Last week I asked folks to predict who would be the VP choices, and surprisingly, no one picked the ultimate winners! I am most impressed with Strong Moderate who was the only person to predict Sarah Palin. Nice job, I don’t think too many people had her on the short list last week.
While I think McCain’s pick was less “safe” than Obama’s, I think it will ultimately hurt him. Just as Dan Quayle became an albatross around Sr. Bush’s neck, I think Palin will also come up short for McCain. Why? One reason, she has no experience. She is even fresher than Obama, and that is startling in itself. Reading her bio on Wikipedia proves her to be a very interesting individual, however I am not sure that her qualifications (2nd in 1984 Miss Alaska competition) are going to energize the electorate.
I think the most interesting line in her bio is, “On September 11, 2007, the Palins’ then eighteen-year-old son Track, eldest of five, joined the Army. He now serves in an infantry brigade and will be deployed to Iraq on September 11, 2008″ That sure is a lot of 9/11’s. Coincidence? Let’s see what EuroYank has to say…
What do you think?
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17 Comments
I do believe she’s a great pick. This is the year of the political outsider, after all, and she definitely fits in that category. Besides, she’s got populist appeal to spare.
No experience? If this election is going to turn on experience, then Obama’s already lost.
The Hawgs last blog post..Vanity, thy name is The Hawg
No experience? That’s pretty funny. Never trust wikipedia. She has a helluva lot more experience than Obama. She’s been a city counselwoman, the mayor of her city, and Governor of the state. I would most certainly say that is a LOT of executive experience. Also, you might like to know that The Law of Politics at http://www.lawofpolitics.com called this about a month ago.
Paulys last blog post..McCain’s Brilliant Move!
It’s political gimmickry at its purest. The GOP waited to see is Hillary will be chosen for VP. It’s obviously a ploy to get the women’s vote. I don’t think American voters are stupid like what the Republicans would like to believe. This only shows that the GOP will do anything to stay in the White House.
Joels last blog post..My Bout With Glaucoma
Thanks for the Shoutout! You are right.. I’ve really been pondering just what I think about Palin and I’ve arrived at some conclusions.. First, the election’s tone and attack points have changed drastically because of the pick and she is going to either be a huge dangerous liability or a home-grown gem for McCain based on how she deals with the sudden massive scrutiny of the nation and media…
You know that story of a little town girl who suddenly makes it big in the city… well Palin is going to decide if this is a depressing drama that ends up with her moving back in with her little town or a romantic comedy that ends with a fadeout of her moving into the Dirksen Office Building and the Eisenhower Executive Suite.
Strong Moderates last blog post..Barack Obama accepts Democratic Nomination
Good post. Interstingly, a legislative panel has launched a $100,000 investigation to determine if Palin dismissed Alaska’s public safety commissioner because he would not fire the trooper, Mike Wooten. Wooten went through a messy divorce from Palin’s sister.
Although Walt Monegan, the former public safety commissioner, does not go so far as to say that Governor Palin urged him to fire Mike Wooten, the Anchorage Daily News and other legitimate news sources report that he accused members of her administration and immediate family as doing the deed. In fact, Attorney General Talis Colberg’s conducted an investigation and found that 14 members of the Palin administration — including Colberg himself — made calls to Department of Public Safety officials about Wooten.
In one of those calls, Frank Bailey, director boards and commissions, was tape-recorded as saying: “Todd and Sarah are scratching their heads, why on earth hasn’t, why is this guy still representing the department?”
It seems that by selecting Palin, McCain may have embroiled his campaign with previously hushed whispers of Palin corruption. I’m reminded of the children’s nursery rhyme that says:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
S. Harts last blog post..How to Price Artwork
Hawg, don’t get me wrong, I think Obama has a pretty thin resume as well. But, looking at it objectively, Sarah Palin has virtually no experience compared to the other folks McCain was rumored to pick. Ridge, Romney, Crist, etc all have an order of magnitude more experience than Palin.
Having said that, I like her. She seem genuine, tough, and likable.
Hey, I agree with you — she is thin on experience compared to the candidates McCain could have picked.
But the Dems are going to hammer on the “experience issue” while expecting us to forget that the same can be said of Obama. That point needs to be emphasized time and time again.
