Aug 30 2008
Second day thoughts on Palin pick
I’ve had another day to think about it, and I’m still overjoyed and bewildered. Many on the right are saying that we Liberals are “pissed” at Johnny McCain’s choice of a running mate. In my case, that could not be further from the truth. I’m actually quite pleased with it. If anything could have guaranteed an Obama victory on November 4th, this would have been it.
Yet, at the same time, I have to confess to being just a little bewildered. Why would Johnny McCain throw away his shot at the presidency (something he has lusted after for so long) like this? My initial thought was that it was a gimmick to get Hillary Clinton’s die-hard supporters more firmly in his column. However, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton could not be further apart… both politically and philosophically. There is nothing in Sarah Palin that would make a Clinton supporter want to vote for her other than possibly her gender. That may win over a few, but I don’t think it will be nearly enough to hand Sen. McCain the presidency.
Was it a play for the evangelicals? Possibly. It’s no secret that the “religious” right wing of the Republican party has little use for Johnny McCain. This may have been his attempt at bringing them into his fold. Ms. Palin is reportedly quite religious, she loves guns, hates gays, and is anti-choice.
I’m going to step aside now for a moment and turn things over to Paul Begala, a staunch supporter of the Clintons…
Commentary: Is McCain out of his mind?
(CNN) — John McCain needs what Kinky Friedman calls “a checkup from the neck up.”
In choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate, he is not thinking “outside the box,” as some have said. More like out of his mind.
Palin a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people, will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight. Her personal story is impressive: former fisherman, mother of five. But that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
For a man who is 72 years old and has had four bouts with cancer to have chosen someone so completely unqualified to become president is shockingly irresponsible. Suddenly, McCain’s age and health become central issues in the campaign, as does his judgment.
In choosing this featherweight, McCain passed over Tom Ridge, a decorated combat hero, a Cabinet secretary and the former two-term governor of the large, complex state of Pennsylvania.
He passed over Mitt Romney, who ran a big state, Massachusetts; a big company, Bain Capital; and a big event, the Olympics.
He passed over Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Texas senator who is knowledgeable about the military, good on television and — obviously — a woman.
He passed over Joe Lieberman, his best friend in the Senate and fellow Iraq Kool-Aid drinker.
He passed over former congressman, trade negotiator and budget director Rob Portman.
And he also passed over Mike Huckabee, the governor of Arkansas.
For months, the McCainiacs have said they will run on his judgment and experience. In his first presidential decision, John McCain has shown that he is willing to endanger his country, potentially leaving it in the hands of someone who simply has no business being a heartbeat away from the most powerful, complicated, difficult job in human history.
Nothing could possibly have brought more into question Johnny McCain’s judgment that his choice of a running mate. In making the choice he did, he clearly demonstrated that he places politics before country. This man, of advanced age and questionable health, has chosen to place a woman with no qualifications whatsoever to be president within a 72-year-old heartbeat of the presidency. This is not the kind of judgment we need in a president. Not now. Definitely not now.
No, I’m not upset at Johnny McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin. I’m quite pleased with it, because it goes a long way toward ensuring that our next president will be the president we need: Barack Obama.
See also: “McCain’s Baked Alaska.”
18 Responses to “Second day thoughts on Palin pick”
I love it. I haven’t been so glued to political blogs in a long time. Every minute something new is coming up about her. Like this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKkydrUnBZE
Good post, and I like you am thrilled. You would think Obama himself arranged this, the choice is such a debacle.
Very well written, thanks for helping clarify exactly what feels so wrong about this choice. I described her today as this generation’s Dan Quayle, but a few pounds short of being a lightweight is even better.
@mudge : I think even Dan Quayle was more qualified for the job than Sarah Palin.
I love this line from Gail Collins’ column:
Len, I wouldn’t underestimate her like all you guys are. She has totally re-energized the conservative base and the McCain camp as well. I think women who vote for her because she’s a woman are just plain crazy. Just like blacks who vote for Obama just because black are stupid.
For we conservatives, she’s a good choice. You guys might be downplaying her experience – but – she does indeed have more experience than Obama AND McCain when it comes to executive, decision-making, and foreign policy. Just because she’s from Alaska doesn’t mean you should discount her!
I think this is going to knock the wind out of Obama’s sails now!
Nice piece ! bait & switch the topic.
@The BoBo : I’m not discounting her just because she’s from Alaska. I have nothing against Alaska whatsoever. Alaska is a beautiful state. And I do admire the extreme effort y’all are putting into talking up all her “experience.” I just do not see how being governor of Alaska makes her an expert on foreign policy (or even a novice, for that matter). As for executive and decision-making experience, the mayor of the city in which I live (a Republican, by they way – why didn’t McCain pick him?) has more than she does (though he never, God bless his heart, competed in any beauty pageants).
