Palin's Choice for VP

billyjeff2 · 08-31-2008, 11:11 PM

I expected that my wife, a Hillary supporter who had been "on the fence" about who she was going to vote for after Hillary wasn't invited to be Obama's VP, would react favorably to McCain's selection of Palin. Wrong (not the first that that has happened...)
She finds it offensive that McCain apparently made a calculated decision to go with an inexperienced pick over a more qualified candidate just because she's a woman, with the goal of attracting those like her who are still smarting over the Hillary sleight.
If McCain did in fact pick Palin over, say Romney, because he believes what Rush Limbaugh says (did any other right wing talk show host even mention Palin prior to the announcement of her selection?) one has to wonder what kind of judgment the man possesses...

JMS · 08-31-2008, 11:17 PM

Huh...I didn't know you were a Limbaugh listener...I guess there are all sorts of things I don't know about you huh?

billyjeff2 · 08-31-2008, 11:25 PM

You might just be surprised at my reading and listening habits. That's how I've become such a well educated thinker, as I'm sure you'd agree....

freebird · 08-31-2008, 11:32 PM

Although not a talk radio host, Newt Gingrich did mention her name, as a long-shot, on Fox News a couple of months back. Really, I don't think she's such a bad choice, she's almost as conservative as Ronald Reagan, which offsets McCain's bipartisanship (which I don't see as a bad thing, but more hard nosed Republicans did view as a negative).

billyjeff2 · 08-31-2008, 11:36 PM

No question about the fact she's a conservative.
But so is the cashier where I buy my groceries, but no one's suggesting she's got the experience to be a heart beat away from being President.

JohnP · 08-31-2008, 11:45 PM

I think should McCain win Palin will do just fine. From what I can gather she has run Alaska well, has already had to deal with budgets, other such things as far as running a state include-which to be honest, are likely to be more like the Presidency than being a senator-which requires none of these things. A governor, for all intents and purposes, is the "President" of his or her state, complete with its own budget, social programs, educational system, and even military forces...and I think comparisons to such are fair.
There is also something to this, not because she is a woman, but because she is a conservative. As far as I can tell, she'd be the only one on the ballot from either party.
At any rate, this bears watching. While it's possible some Hillary supporters would be drawn to her just because she is a woman, it will likely only be a few, those who would have voted for Hillary-just because she is a woman. The ones who supported Mrs. Clinton because of her political standings will not likely find Gov. Palin palatable.
Personally I think she shows promise, and if she has really done as well in Alaska as I gather, perhaps I would still be interested if the ticket were flipped and she were the lead spot.

This election has just started getting interesting again. Prior to this it was a left wing Democrat against a left wing Republican, and no conservatives.

John P.

thebigspendur · 09-01-2008, 01:07 AM

I live in new mexico which has over twice the population of Alaska and the entire government process is basically a part time affair. the legislature meets for just 60 days ayear and is unpaid and the governor is absent most of the time anyway. I don't think being Governor of a state like this or Alaska gives anyone qualifications to be a possible president. And what was that see said she didn't even know what the V.P did. Good start.

Ditch Doc · 09-01-2008, 02:25 AM

She will be a refreshing force in the White House, unless she gets relegated to counting paper clips, which is what I suspect.

JohnP · 09-01-2008, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I live in new mexico which has over twice the population of Alaska and the entire government process is basically a part time affair. the legislature meets for just 60 days ayear and is unpaid and the governor is absent most of the time anyway. I don't think being Governor of a state like this or Alaska gives anyone qualifications to be a possible president. And what was that see said she didn't even know what the V.P did. Good start.

And yet...have you looked at what a typical senator congressman does, and how much it (isn't) like being President? For that matter, at least she's run an economy, had some insight into the processes involved, albeit at the state level, and the like. What has the typical congressman or senator done? let's see....oh yeah, investigate baseball, and wax teary eyed over the new senator they hope will be President. Some other stuff, went home turned off the lights before the job was done.
Yeah, I'd take almost any successful state governor over most of them. Even ones you consider to be "part time".
What definition of "full time" do you see Congress fulfilling?
I wax old and cynical as the years pass...

John P.

