Sunday Roundup

Picking Sarah Palin was clearly a Hail Mary pass. But the McCain campaign is tapping into an archetype that resonates deep in the human psyche. That of the unknown innocent plucked from obscurity and magnificently rising to the challenge. Hollywood has long recognized the appeal of this fantasy. Think Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, A Face in the Crowd, Dave, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. So in questioning Palin, it's not enough for Democrats to mock the smallness of Wasilla, Alaska or shout, "it's insulting," "it's ridiculous," "it's pathetic." They must make the case that given the gulf between the crises we face and her capacity to handle them, this is a truly dangerous choice. Forget Dan Quayle. Palin is more Harriet Miers -- chosen for all the wrong reasons, and glaringly not up to the task. Maybe an anxious nation can offer John McCain a do-over.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

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Comments

[IowaKid]

Thank you Arianna, you again hit the nail on the head. Talk about good judgement, I think this says a lot about McCain's poor judgement. This kind of pandering is totally unacceptable.

[Mahi Joe]

I think you are overlooking the fact that Palin will play to the GOP base with her anti-abortion stance and all the other issues she supports which is aligned with the GOP . The GOP party could care less about what the Democrats or even the MSM thinks because if she can sway the fundementalist christians they stand to gain a lot of votes not to mention a lot of contributions. Remember, an election is all about who has the most votes when all is done and counted.

[LiberalDemIda]

That's true, Mahi_Joe but isn't it also true that the majority of Repubs vote Repub no matter what?

The Democratic Party voters have voted for Repubs in the past, but very, very few Repubs return the favor even if it meant voting Repub would take our country down deeper in the shiite.

It's always been the Independent voters that tilted the election this or that way. Now, with the incredible insurgence of young voters at an extra 4 million strong new registered (thusfar) to the Democratic Party and the Independents fed up with failed Repub policies while Obama is anything BUT a typical Dem, Christian voters are effectively made obsolete, and are probably rethinking how they should vote.

Not to belittle their votes, but with a 12-year Repub rule in all three branches of government and women's rights still alive today, even they have turn to "pocketbook issues" and keep a jaundiced eye on their finances that are dwindling fast !

How can they pay their tithers with no dollars?

Obama / Biden '08/'12!!

[Mahi Joe]

Yes, what you say is true. About a two weeks ago I read that the fundie christians were fragmented and some even thinking of backing Obama. Remember, these fundies are a one issue group that rallied around Pro Life (or anti-abortion). But, given 8 years of Bush backed by a conservative Supreme Court, they could not overturn Roe Vs Wade and started looking at a larger picture than the one singular issue as before. Then, out of nowhere comes this Pro Life woman for VP who is being used to reunite the fundies under their one issue flag again. I also agree we need to secure the undecideds, independents and the youth vote to insure us the numbers we need to win.

[mcfried]

Absolutely - it is more important than ever to get out the vote.

[cheforacle]

It is important to them but that is something McCain did during the last month by attacking Obama. He finally managed to unify his base behind him. I do not think this will achieve his primary need: to steal indies from Obama. Inittally it may but after the buzz about the Palin pick dies, they will not be persuaded by this pick. The Dems need to avoid any mention of her personal life and relentlessly focus on her pro-life, teach Creationsim, deny global warming is man-made stands.

[deceiveandobsfucate]

This may not garner all the votes that they had hoped, though...s­ome true Fundamentalists are dismayed by this pick because it takes her out of the home and away from her children.

[Pragmatus]

A Hail Mary pass requires a Hail Mary catch in order for it to have any effect, and Sarah Palin, while able to parrot the RNC talking points, doesn't seem to have much of her own to say. The fact that she looks so much like Anita Bryant suggests just where the McClone campaign is going--right back to the vapid tone and tenor of the 1970s.

Palin's weakest point (and thus also McClone's) is that she actually believes that Creationism should be taught in our public schools. This is abject idiocy, especially when one considers that the same fluffy thinking just might be in charge of the largest nuclear arsenal in the world some day.

