Putin: Ph34r Sarah Palin

[mox 298]

Could have also been titled "FOX News Alert: Steve Doocy is a moron!"

[Chuckles 0]

Oh my god... Does he say he was joking or something later in the interview? That is bad, even for FOX news. I would say unbelievable, he must have been joking.

[PJB 0]

Love it! She'll know exactly what to do with those evil Russians! Yessiree Bob.....

[mox 298]

Oh my god... Does he say he was joking or something later in the interview? That is bad, even for FOX news. I would say unbelievable, he must have been joking.

It's not a joke. Steve Doosy is a complete idiot, even by FOX standards.

What's sad though is that I've heard others making the case for her so-called international experience as being close to Russia, most recently by none other than Cindy McCain. It boggles the mind.

I was actually glad to see McCain pick Palin. I was starting to worry that McCain stood a shot at beating Obama. This selection has pretty much doomed his campaign. If I were a Republican, I'd be livid.

[akdiver 3]

Well, here's the thing....

a). It really does not matter WHO the president is, let alone the vice president is.

B). People generally don't care about real qualifications for these offices. 90% of the public votes based on whether or not the candidate agrees with their 1-3 hot button issues and/or whether or not the candidate promises to give them money in one form or another.

c). Knowledge, experience, wisdom and brains simply don't matter with respect to the candidate. This is why they have advisers and civil servants who actually run the government.

In the case of Palin, whatever experience she has simply does not matter. For most people, it comes down to:

a). Pro guns? Check

B). Pro life? Check.

c). Woman? Check.

d). Religious nut? Check.

or, alternatively?

a). Pro life? Nope.

B). Pro enviroment? Nope.

c). Anti gun? Nope.

d). Woman? Yeah, so maybe I should vote for her anyway.

For some people, it comes down to:

a). Hot babe? Check. I'm voting for this one.

I was actually glad to see McCain pick Palin. I was starting to worry that McCain stood a shot at beating Obama. This selection has pretty much doomed his campaign. If I were a Republican, I'd be livid.

I am anti republican and anti democrat. I think McCain and company are no better and no worse than Obama and company. They both suck equally, for different reasons. I was planning to vote for the libertarian ticket. However, McCain's choice of Palin is interesting. I live in Alaska and she is currently our governor. I've had plenty of opportunity to evaluate her performance. Frankly speaking, if voting for McCain gives me an opportunity to get Palin the #### out of Alaska, I just might do it. I would love to see her go to DC so that we might have a chance to get a real governor.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Edited September 2, 2008 by akdiver

[mox 298]

a). It really does not matter WHO the president is, let alone the vice president is.

I'd agree with you if it weren't for the fact that the President is also the Commander in Chief. If he hadn't had control of the military, Bush would have simply been a mediocre President, rather than the worst President ever.

Frankly speaking, if voting for McCain gives me an opportunity to get Palin the #### out of Alaska, I just might do it. I would love to see her go to DC so that we might have a chance to get a real governor.

LOL!

In all semi-seriousness, I can't imagine Alaska's electoral votes not going to McCain. So feel free to vote your conscience, it won't matter either way.

[Danno 1,228]

Since Obama has no foreign policy experience either......... (and he is at the head of his ticket)

I don't see this as the issue to sink the McCain ship with.

[mox 298]

Since Obama has no foreign policy experience either......... (and he is at the head of his ticket)

I don't see this as the issue to sink the McCain ship with.

It was actually McCain that was making foreign policy experience a big deal, and it was the one issue that was actually sticking. What McCain has effectively done is completely negate that issue. Strategically it's a huge blunder, and I believe it's lost him the campaign. McCain didn't sink his ship by taking on a running mate with no experience, he sunk his ship by negating the only argument he had against Obama that was really sticking with voters.

And quite frankly, if you (generic you) are a McCain supporter, it's got to be disappointing to see that his first Presidential decision was to basically throw the dice. How is he going to handle even more critical decisions, like for instance how to deal with Russia?

