The Palin Pick – Kinda Strange, Maybe
We don’t have access to the data – polls and focus groups, etc – that induced John McCain to select Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, but we can still wonder.
Running against a candidate with no foreign policy experience, no military experience, no administrative experience, and little federal experience, the best part of the McCain “brand” was his superb presidential resume. A great way to kick away that asset was to do as he did: Choose someone with no foreign policy experience, no military experience, little administrative experience, and no federal experience.
McCain’s age, and the perceived possibility that Palin could suddenly become President makes the damage even worse.
Her state has only three electoral votes. So McCain also tossed away an opportunity to take advantage of Obama’s mistake of appointing a small-state running-mate. It was particularly important that McCain choose someone from a populous state, because (unlike Obama) he doesn’t come from a populous state himself. In fact, we don’t even know that Palin will bring Alaska’s three electoral votes with her, because she is only in her first term, and has never run for re-election.
To be sure, choosing a woman offers McCain more chance at the women’s vote (although it also may turn off those conservative Christians who believe leadership positions should be occupied by men). But the choice also communicates a weakness for playing politics that is at odds with the McCain image of honesty. As does the fact that Gov. Palin is currently under an ethics investigation.
I saw a recent interview with her about that ethics investigation, and her body language was all wrong: “I want them to ask me the questions”– she said, shaking her head from side to side vigorously. She may or may not be telling the truth, but one thing they teach you early on in politics is that your body language has to match your statements. Shaking your head while asserting your innocence is, if not a suggestion that you are lying, at least a sign of inexperience.
Some social conservatives are applauding the choice because Governor Palin is pro-life. I’m strongly pro-life, too. But I can’t help thinking McCain might have been better off with former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, a seasoned administrator and vote-getter with federal experience – and handsome enough to attract any women (hopefully not many) who might be foolish enough to vote for good looks.
It’s a bold pick by McCain. Palin has a track record of being a reformer and taking on vested interests. She’s also the darling of the conservative wing of the GOP. Of course she’ll bring Alaska’s 3 electoral votes with her. Alaska hasn’t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964. Alaska has as much chance going for Obama as Montana does.
Here’s some info on the investigation:
http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/palin-facing-investigation-in-alaska-2008-08-29.html
The extreme loony wing of the Democrat Party will make fools of themselves over this, no doubt.
OK, here’s a scenario for you, BS Musher. McSame bites the big one. (God forbid) And that elevates soccer mom to the presiduncy. Putin decides to get ugly and starts kickin’ butt in the former soviet republics. So, we have Palin and Putin goin’ nose to nose, a former head of the KBG, and the Wasilla Wonder. Now, who do you think is the most qualified in this situation? It’s an ABYSMALLY stupid choice, although I truly like it. It simply shows how far the Republican Party has fallen. The Republican Party died the day they shouted Barry Goldwater off the stage. (I still vividly remeber that day as if it were yesterday.) It has been peopled by morons every since, and that’s too bad. I actualy used to like many Republican politicians, particulary Goldwater. Heck, even Rob N. and I seem to agree on this one. And that’s scary!
Yeah, real scary when you think the other one isjust a two bit south side Chicago bag man.
I think this levels the playing field. Now instead of being called a racist because I will not vote for Obama, not because he is black but because of his lack of experience, I will be called a champion of the Womans movement because I will be voting for a female Vise President.
Since she is the Governor of Alaska, she is also Commander in Chief of the National Guard troops in Alaska. I think this is more than the Messiah has ever been in charge of. People do not vote for the Vice President but in this case…do we want her or the tears running down the face Biden? I’ll take her in a heartbeat. Ol Barry is in a world of hurt. His speech, while delivered nicely, basically sucked. He was soooooooooo angry. He wants to debate McCain but adamently refuses to engage in Townhall debates. He can’t handle an open forum as was evidenced at Saddleback. Of course the eco terriost might disagree.
Messiah ran what, 5 or 6 blocks as a bag man, I mean Aldeman?
So let me get this straight, McCain passes over party luminaries Tom Ridge, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Joe Liberman et al?
Sarah Palin is going to be McCain’s Thomas Eagleton.
The election is over.
Tom Ridge would have been an interesting choice and valid comments. Ridge was also a combat veteran ‘on the line’ in Vietnam as an Army squad leader.
“”"Two quick examples of the media’s desire to characterize her as a traitor to her political patrons.
A decade later, the nickname [Sarah Barracuda] resurfaced when she was a 28-year-old political novice on the Wasilla City Council. She turned on a veteran council member who had coaxed her to run for office, blocking a bill that would have steered business to his garbage-hauling firm.
The moniker was revived once again in 2003, when Alaska’s governor, whom she would later unseat, appointed her to a state oil-and-gas commission. As a brand-new member, she challenged the ethics of the panel’s leader, the chairman of state’s Republican Party, forcing him ultimately to resign.
Another example from the same Washington Post article (just to hammer the point):
Her swift ascent to the governorship, and now to a vice presidential nomination, is regarded by some in Alaska as a case of fortunate timing, for someone who possesses the right outsider’s tactics at the right political moment. Others cite driving ambition and instinctive opportunism — a willingness to turn on political patrons to get ahead.”"”
If she gets elected as VP, she will frame McCain and become President…….
In other words she has integrity and hates political corruption. Sounds like our very own Mary Jolley.
Anonymous August 30th, 2008 at 8:29 pm Says:
In other words she has integrity and hates political corruption. Sounds like our very own Mary Jolley.
DITTO.