As is to be expected, the mainstream media is falling all over themselves to congratulate Sarah Palin on her speech and to get first in line for the next barbecue at the McCain compound(s). The consensus – and we know just how wrong the consensus usually is – is that Palin’s speech has consolidated and galvanized the conservative base. The first problem with this is that the conservative base has been mostly galvanized already. They are already spooked to the point of wetting their pants over the made up fantasy of the secret Muslim black man and his black militant wife turning the White House into a flophouse for the Black Panther Party. They are already there. What the pick did for McCain is get the last dregs of a dying voting bloc lined up for him.
The problem is the Palin pick and the traditional Republican nonsense she delivered has the side effect of rousting another base: Democrats. The Palin pick was originally sold as an appeal to Hillary Clinton voters – but what Clinton voter with an ounce of sense could possibly pull the lever for a ticket so proud of its knuckle dragging like McCain/Palin? Those already in the Obama camp and responsible for the Grand Canyon sized gulf in enthusiasm between the two candidates are just going to get fired up by Palin’s speech and the other promises of another Bush term being offered in the sparsely occupied Xcel arena (seriously, why can’t they get people to fill up all the seats in such a small venue?).
The other group of people likely to be unintentionally fired up by McCain and Palin are moderate, swing voters. The biggest reason Republicans lost the House and Senate was buyers remorse from those swing voters who voted for Bush in 2004, not realizing that the GOP’s promise of protection and sanity were washed away in Katrina and the rush to privatize social security. The GOP is now tuned up for a replay of the 2004 strategy, but all they have left of that coalition is their white conservative male base. The minorities are all gone. The women have left them. Moderates have moved on. Elections in America are not won by James Dobson and Pat Robertson acting alone, no matter how they try to sell that to you.
In large part America is tired of fire breathing partisanship. They have seen the 50+1 percent presidency of Bush devolve into a 24% presidency. People, especially those in the middle, realize that a president that every day is focused on “winning” the base turns out to be a loser with people in the middle and in the other party. It is not a way to govern a nation – and it stymies the effectiveness of the presidency. People like Reagan and Clinton had presidencies that worked for better or worse because they hadn’t written off half of the country on inauguration day.
For those who needed reminding, the Republican convention has done the job. Mission accomplished.
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In all the remarks about Palin’s family, no one seems to point out an inconvenient fact. She can afford to raise a family of 5, including a Down’s Syndrome child, because as mayor and the governor, she does not have to worry about health insurance. She can easily take care of her 17 year old pregnant daughter, cause she does not have to worry about rising premiums.
Both McCain and Palin have benefited greatly from sucking at the government teat – McCain has been getting government health care his whole life.
Spot on.
I’m an Independent, but let me tell you, I took a a virtual “drive” around the web after Palin’s speech, and while the ultra conservatives were congratulating themselves and the media tripping over themselves to get back into McCain’s good graces, the Democratic base (and even some Independents) were mad.
I don’t mean threatened, saddened, or disheartened. I mean MAD AS HELL. I think Palin put the fire under their butts in away Obama couldn’t. Yes, he inspired, but Palin MOTIVATED.
Not only that, from what I gather, she pretty much turned off anyone leaning towards Obama, including a lot of swing voters. It’s a matter of time before we see the full results, but one thing is for sure; I think McCain can kiss the Independent vote goodbye.
“McCain has been getting government health care his whole life”
I think he earned it.
12 hours later, I still can’t get past the mocking tone she used througout the entire speech. Almost Ann Coulter-like with her “parting the waters” comment.
Politics aren’t for the faint-of-heart…but that speech really turned me off. Reading a lot of the comments on CNN’s site (ya, I know), I’m apparently not the only one who thought it was a bit disturbing.
That kind of talk will fire up the rabid r’s, but if that’s her (or their, for that matter) approach moving forward, they’re going to lose a lot of independent support.
JK
JK:
That’s the whole point. That speech was written to appeal to the base. It needed to be written to appeal to independents. Do they think McCain’s maverick-yness is gonna win them the day with independents? Not this year.
(seriously, why can’t they get people to fill up all the seats in such a small venue?).
They could bus in some illegal aliens to fill up the upper tiers. =)
So, JK, you gonna rethink your plan for November? Is that what I’m hearing?
You’re exactly right. I almost didn’t watch Palin knowing it would be irritating at the least, but I did watch and it did make me mad. I was always going to vote for the Democrat, whether it was Clinton or Obama, but now I’m ready to go volunteer, go door-to-door, make phone calls, register people to vote, whatever it takes. Palin is ignorant, condescending and arrogant, and Mc Cain is inept, even when he’s at his best.
