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Maverick.
- Filed under: McCain, Republicans '08
- Date: Aug 29,2008
I like it. McCain-Palin 08.
Principled conservative, solid reformer. GOP screaming they are not going to cede the West with an Arizona/Alaska ticket. Attacks on her inexperience will only highlight Obama's. Drilling back to the forefront (position change on ANWR for McCain?)……….
Wow. (New poll question in sidebar.)
Huge gamble, huge upside. Obviously the McCain one-term pledge is not going to happen (edit: the more I think about this, it could still happen, by him still saying he just serves one term and her saying she goes back to Alaska after said term). It appears to me that Team McCain is trying to goad Obama into saying Palin is inexperienced. It then raises the same comparisons between the experience of McCain against Obama. The natural areas to attack Palin on are the same areas where Obama is weak so it works in that sense. McCain made the decision to double down on reform - and energy. Obama voted for "The Bridge to Nowhere." Palin killed it. Alaska is our most oil rich state. Obama claims to have been a reformer. Reformed what? Palin has led reform in Alaska, has run on it, and her popularity there shows the success. Don't forget, she smashed an incumbent GOP governor (Frank Murkowski) in the 2006 GOP primary.
The Palin pick has energized the GOP base. There can be no disagreement on that. She has to much to prove, but her speech just now in Dayton went well. She will be a hit on the trail. Lets be honest, the GOP enthusiasm was not at a level where winning was probable. It shot up today. This generates more buzz - way more - than the text message ploy. She is likable, far more so than Biden, and that goes a long way.
Democrats will try and tie her to Ted Stevens. She denounced Stevens awhile back. She fights against corruption.
Like a political consultant just told me on the phone: "It is like taking DeMario Williams over Reggie Bush with the first pick in the NFL Draft." Risky. McCain has always liked to take chances. This is clearly his biggest political gamble to date.
Bad Timing Alert: Due to a long standing commitment, I will be mostly away until around Tuesday of next week, as I have a trip planned to an undiclosed location. I will have sporadic internet access and will hopefully be able to chime in. The more and more I think about the Palin pick, I like it. A lot. - Ben, 9:50 PM Friday
Last Updates: Other than Romney, there was only one other potential GOP VP pick I went in-depth about - Sarah Palin. She got her own post here on May 30. Most of what I wrote then still holds true.
You have to believe there were 5 real choices for McCain. The Lieberman trial ballon got shot down. Quickly. McCain knew he couldn't do it. Pawlenty, though I think a good guy and a good governor, just didn't bring anything to the ticket. He wasn't even going to bring Minnesota. Same with Ridge, probably wasn't going to flip Pennsylvania. Would have upset the base. I am guessing Romney was the pick until A) Obama chose Biden and B) the number of homes issue came up. It couldn't work based on that alone, and the footage of Romney in debates against McCain undercuts the argument of what Biden said about Obama. That left Palin. She had the most upside. Though if the election is close and we lose because we just lost Nevada and/or Colorado, Romney will look in retrospect like the guy that should have been picked.
Wanted to add more links to what others have said, but I am literally out the door. Nix Guy, Columbuser, Bizzy Blog.
45 Responses for "Maverick."
"Attacks on her inexperience will only highlight Obama's."
That's funny. Two years ago, Palin was the part-time mayor of an Alaskan town with a population of 6,000. Two years ago, Obama was a United States Senator.
Ten years ago, Palin was still mayor of a town of 6,000. Ten years ago, Obama was a state senator.
I did like Northern Exposure, though.
Interesting that Obama's pick tends to undermine one of his arguments against McCain, Washington business as usual, while McCain's pick would tend undermine McCain's argument against Obama, inexperience. Though out of all four people on both tickets, she's got the most executive experience, i.e., some.
Not that that will stop either of them. During Obama's speech he mentioned congress not doing anything about the energy situation despite McCain's being there for so many years. I thought- cut to Biden, cut to Biden! But they didn't.
Anyway, Palin's a great selection. I'm looking forward to her convention speech. I think I like both the VP nominees better than the tops of the tickets. Weird.
Umm…Ben…what about the ongoing Palin investigation?
Bogus BS to try and derail this.
[...] now that he can't use it anymore. Heh. But that is a valid point. As I wrote in comments at Ben Keeler's Ohio Politics blog: Interesting that Obama's pick tends to undermine one of his arguments against McCain, [...]
The more you learn about her the more you like her.
This race is over,
Palin is the only candidate in the race with executive experience, she even has more executive experience than even Ohio's own Ted Strickland.
Everything McCains campaign has done has completely outplayed Obama's.