I like her, too, and feel a whole lot better about this election. I can’t stand Obama, think Biden should have been put out to pasture years ago and miss the maverick that McCain once was.
Palin, however, is someone who is easy to like. Should McCain win in November, I could see him stepping down in 2012 and clearing the way for Palin to run. While I need to do my homework on her, I initially love that idea.
The Hawgs last blog post..It’s official — McCain chooses Palin as running mate
She is a light weight and not ready for the position that she has been selected for her. McCain is trying to improve his image with women who if he can convince to vote for him in large numbers will give him the election. Unfortunately for McCain the HRC voters who he is targeting are well aware that Palin is a colluder. No self respecting feminist or pro woman voter is going to vote for someone who is trying to over turn roe v wade.
Renees last blog post..Sex Trade Workers Are Prey For Serial Killer In California
To say she is inexperienced is accurate. To say she is fresher than Obama is not. To remind folks who do that she is number 2 on the ticket is priceless.
I’m not sure that her qualifications will energize the electorate. However, I suspect her positions on numerous issues may significantly energize the electorate on both sides.
Her strong opposition to abortion, even in cases of rape and incest will surely fire up people with strong opinions on either side of the issue.
Her comment “I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can’t drill our way out of our problem” is bound to encourage the strongest pro-drilling advocates as will her strong support of drilling in ANWR.
However, such a position does seem to be contrary to what most people looking at the energy situation believe.
Her comments about global warming, “A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I’m not one though who would attribute it to being man-made,” likewise may appeal to many of the strictest conservatives.
However, it does disagree with the Republican Party’s recently adopted policy statement on climate change.
Likewise, her support of teaching creationism in schools will win the hearts of many hardcore conservatives but will cause others to question her judgment.
Her support of increased hunting of wolves and bears and her opposition to placing polar bears on the endangered species list is likely to polarize debates on hunting. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the play on words.)
Her spending $400,000 to ‘educate’ people in Alaska about why they should support increased hunting may present a problem for some fiscal conservatives as well as naturalists, and the $100,000 investigation into her for state ethics violations is also bound to raise some eyebrows.
So, I hope that people focus on the issues and not her level of ‘experience’.
Anyway you look at it, it will be quite an interesting election this year.
Aldon Hyness last blog post..LSHCPS Rides
Insightful views Aldon. My best guess is that Sarah will strength those who were already going to vote for McCain, I doubt anyone is going to jump the fence just because Palin is now on the ticket.
Hawg - Not sure I am willing to jump on a Palin for 2012 bandwagon. The deeper we go, the more it feels like Dan Quayle. Very similiar circumstances.
Renee- I tend to agree. Palin is not going to attract pro-choice Democrat women. It is just not going to happen.
Steve - Well said. Fresh is not the qualification I am looking for in a VP candidate.
She’s a politician and she’s a strong woman. McCain’s choice is brilliant.
Before McCain chose Palin I was only slightly hopeful that he could pull it off in the end. As a conservative I was not 100% sold on McCain and perhaps 100% is definitely too much to ask. However, after Palin’s pick, I am all fired up. I am so energized that I will not only post a bumper sticker or two and post a McCain Palin sign outside my home, I plan to campaign arduously in my area for the Republican ticket. I have always voiced my opinions, but donate my time and energy to a campaign…never. This will be a first for me and many others like me.
When McCain picked Palin, he proved his wit and his courage in more ways than one. Ultimately, I want a leader “with” courage and wit more than anything else.
McCain/Palin 2008!!!!
the fearless blogs last blog post..The Impermanence of Life
I think Obama should have chosen Kathleen Sebelius rather than Joe Biden. She has that all so coveted executive experience and would have prevented McCain from getting the extra burst of wind under his sails…
Dwacons last blog post..The Voice of an Angel
I agree with your post. Which is not something I will usually do!
I enjoy reading a post that will make one think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
She’s fresher than Obama? Excuse me. You forgot to mention that she was once a Mayor and now a Governor.
Besides, she is not the one running for President. Why don’t you compare Obama to McCain. Obama is a zero, McCain a Hero.
aND…itts better to have less experience on the bottom than on the TOP. I’ll pick McCain, Palin, even Biden for President, that Obama.
Mc-Cain-Palin 2008
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