McCain wanted Lieberman. Rove wanted Romney. Obama's convention looked fabulous and the Republicans had to rain on that party as best they could, so McCain impulsively chose Palin, who turned out to have some dirt in her background. After the dirt started raining down, the Republicans sent lots of vetters to Alaska to inspect the record that they hadn't bothered to look at before. McCain met Palin moments before he picked her. Impulsiveness, McCain's besetting sin, asserts itself once again.
And then there's the corollary. In today's Financial Times, McCain declares that the vetting was "thorough," even though all of us can see that it wasn't and couldn't have been. So now you have it, folks, a perfect demonstration of the McCain-Palin ticket and future governing pattern -- act on impulse, cover it up by lying, demonstrate over and over that your own ambitions are more important than security and good governance.
It may be that American voters will fall for this, in spite of the fully demonstrated incompetence and criminality of the rightwing. I'm glad to see, though, that the bookies, who in this case seem to be more levelheaded than most observers, say no. It also may be that the Republicans have their vote stealing operations fully functional and the current election is simply a sham. In either of these cases, we WILL get McCain and Palin, and if we do, the decline of the US under Bush will turn into a collapse under McCain.
When we look at Bush, Cheney, McCain, and Palin, what we see are different varieties of selfishness. Bush's selfishness is defensive, stubborn, and dumb. Cheney's is power-mad. Those were bad enough, and even the Republican platform agrees that they have been destructive. McCain's selfishness is impulsive and hotheaded, while Palin's is simply heedless (and, judging by reports from Wasilla, vengeful). So, there you have it. The Republicans think that selfishness is a winning ticket that always appeals to something in the American people--would that be selfishness? Obama has made his opposition to selfishness explicit. That doesn't mean he will win--unless the bookies are right. I hope they are. Because four or eight more years of lying, cheating, opportunism, war-mongering, refusal to prepare for things, and a lack of "vetting" will surely do us in. And let's be clear. There is no one in the world, not even Putin, who can do us in. It can only be suicide.
Now Ms. Smiley, quit harping on Bill Clinton and Monica - We ALL know about his leadership.
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I have read all of your novels (loved them) and I read your posts.
BUT, I think you missed something this time. McCain didn't choose Pailn, the neocons (Rove, et al.) did. If McCain wants Diebold's support and you know he does -- being POTUS has been his life long pursuit -- he had to go along with this ruse.
Palin is an even better Bush than Bush. Probably because of her days as a weather girl, she can actually read a teleprompter. This speech was clearly not written by her -- she doesn't have the training to write anything this well crafted -- but she is a better Charlie McCarthy than the neocons have had the last eight years.
Most important buzz word of the evening -- "VETO". If this pair is elected, she WILL be president as soon as the old man has the inevitable heart attack. Universal health care, Social Security and the Supremes along with even more of our civil liberties ("and Obama wants to read 'em their rights before arresting them") will go down the drain so fast, we will never be the same again.
I was perplexed with the choice of Palin, but, after last night, I get it. Thanks.
The sheer arrogance of this pick and Palin's attack supports this horrific theory. The election will be stolen once again - I suppose that is preferable to believing a majority of the voters would actually vote these monsters in.
Either way, a mcp administration would be the end of America and the world because folks like this don't go down without taking everyone else with them.
Ignorance is a two edged sword, however, that swings uncontrollably both ways. The wide stance you employ only defends an ideology that actually hurts your own interests, in the long run, unless you are a CEO or someone aloof from the effects of the corrupt policies of the right... But you probably can't understand that, you're head's too deep in the muck of your self-righteousness and scripture.
LOOK IN THE MIRROR, you sacrificed these people Pro Life? I think not! Sarah Palin, Pro Life ? NO,
"No Choice" for women and innocent animals. Nice picture of her sitting by her freshly slaughtered Moose, btw.
One party (The GOP) promises tax cuts for corporations....
The other party (The DEMs) promises no tax relief for corporations...
Now, the voting machines (PROGRAMMED to record votes) which will be in use by the american public in November are introduced by (guess who?) corporations...
If these corporations were to, let's say, have the outcome of this election be in their best interest, which party would be they more likely inclined to rig the election in favor of?
The only way the DEMs can win this thing, is if the winning margin is big.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/18/ohio_e_voting_machines_confiscated/comments/
Alas, if that's what the people want, then let the US have it. It is the government we deserve. An egotistical, manical soccer mom who can BS like a champ. It would be humorous if it weren't so pathetic.
Oh we are so glad to see that you, a leftie, are SO ambitious about winning the war against terror.
Don't make me laugh you traditional two-faced leftie.
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It's of no consequence if your mother is running for the second highest office in the land and there will be plenty of taxpayer's money to have nannies.
As for Ms. Palin, she showed her true colors last night by lying about herself, her experience and Obama and the Democrats. Talk issues and lets see how good you are, you twit!!! To belittle Obama for his work with out of work steel mill workers by organizing and getting better lives for them, sure trumps being mayor of 5000 people and then having to have an administrator to handle her job that she was not qualified for.
All I can say is, they must breed like minks up there in the cold country. Guess besides guns, that's all they have.! North to Alaska !!