Will Palin get helped by the opposition attacks?
posted at 10:15 am on September 2, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Sarah Palin has had a wild ride since becoming John McCain’s running mate. Having governed in Alaska, the Palins haven’t experienced the national spotlight, and the opposition attacks must seem daunting — and in some cases, insane. But rather than making Americans uncomfortable with Sarah Palin, Charles Mahtesian at Politico believes it might allow Americans to identify more closely with Palin than any of the other candidates:
Fishing permit violations. A blue-collar husband who racked up a DUI citation as a 22-year-old. An unmarried teenage daughter who is pregnant and a nasty child custody battle involving a family member.
All of this, to one degree or another, has surfaced in recent days as a result of efforts to discredit or undermine Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. But these revelations may have the opposite effect: In one sense, they could reinforce how remarkably unremarkable she is.
So far — and it is hard to tell what the future may hold for Palin’s unexpected national candidacy — the travails of the Palin family probably seem awfully familiar to many average Americans. It is this averageness that makes her such a politically promising running mate for John McCain — and such a dangerous opponent for Democrats. Many voters will find it easy to identify with her family’s struggles — a significant advantage in an election where the voting calculus is so unusually and intensely personal.
Color me skeptical on this point. Last night, The Nation’s John Nichols and I discussed this on BBC Radio, and we both agreed that most of these issues will fade, whether or not one gets repulsed or inspired by them now. None of them really have anything to do with Palin’s ability to govern, and she’s already established that in Alaska with a highly popular first two years as chief executive of the state.
People relate to Palin with or without these non-issues. Who can’t relate to a “hockey mom” who went to a state university and worked her way up from the bottom of the political structure, while balancing family needs? Most people know at least a few women just like her; most people have at least one Sarah Palin in their family. In contrast, not too many have a POW war hero or a Harvard Law School graduate in their circle of acquaintance.
As Mahtesian says, that’s what makes attacks on Palin so dangerous for the Obama campaign. Attack a Senator, and people shrug. Attack a hockey mom, and people recoil from the familiarity of it.
So what should the Obama campaign do? They may do best to just ignore her. People don’t usually vote for running mates anyway. George H. W. Bush won election even after Dan Quayle cratered in his debate with Lloyd Bentson and turned into a big liability on the campaign trail. Quayle turned into a better VP than most would admit, but during the campaign he did nothing at all to help Bush 41, and he won anyway. Regardless of who the running-mate is, voters eventually focus on the top of the tickets when making their choice. Attacks on Palin will gain them nothing, and could cost them significant goodwill among the middle-class voters they need to woo.
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Well okay but, I just don’t see the issue has having legs outside of the left blogger circles… And that other poster brought up Obama’s church saying GD America and the HIV conspiracy… if Obama’s camp wants to go there… In fact there is not side a issue that Obama’s camp brings up that he does not have equal or greater liabilities.
I am actually amazed. I was against Palin when she was suggested because I thought her inexperience was a liability. But as soon as the Democrats tried to use it I was outraged because the top of their ticket is so completely unqualified and is total indentity politics! Every weakness that they bring up it is the same…
I think, “Where do you get off saying that when your top pick is so much more an example of what you are complaining about.”
petunia on September 2, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Sarah Palin:
She’s prettier than Obama.
She has more experience than Obama.
She’s way more down to earth than Obama.
And she is a conservative Republican.
Yep, she is ours.
carbon_footprint on September 2, 2008 at 11:35 AM
I do not consider being a member of a secessionist group “crap” or “noise by the left”. I have voted Republican in all but 1 election (where I went Libertarian) but unless there is a clear NON-NUANCED reason for her involvement in that group, there is no way in hell I will vote for any ticket with her on it.
Lets make pretend it’s true, that she is/was part of AIP, and has even addressed them in a positive way while she was Gov of AK, would she still have your vote…remember, we’re pretending that it is definitely true.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:36 AM
tie Obama to the sleaze bloggers and media types attacking the pregnant daughter. then stand back and watch middle America flee Obama in revulsion.
james23 on September 2, 2008 at 11:36 AM
And you can tell this about her merely by knowing the name of her child? Now you are claiming to be psychotic?
