A Few Words on McCain’s VP Pick
- No Experience. If we can write off Obama’s elected positions and teaching positions at a major university, plus his degrees and social work career beforehand, we can do the same for Sarah Palin. If she were the governor of a bigger, more powerful state, this may not be as much of an issue. Obama has to have some kind of edge on her to have cut his teeth on Illinois politics. She doesn’t hold a candle to Joe Biden.
- Nobody knows her. Maybe we ought to hold her to Republican standards and start asking questions about her patriotism, since she’s so new on the scene. At least “Obama” was more or less a household name before the primaries.
- Married to an oil man. Not the smartest pick on John McCain’s part. As if anyone needs another reminder that the Republicans are in bed with Big Oil while gas fluctuates between $3.50 and $4.00 per gallon.
- The fact that she’s a woman is an obvious ploy on McCain’s part to lure in disaffected Hillary supporters. From what I’ve heard so far, many women are feeling this is an insult to their intelligence. Although, I’ll be the first to admit I didn’t see this one coming. The timing was well done.
- The purely political nature of this pick borders on cuttthroat. Unfortunately, political strategy is not going to fix our country’s problems–that is all the GOP has been able to offer thus far.
They could have formed a virtual juggernaut of strong, well-known Republican players. Instead, they took a crap shot on luring a few women who disagree with everything Palin stands for. I’m going to file this under “swing and a miss” instead of a blunder, because of the intentionality of it. But seriously–an oil person?
Silly Republicans, America is for the People.
Tags: 2008 General Election, GOP, McCain, Palin
August 29th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
scares ya just a little doesn’t it? She has more executive experience than Biden and Obama combined. She is the Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard, therefore has more military leadership than both Obama and Biden combined. Her husband is a blue collar oil worker, and union. Trying to paint him as the CEO of Exxon won’t work. The fact that she didn’t cut her teeth in the slimy Chicago political machine is a plus to me. She didn’t need Bill Ayers and Tony Rezko to fund her rise to power. And what’s her approval rating again? I’ve heard figures from a low of 65% to a high of 80% Not bad for a governor of a state with virtually the same population as Joe Biden’s home state. Who cares if she’s not a household name? I thought you Obamatons were all about “change.”
August 30th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/13001.html
August 30th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
The change we’re talking about is a bit more advanced than changing a tire. We’re talking about replacing the whole damn car. The Republicans are having a hard enough time trying to outspend each other on who to contract the windshield wiping to.
Executive experience? Two years as Governor of Alaska, of all places, is what you right-wingers call experience? This is yet another example–in a long series of examples–of McCain’s bad judgment and incompetence. This is a cheap scheme to win over a few voters that don’t even agree with her.
The ploy didn’t work, by the way. I talked to a Hillary supporter today who felt, as others have indicated, that this was an insult to her intelligence. The result: she won’t be voting for McCain. Nice try, gramps.
For the record, if you think Ayers and Rezko did more than jack or squat to fund his rise to power, you’ve got to get back in the loop. Emil Jones did more for the man than Ayers, Rezko, or any of his so-called “questionable” associates combined (a fact I find unfortunate, given my disdain for Jones). Keep digging though. You might eventually find something that will stick… not.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Palin = Obama and Biden = McCain. Just different public policy.
They are all working towards the same ultimate goal as a single party with two faces pandering to each side of the line THEY have drawn down the center of this country. I think of them as two large companies, each owned by the same person. Only in this case, it’s a group of people that owns it.
1- You say, “No Experience”. Double edged sword. It will be an issue on your major news networks, but in debate, it’s a non-issue.
2- “No One Knows Her”. You think you know any of them? From what I can tell, they are all the same.
3- “Married to an oil man.” While I agree that this is going to become an negative issue for the GOP, I do not agree that the “Republican’s are in bed with big oil.” I think the government in in bed with the people Big Oil buys from. Meh, maybe none of that will matter in 10 years. If Obama gets elected, hopefully he will follow through with that promise.
4- The, being a woman, thing. I didn’t see that one coming either. It will be interesting to see what the response will be.
5- Couldn’t agree more. The political trends built and maintained by our current government has been disastrous. Something needs to “change”. Where’s my bumper sticker?
August 30th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
At moveon.org :P
Really though, do some googling on Palin’s resume. It’s pretty thin.
Seriously, a Journalism degree? We’re going to make someone a heartbeat away from the most powerful position in the country when half their college career was spent doing gen-eds, she’s overseen towns with 5000 residents, and has become governor of a state as uneventful as Alaska? If she were governor of a more dynamic and challenging state like New York, Illinois, California or Texas, or even Florida, this wouldn’t be much of an issue, even if it has only been a year and a half since she’s been in office.
By comparison, Obama looks like a seasoned senior politician.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
I’ve done quite a bit of reading on both of them. At least Biden has a resume. Like you implied, she’s a no-name.
I’m not planning on making her second to the most powerful position in the world. Neither of these candidates, nor their VP’s deserve the title. I want a redo; where’s the reset button?
Just wait until the scare tactics start. I bet this will be a lively place then.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Noticably lacking in your weak response Reno was any recitation of Obama’s experience. I don’t count any of his positions as executive experience. Come to think of it, Biden has none either.
And you spoke to ONE Hillary supported and based your judgement of what will happen Nov 4th on that? I guess if Obama wins her state’s electoral votes by ONE popular vote, you may be right for once!
August 31st, 2008 at 2:52 pm
“Noticably lacking in your weak response Reno was any recitation of Obama’s experience.”
…says the guy who’s excited about the shortest resume on the ticket. No, the problem here is that you wingnuts refuse to acknowledge any of his resume as experience, period. It’s the equivalent of holding your ears and stomping your feet. You know damn well what his qualifications are and you’re not impressing anybody by pretending you don’t.
McCain should have gone with Huckabee or Romney. Both of them have ridiculous social views and will likely work to benefit the rich (who so desperately need it, LOL), but at least they’d be prepared when McCain kicks the bucket. Very poor judgment.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
One question for all of you. Do we really want an experienced politician in office? Bush Sr., Clinton and Bush Jr. had experience.. look where they got us. I won’t even bother going further back than that. Experienced politicians are the reason we are in this predicament.
I’m not looking for a politician, I’m looking for a leader. Unfortunately, only money and power put you in the race.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Leadership is good, but it isn’t everything. Bush is a shitty leader and a shitty president. Clinton was a good leader and and good president. Bush Sr. was a mediocre leader but a good president overall. Reagan was an awesome leader, but a rather shitty president.
Personally, I’d like to strike a balance between the two. Obama has the capability of being an amazing leader. The idea of John McCain’s leadership worries me greatly. As for how good of a president they’d be, it’s hard to say. The only thing that is clear on the matter is where they stand ideologically, and I certainly know which I’d rather not be elected. I disagree with Obama on almost everything, but compared to the other side it sounds like a boon.