EDIT/DISCLAIMER: This is not a pipe dream. Palin is currently being re-vetted. This information did not have to come to light. This is laying the groundwork for a possible withdrawal. It is only because of this that I felt it appropriate to post this.
—
This post is not meant to antagonize, divide, or irritate. If Sarah Palin remains our vice-presidential nominee, I’ll throw my full support behind her. But this is a highly consequential post, meant to persuade all readers that Palin, in the next twenty-four hours, has got to go. I felt that a post of this nature was finally safe to make now that it’s a real possibility.
Let’s go point by point:
1. Scandals and Their Implications
Between Bristol’s pregnancy — which makes her Dukakis-esque statement that she would not approve of her daughter having an abortion even if she were raped take on a special meaning — and Troopergate, which should have eliminated Palin from serious consideration in the first place, Palin’s misadventures are ripe for gossip-mongering and make us lose control of the narrative.
Worse, there are going to be a hell of a lot of mothers across the country that are going to seriously question whether it’s appropriate for a mother with a newborn special-needs child and a pregnant teenager to subject them to the campaign trail when they need her most. My own mother, whom I discussed this with earlier, was quite taken aback and appalled at her parenting decision. And the CNN poll released two days ago already showed that Palin actually hurt the ticket among women.
Do we really want to risk this if we don’t have to?
2. She’s Not Ready to Lead
After having had a few days to let it sink in, it really hit me: sure, the left is being hypocritical when they criticize Sarah Palin’s inexperience. But is that our best argument? “Gee, at least our vice-presidential nominee is better than Barack Obama!” Barack Obama is our new threshold for what’s acceptable? What happened to ‘ready to lead’? It’s a slap in the face to people like Joe Lieberman, Tom Ridge, Rudy Giuliani, and, yes, even Mitt Romney, who have strong records of accomplishment and are fundamentally ready on day one. McCain trashed his whole narrative by choosing Palin.
Do you want Sarah Palin potentially staring down Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Vladimir Putin? Kim Jung-Il? Don’t feed me any crap about how her state borders Russia. That is not foreign policy experience.
Fair enough, you might say, but isn’t it ultimately about vision? George W. Bush had vision, even though he had no foreign policy experience.
Fine. But it gets worse.
3. She’s an Intellectual Lightweight
One of the following quotes comes from Sarah Palin. Can you guess which one?:
A) “We are a nation at war and in many [ways] the reasons for war are fights over energy sources”
B) “[O]f course, knowing the situation we are in right now — at war, not knowing what the plan is to ever end the war we are engaged in…”
C) “We’d better have a real clear plan for this war. And it better not have to do with oil…”
Which one was it?
Trick question. She said all of them! Sarah Palin thought that the Iraq War may have been for oil. And she thinks that Ron Paul, moreso than the other candidates, is worth praising. Gee, that’s reassuring.
And our future #2 said, when asked about the surge: “I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe.”
With her son in the military, while remaining politically active and a high-profile citizen, the most she knew about the surge in 2007 was that she “saw it on the news” and that she wanted an exit strategy?
She not only has no foreign policy experience, but worse, she has no foreign policy vision. Exit strategies, speculating that the war was for oil, and little attention paid to the news — this is our future vice-president?
4. Her Untenable Abortion Position
Will she moderate her abortion position? She hasn’t done it yet, even though the Internet is abuzz with it. And Palin is not one to ignore the Internet, as that was the reason that she revealed her daughter’s pregnancy to the world.
Abortion isn’t an issue. It routinely ranks ninth or tenth on priority lists of issues. So abortion isn’t an issue — until it is. When polls suggest that as few as ten percent of Americans support the same position as Sarah Palin does (which is to say: no exceptions), it’s time to moderate ASAP or commit political suicide.
She has not moderated yet. Do we even know that she will?
UPDATE, 12:14: Palin was once a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, which advocates secession from America!
UPDATE, 1:58: Need more? Read this.
UPDATE, 2:20: In the interest of fairness, read this as a rebuttal to my claim that Palin’s decision to run for the vice-presidency even though it would put her daughter through a celebrity circus was cruel. Do I think that it’s okay that Palin didn’t veto her daughter’s yes? No. But there’s the other side.
How To Do It
McCain can’t kick her out. To withdraw, Sarah Palin must come out with a statement that she has decided that, upon further reflection, she realized that she simply got caught up in the heat of the moment and made an impulsive decision. She must say that her family needs her most; that Bristol and Trig have to take priority over her political ambition.
The base has been excited. We can replace her with a candidate acceptable to the base. That’s fine. We can do that. We don’t have to make these record crowds and fundraising days be in vain. But Sarah Palin has to go.
This can happen.
This must happen.
We still have time.
We’re gonna take a hit either way: McCain’s judgment will be called into question when Palin leaves — this is true.
But if she doesn’t, say hello to President Obama and Vice-President Biden.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Alex you are absolutely ridiculous on this one. Do you understand that if she goes, McCain will have admitted that his judgement cannot be trusted? She is our VP and if she is let go we will lose.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:26 pm
You didn’t even read the piece, did you?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I can’t see this happening. The comparisons to Eagleton will be made endlessly. COmparisons to Quayle are more palatable (or even Ferraro).
September 1st, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Of course I did…no matter what it’s called it will be perceived that she was let go.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:28 pm
You’re an idiot, Alex. And you have no business referring to anyone else as an intellectual lightweight.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13062.html
September 1st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Great political conspiracy Alex - it’s not going to happen. Palin is on the ticket to stay.
