President Palin

Vice President Palin. President Palin.

Like it or not, John McCain, this is your case:

In a dangerous world, who will keep you safe? At a perilous time, who has the experience to face down the Russians, track down the terrorists, back down the Iranians, and bring peace to the Middle East? Who do you deserve to have a heartbeat away from the red phone?

Obama, you said the race is about presidential temperament.

Well, eat this, Barack. You want to see my presidential temperament in action? Sarah f*in' Palin, man. That's the ticket!

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

Follow Marty Kaplan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/martykaplan

Comments

[2celestial]

Is it just me or is she a dead ringer for Tina Fey!!??

[Gericault]

I love Tina Fey. Is she stiill on SNL? That would be awesome.

[rlkinny]

Oh, yeah! I knew something seemed familiar, and it couldn't have been because we'd actually seen her picture in a newspaper in the lower 48 states.

[bandithappy]

Andrea Mitchell is saying that some women who do not share her ideology are taken with Sarah Palin's personal story.

My first take on Palin -- Obama won last night. Obama won even more this morning.

My second take -- if nothing else, McCain has distracted us from Obama's historic speech and strengthened his image as "maverick" (even though it should strengthen his image as "panderer")

The electorate is not 100% rational, in case no one's noticed.

I think Obama should have chosen Hillary as VP. Not only because his first decision as "president" should be bold and just (Hillary's 18 mil votes). But, on a pragmatic level, I think Hillary would have given Obama the strongest electoral "safety net". No one can predict how all the moving parts will move in this election. But 18 million plus 18 million makes 36 million. How many votes did Biden get?

[Bademus]

To the extent that choosing Joe Biden shows Obama's excellent judgment, the pick of Pallin shows McCain's lack therein.

[ashenthorn]

The most important thing about this selection is: At what point did McCain decide to abandon the "inexperienced, risky, unqualified and not ready to lead" line of attack against Obama and why? It seemed to be working according to the publicly released polling. His internals must have suggested that he could not get over the top with it.

[wdw101]

so he has good advisers.....right

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

He has come to the realization that his entire campaign is nothing more than a circus with the world's oldest ringmaster.

what they're setting up is the obvious pitfalls of attacking Mrs. Congeniality - if the American public as a whole doesn't want to let me down then at this point they'll swallow this stunt hook, line and sinker.

personally I don't think I've ever heard of a more desperate pick for veep... ever.

[blackfrost]

My wifes boss, a diehard Republican, said "What is the matter with McCain? He just shot himself in the foot" My wife replied, "Now he has two macthing feet"

[Davwbaird]

Alaska State Population: 626,932
Alaska Area: 586,412 sq. mi. - two and a half times larger than Texas.

[plooger]

Scary thought... January 20, 2009... Sarah Palin being sworn-in as the 44th President of the United States of America, having undergone only 2 months of public scrutiny and participating in only one public debate.

[wdw101]

then i guess it is good that she will be sworn in as the VP.......right?

[JLee]

Yeah, if elected, a VP to the oldest elected President in U.S. history who has suffered cancer, both whose father and grandfather were younger than he is now when they passed away from sudden heart failure.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

obviously, you missed the point ;-)

[wadda]

This is just another example of John McCain's increasingly poor judgment.

He is not a maverick. He's a loose cannon.

[530Rose]

Yet another good reason to have him thoroughly examined for PTSD and early evidence of dementia before the election. His mental health is just as important, and IMHO just as tenuous, as his physical health. Remember how RR said so often "oh, I guess I forgot..." before he was eventually diagnosed. The family and party kept it hidden, but he was obviously suffering from dementia while he was POTUS. We don't need someone with mental health issues in the white house during troubled times. And we don't need someone in the number two spot who admits to having no opinion about the war in Iraq even though her son is due to be deployed next month!

[tel8034]

WHO IS SARAH PALIN?

IS 69 DAYS ENOUGH TIME TO PROPERLY VET HER?

From what we already know of her, she is probably a good hostess and the provider of soccer game snacks for the kids.................... BUT A VP WHO MAY HAVE TO ASSUME THE POSITION OF POTUS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE PRESIDENT? ............. PLEEEEEEEEEEEEZE.

[wdw101]

she has been vetted already............

[wtf08]

OMG (>o

[urthsong]

The only way this makes sense is if McCain is confident that RNC can once again steal a third election. After all, 36% of the votes will be done on computers that cannot be secured. McCain has already suggested Cheney for Secretary of Defense. So Cheney would remain the puppeteer as he has been with Dubya with no challenge by the VP. Mark Crispin Miller has said that there would need to be a 10% spread in the vote to achieve a presidential victory given the hacking, fraud and disenfrachisement and lies and propaganda the RNC has set up or is working on. They figure that they will be able to divide and conquer again with five Supremes as back up if all else fails as was done in 2000. Would the Democrats again turn their backs and allow the lies and "Get over it!" order stand?

