’)Who didn’t see this coming? Anyone?
In just her second appearance on the campaign trail with John McCain, newly-minted GOP running mate Sarah Palin was showered with boos on Saturday for attempting to praise Clinton’s trail-blazing bid to become the first female president.
…
But in contrast with the mild reception that greeted her comments at the Ohio event, when Palin praised Clinton here for showing “determination and grace in her presidential campaign,” the Alaska governor was met with a noisy mix of boos, groans and grumbles around the minor league ballpark where the “Road to the Convention Rally” was held.
Increasingly, I’m beginning to believe the Palin pick is the latest manifestation of John McCain’s impulse control problem, a thread going through his entire life – from cheating on his first wife with Cindy McCain, advocating for war with Iraq right after 9/11, chanting “bomb Iran”, as well as his numerous flashes of rage both physical and verbal against his congressional colleagues. As Paul Begala notes, McCain picked someone who isn’t up to the job in a way that would endanger us all – and all based on what his ego is feeling at the moment.
Having not seen a clip, I can’t tell if Palin is simply not ready for prime time, or if it is a message no one is buying. While I am undecided on which is worse, it is bad news for McCain.
The former would mean Palin will be a source of trouble for the rest of the campaign, because there just isn’t enough time for her to get good before she is labeled by the media.
The later would mean McCain’s last minute gamble won’t pay off, and he’s got nothing left because he won’t be able to go back to ‘Obama isn’t ready for the presidency!’ (Although, he might try for ‘Angry black man! Scary!’ as his new campaign attack. Fox News is trying that one already.)
Granted, there could be an October surprise, but if McCain isn’t ahead in the polls after the Republican convention is over, he is in serious trouble.
It’s beginning to look like Obama is giving McCain the rope-a-dope.
All he has to do is watch the McCain campaign self-destruct. McCain is not capable of running any such endeavor, and Obama is.
Give McCain enough rope, and he will be a dope. First he gave us the houses, now this. I think the Palin choice was a McCain boner, or may have originated with one. He can’t help himself, and every mistake costs him votes.
The exposure and the pressure of the campaign are going to produce even more bizarre behavior, until the GOP won’t be able to deny that this guy is crazier than a bedbug and NOW WTF do we do?
Note to self. Pick up shares of Orville Redenbacher stock soonest.
Repack raises a good point. In a different twist of Oliver’s words, not only are McCain’s actions impulsive, but so is his stratagem. McCain played his hand clean too early. All of the potential smears and faults that plagued Obama were brought to light very early on. Now, his campaign is running out of steam, and is using last-minute distractions to keep himself relevent, and he still has 2 months until the general election.
“I think the Palin choice was a McCain boner…”
You said Palin and boner in the same sentence.
Tee hee hee.
“Repack raises a good point.”
Tee hee hee.
You can insult me for not being mature with regards to Palin, but quite frankly I don’t think she’s a serious V.P. choice.
Obama probably dealt with more people on a daily basis as a community organizer than Palin did as mayor, and that’s not counting all of Obama’s legislative experience. Secondly, her views on science, the environment, sex education, birth control, abortion, etc. are well outside the mainstream. Not to mention the potential scandals, and I’ve heard of three of them already. (Abuse of power, conflict of interest, and another I won’t name until there’s more evidence presented. It’s too personal if it is not true.)
So, if that’s what you conclude — what becomes of his “Country First” slogan? Don’t you have to conclude that he’s put the country at risk to achieve his personal ambitions? Here’s what one friend and former colleague, a woman and a longtime admirer of McCain, e-mailed today:
“I take back anything positive i ever said about john mccain….he put an unqualified, inexperienced light-weight a heart beat away from the presidency. reckless, unconscionable and utterly unforgivable. i’m done with him forever….he put politics ahead of the welfare of the country. i expect that of bush, not john mccain. i feel completely betrayed.”
I kind of agree to that woman about Palin. She’s a lightweight and unserious. That being said, how does the Obama campaign handle her? They should simply ignore her. To dismiss her will be seen as patronizing and chauvinist. To attack her will make her a martyr. Simply attack McCain. Attack, attack, and then when he is tired, attack some more. Cut Palin out of the equation.
Incidentally, did anyone her the rumor that Palin’s last child is actually her 16-year old daughter’s child? Disturbing, if true.
I doubt it’s true. I don’t know this for sure, but it’s my understanding that Down’s Syndrome babies are almost never born to teenage mothers.