And who is going to go whisper in Sarah’s ear to step aside? Rove? And who would be that ‘acceptable to the base’ pick that you seem to hold out as a knight in shining armor? Pawlenty? Guiliani? Romney? Ridge? Lieberman? No easy choices here.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I usually don’t go personal on these posts, but you’re an idiot. The second that the left starts throwing mud, you want to just give up! I am more proud to be a republican because of Sarah Palin as VP than I have been in years. The bottom line is that you don’t give her enough credit. You think that she’s just a frail little thing that will get spooked and fall apart. She’s built her CAREER on taking down old entrenched good old boys, and there is no one who fits that description better than BIDEN!!! She’s the Saraccuda, and you’re just willing to cast her out to sea. Shame on you and anyone who goes along with this acinine idea. McCain had better not do what you’re suggesting…he’ll live to regret it.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Sorry Alex, but you are wrong on this issue. Unless there is proof that Gov. Palin killed a hobo, then we have to keep her on the ticket.
Remember McGovern/Eagleton!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
If she goes, McCain’s judgement will be questioned. He didn’t give her enough time to think about it, etc. However, his judgement is being questioned already.
But the Bush/Rove copybook says that when under threat, attack attack attack. That’s the more likely route in this polarized electorate.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Idiocy.
Alex, I’ve often supported your views in the past, but this is so stupid it surpasses understanding how you could post it.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:32 pm
The basis of your argument is ill founded and wreaks in personal issues of your problems with her, so maybe you shouldn’t vote for them.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:32 pm
I am just amazed by all the stuff that has been coming out I knew about Troopergate. I was shocked about the baby, I was shocked about the secessionist Party, I was shocked that she was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it and I was shocked she was for earmarks before she was against it. If she can whether this week, I say she was successful, but NEVER, EVER remove the VP. It will undermine McCain’s judgment and message.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:32 pm
The other problem in this scenario is Palin. She clearly has national ambitions, even if these would have been better suited to 2012 (or 2016).
but if she backs out now, her national ambitions are over. Nobody would take her seriously in 2012, no matter what she said.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I think it would be better for the GOP to run a nasty campaign against Obama than removing Palin.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I am shocked that the Dems are trying to use a phrase that was akin to Kerry’s approval and disapproval to a war to show that Palin flipped on an issue involving a bridge…how stupid!!!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:35 pm
It always come to abortion with you baby-killing loving assholes. Why even pretend? Just list number 4 over and over.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:37 pm
I am amazed at how easily spooked some posters and supposed GOP supporters are right now.
Obama = Rev. Wright; BAIPA; Ayers; Rezko; “Community organizer”; socialist; marxist ties a.k.a “Frank”; uncertain eligibility for office; celebrity; meglomaniac; ‘punished with a baby’; 143 days in office; running for Prez 2 out of his 3 years of time in DC; and on and on…
I still like our chances.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:38 pm
im really suprised that mccain had only met her once. doesnt that strike everyone as kind of weird? if a candidate knows someone very well, the i say they’re entitled to pick whoever they want. but it is so weird mccain picked her, when he hardly knows her at all.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:39 pm
All of this hand wringing is so detatched from reality and is an invention of the MSM. Palin is a strong choice, maybe the strongest and shrewdest selection ever. Even with these stories that no one believes and that no one is paying attention to, McCain is shwredly winning each day’s news cycle. The pick sucked all of the oxygen out of Denver and the GOP is unified. McCain also stands to gain all of the millions of PUMA voters.
Governor Palin - 10 years of executive experience/CIC of Alaskan National Guard
September 1st, 2008 at 11:39 pm
You people live in a bubble.
Do you understand how non-base members are going to react to her abortion position? To her non-experience? Do you understand how much this pick calls McCain’s into judgment?
Palin has an out, and she can take it. She’s not our nominee yet.
There’s that, and then of course –
You people are comfortable with this woman staring down Ahmadinejad?
With the fact that she has no problem subjecting her pregnant teenager to the media’s harsh spotlight?
With the fact that she thought that the Iraq War may have been for oil?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Jeremy - the Independence party of Alaska - more to it than that slanted ABC post. I’m more jazzed about Palin knowing that she has this strong states rights streak. Do a little due diligence and you will readily see that the independence party is all about AK states rights; more state control of the land now under control and off limits per the federal government, etc. The ’secessinist’ angle isn’t even in the independence party platform - rather, they call for a vote of the people about the issues. There’s really not much more to it than that.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Shrewdly winning the cycle!?
The only non-Gustav story of the day was the fact that Palin was not forthcoming about her daughter’s pregnancy!
That’s winning the cycle?!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:41 pm
McCAin withdraws Palin he would look like the biggest idiot, terrible judgement, fickle and the SoCons would be pissed, because they like her.
This is ridiculous.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Governor Palin - 10 years of executive experience/CIC of Alaskan National Guard
Look at you, counting her years as mayor!
Fine! Then Obama has 11 years of legislative experience!
Now he’s ready to lead, too.
Don’t you see what you’ve done?! We’ve killed our winning narrative!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:41 pm
23 - Did you READ MY POST?
PALIN should WITHDRAW. Not BE WITHDRAWN. It has to look like HER decision.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Alex…let’s be honest, one of the reasons we went to Iraq was because of oil…not the only reason but it was in the thought process. It is part of protecting our interests abroad.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Palin = Thatcher but with more executive experience (10 years).
September 1st, 2008 at 11:42 pm
“You people are comfortable with this woman staring down Ahmadinejad?”
You are a twit. As if your little-bitty nut sack would help you stare down Ahmadinejad.
Palin may just be Iron Lady II.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I’m trying to post a response and the spam filter’s eating it… if I can’t post it I’m going to be really mad.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:43 pm
25…it will never look like her decision!!!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:43 pm
#20:
Alex. My mother was a conservative Democrat who recently changed parties and is now a very moderate Republican. She is pro-choice and not necessarily opposed to gay marriage. She was thrilled when McCain chose Palin. The thought of a woman being the Vice President is exciting to the women of America.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:44 pm
You lose complete control of your bladder at the first burst of automatic fire and WE live in a bubble, Alex? Even if I were to accept your hare-brained non-reasoning on its face, what sort of bubble must you live in to imagine that McCain can allow the media to scare him away from his VP pick like a frightened little girl and go on to win a national election?