So 10 years of legislative experience is so much more meaningfull than 10 years of executive experience?
You really should stop before you embarrass yourself even more.
Are you actually claiming that unless someone wants to be president for their entire lives, they aren’t qualified to be president?
I spoke to soon about you embarrassing yourself.
MarkTheGreat on September 2, 2008 at 11:36 AM
CORRECTION:
Loxodonta on September 2, 2008 at 11:37 AM
It has significant legs with me. I will not vote for a secessionist. Secession is Un American…by definition. I could not in good conscience vote for someone who is a documented “Un American”
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Prior to the Palin pick, I was going to have to down a 5th of whiskey, hold my nose, and vote for John McCain while giving nightly prayers that he would make good SCotUS picks, knowing that illegal immigrants would be given amnesty (among other issues with John McCain).
Since the Palin pick, I am now excited to vote for Palin…err, I mean McCain. I want someone that will vote based upon their value system, which is what Reagan did. He didn’t listen to his advisers about the USSR, and that is what I wanted, call a spade a spade. I don’t want to believe that the candidate will be influenced by lobbists, polls, or by groups with the promise of power, but by their values and do what is right (not wrong).
McCain has reassured me that when it comes time to pick SCotUS robes, he will make the right decision. Palin was the best strategic pick I think I’ve ever seen from a Presidential candidate. The attacks on Gov. Palin this weekend has galvanized me and my wife’s decision to vote for McCain. Someday the left may understand why they lost, and they’ll have only themselves to blame.
For me, I think that this will wake the sleeping giant that is the center-right American voter.
My only remaining hope is that McCain will come to see the error in his judgment in chasing amnesty for millions of illegals which will devastate our country.
Geministorm on September 2, 2008 at 11:41 AM
carbon_footprint on September 2, 2008 at 11:35 AM –
With no due respect towards Stuart Smalley:
She’s prettier than Obama.
She has more experience than Obama.
She’s way more down to earth than Obama.
And she is a conservative Republican.
And, and, doggonit, people like her!
coldwarrior on September 2, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Beefytee ONE person came out and said Palin was in the group. There is not one other shred of evidence. This is a smear going on.
William Amos on September 2, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Excellent!
Branch Rickey on September 2, 2008 at 11:43 AM
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Oh please, all the other subjects have been beat to death so now we start on the secessionist crap.
duff65 on September 2, 2008 at 11:43 AM
I mean, do we want a woman who 20 years ago seemingly had aspirations to be a Sportscenter anchor …..
—–
Hey, get Sarah to announce a football game during the campaign – ideally, in the booth with the regular guys, but even if it’s just an “optional” soundtrack…
Bet that’d influence some voters.
“She *knows* sports! She’s cute! I like her!”
Mew
acat on September 2, 2008 at 11:44 AM
using that logic, Barack O’bama is from Hawaii he has said I am one of you to groups of Hawaiians who back independence therefore you can’t vote for Barack O’bama….
the group Palin is aprt of wants to take the vote they were denied in ‘58 to be akin to Puerto Rico and get the feds out of keeping a sh*tload of their natural resources off-limits. Their website iself says they are not secessionists and their rhetoric is they want the PR special deal where federal interference is minimal. Imagine that a state bought for resources, populated by people who earned their keep exploiting resources is pissed off that a bunch of granola munching moonbats are preventing forestry, timber, and fishing by federal imperialist fiat violating the 10th amendment using specious definitions of “interstate commerce”.
If that is a deal breaker go vote for O’bama or Barr because their vision of the role of the federal government is more inline with what the Alaskans face than what McCain and the GOP pretend theirs is.
The party had 38% of Alaskans at one time.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:44 AM
as opposed to videotape and self-admission of Barry and Rev. Goddamn America!
