August 29, 2008
The Image Says it All…
Consider this your McCain/Palin ‘08 Open Thread.
Allow me to offer the first comment: Best. Vice. Presidential. Pick. Ever.
http://race42008.com/2008/08/29/theimagine-says-it-all/trackback/
Consider this your McCain/Palin ‘08 Open Thread.
Allow me to offer the first comment: Best. Vice. Presidential. Pick. Ever.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:08 am
It truly is amazing
August 29th, 2008 at 11:08 am
amazing!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Now it’s time to get to work.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:09 am
A ticket to be proud of.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:10 am
anecdotaly, i’d say that the obama supporters are worried about this pick. they talk about her lack of experience, and contrast it with the biden pick. but then they realize that the GOP ticket has the experience on the top.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:12 am
For McCain to win, Omaba needs to implode, the young don’t come out to vote and there is latent racism in the Nation.
If McCain wins it will be in spite of this unqualified pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:12 am
+1
August 29th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I think that it is a great pick but best pick ever? Come on. I love everything about her except 1 thing. If the old man were to kick it, is she really ready to be president? I don’t think so. But if McCain stays alive his whole presidency I think that she will do wonderful.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Can someone please get McCain to send out a better surrogate than KBH… my goodness, I’m glad all of that hubaloo about her being the VP was a head fake. I saw her talking on CNN and was just not impressed.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Erik I full heartedly agree
August 29th, 2008 at 11:17 am
My Obama supporting brother is all worked up…..must be a good pick!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:17 am
He lost my vote by being unserious.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I like her, but I am a little nervous about her. I hope she is up to the job. Will be very interesting.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Wait til you see Palin … you’ll remain unimpressed.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Watch her speech - you’ll be impressed!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:21 am
People vote for President not VP so it is still McCain’s to win or lose.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Palin for VP guy was right all along! Where is that guy? He called it! This totally takes Obama’s thunder away, gives PUMA’s more reason to cross the aisle, and shores up the base! Good move McCain!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:22 am
McCain’s own words will come back to bite him - how is this woman ready to become the commander in chief? The question that most women are asking themselves right now is - whose going to take care of her kids? The job demands someone with experience to step in if the President can’t perform his duties. She’s not qualified - she’s not experienced and that should have been the most important boxes that were checked. This is all about identity politics - and it has a good chance of backfiring. I think she makes Obama look more presidential - not less.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Why can’t I post?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:24 am
their father can’t take care of the kids??? that is pretty sexist
August 29th, 2008 at 11:24 am
It is a real role of the dice and shows how John McCain, Karl Rove et al realize what a strong position the Obama-Biden team and Democrats in general are in in this election,” Schumer said. “Certainly the choice of Palin puts to rest any argument about inexperience on the Democratic team and while Palin is a fine person, her lack of experience makes the thought of her assuming the presidency troubling. I particularly look forward to the Biden-Palin debate in Missouri.”
The Obama campaign also told CNN Friday the choice of Palin takes the question of experience “off the table.”
“Experience is being taken off the table considering you’re putting someone within a heartbeat of the presidency with the thinnest foreign policy experience in history,” spokesman Bill Burton said.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:24 am
That should be: “The IMAGE Says it All.”
Awesome pick! This will be a landslide, folks! Hillary Dems will jump the sinking Obama ship!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Economics - Alaska has no state tax or income tax. Don’t the residents get checks from the government from the oil sales? Oh that will resonate with the “real world.”
Terrible choice.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:25 am
does the crowd know?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:25 am
McCain/Palin 2008!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Socons are going wild. They love this pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Wow, predictive markets totally missed the boat on Palin. A few Palin supporters probably made bank on her!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:26 am
What a ridiculous, hideous pick. You want to count the seconds til “Palin under investigation” becomes the talking point? So much for experience, can’t attack on that anymore. It’s a cheap pander and wishful thinking that any sizable percentage of Hillary supporters won’t see through this for what it is. Who here thinks Palin can hold her own with Joe Biden in the debates.
Just disgusted. Sorry.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:26 am
This is the most positive, exciting thing to happen to the GOP since 2000!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:26 am
#18, who’s going to take care of her kids?…The nany as every other politician or rich people.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:27 am
the woman behind mccain on the screen got so excited when he said “she”
August 29th, 2008 at 11:28 am
#30 Falz - yeah, remember how everyone jumped all over Edwards for running when his wife had cancer? She has a special needs infant….
