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At First Glance, Palin Is A Smart Choice
I can't say I'm all that surprised by John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) as his runningmate. At first glance - and this will be negated if bad scandals come out - the choice is a very smart one, so smart, in fact, that, as an Obama supporter, it scares me.
Here's four reasons why this is a pretty smart choice - and for progressives, I think its a good idea that we look at these factors as we head into the final stretch of the campaign:
1. Putting a woman on the ticket is McCain's best hope to peel off some disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters. I'm not saying it's going to work all that well, as I don't think most women simply vote for women, regardless of their positions on issues. But if McCain really does have a chance to win over Clinton supporters, picking Palin is as good a shot as any to try to do that.2. Palin comes from an energy state, and specifically, an oil and gas state. With Democrats' pathetically (yet predictably) tepid behavior on the drilling issue, the GOP senses an opportunity to exploit it, and you can bet Palin will be making the drilling case, with first-person narratives and anecdotes.
3. It will be difficult - though not impossible - for the Obama campaign to make an experience argument against Palin. Even though Palin is probably the most inexperienced candidate for vice president in contemporary American history, the Republicans have spent months attacking Obama's supposed lack of experience. So when gnats like Rahm Emanuel issue silly, over-the-top press releases about Palin's career, they re-open an experience debate that John McCain probably wants to have with Obama.
4. As the Nation's Chris Hayes reports, Palin is a die-hard right-winger who could help McCain solidify the Republican base.
Again, all of these assets could be negated by things that come out about Palin's career and/or gaffes she makes on the campaign trail. I'm sure hoping that's what happens, and we'll need to really help examine and publicize the most odious parts of her record, as well as make the case that the experience of a 72-year-old candidate's VP choice is especially important. But we underestimate her - and the McCain operation - at our peril.
Finally, let's step back a moment, take off the partisan blinders, and celebrate. Palin's nomination all but guarantees that the United States will either have its first African American president or its first female vice-president. I desperately hope its the former, and not the latter - but the historic nature of either is something to be pretty happy about.
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I'm a woman, and I don't see why I should view the nomination of a gun-toting, anti-environment, anti-choice politician as anything to be "happy about." It's a step back for women, no matter how you look at it.
I knew McCain was a pilot but I didn’t know he was a Kamikaze. Did he just fly his plane into the GOP headquarters with everybody inside?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiVPWHLpEjk
She literally asked what a VP does and is it a busy job? U have to see this video!!!!!
David,
I disagree with you. This pick makes no sense. This person is governor of one of the least populated states in the country. And she's only had that job for 19 months. She knows absolutely nothing about foreign policy. She believes in creationism. She believes abortion should be outlawed even when the woman is a victim of rape or incest. That's red meat for the Republican base, but undecided, centrist suburbanites won't like this.
McCain, as even his supporters will concede, is old. And he's had cancer. And he has an explosive temper. He doesn't deal well with stress. People are learning these facts about him.
If John McCain was president, and something happened to him, can we be confident about Palin's judgment and ability? She hasn't been through a national campaign. We really know nothing about her. Would she understand the very basics of the job?
I don't feel comfortable with her just "one heartbeat away" from the Oval Office.
She's too much of an extremist on the social issues and she's way too inexperienced to lead our country. She's a wild card. And I'm not willing to gamble on something this important.
I believe that Palin was chosen for political reasons---not because she was truly the most qualified to become president in a crisis.
This selection honestly makes me question John McCain's judgment and his integrity.
The Democratic primary was historic. The convention/nomination was historic. Clinton & Obama were both (obviously) credible candidates for the office of President.
Obama chose a Vice Presidential candidate who is arguably even more prepared for the office than he is. This shows not only great judgement but HUGE RESPECT AND CONCERN for the welfare of his country ....
As for what McCain shows the country with his behavior and his choices . . . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiVPWHLpEjk
She literally asked what a VP does and is it a busy job?
I think your last comment shows that Obama should be VP and Biden headliner. I mean WHY would we put theleast experienced person in the most crucial position?
sirota is correct.
liberals always imagine that the media will report objectively on republicans and therefore expose their weak points.
aint gonna happen.
the gop will control access to her, present her in settings that she can shine in, and hope that she doesn't kill herself in the debate.
anyone who doesn't think she is going to be an asset, after watching her rollout, is kidding themselves.
also, she has shown a ruthlessness that fits right in. she is showing that she will lie without hesitation - the troopergate scandal which is being ignored, and her bridge to nowhere lies - and if she continues the mccain tradition of saying whatever she wants to say, in order to fit the present circumstances, she will do very very well
Palin is about winning the election. That the beginning and the end of it. McCain's choice is not about leadership. It is not about restoring this nation. It is not about fixing broken government. It is about the fix. That I want to lead at any cost fix, that Mr McCain is hooked on. This choice is about as far sighted as Tuesday, November 4, 2008. After that it is meaningless.