She simply is not prepared to be one 72-year-old heartbeat removed from the presidency of the United States of America. Pure and simple.
I just hope she doesn’t do a Cheney and accidentally shoot somebody. But I guess it’s ok for her to that as long as she makes sure it’s a guy named McCain. I don’t understand why so many can be hoodwinked by this guy who obviously is only good at reinventing himself just to get votes.
They questioned Obama’s experience and now they come up with Palin who has no experience in national issues. Alaska maybe a huge state but with very few to govern. There’s a big difference when you sit at the second highest office of the land.
The GOP can spin all they want. I still believe Palin was one of political consideration than of the issue America faces at present.
I hope so. I’m nervous. especially reading hillaryforum.net and the pages and pagggeess of anti-obama vitriol cast in a “yay palin” coat. it’s disturbing. My friends who are talking me down say this is probably all a handful of the GOPers trying to bait true feminists and Hillary supporters (I was undecided for a large part of the primary). I guess their bait is working. Please keep up the good work and keep convincing me this is gonna be okay. love your blog.
Palin probably won’t be wearing too many Hillary-like pant suits. Palin will consolidate the conservative base-the same group that sat out the 2006 mid-terms. If Democrats underestimate her, they will live to regret it.
@vulcanhammer : I don’t think we’re misunderestimating Mrs. Palin. She’s a very attractive lady (she sure got old Rush Limbaugh turned on!), and I’m sure she’s very nice. She graduated from my alma mater, so I know she’s smart. Thing is, you see, she is not ready for prime time. She simply is not ready to be one 72-year-old heartbeat removed from the presidency of the United States. Sorry, but that’s the simple truth of it.
But you have Obama himself saying he is not ready to be President, and you support him? That’s what I don’t get. Why is experience of utmost importance for a VP but totally irrelevant for the top dog?
@Steve : Sen. Obama said he was not ready to be President? I must have missed that.
I have hired (and fired) a lot of people in my lifetime. One thing I have learned is that sometimes there are things more important than experience. That aside, I believe Barack Obama has had the life experience that will make him an outstanding president. I have spent a lot of time examining each of the candidates. (Well, okay, not Sarah Palin so much. I had never heard of her until just recently.) I trust Senator Obama. I believe him. More importantly, I believe he believes what he says he believes. He has the leadership qualities I am looking for in my next president.
I hope I have answered your question. Thanks for dropping by!
Even though I’m a gay liberal Democrat, I do have many conservative Republican female friends – and all of them are more excited about the McCain ticket now.
Do I believe they would’ve voted McCain anyway? Yes. But they are excited about the campaign now. (I’m spending a week with several of ‘em soon – I will do my best to try to de-brainwash them!)
@Len:
Cute. But, riddle me this, Batman — how many terms did Lloyd Bentson serve as Vice President?
Is Hillary Clinton’s name on November’s ballot? Hmmm..
@Chris :
None. I’m kind of surprised you didn’t know that. (Now I’m Batman?)
No. But then, if you recall, Senator Bentsen’s remark was in response to a remark by Dan Quayle in which he compared himself to John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy’s name wasn’t on the ballot, either.
Come on, Chris, you get the connection. Don’t you? The inference is that Mr. McCain put Mrs. Palin on the ticket to attract disgruntled Hillary voters. I do not know if that was his entire reason (who does?), but I do believe it played a part.
Sometimes I don’t know if you’re being willfully ignorant or just looking to stir up trouble.
Some might say that Bentsen’s remark did not sit well with the voters. Everyone has had an encounter with a “Mr. Smug” who condescendingly tried to make them look foolish. Rare indeed is the person who enjoys that.
Comparing Gov. Palin to Sen. Clinton is likewise inapt; Sen. Clinton did not succeed in her quest for the brass ring. Sen. Biden might do well to recall that discretion is the better part of valor.
And if attracting disgruntled Hillary voters is such a winning strategy how come Sen. Obama didn’t pick her for veep?
@Chris :
Equally, some might say that Dan Quayle’s remarks comparing himself to John Kennedy did not sit well with the voters. Mr. Quayle brought it on himself. How do you believe Sen. Bentsen should have responded to his claim of being just like President Kennedy?
You seem to think that the voters picked Dan Quayle over Lloyd Bentsen. They didn’t. They picked George Bush Sr. over Michael Dukakis.
Gee, I don’t know. I’m sure he had his reasons. (I can think of a couple, as I am sure you can too if you try.) Why don’t you ask him? Better yet, ask John McCain why he thinks it is such a winning strategy.
Why must it fall to me to explain all of this to you, Chris?