Democrats. If this is McCain's true intent, then he could be in for a big disappointment come November 4, 2008.
Anonymousdom has the official party line's cheerleading on Palin.
Her husband is union, and also a Democrat.
Kudos for her having her baby, that was her choice and still a choice that a lot of us should be able to make for ourselves. Very curious how that squares with the female voters this pick is supposed to put in play.
She also RAISED taxes on oil companies.
This pick all depends on how she performs and if the American people are comfortable with her becoming President because John McCain is older.
I understand the partisans on both sides have written her off or are not twisting and turning to make her match GOP orthodoxy. But neither of those groups will matter in November, it's those undecided voters and independents that will make or break this as a pick.
We'll see, she has a tall hill to climb. :)
to wa indie who said: This pick all depends on how she performs and if the American people are comfortable with her becoming President because John McCain is older...
John McCain endured 5 long years in a pow camp in the 70's during the Vietnam war. He had a chance to be released, but REFUSED release until all his fellow POW's
also got released. This indicates to me a person of STRENGTH ...
72 years of age IS NOT a funeral
march...NOT THESE DAYS.
He is healthy, he stumps the campaign trail, he speaks well
His selection of Sarah Palin indicates he can THINK THINGS THROUGH very logically. If he can take 5 years in a pow camp with his hands and feet tied down and endure kneeling for upteen hours,
4 years in the oval office should be a cake walk.
He's not over the hill.
As for Sarah Palin, she has done more in her 40 something years than Sen. Obama did in his. Sen.
Obama is senator (a 'representative' elected to a democrat dominated state who votes
along 'party lines') I personally don't see that as leader but follower of 'same old same old'
If 'the party' says abortion is
ok...Sen. Obama says ok.
If 'the party' says vote against
the surge of troops in Iraq, Sen.
Obama complies
If 'the party' says 2 men or 2 women should be given dollars for thier 'free will' choice to have
a sexual encounter with each other,
Sen. Obama goes along with because
'the party' said it's ok.
In my opinion, Obama is inexperienced in understanding what leader means.
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