I don’t think it’s true either. Nonetheless, questions have been raised. Supposedly the daughter was removed from school for several months last year and Mrs. Palin wasn’t showing well in to her supposed presidency. I would like to see the wingnuts that were so concerned about the font on Obama’s gift certificate turn their forensic attentions to Trig or Trag or Pack or whatever the kid’s name is. Somehow I don’t think they will. Wonder why? Mrs. Palin could stop the speculation simply by producing the birth certificate.
That should say “pregnancy” not “presidency”. God help us, don’t let there be a Palin “presidency”.
and say “birth certificate” not “gift certificate”
Teh kerning!!!!11
We all do it.
“Incidentally, did anyone her the rumor that Palin’s last child is actually her 16-year old daughter’s child? Disturbing, if true.”
That’s the rumor I didn’t want to name till I saw more evidence. Odd of a teenager having a Down syndrome kid is less than one tenth of one percent, but that’s about the odds of being seven month pregnant and no one noticing.
Because it’s a foul and disgusting smear. I’m not surprised you’d bring it up after your “casting couch” comments, though. You’re a pathetic piece of work for someone who claims to be “enlightened”.
As a Clinton supporter I too initially thought that McCain’s choice of Palin was an attempt to woo women.
But then when you look at her position on social issues (which I’m sure McCain did), you realize that no, that is not his strategy.
His strategy is brilliant because Palin is taking the Republican Party platform back to it roots: eliminate wasteful government spending, stop corruption.
McCain and Palin are going to hammer Obama on corruption, Hillary never really could (Glass houses and all that). We’ll be hearing about Obama’s Chicago roots: Richard Daly’s Chicago Machine, Rezko and a creepy Iraqi arms dealer named Auchi. Obama attacks McCain on his many houses, that is rich! Have you seen the one he bought with Rezko’s help? Please, you live in a mansion, you don’t get working class people (What is arugula?).
I don’t think it should be publicized in the MSM until there is more evidence, that being said the McCain command must have heard this rumor. They should come forward with the birth certificate and defuse this once and for all. At least that’s the standard they expect of Democrats.
I just think it should be examined a little closer, just like your ilk thought that Obama’s birth certificate should be investigated. What exactly are you guys afraid of?
Gee, maybe the crowd booed Hillary because it was full of Republicans?
No. They should let you guys keep bringing it up. It’ll be more evidence of how disgusting leftists really are when it comes to women.
Obama’s gestation and birth was witnessed and celebrated by an entire state? Wow. He really IS the Chosen One!
So, according to the candidate, her water broke at a governors conference, at which point she went on and did a 30 minute speech and then flew 12 hours back to Alaska to have the child. Something doesn’t add up here.
“A foul and disgusting smear!”
You know, like saying that Hillary Clinton murdered Vince Foster.
Or that Obama is a “secret Muslim.”
Or that the Clintons ran drugs out of the Mena, Arkansas airport.
Or that John Kerry was a gutless coward.
Don’t you know, EL, that only Republicans get to do foul and disgusting smears? We’re not allowed.
I have noted the irony, yes. I’ll say again, I don’t believe these smears. Even if they were true, I don’t necessarily think it reflects badly, every family has their own way to handle these crises. Certainly a politically connected wingnut can’t have a 16 year old with child.
Of course Palin was met with boos. Her attempt to associate herself with Hillary Clinton is an insult to the intelligence of women throughout the country. It may come as news to the McCain camp, but women don’t necessarily vote on the basis of gender. They also examine the issues. When they do, they’ll see that Palin does not represent the issues that most women care about, including the right to choose.
“It’ll be more evidence of how disgusting leftists really are when it comes to women.”
There’s that gender card!
Whaaaaah! They did it first!!!!
And we also have Enlightened “Casting Couch” Liberal pointing out the gender card. Priceless!
When I picture JWG, and guys like him, I think of Scud Farkis in that scene from “A Christmas Story”. Scud, the neighborhood mosstoothed bully, is taunting Ralphie. “Whattaya, gonna cry now? Cry, crybaby, cry!”
Then Ralphie kicks his ass.
So all you can do is imagine a movie about a guy defending himself. It figures — reality too harsh for you?
Oh stop whining Democrats … for the past 1 1/2 years, you’ve been trying every trick in the book to shove an inexperienced, empty suit, Barack Hussein Obama, down the throats of Americans. Sure, maybe you sweetened the bad taste by adding pretty speeches, big swooning crowds, and fireworks … but, you still tried to shove him down our throats, at every opportunity. Democrats, it was a lot easier to highjack the primary election than it’s going to be with the general election. Looks like America is going to elect McCain/Palin for President and V.P.. And, that means: No Wright, no Farrakahn, no Ayers, no Rezko, no mean Michelle, and, NOBAMA !!!