All I heard Palin and the Republicans say was Mc Cain was a good man and a hero. That’s wonderful, and he might be a nice man, but that doesn’t help me pay $1,000 in prescription costs a month that keep rising, or lower gas prices, or convince me he understands anything about what’s happening in the world or in the U.S.
What I learned last night:
1) Rudy is a nutjob.
2) Huckabee has grace and elegance as a speaker and could be a real force in the party if he wasn’t hated by the coastal Republican elite.
3) Mitt is a joke. (This was probably the biggest revelation to me since I might have actually supported Mitt if he’d won the nomination.)
4) Palin is a nasty excuse for a human being. I am just amazed beyond recognition that a Christian woman talk so ferociously about a call to serve one’s community. She kind of grossed me out.
“I think he earned it.”
Dropping it like it’s POW, huh?
I know plenty of veterans who are not U.S. Senators who do not get anywhere near the quality of healthcare that John McCain does. Plus, he got it as a kid, since he was in a Navy family. I know plenty of families that getting treated for recurrent melanoma would send them into bankruptcy. Again, something McCain never had to worry about.
What the fuck is your point? Do you think under Barry O’s socialized healthcare that Congress will be FORCED to participate? No. Will Barry be forced to wait in line with the commoners? No.
“What the fuck is your point? Do you think under Barry O’s socialized healthcare that Congress will be FORCED to participate? No. Will Barry be forced to wait in line with the commoners? No.”
Again, as a member of Congress, John McCain has been enjoying Fours Seasons type healthcare at Motel 6 prices. Right now, Congress often grants itself exemptions from laws the pass which put mandates on private businesses. Maybe it’s time for McCain to learn to pay his own way – going for the world’s oldest gigolo is not an example for American manhood.
This really must be a divided country because I thought her speech was immature and incredibly boring. On a side note, I can’t stand her crazy accent, which shows a great deal of prejudice on my part (so don’t say it, I know it already).
Changey,
I’ve lived in a country with socialized medicine and let me tell you it sure beats the craptastic system that we have here in America. It also happens to be more economical. Look it up.
but vanessa, it has the word ’socialized’ in it! that makes it terrifying!!!
KXB, actually McCain did “earn” the medical care he has received at the government’s expense. It has nothing to do, directly, with his being a POW.
McCain served in the Navy for 23 years and retired honorably. He also received a disability rating for permenant injuries he received while in the service. That entitled him to medical care through the military while he was on duty, and to care through the VA after he retired. Just like every other 20 year veteran or person receiving the same level of service-related disability earns their medical care. Suffice to say he earned that medical care through actions beyond him being shot down and captured.
“Suffice to say he earned that medical care through actions beyond him being shot down and captured.”
So, are you arguing that the quality of health care at the VA is on par with the Mayo Clinic? I’ve done enough volunteer work at VA’s to know that they are underfunded and overstretched, but McCain got his, so he’s not that concerned about anyone else.
“but vanessa, it has the word ’socialized’ in it! that makes it terrifying!!!”
Yep, that’s it. It seems to be just in America that this word is so terrifying. I try to use that word regularly to explain to people what it actually means. Socialism is NOT Communism. Socialist programs can and do exist in Democratic and Capitalistic societies. For example, our public education system is “socialist.”
Gasp. Horror.
I hope you all are right. I’m worried that she came off as presidential and strong and none of the wackadoodle stuff about her (pro-secessionist party, lying about her fight against the bridge, creationist, etc. etc.) came out. I think she scored some direct (if unfair) hits about Obama that are going to shake the undecideds. And let’s face it, if you’re undecided at this point, you’re either a) not too bright or b) haven’t been paying attention and just don’t care.
She needed to show that she has some assets, and let’s be honest, she’s a charismatic speaker. And I say that as someone who thinks that if she and McCain get into office it would be an all out tragedy for America.
If that speech was presidential, I’m a hat.
PaulineF,
I really am baffled by people who think the speech was good or that she is charismatic. Yes, I’m biased, but I actually think McCain is a more compelling speaker than Palin. Her voice… to my ears she sounds like a mean kindergarten teacher or an annoying church lady. In my opinion, she doesn’t come off as presidential at all. This isn’t sexism either. I’d love to see someone like Rachael Maddow up there.
the GOP base= racists who defended Scooter Libby but claim they oppose illegal immigration for “law and order” reasons
If the Palin pick proves one thing, it’s that Republicans don’t care about governing. But we already knew that, right? They put an empty suit in the White House eight years ago, so all pretense of looking for the most qualified candidate has vanished long ago.