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:46 AM
group plain “was part of”…I need to go to bed.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Beefytee ONE person came out and said Palin was in the group. There is not one other shred of evidence. This is a smear going on.
William Amos on September 2, 2008 at 11:42 AM
There is a youtube video I haven’t been able to watch because I’m at work…..again, haven’t been able to watch it, but here it is
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:47 AM
whoops, here it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqPmKljh9RQ
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Will she be “helped” by the attacks?
Dude, it was part of the plan.
The libs are being played for the chumps they are.
TheCulturalist on September 2, 2008 at 11:49 AM
here what is?
Palin if a member was young in her career.
Barry was going to Church with a balck KKK equivalent leader until this spring.
If Alaska wanting the feds to butt the hell out so they can drill oil is the same as a guy grouping with people who think AIDS is a US govt. bioweapon go home to the Democratic party.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:49 AM
It has significant legs with me. I will not vote for a secessionist. Secession is Un American…by definition. I could not in good conscience vote for someone who is a documented “Un American”
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:38 AM
—–
Ever heard of the “Flat Earth Society”?
I can see this as something similar. Alaska knows they’re a net benefit to the economy of the lower 48, but they also know that having the lower 48 around is probably for the best – as Russia (and Canada?) would start eyeballing that massive, well-infrastructured, oil-rich chunk of land the moment they became independent – and at least the Russians likely to do something more than chatter on and on about it.
My guess is that’s what the AIP is all about. The Flat Earthers are more about refining the ability to debate and *think* than actually espousing a flat earth – my guess is that the AIP is something similar – more about promoting Alaska than actually pulling it away from the U.S.A.
Otherwise, we’d have another Texas on our hands. (Texans joke about seceding too, from time to time… hell, parts of Illinois want to fob Chicago off onto Indiana or Michigan … at least part of the year….)
Mew
acat on September 2, 2008 at 11:49 AM
We seem to have developed a nasty case of concern trolls lately Ed. You might want to wheel out the Amdro.
I would be shocked if Palin started following that kind of artificial advice. She doesn’t radiate authenticity because she acts authentic. Any mother would react sharply to any suggestion that her teenage daughter should not be seen holding the girl’s baby brother.
Immolate on September 2, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I don’t disagree with you Sven…I didn’t say Barry O was getting my vote, just that I couldn’t vote for a ticket that had on it a known card carrying (at one time) member of a secessionist group.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Now something like this might make me change my mind about Governor Palin; she’s a real political infighter in the true Republican tradition of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, etal…!
May be even John McCain…?
J_Gocht on September 2, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Fixed it, and that video was in 2008, or maybe 2007
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:51 AM
It is obviosu in the video she is placating a politically active lunatic fringe. She is meeting them partway to keep them in check. I still don’t see her saying “we” in the sense she is a member.
If this is the best you got you better reload and keep firing.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Palin on the Alaska Independence Party convention.
Not sure what to make of this yet, but so far not good.
trailboss on September 2, 2008 at 11:52 AM
that party had at one time a 38.7% membership…she’d be remiss in her duties as governor if she did not address their concerns and try to defuse them.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:53 AM
I absolutely understand the logic, but just as I would not vote flat earth, I would not vote secession. Someone looking to have an advanced political career should be smart enough to not associate with a secessionist group.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Watch it again, this time without your ‘Teh Cuda’ rooter pom poms.
trailboss on September 2, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Bob Barr Backers for O’bama-because the GOP has a person in their #2 slot that is arguably *snicker* as offensive as the Donks #1
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:54 AM
I did show me one piece of film, audio, or print that has her overtly advocating Alaskan Secession and I’ll grant you the point….
otherwise let me introduce you to some of Barry’s “friends”….
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Try to defuse absolutely!
Potentially she joined the group in an effort to get some of those 38.7% to come and vote for her. A reasonable thought…but still not acceptable to me.
This is purely my opinion, but I will not vote for her, if this is proven to be true. If it is not true, then honestly, I probably will vote McCain. I’ll just have to see how it all plays out.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:56 AM
You BET we do!
