Left In Lowell

McCain Picks Palin…Er, Who?

46 Responses to “McCain Picks Palin…Er, Who?”

1. waittilnextyr Says:
   August 29th, 2008 at 10:37 am

   I can only think that it is his attempt to woo disaffected Hillary supporters.

   But the overriding question will be “Who?”. It will be interesting to see how they attempt to spin this into a wise selection.

2. Peter Says:
   August 29th, 2008 at 11:44 am

   Look at it this way; if you were McCain, would you want to spend the next two months of a doomed campaign with that tea totaller stick-in-the-mud Romney or this smoking hottie? I don’t know much about her, but I don’t need to know much.

3. Lynne Says:
   August 29th, 2008 at 12:04 pm

   She’s an extreme conservative. Red meat for the base. All you need to know.

   And with McCain’s health history and the fact that a second-term McCain would be out beyond the average male lifespan, her ideology and ability to step in is an important discussion.

4. Peter Says:
   August 29th, 2008 at 12:09 pm

   Todd is not an oil baron. He is a commercial fisherman who WORKS on the oil pipeline in the off-season. A UNION WORKER.

5. Brian F. Says:
   August 29th, 2008 at 12:54 pm

   You say Palin is extremely conservative, anti-choice, inexperienced, and ethically challenged (although saying she tried to get an opponent fired is an ethical challenge is a stretch, find me one politican who hasn’t done something similar).

   Well, Obama is extremely liberal, extreme on abortion, inexperienced, and has his own challenges with unethical associates like Ayers, Wright, and Resko.

   If this is disqualifies Palin from being second in command, ergo Obama is not qualified to be President.

6. Lynne Says:
   August 29th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

   Ayers, Wright, and Resko have all been debunked a thousand times over. If you still believe those smear stories then I have a bridge to sell you in Alaska.

   Obama is not extremely liberal. He’s no where enough liberal for me. He’s fairly centrist - of course, if by liberal you mean somewhere to the left of Attila the Hun, yeah, he’s liberal, but by the real definition, he’s really not. Next argument, please.

   And I am not making the point it makes her unqualified (though in her case it may well). I’m saying it undercuts THEIR argument of such. Please read carefully before making your next comment. Thanks.

7. Lynne Says:
   August 29th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

   And dude,
   All of Alaska is in Big Oil’s back pocket, so really, it hardly matters what particular position he holds or what he does.

8. Peter Says:
   August 29th, 2008 at 1:46 pm

   Brain F. You’re way off on your interpretations of what Lynn said. Stop letting Michale Grahm do your thinking for you! It’s not fair for me to have to explain why your fake argument against your interpretation of events is such a waste of your time. Look up this woman and read for yourself. I will give you she’s quite a looker.

9. Lynne Says:
   August 29th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

   *sigh* Everything was great until your last sentence, Peter. Is that really salient (or rather, is that the best way to put that idea)?

   Think about how misogynistic that sounds to my ears.

10. Prince Charming Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    This is a woman with about two years experience (which takes away McCain’s slamming of Obama’s inexperience). We now have an insider and an outsider on each ticket. I’ve always felt that people would choose young, positive Obama over old craggy Mc Cain but now I realize just how out-of-touch the Old Man really is. He thinks she has the qualifications to be President?? Not in my book. Mc Cain could’ve has his pick of four or five other (in)famous Republicans but chose not to. When history is written we’ll see that August 29th was the day Mc Cain lost the election, not November 4th.

11. Peter Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    And I thought I was being chivalrous!

12. Fran McDougall Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    Wow! I’m so excited to have a woman candidate to replace Hillary as my choice to represent me in the White House. She thinks just like any candidate I would support, pro-choice, pro-gay rights, and pro protection of the Alaskan wild life. What’s that? She’s anti-choice, anti- gay, and doen’t like polar bears, guess she’s not my candidate after all. Any other Hillary supporters out there who would actually put an x beside that slate?

