Politics 2008:The Caucuses and The Dem/Rep Conventions

[WenD08]

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.

[delph998]

Originally Posted by darling1

palin may pull clinton supporters (some white women)

'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.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

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.

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!

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

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.

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

[darling1]

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).

Originally Posted by StarFish106

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.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by Little32

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.

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.

[Ten/Four]

Originally Posted by StarFish106

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)

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.

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

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.

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.

[Little32]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

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 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.

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by Little32

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.

[Liquid Soule]

Originally Posted by Ten/Four

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. .

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

[BlessedOne04]

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.

[jitterbug13]

Originally Posted by Ten/Four

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Liquid Soule

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.

This quote made me laugh.

[RedefinedDiva]

Originally Posted by Liquid Soule

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.

Does someone have dibs on 2016 already?

[Liquid Soule]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

Does someone have dibs on 2016 already?

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

[nikki1920]

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!!!??