Branch Rickey on September 2, 2008 at 11:56 AM
well you’ve certainly changed my mind….here’s hoping that somehow the rest of the country magically wakes up and assesses O’bama under the same microscope….
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:56 AM
so one person says she was a member, no proof, and as Governor of a state that has 38.7% of its electorate wanting to get demoted back to protectororate status so perversely they will have less federal oversight and meddling means you are “done” and defacto will elect a weather man associating, marxism in college spouting, ACORN planting, rezko house buying moonbat elected….
alrighty then
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:59 AM
#1, is just 1 away from #1, and as I said before, right now Obama does not have my vote, McCain is just losing it.
Unless Obama can produce golden eggs from his anus with enough regularity to shore up the world economy, he is not getting my vote.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:59 AM
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 11:59 AM
—–
Think that about sums it up. Oh yeah, you forgot “dead wrong on every foreign policy event during the campaign”.
Mew
acat on September 2, 2008 at 12:00 PM
why are you ignoring the parts of my posts where I say Obama will not be getting my vote.
Also, I said IF it is proven that she WAS a member of this group. It’s a deal breaker for me, and I don’t think it’s an unreasonible one.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:01 PM
beefytee,
I’ve been giving you the benefit of the doubt on this thread, but you’ve crossed the troll alert threshold. Can you please direct me to a post where you argued from a conservative perspective so I can put you in context?
Immolate on September 2, 2008 at 12:01 PM
OH CRAP!
She is a secessionist who infiltrated the republican party!
Mccain got desperate and picked her without vetting her….this is an epic fail of judgement on Mccain’s part.
NOOOOOOO!!!!!
You know what this means right?
This means that Hussein is going to win.
SaintOlaf on September 2, 2008 at 12:01 PM
sven_ are you a relative of Eric Hoffer…?
J_Gocht on September 2, 2008 at 12:01 PM
I care not for O’ba’ma. What I do care about is “Who exactly is Sarah Palin?” Voting McCain is like swallowing a warm turd – is Palin going to make the turd palatable or not?
Right now, the turd is still warm.
trailboss on September 2, 2008 at 12:02 PM
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 11:59 AM
—–
Okay by me. Go ahead, vote Barr. It’s your choice.
I’m a cat, I can’t vote – you two-legs are selfish with the franchise!
Illinois for McCain won’t matter anyway – Illinois hasn’t gone with a Republican since … Reagan’s 2nd term, I think. Not Bush, nor Bush, and it had been a while before Reagan as well.
Mew
acat on September 2, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Unless we drop both at once and put in Huckadoodle…..and maybe his pet rock since even Huck’s pet rock is smarter than Biden…..
next verse same as the first.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:03 PM
mmmm…teh Golden One.
trailboss on September 2, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I do believe that this is the best idea I have heard all day.
MarkTheGreat on September 2, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Considering the base a week ago was largely of the view “may as well blow out my electoral brains with my own gun.”
I’ll take “warm turd” thanks.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Not to the nest of my Knowledge you related to Mengele?
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Where did I cross that line? In this thread perhaps not, but I have made my conservative voice heard in plenty of threads around here. Namely any thread on Russia in the past 5 weeks. The fact that I’m not yielding in my concern about this issue is enough to stamp me “troll”?
I’m sorry, but the jury is still out on this issue of her involvement with what is by definition an Anti American organization. That is of dire concern to me, and if I need to be branded troll for that concern then so be it.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:07 PM
‘Warm Turd’ for $800 Alex.
Very good sven, The answer is “Mitt or Fred.”
trailboss on September 2, 2008 at 12:08 PM
My grandfather was Heinrich Woerner. He wasn’t a notorious war criminal or anything, but he did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.
Immolate on September 2, 2008 at 12:08 PM
would you perhaps be a Bartkat?
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:09 PM
I had to go so I don’t know if this was your last word. I wanted to respond to this.
The basic issue at hand is patriotism or loyalty to the United States.
If you want to compare the PATRIOTISM of our respective canidates then–bring it.