13. Josh Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    1.) She’s got more executive experience than any other candidate.
    2.) She’s made REAL change and cleaned up a pretty corrupt state while Obama has done nothing by give us empty rhetoric about change.
    3.) She’s not extremely conservative. You only think that because you’re an out of touch Massachusetts liberal.
    4.) If firing man who refused to fire an abusive cop is your best shot at her as “unethical” then you’re in a lot of trouble.

14. Prince Charming Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    I’ll equate “I’m just another hockey mom” with Admiral Stockdale’s “Who am I and what am I doing here?” .

15. C R Krieger Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 5:30 pm

    She appeals to the base and Senator McCain needed that.

    Regards — Cliff

16. mc - Groton Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    Like everyone else, I never heard of Sarah Palin until noon today. She reminds me a bit of Jane Swift who was elevated to Governor when Cellucci left. Her own Republican party threw her under the bus in favor of Mitt when the time came for her to run for Governor on her own.

    Any Hillary supporter who would even consider voting for McCain-Palin is misguided and confused.

    - mc

17. Peter Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    Sorry Josh,

    This thing ended last night. You guys are done.

    Love, Peter

18. Eleanor Rigby Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

    Personally I was hoping he’d pick Condie Rice or Romney. Either would have been a huge win for the Democrats!

    An atractive woman is not a bad choice given that the campaigns these days are as much about how you look on TV as anything else.

    I think it gives Obama and Biden more ammo re: the GOP connection to big oil…more of the same from the GOP.

19. Prince Charming Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    Hey Cliff: You say she appeals to the base. Is base used as a noun or an adjective??

20. Paul@01852 Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 7:49 pm

    The last time a 20-month governor was nominated as Vice President he went on to become the *only* VP ever drummed out of office — May I present Spiroooooooooooo AGNEWWWWWWWWWWW!! (h/t to Josh Marshall, TPM, for the reminder)

21. inside/outside Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

    Prince Charming Says:
    I’ll equate “I’m just another hockey mom” with Admiral Stockdale’s “Who am I and what am I doing here?”

    LOL!!!! That was great!

22. C R Krieger Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    Prince Charming asked how I used “base” and since I wasn’t doing very well in school when those lessons were being taught I could have this wrong, but I am going with “noun.” Every party has one. It builds on it. My confusion is if the Democratic Party has the net-roots as its base or the DLC.

    Regards — Cliff

23. K-R-S Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 10:50 pm

    I ran across this article on Real Clear Politics a couple months back and lo’ and behold, Ms. Palin was the subject! http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/the_vp_case_for_gov_sarah_pali.html

24. Peter Says:
    August 30th, 2008 at 5:58 am

    He meant as opposed to “base,” as in the base functions of guys who will votes for her so they can save money for four years by cancelling Spice Channel and just using CSPAN for their needs.

25. Dems For McCain Says:
    August 30th, 2008 at 7:55 am

    Well it seems that the Obama-ites are panicking over the selection of Gov. Palin. Let’s see, Obama and his minions can start attacking and condemning Gov. Palin, but this is not politics as usual. Obviously experience will now be the catch phrase instead of Change. Obama will change exactly what with Joe “26 year Washigton insider” Biden (who by the wat stated that he would be proud to have run WITH John McCain?

    Experience? Obama was elected a Senator for 2 years before he ran for President, so I guess we can all agree that he has no experience. No experience running a government, no experience in running a business, no expereince in balancing a budget. Just experience in asking for handouts for himself, his wife and his minions.

    The Obama running mate has been soundly rejected by Democrats since 1988, so I ask Change What? Obama’s running mate rides Amtrack to and from D.C. every day. A regular guy you might say? Except that Amtrack roundtrip to Delaware is over $95.00 each way. I have never met a regular guy that has $200 to go to and from work while still paying for his mansion.