If he’s that easily spooked then I do not want him as my president.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Here’s the thing: those were all clear advantages for McCain before he picked Palin. Now? Not so much.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I’m going to try it in chunks:
Alex, why do you have to be really intelligent sometimes and a completely moronic asshole the rest? Palin is fine.
Point by point:
1. I think the campaign planned to leak the “scandals” right now when they would compete with Gustav, which they already knew was going to be a big story when she was picked. And I think most people still aren’t paying attention right now except us political junkies who overanalyse these sorts of “problems”. When people do start to pay attention, I think they’ll dismiss most of these things as irrelevant.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:44 pm
2. I’ve always thought the “ready to lead” bit was stupid, especially as a criteria for the job that “isn’t worth a bucket of warm piss”. And for people who care about that sort of thing, I think the Obama/Biden ticket is still more frightening. The top of their ticket is scarcely more qualified than ours, and the guy “a heartbeat away from the Presidency” is a left-wing nutso. Palin would still be better than either of them, even if she’s FAR from qualified, which I don’t think she is.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Sam, I like that. I think we need to start calling Governor Palin “Iron Lady II.”
Governor Palin - 10 years of executive experience/CIC of Alaskan National Guard/State neighbors Russia
September 1st, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Alex, after your nonstop support of Rudy and all of his PERSONAL/OTHER problems (and I can go on forever on the basta**), this post just basically tells me you’re dumb. I liked this website, but if DaveG, Alex et al are going to be pissy b/c their guys did not get elected/picked, then this site is no good. (Then again, I probably would’ve been the same way if the media would’ve dumped on Rudy. Okay, carry on then).
September 1st, 2008 at 11:45 pm
3. I’m no foreign policy hawk, so I like that she’s a little more open-ended than McCain when it comes to the war issue, and she’s expresssing views on the War that are more in line with many voters, especially those in the middle. It does NOT make her an “intellectual lightweight”… this woman rose from total obscurity to national prominence in a short without ANY help from lobbyists, connections to powerbrokers, family political dynasties, etc. She did it ALL from elbow-grease and good policies. That’s nothing to scoff at..
September 1st, 2008 at 11:45 pm
4. Her abortion position is a bit extreme, but she’s only going to be VP. And even if she becomes President, the only way she would be able to affect abortion in this country would be through SCOTUS appointments, and even then only if McCain dies, and even then the Congress that approves her appointees would be heavily pro-choice, so a staunchly conservative justice would be a non-starter. I don’t see that her abortion extremism is such a drag. And it helped tremendously with the base..
September 1st, 2008 at 11:46 pm
If Palin leaves or is forced to leave the ticket, then McCain’s first major decision will be painted as a massive failure, which doesn’t bode well for his Presidency or chances at winning the election. But all of this can be handled in such a way as to minimize the negative effect. We still haven’t really gotten to know Palin.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Alex,
You want her to go but you’ll back her if she stays?.
If she exit’s you can say hello to president Obama anyway.
If you really feel this way then the proper conclusion is the race is over, and this post is about later being able to say I told you so.
With all due respect, grow a pair.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:47 pm
McCain’s stuck with the pick, for better or worse.
All and all though, this does raise a slight red flag with me. My little issue is this… why would she accept the VP nod when she knew that her teenaged daughter would get slimed over this. It makes me curious to her ambitions. I’m not questioning her loyalty to her children, persay, but did she not know that this would be made an issue?
For those who don’t understand my reasoning, hear me out… Pretend you are a 17 year old teenage girl, and now THE ENTIRE WORLD knows that you were knocked up. Some on the left are going to peddle disgusting information about a teenage girl, who is going to have to live with it the rest of her life.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I had one more bit to post, but I got most of what I had typed. Sorry to post a million times. Fucking spam filter.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Yeah. Because no one would ever see through so naive and bone-headed a ruse. /bitter sarcasm.
And you have the gall to refer to anyone else as an intellectual lightweight?
Dude.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I used to enjoy this site, especially all of the polls that got posted here, but this trashing of Palin makes it not worth reading any more.
This is like the Clarence Thomas high tech lynching all over again, only some on our own side are joining in.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:48 pm
If Palin is removed the base will be more outraged at John McCain than when he threw in his support for CIR. McCain stands to lose alot by taking her off the ticket. By keeping her on the ticket there may be damage, but it won’t be that great because folks don’t spend all of their time focusing on a VP.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:49 pm
You lose complete control of your bladder at the first burst of automatic fire and WE live in a bubble, Alex? Even if I were to accept your hare-brained non-reasoning on its face, what sort of bubble must you live in to imagine that McCain can allow the media to scare him away from his VP pick like a frightened little girl and go on to win a national election? If he’s that easily spooked then I do not want him as my president.
Are you kidding!?
This isn’t about “standing up to the media”!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:49 pm
one conversation is weird…
September 1st, 2008 at 11:49 pm
For those who don’t understand my reasoning, hear me out… Pretend you are a 17 year old teenage girl, and now THE ENTIRE WORLD knows that you were knocked up. Some on the left are going to peddle disgusting information about a teenage girl, who is going to have to live with it the rest of her life.
Exactly!
People will think that she’s cruel.
And they’d be right.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I think that in her rollout the consensus was that she appeared strong, decisive and Reaganesque. We need to let her introduce herself. Plus, I firmly believe that her daughter’s baby is a winning issue for us as it humanizes her and allows America to see her as a mother and as a fighter.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:50 pm
She’s not even rolling herself out!
She gave her speech, she’s been on the trail, and now she’s in St. Paul, “taking a breather.”
Taking a breather?! Instead of being in Louisiana with McCain!?
It’s been three days since she gave her first speech!
Can you imagine Rudy, Lieberman, or Ridge “needing a breather”?
This is an utter farce!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:51 pm
EDIT/DISCLAIMER: This is not a pipe dream. Palin is currently being re-vetted. This information did not have to come to light. This is laying the groundwork for a possible withdrawal. It is only because of this that I felt it appropriate to post this.