JWG, it’s called a “metaphor”.
My point here, since you pretend not to understand, is that Republicans have been winning elections based largely on smear/whisper campaigns for generations. Democrats, not so much. But when a couple of commenters on a blog drop a couple of hints about a rumor, it’s a “foul, disgusting smear!”
And if this thing was to get legs, I’m pretty sure you’d be the one saying “waaahh”. Like Scud did after Ralphie kicked his ass.
You really should see the movie. It’s funny. A good laugh might help your constipation.
Gina: good zombie impersonation.
My point here, since you pretend not to understand, is that Republicans have been winning elections based largely on smear/whisper campaigns for generations.
There’s always an excuse.
Always.
What is this, a tag team? I’m going to brunch now, but when I get back, by God, you’ll be sorry you messed with me!
[...] Oliver Willis calls it, I believe: Increasingly, I’m beginning to believe the Palin pick is the latest manifestation of John McCain’s impulse control problem, a thread going through his entire life – from cheating on his first wife with Cindy McCain, advocating for war with Iraq right after 9/11, chanting “bomb Iran”, as well as his numerous flashes of rage both physical and verbal against his congressional colleagues. As Paul Begala notes, McCain picked someone who isn’t up to the job in a way that would endanger us all – and all based on what his ego is feeling at the moment. [...]
Oh stop whining Democrats … for the past 1 1/2 years, you’ve been trying every trick in the book to shove an inexperienced, empty suit, Barack Hussein Obama, down the throats of Americans.
Quick question, Gina. Which would you rather have as president, a guy who got into the Naval Academy because his father and grandfather were alumni and admirals, and graduated in the BOTTOM 1% of his class, or a guy who got into Harvard on his academic record alone and graduated in the TOP 1% of his class?
If you didn’t know who these people were, of course.
Quick question, Gina. Which would you rather have as president, a guy who got into the Naval Academy because his father and grandfather were alumni and admirals, and graduated in the BOTTOM 1% of his class, or a guy who got into Harvard on his academic record alone and graduated in the TOP 1% of his class?
Well. Let’s put it another way. Who would you rather have as president, a decorated Vietnam War hero not afraid to knock heads with members of his own party and a strong independent streak and who has the experience and judgment to lead our country or a guy who is a by-product of a corrupt Chicago political machine and the student of 60’s radicalism who has no accomplishments to speak of for his time in the Illinois Senate and who’s biggest accomplishment in the United States Senate is missing votes and believing he could run the country after serving for a grand total of 143 days?
If you didn’t know who these people were, of course.
There is no vet with an independent streak running. There is a doctrinaire down the line Republican conservative who is attached at the hip to the least popular president in 20 years, however.
Or you can choose the leader who had the foresight to be against a dumb war, who thinks we ought to actually kill the terrorists who attacked us and thinks that the way to grow America’s middle class is common sense economics and not voodoo.
“…who has the experience and judgment to lead our country…”
The Palin choice pretty much sinks this talking point.
I didn’t want to bring this up..but.
What evidence do you have that The Obama got into Harvard/Princeton on his academic record alone?
No affirmative action? Really?
Prove it.
here is no vet with an independent streak running. There is a doctrinaire down the line Republican conservative who is attached at the hip to the least popular president in 20 years, however.
Snore. “McCain is just like Bush.” That’s stale already.
Or you can choose the leader who had the foresight to be against a dumb war,
And then selected a running mate who voted for the war.
Who would you rather have as president, a decorated Vietnam War hero not afraid to knock heads with members of his own party and a strong independent streak and who has the experience and judgment to lead our country
John Kerry isn’t running this year, and the GOP has successfully destroyed Vietnam heroism as a qualification for the presidency anyway.
Apparently McCain is afraid to “knock heads with…his party” during the 95% of the time he agreed with the least popular president…EVER.
What is the attraction for GOP voters for dumb guys over smart guys? What is John McCain’s most impressive intellectual achievement? If Clinton’s adultery was important, why isn’t McCain’s?
If a suit could be “filled” with a pure vacuum, that would be McCain’s wardrobe.
Why do these dumb guys keep beating us? Why won’t anyone recognize how smart we are??? Whaaaaahhhh!
Why do these dumb guys keep beating us?
Because people become more nationalistic (and thus, tangentially, more conservative) in time of war. This has been true since there have been nations, and wars.
Although I don’t agree with Repack (though I most often do) that John Mccain is ‘dumb.’
McCain may not be dumb, but he plays a dumbass on TV.