    Obama passed on experience when he chose to run, and passed on his message of Change when he chose Insider Reject Biden. All those now attacking Palin, with you no politics as usual mantra need to look in the mirror. While no one really knows much about a Governor other than those who elect and reside in the State. This goes for any Governor. There is plenty of time for the American voter to hear the facts and make an informed decision. Just pay no attention to the attacks dogs of the Obama “no more poltics as usual” slander.

    Bye Bye Obama. Hillary Clinton shall be resurrected in 2012.

26. Peter Says:
    August 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am

    Haha, who’s panicking now “dems for crusty mccain”? This thing is over. Play with the electoral map function on real clear politics, McCain can’t win my friend. Plus this lady’s biggest experience was mayor of a town a quarter the size of Billerica, puleeeze. She’s a looker though, I’ll give you that one.

27. Peter Says:
    August 30th, 2008 at 10:59 am

    Haha, who’s panicking now “dems for crusty mccain”? This thing is over. Play with the electoral map function on real clear politics, McCain can’t win my friend. Plus this lady’s biggest experience was mayor of a town a quarter the pop. size of Billerica, puleeeze. She’s a looker though, I’ll give you that one.

28. Josh Says:
    August 30th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

    Peter, I can honestly say that I thought Obama was going to win until I saw his speech and heard about McCain’s VP pick. That kind of cocky attitude is what loses elections.

    P.S: Again, I’m not voting for McCain so stop trying to frame me as some partisan hack.

29. dee Says:
    August 30th, 2008 at 6:30 pm

    Hmm . . . I think we need to take all this “experience” talk out of the equation. Dick Cheney had a boatload of experience and look where that has gotten us.

30. Lynne Says:
    August 31st, 2008 at 12:10 pm

    “That kind of cocky attitude is what loses elections.”

    What kind of cocky attitude? Did we see the same speech? I’m sorry, since when is having better expectations of the people you want to talk to “cocky”?

    Or do you mean, “uppity,” perhaps?

    Dee’s right, it’s not just about experience, it’s about judgment. I’ll take good judgment over experience but no judgment any day.

31. waittilnextyr Says:
    August 31st, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    I think some call a good speech “cocky”, only because it is so far removed from what they are used to (like George Bush).

    As for McCain’s VP choice, it seems like another impetuous decision based on desperation. It is that type of thinking that could be disastrous in a national crisis. Does anyone think the selection may be challenged during the convention, like maybe Romney’s people won’t want to take the back seat to a relative neophyte?

32. waittilnextyr Says:
    August 31st, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    Setting the bar for speech-making:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgq7LAyIl3U

33. Josh Says:
    September 1st, 2008 at 12:06 am

    1.) I was talking about peter being cocky, not Obama.
    2.) Lynne, did you honestly just pull the race card??? Last time I checked you’re a white girl from the suburbs and you have no idea who I am, so think before you speak pal.

34. Lynne Says:
    September 1st, 2008 at 10:28 am

    Well, it’s a theme of attack that I’ve seen from many of the opposition, so…

    And though it was partially a joke, it was also serious. I’m sick of people who are misogynistic at the female candidates in the race (on both sides, and that includes your “looker” comment, Peter) and I’m sick of people calling an intelligent African-American “haughty” and “condescending” - when he’s clearly not, and its dog-whistle appeal to a certain segment of our society. So I’m sensitive to those uses of those words, because it’s disgusting what’s being said in this campaign. Absolutely disgusting.

    Since you meant Peter with that comment, I apologize regarding calling it out in this case, but I won’t apologize for countering unfair attacks from a party whose constituents often include a certain undesirable attitude towards race (and gender).

35. Prince Charming Says:
    September 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    Anybody else notice how Mc Cain took millions from the evangelicals and THEN told us that he knew about the teenage pregnancy?? Okay now, we can’t argue experience anymore and now we can’t argue “family values” either. Patriotism? Both Biden and Obama have lapel pins. Looks like it’s going to have to be issues and the Republicans lose.