Bye bye convention bounce!!!
Cool, she's also a creationist:
The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor's race this week when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state's public classrooms. Palin was answering a question from the moderator near the conclusion of Wednesday night's televised debate on KAKM Channel 7 when she said, "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information."
http://scienceblogs.com/afarensis/2006/10/27/intelligent_design_and_the_ala/
Did she finally figure out what the VP does?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12969.html
Obama's camp came out and criticized Palin's foreign policy experience. She still has way more than Obama does. Her state borders Russia, perhaps our once again enemy.
The contrast between the two tickets couldn't be more stark.
One talks change but just brings more of the same old Washington politics.
The other ticker brings a real history of fighting for reform even to the point of upsetting their own party.
I don't much like lawyers and one ticket has two of 'em.
This pick sure surprised me, but I like what I know of Sarah Palin.
The initial reaction from the Obama camp was, predictably, to criticize Palin's lack of experience. The Obamatons aren't exhibiting much self-awareness by making such a criticism, since their candidate has ZERO executive or management experience, unless maybe Barack had an assistant manager's job at Burger King when he was in high school that I don't know about.
And McCain also stole Obama's post convention thunder in the blink of an eye. Palin is the news now.
Two conservative reformers versus a former community organizer and thirty five year creature of Washington Joe Biden (D-MBNA).
I like the contrast.
Plus she shores up the base that has always been skeptical of John McCain.
I am so totally on board with this pick. Like, WOW!
No bounce for Obama? Au contraire.
Gallup Poll, August 29th, 2008:
Obama 49%
McCain 41%
Ya' gotta' keep up in a fast moving world, ya'know.
Alaska has politicians?
Sorry Rev, that bounce will be gone today!
"It's all over but the shouting, I've come to take what's mine"
(David Lee Roth)
[...] it's "brilliant" (while being underwhelmed by the Obama speech - hehe), and Ben Keeler likes it (thought I think he just lost a [...]
I spy Mary Taylor in the front row. Surely a person much like Palin who has steadfastly fought against the party bosses and corruption in Summit County and Ohio. She is also co-chair of McCain-Palin for Ohio.
Great pick!!! I made a donation to McCain today!
FP, She endorsed Alex Arshinkoff for Summit GOP Chair. I hardly call that fighting against the party bosses. Her and her husbands construction outfit that is building the University of Akron's Stadium makes me think otherwise. NO SHE AIN'T GOVERNOR MATERIAL EITHER!
Ben, I'm disappointed. This pick reeks of desperation, like much of the buzz I've been seeing online this afternoon. McCain's one foot in the grave and his running mate has small-time experience and some historical claims of abusing her power in support of personal matters. Just about the only thing she's got going for her is this insultingly cheap label of "being a woman" in the hopes of winning over former Clinton supporters and undecided voters? I think she's a weak puppet who will buckle under the media attention and I think we'll see her flounder like Dan Quayle - that is, if she even has the opportunity.
would female supporters of Hillary migrate to McCain based simply on Palin being a female? She is pro-life. Would Hillary supporters embrace that?
Not Democratic Hillary supporters.
I see that Obama and Biden called Palin after the early slams of her. Class.
Mary Taylor v. Sara Palin - one is a political reformer and the other is a polittical coward.One is for political change the other is for the status quo.
The Obama-Biden Democratic ticket will lose because of the identity politics that pervades in the Democratic Party.
She doesn't know or care about a place like Ohio. She is on the record saying that she would only consider the job if it would be fruitful for Alaskans and what Alaskans are doing for the US. With less than 1 million Americans in Alaska, there is no way that she can know what people in Ohio, PA, Michigan, Louisiana or any other state is going through - and she really doesn't seem to be too interested. Wanna tout her role as a governor? Wrong bet - because it reinforces her isolation from the rest of the country's population with which she has very limited experience. PEople were nervous that Ted Strickland wouldn't care about urban centers - what do you think Palin will feel for a city of more than 10 million like NYC?
what a stupid argument JILL
She doesn't care about Ohio
what are you Kanye West? Bush doesn't care about blacks either huh?
pathetic
Geraldine Ferraro thinks it is a genius pick. McCain just sealed the election for his side. He did what obama should have done.
Obama would have won the election if he would have chosen Hillary as his running mate but his ego would not allow him to do it.
Quit drinking the kool aide. Palin is an outstanding pick, this is a change election, Palin is no Quayle. Far from it, she should be the one running for President.