August 29th, 2008 at 11:28 am
#20 - The most reliable voting block are senior citizens and they have a more traditional view that a woman’s primary role is to raise her children - sure the father can take care of the kids - the whole Mr. Mom thing - like I said earlier - the republican ticket just got neutered.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:28 am
several women in the crowd are starting to cry
August 29th, 2008 at 11:30 am
22 you sound like a sexist pig
August 29th, 2008 at 11:31 am
i meant 33
August 29th, 2008 at 11:31 am
This was an unnecessarily risky pick.
Am I the only one that thinks this?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I actually have some somewhat insider scoop to share. My best friend’s brother is a McCain Campain Operative and has been involved in all capaign discussions about the VP selection. McCain has wanted Palin from the get-go, but the campaign persuaded him to move in another direction, so he latched onto Lieberman. The base of the party roundly rejected Lieberman, and he came back to Palin. McCain has remarked many times to his staffers that Palin is young and attractive, and at the end of the day, that’s what Americans really want. My friend’s brother actually asked about her educational background during an internal discussion, and McCain quickjly cut off the conversation, saying, in effect, “You guys are really missing the point. She’s a young and attractive female - America will love her. The average voter doesn’t care about educational background or political prowess, they are looking for something more.” Maybe McCain is right about this. We are probably the minority on this blog. Maybe America wants charisma more than anything else.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
If he was just going for chromosones:
1) KBH
2) Meg Whitman
3) Carly Fiorina
4)Condi Rice
5)Christine Todd Whitman
August 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
There is no question that a few men cannot vote for such a ticket, but most of us can.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
37-I think it is a risk but what the heck Obama is most likely going to win it so why not try it?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Wow, she sounds like a hillbilly. She also looks starstruck.
This is so risky…oh my God..!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:33 am
23 John Ford,
The rest of the real world America does not pay upwards of 9-10 dollars per gallon of gas.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:33 am
She is impressive.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I think not. I don’t think its that risky. The experience argument is there, but its not like they can do a lot about it. Our experience is on the top of the ticket.
In other news, anyone with any connections to the McCain PR team needs to tell them they need a better, not photoshopped together picture of the two of them on the site soon.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:34 am
40 - I disagree. I would have considered McCain the frontrunner if he’d gone with a safe pick.
There was no reason to do this.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:35 am
she comes across very genuine
August 29th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I’m Jerry Withrow and I’m Reporting for Duty!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am
#42 Uh, neither does Alaska, so not sure what you are talking about. Click here for a historical chart of AK gas prices.
Oh boy, Alex (#41), you have hit the nail on the head. This person is going to be a heartbeat away from the presidency? My God.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Alex,
I agree… I have very mixed feelings about this. McCain has just taken away the main line of attack he had against Obama for the hope of some disillusioned Democrats joining the GOP side.
It doesn’t make much sense to me… Obama pretty much admitted he needed foreign policy experience when he selected Joe Biden. McCain pretty much admitted that youth and inexperience doesn’t matter any more when he selected Palin. Advantage: Obama/Biden.
But, then again, you could look at it as youth/experience vs. experience/youth now, and I’d take the latter over the former any day.
So like I said, I’m conflicted.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Palin wasn’t my first choice nor on my radar, however I have to say that I am impressed so far with her speech…
August 29th, 2008 at 11:38 am
#36 - Can you see her commanding respect from the troops. I can’t. I think she’ll get them excited - but not to fight.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I am appalled by the choice, and I have some good insider scoop about how the selection went down.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:39 am
This was a high risk/high reward type pick, and only time will tell which side of that equation pans out.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Jamison #22,
Thanks for the catch.
I am so happy/excited by this news that I can hardly type.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Jerry:
Great news!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:39 am
You mean he fire her ex brother in law that was beating her Sister..
August 29th, 2008 at 11:40 am
54
Welcome!
I’m pumped… wow, what a pick!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:40 am
She’s got a lot of strong points and she’s hitting them well.
I’m OK with the pick; happy, but not exuberant (except for the fact that it’s not Romney or Pawlenty).
