Politics 2008:The Caucuses and The Dem/Rep Conventions

[Little32]

McCain picks Palin as running mate
Popular Alaska governor to be first female Republican VP nominee

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25970882/from/ET/

[darling1]

its not official...BUT, this will make the race very interesting.

Originally Posted by Little32

McCain picks Palin as running mate
Popular Alaska governor to be first female Republican VP nominee

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25970882/from/ET/

[delph998]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

She was good. As was Stevie Wonder and Take 6. Michael McDonald also had a real nice keyboard rendition of "America The Beautiful."



...so, does this mean, you are not hosting the after party for the Repubs in the Twin Cities next week?

I cried listening to Michael McDonald! That dude sings with so much soul.

After party at my crib? NOT!

It is very strategic for McCain to choose the governor of Alaska, but I don't know how effective it will be.

[darling1]

palin may pull clinton supporters (some white women)

Originally Posted by delph998

I cried listening to Michael McDonald! That dude sings with so much soul.

After party at my crib? NOT!

It is very strategic for McCain to choose the governor of Alaska, but I don't know how effective it will be.

[WenD08]

she was chosen to appeal to those disgruntled Hillary supporters. however, the McCain camp cannot talk about Obama's inexperience. reason being, this woman has only been the governor for less than 2 years, prior to that she was the mayor of a small town. she has no real foreign policy experience and she's under investigation for using her office in a rather shady manner (getting an in- now "out-" law fired).
we'll see how this plays out.

[darling1]

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.

Originally Posted by WenD08

she was chosen to appeal to those disgruntled Hillary supporters. however, the McCain camp cannot talk about Obama's inexperience. reason being, this woman has only been the governor for less than 2 years, prior to that she was the mayor of a small town. she has no real foreign policy experience and she's under investigation for using her office in a rather shady manner (getting an in- now "out-" law fired).
we'll see how this plays out.

[StarFish106]

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)

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by darling1

palin may pull clinton supporters (some white women)

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.

[darling1]

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

Originally Posted by TonyB06

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.

[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.

[darling1]

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.

[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. 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.

Originally Posted by WenD08

she was chosen to appeal to those disgruntled Hillary supporters. however, the McCain camp cannot talk about Obama's inexperience. reason being, this woman has only been the governor for less than 2 years, prior to that she was the mayor of a small town. she has no real foreign policy experience and she's under investigation for using her office in a rather shady manner (getting an in- now "out-" law fired).
we'll see how this plays out.

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.

Originally Posted by StarFish106

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)

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.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

I think I MAY watch a little bit of the RNC, just to see what they are going to say about (future) Pres. Obama and how they intend to separate themselves from Bush (if they can or even plan to).

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

[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.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by Little32

I continue to be amazed at the characterizations of the Obamas, even in contrast to Obamas running mate Joe Biden.

Obama is somehow unknown and perhaps untrustworthy, while Biden seems mature and level headed.

How can Obama lack judgment and at the same time select a running mate, whom the same individuals making claims about Obamas judgement identify as level-headed?

This stuff is so deep-seated that folks sometimes don't even realize the roots.

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.....