[akdiver 3]

I'd agree with you if it weren't for the fact that the President is also the Commander in Chief. If he hadn't had control of the military, Bush would have simply been a mediocre President, rather than the worst President ever.

While that is true, it is Congress that controls spending. As a result, the president can't do a thing with the military unless Congress approves. If it doesn't like what he is doing, all it has to do is cut off funding. The president is a figurehead and Congress is gutless. That's my bottom line.

And you're right about Alaska's 3 votes. They'll go to the republicans no matter WHO they run. As long as the democrats are anti-Alaska (anti-ANWR), they'll never get our votes. So, I'll go ahead and vote for the libertarians (:

[akdiver 3]

What McCain has effectively done is completely negate that issue. Strategically it's a huge blunder, and I believe it's lost him the campaign. McCain didn't sink his ship by taking on a running mate with no experience, he sunk his ship by negating the only argument he had against Obama that was really sticking with voters.

Oh, I disagree. I think McCain's move is risky, sure, but I think it could possibly be the ONLY thing he could do to win the election. Let's face it, if the democrats lose the WH this time around, they may as well just disband the party. After 8 years of GWB, even an Al Quaida candidate should be able to beat the GOP. Given this, the GOP has to do something completely unexpected and change the game in a radical way. This is what the introduction of Palin does for them.She is the poster child of the GOP right wing. Everything they could hope for! This will energize their base and really push them to get out the vote, rather than stay home to avoid voting for what they consider to be a mediocre republican at best. Think about it. If the GOP wins with Palin, even if she is only in as VP for 4 years - supposing McCain does not run for re-election, for whatever reason, that is going to put Palin in prime position to run for president in 2012. As lame as I think she is, she would be a petty hot item for the GOP at that point. And if McCain does run for re-election and wins, that puts Palin in an even BETTER position in 2016! The GOP is definitely thinking about all of this. Now - if you also consider that bringing in Palin is the best way to prevent Hillary from getting elected, that's just all bonus right there my friend.

All things considered, as much as I despise McCain, and hate Palin, I think this move was probably the only thing to keep him in the running at all. What were his other real choices? Other old white men. Boring. That gives the voters a real reason not to vote GOP. Nope, I think McCain made the right choice here.

Edited September 2, 2008 by akdiver

[mox 298]

While that is true, it is Congress that controls spending. As a result, the president can't do a thing with the military unless Congress approves. If it doesn't like what he is doing, all it has to do is cut off funding. The president is a figurehead and Congress is gutless. That's my bottom line.

You're technically correct, but Congress didn't even read the PATRIOT act before passing it, they allowed Bush to invade Iraq on the slimmest of evidence, and even when the Dems have been in charge they've authorized every war spending bill put forth. Congress has abdicated their control and I don't see that changing with the next President.

And you're right about Alaska's 3 votes. They'll go to the republicans no matter WHO they run. As long as the democrats are anti-Alaska (anti-ANWR), they'll never get our votes. So, I'll go ahead and vote for the libertarians (:

I suspect that even if the Dems did a 180 and supported ANWR drilling, they wouldn't get AK's votes. You're in pretty solid red country there my friend.

All things considered, as much as I despise McCain, and hate Palin, I think this move was probably the only thing to keep him in the running at all. What were his other real choices? Other old white men. Boring. That gives the voters a real reason not to vote GOP. Nope, I think McCain made the right choice here.

Even supposing McCain needs a woman to win (and I'm not convinced), I have to believe that somewhere in this country is a more qualified conservative female candidate. Just think if he'd have found a woman in Condaleeza Rice's class...THAT would have been a formidable ticket. As it is, I don't see that Palin's going to have the opportunity to become the GOP's next big fresh face, and in fact her political career in Alaska's probably over now too. She'd have been better off turning down his offer. But yes she will energize evangelicals in a way McCain hasn't been able to, but he's completely lost the "swing" vote, which have determined the last 2 elections.