[AzRealProgressive]

First, Cheney has repeatedly stated he is done after his term expires. So your information about Cheney becoming defense secretary is false. No one stole any election, Democrats were spanked in 2000, and 2004. And if they lose this time maybe the DNC will find a candidate the american people will vote for instead of fielding a moveon.org selection. If obama wins, that will speak to what the people want.

[jotunloki]

And it's raining silver dollars outside my window.

[MNinWI]

Really? The elections were not stolen? Were you living under a rock in 2000 & 2004 and came out from under it unable to read or be aware of your surroundings? Those elections were stolen-this administration was an illegal take-over of our gov't and we allowed it to happen. You need to change your username-it's a lie but we can't expect anything but lies to come from repugs. You people are dissolving before our eyes & it has been a pleasure to watch. Payback for destroying our country.

[Jurisgator]

Here's what to expect. This messy Mickey Mouse matter points up just how Mickey Mouse her experience has been. The media is going to tear her up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQx42Tsz5NQ

[Jaime47]

Unfortunately, the media will NOT 'tear her up', because

1) She's a woman.
2) She's cute.
3) She has a special needs child.
4) She seems 'decent' and 'clean'.
5) She's married to a Native American (well, one-eighth anyway).
6) She's cute.
7) She has five (!) kids.
8) She was voted Miss Congeniality.
9) She's cute.
10) She stood up for her sister (even though it involved an abuse of power).

and .....
11) She's cute.

[Maccabees]

The only way this will be a plus for McCain is if the Vice Presidential debate includes a swimsuit competition.

[ShamusNYC]

Well, Joe has a winning smile...

[mmerose]

Golly, this does seem awful weak. Only sense it makes is as sop to the crackpot base, the anti-choice, pro-drill, global warming denier hardcores. If her secret weapon is not fighting fair, as in debating Hannity, maybe they expect to neutralize Biden in the debate. Especially since he's going to be coached to death not to be patronizing, not to be soft on her because she's a woman, but don't be too tough because that will look like he's being mean to a woman.....

Poor Joe.

[AzRealProgressive]

You might include how women will view her in your thought process.

[kenyaw]

mmerose,
You are brilliant! This was a move to completely made to element the strength of Joe Biden. It was a chess move that was all about keeping the debate between Senators Obama and McCain.
It is a set-up for Sen Biden. He comes off as a person that will seriously screw up and say the wrong thing when he gets excited...Especially if he has to debate a lady.
And I am sure Karl Rove and Co. want to attract enough of those women who were only interested in seeing a women win regardless of policy and vision for the country.

[AnnieinOR]

Former Republican Congressman and host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough said, "If John McCain's campaign thinks he can get Hillary Clinton voters by choosing Palin it is condescending and insulting to women and it is a terrible political faux pax."

[JLee]

Wow, I can't believe Scarborough and I agree on something!

[Bronxcutie]

This is a slap in the face of women. She is a token. Hillary was a candidate that happened to be female, like Barack is an amazing candidate who happens to be black/biracial. This woman was picked solely based on gender. If Hillary was VP he would have picked Romney. He must think we're stupid.

[FatherKindly]

Absolutely! And many millions of us are, apparently.

[northcan]

That's McCain's problem; He thinks everyone is stupid but him. And it is a slap in the face for all the women, McCain is hoping to tackle away from Dem's. Will he fellow women? Is this truly what Geraldine Ferraro wants? Sounds like it.

[plooger]

Yeah, from what GF was saying, the Palin choice is likely acceptable to her. (i.e. gender uber alles)

I like the fact that Americans have yet another stark choice in their Presidential election, and are yet again on the cusp of choosing the ticket most detrimental to our common good.

[AzRealProgressive]

How is any woman a heart beat away from the presidency a token?

[hazirene]

This too was my reaction when I heard his pick. I do not think McCain has any respect for women judging by the way he treats his wife and the names he calls her AND, volunteering her for the biker' beauty? contest??. . as she stood on stage.

Joke or no joke, it was insulting to his wife. I get the distinct impression that he thinks women are stupid and can't think any further than to vote for a woman simply because she is a woman. I think it is also a insult to Hillary Clinton too because she was much more than just a woman running for office!!! I have watched Obama ever since his speech in 2004 and even closer these last 18 months.. . . his speech Thursday set my vote for him in stone!

[shel3364]

ya know, I wasn't a Hill supporter, but she has substance...

What IS this choice all about here? Just grabbing the media from O???

[JLee]

Yup. To be a week's worth of novelty for the media.

[plooger]

Don't know if you listened, but Palin literally asked for women to vote for her based on her gender, in order to break through the glass ceiling.