NO SHE IS NOT,
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/01/mccain-camps-detailed-review-of-palin-1/
September 1st, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I used to enjoy this site, especially all of the polls that got posted here, but this trashing of Palin makes it not worth reading any more.
Oh please. I’m in the minority and you know it.
This is like the Clarence Thomas high tech lynching all over again, only some on our own side are joining in.
!?!?!?!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:51 pm
if palin leaves its over. she must simply preform well in her speeches and solidly in the debate. if she does that it will vindicate mccain.
the media is getting in some people’s heads here. relax. schmidt knew about all of this. don’t you see? the libs are overreaching and people are becoming protective of her. she is rallying more support to mccain then he ever could have managed on his own. more money, more volunteers, more energy. on wednesday, i guarantee she is going to get a long standing ovation for handling the media smears with dignity. then she fights back in her speech, taking on the smear merchants and impressing the crowd. just sit back and watch kids, show is just getting started.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:52 pm
CRUEL!?!?! ARGH. This is just too frustrating. I’m going to bed. I believe in McCain/Palin and am more excited to be a republican than I’ve been in six years. I’m just glad you’re not in the driver’s seat Alex.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:52 pm
52 — YES SHE IS.
http://thepage.time.com/2008/09/01/asked-and-not-answered/
September 1st, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Palin is energizing the base and that is who helped Bush win over the top over the liberals Kerry and hairman Edwards!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:53 pm
This is like the Clarence Thomas high tech lynching all over again, only some on our own side are joining in.
Yes Joel it has the same feel to it doesn’t it.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:53 pm
CRUEL!?!?! ARGH. This is just too frustrating. I’m going to bed. I believe in McCain/Palin and am more excited to be a republican than I’ve been in six years. I’m just glad you’re not in the driver’s seat Alex.
If you had a kid and she got knocked up, you’d tell the whole world and plaster her face and pregnant body all over the media for your own political ambitions? You’re sick!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Don’t underestimate Palin. You don’t work your way up to be nominated as VP for nothing. The McCain camp is very shrewdly setting the expectations bar low so that Gov. Palin will overperform. Brilliant Pick.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Does no one have a problem with the fact that she thought that the Iraq War was for oil?
Can any among you really say that you think that she can stare down Ahmadinejad, given her total flippancy toward foreign policy and lack of insight or attention to war issues?
On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable would you be with her as Commander-in-Chief?
On a scale of 1-10, how ready do you think that Palin is to lead? 50% in the new CNN poll say that she is not ready to be president.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Right and ABC is telling the truth because they are so unbiased?
Here is who they are sending-
Steve Schmidt, a senior adviser, said the campaign always planned to send a “jump team” to the eventual running mate’s home state to work with the nominee’s staff, help with information requests from local and national reporters, and answer questions about documents that were part of the review.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Oh my God, Alex in 53, if you really don’t know about the Clarence Thomas thing then you really are a complete tool.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:55 pm
59, at your age I would’ve thought you were above sexism. Your points are weak and unfounded…do you not understand the repurcussions?????
September 1st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Nope Alex… Kick her to the curb and you lose literally tons of conservative support. I was tepidly supporting Mac for a few weeks before this. If he tosses her I personally will find it very hard to support him because of it. I agree with 45. Joel. I will not participate in a stupid decision like this. If Mac lets the media, the left and a few misguided people on the right to force him to do this, I can not trust the Maverick’s judgement. He has at that point proven that he seeks their approval. Period. Either he trusts himself or not. Sorry Alex but I think you are wrong on this. I do not want to sacrifice our principles or the goos Governor to appease you or the media. Palin or bust.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
#63 he’s in college, he has no idea.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
And Alex, those “vetters” are going to Alaska *specifically* to head-off attacks from liberal journalists and campaigners who are going up there to dig up whatever dirt they can find, not to vet her again because she wasn’t vetted properly in the first place.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Alex - you’re fighting a losing battle with the “Iraq War was for oil”… perception is reality and the majority of americans (rightly or wrongly) belive that oil played a part in the current operations in Iraq.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I thought Harriet Meyers had been a horrible pick by Bush.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:57 pm
On a scale of 1-10 Palin is an 11!
Spinal Tap
September 1st, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Alex, if any of those reasons you listed mattered as much as you’re suggesting, Obama would have never been nominated and Obama would not have an edge in the election. If we can take one lesson from Obama, it’s that your past doesn’t matter if you look good in front of the camera. Palin stays relatively gaffe free, we’re gonna have our first female VP.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Oh, and for perspective, Alex is 16 years old, right? I bring that up simply to put your comments in perspective for any new folks on here
September 1st, 2008 at 11:58 pm
#68, she’ll gain voters.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:58 pm
61, Alex don’t let your naivete show. And YES I would be fine with her “staring” down Ahmadinejad. 10!!!!!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I think it’s probably too late, and she still has the potential to be an amazing leader.
What she needs to do is clarify and/or soften her views on sex and and birth control, pronto.
I think you folks should note that several of our women commenters, when this broke this morning, were appalled that a mother would not protect her daughter in this situation by not running. And they were SoCon women. Huck supporters, like “voter.”
September 1st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
She’s taking flack because she’s over the target!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
With “friends” like these we don’t need Kos. Can someone explain to me why Alex was made a front pager again?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
67: There is no dirt just snow and ice.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
I’d welcome Ahmadinejad getting scolded by Palin - he’s a straw man in Iran anyway and doesn’t represent the true political leanings of that country. That would be great to see him dishonored in such a way.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
jerseyrepublican,
I wouldn’t want my (hypothetical) teenage son’s dirty laundry aired all over the world either. If there was something hidden in the closet like that, then she should’ve turned it down.
