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Garnet SpyJust from the repeated desperate pieces from the Obama troops here, I’d say that the Palin pick hit a nerve. At least, the folks here haven’t sunk to the asinine hysteria of claiming her fifth child is her daughter’s (update: my mistake; the question was raised while I was writing this); the number of medical personnel that would have to be in on this one is mind-boggling. But if you need comparative pictures, try here.
But let’s return to the more positive view of her selection, best presented in the article linked below:
The election will play out whether this selection was a huge mistake, or a visionary choice; it’s unlikely it’ll fall in any middling ground. Too many parameters involved to determine which way yet; but it clearly has discombobulated the Obama camp.
There has already been some discussion of how ready she’d be if she had to replace McCain. A valid line of discussion. However, has anyone contemplated if she is elected and the very normal and expected course of events occur? That is, McCain lives out his term (or terms) just fine.
The Vice-Presidency is a fairly unique position in that it has limited duties under normal circumstances, giving the occupant time to pursue other interests. Surely, no one doubts that Cheney has not; but- being his interests are obviously in the area of national security- we know very little of what he’s been up to. But that’s not Palin’s forte (which should give people like Lance comfort); Two things are her forte are social conservatism and fighting corruption. Given the Democrat control of the legislature, there will be little opportunity to have significant impact on the judicial appointments and legislation that the social conservative movement would have interest in. That leaves fighting corruption, both overt and subtle. And that has to scare a lot of people and will likely get much of the establishment of both parties worried about her.
The most ticked person about her selection, however, probably is Hillary, as the NYT has discovered. As I’ve said for a long time; she was planning for 2012 if she lost to Obama (and her back-alley types would be working to make sure Obama lost). She did not plan on having to compete for the women’s vote in the 2012 timeframe against a semi-incumbent (again, I assume, mcCain is a one-term deal). This could very well put her in a lose-lose situation, though I expect her best shot would still be an Obama loss and using the same back-alley tactics on Palin for 4 years. But it will be a lot harder and she can’t be happy.
Filed under: Election 2008, Politics | Tagged: Sarah Palin
Passing through, had to get the take on the RNC/McCain VP pick (or is it a recent Jerry Springer episode? Sometimes they are so hard to tell apart these days.)
My first task was to decode McCain’s announcement. The words I heard in sub-text as McCain was announcing his pick for co-captain of the cheerleading squad were “Senator Obama, after further consideration, I’ve decided I’d rather not be president.” McCain has certainly taken the “experience” argument off the table.
McCain shows once again that just because you were in the military, you’re not necessarily automatically qualified to be president (otherwise, how did we fail to elect Lee Harvey Oswald?) The military guys who have been elected president have typically been commanders - often generals - who not only displayed bravery, but also demonstrated an ability to run an organization. Eisenhower not only beat those Germans on the weaker western front, but he had to make de Gaulle, Monty and Patton play nicely together. McCain was a flyboy, responsible only for himself, whose flip, shoot-from-the-hip style may not serve us well. Wes Clark was right.
Wasn’t Gustav a PIA? Just no right answer for that from the Red Team. Even a good response by federal officials this time will just dredge up comparisons with Kaitrina & Rita. The best message they can possibly send “Elect us and you can be certain that you won’t be left helpless in a natural disaster more than once in our administration.” Very comforting.
Lamont, at least you admit you’re hearing things; they do have medications for that.
Also those meds might let you note the fact that McCain has been doing something else besides the military for quite some time. Military experience just generally shows one understands the meaning service beyond one’s self (and is not an exclusive indicator of that). Beyond that, the specific experiences are what count.
As for Palin, dismissing her at this point as some Jerry Springer show candidate only goes to prove yourself to me more fitting for than venue than her. Or do you merely prefer a Biden type, whose lobbyist son is in court over his shady hedge fund dealings with the Rev. Sun Myoung Moon crowd?
While I admit McCain made a clever choice, it won’t change the size of government one whit. 4 years from now we’ll still be spending $3 Trillion or more per year, you will still have the BATFE ruining people’s lives on technicalities, we will still have 19 million pages of tax laws, we will still have the Federal Reserve in charge of our money, we’ll still be spending Billions every time some flood or hurricane hits, high school students who pray in Jesus’ name will still be expelled, etc, etc.
A clever choice? yes. Will there be change? No.
Benjamin,
I wouldn’t be too pessimistic about it. Both McCain and Palin have pretty solid reputations on the issues of government spending and size. The problem will be that if they get elected and cut out the ‘pork’ and the ‘hand outs’, you and I will be happy, but they’ll going to be crucified by the Left’s demagoguery in the media…
B.S. Pork is not an issue in the government spending problem. Subsidies cause far more damage, not even mentioning the trillion dollar wars and social programs.
Pork is not an issue in the government spending problem.
Yes it is, don’t be foolish…
When Pork is in the millions and foreign wars are in the trillions, I call that pocket change.
Pocket change Dave? Like I said, don’t be foolish…
I am not being foolish. I am being realistic.
Is it more than I will ever make in a lifetime, yes. Will it make a difference in our national debt or yearly deficit if we significantly cut it, not really. The interest on our debt alone DWARFS pork spending. I am not going to cheer on McCain for attacking Pork with a passion if he doesn’t address the larger and more substantive issues.
Dave I got your point. But your point is conflated. The deficit is in the trillions and not just because of spending on the war. Your regulating pork barrel spending’s role in that debt to mere ‘chump change’ is foolish. Get ‘real’ about that…