But this is so risky.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:40 am
#52 Then spill it…anyone can say crap like that. Back it up.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:41 am
48 - who do you think mccain should have picked?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Gah……some of the people right behind her and on camera are barely even clapping. Didn’t someone coach them since they were going to be on camera/????????????
Oh no, she says “noo-kyoo-ler”…I cannot believe I just heard that.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:41 am
WAIT A SECOND.
Obama’s running for president. Palin’s running for VP. That’s the difference here. Noone equates the president and the VP. No one says Joe Biden will make up for Obama’s lack of experience, nor does anyone think that Palin detracts from McCain’s experience.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:42 am
I have tried to posit it 5 times now, but it won’t post. My best friend’s brother is a campaign staffer.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Let me weigh in on whether Sarah Palin will bring out voters, up and down the ticket, in both red and blue states.
Women will come out to cast a vote for a woman. In a time when they think they have been passed over again, they will want their voice heard. They will drag their beer-drinking husbands to the polls.
They will decide in the coming weeks if they like her and if they can identify with her, and if they want her to represent them. If you are watching her first introduction now, imagine how middle America is reacting. Imagine how moms, Liberal, Independent, and Conservative, are reacting to her as a person.
Just as many were justifiably proud last evening, this election may become the most “identity-driven” in history. Already, Wolfson and Ferraro are signalling to Hillary women that this marks a definitive statement about what JSM thinks about women. So much has changed in 24 hours.
I’m still concerned about NV and CO. But no one can say today that PA, MI, or IA are safe Dem Electoral votes.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:43 am
McCain is able to select someone with her limited electoral experience because his #2 has essentially the same experience as the Dem’s #1.
The Dems nominating Obama is what made this pick possible.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:43 am
A social conservative!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YES. YES. YES.
We conservatives own the Republican Party. And the Republican Party will own the White House.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:44 am
McCain just won…
August 29th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Furthermore, every year of Gubernatorial experience is probably worth two years of Senatorial experience. Being Governor is a much harder job than being a U.S. Senator.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Dang great speech. Giving love to two democrat Women. Def going after Dem. women.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:44 am
We conservatives own the Republican Party.
Yeah, in a “you broke it you bought it” kind of way. Nice going SoCons.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:45 am
This just puts the whole McCain ticket into the toilet.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Raj…Let us know what happened
August 29th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Our posts are being censored. I have tried to post details of my conversation with my brother this morning numerous times,a d in numerous ways, but they don’t show up.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:46 am
John Ford Coley:
who should he have picked?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Ooohh, hold her own with the mighty Joe Biden? Oooh, scary, especially when he calls Neil Kinnock for his talking points….Ohhh Joe Biden…..I’m so scared.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
McCain has wanted Palin for a long tome now as his running mate
August 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
70: Don’t worry. We are united now. Huckabee supporters. Romney supporters. Fred supporters. Rudy supporters.
Obama blew it big time by not picking Hillary.
Big Time!!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
The Obama campaign is screwed. You have just heard the first female Vice President of the United States and I can say most likely the first female President of the United States in 2016.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:47 am
HOLY SHIT.
They’re going for the jugular.
A McCain aide just accused Obama’s campaign of sexism!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:48 am
WHAT A SPEECH!!!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:48 am
#75 - how about someone with some real experience and political savvy? Romney? Ridge? Even Pawlenty, for God’s sake. She sounded like the deputy in “Fargo”. Somebody posted a list of qualified women above - any of them would have been better.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
#79…It is a little early in the morning to be tipping the bottle.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
if you had to pick one . . .
August 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Raj, why don’t you go vote for Barack Obama (the one who put out a press release calling Hillary the senator from Punjab) or Joe Biden (’you can’t go into a 7-11 without a slight Indian accent’ - whatever that means…
It’s the all-racist against Indian-Americans ticket!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
AGREED KAVON!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:50 am
As a diehard Romney supporter I am on board with McCain/Palin!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Kavon, why can I not post details of my conversation with the brother of a campaign staffer I keep getting edited
August 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
82: Palin is more qualified than Obama himself.
Everybody repeat with me:
Obama has never run a business!!
He hasn’t run a city!!
He has never run a state!!
(He did run a board alongside of Ayers though back in Chicago — I guess that counts for some executive experience).