A teenaged pregnancy, regardless of whether you are on the left or right, is not a blessing or a miracle, unless you claim to be the mother of Jesus or something… it’s something a family has to learn to deal with, and not under the scrutiny of every newscaster from NBC to Al Jazeera.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:01 am
Alex,
I agree with you on many issues, especially, if I remember correctly, the war. However, I respectfully think that you are being a tad sexist in your criticism of Gov. Palin. Maybe you cannot visualize a female commander in chief in the Thatcher mold. But imagine saying what you are saying about Reagan or Eisenhower or GHW Bush. Gov. Palin has more executive experience then all three of those men combined when they became President. It’s not fair to discount her only because she is a woman.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:01 am
You should all take it down a notch and realize that Alex has a point. The MSM is never going to let up on her. They smell blood and they will flog these stories every day under the election. What about the Troopergate investigation, being run by a Dem, which will deliver a verdict a few days before the election? What do we say about her involvement in a group that demanded that Alaska secede from the Union? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
I disagree on Alex about one thing, though. She should step down for family reasons, not because she made an impulsive decision. And then the McCain campaign should hit back hard at the press for being so over the top in attacking Palin and her family.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:01 am
Alex is a little college fag boy pretending he is a conservative. Ignore him and move on.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 am
A good out for Palin would have been to release that her 17 year old daughter was pregnant and that she was going to help.
However, i don’t hold Palin’s personal views against her, i am however concerned that she may think that the government gives her the power to force her views on others.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 am
Alex, seriously, please leave the GOP. We don’t need you. Just go.
We support Sarah (and we love her). She raised us 10 million in 2
days. Sarah Stays. You sir, need to get lost.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 am
The Iraq war was “for oil” in the respect that we didn’t want an unstable tyrant using oil money to buy weapons and export conflict, especially with oil-hungry neighbors ready to grab his territory if he weakened further. I don’t think that’s what Palin had in mindm though.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 am
For the record,
I am neither for nor against the pick, personally, but that doesn’t mean that Alex doesn’t have the right to criticize it.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 am
Don’t underestimate Palin. You don’t work your way up to be nominated as VP for nothing. The McCain camp is very shrewdly setting the expectations bar low so that Gov. Palin will overperform. Brilliant Pick.
I’m not underestimating her! She’s a smart woman, a quick learner, and a good governor.
She did not “work her way up” to VP. She was chosen as a pander to women and James Dobson.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:03 am
Please Kavon Take this guy off. He obviously doesn’t deserve to be on this site. I mean it would be fine but he embarasses us with his love of Romney.
BTW Alex-Palin is the what has revived and united our party, give it a rest.
MCCAIN/PALIN ‘08
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:03 am
“who have strong records of accomplishment”
Thats just what Sarah Palin has. It would make McCain look terrible to have her drop out. Plus, she draws huge crowds and will turn out voters. Maybe she is a lightweight, but hey, Dan Quayle was elected Vice President during the height of the cold war.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:03 am
87, Alex can criticize her all he wants. But he shouldn’t be doing it on the front page of this site!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 am
I imagine Obama meeting with high ranking foreign thugs and apologizing all day long to them. Then he’d probably stick his foot in his mouth afterwards. I don’t see Palin apologizing on behalf of Americans as she goes abroad.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 am
My cousin works for Petraeus, worked for Rumsfeld before that. He has made compelling cases for the war in Iraq, having spoken with him privately even before the War began. But *I’m* not even convinced that oil had *no* part to play. I don’t think the Bush administration deliberately misled us into war for oil, but they had to realise oil could be had.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:06 am
#93
We didn’t go in there to grab oil for ourselves. We went in to keep our enemies from exploiting it for use against us. That’s a huge difference.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:06 am
By the way Alex, seriously, why do you consider yourself a Republican? Because half the things you attack Palin for are bedrock conservative principles. If you’re pro-choice and anti-states rights the Democratic party is a better fit for you.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 am
Aha, now it starts. Alex comes up with points of varying validity, and people rush in to attack Alex (16 years old, etc).
It seems people have learned the lessons of Bush/Rove. If being questioned, attack like crazy, preferably the person asking the questions. That way, you don’t have to even answer the questions being asked!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 am
libertarianconservative,
That’s what this site is about. You get views from all sides of the party. That’s why I’m a front page contributor as well. He thinks it’s a terrible pick, then it’s his priority to say so.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:08 am
And he is right, she hardly ‘worked her way up to vp’. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all day.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:08 am
Tommy, it’s not about the sex of the teenager it’s about the sex of the VP. If this was a male candidate then these questions and or concerns would not be as great.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:08 am
LOL #89 calls Alex a Romney lover. As if!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:09 am
Jr (#99) that’s rubbish. If it was a male candidate she wouldn’t have been picked. Her gender is not a liability, its an asset.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:09 am
I’m sure this one will be made public knowledge soon as well.
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/09/01/todd-palin-received-a-dui-in-1986/
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:09 am
#99
If this were a male candidate, it wouldn’t be running for VP.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:10 am
Yay, Tommy is on. And bang on the money as usual. This site has many different front page posters, and you guys need to cope with it. It is legal to have a difference of opinion.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:11 am
There are some people on here that want to take me off of the site because I won’t march in lockstep behind Sarah Palin, who trashes our narrative and is not ready to be commander-in-chief.
Tommy, it’s not about the sex of the teenager it’s about the sex of the VP. If this was a male candidate then these questions and or concerns would not be as great.
Just two days ago, you people were criticizing me for overreacting to the New Republic because I called them sexist.
Two days ago, I’m called a wacky feminist.
Now I’m a sexist.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 am
Nonsense.
Do I think it was a wise choice. Not really. As Noonan said, it was a bit of a hail mary pass but, considering the republican position this year, not totally unreasonable. McCain knew about the pregnancy and trooper gate and none of the other stuff merits a withdrawal. The negatives that come with that (I know, Palin does it so mccain is not kicking her out — but that is a distinction without much of a difference) do more damage than benifit.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 am
If this were a male candidate, it wouldn’t be running for VP.