I will put McCain’s Military Service and Palin’s son joining the Military, up against Obama’s belonging to an African Separatist Church and voting to surrender in Iraq over any silly internal Alaskan controversy. And throw in Biden’s son in the military as well.
Obama cannot win a fight over Patriotism! Not with Ayers and Wright hanging around his neck like a mill stone. There is nothing more dangerous to the Union than Ayers and his anarchanist life.
Republicans are just waiting for a reason to bring that in to bright Sunshine!
petunia on September 2, 2008 at 12:09 PM
http://www.johnmccain.com/McCainReport/
The secession stuff? Bogus. Reporter “made it up”.
(source: the current story on… Hot Air)
acat on September 2, 2008 at 12:10 PM
would you perhaps be a Bartkat?
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:09 PM
—–
Huh? Bartkat?
What’s that?
I’m just an american shorthair UNIX sysadmin.
Mew
acat on September 2, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Um McCain camp says Palin card carrying member of the GOP since 1982.
So unless you got something more than a Governor saying “hello” and trying to find common ground to talk lunatics down….
Stow it.
I’ll wait for the retraction of this line of internal slander in 5,4,3,2,…..
well I’m sure it’ll take longer than that.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Check out the new post on the homepage, beefytee.
Disturb the Universe on September 2, 2008 at 12:12 PM
You didn’t have time to check the link; did you…?
J_Gocht on September 2, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Ya know, if I lived in a state where 70% of the land was toally controlled by the federal government and I had to beg Congress for permission to petition Congress to utilize any of that 70%, and looking at the wealth of resources that are just lying there waiting to be extracted, looking at higher costs for energy, higher costs for other resources…I’d be inclined to take a second look at the “theory of perpetual union” and the Constitution, paying a bit of attention to the Ninth Amendment. After all, the Second Amendment was designed to ensure the accountability of government a lot more than it was designed to protect hunters.
That 30%+ of Alaskans hold this view…a Governor ignoring this group would be pretty stupid.
coldwarrior on September 2, 2008 at 12:13 PM
This challenge has still gone unanswered. Yet you keep calling her these names.
How about this, come up with where you got these “sources” then we can take you serious.
Show us the proof that she was a member of this organization.
Show us your “sources”, or you are just another scumbag throwing out lies.
right2bright on September 2, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Then again, I don’t really care that she is a secessionist I’m just worried that some might be turned off by it.
I know the Ron Paul guys are really enthusiastic about her BECAUSE they think she is a libertarian leaning OUTSIDER, infiltrating the republican party.
SaintOlaf on September 2, 2008 at 12:14 PM
sven_ this link…!
J_Gocht on September 2, 2008 at 12:14 PM
SaintOlaf on September 2, 2008 at 12:14 PM
—–
Ah, switching from teh “My ox was gored” to “I’m worried ’bout them other oxen” argument.
Classy.
Mew
acat on September 2, 2008 at 12:15 PM
J allow me to take a moment to say yes I know who he is but given our contratemps in the past I can’t help but think it was an inverted slap.
I am at odds on what to think of Hoffer some of his insights are topical but I have a hard time dismissing the efforts of busybodies.
Anyway my escalation to Mengele was a bit of a temper tantrum as on this topic I feel a bit like TRON.
Apologies.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:16 PM
++++++1
Branch Rickey on September 2, 2008 at 12:17 PM
I love Palin but I have a concern. My mother-in-law told me last night that she is against abortion in the case of rape and incest. I responded that it’s better than Obama’s support of letting babies who survive abortions die from malnutrition.
I then looked online and found the following quote from this article:
That was from her campaign manager. That position is pretty extreme in my opinion – and I think it’s going to come back and bite her with many of the swing-voters. I’m sure we’ll be seeing the media hammering her on that quote (and of course not to challenge BHO’s infanticide support).
gash on September 2, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Who cares?
The Alaskan military can take on the Russian military anyday!
We have lots of eskimos on four-tracks with harpoons!
