News Will Palin's VP Debate Performance Impact McCain's Campaign?

[kyleb]

The Evo Child is so pro Obama that she said she's personally driving me to the polls to make sure that I don't fail to vote. She was so vehement in her pro-Obamaness that I thought the car might burst into flames.

Does she not understand that our electorial votes here in Kansas are going to McCain regardless of if she drags you to the polls or not?

 

[BobG]

Most elections are based on looks.
So I'll make some observations.
Anybody notice what it looks like when Biden is standing next to Obama during an interview, where Biden is old enough to be Obamas dad, and the questions go to Obama for the answers, while Biden is forced to bite his lip, and take on the role of boy? My word of advice - Don't be seen together until after the election. :-)

Those Palin spectacles are hot! hot! hot!. Rectangle lens!?, One side square and one side round!? Enough to make anyone go gaga! Just wait to see what happens when she takes them off, or better yet, when she puts them back on after taking them off! I just can't tell you enough how hot those glasses are!

The black dress she wore yesterday did not cut it. She should have worn red (an attack dress), then worn black the next day as a somber expression from killing the cat the day before. Then wear yellow tomorrow as the dawning of a new era.

I'm not kidding here ... this tripe matters.

Blame the system by which our leaders are chosen, it's a popularity contest by the nature of design. Change the design or resign yourself to the vanity of people magazine. Be an expert of fashion to make an informed decision. Hold your vote until you are up on the latest hairstyles, and never take your eyes off the spectacles!

I like this. Unfortunately, these are very significant factors. Regardless of whether you're right about Obama & Biden together, it won't be an issue since they'll campaign separately. Biden will be a great VP on the campaign trail - and he does add something for those looking for some serious punch in terms of experience.

As much as I think Palin is a huge plus in the election, I have some reservations about her experience level, as well - the same I've had about Obama (especially at the start of the campaign), except even more so. Obama's performance during the campaign has generally been so outstanding that the experience issue really wasn't going anywhere for McCain, anyway.

I don't think as much weight will be put on Palin's inexperience as there should be. Not only does she have no experience in foreign policy issues, she's had no interest in it. It's part of the paradox of gubernatorial experience seeming more important than Congressional experience. Executive experience is seen as being superior in spite of the fact that most governors have almost no reason to show interest in foreign policy and national defense. Bush 43, Clinton, Reagan, and Carter all had no record on foreign policy or national defense, although Reagan at least had to address the issue in previous Presidential campaigns.

It's hard for me to back my own impressions about experience up with any kind of statistical comparison, though. Here's a comparison of previous experience to historical Presidential rankings from Electoral-Vote.com

Is it true that the only experience that really matters is actual Presidential experience? Head coaching experience certainly makes a difference in professional football, right? (Head coaching being another very intense job that happens to have easily accessible records, with easily accessible unfortunately being the most important criteria). Fifty Super Bowls and 19 winning coaches had 1 to 5 years experience, 22 had 6 to 10 years experience, 8 had 11 to 15 years experience, and 1 (Tom Landry) had 18 years experience. Twenty-five head coaches have won at least one Super Bowl and 16 won their first with between 1 to 5 years experience, 5 with 6 to 10 years experience, and 4 with 11 to 15 years exerience (Tom Landry plus the last 3 Super Bowl coaches - experience apparently is gaining importance in professional football. In fact, Landry, Weeb Ewbank, Bill Cowher, Tom Coughlin are the only coaches to win a Super Bowl after their 11th year of coaching.)

Actually, I think the experience factor probably works against McCain since too much experience could also be rephrased as burn-out. I think his running forced a better candidate, Chuck Hagel, out of the race.

You have an election where the Presidential candidates are either too old or too inexperienced to be the "optimal" candidate. Between all four on the tickets, Biden would probably be the best the candidate for the job of President. I'd rank Palin as the least qualified among the four on the tickets. I don't have a lot of confidence in that assessment, though.

 

[turbo]

Babe Ruth at one time did not have any experience in the world of baseball, yet he was the greatest player of all time. For anyone to say that Palin can't do the job of president based on a ten minute acceptance speech shows an unwillingness to learn more about her potential to do the job. I'd certainly hate to have you as a baseball scout. The next few months should be telling.

What a wonderful analogy! You do realize that when sports figures screw up, they lose games, right? And that when the president screws up, people can lose their jobs, insurance, homes, freedoms, and even their lives.

We're already in a great deal of trouble in this country, and it's going to take some skilled, dedicated leaders to help turn things around. This is too important to entrust to just anyone.

 

[LowlyPion]

Babe Ruth at one time did not have any experience in the world of baseball, yet he was the greatest player of all time. For anyone to say that Palin can't do the job of president based on a ten minute acceptance speech shows an unwillingness to learn more about her potential to do the job. I'd certainly hate to have you as a baseball scout. The next few months should be telling.

While he was maybe the best in his time let's don't get too carried away in that regard.

I'd say I certainly have some concerns about how bright and capable she is. Clinging to notions such as Intelligent Design makes one wonder about what kind of scientists she might rely on as President to make decisions about global warming or energy policies or a whole host of other technological issues.

Clinging too to pro-life beliefs - presumably adamantly opposed then to stem cell research - and anti-abortion - marks her as someone swayed by religious ideology over serving the needs of the rest of the population that is not ideologically so inclined. Imposing the tyranny of right wing evangelical belief on the entire population is not exactly in the spirit of the US Constitution.