Conservatives, or at least “Reagan Democrats” (or, as I call them,”suckers”), like dumb guys because of their own inferiority complex. Think about it.
The first example of anti-smartpeople bigotry in my memory is George Wallace, always talking about “pointy-headed pseudo-intellectuals”.Then there was Agnew with his “nattering nabobs” or some such nonsense. On and on it went, down to today with Talk Radio and FOX harping about how working class whites are being looked down upon by a smartypants Harvard professor.You can see it in the chip-on-the-shoulder comments by the J-guests on this blog.
Maybe people won’t see through this regular-guy horseshit this time, either, but maybe they will.
Wow Repack. Deflections, red herrings and strawmen. You just served up a logical fallacy smorgasbord! Good work.
Like I said, you’ve got the jones for a guy whose biggest achievement since he went into public office was to miss votes. Before that he used his vast superior intellect and wisdom to be a “community organizer.” Does anybody even have a clue what that ‘job’ entailed? I don’t. And why not? Because Obama never talks about it. He never talks about anything he did because he never actually did much of anything.
Because it’s a foul and disgusting smear. I’m not surprised you’d bring it up after your “casting couch” comments, though. You’re a pathetic piece of work for someone who claims to be “enlightened”.
That didn’t stop them with the whole Obama birth certificate thing. And I don’t see it as odd that a man with 7 wives be searching for an 8th? Do you?
His strategy is brilliant because Palin is taking the Republican Party platform back to it roots: eliminate wasteful government spending, stop corruption.
*pats George on the head* Whatever helps you sleep at night.
Gee, maybe the crowd booed Hillary because it was full of Republicans?
Fine, so McCain’s electorate doesn’t want the Hillary supporters in their ranks. All you did was add a middle man.
Whaaaaah! They did it first!!!!
Translation: I don’t wanna reap what I sow. Wryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
Why do these dumb guys keep beating us? Why won’t anyone recognize how smart we are??? Whaaaaahhhh!
Were you in a coma during the 2000 campaign season?
Like I said, you’ve got the jones for a guy whose biggest achievement since he went into public office was to miss votes.
Jay, last time I asked this, you ran with your tail between your legs. I’ll give you another chance, though. Can you name a single accomplishment that Bush made as governor? And no, killing retarded people doesn’t count.
And killing a woman the freaking Pope asked for mercy for doesn’t either.
duh:
“What evidence do you have that The Obama got into Harvard/Princeton on his academic record alone?
No affirmative action? Really?
Prove it.”
Even if affirmative action did come into play (and I don’t see any real evidence to prove that it did), it’s still incredibly difficult to get into a school like Harvard*; they have a reputation to maintain, and much of that reputation involves bringing in (and sending out) the best of the best.
Then you have to graduate, which means actually being good at your classes and stuff like that.
That said, I would love to see Obama say to McCain “You, sir, have the boorish manners of a Yalie” during the debate.
*Unless you have a “legacy” parent, and I don’t see any proof of that either.
“No affirmative action? Really?”
And even if affirmative action is what helped to get him into Harvard, isn’t a plus for affirmative action?
“Before that he used his vast superior intellect and wisdom to be a “community organizer.” Does anybody even have a clue what that ‘job’ entailed? I don’t.”
It took me about two seconds on the internet to figure out exactly what organization Obama worked for and what that organization does.
From Obama’s own website:
That church-based group was the Developing Communities Project. Here’s their site: http://www.dcpincorp.org/About_us.html
What kinds of programs do they have?
Here’s an article Obama wrote in 1990 for Illinois Issues magazine about his time as a community organizer:
http://www.edwoj.com/Alinsky/AlinskyObamaChapter1990.htm
Here’s a quote:
Here’s a link to Obama’s website connecting his experience with the Developing Communities Project influenced his policy proposals as a presidential candidate:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/service/
In other words, Jay, since John McCain has not come to my house and explained to me personally exactly how he plans to govern as president, I must assume that he is an empty suit with no plan at all.
“He never talks about anything he did because he never actually did much of anything.”
Jay, all I really know about John McCain is that he was a POW (because he’s ALWAYS talking about it) and that he wants to bomb Iran, or something.
And being a POW isn’t really “doing” anything, unless you consider the propaganda videos “Songbird” made for the N. Vietnamese as an accomplishment.
John R says ” Even if affirmative action did come into play (and I don’t see any real evidence to prove that it did), it’s still incredibly difficult to get into a school like Harvard*; they have a reputation to maintain, and much of that reputation involves bringing in (and sending out) the best of the best.
Then you have to graduate, which means actually being good at your classes and stuff like that.”