August 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
not edited, but censored. the posts will not show up
August 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
This site’s spam filter has run thoroughly amok.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Well said WiseGuy!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I liked her comments. I would have really liked it if she showed her independence by saying, “I don’t agree with McCain on everything.” We’ll see if she really is an independent thinker or a lackey for McCain. If she is what she just laid herself out to be in her brief speech, I’ll get off my can and vote. If she’s phoney, I’ve had enough of that. I have to admit, I’ve never seen McCain so happy. He was giggling. Weird.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:53 am
**Attention All Race42008 Readers**
Due to the high number of people that are submitting comments, the spam filter is going nuts. So if you are wondering why you comments are getting eaten, it is not due to anything that I am doing.
I am going back in a trying to restore as many as possible. They will appear in the order that they were originally submitted, so look back over the comments in this thread as there may be many that have just been posted for the first time. As a consequence though, the numbering has changed.
Please highlight and control+c your comment if it is really long before you hit submit so that you don’t lose it.
Sorry for the inconvenience everyone. I am trying to fix the problems as we speak.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:53 am
the liberals are foaming, they are flustered, THEY are talking experience hahahahahaha
bye bye convention bounce, mccain-palin!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Sarah Palin will crash the glass ceiling.
I loved her attack on Ted Stevens. Serves that bastard right.
I had goose bumps running up and down my arms and spine listening to her talk. Half of my company was sitting watching her speak and they were speechless. What a great choice.
Anyone want some of my kool-aid?
August 29th, 2008 at 11:55 am
What I did enjoy was the contrast with the Obama indoctrination last night, where I felt absolutely nothing. It was cult-worship and lame repetition of old ideas, and nothing inspiring like selflessness, God, family, or country. There was a different feeling with Palin’s intro here. She apparently loves family and country. I’ll assume she’s God-fearing which will become apparent in her commitment (or not) to integrity, doing what’s right. She alluded to that. Let’s see what the opposition dredges up on her. I definitely connected to her family as being like us, you know, regular Americans. That was weird. But I liked it.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Boy was she amazing at that speech or what? I am so pleased and so proud to be a republican!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Erik, if you didn’t see the personal power to that speech and she delivered it…the first time in front of a national audience, then I am afraid you do not understand US politics, nor the struggle women have gone through.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:57 am
The Sarah Palin pick makes me want to cry! I had given up hope on her being selected, and I had kind of lost interest in her, but now I’m just so excited! I love this!
:) 
August 29th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Let the record show I disagree with Knepper.
This is a brilliant pick that appeals to women, heterosexual men (not a jab at Alex), EconCons and SoCons.
How can you go wrong with THAT?
On the experience line, all Team McCain needs to say is that they got their ticket rightside-up on that question, and the Dems got theirs upside-down.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:58 am
They are going to play that glass ceiling quote, over and over and over again.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Oh, and let me add to #101, appeals to those who are tired of DC corruption.
Brilliant pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:59 am
#100, me too and I have not cried for two years since my son was born. I am so proud to be a Conservative today.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Kathryn Janeway of politics
August 29th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Flop.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Love the pick, brilliant. Definitely a risk, but game changing. She is one of only two game changers the other would have been Bobby Jindal. Her comment about Ferraro and Clinton was perfect and the best line in a speech in a long time, at least in terms of political benefit. I am now fully in McCain’s camp, when just this morning I wrote about how I was fully undecided. Great work McCain!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
GREAT PICK JOHNNY MAC!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Well, I had some interesting inside news that was neither bad nor good, just really curious, but I have posted it a dozen times and it doesn’t show up, yet all my other posts do.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
What a great pick! She shores up the base and brings the kind of energy we need on the ticket. Not to mention she’s both fiscal and social conservative. Most importantly, she will be great for our congressional candidates as she goes around the country this fall.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Let the record show I agree with Metro.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Thrilled, thrilled, thrilled. I loved it when she said “Hillary left 18 million cracks in that ceiling and we’re going to break it once and for all”
August 29th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Well either she is all that, or she isn’t. We have a very short time to make up our minds if she’s legit or not.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Seven posts with over 100 comments in the last few hours…
August 29th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Congratulations Kristofer!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Her oldest son leaves for Irag next month. I can’t count all the pluses this woman has. McCain is a maverick afterall.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
hmmm, a mediocre pick from a mediocre candidate.
