Quote of the day
posted at 10:25 pm on August 29, 2008 by Allahpundit
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“Here’s I fear the worst harm that may be done by this selection. The McCain campaign’s slogan is ‘country first.’ It’s a good slogan, and it aptly describes John McCain, one of the most self-sacrificing, gallant, and honorable men ever to seek the presidency.
But question: If it were your decision, and you were putting your country first, would you put an untested small-town mayor a heartbeat away from the presidency?”
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In this case, McCain had to pick the best matchup of “has experience” and “will get the votes”.
It does him no good to have the most experienced VP pick on the ticket if they lose. He may have “the high road” on his side, but, Obama still has the presidency.
In a perfect world, putting country first would mean picking the absolute best person regardless of age, sex, race, religion and party affiliation. This world is far from perfect though, so I’ll take what I can get.
JadeNYU on August 29, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Everyone understands the question.
Choosing a VP candidate which wouldn’t help win the election away from Obama is NOT putting the Country First.
blink on August 29, 2008 at 10:54 PM
When the alternative is actually electing Barry, not a heartbeat from, but actually as the president? Hell yeah. She’s got more experience than he does, and he’s on the top of his side’s ticket!
RightWinged on August 29, 2008 at 10:54 PM
she is still more “tested” than the top of the other ticket.
i hope the dems attack her on experience. the counter-punch will be devastating.
homesickamerican on August 29, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Palin was a phenomenal pick. And what we are seeing from that pick is the RINOs being flushed out into the open. The Republican party has always stood for equality and fairness and has practiced what it has preached. Just how much foreign policy experience did Ronald Reagan have? Bush 43? Clinton? FDRoosevelt?
But when we see a woman selected to the VP slot with the same level of experience, rather than embrace the pick the RINOs start a stampede. Keep running fellas. Find another pasture. We want our party back.
Jim M. on August 29, 2008 at 10:55 PM
You know what? We have no idea what the consequences of those decisions will be.
Big S on August 29, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Michael in MI on August 29, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Identity politics?
Weak tea my friend.
Answer my post above, and tell me who is the boring, white man with her qualifications.
billy on August 29, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Bad example. Truman was a product of one of the most corrupt political machines in American history. He owed his public office jobs (from county judge onward) to mob connections.
highhopes on August 29, 2008 at 10:55 PM
For her limited experience she has actually accomplish A LOT! That’s why she’s so happily embraced by conservatives. She fights the pork and corruption even within her own Party and has common sense America first answers for our energy needs. She respects life (brought a special needs child into the world). She respects our Rights (Lifetime NRA Member! *SWOON*). She supports through actions and words our armed forces who protect us all.
Yeah, she’s young and compared to a loooooooooooong list of other potential VPs, she’s inexperienced by comparison but damn if she still isn’t REALLY GOOD!!!
Yakko77 on August 29, 2008 at 10:55 PM
No flame, just a healthy dose of fact.
The entire reason that Sarah Palin ran for Governor was because she was sick and tired of the corruption that ran rampant in her party. So she ran, and won, and started cleaning house.
Her raison d’etre has been cleaning up government corruption and making sure that the resources of her state were being used wisely for the people of her state.
What more, exactly, do you want? Palin gathering Alaskan Republican leaders at a table and walking around them with a baseball bat while talking about baseball?
Jimmie on August 29, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Yes, it still stands, but only on one leg.
BTW, why did you throw the baby away?
Besside I though “we” were all against Obama. Did I get that wrong?
MB4 on August 29, 2008 at 10:55 PM
….this coming from a man who thinks that conservatism needs to be more moderate and nuanced.
It's Vintage, Duh on August 29, 2008 at 10:56 PM
He knows his vice president will likely run for president after him, so it’s a bit of an insight into how he sees the future of the country. Palin’s a good future.
amerpundit on August 29, 2008 at 10:56 PM
No I’m tslking about managing government. For six years we control of the Presidency and Congress with McCain in a leadership role yet accomplished little of nothing. What’s going to change now? Good grief a few years back we despised him for his amnesty position now that all seems to be forgotten.