[taniacaa]

As a Republican from Central Florida, the Palin VP pick has just confirmed to me that the Republicans want middle class Americans to live a "pioneers lifestyle"­...no home, no education, no job, and no healthcare. We middle class Americans will all be retrained to hunt and live off the land.

As to her "executive experience­"...BUSH was a govenor and look at the state of our economy now.

[Indubio]

Historically, governors with little or no Washington experience make lousy federal executives. Perfect example is Carter, who was and is a good man, a decent governor but a terrible president. The Washington process and its politics are terribly complex and foreign affairs even more so. It's no place for a political light weight or an amateur politician.

[disgusted48]

HuffPost's Pick

If you look closely at some of Carter's initiatives, especially in the area of the environment and energy, he was really a pioneer. It was the short sighted democratic congress that did not back him up, as well as reagan who was really the lousy president that dismantled many of Carter's energy initiatives. Better examples of lousy governors turned Presidents and reagan and bush II.

[mamadeus]

Carter was a decent guy and president. Big money jacked him around because he didn't
give them every thing they wanted. He was honest and tried to live on a budget NOT like his majesty Reagan.

[dmstingley]

John McCain picked Palin to steal Obama's thunder, and God is returning the favor by stealing the McCains thunder with Gustav. I pray for the safety of all who will be effected by the storm, but God has trumped the republicans. Maybe Dr. James Dobson will think twice before he and the right wing pray for rain against the Democrats convention the next time. Boy ARE THEY GETTING RAIN!

[sf94127]

Now this is really funny; thanks for this.

G-d's wrath on the GOP.

Fuuuunnnnny.

[GrkAm]

dmstingley . . . I woke up thinking the very same thing! I pray that lives will be spared, and levies will hold for all the people affected by Gustav. I would NEVER pray for any level of pain for others! However, how convenient of a backdrop for McCain to accept the Republican nomination somewhere in the storm. I'm sure it will be just the ticket to seal the deal.

[HSimpson]

Gustav I think is God's way of helping John McCain. He'd really prefer not to have Bush anywhere near the GOP convention, Bush knows that, and now Gustav has provided the perfectly plausible excuse for why Bush cannot attend. Thus not adding to the Bush/McCain connection the Dems are trying to make, yet still not looking like he's being "dissed" by the GOP nominee. BooYa!

[mdn]

The fact that she is a mother to 5 children, including a 4-month-old, down-syndrome infant, and running for VP has me very concerned. It is clear that she is not particularly concerned about raising a special needs child who will need all the love she can give. It is great that she can run a state with the population of some congressional districts and be a working mom. The White House is not about being a working mom. This requires all of ones attention, and I would hope that her attention would at least be split. If not, then she is not really a working mom, but an absent parent.

A "Maverick" can be reckless, and this was a clearly reckless choice for our country.

[rboyl]

Palin's nomination is reminiscent of Clarence Thomas' selection for the Supreme Court. Nominated to replace Thurgood Marshall, Thomas had neither his predecessor's intellect or ideology. He was however, black, and gave Antonin Scalia two votes instead of one.

Palin, now nominated in the wake of Hillary Clinton's primary run, is expected to motivate women to vote for McCain even though she shares neither Clinton's experience or policy positions.

Do Republicans really think woman are that stupid?

[colette]

Arianna -- You are so right about the way the Dems have to address Palin's candidacy. We can all mock it privately -- it's so ludicrous. But an independent voter I know, female, is amazingly excited about Palin because she's so "real" and "honest" and "one of us," and she's a dedicated Mom, had her disabled baby, etc. etc.

Yup, it's the female version of the American Pioneer Myth: the hard-working, fresh-faced, honest-spoken, unpretentious pioneer, brings integrity to government through the fibers of her homespun being and at the barrel of her shotgun. It's a scary archetype, because it blends some of the pluckiest aspects of Americana with much of its worst Yahooism.

But as I'm sure George Lakoff agrees, the way for Obama/Biden to demolish this myth is not to talk down to Palin, or make fun of her ( SO tempting), but to respectfully and skillfully and lethally reveal her terrifying ignorance on matters that scare (yes, scare)many Americans -- the crappy economy, foreign policies, global warming.

