by Damozel | We've already done one blogger round-up of the Palin pick here. At our sister blog, you can find a short piece on Palin's connection to the oil industry (and the Malkin's ringing endorsement of it).
Former Bush speechwriter David Frum considers the choice of Palin "irresponsible," given the shrinking Republican voter base and the distrust most Republicans feel for McCain. But he nicely frames the arguments that Dems will be hammering home (thanks, Dave).
Ms. Palin's experience in government makes Barack Obama look like George C. Marshall. She served two terms on the city council of Wasilla, Alaska, population 9,000. She served two terms as mayor. In November, 2006, she was elected governor of the state, a job she has held for a little more than 18 months. She has zero foreign policy experience, and no record on national security issues....
All this would matter less, but for this fact: The day that John McCain announced his selection of Sarah Palin was his birthday. His 72nd birthday. Seventy-two is not as old as it used to be, but Mr. McCain had a bout with melanoma seven years ago, and his experience in prison camp has uncertain implications for his future health.
If anything were to happen to a President McCain, the destiny of the free world would be placed in the hands of a woman who until the day before Friday was a small-town mayor.
Mr. McCain's supporters argue that he is more serious about national security than Barack Obama. But the selection of Sarah Palin invites the question: How serious can he be if he would place such a neophyte second in line to the presidency? Barack Obama at least balanced his inexperience with Mr. Biden's experience. What is Mr. McCain doing? (David Frum)
I guess McCain has noticed the same thing I have: many Republicans vote based on how they feel about the candidate rather than on the issues.
The thing is, Frum is thinking about a different category of Republican voter from the ones McCain is trying to reach. Frum's Republicans might well be alarmed. In fact, they are quite right to be alarmed.
Frum expresses further reservations here. He feels this choice looks "cynical." Gee, ya think?
Meanwhile, McCain's aides have joked about the possibility that Palin might in fact have to take over---in which case, they reassure us, she will have learned all about national security "at the foot of the master." (The Washington Monthly)
John McCain's top strategist has effectively told the New York Times that the Republican nominee for V.P. won't be ready on Day One, but that's fine, because McCain will probably live until 2013. Seriously. That's his argument.
I'd love to hear some enterprising political reporter who travels with the McCain campaign to ask the senator, "In the event of a tragedy or national calamity, and a President McCain were unable to carry out his duties, who does John McCain believe is the single best, most trustworthy, most capable, most reliable person in the entire United States to lead the free world?"
Joe Lieberman? Tom Ridge? Lindsey Graham? Dick Lugar? John Warner? No, it's Sarah Palin. (Steve Benen)
NOW would like women to know that the mere fact that she's a woman doesn't mean she's in any way concerned with issues specifically affecting women, such as women's health, health care, reproductive rights, and so forth. I think Democrats probably get that and Republicans don't much care. Independents who are interested in these issues should read their statement.
The fact that Palin is a mother of five who has a 4-month-old baby, a woman who is juggling work and family responsibilities, will speak to many women. But will Palin speak FOR women? Based on her record and her stated positions, the answer is clearly No.
In a gubernatorial debate, Palin stated emphatically that her opposition to abortion was so great, so total, that even if her teenage daughter was impregnated by a rapist, she would "choose life" -- meaning apparently that she would not permit her daughter to have an abortion....
What McCain does not understand is that women supported Hillary Clinton not just because she was a woman, but because she was a champion on their issues. They will surely not find Sarah Palin to be an advocate for women. (more)
In fact, the selection of Palin is the same gross insult to the intelligence of women as Bush 41's pick of Dan Quayle to be his running mate, and why? His campaign thought Quayle looked like Robert Redford. Apparently McCain likewise believes that women can't read and can't think.
Former Hillary supporters like me are going to vote for the woman because she's a woman. Um, no. Palin isn't credible as a Hillary-substitute. That's because there are no substitutes.
As Van Jones says at HuffPost---somebody had to say it, I guess---"Palin, you're no Hillary Clinton."
None of my pro-Hillary female friends are falling for this obvious GOP pander. To the contrary, McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his VP is drawing hoots of derision.
Once they learn that Sarah Palin opposes rape and incest exceptions for women seeking abortion, they completely write her off.
One female friend said: "Sarah Palin is to the movement for women's equality what Clarence Thomas is to civil rights. She's an extremist and an enemy to the cause that has been fought on her behalf.... Someone should stand up and say: 'I know Senator Clinton. Senator Clinton is a friend of mine. And Sarah Palin is no Hillary Rodham Clinton.'" (HuffPost)
Meanwhile, Hillary herself has reiterated her support for Obama and has called out McCain on the issues yet again. She says the stakes are too high at this point to use politics to make a point.
Here are some other responses:
The Sideshow.