I’m just not happy with the GOP leadership and the nominees we’re stuck with. Sorry.
lowandslow on August 29, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Not quite. I mean, what you said except NOT A WOMAN so that no one can accuse you of playing identity politics. Man, I hope no one nominates a woman so that they can make that claim!
Spirit of 1776 on August 29, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Perfect.
mikeyboss on August 29, 2008 at 10:57 PM
I’m starting to see a trend in here:
Pessimism = thoughtful, analytical, factual, perceptive, purposeful, useful, brilliant!
Optimism = naive, knee-jerk, partisan, delusional, close-minded, weak, ignorant!
Where can I sign up to get my “Pundit” badge?
I think I can swing this, “rocket science”.
FiveWays on August 29, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Sorry, didn’t see this before I posted my response to your 10:50 post.
Looks like we’re pretty much on the same page though.
Can you imagine what it’d be like to live in a world where there wasn’t any ‘game’ involved in politics and it was just the best man/woman for the job. That’d be nice. :)
JadeNYU on August 29, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Hell no. That would be stupid. I mean, that would be almost as dumb as selecting a first term senator, who’s claim to fame is community organizing and failing to do anything in 11 years of political experience than vote present 130+ times while running for a different offices. I mean, the only thing that could be worse was if that same person had 20+ year relationships with felons, terrorists and racists.
Wow, you scared me for a minute there, thinking McCain has done something stupid. But the jokes on me I guess, since instead of picking a person like that, he pick an extremely impressive female Governor from Alaska with over 13 years of executive experience and who has accomplished more in 2 years as Governor of the nations largest state than that guy with the hair plugs has done in 30 years in the Senate as a representative of one of the nation’s smallest states.
Wow! Won’t it be great to have a person presiding over the Senate that actually has been to ANWAR and who was responsible for the State that has been supplying the greatest percentage of energy to the US for decades! You know, someone who has actually seen and directly involved with environmental impact concerns related to energy production.
That’s sure be a nice contrast to the deranged freak in the House who babbles about saving the planet and has accomplished less than any person in the history of her position. I mean, who is doing more for conservation? The nut who is demanding a massive publicly funded personal jet and bans votes on energy legislation, or the woman who has implemented a comprehensive energy reform package in the hardest climate in the US which has resulted in more energy and $1200 checks to everyone in the state. Heck, she sold her jet on eBay and put $3 million back in the state budget while the nut from San Fran was demanding that her plane should have a bigger fuel tank.
Good thing we got that settled.
Damiano on August 29, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Two-legged stool?
Big S on August 29, 2008 at 10:58 PM
If I was McCain I would answer that question with
“So the democrats are saying its wiser to but a Washington insider for VP with almost 40 years of dealings with Lobbiests and special interests who work to increase the burden on the American people ?”
William Amos on August 29, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Part of it was an overdose of magnanimity to our foes…we should never have agreed to powersharing after they flipped Jumpin Jeffords….
part of it is Bush feels/felt the war trumped as much partisanship as possible.
Frankly I cannot wrap my head around the motion that the answer to “improving the GOP leadership” involves allowing the DNC a bobsled course….if it takes a Sarah palin to get Maverick! in so be it.
sven10077 on August 29, 2008 at 10:58 PM
This is another example of why I lost faith in David Frum years ago.
McCain didn’t pick an untested small-town mayor.
He picked a tested but not grizzled governor of the country’s largest state, with two foreign borders (one hostile, and disputing territory), a victor over corrruption, someone whose principles have been put to the test and she didn’t deviate from them. Who stomped on a pork project that would have brought a lot of money to her state, because it was a waste of money. Who favors practical solutions to current problems.
Is she the most experienced? perhaps not, but experience is just one of many qualities. rapport, trust, enthusiasm, empathy, hope also matter.
