Hard News: Awesome
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Well, an "Alaska Native" over at Andrew Sullivan's has an interesting take on the (political) landscape in Alaska:
On Palin generally, I tend to agree with your analysis. Most Alaskans like her, but there's a lot about Alaska that the rest of the country either doesn't know or doesn't care about. Her likability stems in part from the unique political-social culture in Alaska. I've known some die-hard republicans and some ultra-liberal democrats, but what connects everyone is a strong undercurrent of libertarianism. It's very much a "let me be" kind of place, and I think you see that in Palin's political positions.
The state tends to look very Republican, but in many ways it's more centrist--albeit a sort of bizzaro centrist--than people realize. You see this in our governors more than the congressional delegation (which embodies the desire to hold firmly onto whatever little power the state can get). Alaskans like people who support gun rights but smoke pot, are anti-abortion but gay-friendly, are pro-drilling and pro-environment. So Palin strikes me as a good fit for Alaska, but I'm not sure she's a good fit for the national Republican party.
Well, Alaska is also very big on the mothers of all understatements. Still, I'm sure Palin already has her diary fully loaded with pander-licious photo-ops where she will repent and be cleansed of any deviations from theo-con orthodoxy. Worse luck.
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It's a gamble for McCain: will the Hillary ladies who said they wanted a woman in the White House, did they mean any woman?
Where the PUMAs are concerned, who knows?
Let's see how long it takes for the MSN to bring back these PUMA's and ask what they they think. I have no doubt they'll say Palin is a great choice and they'll probably vote for her. Proving that PUMA's were Repub shills all along. (Not that the MSN will care or acknowledge that).
The next think to happen will be a 'Bring Back Buck' style campaign (fuelled by Republicans) to suggest Biden should step down and let Hillary be VP nominee. Rovian mischeif.
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Proving that PUMA's were Repub shills all along.
I don't know if that's accurate or entirely fair, John. Just as I don't think Coulter and Limbaugh were "Democrat shills" in loudly proclaiming that they found McCain so objectionable they'd go on the road for Hillary Clinton if it came down to a choice. Find me a political party on Earth that doesn't contain people whose thought processes, like the peace of God, surpasses human understanding.
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Interesting strategic choice to skip over Obama's 12 years as professor of constitutional law in that biographical video portrait, and to steer clear of mentioning torture, the Supreme Court, etc etc. I guess the electorate doesn't want to think about anything too complicated or yucky.
I think the Daily Show's biographical video was better myself.
Anyway, I've just watched the speech in full. As a piece of pure theatre, it was pretty astonishing. All they needed was cheerleaders and it'd have all the elements. It was pretty superbly timed though, wasn't it? Everything that needed to be said, was said. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who liked the fact it laid out the "vision" without the attendant ad-hominem fear-mongering that you just know the McCain team is going to use over the next couple of months.
I also enjoyed Bill Clinton's the other night too. Speechfying is second nature to the guy, it's as if he loses ten years every time he gets up on a pulpit and starts wagging that finger. A bit of a flashback moment, there.
Have you seen some of the McCain team's recent advertisements? I mean, attacking the opposition candidate because he's popular?
This one brings a whole new form of despicable to the table, mind
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Oops, I just re-read the author byline. Epic fail from me.
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Note to self: read the full piece, not just the googled headline.
In what might be his most controversial attack ad in a campaign dominated by them, presumptive G.O.P. presidential nominee John McCain today launched a new TV spot attacking Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill)'s two children.
According to political insiders, a negative ad targeting a rival's offspring is highly unorthodox, especially when the children in question are under the age of ten.
But after the two Obama kids scored in their performance on national television last night at the Democratic convention, "we had to do something to give the American people some straight talk on those two brats," Sen. McCain said today.
In the ad, which is being broadcast in key swing states, an announcer intones, "They're the cutest children in the world - but are they ready to lead?"
The spot uses visuals to link the two Obama kids to other famously cute kids, such as the young Drew Barrymore and the Cabbage Patch dolls.
The commercial goes on to blast the Obama children for "smiling and giggling but refusing to state their position on offshore oil drilling."
Still, if all else fails...
To American people on this forum- what's the reception been towards McCain's Veep nominee?
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McCain: Obama Lacks Experience Running 5,000-Person Town in Alaska
McCain should employ Andy Borowitz as his strategist, I mean, it's not as if the shit his team's coming out is that much less ridiculous...
Note to those who haven't seen all the speeches- the Huff post has them all online complete with transcriptions, should you be so inclined.
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To American people on this forum- what's the reception been towards McCain's Veep nominee?
They love her, and Obama is already packing up his tent as we speak.
But seriously, nevermind what the people think, it's what the MSN say that counts. Or their analyst 'consultants' who happen to be Republicans.
(altho' this blogger isn't holding back: The Worst Vice-Presidential Nominee in U.S. History)
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Hmmmm. I'm starting to think maybe the US 'folks' are going to lap her up. Craig Ferguson has:
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Where the PUMAs are concerned, who knows?