First of all it's funny how you gloss over the fact she has more executive experience than Ohio's own Ted Strickland. She is a GOVERNOR OF ONE OF OUR 50 STATES! Oh but it's only Alaska, that's like being a senator from Delaware! Unlike Teddy Strickland, Palin has an 83% approval rating. She has done an outstanding job as governor, and unlike Obama, she can actually cite accomplishments in office.
Palin is a bright, engaging, likable, strong, multi-talented tough woman. Her family is not wealthy, she literally has the credentials of a working class American family that people will identify with.
Steelworker husband, accomplished athlete, the more you hear her speak the more you like her.
Heck she'e even pretty.
I enjoyed seeing obama and biden backtracking with their congratulatory phone calls after first criticizing her selection and than feeling the heat in the press. Of course this obama camp is experienced in attacking a woman candidate ala Hillary.
I liked Palin's speech criticizing the old boy network and praising Hillary and Ferraro.
The following is a prime example of how hysterically desperate GOP supporters have become….
"Far from it, she should be the one running for President."
There you have it.
Nice try clueless, keep up the smears on her and keep driving the women to the GOP!
No comment on the geraldine Ferraro comments? That's your very own talking about how 1/3 of the women will NOT vote for Obama, and another 1/3 will consider McCain now that he reached out to them.
Funny how you cannot contradict one thing in the post because it is all accurate.
I love the fact McCain is a hero and has bucked the system his whole life and continues to do so.
Everyone loves the pick except the kool aid lefties.
But that is why they always lose, they cannot adapt, and cannot accept a new road when their's does not work. They continue to oppose drilling even though the whole country supports it.
Joe Frigging Biden.
Mr. 2% in the primaries Yeah he's really popular. Always runs for president, always comes in dead last.
If Obama had the courage he would have selected Hillary and won the whole enchilada.
What does Alaska's population have to do with whether Palin knows what people in NYC are going through? I live in a very populous state and I don't think I know anymore about that than someone from Alaska or Wyoming.
What I do know is a large segment of Americans don't really care what New Yorkers or San Francisans are going through. Those rubes won the last two presidential elections, by the way.
Where does she stand on illegal immigration?
Who cares about NYC or Frisco??? How about locking down the West??
Unlike that tool John Kerry who poses for photo ops with Strickland faux hunting in his designer hunting jacket, this woman eats mooseburgers and fishes.
Her hesband is a steelworker. Oh yeah, she will have the union Iron City beer drinking Pa. and Oh. crowds eating out of her hands…..
Go do a discourse on arugula….
Yesterday was John McCain's 72nd birthday. If elected, he'd be the oldest president ever inaugurated. And after months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.
Huh?
Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:
She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.
Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.
She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000.
Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.
She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.
She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.
How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.
Democrats are setting a dangerously low bar for Palin. Be careful what you wish for.
Henry's right. They're putting her into the 'spunky underdog' position, and people respond to that. It's tough to come out of a debate looking like a winner when you're up against a spunky underdog.
And of course the nitpicking scorn towards her comes from the same sexist attitudes Hillary supporters have been noting for several months now.
As a democrat I must say that it has the potential to be a "game changer". Could really help or backfire. Its Obamas own fault for taking such a lacklsuter Biden. If he takes Clinton this thing is in the bank for us.
Why aren't Dems happy about smashing the glass ceiling anymore ? What happened to Dems mantra that this election is about change and judgement ? Now they want to make it about experience ? Okay. McCain has decades of experience, while Obama was in the U.S. Senate for 150 days before he began running for president.
JUST SAY NOBAMA !!!
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 !!!
Take out 'mean Michelle' and that last sentence would make a good bumper sticker.
Palin keeps on saying "Maverick"
Yes, I agree Gov Palin and Sen. McCain are mavericks. You know. I know another "Maverick". They are in good company with President Bush. Pres. Bush is one of the great Maverick's of our time. Barrack voted no to the Iraq War. President Bush unilaterally went to the Iraq war. Barrack voted for a timeline. President Bush vetoed. You have a choice. Another four years of the same maverick mentality, or Sen Obama who can lead this country in the right direction.
Ineresting how Gov Palin proclaims her expert status on such areas as energy and Foreign policy based on her residence.
Palin claimed Alaska "produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy."
Alaska produced 14 percent of all the oil from U.S. wells last year far short of the energy supplied in the US
US energy production was 3.5 percent, based on figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
General McClenon is actually General McKiernan. Another mistake in foreign policy. She does have great stage presence but take the hand out of her back and she is depth less.
I live a few miles from the National Archives but it certainly does not make me an expert on the Constitution.
Hey where is Michelle Obama at? I heard they took that tape off her motuh and let her talk today.
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