Could Palin run the country? I have no doubt whatsoever. I’d trust her over McCain, and far more than O’Biden.
sulla on August 29, 2008 at 10:58 PM
By the way, as with the post on the lie that Palin wants creationism taught, I’d like to shamelessly take credit for sending the link to the thumbnail photo he used on the main page for this post (unless he found it on his own too, which could certainly be the case)
But I sent it with just a tad off outrage… nothing to serious, but here’s the link
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//080829/ids_photos_ts/r1367179626.jpg/
And here’s the caption:
Does anyone think that Mr. Gress, or anyone else at Reuters would take the same photo of Obama and Biden’s feet? Maybe that’s the story “look, heels on a potential VP”, but I get the impression that feminists might find it outrageously outrageous.
RightWinged on August 29, 2008 at 10:58 PM
To paraphrase some clever person above:
“Palin has never voted “present”.”
LORD, please let that make it into the debates.
Marcus on August 29, 2008 at 10:58 PM
They do that when they don’t win.
There once was a time when democrats believed in democracy.
Now they are just progressives. Or socialists for short.
Kini on August 29, 2008 at 10:58 PM
No I would put Romney there. But then I’m not John McCain am I? And no one voted me the Republican nominee…
But it does show that McCain really does think his health is good. At least to last long enough for Palin learns the ropes. By the end of one term she will be the most experienced person in the country. Or at least as experienced. So what’s the problem. She isn’t the top of the ticket.
And if something happens to McCain sooner than that she can get someone at least as good as Biden to help her.
I really do think it is sexist to suggest that a MANwith very little experience can be at the top of the Democratic ticket. But a WOMAN with better experience cannot be on the bottom of the Republican ticket.
Why is a man with no experience better than a woman of similar experience?
But I would have chosen Romney.
petunia on August 29, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Thanks for posting this -
I never realized before that David Frum actually IS the world’s foremost Plu-Perfect IDIOT!!!
grtflmark on August 29, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Disagreement but no flaming. Palin got rid of the government jet, drives herself around or flies commercial, rooted out corruption, and much more. She has an 80%+ approval rating and has really turned Alaska’s government around.
amerpundit on August 29, 2008 at 10:59 PM
I’m sorry- I’m a simple man; could you please explain?
FiveWays on August 29, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Indeed, but Harry quickly renounced the powers that got him in and actually became a very good leader.
For a dem.
carbon_footprint on August 29, 2008 at 11:00 PM
What was it Buckley said about the Boston phone book vs. the Harvard faculty?
Sarah Palin may well be the cream of the crop, but I suspect there are a whole lot of “untested small-town mayors” I’d gladly vote for over the rot that currently infects our federal government.
Tengripundit on August 29, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Haha. “Team.”
Seriously, though, I think Palin was a good choice because she does help solidify the conservative base – the people who volunteer, donate and vote.
Slublog on August 29, 2008 at 11:00 PM
And he had no idea what was going on when he became president. We got damn lucky he turned out alright. How lucky do you feel these days?
Big S on August 29, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Thanks for putting it more succinctly than I could.
LastRick on August 29, 2008 at 11:01 PM
I think its terrific that we have a strong conservative woman who hasnt been to Washington DC yet. Hasnt been corrupted by special interests and has more connection to small town America than big corrupt Washington politics.
William Amos on August 29, 2008 at 11:01 PM
It’s better than putting some one who is worse off that is one vote away from putting this country into ruins.
Kokonut on August 29, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Sure. I really don’t get why those from the big city are so convinced that they are the repository of experience and knowledge and that small town America ought to shut up and let them run the country. I have to say that I am getting sick of it.
If that’s the best people can come up with against Palin, then my response is:
F— them
Sackett on August 29, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Has anyone read who obama and his cohort, “the bomber” gave the money they had as “community organizers” to. Wow is that an awkward sentence. Anyway, if you read the list, it’s scary.
What happened to my other post?
Bambi on August 29, 2008 at 11:01 PM
If McCain/Palin in 08 don’t win, Im moving to Alaska ;-)
Mercy4Me on August 29, 2008 at 11:02 PM
The dog ate it.