Didn’t appreciate the populist message from Palin. I was hoping the VP would be MORE conservative than she appears to be. Seems like she was picked more for her sex, than anything else. I don’t live in a swing-state, probably stay home in November.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I nominate Palin4VP as poster of the year.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Oh well, I give up. Maybe I will try to post my conversation with the brother of a campaign operative another day.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Thanks Kavon. But this is great news for us Gingrich guys.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Raj #119,
Your comment appears as comment #38.
Chill out dude.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Easy counter to the “lacks foriegn policy experience” line: Palin has spent more time in Iraq than Obama has.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
My good Clintonite friend responded to my e-mail “Can you believe it?” linking to Ambinder by saying “Genius, pure genius, at least that is what my gut tells me in the immediate short-term.”
August 29th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
There are many reasons to like her, but just in terms of image,Palin is a breath of fresh air. Folks are tired of the same old political banter (see obama’s speech last night). She’s not a smooth talker and that’s why i like her. Very blunt, down-to-earth. You really feel like she is having a conversation with you…..not giving you a lecture.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I don’t normally spew obsenities, but this is f*cking awesome!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
McCain-Palin ‘08
August 29th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Interesting anecdote…
A friend of mine who works part-time in one of our nation’s biggest retailers tells me that word of Palin’s selection spread like wildfire through the store.
The report goes on to say that most of the young 20-something women working in the cosmetic department are saying they will now vote for McCain in November.
Palin’s detractors are totally underestimating how completely pissed off women (of both parties and all ages) are that it’s 2008 and we have still not had a female President.
This pick is a gamechanger folks. Believe me.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
She was less animated in her speech, she looked more Presidential.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
“Folks are tired of the same old political banter” (see glass ceiling)
August 29th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
she picked it up as she went on….
August 29th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
she is no light-weight, just ask the former gov. of alaska who also served 22 years in the senate. she whipped him good, then went on to beat a former 2 term gov. she is no joke, please dems, underestimate sarah!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
After hearing her speech . . I love the pick. She is going to do a great job, and I think that given the choices, McCain showed amazing judgement. Romney would have polarized the base, Pawlenty is too bland, bottom line, she was the best bet, and after hearing her speak, I am confident she can go toe to toe with the best of them. Way to go McCain/Palin!! Let’s roll up our sleeves and go to war!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Raj: Isn’t that it on #38?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
132. Purrrrr
August 29th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
#131, do you know who Murkowski (former Gov. Alaska) is like? Joe Biden.
McCain just rebutted Obama’s speech last night, and they did not mentioned his name once last night.
Here comes the NRA, Club for Growth and Christian Coalition.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
The Detroit Free Press is quoting a woman on the street.
“I didn’t know what to think when I heard her name on the way over here,” said Cherie Carroll, 69, of Beaver Creek, Ohio. “But after seeing her, I fell in love with her. She’s obviously a woman of tremendous energy.”
August 29th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
any links to her speech?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
#134: It took us that long to hear from HearMeRoar?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
After this speech, I am finally excited about this election. I was going to vote for McCain before, but this sealed the deal and much more. Gov. Palin is going to be a great pick and I think the DEMS are going in underestimate her.
She reminds me of all the women in my life - strong women, tough-tallking, no-nonsense, conservative with a slight feminist twist.
I love this pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
She will connect tremendously well with middle class parents, at a gut level and not only a rhetorical level. Undecided women are likely to find her very appealing. Her personal story—an athlete as well as a beauty queen contestant in her youth, deeply religious but not overbearing about it, a hunter and former professional fisher(wo)man—is interesting and impressive. Her family story—from marrying her high school sweetheart the snowmobile racer to the son about to deploy to Iraq, to the wonderful way she has welcomed her Down Syndrome son—is lovely and inspiring. And on the issues, she’s the kind of conservative the country tends like best. Her unabashed but non-confrontational pro-life views will contrast in the most dramatic possible way with Obama and be nicely illustrated by her own life; she opposes gay marriage but is otherwise friendly to gay rights; she’s an ethics reformer and anti-pork fanatic (she killed the “bridge to nowhere”); great on energy, and something of a conservative reformer in general, though she hasn’t said much to my knowledge about health care and taxes—which I suppose makes her a good vehicle for McCain’s positions on those. And while you won’t hear it much from the Democrats or the press, there’s the historic female vice president element too.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Excellent choice! Sarah Palin’s speech connected with average citizens in a way many of our other candidates cannot. She is genuine. What a role model for my daughter. I will be running to my local McCain office to volunteer next week. Most exciting team since Reagan.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
So many more qualified potential VP picks, and we get this? Forget it.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
the left is in tatters, to think they are talking about EXPERIENCE after telling us a community organizer can be CiC
our experience is on the right side of the ticket!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
all of those nutroots who spent months smearing hillary are gonna smear sarah, not gonna work
August 29th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Obama’s people are still trying to drill the 4 more years of George Bush when they should start talk about drilling for more oil.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
McCain’s website is not loading properly in Firefox.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I haven’t donated to McCain … I will now. The selection of Gov. Palin injects some very much need enthusiasm and energy into the campaign!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
is it me or does she look a whole heck of a lot like Tina Fey?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
148, yes she does, I thought the same thing…I bet SNL is already lining up Tina Fey to do some special guest spots this fall.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Jason (Romney), Metro (Rudy) and I (Huck) agree it’s a brilliant pick.
