Considering John McCain's age and history with cancer, this pick has extra importance. It's hard to envision Gov. Palin becoming president on short notice. It also undermines McCain's focus on foreign policy and experience. But, McCain had to do something bold. He is going to try to narrow the gender gap. Will women follow?
When I first read her name on Memeorandum, all I could say was "Who?" followed by a "WTF?!?!" Is an anti-choice, hunting loving semi-nobody from Alaska the best the Republicans could muster to be their stand-in for Hillary Clinton.
WHAT THE HELL WAS HE THINKING!
If I were a Republican, I'd be totally pissed. If there is anybody who would be the perfect Republican Hillary Clinton stand-in, it would be Christine Todd-Whitman. And yes I know how she fudged the studies from the EPA after 9/11 and I know how she short of lied in order to make it impossible for civilians and first respondents demand better health care after the World Trade Center tragedy. Yet Christine Todd-Whitman was an excellent governor for New Jersey who wowed Democrats across the state with her moderate to liberal stance; especially as one of the rare breed of envirnmentalist republicans who believes we need to put carbon caps and who was disgusted when the Bush administration didn't sign the Kyoto agreement. And let's not forget she is an avowed civil rights defender for women, minorities and gays. Oh and did I say she's pro-choice?
Yet it's the fact she left the Bush administration in disgust over their environmental policies and that she stood up to George Bush that would have made her not only the perfect pro-choice Clintonista magnet but the perfect anti-Bush Republican super-shero who would reform the GOP by taking it back to its fiscal conservatism yet moderate socio-political roots.
I am speaking right now from the point of view of a political strategist and as a feminist. This is an amazingly lost opportunity for the GOP and it shows how in decline they are as a political and social force. Had they understood the phenomenon of the Clintonistas and particularly the small portion of the disgruntled Democrats who they need to win over, they would have seen in Todd-Whitman the perfect Hillary Clinton surrogate.
Yet it goes to show they can't even get their Republican feminist icons straight.
Wow.
If I were a Republican, I would indeed be totally pissed.
Submitted by EYES OF TEXAS (not verified) on 29 August 2008 - 3:18pm.
All that mattered to women voters is that Hillary was a female. It was all about putting a woman in the White House, nothing more. Now with the brilliant choice by McCain they can put one in as VP. This move will generate a lot of women/moms votes, a lot of undecided votes and probably a lot of men votes who will vote for the McCain/Palin ticket because they find her attractive. Men will be men you know. Bet Michelle already has her thong in a knot just waiting for a chance to demonize Sara and Cindy as two white elitist women trying to take away her crown and rightful place in the WH, so she thinks. We didn't see a bounce with Biden being picked, but there will be a bounce in the polls because of the Mavericks choice. Say bye-bye Obama Bin Biden and hello McCain/Palin.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 29 August 2008 - 6:48pm.
Smart move by McCain. In one stroke they just countered the novelty that is the Obama campaigne. There are a ton of women Democratic voters today, like me, who were not too pleased with the choice of Obama to lead the Democratic party. I don't vote party lines, but rather I vote for myself and who I feel will do the better job. With this new VP pick by McCain I can't help but to see the wisdom in the McCain campaigne.
How hypocritically extremist of you. You wouldn't happen to be one of those women happy to have men force you to abort the babies you want or to force you into sterilization, right?
Submitted by Otto Dix (not verified) on 2 September 2008 - 10:01am.
A bit of a sweeping stereotypical generalization don't you think? I mean the lady has a right to vote for whomever she wishes yet because she is not voting for your choice you want to paint her as some submissive female ready to be forced into sterilization? After reading several of your posts I have come to my own judgment regarding you and that is you lack a proper education.
Submitted by EYES OF TEXAS (not verified) on 2 September 2008 - 10:05am.
So, you believe Obamas idea of infanticide is better? Destroying a life after a botched abortion is murder and should not be condoned by anyone. Yet, Obama believes the abortion is not complete until the child is dead. Pure evil.
Submitted by JJ Ross on 2 September 2008 - 3:14pm.
Hi Liza, where'd you get these trolls? New or just the same old McSame Old?
Drop by Snook when you can, where Nance and I as feminist SAHMs in the Florida battleground state have been taking on conservative anti-women women, and taking Palin's pick apart piece by piece. See the last half-dozen posts at least; we'd love to have you weigh in. . .for example, Sarah Palin Should've Led Gustav Command!"
Submitted by EYES OF TEXAS (not verified) on 2 September 2008 - 4:24pm.
All those trying to diss the Palin family are only bringing to light the fact that they are just an ordinary family having to face all the problems that life throws at them. Like the majority of American families, the Palins have had to work at ordinary jobs, they are not Washington insiders, they are not elitist and the people are connecting to them the more that is known about them. As for Governor Sarah Palin, she is more qualified to be President than Obama is. She has governmental administrative experience that the fraud Obama only wishes he had. The experience Obama has is running for President and being the junior Senator of Illinois with a crappy record of being active within the Senate. Most of the past 2 years Obamas time has been spent organizing his campaign, not representing the people of Illinois. Just for the record I found a little info. about the soon to be VP Sarah Palin.
Before you dismiss that Commander of the Alaska National Guard stuff. This came from a reader who plays the game and it jibes with my knowledge.
Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It’s on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units.
As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's.
She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans.
Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia, she may have security clearances we don't even know about.
According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets.
She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is.
Not too shabby of a resume that knocks Obamas experience, or the absolute lack of, right out of the park. Governor Palin is ready to lead and Obama is not, plain and simple.
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Its time for the IRS to start revoking religious tax exempt privileges. If religious entities and leaders are going to continue to meddle ass-deep in politics, then its time for them to start paying for the government they so vociferously peddle.
Especially since they've thrown off all semblance of separation from government and are now actively working with elected representatives to pass an anti-gay marriage Constitutional Amendment...
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All that mattered to women
All that mattered to women voters is that Hillary was a female. It was all about putting a woman in the White House, nothing more. Now with the brilliant choice by McCain they can put one in as VP. This move will generate a lot of women/moms votes, a lot of undecided votes and probably a lot of men votes who will vote for the McCain/Palin ticket because they find her attractive. Men will be men you know. Bet Michelle already has her thong in a knot just waiting for a chance to demonize Sara and Cindy as two white elitist women trying to take away her crown and rightful place in the WH, so she thinks. We didn't see a bounce with Biden being picked, but there will be a bounce in the polls because of the Mavericks choice. Say bye-bye Obama Bin Biden and hello McCain/Palin.