Spirit of 1776 on August 29, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Well that dream died when Huck got his little nose bent out of shape and call on the minoins of darkness to help him.
petunia on August 29, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Gonna play amateur shrinkologist and say AP is having a problem with Palin being a steadfast Christian.
pugwriter on August 29, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Indeed William Amos. Considering how a lot of us were afraid of just who JSMc might choose, I think we are damn lucky.
carbon_footprint on August 29, 2008 at 11:03 PM
But I’m proud to be a Reb. and very proud to see an intelligent beautiful mother, wife, Gov. of the great state of Alaska nominated and I believe they will win.
Mercy4Me on August 29, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Yeah and she also said this. These are quotes from the Ketchikan Daily News.
‘People across the nation struggle with the idea of building a bridge because they’ve been under these misperceptions about the bridge and the purpose,’ said Palin, who described the link as the Ketchikan area’s potential for expansion and growth.
Palin said Alaska’s congressional delegation worked hard to obtain funding for the bridge as part of a package deal and that she ‘would not stand in the way of the progress toward that bridge.’”
‘Part of my agenda is making sure that Southeast is heard. That your projects are important. That we go to bat for Southeast when we’re up against federal influences that aren’t in the best interest of Southeast.’
She cited the widespread negative attention focused on the Gravina Island crossing project. ‘We need to come to the defense of Southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table like the bridge and not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that’s so negative,’ Palin said.
lowandslow on August 29, 2008 at 11:04 PM
****Applause****
Post of the day, and should be brought up to the front page.
rockmom on August 29, 2008 at 11:04 PM
I was actually thinking about that earlier. I don’t think there is much merit to MiM’s tortured logic or Frum’s degradation of a governor to a mayor, but some of the enthusiasm seen today must be partially relief.
Spirit of 1776 on August 29, 2008 at 11:05 PM
You guys have AP pegged wrong. He is a seminal blogger. His job is to post topics of discussion, not topics of popular echo chambers.
He put his money where his mouth is and wrote a check to the McCain campaign today; that speaks volumes about where his loyalties lie.
carbon_footprint on August 29, 2008 at 11:05 PM
So many people here with anger management control issues and my schedule is already booked full for the next 2 months.
Sigmund on August 29, 2008 at 11:05 PM
You know, her voice is much more pleasant than the screech that was Hillary’s.
I know its a race of beltway politicians, but two wrongs don’t make a right.
Kini on August 29, 2008 at 11:06 PM
I’m not a Huckabee fan but he kicked butt here
elraphbo on August 29, 2008 at 11:07 PM
AP Is doing what any good conservative would do. We look at the pros and cons of any candidate. Unlike the liberals who shut down any critism of their idols.
William Amos on August 29, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Only two options? VP or “throw the baby away?”
I think you should be answering this: I though “we” were all against Obama. Did I get that wrong?
And why does your original post echo the very statements that I read over at the Daily Kos?
Your strategy would be……what again?
FiveWays on August 29, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Sure, when you explain to me how Palin changes any of McCain’s bad policies, then I will get excited. But, from my experience, the top of the ticket is the President and the President governs and pushes policies. McCain is the President(ial candidate), not Palin.
Palin may bring “gravitas” to the ticket, but she does not change McCain’s crappy policies that most people have been complaining about for the past year+.
When you explain to me how Palin should make me feel better about all the ways McCain will be a bad President (but less bad than Obama of course), then maybe I shall jump on the joyful bandwagon with everyone else.
And, if you have bothered to read my comments in other threads today, you would have noticed that I like Sarah Palin. She seems to be a good politician. But was she the best qualified for the position? No. She is best qualified to help John McCain win the identity politics-focused election. I am just looking for some honesty from people. People admitting that she wasn’t the best pick for the job, but she was the best pick for the campaign.
Michael in MI on August 29, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Well I do not know about you but I won’t be getting anywhere near him.