What further evidence do you need that it’s a brilliant pick?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Will the Hillary supporters turn tail and vote for McCain? That’s the real question here, folks. That’s the demographic that McCain is clearly targeting with this selection. I don’t think we can tell yet. We’ll have to see what the debates hold and how good of an attack dog she can be.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
metro she is on there.
McCain site is slow, probably because on the donations flowing in.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Jersey,
When I looked her up in the Alamanac of American Politics, my first thought was that she looks like Tina Fey!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Man, I can’t seem to post a comment for some reason… too many tyring?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Metro,
The tag line is;
“The Ticket for America”
August 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
#150: Indeed. She could be another Reagan, with the groups she unites.
Give her 4-8 years. She could be a Thatcher, revered in part for taking on her own party (where we want her to).
August 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Jerseyrepublican, yep! They are going to spew out the same old hot air of four years of George W. Bush. They can’t say that anymore with this amazing pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
It could be a brilliant pick, but remember that McCain biggest weakness is the economy, and that is the number #1 issue in this election. It’s a long time to November, and Mccain has to address this issue as his top priority.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Kristofer, yeah, it looks in IE for me.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Yes, Thatcher, our country can hope!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Now it loads in Firefox, too.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I was upset for about an hour this morning, but I do realize this is the best possible pick.
(But it doesn’t mean that “conservatives own the party” - the word is MAVERICK, the word is REFORM.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Yawp! I on board.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
This pick has legs.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I can support the ticket with this pick, which is a genuine relief to me. While I think Romney or Pawlenty would have been better picks from the standpoint of governance, Palin might work out better from the standpoint of electability. Also, I agree with her about just about everything, and her enthusiasm is infectious.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Does the McCain site have video up of the rally? Because I missed her appearance.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
This pick has legs.
And quite shapely ones at that.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Made my first donation to McCain. I was holding off to see if he went pro-choice or not.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I think she is a great pick. I’ve never been one who thinks that being a woman, or an african american, makes you less capable of being elected to the executive branch but when I saw her speech today I was truly proud of this country and how far we have come.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
DaveG, you are a man after my own heart.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
She’s a hot one isn’t she?
August 29th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
tried to donate at the McCain site … message = “Server is to busy” Sweet!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I think she’s sexy too…we can’t lose.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
“Country First” is a much better tagline than “Ready to Lead”
I like it.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I am only 16 1/2 and my mom is voting for McCAin now after voting Kerry in the last election. My dad is still going to be sticking his head in the sand, just voting for the damn old DNC again. Today, I am proud of my country and I would love to see this woman finally end sexism in this country.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Want proof that this is the best vice presidential pick ever?
Both Kathryn Lopez and Andrew Sullivan approve.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
http://race42008.com/2008/06/03/the-path-to-victory-why-were-not-on-it-and-how-to-chart-it/
August 29th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
^ Someone called for this path months ago!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I was an ardent Romney supporter, and while I think this pick is a slap in the face to Mitt, T-Paww and others, it might be the only recourse that McCain has. I do agree with Raj that the number one issue is the economy, and Mccain has to find a way to address his shortcoming on this point. If he fails to address shortcoming on the economy, he will lose the election.
It’s the economy, stupid. Just joking, the refrain still holds true.