Dicestone · 09-01-2008, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

I expected that my wife, a Hillary supporter who had been "on the fence" about who she was going to vote for after Hillary wasn't invited to be Obama's VP, would react favorably to McCain's selection of Palin. Wrong (not the first that that has happened...)
She finds it offensive that McCain apparently made a calculated decision to go with an inexperienced pick over a more qualified candidate just because she's a woman, with the goal of attracting those like her who are still smarting over the Hillary sleight.
If McCain did in fact pick Palin over, say Romney, because he believes what Rush Limbaugh says (did any other right wing talk show host even mention Palin prior to the announcement of her selection?) one has to wonder what kind of judgment the man possesses...

CNN's Glen Beck did about a 10 min. interview in June. It was reaired this past Friday Aug 29 08
She will do great because she is a fast learner. I think she has the left wing liberal baby killers wetting the floor!

kmag · 09-01-2008, 05:35 AM

Anyone who thinks we have anyone left-wing running for office doesn't know what the word means. Obama is not left wing, and as a person over 50 years old I can't recall anyone that is left-wing ever being a nominated for the office of the President. I believe McCain's choice for V.P shows how desperate he is to get any press no matter how short lived. He only met her once before the nomination, who is running his campaign, I thinks he loks very uncomfortablle with her, as we all should be.

denmason · 09-01-2008, 06:05 AM

I think McCain has made a foolish mistake with this choice. As far as I'm concerned, he has disqualified himself as a serious candidate for our highest office. Palin is a VERY right wing conservative and VERY anti-choice. She has done a good job running Alaska, but she is nowhere near being qualified to be VP. McCain chose her as a means to pick up the Hillary voters. The media is on the way to picking this woman to shreds. I'm very sure that there are many other women out there that have worked very hard and that would be far more a better choice than Palin. McCain has underestimated women's intelligence and will lose their vote. As I see it, McCain has committed political suicide.

JohnP · 09-01-2008, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmag

Anyone who thinks we have anyone left-wing running for office doesn't know what the word means. Obama is not left wing, and as a person over 50 years old I can't recall anyone that is left-wing ever being a nominated for the office of the President. I believe McCain's choice for V.P shows how desperate he is to get any press no matter how short lived. He only met her once before the nomination, who is running his campaign, I thinks he loks very uncomfortablle with her, as we all should be.

I would argue that your definition of "left wing" is a little off from that currently in use...
I'm not accusing any of the candidates of being a Montagnard after all. They are still almost all (IMHO) left wing. What can the Government Do for YOU? We assure you, we'll only tax rich people to pay for it... All modern left-wing stances.

Another thing to consider...if at least ONE of the candidates isn't *extremely* distasteful to you and your views...it's a good bet the opposite side of the spectrum isn't represented in this election, likewise vice versa if at least one isn't appealing.

John P.

Kees · 09-01-2008, 07:14 AM

Maybe McCain hopes Palin's looks will attract the maile vote.

Utopian · 09-01-2008, 07:56 AM

Her highest degree, a BA, is in journalism, thus her lack of awareness of what role the VP plays. Her journalistic endeavors were limited to sports, again suggesting a reason for not knowing the role of the VP. While a Senator does not govern, Senators are constantly exposed to the entire workings of government. Also, the executive branch has to work closely with (aka shmooze) Congress and a former Senator will have a better chance at doing that. At least a Senator knows how the Washington scene actually functions. Despite all the claims of superiority of Washington outsiders, it's the insiders who get the back-door deals made and that's how our government functions.
Moose-hunting skills do not get agendas moved forward.

Nord Jim · 09-01-2008, 03:33 PM

Palin's selection amounts to a Hail Mary pass -- in the first quarter, no less. It's a desperation move.

I suspect that she was jammed down McCain's throat by the party orthodoxy -- just as Dan Quayle was forced on ol' H.W 20 years ago. If you recall, Bush 41 was also considered insufficiently "conservative" by the people who really run the party, and just as obviously, Quayle wasn't his choice.

