On McCain’s Choice of Sarah Palin
By Johnny Roosh
I exchanged emails this morning with a good friend from across the aisle on Senator John McCain’s selection of Governor Sarah Palin and whether it was a tactical response to Obama’s dismissing of Hillary Clinton.
It sure seems like a reach for disgruntled Hilary voters rather than a sophisticated presidential selection.
My response:
I like her so far but I think it could also be risky in that she is an unknown. He will either go down as a genius or an also-ran if America isn’t ready. No one knows how she will perform in a national debate, which is much more important than convention speeches on either party’s part. On the plus side, she has more executive experience (limited as that may be) than Obama does, and even arguably McCain and Biden, neither of which have been in such a position.
The intriguing issue here is among all four candidates, she is the most able to define herself as she isn’t tied to a voting record or a history of national media appearances.
Having said all that, I would have preferred Pawlenty. Obama clearly – clearly should have chosen Clinton, and at the very least should have vetted her. I think he lost the election the moment he didn’t.
As much as I have also grown in my disdain for the political manipulation that has marked our process for years now, I am a pragmatist in that I want my candidate to do whatever is ethical to win. Picking a female Vice President to pick up the disaffected Hillary voters is clearly such a move. If you are reading my posts, you will recall that I asked my readers, if for only a moment, to consider McCain/Clinton.
What say you?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
“Picking a female Vice President to pick up the disaffected Hillary voters is clearly such a move.”
Even if she doesn’t pick up a single Hillary supporter, she is exciting the base more than any other pick could have. Risky strategy? Yes, but this could pay off big.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
She’s a NRA Life Member – the NRA has more than 4 million members with “likely voters” in the 90%+ range and nothing Obama Biden have in their background can counter the draw she has with that voting block.
I’m NRA and I Vote!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
She is anti-corruption. Can Obama say that with Chicago? And it was Republicans she went after. She sold a private jet that a previous office holder had the state buy for his use. She is against changing marriage, but is supportive of gay causes. Seems pretty middle of the road. Can Biden, the third most liberal member of congress say that?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Those Demeanokrats shouting about her inexperience just don’t get it.
Unlike little boy barack, Palin’s an entire heartbeat away from the Presidency, and that heartbeat is a strong, POW heartbeat.
Plus it totally takes Alaska out of play.
/jc
August 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
As for me, I believe she is a better choice than even Gov. Pawlenty. She brings to the table much stronger conservative credentials, she is/has been an agent of “change”, and not afraid to take on the established politcal system as she did in Alaska.
She will attract both the core conservative vote, and many of the fence sitting “soccer” or “hockey” moms out there.
Finally, she will not really motivate any of the Clinton supporters out there to get off the couch on election day and vote against McCain/whoever in favor of Obama.
KUCHI 36 OUT
August 29th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
She’s a terrific choice. Anybody who thinks there’s a hint of a suggestion that Barack Obama has the experience necessary for the Presidency has to worry about his pants bursting into flame if he suggests that Palin doesn’t have enough experience to be Veep. She’s smart, unscary, has executive experience — more than McCain, Obama, and Biden put together — is well-spoken.
Oh. And she’s a woman. And a babe. What’s not to like?
August 29th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
I’d prefer her at the top of the ticket given her anti-pork, anti-corruption, pro-life, pro-civil liberties, and pro-NRA positions. Even if McCain doesn’t win, this may well propel her to the national stage, especially if she continues in Alaska as she has. And if McCain does win it looks like pork might have a bit more trouble in Washington.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I say: this.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
MON:
“she is exciting the base more than any other pick could have”
More than Pawlenty? Romney? Huckabee? Cantor? Petreaus?
nerbert:
“anti-pork . . .position”
Except she is on record support the worst piece of pork ever, ‘The Bridge To Nowhere”.
blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/08/29/did-palin-really-fight-the-bridge-to-nowhere.aspx
August 29th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Rick, NRO is reporting the Obama supported the Bridge To No Where, but Gov’nr Palen killed it.