SaintOlaf on September 2, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Rule number something or other: Never beat up on a pretty girl.
- The Cat
MirCat on September 2, 2008 at 12:21 PM
The question for $800 is “Which of these better candidates could we have had if not for Huckly and his Huckly antics?”
trailboss on September 2, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Rule number something or other: Never beat up on a
prettygirl.- The Cat
MirCat on September 2, 2008 at 12:21 PM
—-
Not quite how I learned it – fixed above.
Mew
acat on September 2, 2008 at 12:23 PM
documentation of Palin’s party membership
so anyway yeah Palin eats babies along with Moose and may not be as hateful to people who want to make an honest living as some who have lived their whole lives away from the ice may like…but the fact is the Alaskan economy is based on two things…..
1) resource exploitation
2) tourism
and it ain’t Hawaii if you catch my drift.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I have a 10 million dollar jackpot and backlash against the media that says there is a good chance “warm turd” trumps “white guy”….
keep firing
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:24 PM
beefytee & trailboss:
McCain was not my first choice for President, and Palin was not my first choice for Vice President. However, I look at the big picture and am enthusiastically supporting both.
I don’t know who either of you were or are now really supporting, but sitting out the election or voting for a third party candidate will increase the likelihood that Obama will win. You say that that isn’t what you want, but your posts today seem designed to promote defeat for McCain/Palin, which means you seem to be promoting an Obama/Biden win.
Loxodonta on September 2, 2008 at 12:26 PM
sven_ would I really be that underhanded…?
I think not.
Perhaps…?
J_Gocht on September 2, 2008 at 12:26 PM
It has now been over an hour, beefytee where are your sources? You base some decisions, and called Palin some names, claimed she belong to some right wing organization. Now where are your facts?
I will make it simple, when was she a member of this Alaskan group???
right2bright on September 2, 2008 at 12:26 PM
There is never going to be a candidate that will fit each of us perfectly. I don’t agree with her position entirely either (if I had gotten pregnant as a result of my rape, I don’t know if I could have gone through with it without killing myself), but it’s just one position of many.
If she fits the majority of your views, I think that would be a positive. Also, your point in comparing her to Obama’s position of leaving babies to die is spot-on.
Anna on September 2, 2008 at 12:27 PM
ok folks about to read now…
People still not getting that McCain not getting my vote =/= Obama getting my vote.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:28 PM
in the end the die is cast or
Barr Backer for O’bama-because I expect Democrat loyalists from sharing my demand for perfection
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I stayed up way too late over the last three days.
Sincerely I apologize.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:31 PM
alright…I’ll call off the dogs…glad to see it.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:32 PM
People still not getting that McCain not getting my vote =/= Obama getting my vote.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:28 PM
—–
Bee,
Yes, you voting for not-McCain *and* not-Obama (i.e. leaving it blank *risking a spoilt ballot claim in a down-ticket race, by the way*) or voting for the Green or Libertarian candidate is not the same as you voting for Obama.
Unless you live in a state that’s guaran-frackin’-teed to go Dem (like I do – Illinois) then your vote *does* count, and by reducing the number of votes for McCain in your state, you reduce the number of votes Obama needs to win your states’ electors.
So, while you are entirely factually correct, you’re also being disingenuous.
Mew
acat on September 2, 2008 at 12:33 PM
More likely not to vote “in protest” I Live in New York…My vote doesn’t matter these days.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Then vote for Barr. Unless NY is in play (which is about as likely as Illinois) you’re right… and if you leave it blank, it provides the opportunity for a down-state close race to challenge your ballot as spoilt.
Mew
acat on September 2, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Even if I was still registered to vote in Delaware (like the last presidential election), I would vote in this one. Delaware is bluer than blue, which is why I never voted there, but this election is different. This election, I want to be heard.
Anna on September 2, 2008 at 12:37 PM
If it really concerns you, do some research and let us know what you find out. A nice analysis with links from credible sources would do wonders to nail down the issue and give you an opportunity to fully explore an issue that obviously concerns you.
