August 29, 2008
It's Palin!
I guess we'll know soon enough, won't we?
Update: Mark Levin makes the case for the Alaskan Governor:
Palin is by all accounts a principled conservative and government reformer who can contribute mightily to the decision-making that occurs in the White House. She has more executive experience in her two years as governor than Obama, Biden, and McCain combined. She is a mother of five in what appears to be a loving and functioning family. And she is someone Republicans, conservatives, and others can rally behind in the future.From a purely tactical aspect, Palin would knock the legs out from under Obama's monopoly hold on "change." And attacks on her "inexperience" will only highlight one of Obama's greatest vulnerabilities — and he's at the top of the Democrat ticket. And because Hillary Clinton spent months telling women voters that they are being dissed by Obama, some percentage of women who normally would not vote for McCain will take a second look if Palin's on the ticket. There is no question that a Palin selection would cause the Obama camp headaches.
Bill Kristol , MSNBC, and the Chicago Tribune just called it for Palin according to their sources as well.
Is it true that Palin is McCain's Veep pick, or an elaborate head-fake?
We'll now within a few hours, but if it is Palin, I think Levin is right... providing she doesn't have any significant skeletons in her closet, she's going to be a huge problem for Obama on a number of fronts. Check out her Wikipedia biography. It has to terrify Obama's camp.
All the major networks are now quickly confirming. Over at Hot Air, they are dancing in the comments.
Palin?
Well, McCain destroyed the Celeb meme that they spent all summer trying to create with his inability to remember how many houses he owns.
Now he destroys the "Experience is vital" narrative with his Palin choice.
What does he have left to run on?
Maybe there are more POW PUMAs out there than I think but why does this remind me more of a Ferraro "just because she's a woman" pick than anything else?
Maybe he's trying to recreate the Mondale electoral success!
Posted by: The Other Ed at August 29, 2008 10:09 AMtypical Republicans--puncturing the balloon of identity politics pimps everywhere with reality. Really hateful!
Next thing you know, those b******s will be stealing away blacks from the lefty plantation and destroying the livelihood of race demagogues! Those B*******S!!
More seriously, taking on lyin' Joe Biden one on one will be a big challenge for her (or anyone). As the guys at PL said of Biden; "...He can pack more lies into one sentence than anyone since Slick Willy...".
Should be a FUN campaign. I look forward to putting the McCain/Palin bumper sticker alongside my "ReElect Dino Rossi" bumper sticker and driving around Seattle.
Posted by: iconoclast at August 29, 2008 10:15 AMHer willingness to take on corrupt fat-cat Republicans is just what McCain needs by his side to bolster his Maverick image, while her fiscal conservatism helps the rest of us hold our noses to vote for him. She isn't perfect, but she brings everything to the table that is needed.
Obama should save his money and drop out.
Of course, the MSM will do their best to turn her into a whore, thief, racist, whatever in the voters eyes. But then the PUMAs will be watching.
Posted by: Smarty at August 29, 2008 10:37 AMgreat choice McCain! Couldn't be happier... can we be looking at a landslide victory! Everything about her is great, she is even beautiful!
Steve
http://www.the-irn.com
After reading her Wikipedia bio (yes, I know. don't trust Wikipedia), I am fascinated to see how this will play out.
On the one hand, I don't think she has enough experience; either for the world class level of battle that she will enter or for the presidency.
On the other hand, she is one of the best steps forward to demonstrate the direction of the Republican party: away from cronyism and pork-barrel politics as usual and towards a more responsible form of republic.
And her gender is important too. It can be a negative (just playing identity politics) or a positive (qualified AND once again the evil Rethuglicans demonstrate that they are for real gender equality).
It all depends on how well they execute during the race.
Posted by: iconoclast at August 29, 2008 11:08 AMthe other ed--
Mondale didn't lose because his running mate was female. Mondale lost because he and his running mate were both left-wing extremists.
Experience is vital, and Palin has it. She has been both a mayor and a governor, while neither man on the Democrat ticket has any administrative experience at all.
Posted by: Trish at August 29, 2008 11:23 AMShe was mayor of a town of 6,700 people, some polar bears, and some seals. She's been governor for a year and a half.
Some experience.
Posted by: Dinsdale at August 29, 2008 11:33 AMDinsdale is right, you gain much more relevant experience as a community organizer. Being governor of the largest state in the US is a trivial accomplishment next to that.
Posted by: Stewart at August 29, 2008 12:03 PMSwooosh!
Hear that? That's the wind exiting Obama's post convention sails.
Posted by: xerocky at August 29, 2008 12:26 PMUnlike Obama McCain didn't have to choose some one to make up for his lack of experience and ability.
Posted by: Bandit at August 29, 2008 01:54 PM