I do think McCain deserves more respect from his own party.

j

freebird · 09-01-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denmason

I think McCain has made a foolish mistake with this choice. As far as I'm concerned, he has disqualified himself as a serious candidate for our highest office. Palin is a VERY right wing conservative and VERY anti-choice. She has done a good job running Alaska, but she is nowhere near being qualified to be VP. McCain chose her as a means to pick up the Hillary voters. The media is on the way to picking this woman to shreds. I'm very sure that there are many other women out there that have worked very hard and that would be far more a better choice than Palin. McCain has underestimated women's intelligence and will lose their vote. As I see it, McCain has committed political suicide.

She may not be experienced enough for veep, but I don't believe Obama is nowhere near being experienced enough for President either. I'd rather have an inexperienced Veep than an inexperienced Prez. Of course the Obama media is going to try to pick her to pieces, he's their "chosen one". I think she balances McCain out nicely, as the Repubs were concerned that he wasn't conservative enough, and who wouldn't love a gun toting frontier lady from Alaska?

Nord Jim · 09-01-2008, 05:46 PM

I really don't know where this idea came from that Obama is "inexperienced." True, he's not a Washington insider, but I think everyone will admit that "Washington Insider" is normally considered a negative -- right up to the point where the "insider" is one's own choice. We're all guilty of that.

Obama has a long, successful history, in community organizing, state government, law, and teaching, and lest we forget, he's running a stunning campaign. He faced off with the "inevitable" winner, a senator with a huge organization, lots of friends, and lots of money, and he took her to school. This is a guy who gets things done.

I'd suggest that anyone with questions should read "Dreams From My Father." It tells a lot about who he is and what he is. Did you know that he's probably to the right of most Republicans on the issue of personal responsibility?

As far as Palin is concerned, she's only there for the demographic. Her job is to calm down the ultra-right and perhaps draw a few women. She's obviously not McCain's choice -- he's only met her once before, fer crissakes. And we should also remember the two main jobs of the Vice President -- to run the United States Senate, and to take over for the President in the case of death or incapacity.

Can you really say she's the best they could find for either?

j

DavidM · 09-01-2008, 06:17 PM

Uh....unless I am mistaken, Barak Obama ran for a uncontested senate seat, has never written any significant law..........and two years later he feels qualified to be the PRESIDENT?

The Topher · 09-01-2008, 06:19 PM

Ok first... She has fought corruption in her own party and is a normal person... This is a fact. Everyone is always saying that they want someone who is not a billionaire in office who is in touch with the people and that are as honest as a politician can be. This woman exhibits all those qualities en mass. Bush is wealthy, Clinton is wealthy, Kerry was a Forbes and married to the Heinz family for God sake, McCain's wife is wealthy, and Obama, the middle class man of the people who has never held a real job outside education and politics made $4 million last year. Would anyone like to tell me how someone on a senator's salary makes $4 million?

Second, She is conservative and if you don't like that, well that is your political view so get over it. She is running in a party that likes conservative and that was a thing McCain was lacking. However she is also a maverick and a reformer which fits with McCains history and allows them to work together. She has bucked the American Oil industry in their pipeline deal when that is unthinkable in politics, she has tried to have numerous currupt politicians thrown out of office, she has RAISED taxes on oil companies and caused a major budget surplus. That is something we need right now and yet those are not conservative principals... Yet they are all things Reagan did which is why the conservatives like her anyways.

Finally to all you you who are on the experience bandwagon and harping on her quip about what does the VP do. THE VP EFFECTIVELY DOES NOTHING IN OUR GOVERNMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The jobs of the VP are the following. To be the tie breaking vote in the senate, To certify teh official vote of the electoral college, and to take over the duties of president should the president be unable to perform them. Oh and to do whatever other duties the president tells him/her to do.

THAT IS IT! Really. No kidding. It is the cushiest job in washington. A VP is only really there to get someone elected. In the case of Lindon Johnson, he was an instant lame duck and the only policies he could advance were those championed by JFK. If Obama or McCain were to die then Biden and Palin would be nothing more than a place holder until a new election could be held unless there is a serious crisis.

And beyond that, wouldn't you rather have your most seasoned players on the field? With Obama, the Junior Varsity squad is the one playing for the title with the Varsity squad on the bench. With McCain, the best player is on the field with the lesser players on the bench learning what they need to be the varsity squad later. Doesn't that make more sense? Palin will have