Word.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 am
Tommy,
I know you wanted Fred Thompson to be VP, and I am on record wanting the same (or Michael Steele) but can’t you see how brilliant the Palin pick is. McCain really surprised me with his judgement. It’s as if in one fell swoop he checked off every constituency he needed and energized the base - brilliant.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 am
JayPe nails it in 101. If Sarah Palin was a guy, she wouldn’t have even been mentioned as a possibility.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 am
1. She once was a member of an anti-American party.
2. She suggested that the Iraq War was for oil.
3. She is humiliating her child before the world.
DO NONE OF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:13 am
By the way Alex, seriously, why do you consider yourself a Republican? Because half the things you attack Palin for are bedrock conservative principles. If you’re pro-choice and anti-states rights the Democratic party is a better fit for you.
Being against abortion in cases of rape is a “core Republican principle”!?
And you don’t have a problem with Palin being a member of an anti-American party!?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:14 am
#109, sex has nothing to do with it. Jindal was on most people’s short lists on here and he is less qualified than Palin at this point.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:14 am
110:
1. BS… the Alaska Independence Party is about AK states rights… Step away from Kos and do a little DD on it… Maybe that can be a research assignment for you to look into the matter and then post a meaningful front page post with your findings.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:14 am
101, you can try to spin every post on this site if you want but in this particular instance her gender does play negatively against her in the minds of many of these posters.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:14 am
JA
I didn’t want Fred to be VP. He would’ve been a terrible match for McCain, even though he was my candidate during the primary. Maybe in my fantasy world, but in reality, he and McCain would not have made a good team… two old white guys, grumpy ones at that…
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:14 am
Before Gov. Palin becomes the next Mitt Romney (lots of heat and little light with bloggers screaming at each other like 5 year olds) how about we here what she has to say. 2 nights from now she will speak at the Republican Convention. How about we hold of on deification or condemnation until after she makes her case to America.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:14 am
The left sees an uppity conservative woman and they are out full bore to destroy her, just as they tried to do to Justice Thomas, and people on this site seem to want to help them.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 am
112 - Jindal was never even a possibility. He was a creation of the media.
And yes, I would be questioning Jindal’s ability to stare down Putin, especially if he was saying that he wasn’t interested in foreign policy and that the Iraq War was for oil.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 am
Alex,
I must confess. I am getting frustrated with the sexism exhibited here. Why not turn your guns on Biden and rally around Gov. Palin?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 am
#114, you’re just making that up.
I’ve been on record championing a woman pick, notably Meg Whitman and Sarah Palin.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:15 am
fucking filter
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:16 am
Alex, regardless of the merits of your arguments (which I don’t agree with, incidentally), Sarah Palin is on the ticket for better or for worse.
The flip-flop charge is one that will stick, guaranteed. It’s easy fodder for ads, it’s easy fodder for the media, and it’s easy to remember. It doesn’t even matter if the flip-flop is the right choice (see Mitt Romney, who was honest about his change of heart on abortion and still got pilloried for it), once it gets into the narrative, it’s permanent.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:16 am
Hey you, Alex, THE IDIOT! Yeah you the idiot. Okay, so you want Palin to exit the race and say she got caught up in the moment. But what will McCain say. Um, yeah, she was inexperienced and irresponsible and I guess THE FIRST MAJOR PRESIDENTIAL DECISION I MADE WAS INCOMPETENT!?
If Palin drops out, say hello to President Obama.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:16 am
WHAT????
Jindal is less qualified?? What are you smoking!!!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:17 am
Alex, the AIP is essentially the libertarian party. Not anti-American at all. And as for the war being for oil, she was right–are you really going to argue oil had absolutely zero to do with the war? Come on.
As for #3, there you go with the sexism again (or maybe you just don’t recognize that the Palin family is likely ecstatic about the new arrival). People knowing that you are pregnant is not “humiliation.”
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:17 am
#72 I was not aware of that, I might understand the nerves if it’s his first media goat rodeo.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:17 am
1. BS… the Alaska Independence Party is about AK states rights… Step away from Kos and do a little DD on it… Maybe that can be a research assignment for you to look into the matter and then post a meaningful front page post with your findings.
Here’s what it’s about:
Q: What is the Alaskan Independence Party?
A: An Alaskan political party whose members advocate a range of solutions to the conflicts between federal and local authority; from advocacy for state’s rights, through a return to territorial status, all the way to complete independence and nationhood status for Alaska.
Every serious party member is about independence.
State’s rights people are Republicans.
AIP members are secessionists.
Even if by some freak accident she wasn’t, she had no problem affiliating herself with those kooks.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 am
I must confess. I am getting frustrated with the sexism exhibited here. Why not turn your guns on Biden and rally around Gov. Palin?
Because it’s taken for granted that I loathe Biden.
I won’t rally around Gov. Palin because I’m not a mindless drone. I have serious problems with her, and it’s utterly disturbing to see none of you here concerned that she was a member of a secessionist group, thought that the war was for oil, admitted that she paid no attention — LAST YEAR — to foreign policy, and is humiliating her child in front of the world!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 am
#124, of course Jindal is less qualified. He’s only been governor for eight months, and thus far has a less impressive record as a reformer than Palin.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 am
Metro, what I am saying is if Sarah Palin was a male candidate, regardless of any credentials, and this story came out about a male VP candidate then it wouldn’t play negatively against the male candidate.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 am
OMG, can anyone imagine how badly McCAin would lose if Jindal decided to leave LA to run for VP during GUSTAV?????????? lol.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 am
As for #3, there you go with the sexism again (or maybe you just don’t recognize that the Palin family is likely ecstatic about the new arrival). People knowing that you are pregnant is not “humiliation.”
ECSTATIC ABOUT HER BEING A TEENAGE MOTHER???
JESUS CHRIST, YOU PEOPLE REALLY DO LIVE IN A BUBBLE IF YOU THINK THAT’LL PLAY WELL.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 am
People knowing that you are pregnant is not “humiliation.”