36. K-R-S Says:
    September 1st, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2944356420080901?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

37. Prince Charming Says:
    September 1st, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    Governor Palin: we hardly knew ye. But take heart, this cloud could have a silver lining, maybe a reality show or something.

38. Peter Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 am

    Yeah, Peter Rollins being cocky on someone’s blog in MAss. is going to “lose the election.” You keep telling yourself that Josh.

    Why is the “looker” comment so bad. It’s simply reducing her down to the shell she lives in, it’s the same as when these douchebags call Obama and “empty suit.” No different.

39. Peter Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    Also, it’s a reaaaal stretch, actually it’s poor English because it’s wrong, to equate commenting on Palin’s looks as misogynistic. I’m sick and tired of our side being forced to “take the high road” yeah after year with NO results. Where did it get Dukakis? Gore? Kerry?

    I’m partisan, I admit that I have no ability to objectively evaluate her body of work, however I can still evaluate and objectify her body without showing a hatred or distrust of women. Again, it’s the same as all the “empty suit” comments.

40. Lynne Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    I disagree entirely. Saying someone is an empty suit is attacking their lack of experience, or their readiness, which are legitimate lines of attack however false they are in Obama’s case. If you called Palin an empty suit, that’d be legitimate. (And totally true.)

    But you are commenting on her looks. Whether or not one has “looks” or a lack thereof is something that a woman - or a man, but you never see people say it about male pols - can help. It is sexist. I’m sorry…call her an empty suit, if that’s what you intend.

    If it were common parlance to talk about male pols as “pretty boys” as a line of attack I might be less inclined to be a pain about it, but it is not. We have spent hundreds of years objectifying women and it comes out still, in our casual use of language. If you think it does no harm you are wrong.

41. Peter Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    That’s incorrect and way oversensitive. You said “misogynistic.” That’s waaaaay off base. I can not stress that enough. I think perhaps you are more guilty than I as far as being careless with the language here.

    I’ll amend the situation by pointing out that John edwards was also a “looker.” Dare I say “Dashing?”

42. Corey Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    Nobody comments on attractive male politicians? What about John Edwards?

43. C R Krieger Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 pm

    To try and steer the subject back to the Republican VP recommendation from Senator John McCain, I suggest that if Senator Obama had picked Phil Bredesen we could have a fairly interesting discussion over “experience.” As it is, the current dismissal of Gov Palin’s experience will appear again after President Obama is sworn in and the political anthropologists begin to examine this campaign. At that point folks will begin to ask if it was subtle sexism that caused a sitting governor to be dismissed as having no experience, while three senators, including the new sitting president, were judged to have great experience. Alaska may have only a little over 600,000 residents, but it is a very diverse and challenging state. I lived there for two years.

    Regards — Cliff

44. joe Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    Obama has successfully overcome the perception of inexperience and lack of heft through two years of national campaigning, a campaign that has included beating the Clinton machine in a Democratic primary after 8 years of George Bush, and taking a commanding lead over a war hero and highly respected military affairs power broker in his party. He’s entered into direct, one-on-one fights with McCain over foreign policy, and frequently came off the better.

    Maybe Palin can make her case to the public and rebut the presumption that someone with her resume isn’t ready. Over the next 8-9 weeks. Maybe she’ll surprise everyone.

    Did I mention she’s going to debate the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on national television?

45. Prince Charming Says:
    September 3rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    I find it interesting that the only thing that could bring attention to Clanky Mc Cain is a redneck-lovin’ snowbunnie, Jerry Springer reject.

46. Lynne Says:
    September 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    Prince - can we keep it a little more above board please?

    No, we aren’t losing our bite here at LiL. Yes, we are interested in not losing credibility at every turn.

    Palin is a hella lotta things, but we’re trying to lay off namecalling if possible.

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