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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As a liberal Democrat, I'm thrilled that McCain was stupid enough to think he could look cool or con any Hillary supporters by choosing the right-wing nutcase female Alaska governor. Of course the die-hard conservative crazies will be thrilled that she opposes teaching legitimate science in school, thinks women should have no right to choose abortion, believes global warming is a myth or at least has nothing to do with the pollution produced by big business, and all the other patented ignorant positions of the Insane Right. Anyone with an IQ over the speed limit, however, is going to be petrified at the notion that this woman could become President if anything untoward happened to a man, already not in perfect health, who would be at least 76 by the end of his first term. Maybe there are enough mindless people out there to elect this pair. But I'm guessing it's more likely that McCain just single-handedly elected Obama.
Dem strategists, stop laughing and get to work coming up with a good plan to counteract this!
mostlybluedot was absolutely right below about what this did: "South and Plains out West are gone."
Her ideological positions (creationism, prolife, drilling) will trump everything else and the double whammy of military service in both families is a big plus to their base, so they will ignore her lack of national experience entirely.
"Pretty happy about?" Excuse me, we are supposed to be "pretty happy" about the fact that our first female vp (and possible president) would be the product of pure political tokenism, a woman who stands against everything feminists have worked so hard to achieve? No sir, I don't think so. I am about as happy about Palin being a female veep pick as I am that Clarence Thomas is a black justice of the Supreme Court.
At least if she had gotten to the position by virtue of her own hard work and real value as a potential vice-president, I could have respected her if not agreed with her politics. As it is though, she's just a pawn.
I don't care what anyone says. I want to see her interviewed by a REAL reporter holding a sheet of nothing but what was uncovered in the FIRST TWELVE HOURS after her announcement. I want her on the fly explaining away EVERYTHING.
It won't happen. There will be a cultivated obscurity for the next two months that we can't afford, and that's what the Republicans are banking on -- heartwarming story, reformist badge, and "don't look behind the curtain."
I don't give a damn about bears. Bears are super-predators, and our ancestors killed them off for a reason: they kill and eat humans. If you love bears and think that I'm a monster for saying this, please, go live with bears, like Timothy Treadwell.
That being said, this is the best pick that McCain could have possible made. She's smart, convicted, and carries herself well. She speaks with conviction, but without coming off as shrill like Pelosi or Clinton. And, also very different, she is pleasing to the eye. Although I'm a conservative independent, I really wasn't excited at all about either prospect; but I have to admit, I'll now put my support and treasure behind McCain. With any luck, we'll see Palin running for POTUS in '12, and can finally have our first woman president. The American Maggie Thatcher if you will.
I don't quite agree with the second issue about the oil industry. Palin backed a large tax package increase last year on oil companies that resulted in a $6M increase in the state treasury. McCain does not support the windfall profits tax on oil companies that Obama supports, saying it would hinder domestic exploration.
This could cause some discontent in the Republican party since it's a little hard for Governor Palin to take that tax increase back.
You touched on the biggest plus for McCain's choice of Palin in #4, She will energize the Religious Right. On Friday morning my Mother-in-law, who - God bless her - believes dinosaurs existed 6000 years ago and were washed away in Noah's flood, left a breathless message on our answering machine. "She's a good Christian woman and a fine choice for VP!"
So all those folks who were going to stay at home because McCain is a lukewarm Christian are suddenly going to have a reason to vote.
I think Republicans have screwed the country (as well as stiffed the Religious Right) and deserve political oblivion, but I kind of like Palin. She is a Mom trying to do the best she can for her family and for her state as best she sees it. Palin isn't rich or highly educated or polished, but she has a certain gritty appeal and just might become a female Harry Truman.
That Sarah Palin could be the first female vice-president is hardly something to be happy about just because of historic significance. While the idea that anyone can be president may belong to lofty ideals of the American dream, the fact is that the job requires experience, character, intelligence and knowledge that the Governor of Alaska has not yet been able to demonstrate she possesses.
Would you hire a babysitter you know nothing about? How in the world can you "hire" a vice-president with a questionable, at best, track record and no stature. Her first foray onto the national stage showed what a complete travesty John McCain's VP selection process was. If I were one of the many republican women and men far more qualified for the job, I would be insulted and outraged. If Barack Obama and Joe Biden don't win in November, the United States of America will lose whatever vestiges of the respect for its former honor and glory that remain in the world.
Does anyone remember Micheal Brown the Ex-FEMA director/Horse Enthusiast that didn't know how to help New Orleans?
Here we go again, another attempt to place politics in front of the countries best interest. Why not pick a Republican woman (and there are several) that would be capable of leading this country in the event of John McCains incapapcitation? Well silly it is because they wouldn't pander to the RW evangelical lunatic fringe, so instead we'll go out and find anyone who will help us shore up that demographic. Does it matter that we know nothing about her, that she is known mostly for being a mayor of a very small town, and has almost no political experience. Nope...
This will have great short term Republican gains because it re-opens the experience debate at the top of the ticket and panders to women and the right of the Republican party. After yesterdays introduction I can't imagine this woman sitting down with Vladmir Putin and talking tough or guiding the country on economic policy. Bad ju-ju.
Well, this is what you do when you can't get Cindy to participate in that wet t shirt contest....I'm so fearful that this could actually be a boost to McSame because let's face it, much of America is pretty damned dumb and that's what they are counting on.
Can anyone say Michael Brown?
The danger of an appointment like this is that instead of getting someone capable of leading the country we get a purely political appointment. In the short run this will shore up the RW lunatic fringe and re-open the debate about experience at the top of the ticket. In the long run (which most people seem to fail to consider) this woman could be called on to run/protect the country. I wouldn't have had a problem with McCain picking a woman as his running mate if he had chosen one with some leadership experience.
Instead we get a "hockey mom" seemingly picked out of the crowd at a Focus on the Family rally. Fantastic.
Speaking of scandal
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/what-is-mccain-thinking-one-alaskans-perspective/
Lays out TrooperGate in all its glory. Also checked Wikipedia. Apparently she fired the police chief of Wasilia or wherever it is for political reasons as well.
David, Let me try to understand your logic.... Republicans are going to come out and support this woman in droves because of her anti-abortion, pro-gun, anti-evolution and pro-drilling stances. But at the same time female Democrats are so intellectually challenged that they will vote for the McCain ticket because there is a woman on it, regardless of her politics. I get it, you think Republicans are smart and women foolish. You give women and Hillary supporters so little credit.
"...I don't think most women simply vote for women, regardless of their positions on issues."
Please try speed reading with a little less speed, and a little more reading. Sirota's point, I think, is that SOME ardent supporters of Hillary MAY vote on gender only, but likely, and fortunately, not very many.
"Something to be happy about"? Man, I can't believe Sirota wrote that.
This right-wing Republican is on the verge of being President... and we're supposed to be happy because of the historic precedent? So what?!?!? Electing the leader of the Nazi party to the White House would be an historical precedent... and for that we should be happy?
This Palin thing is scary. She has even firebrands like Sirota sounding all smarmy.
Welcome to four more years of Bush.
If its not earned, what's the point of having the first woman vice president? She doesn't have the history or resume for it to matter....its obviously a political move and she's it, no doubt about it.
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