in listen to cspan this morning, ALOT of people are commenting on obama's lack of experience. "he's a good speech maker but..' "he hasnt been in a war.." OR "my life is great, so..."

obama's experience is going to be called into question.

Everybody in my office was going around asking each other who is she, what is her background....If he was going to go for a woman was there anyone else with a little more name recognition that he could have picked in these last 67 days?

Maybe it's just me but a part of me feels like he is using her. If HRC didn't have such strong support or was never in the race to begin with, would he have still felt the need to get a woman? Don't get me wrong in theory it is about time that women are getting to play for the offices of POTUS and VP seriouosly. But do it because that's who you feel is best for you, not because you are scrambling trying to get another part of the demographic. If I wasn't voting for you on your own, why do you think just because you added someone who you think I should 'relate' to soley on basis of gender or race that I will now? Just MYO....(but I know there are those who will)

When you look at her record, she's much more likely to help shore up McCain's Repub base, than pull any but the most ardent "it shoulda been HRC" supporters.

Also, it's being asked in some media circles, if McCain's chief criticism of Obama was lack of foreign policy bona fides, what is to be made of his own choice for VP?

I expected either Romney or Ridge, which would have made either Mich, or Pa a bit more interesting. I'm still trying to figure the political calculus behind this choice.

agreed
 

definitely--mccain has been critiqued on his views not being atypical republican but moderate leaning.

this is still speculation. according to cspan, romney is listed as being on the agenda to speak. whe i saw this, my first thought was that he was it. so we will have to see. either way, it is so necessary to get folks to the polls. i swear if the republican get re-elected, i am locking down my uterus, my daughter's uterus and we are moving out of the country..lol

I don't think that the calculus is that complicated. I think that the McCain camp thinks that a women veep will get them some leverage among fence HRC supporters, particularly those who supported HRC based on primarily on gender and not necessarily on politics.

I think this is in the same vein of the strategy that the RNC used in sending Keyes to run against Obama in 2004.

If I were the targets of this particular political strategy, I would feel more insulted than anything else.

its OFFICIAL!!!
 

Palin is the GOP VP choice

and

I REACHED MY 1000TH POST...lol--yea, its silly.

im watching C-SPAN now. Some of these folks calling in are not bright.

On Obama--Last night was wonderful. He gave out what he is going to do if elected and showed us what to expect in the coming weeks. And I just saw JHud doing the national anthem. They need to sell that like they did with Whitney back in the day. :)

On McStiff--WHAT IN THE HELL IS HE THINKING???? Besides trying to get the HRC supporters, I don't see the benefit from this.

Don't forget she has a four-month old son that has Downs Syndrome. It's hard enough having a baby period, but having one with a major disablity is going to be difficult if you're going to be VPOTUS. I was taking to my friend about this a few minutes ago and she called her selfish for running.

You're not alone. My friend and I both felt that she is getting pimped to get votes from Obama. And they talk about experience: Obama has been in the Senate longer than she's been governor. At least Bush had two terms as governor of Texas. I can't wait for the debates because Biden's going to eat her alive.

It looks like Mother Nature will be cooperating in the form of Hurricane Gustav :rolleyes:

here's something for you
 

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12969.html

If Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin got the job as running mate for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), count her as one of the most surprised.

In an interview just a month ago, she dissed the job, saying it didn’t seem “productive.”

In fact, she said she doesn’t know what the vice president does.

Larry Kudlow of CNBC’s “Kudlow & Co.” asked her about the possibility of becoming McCain's ticket mate.

Palin replied: “As for that VP talk all the time, I’ll tell you, I still can’t answer that question until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day? I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that VP slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here for the rest of the U.S., before I can even start addressing that question.”

Her evident distaste for the office would be part of her appeal: It would show McCain is running an anti-Washington, reformist campaign.

But it also points to a huge negative for her: It robs Republicans of their most effective argument against Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) — that he lacks experience.

Before Palin’s election in December 2006 as the state’s first woman governor, she served terms on the city council of Wasilla, Alaska (population 6,700), and two terms as the mayor/manager of Wasilla.

Girlfriend, logic is not something the McSame forces adhere to. How are they gonna run an ad that shows the VP pick Biden saying that Obama isn't (now) ready and the next day bemoan the fact that HRC said he wasn't ready but he couldn't handle the truth? How can they slam Obama for his 'inexperience' but choose a running mate who is YOUNGER, has fewer years in elective office, less education and NO national or foreign policy experience?

It makes my head hurt.....:mad:

the Pallin choice reminds of bush picking Harriet Myers for the Supreme Court. mccain's stated reason for picking Pallin pales in comparison as to the unstated reason(s).
another reason is Biden is a pit bull. if he pushes on Pallin, it will rile up women (at least in the minds of the mccain team). Biden cannot risk being seen as a bully.
i saw Pallin on C-Span and i thought of what my political buddy said. she said that if something happened to mccain, this woman would step in as president. that worries me. i don't see her as ready to step in vs. Biden.