I will check, and if NRO is right, I will slap you silly.
August 29th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I agree that she’s a bold pick. So far, I like her a lot. The GOP needs a lot of new blood like her. Anti-corruption, anti-pork, anti-establishment. She’s earned a living by working. Yeah, I’m on board.
Joel, what you said is true, but it works both ways. McCain just undercut the claims that Obama does not have enough experience, seeing as the VP, just like the President, needs to be ready on day one. Yes, she has more experience than Obama, but I’m not sure conservatives want to go down that road. As noted in the post, she has more executive experience than McCain, Biden, and Obama put together.
Put her at the top of the ticket? Sounds good to me. Someone needs to make sure that the next time she speaks, McCain doesn’t stand right next to her like he did today.
Note to JRoosh: Your friend is “across the aisle,” unless you and your friend live on opposite ends of an island.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Wikipedia says that Palin axed the bridge to nowhere. She also cancelled a road project approved by the previous administration.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
The $398 million bridge would have connected Ketchikan, on one island in southeastern Alaska, to its airport on another nearby island.
Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday the project was $329 million short of full funding.
“We will continue to look for options for Ketchikan to allow better access to the island,” the Republican governor said. “The concentration is not going to be on a $400 million bridge.”
Palin directed state transportation officials to find the most “fiscally responsible” alternative for access to the airport. She said the best option would be to upgrade the ferry system.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/22/alaska.bridge.ap/
No, I wonder if Jim Oberstar will ever use the phrase “fiscally responsible” when securing pork for NE Minnesota. Oh, there is that “commuter” train he wants to run to Duluth (and I say this as a transit supporter).
August 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
She also sold the jet the previous gov’r had the taxpayers purchase for his use. She sold it on Ebay.
The Life issue will be interesting. 99% of the population has solidly made up their mind on abortion, but still…she has a child with Downs, Obama voted against a bill that outlaws infantcide.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Chuck, Peter H, et all
Palin was for the Bridge to Nowhere when she could get the Federal government to pick up most of the tab. When Federal funding was canceled, then she decided to not go ahead with state funding. That is exactly the opposite of anti-pork.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Chuck, how does Palin make the life issue interesting? She’s walked the talk. Good for her. Is it really some sort of big deal when someone opposed to abortion doesn’t have one?
The more interesting candidate would be a pro-choice woman who chose not to have an abortion in a situation similar to Palin’s.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Is it really some sort of big deal when someone opposed to abortion doesn’t have one?
Yes, Peter. It’s called “principles”. Something Joe Biden is unfamiliar with.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
What say you?
I was already on board with McCain unless he picked either Brownback or Huckabee as his running mate (I never for a moment believed he’d pick Lieberman or Clinton). The base certainly seems pleased with the choice (the fact that she’s an attractive woman who bears more than a passing resemblance to Laura Rosslyn* doesn’t hurt either) and she certainly shores up the RTKBA and evangelical supporters. Her credentials as a fiscal conservative and anti-corruption complement McCain’s (and show how lacking Obama and Biden are in that regard) which helps with independents and Republicans who have been disenchanted the last few years.
As far as “picking a woman,” I’m 100% against identity politics whether based on gender or ethnicity and think that they have been nothing but toxic for our country. I don’t disagree that she probably helps McCain woo female voters who are disgusted with the perceived diss of Senator Clinton and/or who really want a chance to vote for a woman (and for whom that trumps abortion as an issue). That for me isn’t a sufficient reason if she isn’t genuinely qualified but as has been pointed out – she has more executive experience than Obama, Biden or McCain as well as brings experience working outside of government which for me as a Romney supporter (who would have preferred him either the nominee or VP pick) is a huge plus.
So I’m happy with the selection and waiting to see how she shapes up during the campaign. I intend to watch the Vice-Presidential debate with interest and her speech at the RNC next week and well as how she does on the campaign trail.