Yes, except the PUMAs don't exist. Go to one of the most illustrious hideouts, alegre's corner, and check out how many users are logged on at any one time. That gives you a pretty good idea of the numbers. Then read the comments and you'll find that many of these few (including Alegre herself) aren't even going to vote for McCain, they're going to stay home.
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Still, it's going to be wonderful (in a sad kind of way) watching Palin explain away this -- hardly a bosom buddy of teh gayz, but I imagine there's going to be one or two theo-cons chanting "la la la I can't hear you, I can't see you". I'd actually be a damn sight more comfortable with the Republicans if Palin was the head-liner, and had a track record of telling the theo-cons to get fucked that McCain has signally failed to show.
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Yes... I like her dependence on the constitution.
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By the way, sorry for going there, but is Todd Palin going to be giving up his corporate career to be a stay at home Dad -- and primary caregiver to their infant Downs baby-- while Sarah is on the campaign trail? I'm saying sorry, because I'm pretty damn sure that question would have been asked within minutes if Palin was Obama's veep pick -- but I guess there are occasions where the GOP and the MSM decide there are some shots too cheap to take after all.
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And then there is her incisive take on surge and Iraq
I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe.
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Now that I've gone there, let's play a little parlour game. Complete this sentence:
If Sarah Palin was the Democratic Party nominee for Vice President she would be:
1) An inexperienced lightweight.
2) abandoning her husband and children to pursue her own ambitions.
3) out of touch with the concerns of ordinary working Americans.
4) a goddamned Commie. I understand her husband is still a member of the United Steelworkers, the largest trade union in North America. -
Michael Tomasky's take: An Insane Choice
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Considering that he's 72, already had cancer, and suffers from the deprivation of his POW years, the odds of McCain either dying or becoming incapacitated in office are not small. President Palin? OMG.
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Stephen, I was *totally* just going to post that. My husband thinks President Palin would be like a meta tv genre mashup: the 'Reality-Sitcom-Political-Hunting-Christian-Beauty-Pageant-Game Show'. Eeep.
I am pretty insulted by this choice, actually. 'Here, little ladies: she has a vagina and *you* have a vagina! Just like Hillary Clinton! They're interchangeable! Vote for me!'
(Heh. My PAS contributions for the last 24 hours seem to have been the mini-Vagina Monologues. And I can't stand Eve Ensler.)
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Considering that he's 72, already had cancer, and suffers from the deprivation of his POW years, the odds of McCain either dying or becoming incapacitated in office are not small. President Palin? OMG.
Great from one Bush to another bush! :)
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There is a theory out there that sounds almost plausible.
There are already big ethics concerns around Palin and her efforts to abuse her powers to punish her brother in law. And it seems like she might have a bit of a truthfulness problem.
So having diverted momentum off Obama's killer speech this week, next week McCain will regretfully replace Palin with a more conventional selection.
I don't actually believe this but it's the Roviavellian explanation.
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What Danielle said.
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'Here, little ladies: she has a vagina and *you* have a vagina! Just like Hillary Clinton! They're interchangeable! Vote for me!'
except that Ms Palin seems to be fairly comfortable re-writing her glass ceiling cracking 'just like Hillary'-ness to suit:
Once onstage, together with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, Palin talked about what women expect from women leaders; how she took charge in Alaska during a political scandal that threatened to unseat the state's entire Republican power structure, and her feelings about Sen. Hillary Clinton. (She said she felt kind of bad she couldn't support a woman, but she didn't like Clinton's "whining.")
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Except that's not what she said.
The clip is here.
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And there's a transcript here.
Which I'm going to blatantly copy and paste...
PALIN: . . . [F]air or unfair and I do think it is a more concentrated criticism that Hillary gets on so many fronts, and I think that is unfortunate, she does herself a disservice to even mention it. You have to plow through that and you have to know what you are getting into - I say that with all due respect to Hillary Clinton and to her experience and to her passion for changing the status quo - when I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate, with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism, you know a sharper microscope put on her, I think that doesn't do us any good - women in politics, women in general wanting to progress this country. I do not think it bodes well for her a statement like that because, again, fair or unfair, it is there that's reality I think it is a given - people can just accept the she is going to be under that sharper microscope So be it. Work harder prove yourself to an even greater degree that you are capable that you are going to be the best candidate and that of course is what she wants us to believe at this point. So it bothers me a little bit hearing her bring that attention to herself on that level
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Deborah, I can't get the clip to load so maybe I'm missing the nuances but from the transcript it seems to me that is pretty much what she said:
You need to look at:
I say that with all due respect to Hillary Clinton and to her experience and to her passion for changing the status quo - when I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate, with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism, you know a sharper microscope put on her, I think that doesn't do us any good - women in politics, women in general wanting to progress this country.
after:
she does herself a disservice to even mention it.
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