Sigmund on August 29, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Worst case scenario, god forbid something happens to McCain, Palin picks Romney or Giuliani as her new VP. Next.
Dash on August 29, 2008 at 11:09 PM
From the overall comments I’ve read and heard today that are negative about Palin as V.P., they’re all from the Left (and that includes RINO perspectives).
One word I rarely to ever use, “chauvinism” (because I have never been too keen on the gender-political-wars issues, in politics and/or in life otherwise), that word, “chauvinism” really emerged today from the Left: they think Palin is ONLY tolerable as an opponent competitor BECAUSE of her gender, but otherwise, denigrate her ABILITIES. Mort Kondrake on FOX earlier today (Hume’s show) was a prime example of that: all the expected gratuitious “she’s a woman, granted, it’s time,” etc.) laced with more intense disrespect and denigration of Palin’s capabilities.
Same from the snarky comments about Palin by Obama and campaign, as also most of the ‘established’ such as Frum: resentful, eeking lack of confidence that Palin just could be competitive and capable and NOT be from their side of things as to how the plays are done.
I like Palin, am impressed with her. I’m ALSO one of those Conservatives who thinks that more “average” people should be and are needed in national (and state) politics — not the lesser capable, but people who have lived lives by their own wits and not engaged these syndicate-level complications (like Obama has engaged and why I dislike him, mostly due to distrust of who the guy is, not who he’s made out to be — his associations prove who Obama is), and succeeded by literally figuring out “good survival” for themselves and their families and in doing so, benefitted everyone else.
I like Palin’s “ordinary” extraordinariness. I like her success and excellence from right where she lives, what she’s accomplished and that she’s a quick learner — all that makes for someone who is reliable in crises, by the way, and enjoyable in less critical times.
McCain showed a “reformist” decision in selecting Palin. It’s refreshing, as it is also encouraging.
S on August 29, 2008 at 11:09 PM
it were your decision, and you were putting your country first, would you put an untested small-town mayor a heartbeat away from the presidency?”
Hell no. That would be stupid. I mean, that would be almost as dumb as selecting a first term senator, who’s claim to fame is community organizing and failing to do anything in 11 years of political experience than vote present 130+ times while running for a different offices. I mean, the only thing that could be worse was if that same person had 20+ year relationships with felons, terrorists and racists.
Wow, you scared me for a minute there, thinking McCain has done something stupid. But the jokes on me I guess, since instead of picking a person like that, he pick an extremely impressive female Governor from Alaska with over 13 years of executive experience and who has accomplished more in 2 years as Governor of the nations largest state than that guy with the hair plugs has done in 30 years in the Senate as a representative of one of the nation’s smallest states.
Wow! Won’t it be great to have a person presiding over the Senate that actually has been to ANWAR and who was responsible for the State that has been supplying the greatest percentage of energy to the US for decades! You know, someone who has actually seen and directly involved with environmental impact concerns related to energy production.
That’s sure be a nice contrast to the deranged freak in the House who babbles about saving the planet and has accomplished less than any person in the history of her position. I mean, who is doing more for conservation? The nut who is demanding a massive publicly funded personal jet and bans votes on energy legislation, or the woman who has implemented a comprehensive energy reform package in the hardest climate in the US which has resulted in more energy and $1200 checks to everyone in the state. Heck, she sold her jet on eBay and put $3 million back in the state budget while the nut from San Fran was demanding that her plane should have a bigger fuel tank.
Good thing we got that settled.
Damiano on August 29, 2008 at 10:57 PM
OMG: BRILLIANT!
Mercy4Me on August 29, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Quite honestly, I think there are a lot of small town people that could run this country a lot better than 99% of the Democrats or Republicans that run around the halls of power in Washington. I am a little tired of hearing how high and far above this office is from the “common” man or woman. Or that it is just so difficult and complicated to run this nation that only a very few elites could ever handle it.
I do not mean to oversimplify the Presidency, but, I think there are a lot of people that could rise to the occasion if they had to. That is what this nation is about. Self government!