No, but it’s not something you want plastered all over the tabloids when it involves a minor in your family.
How many 17 year old girls, or boys for that matter, want the entire world to know that you been knocked up?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 am
#124, of course Jindal is less qualified. He’s only been governor for eight months, and thus far has a less impressive record as a reformer than Palin.
Hello? Jindal was a Congressman for years.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 am
#118
I gotta say, Jindal’s performance during this hurricane was pretty impressive. Did you see his rapid-fire press conference last night, before the storm hit?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 am
so can we please leave Alex off of Race42016!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 am
#129:
Gov. Jindal was also a member of Congress for 3 years (2004-2007) along with being head of one of LA’s state agencies before running for Governor in 2003.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 am
Alex - please stop with the AIP dribble…
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 am
Sarah Palin is on the ticket for better or for worse.
Bull.
She’s being re-vetted, and she is NOT our nominee yet.
We still have 36-48 hours.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:22 am
Oh yeah, forgot Jindal’s whopping three years in Congress.
Are you seriously going to argue that Jindal is more experienced than Palin and thus should have been seriously considered a VP contender? Please.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:22 am
138 - Yeah, please. It’s just like Ron Paul saying that what he’s REALLY about is the CONSTITUTION. No, he’s a kook that wants to abolish the Federal Reserve and withdraw from Iraq tomorrow.
The AIP is filled with secessionists. Be serious!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:22 am
Jindal, the congressman turned gorvernor and head of his state health department for 10 years???? What the hell??? Jindal’s not really qualified to be VP, but Palin is no more qualified, by that standard.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:23 am
Are you seriously going to argue that Jindal is more experienced than Palin and thus should have been seriously considered a VP contender? Please.
NO!
Neither he nor Palin should have been!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:24 am
Before Gov. Palin becomes the next Mitt Romney (lots of heat and little light with bloggers screaming at each other like 5 year olds) how about we here what she has to say. 2 nights from now she will speak at the Republican Convention. How about we hold of on deification or condemnation until after she makes her case to America.
I was totally vindicated on Romney.
He has no interest, he said, in being in a McCain cabinet.
There was an article yesterday in the Boston Globe saying that he plans to run in 2012 if McCain loses.
The Washington Post said that he never even received a second round of vetting in the VP process.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:24 am
Before McCain picked, it was gneerally felt that Jindal & Palin (and to a lessor extent Crist, given he was AG) were too inexperienced, but they had great potential and would be given a serious look at in 2012.
Can people please not try to re-write the record?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:25 am
75. Read Beldar’s blog today entitled “A timely Palin family history regarding the competition between privacy and political possibilities” where he discusses this issue.
http://beldar.blogs.com/beldarblog/2008/09/a-timely-palin.html
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:25 am
Palin has been fairly explicit about her own feelings on abortion. That doesn’t mean she intends to force those views on anybody else.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:26 am
This is ridiculous, anyone who believes that Palin should “withdrawal herself” is either ignorant, naive, or an Obama shill with nothing better to do than stir up trouble. Who wrote the book “Crazies to the Left of me, Wimps to the Right?”
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:27 am
The thing that scares me about the AIP is that the Clarks (the husband and wife who run the thing) seem to be talkers. They’re Ron Paul types who are interested in gaining support for their cause, no matter what the casualties might be. They’re probably proud to have had Palin among their ranks since it shows (to them, anyway) that their ideology can make it to the top levels of government, and seem to be willing to give that kind of info to anyone who asks. I expect to see one or both of them on TV in the coming days or weeks.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:29 am
Alex, did you read the WaPo article detailing how McCain ended up choosing Sarah Palin? You think that they weren’t aware of any of this before the decision was made?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:30 am
I can’t believe we’ve come to this. Deliberating over Palin and Jindal’s experience? Speculating on issues such as conception. Dame it folks, the election is in two months. Get on board. Focus on how dangerous Barack is for this country.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:31 am
#148: That would be Bernie Goldberg.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:33 am
They’re Ron Paul types
So’s Sarah Palin. She loves him. She thinks he’s cool. “You go!” she says of him.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:33 am
Alex you’ve dug yourself a deep hole and nobody is going to throw you a rope.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 am
Alex, did you read the WaPo article detailing how McCain ended up choosing Sarah Palin? You think that they weren’t aware of any of this before the decision was made?
If they didn’t, they’re foolishly impulsive.
If they did, then that seriously calls their judgment into question.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 am
154 - Dug a deep hole?
Because I have an unpopular opinion?
Good grief.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:35 am
#154,
Agreed, Alex is all on his own on this one.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:37 am
Logically and only using logic, not emotion… explain the coherence of a belief that sometimes abortion is ok. Either it is OK all the time or it is not. Everything else is intellectual fraud with yourself.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:37 am
If he takes her off the ticket now I’m not voting for him. It’s as simple as that.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 am
You know what pisses me off most about your opinion Alex, its so easy. Its so easy to second guess the decisions of a candidate. You can always say you were right if he loses, especially when the odds are all ready stacked against him. Fine, you think Palin was a bad pick and it will cost us the election, than so it is written. But to advocate that we throw this election away because of it, is ridiculous.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:42 am
The Trooper Scandal: Sarah Palin wanted a state trooper fired after he threatened family members and tasered her nephew. Big whoop. This doesn’t even begin to compare to your boy Rudy’s numerous abuses of power.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:43 am
I think saying Palin was cruel to run for VP, because her daughter was pregnant, is being judgmental about a personal familly matter we know nothing about. Its quite possible the girl wanted her mother to take the job offer, afterall wouldn’t you feel terrible if one of your parents turned down one of the biggest opportunities of their life because of a personal mistake you made? That type of thing could haunt you, and give you guilt for a long time, while the media pubicity is only temporary. I am sure the Palins have had private discussion about this, and its the height of arrogance and judgmentalism to assume the bad in Mrs. Palin.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:43 am
If Palin goes I may just sit on my hands this November, the selection of her got me excited about this race again and for McCain to go “whoops sorry guys i’m going with Lieberman” or whoever would really piss me off.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 am
Romney= biggest flip flopper in political history
Pawlenty= lame and weak
Lieberman= minus millions of evangelicals
yeah, lets see who fills the gap if Palin exists.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 am
#164 I was a Romney supporter never saw him as flip-flopper but i’m not going to re-fight th e primary all over again.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 am
So you think “pulling the plug” on her will be ok with the people who donated all that money to him this weekend?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 am
I really have no interest in attacking anybody personally on this site… But I’ll just say it’s pretty funny to watch a bisexual 18 year-old male criticize the parenting decisions of a successful mother of five.