Glad you feel that way, seeing as that is where President Bush graduated from B school
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush
Yea and Farfaroo here is the actual RESULT of Obama’s “community organizing”
But a Globe review found that thousands of apartments across Chicago that had been built with local, state, and federal subsidies – including several hundred in Obama’s former district – deteriorated so completely that they were no longer habitable.
Grove Parc and several other prominent failures were developed and managed by Obama’s close friends and political supporters. Those people profited from the subsidies even as many of Obama’s constituents suffered. Tenants lost their homes; surrounding neighborhoods were blighted.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/27/grim_proving_ground_for_obamas_housing_policy/
Yea, change we can believe in….if you are a developer and a Friend of The Obama…..
Wow. He picked Palin. He picked a creationist nut-job with lots of baggage re: potential scandals.
/happy dance
I realize I’m a few days late to the party, living abroad and all, but I’d love to see one of the resident OW.com nutter trolls make the case for her. Seriously — what does she bring to McCain other than potential head-aches, if not downright scandals?
I mean, I thought Biden was a weak pick. And it may still be, given his penchant for gaffes (none so far, however). But serious question: Can someone explain to me, objectively as possible, what Palin does for McCain? _If_ she brought in bitter PUMA’s I’d buy it, but that ain’t happening, sorry. Her extreme anti-choice stance makes that an impossibility.
What the hell were McCain and his staff smoking for this one?
Alaska? ALASKA?
Jay: “Before that he used his vast superior intellect and wisdom to be a “community organizer.” Does anybody even have a clue what that ‘job’ entailed? I don’t. And why not?”
I know why you don’t know, because you are fucking stupid. You are using your own ignorance to attack Obama, you ‘tard.
What evidence do you have that The Obama got into Harvard/Princeton on his academic record alone?
No affirmative action? Really?
Stuff that didn’t happen generally leaves very little EVIDENCE that it didn’t happen, so what would you accept as EVIDENCE that there was no affirmative action involved in Obama’s admission to Harvard?
Since it is YOU making the claim, unless YOU provide EVIDENCE of affirmative action being involved in Obama’s Harvard admission, we can rest assured that any such statement is a lie, a foul, noxious, offensive lie, and that anyone who repeats it is a despicable liar.
Right?
No, no, no, Repack, stuff that didn’t happen is EVIDENCE IN ITSELF. For instance, the US has not suffered another 9/11 attack since Bush took us into Iraq. Therefore, ergo, ipso fatso, abracadabra, going into Iraq was the right thing to do.
Duh-
Yes, I am sure “affirmative action” also helped Obama finish at the top 1% of his class.
I think for many Americans, the thought of having a woman (Palin) take over as President is more frightening than a black biracial man with community service experience.
Frankly, I think most Americans–even those ultra-conservative, gun toters– are not as ready for a woman president or vice president. And in their racist thinking, would be able to accept Obama because he ’speaks so well’ with folks here and abroad.
It is more frightening to have an old man whose fought cancer 4 times become president, and his standby waiting in the wings has 5 kids, a husband, and is about to be a grandma in her mid 40s.
I hear Palin’s argument that no one is criticizing Obama enough for not spending enough time with his kids—but, frankly, neither is Michelle since they often leave the kids with her mother and family while out campaigning. As much as a double standard as this sounds—it is different for a woman than a man, regardless if they hold the same or similar position.
A mother with 5 kids–one a baby under a year old with Down’s Syndrome, and a teenage daughter who is 5 months pregnant—one son is being shipped to Iraq in a few weeks—the other kids are grade school aged—and don’t forget about the husband—Palin cannot tell me that she will be emotionally and mentally available enough for America AND her family….not likely.
And since she touts herself to be so traditional and right wing, i.e, she fired the governor’s mansion cook, etc, and is cooking the meals herself—this woman has got to be smoking the biggest blunt I have ever seen or heard of, if she thinks she is going to be running in the White House kitchen to cook for her family AND manage the national debt….what kind of crap are these Republicans trying to sell us? LOL
I believe we Americans will make the right decision and elect Obama/Biden into the White House. The Repub candidates offer fear, distrust, divisiveness, and lies to scare voters into ‘voting white’—and the regret after election is deafening–look at most of the Bush voters now who elected him twice–many of them are now registered Democrats or Independents.
If race ends up trumping the best choice (Obama) we have to move this country forward, then we are indeed the idiots of the free world.
Anybody who abuses their position of power to fire a former
brother in-law and Commissioner simply because of a personal
vendetta and not on the basis of job merits is unethical,
untrustoworthy and unfit to be a heart-beat from the highest
office in the Land.