It is liberals, lawyers, bureaucrats, elitists and the blame America first crowd that have complicated our foreign affairs, complicated our tax system, complicated our school system and many other aspects of our nation.
JellyToast on August 29, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Who was?
FiveWays on August 29, 2008 at 11:10 PM
This age thing is getting, ahem, old.
SouthernGent on August 29, 2008 at 11:11 PM
That’s not how it works. I think Pelosi – or the current speaker – moves to VP.
lorien1973 on August 29, 2008 at 11:12 PM
“Mayor”?
You have got to be kidding me.
I now will not feel any remorse at all by referring to Obama as a community organizer. I actually caught a moment of MSNBC where they were repeating the line that McCain’s VP, Palin didn’t have any experience to be president. Beyond hypocritical. Beyond a bold faced lie. This is something that you can use as a test to see if a democrat is fair, and will not lie to you when they recognize her (what was it, what did McCain say, 16 total years of political experience) or they claim that she has no leadership experience. And now this goofball calls the Alaskan governor a small town mayor?
Just because of this A*hole and the rest, I might just call Obama “Hussein” from now on. And I really despised it when Coulter and others did this. F* the democrats. They don’t deserve to be taken seriously in politics.
wise_man on August 29, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Frum, and others at NRO, have a tendency to think their opinions are capital-I Important. It must be an East Coast thing.
You could argue the “experience” issue ’til the cows come home, finding examples on either side.
What strikes me about Palin is that she acted on her reformer’s tendencies. She didn’t “organize the community” and shift pork to favored friends, make shady deals or hang out with ultra-left radicals. She moved up the ladder the true American way, proving her worth in each job she took on.
Obviously Frum doesn’t see her as a product of the “right” schools, or a member of the “right” clubs. She lives her beliefs, and doesn’t pontificate about them.
He can’t pigeonhole her, so he can’t really think of anything substantive to say.
MrScribbler on August 29, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Heh. Republicans probably that had been successfully swept under the rug. I heard a quote on the news today that had her proclaiming the virtues of congressional pork in 2006. Awesome.
Big S on August 29, 2008 at 11:13 PM
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say Barack O’Bama is who he has in mind…..
sven10077 on August 29, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Depends.
Depends on what that criticism is.
wise_man on August 29, 2008 at 11:14 PM
I can see Palin standing up to McCain. She doesnt come across as someone who compromises her beliefs just for poltiical expediency.
Yes she is #2 on the ticket. You know what she has 4 to 8 years to get top level experience in office working with some of the best minds the GOP has to offer.
What Sarah offers to me is a future President going through training. She will make mistakes and she will have her bad days but for once I see a shining house on a hill again in the distance rather than the gloomy one we were stuck in.
William Amos on August 29, 2008 at 11:14 PM
I want to say “buddy” but I don’t mean it condensending, just to clarify from the start.
Look, buddy, today is not about McCain’s positions. Today is about which VP he picks and whether he is reaching out to the base. For many moons he has said he will reconcile with the base. Has he done it? No, not really, though Saddleback was good. This was a huge gift to the base.
Think I’m kidding? I’m not. This woman will now become the face of the future of the GOP. That is extremely good news.
I have actually. I read your comments when I see them because we’ve had interesting conversations. But your view today, imho, has been one of someone who doesn’t want to believe in the possible. Much like a kid who gf breaks up with him and proclaims all women are evil. There are politicians with good intentions and we should herald those.
She is going to be the face and voice of the energy debate. Not McCain, she’s the expert. You know what that expert is saying? The common sense stuff American’s belief. Don’t take my word for it, Paris Hilton even parroted that line of transition. She is killer on that issue and she will front it. That means Mac is moving that direction.
And don’t discount the influence of VP. A lot of people like to dog the office with John Adam’s quote, but the days of the #1 contender getting the office are long, long, long gone, and the office is a valuable as the holder makes it now.