It should go without saying that the Palin family has a better understanding of the situation than any of us nimrods on R42008.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 am
Alex, I don’t know if your solution is the right one, but I have to say, I don’t think McCain can get out of this one. This has all happened in ONE DAY. Throw in Troopergate, and it’s a full-blown catastrophe, no matter what the reality is.
Palin has been a disaster, thus far.
Romney, 2012.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 am
#164
You better get ready for the numerous Palin flip-flops to come if she stays on the ticket.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 am
Everyone on here that has been in hysterics in disagreeing with Alex, please do me and Alex a favor:
Re-read his entire post and look for things to agree with. Don’t give a second look for things to rebut again they have almost all been stated, but feel free to continue to type them if you insist. I have problems with this article and they’ve already been stated.
But Re-read his post. If you disagree with a point move on to the next one without getting angry until you can see at least a few of his bullet points have merit and a lot for us to be worried about.
I love Sarah Palin and I hope we can move past this. She is against gay marriage but she signed into law benefits for gay employees of the government she is running. So I bet she can likely modify her views on this and we can get back the momentum we have been gaining for victory. At the same time I am not against another VP.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:52 am
Is it safe to accuse Alex of cutting and running on McCain/Palin simply because today was a rough news day for her? I mean most of the stuff mentioned is trivial at best.I doubt seriously that Gov.Palin ever desired for Alaska’s seccession from the Union.Bristol’s pregnancy should be a non issue and I commend Senator Obama for his statement on saying family and especially children should be off limits.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 am
I think saying Palin was cruel to run for VP, because her daughter was pregnant, is being judgmental about a personal familly matter we know nothing about. Its quite possible the girl wanted her mother to take the job offer, afterall wouldn’t you feel terrible if one of your parents turned down one of the biggest opportunities of their life because of a personal mistake you made? That type of thing could haunt you, and give you guilt for a long time, while the media pubicity is only temporary. I am sure the Palins have had private discussion about this, and its the height of arrogance and judgmentalism to assume the bad in Mrs. Palin.
Her job as a mother is to tell her child ‘No, I am not going to expose you to this. I’m not letting your excitement get in the way.’
Do you think that I’m the only one thinking that!?
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:55 am
Is it safe to accuse Alex of cutting and running on McCain/Palin simply because today was a rough news day for her? I mean most of the stuff mentioned is trivial at best.I doubt seriously that Gov.Palin ever desired for Alaska’s seccession from the Union.Bristol’s pregnancy should be a non issue and I commend Senator Obama for his statement on saying family and especially children should be off limits.
Trivial!?
It’s trivial that she thinks that the Iraq War might have been for oil, that she undercuts our entire narrative, that she’s going to be looked at as a bad mother, that she holds an extremist abortion position, that she admitted herself that she pays no attention to foreign policy, that she was a member of a party filled with secessionists..?!
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:56 am
Whatever happened to Kristopher? He’d inject some much needed sanity into this thread. He already posted this link which should calm a lot of fears and doubts:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ikFkim0OhsFnxtqQ8p4I0kcyFYqgD92U8ET00
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:57 am
All these stories about Palin now are your usual type of election story, that nobody’s going to pay a ton of attention to, yes it’ll probably be a drag, just like all the other canidates baggage. Right now we’re just dealing with usual political baggage, yeah some of it might be bigger baggage, but ultimately it stills falls into that category and will be filed in the voters minds with all the other campaign baggage. However, Palin withdraws and you have an extremely huge story. It’d be like the second time in history that its ever happened. So McCain would have traded a box of ordinary ( maybe somewhat bigger than usual)baggage, for history making record size baggage. This seems like a really bad plan.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 am
Kristofer was probably smart enough to give up. I’m getting pretty close to doing the same…
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 am
We should’ve picked Rudy, whose kids hate his guts and have made it known they won’t vote for him.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 am
It’s insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but if Mac were to drop or “informally drop” Palin, I’d be lodging a protest vote with Barr. Talk about nuclear flip-flopping! He chose her for good reasons, now get out there and tell the world what they were! There’s no point in playing limpish “defence!” Either he stood by his choice or not!
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:01 am
My feelings about this pick are so conflicted… I think so many of the posters telling Alex to just shut up are defeating the purpose of this site. Aren’t we SUPPOSED to mull over political decisions and air our feelings about them? It’s not wimpy - that’s a stupid, infantile accusation - it’s just being thoughtful and critical. I was lobbying (on this site, anyway) for Palin for months. I was thrilled that McCain picked her. Now… not such much. I love the woman to death and feel genuinely touched and inspired by her, but no one can honestly say that this has gone smoothly. McCain’s #1 responsibility is to keep Obama from becoming president, and this pick, I think, has jeopardized that.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 am
To follow up on my post in #179 (thank you, spam filter…)
That said, I think Alex is COMPLETELY NUTS for suggesting that Palin leave the ticket. Regardless of who severs the tie, it will be interpreted as McCain dumping her and we’ll drop ten points. Tons of Republicans will sit out the election. I probably would just out of sheer frustration. I’ve got a lot invested in this election, both emotionally and monetarily, and if McCain pisses on all that by shoving her off the ticket, then to hell with him.