'May pull' is exactly right. I think a bigger issue is this the fact that McCain is nearly on his death bed, and if he becomes president and something happens--not that I'm wishing that on him--is Palin the appropriate choice to step in as president? Further, how can McCain and his campaign question the experience of Obama with the lack of experience Palin has?

I will definitely be tuned in to RNC. It's in my back yard and I also want to see what they have to say.

I asked a question in the GL thread that is answered here. She is so IRRESPONSIBLE! First of all, she already had 4 children (some grown!) before she had this last child in her mid forties, a circumstance which greatly increases the chances of birth defect of this type. Secondly, she has decided to embark on a national political campaign with a special needs newborn at home!

Experience? NO
Judgment? NO

Sidney should be ashamed of himself.




Obama-Biden '08!

Obama scored a major touchdown last night! The media have been trying to play him as a weep...they just don't know! Obama seems to be a very complicated person. He tries to bridge divides and create mutual understanding but he will ju jitsu your behind, too! I can't wait to see him tear up McSame in those debates :D:D

yes!!!!! i heard this. i can not wait to hear her remarks on this. it is no doubt in my mind that she will be eating crow on this.

she also speaks to the underlying 'special' interests of the republican party. she is an alaskan native and right now her state is thriving because of (oil).

Can you elaborate on the "dissaffected women's vote" aspect? The most recent poll I saw indicated that Obama was leading McCain overall among women 52 to 37 percent. Since HRC's first concession in June until now, the numbers of her supporers moving to Obama has been increasing.

I'm also confused as to what you mean regarding Keyes? Obama defeated him handliy in 2004.

I think so too. She wasn't even on the long list of people being considered for the VP spot. Like TonyB said she's very conservative, a lifetime member of the NRA, and against abortion. Those are the issues that matter to those who will never vote anything but Republican. I think McCain can no longer talk about inexperience or not knowing the candidates based on his picking Palin. Maybe she's known in Republican circles, but she's definately not known on a national scale. CNN even admitted on air they didn't have much info on her.

I just don't see HRC supporters now voting for McCain just because he has a woman on the ticket. And if they were really HRC supporters they need to listen to her speech again. She asked if they were in it only for her or the bigger picture. And McCain just looked uncomfortable standing on stage with her. I know he's usually stiff looking, but seeing him next to someone who is more animated just highlights it even more.

I'm not a mother, but I can't say the decision to run is selfish. And it was already mentioned that her and hubby knew of the baby's condition before giving birth and decided to keep the pregnacy. So if it's going to be made a political issue that keeps with her anti-abortion stance.

All that being said, this will be an interesting election. I'm actually going to watch the RNC just to find out who Palin is. I wonder how quick she is on her feet. I think Biden is going to rip her in the debate.

I don't mean to suggest that the Republican party's reasoning is at all reasonable. I just think that this is the reasoning for selecting her as a candidate. Just as they seemed to think that Alan Keyes, just by virtue of the fact that he is black, would somehow draw some black voters into the Republican fold. It smacks of presumption that the voters' investment in particular candidates is based solely on gender or race. It is insulting.

Ok, I understand the point you're making.

A good reason for HRC voters to vote for Mccain, is so HRC can run again in 2012, and to slap at Obama and the Dems for the alleged snubbing of her queenship of the travelling pants suits. If Obama wins then she can't run again as a Dem until 2020 then she'll be in Mccains old behind shoes. The old gaurd, the hard core femenist are going the way of the polar bear, they know HRC is the only female in a strong enough position to become POTUS, in their lifetime. Lets not forget politics is like chess not connect four.

And there is little fear that the Right will overturn roe v wade. it will more likely never happen they need it as a hot button issue for elections in order to hold tight to the religous right, and social conservatives. If they slay that dragon then most of their warriors will go home. And the moral moderates who have become the independent swing vote have a large number of pro-choice.

just my 2 cents

All I can say is that Obama did what he had to do last night.He is just an inspiring person with some dang good ideas.As for McCain I hope people see him for what he is and that is a fraud.

I'm not a mother either and my friend's not either, but I wouldn't call it selfish. I think that she could have considered it more. But there are many women, mothers or not, who may feel the same way as my friend.

This quote made me laugh. :)

Does someone have dibs on 2016 already? :confused:

:D:D my bad was late, and doing three things at once.

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Palin doesn't "know what the VP does". Umm, did she not take Government/Civics in school? I also think that McCain made a major misstep in selecting her as his running mate. I get that he wants someone without Washington connections, but to be that out of touch may hurt him rather than help.