By the way, you mentioned that McCain's move was "risky." I agree, but this is exactly what McCain has been trying to tell voters about Obama: that he is a risky vote. McCain should have stuck to that because it was effective. With Palin, he's forfeited that argument. He is no longer the "safe" candidate.

'll be interested to see how it all pans out. I think McCain's blown it, but then I also thought there was no way in hell we'd re-elect Bush.

[akdiver 3]

You're technically correct, but Congress didn't even read the PATRIOT act before passing it, they allowed Bush to invade Iraq on the slimmest of evidence, and even when the Dems have been in charge they've authorized every war spending bill put forth. Congress has abdicated their control and I don't see that changing with the next President.

But the point remains the same - Congress is as responsible for the failed Bush responsibility as Bush himself is. To some degree, Congress is even MORE responsible because it is specifically charged with providing checks and balances against the likes of Bush and it failed it do so. To me, from a Constitutional perspective, Congress is the bigger problem here.

I suspect that even if the Dems did a 180 and supported ANWR drilling, they wouldn't get AK's votes. You're in pretty solid red country there my friend.

Don't be so sure. You might be surprised to know that recently we had a two term Democratic governor who was wildly popular and only left office due to term limits. Major of Anchorage (largest city) is a democrat (and city council is largely liberal) and is expected to give Ted Stevens a serious challenge for his senate seat. Obama was making a real effort here - I assume he will give up on that now. But the talking heads have been discussing the turnover of Alaska from red to blue. There is something to it.

Even supposing McCain needs a woman to win (and I'm not convinced), I have to believe that somewhere in this country is a more qualified conservative female candidate.

Sure he could. However, you're assuming that it actually matters. Let me clue you in - it doesn't. Even if McCain found THE most educated, responsible, knowledgable, conservative woman in the U.S. to be his running mate, in practicality, it could be a WORSE choice for McCain. As bizarre as that sounds, it's true. Palin as the whole Alaska mystique thing working for her. The "come from nowhere" thing is also working for her. She has some qualities that more "qualified" people just can't match....and this admission is coming from a Palin hater - so there you go (:

I'll be interested to see how it all pans out. I think McCain's blown it, but then I also thought there was no way in hell we'd re-elect Bush.

I was betting on Obama for sure until this happened. Now, hell, it's a ####### shoot - but I think McCain might just pull it out. God help us all.

[Eric_and_Corinna 0]

Come on AKDiver...

I know she bought your vote with the extra $1200

[IAMX 3,055]

So McCain's strategy is criticize Obama on experience and foreign policy, then hire someone who he met once, and knows has no experience in a federal branch of government, and who's only foreign policy acclaim is she lives in a state that's a sailboat trip away from the easternmost tip of Russia?

How many idiots actually buy this?

[mox 298]

I dunno AK. Maybe I'm giving voters too much credit, but I think many voters will see her selection for the cynical choice that it was. Hard core McCain supporters and evangelicals will be energized of course because zomg she didn't have an abortion!!!!! (puh-leeez!) but I think that's all he's gonna get. He's not going to get the Hillary malcontents like I think he thought he would. Hillary supporters don't support her because she's a woman, they support her because she's Hillary. It's obvious that McCain doesn't understand that.

Voters with half a brain will realize that although she may be a remarkable lady (I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt since I've only known who she is for about 2 days), she is in no way, no how, in any way you shake it, qualified to take over as Commander in Chief. And the talking heads keep saying that Americans don't pick a candidate based on VP, but this is the first time in modern history that a VP choice has been so woefully and blatantly unqualified. As an American who may have to live under a McCain administration, I am utterly horrified. And I think a lot of voters who were looking for something to swing them one way or the other will see this as the sign they were looking for, and vote Obama. Up until this point I've only supported Obama because I see McCain as Bush years 9-12. But now I see that McCain would be even worse, making hair-trigger decisions with only short term results in mind. Oh wait...yeah, like I said, Bush years 9-12.