Spirit of 1776 on August 29, 2008 at 11:14 PM
How’d that earmark reform San Fran Nan promised along with solving 3.20 cent a gallon fiuel come again??
sub 20% approval rating chum
sven10077 on August 29, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Yes, the McCain camp needed fire, Palin is new blood with our background and beliefs,she is running for VP NOT PRESIDENT. Obama uses the “not from washington” “no experience necessary” Mantra. Maybe, just maybe Palin is what we need to win the election.
allrsn on August 29, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Could you nay-sayers explain to me how Barry’s empty resume and empty rhetoric magically becomes substantive in the face of a Palin VP pick?
How exactly does that logic add up again?
FiveWays on August 29, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Fixed it for ya, David.
MrScribbler on August 29, 2008 at 11:15 PM
I like the way her ankles actually get narrower between her calves and her feet.
TheSitRep on August 29, 2008 at 11:15 PM
It doesn’t
allrsn on August 29, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Yes.
Next question.
The Ugly American on August 29, 2008 at 11:16 PM
That’s not how it works. I think Pelosi – or the current speaker – moves to VP.
lorien1973 on August 29, 2008 at 11:12 PM
May wish to consult the Twenty-fifth Amendment on that one.
Pelosi only gets a shot at the top rung if both the President and VP die or are incapacitated at the same time.
coldwarrior on August 29, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Hillary hates that about Palin!
FiveWays on August 29, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Would I rather have a governor with a record of accomplishment as Vice President, or a Senator with a 143 days of experience as President?
If McCain goes down, she can bring in someone like John Bolton. Palin is an excellent pick.
El_Terrible on August 29, 2008 at 11:17 PM
The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds, the pessimist fears this is true.
Murphy9 on August 29, 2008 at 11:17 PM
New President noms new VP. Coldwarrior has the appropriate Ad# for you.
Spirit of 1776 on August 29, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Tis’ a fine line that separates genius from madness.
MB4 on August 29, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Very well said, and I couldn’t agree more.
My question: why does Frum have to be a jackass so often?
Tinian on August 29, 2008 at 11:20 PM
YES in a heartbeat. I would not put a person with half her experience into the Presidency!!
allrsn on August 29, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Well, I don’t think anyone views immigration as a major issue anymore. Afterall, McCain is the GOP candidate. The GOP has no credibility on immigration anymore and Amnesty will be the first thing done in an Obama or McCain Administration.
I agree with this first part. I believe Palin is qualified, but not as qualified as others who were being vetted. Pawlenty or Romney would probably be more qualified, but they wouldn’t have helped him win the election. Because, unfortunately, we already know that qualified isn’t really a big thing in this election, what with Obama earning so much support, regardless of having no experience. But, I disagree that he is serious about domestic energy production. If he comes out and changes his stance on punishing oil companies and punishing oil speculators and changes on ANWR, then I will believe he is serious.
You may have a point here, but I don’t really respect John McCain enough to believe that he really is thinking that far ahead or really cares about the future of the GOP. I believe he selected her to win this election and that’s it. Any other benefits we may gain from her are just a happy byproduct as far as he is concerned.
The problem is, come 2012, if McCain wins this election, unless the McCain-Palin Administration comes through big time on their ethics and fighting corruption and fixing the economy and energy development promises, the country will be looking Democrat in 2012 after 3 terms of Repbulicans in office.
As I said in an earlier thread, from the discussions I have had with coworkers, the main thing I have heard from them is “I just don’t want any more damn Republicans in office”. So that is what we are fighting against: weariness with Republicans. So the GOP has to knock it out of the park and get results. Not sure how that is going to work with a far left, supermajority Congress.