August 29th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Hey Obama, how is this for a change you can belive in?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
The success of McCain’s choice is already apparent. Except for a few carping critics, the right of the blogosphere is going crazy for Gov. Palin. With one master stroke, McCain has energized the Republican base while simultaneously reaching out to independents. If the convention goes really well, then there is no doubt that we can win in November.
McCain/Palin 08!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I rarely listen to Rush anymore but I was out for lunch and tuned in.
He ended a segment (I swear to G*d) as follows: “Guns. Babies. Jesus. Hot damn!”
I had to change my trousers.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
#138. I was following the Pawlenty/Secret Service thread last night and that is when the posts about charter jet started to break. And there was a poster named “Drew” on the Draft Sarah Palin thread leaking info too — so I didn’t get to bed until after 1:00 am. It was cool to see the story unfold and know about it 6 hours before the MSM.
I have been reading the posts over at hillaryclintonforum.net that Gary Matthew Miller (thanks, Gary) linked to in his “Brilliant Pick” thread.that Gary Matthew Miller linked to.
http://www.hillaryclintonforum.net/discussion/showthread.php?t=26089&page=6
If you have doubts about McCain’s choice, I encourage you to lurk over there a bit.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
You know that the Obama campaign has Joe Biden quatantined somewhere in a re-education camp so that when he reemerges, he won’t say something stupid and sexist.
I can’t wait for the debate!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
#183 - WOW. I read that Hillary thread, and I think Obama doesn’t realize how badly this thing is spiraling out of control against him. Or maybe he does, and is wetting his pants right now. Hillary supporters are flocking en masse to McCain/Palin. What an excellent strategic pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
How well she does as a Veep candidate ultimately depends on her performance on the trail, especially her ability to establish credibility on national security.
To do this, she will rely on her experience and her intelligence. Not having much of the former, she will need the latter to be a quick study. How bright, quick, smart she is, we don’t know. A Governor of Alaska can probably get by okay even without a lot of smarts, but not so for a Veep candidate subject to MSM scrutiny. A merciless MSM will quickly be expose and exploit any stumbles.
Evidence of intelligence is most readily found in a person’s academic record. Palin won a scholarship for being runner-up in Miss Alaska (and she won Miss Congeniality as well!). She then attended and graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Idaho. No graduate school. The average GPA at UI is 3.3. The average Math SAT 543.23, the verbal SAT 548.72. The percentage of students scoring over 700 on the critical reading, math and writing scores are 5%, 6% and 3% respectively.
There is no particular indication that Palin’s SAT’s were among the few at UI above 700. Which means that she probably isn’t especially bright, which will ultimately manifest in the campaign. The Dems/MSM will pounce on it. Saturday Night Live will start its season early just so Amy Poehler can do skits featuring a ditzy Palin as a clueless Veep.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I think this is a terrible pick. McCain’s best ammo against Obama was his lack of experience. By selecting Palin as the VP, he just sent that argument permanently drifting down the river. She may be a great orator and a have numerous other qualities, but she doesn’t have the first and most important criteria on her side. She’s not experienced. Two years as governor of Alaska. Alaska!? Come now. This was a disasterous pick.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
[...] I stole the image from Race42008.com where there is a big discussion going on about the pick. Kavin says “Best. Vice. [...]
August 29th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Does anyone care that Palin has spent more time in Iraq than OBAMA!!?? All these attacks from the left are so baseless
August 29th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Hey, my site is getting 300 hits per minute. Cool!
http://www.palinforvp.com
August 29th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
There’s so much I want to say, but right now I’ll just settle for saying that I’m ecstatic. And proud - very, very proud.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
#187…hmm better than a socialist agitator…please….and Delaware? Delaware!..please
August 29th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Congrats, Kristofer! You’ve been the longest McCain/Palin advocate here (that I know of), and it’s finally come to fruition!
McCain/Palin ‘08!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
It seems pretty consensus. While some are upset, people from every wing of the party are satisfied with this in some way.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
194 - For now. Just wait until we lose the election. Then we’ll see how “satisfied” people are.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
“is it me or does she look a whole heck of a lot like Tina Fey?”
A little, but more like Diane Keaton too.
August 30th, 2008 at 1:21 am
#176, you might want to reread Andrew Sullivan’s blog from later in the day…