As for me, I’ve lived in Alaska. If you sit down at a random table in one of the restraunts there, you’re as likely to sit with a poacher, communist, oil man or alien abductee. People are pretty tolerant up there. Probably less so in Anchorage as they’ve become downright civilized.
Immolate on September 2, 2008 at 12:39 PM
uh…’Warm Turd’ is a white guy, old white guy.
trailboss on September 2, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Good grief. It’s Vetting 101 to get proof of the candidate’s voter registration. If the McCain campaign did nothing else, it got these records on Gov. Palin. Give them a LITTLE credit, please. A.B. Culvahouse has been doing this sort of thing since before most of you were born.
The new MSM meme is that Gov. Palin was not properly vetted. They are trying to undermine McCain’s decision making ability and protray Gov. Palin as a shoot-from-the-hip pick. They’ve given up actually making anything stick to her, so now they are giving the campaign a quiz to try to find something obscure about her that the campaign didn’t already know. So far it looks like a big old FAIL.
rockmom on September 2, 2008 at 12:42 PM
I’ll continue to beat the bushes, but it looks more and more like a fabrication.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:43 PM
that’s interesting about Alaska as well…sounds like a pretty unique and interesting place.
beefytee on September 2, 2008 at 12:44 PM
I am absolutely disgusted with the media today. I cannot believe the gall that some people will go to to fight against the Palins. They are an average American family and deal with average American issues on a daily basis.
ConservativePartyNow on September 2, 2008 at 12:47 PM
“warm turd” is the ticket….
“blowing my brains out with my own electoral gun” was a real vibe that I shared….
Mitt or Fred as Veep was not going to fix it and reality is what it is.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:49 PM
This is really some fun…!
The round mound of political malice and misogyny is beside himself today.
He can’t stand the political microscope that bloggers have placed Sarah under.
Never mind the years and years of his relentless, tasteless adhominem attacks against Hillary and Chelsea.
Gotta luv yah Rush…?
Or not…!
J_Gocht on September 2, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I agree that Palin is more extreme than I am and the party platform is. But… the only thing a President can do about abortion is choose judges. And it is doubtful that very many judges would ever be as extreme as excluding rape or incest.
And I do understand her position. It is completely consistant with the understanding that human life begins at conception. I am fully aware that the exceptions for rape and incest are not totally consistant with “life begins at conception”. So if she truly believes that then she is consistent in her beliefs.
My abortion opposition is based more on taking responsibility for your decisions and holding sacred the development of human life. I am not sure when “human life” begins. But I am clear when I think “rights” attache to the developing life. And whose claim to rights are greater in an unplanned pregnancy.
A nine year-old who is raped and preganant (true story). Is entitled to an abortion in my mind. Regardless if the growing fetus also has a claim of some rights. The rights of the nine year-old outweigh the fetus’s rights.
I also don’t hold that embryos created, and would be discarded, shouldn’t be used for life saving science. I believe it actually gives purpose to creating those embryos in the first place. I don’t want them created for that purpose but if they are created for infertility reasons anyway…why not use them?
So I would disagree with Palin on her extreme abortion views. But in the main. If someone is in err I would rather the error be for life instead of against life.
petunia on September 2, 2008 at 12:50 PM
If that clip was to expose something unAmerican about Palin. I think it did just the opposite. It was friendly, emphasised common goals and values and showed tolerance to those with difference of opinion. That is very American!
petunia on September 2, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Petunia:
The choice is a Veep who is “too pro-life”
or a President who is inarguably the worst shade of “pro-death”….
my die is cast.
sven10077 on September 2, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Sven, Yer, right, but I’m not talking veep with Mitt or Fred. WT McCain is my beef.
trailboss on September 2, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Stop all this pathetic hysteria.
This is all about the MSM protecting Barry O and his leftwing racial hustle machine.
As well as a lot of disingenuous DU trolls who have weaseled their way into HA over the past three months, whenever there has been an open registration period.
TexasJew on September 2, 2008 at 1:02 PM
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