Michael in MI on August 29, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Yep. I see that now. I thought everyone moved up a rung. I didn’t realize that the new P chose a new VP as well.
lorien1973 on August 29, 2008 at 11:21 PM
If I am right (and I was not right about the VP pick, so who knows) this pick also presages a major new line of attack by McCain against Obama as the product of an uber-corrupt Chicago machine. While the Bill Ayers stuff is red meat to conservatives and might even scare off a few folks in Middle America, it’s the stink of Tony Rezko, Anthony Giannoulis, Rod Blagojevich, and company that is going to stick to Obama most. If Americans are wondering how an emptty suit like Batack oBama rose so quickly, it’s easy – a corrupt machine put him forward, bankrolled him, and brownshirted his opposition out of the race. The notion that such a man will reform anything in Washington is laughable, especially against a proven reformer like Sarah Palin.
rockmom on August 29, 2008 at 11:21 PM
contractural obligations….
sven10077 on August 29, 2008 at 11:21 PM
So you basically agree with me. This is not about the best qualified candidate for the position, but rather who can best win him the election, energize the base.
Michael in MI on August 29, 2008 at 11:22 PM
You just nailed Frum, big time. He’s all about credentials over ability and having memberships in the right clubs. The right has its elitists just like the left, and Frum is exhibit A.
I’ll take the political acumen of Karl Rove over Frum or the rest of the whiners, some of whom would find something to complain about if they fell into a tankful of t!ts. Rove, who knows something about winning elections, thinks this is an excellent pick.
thirteen28 on August 29, 2008 at 11:22 PM
If McCain gets elected, that would be nice. I don’t know what his presidency would be like. Of course I’d like it to be successful and Sarah learns a lot, and doesn’t get hurt in the process. (politically, personally, in any way.) If McCain loses, then maybe with 2 months of national exposure and going back to her job as governor, then she might want to pursue a chance for higher office again. The republican party and conservatives would be greatly benefited from a more diverse field.
In any case, I hope as you suggest that she builds a staff of very intelligent people to help her whenever she needs it. And I hope to see her do great things.
wise_man on August 29, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Anyone else already sick of the term “heartbeat away from the presidency?”
First, all presidential candidates are untested in the office of the President unless they are running for re-election. No other position in our country can truly prepare someone for the presidency.
An experienced politician is no guarantee to a “successful” presidency.
“The same old experience is not relevant: You can have the right kind of experience and the wrong kind of experience.” Bill Clinton
“Experience is like tail-lights on a boat which illuminate where we have been when we should be focusing on where we should be going.” John F Kennedy
covel on August 29, 2008 at 11:22 PM
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity”
- G.K. Chesterton
FiveWays on August 29, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Great. Now you’re sure to be ignored.
:)
Rogue Traveler on August 29, 2008 at 11:22 PM
This is part of the reason why McCain needs to be running against Congress this cycle. They have a 14% approval rating, they are easy targets (and McCain’s line that they only have the support of staffers and blood relatives is -very- effective and funny). If he wins, immediately go to war against congress and not sign anything with pork on it. Take control. Even if washington is shut down.
lorien1973 on August 29, 2008 at 11:23 PM
AP, you are right.
He should have picked a filthy tainted old school washington insider.
This lady has grit.
She’ll make a most excellent president come 2012.
Or sooner.
TheSitRep on August 29, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Frum is just a hack.
Conservatism works and quasi-conservatism fails miserably.
Just ask Mr. “Compassionate Conservative” himself.
When Bush acted like a conservative, he won and we won.
When he acted like a “reach across the aisle” suckup and started spending like a drunken sailor, he lost and we lost.
Now he’s just swatting flies..
And unlike the Pres, Palin can speak well – something we needed back then and now.
TexasJew on August 29, 2008 at 11:24 PM
If you believe in the policies of the base, and the pick is the pick the base wants that is the best qualified candidate.
Qualified isn’t about how many hours they spend rolling furniture out of the Arkansas office. It’s about representing the wishes of the populace with the power of the executive office.
Spirit of 1776 on August 29, 2008 at 11:25 PM
I believe that everyone on both tickets is “best qualified candidate for the position”
If she helps bring voters, she is best qualified for the position. She’s no dummy (no matter how they will try to portray her), I think she’ll do fine on this stage.
Rogue Traveler on August 29, 2008 at 11:25 PM
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