Wow, a Vice-President candidate makes a speech at their party’s convention that fires up her base, promotes her party’s interests and gets the other side riled and upset. This woman obviously needs to go.
They have seen the 50 1 percent presidency of Bush devolve into a 24% presidency.
Speaking of 51 and 24:
You’re doing a fine job, Oliver. Keep up the good work!
And you’re a hat, Oliver.
“In the new survey, while 24% are more likely to vote for Palin due to recent news coverage, 19% say the opposite and 54% say the stories have no impact on their votes.”
Maybe it did “fire up the base”, but since it was a string of insults directed at the other guy, which very nearly included one policy position, that says more about “the base”. Can’t see it swinging anyone.
Can’t see it swinging anyone
As noted in my link, 24% of those who were polled do.
“In the new survey, while 24% are more likely to vote for Palin due to recent news coverage, 19% say the opposite and 54% say the stories have no impact on their votes.”
In the new survey, while 24% are more likely to vote for Palin due to recent news coverage, 19% say the opposite and 54% say the stories have no impact on their votes.
I saw that too. But in a race this close, that 24% can make all the difference.
“I saw that too. But in a race this close, that 24% can make all the difference.”
True. Who knows how stable either number will be? But a net 5 point swing either way could be significant.
For those of you baffled at the positive reaction to Palin’s speech, now you know how a lot of people felt after Obama’s speech last week. Sure it was a great speech and all, very well done (nobody can give an impassioned speech like Obama), but not everyone was wetting themselves over it.
Last week, Democrats (and the media) were slapping each other on the back about what a great speech Obama gave. It fired them up and got them energized. This week it’s the Republican’s turn.
Feel free to point out all the flaws you saw, or how much it angered or irritated you. It’s your opinion and just as valid as anyone else’s. The Republican’s did the same thing last week over Obama’s speech. I’m sure not many of you were dismayed by it.
Face it, speakers and speeches affect people differently. Just because it didn’t do anything for you doesn’t mean it wasn’t effective.
I’ve lived in a country with socialized medicine and let me tell you it sure beats the craptastic system that we have here in America. It also happens to be more economical. Look it up.
But have you or anyone you directly know ever needed specialized care (heart bypass or stent, chemotherapy, surgery for tumor removal, etc.)? That’s where the socialized system loses some of it’s luster. Growing up 100 miles away from the Canadian border and having actual Canadians in the family means I’ve heard a lot about the universal health care system they have up there (one that many point to as a model for a US version). I’ve heard about the 6 month waiting lists for specialized care. When my brother-in-law’s father was having a stroke, my BIL had to drive all over Vancouver, BC, going to hospital to hospital, until he finally found one that would accept his father for treatment. In the US, the first hospital he would have gone to would have taken him in and treated him. Without question. By law. There is a reason why Canadians who can afford to do so come across the border into US to get their specialized treatments.
If you’re relatively young and in relatively good shape, then I’m sure the nationalized health care system seems pretty awesome. If your medical needs go beyond that, you likely to be less impressed. I’m sure it’s very economical. Limiting or not providing treatment can be pretty damned economical.
That the US medical care system is f-ed up and needs fixing can’t be disputed. But there are a hell of a lot of changes we could make that would get us closer to the model that provides basic and affordable health care to all Americans without having to completely replace the current system.
But these changes have to be made all across the board. It’s not enough to just target the insurance and drug companies, hospitals and doctors. You also need to reform the legal side of it as well (what percentage of the high costs is a result of doctors forced to practice “defensive medicine” by ordering every possible test to protect themselves in a malpractice suit from claims that they didn’t do “everything possible” for the patient?). And people need to understand what they have an expectation to contribute for their own health care. What percentage of the people who are currently “without medical coverage” are people who can afford to buy health insurance but choose not to, either because it’s too expensive (and out of their reach) or because they have other things they choose to spend their money on. Sure we need to make it affordable for everyone, but people have to understand that if they CAN afford it, they can’t let others (i.e. other taxpayers or insurance companies) pick up the tab for them because they’d rather spend their money on that new big screen TV.
People want to just point to those greedy insurance and drug companies and rich doctors and hospitals as the culprits. But it’s a hell of a lot more complicated than that.
I think he earned it.
I think McCain would disagree.
Another way to look at it.