"Finally, let's step back a moment, take off the partisan blinders, and celebrate. Palin's nomination all but guarantees that the United States will either have its first African American president or its first female vice-president. I desperately hope its the former, and not the latter - but the historic nature of either is something to be pretty happy about."
Did you think Clarence Thomas being the second African-American appointed to the highest bench was something to be happy about?
Putting Sarah Palin on the ticket is not going to pull disaffected women voters to McCain. Putting Condi Rice on the ticket or Abby Dole on the ticket might have done that, because they are conservative versions of Hillary Clinton. They would demonstrate that McCain chose what women valued in Hillary Clinton - her mind, her experience, her ideas - not her uterus. Sarah Palin exemplifies the cheapest hit at women voters: "I know you all you adorable things want is to do is vote for someone you'd like to go to the Ladies Room with."
Thank you, David. We definitely should not get over confident. Too much is at stake this time -- including the Supreme Court
Generally, I agree, except that you diminish Obama's record in comparison to Palin's. I know you have distructed him from the start, but without going into the resume itself, we have to recognize that Alaska is one of the smallest populations in the nation. Alaska is small enough that Palin can get her agenda through just by taking on one or two key opponents. That is nothing like working through the maze that is Chicago politics. I am not just talking experience in office, I am talking political acumen and skills. Would Palin have been able to put together a campaign organization like Obama's? Would she have been able to win? Winning means something.
The oil state and the appeal to women is something to recognize. She is a character and likes to shake things up. Plus, according to the New Yorker article here on Huffington, she may have been a closet Obama supporter!!. She seems to like change. Yet the right wing is embracing her and could help McCain with the rightwing base. This is what I am most worried about, that they come out and vote.
The decision told me that the Republicans think they can't win if something does not change soon. It said they think they can't win. How else do you explain torpedoing the experience argument.
I have talk to a number of Hillary supported. They feel insulted. I expect Hillary Clinton to work extra hard to defeat the Republican ticket.
Here are some ridiculous statements they have made already.
McCain: She is ready to be president.
Palin: I am ready to be president. Yup. Yup. Especially with a good team around me.
I hear this and wonder if they think all Americans are stupid, not just the women.
It is such a political calculation, done out of desparation.
McCain is craving being president that he is losing any credibility.
The experience argument seems pointless. , given tha the top 2 dem Candidates weren't that experienced either. Besides Cheney, Colin Powell had experience, Rumsfield had experience - were we better off because of it?
Hell no! In fact their experience gave them the arrogance to brush off their responsibility to the electorate.
the main thing that this appointment evoked was the short term shock value that relegated obama's big night from the top of the page to below the fold. this was probably its greatest benefit and i feel [if you look at the articles printed here today] the long term results will be a disaster for mcsame.
leaving a 'special needs' baby and returning to work three days later is NOT what the women's movement was all about. troopergate, polar bears, global warming, ignorance regarding the war in iraq, and this is only the beginning.
the whole world is laughing.
what was obama saying the other night about temperament and judgment?
Your comments about Palins decision on her family life are misogynistic,Would you make the same remark about a male candidate? The woman's movement was about making decisions for yourself. - We have no idea about what her family arrangements were and unless you want to vett all male candidates for the same post partum choices , we have no right to ask.
Yeah at first glance and then you blink and it is gone!
ROTFLMAO
What seems to be missing from all of these posts on HuffPost is an examination of two obvious reasons why Palin was selected . . .
Numero uno: The Republicans are finally thinking beyond tomorrow. They picked Palin to assure themselves that they will LOSE this election. They are reasonably certain that Obama and company won't even scratch the surface as far as cleaning up the incredible mess they've created over the last seven years. So, come the latter half of 2011, they will be shouting to the heavens that the Democrats haven't solved a thing. The lemming-like, short attention span, anti-intellectual electorate will take their bate and vote them back into office. They are willing to wait for 2012 because it will take at least four years before their personal fortunes made during Bush's years begins to be affected.
Numero two-o: As anyone with half a political brain will agree, Republicans eat their own. If one of them strays from the or doesn't fit "the message"(think O-Neal and Myers), they are immediately replaced. The same with Palin; if within three weeks the poll numbers are overwhelmingly negative because of her, she will be sacrificed for the cause. The powers that be in Alaska will be politely asked to step up the their "investigation" into her scandal(s)--and she be gone, bubba! And, like a good soldier, she'll take her medicine, wait a year, & write a tell-all book about her experiences.
It's no more complicated than that!
When I hear anyone wants to teach alternatives to evolution - the first questions to pop into my mind - "What else are they ignorant about?"
With her limited education and focus on journalism, I wonder what she knows about economics and accounting. Has she ever had an Econ 101 class in college? Even that? Given the resource wealth of Alaska, I'm sure she's never had to contemplate any complex issues of monetary or fiscal policy... other than balancing a spreadsheet.
If that's the case, I'd find it hard to fathom she can intelligently answer questions about issues regarding the nation's economy. And because nobody knows her, I don't think McCain can rightfully hide her frpm the press.
I fear she may be quickly defined as under-qualified on many issues.
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