The anti-intel­lectualism that the Rove people trade on makes me ill. The notion of electing smart, educated people with vision and respect for our intelligence has been demolished since Reagan (though McCarthy, Stevenson and McGovern were also defeated as smartypant­s.)

When liberals criticize Obama for the gracious tone of his remarks about Palin, let's remember that he has a strategy. And it's one that may be our best hope to discredit this ticket and win.

[Johnjlws]

3 words that should give anyone with a thought in their head pause with this choice: Supreme Court nominees.

Beyond this, some of those who support "the Maverick" also blamed New Orleans and its lack of moral character when Katrina hit--these mental giants saw this storm as God's wrath. I'm wondering, therefore, with Gustav about to obliterate the republican national convention, if maybe this isn't God's wrath saying to the republicans "Nope, sorry, not interested­." For the first and probalby only time, I would have to agree with these prophets.

[GASDOCPOL]

We are all victims of Hollywood. Some of us just a little; some almost entirely . Dennis Kucinich was doomed from the get-go because John Wayne he ain't. As good his policy intentions might be, few would take him seriously.

John McCain, himself, is a Hollywood type fantasy. It is no accident that "Maverick" is a title of honor. "Top Gun" was a great flick.

Just as "dog bites man" is not news but "man bites dog" is news, disobedience resulting in victory makes a better story than military discipline resulting in victory.

Sarah Palin is beautiful, smart, confident and articulate enough. The Hollywood type appeal is there.


She has not been Alaska Governor long enough for the hens to come home to roost. Her grasp of science is pre Age of Enlightenment. She is in denial of human contribution to global warming and thinks that creationism is science.

What is most frightening of all is that McCain would be the all time oldest President and has a history of cancer.

[athenasword]

"Our number two has more experience than their number ONE". "She's made more decisions". She has more administrative, executive experience than Obama and Biden put together".­.. These are statements I just heard and I could swear they are actually getting traction, folks! I am not hearing alot of media challenge to this amazing lie! Wow, do we have work to do!!!!!!!!

[jrbluejay]

Let pitch in and buy us a news station!

[Bonsage]

I know it's hard to believe, but it's really not the media's role to challenge political statements, just to report them - it's up to the opposing candidate, except for clearly identified editorials or commentators. Just as Republicans, it IS hard to go it alone.

[SeekerOne]

It's also imperative that America be told what a "non-maverick" choice Palin is. She is another social conservative who believes that creationism should be taught in our public schools; that a woman does not have a right to choose; and, that global warming is not the result of carbon emissions.

[hyjanks]

It looks like the impending hurricane has thinned the ranks of everyone but the rank and file, but what I'd like to know is WHY AREN'T WE HEARING ANYTHING ABOUT THE PALIN CHOICE FROM THE REPUBLICAN HIERARCHY? Where's the opinion--any opinion--of the likes of even Lieberman?
Are they waiting for the first official poll results before they weigh in on this choice?
This is all very curious . . . but expected.

[progressiveconomist]

Barack Obama's real argument against the Republican ticket is that John McCain believes that change comes from the top down ("two great republican leaders"). Barack Obama has said repeatedly: "This isn't about me. It's about you." He will press for movement-based political change that influences all of the ticket, changes the Congress, and thus provides the foundation for real policy change. And his incredibly wired campaign may make such change possible.

Let's accept that John McCain and Sarah Palin sincerely want to reform Washington and make it more ethical. Let's accept that they really want to be fiscally conservative. The economic arguments against the Republican proposals are overwhelming, so I won't waste time reviewing them.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden shouldn't bother to diss Sarah Palin. They should just work hard to be the spearhead of a REALLY BIG MOVEMENT that changes both the White House and the Congress.

[LindaL]

These 2 sentences about making decisions -- from McCain's 2002 book "Worth the Fighting For" -- should be reason enough not to elect him president: “I make them as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can. Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.­”

Looks like Palin is one of his mistaken decisions that he will live with -- but thankfully the rest of the country won't have to after Nov. 4!