Avedon Carol thinks this may be a dangerous and intelligent choice. "Yes, I, too, used to think that some moves by politicians were so transparently cynical that no one would fall for them, before I finally absorbed the reality that those moves aren't aimed at the people to whom they are transparently cynical...." Among other things, Carol points out that the Quayle ticket won. To that, I say: LALALALALALALALA I can't heeeear you. But the piece includes some extremely useful advice about how not to go about attacking this ticket. The Rude Pundit cheered me up again, not only with this post about Palin, but also with this account of the reaction of Alex Castellanos to Obama's speech.
Jill at Brilliant at Breakfast compares the selection of Palin to the Harriet Miers debacle.
The Alaskan political blog, Mudflats, asks "What is McCain Thinking?" This post, giving the view of an observer of the Alaskan political scene, is fraught with interest.
Vanderhei & Harris at The Politico considers this exact question. "The selection of a running mate is among the most consequential, most defining decisions a presidential nominee can make. John McCain’s pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says a lot about his decison-making — and some of it is downright breathtaking." First item on the list: "He's desperate." CNN also has some thoughts on the subject.
And Jonathan Martin claims to have the story behind this pick.
TBogg says:
It would appear that former prisoner of war John McCain is going to choose the GILF from Alaska, Sarah Palin. Considering the fact that, up until this point, his campaign has been about experience, maybe he's just having a senior moment like when he goes into a restaurant and wants to order creamed corn but instead says "waffles" or "bicycle"....The selection of Palin strikes me as a "stunt" nomination and an admission that even in the misty recesses of former prisoner of war John McCain's mind, he knows that he is truly fucked...
The last two weeks theme of bold Mavericky experience in a dangerous world fraught with twilight existential war and IslamoJihadi boogety-boogety is no longer operative. Please substitute "authenticity" and "redolent of America" which is like Obsession by Calvin Klein but with subtle hints of moose pheromones...Much will be made of Plain's ever-present glasses as a fashion statement. Her prom hair, not so much.
MJS at Jesus' General has a picture of Palin---who favors teaching creationism in schools ("Praise the Lord, I thought she was going to make us learn it at the Post Office!") ---relaxing at home with the skin of a dead bear and a giant dead crab. Her dad shot the bear, the NYT says. Charming. General J.C. Christian notes: "Continuing Our Leader's legacy, Sarah Palin has the courage to use the vast power of the State to crush her personal enemies." Go there to see the video.
Finally: Jesus's General also has this campaign poster. Please, please, please click the link. Can I hear you say, "Amen"?
The Malkin surrogate formerly known as "Captain Ed" thinks the reaction of Dems looks desperate. We look desperate? Yeah, keep telling yourself that, son.
Brad at Sadly, No! writes:
St. BBQ’s pick of Sarah Palin was a brilliantly stupid move that really encompasses everything we’ve seen about Republican politics over the past eight years. From a governing perspective, it’s blisteringly stupid — do we even know who this woman is? Say what you will about Obama’s lack of executive experience, but he’s been under a pretty intense spotlight for the past year or so. He’s taken heavy fire from members of both parties and has come out of it looking like a smart, cunning and capable candidate, someone who has real command not only of himself, but of his surrogates and campaign messaging as well. Sarah Palin, on the other hand… well shit, I’m one of the biggest political junkies around, and my first reaction when I heard the news yesterday was “WHO THE FUCK IS THAT????”
People, we’re talking about a woman who eight years ago was a Pat Buchanan supporter and who is winning accolades from every crazy Christian and economic wingnut group in the country. This is someone who obviously has a hard, hard right ideology and who would likely make an even worse president than Bush. I mean, she’s less than two years into her first term as governor and she’s already being investigated for abuse of power. Can you imagine how she’d behave if she had the levers of power in the White House at her disposal? Can you imagine all the zany Christianist shock troops she’d appoint to the Justice Department?
But though he considers it a stupid move from the standpoint of governance, he---like Avedon Carol, above--- thinks it was shrewd as a strategy. And his advice similar. "It took the spotlight away from Obama’s speech, it gave the GOP base a reason to vote for St. BBQ and it created a large landmine for the Obama campaign to step around....If you have to mention Palin in a line of attack, don’t make the focus about her, make it about McCain."
Meanwhile, McCain is allegedly on his way up from the lower 48 to investigate "Troopergate." Won't he have already done that? She's due for a deposition. Anyway, I can't see it mattering. Even if they can show she was directly involved, Republicans, as we've seen, just plain don't care about using political influence to push people you don't like out of their jobs.
Read all about one former Bush speechwriter's consternation right here (with blogger responses).
Note that Frum also considers Comedy Central "irresponsible," so I am not sure how much attention you should pay to him.
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