* A lot of pundits have been focusing on what the choice of Palin does for McCain’s standing among women, personally I think she may help McCain increase the gap Obama has with men.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Kermit, yes, I realize it shows that she’s principled. And I realize that is a something lacking in most politicians. While it certainly recommends her, I don’t see how it changes the life/choice debate.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Palin was for the Bridge to Nowhere when she could get the Federal government to pick up most of the tab. When Federal funding was canceled, then she decided to not go ahead with state funding. That is exactly the opposite of anti-pork.
Show us the link, Rick. Otherwise it’s just an assertion.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Palin was for the Bridge to Nowhere
I thought she specifically mentioned in her speach today that she was against it, not that is any verification per se.
Note to JRoosh: Your friend is “across the aisle,” unless you and your friend live on opposite ends of an island.
Uh, yah, well we were on this ship, for a three hour tour (a three hour tour) and the weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed, if not for the courage of the fearless crew…
Thanks – I changed it
August 29th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I don’t see how it changes the life/choice debate.
I understand. It’s just another “brick in the wall” as it were. All of those women who have been duped into thinking their babies are just “unviable tissue” are being educated. Think mandatory ultrasound. Suddenly they have to confront the fact that the child they carry is a real, potential human being. One who is moving, and can feel pain.
Big Abortion (over 300,000 every year) is a billion dollar industry that feeds off the murder of innocents and depends on the gullibility of the unprincipled. The slaughter has to stop.
It may not be this woman who stops it, but she is one more voice, and a loud one.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Kermit, I think you are assuming too much about me. I think Palin makes for a compelling voice in the debate, but I don’t see her as dramatically changing the terms of the debate.
I would be happy to see Roe overturned. Seems odd to me that Roe still stands when the majority of the Supreme Court has been appointed by presidents who strongly suggested that they would appoint justices who would overturn it.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
It’s just a matter of time.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
The exact nature of Palin’s opposition to the ‘bridge to nowhere” is controversial. The Left-wing blogs have pounced on the Palin quotes in the TNR piece RickDFL pointed to as proof that she was all for the project when federal dollars would pay for the project. Her opposition seemingly only surfaced when it looked like state dollars would have to pay for the project.
This is deceptive. Congress canceled the requirement that its highway funds be spent on the bridge. The funds were still given to the state. Palin (& the Alaska state government) could have built the bridge with the same money. They chose to spend it other projects.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Terry, don’t confuse RatioRick with facts – unless they come from wikipedia. Oh, wait, these did come from wikipidea! I guess he forgot to check and blindly followed ‘Rats talking points.
I wonder how RatioRick does not get dizzy from spinning so hard and fast?
August 29th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Let me see, smart, principled, fiscally conservative, not afraid to take on the establishment – even in her own party, gun toting, oil drilling, commercially fishing on the weekend, son going to Iraq, anti AGW, articulate, beautiful (if you are into that sort of thing) babe. What’s not to like? She’s got my vote over that AGW-ethanol-freak Pawlenty.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
The relationship between the two states that are not contiguous with the other 48 and the federal government is sui generis. Simply put, they get so much more money from the federal government then they give back in taxes that often it’s hard to tell what is and what is not ‘pork’.
Case in point: As I write this the WW2 era single-lane road that cuts across the center of the Big Island is being replaced by a modern highway. Cost is probably in excess of a hundred million bucks, most of it put out by the feds. Obviously it won’t be used for interstate transport. The beneficiaries of the the new road will almost exclusively be the 150k or so people that live on this island.
On the other hand, a large portion of the road is on a busy federal military reserve (Pohakulou Training Area). The army wants the new road because it will move civilian traffic away from the areas they use & it will make it easier to move convoys to & from Kawaihai Harbor.
Pork or necessary national infrastructure? Probably both.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I heard from the chief of police of Wasilla AK today. She says the town is crazy with reporters and news crews. Hope to get more info from her soon.