VP or not, I don't know if I could leave my 4 month old child to campaign. I'd have to discuss that with my family and do what's best for them.

And OMG, weren't Malia and Sasha so cute!!!??

A 4-month old special needs child (Down's Syndrome)...

^^^That fact alone has me a bit concerned. I plan on researching her background, but I have a problem with that, as a mother. My child, thankfully, was born healthy, but if she had some serious issues, then I'd be hard pressed to do something as intensive and time consuming as being the Repub. VP candidate.

And I can't get over the fact that he seems to have selected her ONLY because she is a conservative, Republican woman as a way to lure HRC voters to his party. That's a slap in the face to them, IMO.

thats those good old-fashioned "family values" they've been pushing !:rolleyes: slap the kids with a nanny. only the rich think thats okay...

and ive mentioned this in a few other threads, but the "obama is a celeb" tactic has lost a lot of credibility...she was a runner-up Miss Alaska, and posed not too long ago for the cover of Vogue magazine!!! uh, celeb?

Funny thing is that she has mentioned Hillary twice in speeches and was booed both times. (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...llary-clinton/) Such a welcoming atmosphere for the Hillbots who can't bring themselves to vote for the Black guy! :rolleyes:

What does her hubby do? Is he going to stay at home with the kids?

not likely
 

i read recently he works for BP/Amoco

sidebar - can you email me please - divinediva72@comcast.net :D

end sidebar.

(Sorry for the board crash - I like following the politics discussions...)

You realize there may be reasons why they don't vote for Obama, beyond the color of his skin, right? That there may be reasonable minds within the Democratic party who have an issue with Obama's policies, etc?

I don't think she was the right choice for VP candidate, but I'm concerned that people are making assumptions on her personal life. I tend to think that the personal lives of the candidates should beyond the scope of scrutiny, unless they are engaged in something that compromises their ability to be an effective leader (i.e., are a drug user, criminal, etc.).

I hear what you're saying, but I really want to believe that people wouldn't make themselves unnecessarily suffer (4 yrs. of McCain) just so they can elect Hilary the next go round. So much can happen in 4 years. Bush's first term is a perfect example.

Yesterday, I was watching Face The Nation (missed Meet The Press) and I saw Bob Sheiffer (sp) talking to former NY Mayor Gulianni (sp). Gulianni was trying to defend McCain's choice of VP. He said that Palian is a good choice because she has had municipal experience and experience running state government. She may be a governor (there are more people in some major cities than Alaska) but running a city of less than 10,000 is different than running a city with millions of people.

I was watching NBC Nightly News last night and Brian Williams was interviewing McCain. He brought up on why he made his decision. He listed some of the things that Gulianni said, but also added that she has PTA leadership. Yes, PTA. :eek:

PTA was brought up again by Gov. Sanford (the governor of SC, where I live). He said that it was good seeing a PTA and soccer mom make this historic rise. Sanford was on the long list of VP canidates and he has been governor here six years, on top of the six years he was on in the US House.

PTA does not equal foreign policy experience. Is that the best explanation the Republicans got?

Wow PTA. Not to disparage those of you on the PTA, but that should not be used as a talking point for a VPOTUS candidate. It just shouldn't. *smh*

CNN is reporting Palin's teenage daughter is pregnant: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/...ter/index.html

This election gets interesting by the day.

Yeah, reasons like he is a Muslim (false), he is unpatriotic (huh?), oh yeah, and he was sexist toward Hillary (prove it!). ALL FALSE! All through the primaries, the pundits, pollsters and even the candidates themselves highlighted the fact that there is little daylight between them on the issues and matters of policy.

So what else is there, oh yeah, experience....He has about the same amount of elected political experience (10 yrs) as Clinton (15), Bush Sr (12) and Reagan (8) and more than Carter(7), FRD(6) and Bush Jr (5) (source:
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/).

Is it because he was not a POW? Uh, the last President that had real military experience was Eisenhower, I believe. So that doesn't pass muster either.


PLEASE tell me why Democrats, esp those who supported Hillary, are not voting for Obama. I really want to know.




FYI, I am not a Democrat, I am a Registered Independent.


ETA: One of the last die hard Hillbots converts! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...083101620.html

Bush Sr. also had significant military experience. As to the other points, I understand what you're saying

Thanks for the additional information. I also appreciate that you understand what I am saying. However, I REALLY want to know the answer to my question. WHY are there some Democrats who can't bring themselves to vote for Obama?

Some may be really upset about how Hillery was treated. Imagine how the record numbered of AA, who registered to vote because of the historical possibilities of this election, would react/feel if Obama was not the nominee.

Then there are a huge number of Reagan Dems. and some of those do not agree with his policies.

Don't get me wrong he will suffer from the Bradley effect, how badly, guess we'll see in Nov.