Unfortunately the only thing that would separate the country from such dismal prospects of dealing with such a person in the White House would be McCain's health. And that is a very scary thought to me that such a person could arrive at such a position of power.

 

[isly ilwott]

What a wonderful analogy! You do realize that when sports figures screw up, they lose games, right? And that when the president screws up, people can lose their jobs, insurance, homes, freedoms, and even their lives.

We're already in a great deal of trouble in this country, and it's going to take some skilled, dedicated leaders to help turn things around. This is too important to entrust to just anyone.

Yes...like when Clinton and the Dem's policies caused manufacturing to move overseas, leaving GWB to blame for the loss of jobs.

It's the Democratic tax and spend policies that kill jobs here. The Republican spending policies have been worse lately, but at least they don't favor taxing us out of business.

Any one of the three others on the tickets would be a better President than Obama.

 

[castlegates]

I like this. Unfortunately, these are very significant factors. Regardless of whether you're right about Obama & Biden together, it won't be an issue since they'll campaign separately. Biden will be a great VP on the campaign trail - and he does add something for those looking for some serious punch in terms of experience.

I see this relationship going the way of the Kennedy Johnson relationship. The more they learn about each others personal lives, the more they turn to hate of each other. It will be fun to watch.

 

[LowlyPion]

Yes...like when Clinton and the Dem's policies caused manufacturing to move overseas, leaving GWB to blame for the loss of jobs.

It's the Democratic tax and spend policies that kill jobs here. The Republican spending policies have been worse lately, but at least they don't favor taxing us out of business.

Any one of the three others on the tickets would be a better President than Obama.

Your indictment of Clinton who enforced fiscal responsibility and actually built surpluses, that have been demolished to the near point of ruin as far as debt burden and mounting balance of payments and looming inflation and financial turmoil due to inadequate regulation and oversight - not to mention the foreign adventurism in the Middle East - looks to me to be rather unfounded.

How can Republicans who can't demonstrate fiscal responsibility - how ironic that Democrats managed it though - how can they be expected to lead the country out of slogging through the fiscal mess - a mess that they led the country into in the first place? Another tax cut? Another rebate?

 

[rootX]

Yes...like when Clinton and the Dem's policies caused manufacturing to move overseas, leaving GWB to blame for the loss of jobs.

It's the Democratic tax and spend policies that kill jobs here. The Republican spending policies have been worse lately, but at least they don't favor taxing us out of business.

Any one of the three others on the tickets would be a better President than Obama.

Are you being rational?

 

[isly ilwott]

In what ways? I don't see her qualified in any way as a President. What does she know about foreign affairs? How could she possibly be fit to be the Commander in Chief of the military?

This is what kills me about people voting for a President based on "family moral values" and how religious they are.

With McCain's advanced age and history of medical problems, it is very likely that she could end up as President, and that to me is completely unacceptable.

You have no clue regarding why I consider her better suited to be President than is Barack Obama. It has little to do with how I rate her moral values or religiousness. Your presumption is just as ludicrous as those made by others who automatically assume that to say anything against Barack Obama is a racist thing to do.

It is my humble but firmly held opinion that Barack Obama will be the worst thing to happen to the USA in decades if he is elected President. I'd rather have Biden than Obama as President. I'd rather have McCain than Obama. I'd rather have Palin than Obama. I'd rather have Sandy (my neighbor's Yellow Lab) than Obama. ANYBODY but Obama!

You see, in that light, my statement has nothing to do with Palin's "family moral values" and how religious she may be perceived to be. I do appreciate her stance on abortion and the decision to knowingly bring a Down syndrome child into her family rather than have its little body parts sucked out into a vacuum cleaner as Barack Obama apparently would allow.

 

[Evo]

She does seem to have a sense of humor, she named two of her kids Trig & Track.

 

[Evo]

You have no clue regarding why I consider her better suited to be President than is Barack Obama. It has little to do with how I rate her moral values or religiousness. Your presumption is just as ludicrous as those made by others who automatically assume that to say anything against Barack Obama is a racist thing to do.

I asked you "in what ways?" I didn't presume anything. I stated "my" opinions. You still need to answer my question since you assigned a truth value to your statement.

I suggest you go back and reread my post since you obvioulsy misread it.

 

[castlegates]

While he was maybe the best in his time let's don't get too carried away in that regard.

I'd say I certainly have some concerns about how bright and capable she is. Clinging to notions such as Intelligent Design makes one wonder about what kind of scientists she might rely on as President to make decisions about global warming or energy policies or a whole host of other technological issues.

Clinging too to pro-life beliefs - presumably adamantly opposed then to stem cell research - and anti-abortion - marks her as someone swayed by religious ideology over serving the needs of the rest of the population that is not ideologically so inclined. Imposing the tyranny of right wing evangelical belief on the entire population is not exactly in the spirit of the US Constitution.

Unfortunately the only thing that would separate the country from such dismal prospects of dealing with such a person in the White House would be McCain's health. And that is a very scary thought to me that such a person could arrive at such a position of power.

You make some very solid points. She has some skeletons in her closet. :-)
To bad we don't have intelligent design in the election process, so we don't have to be talking about the likes of Palin, McCain, Biden, and Obama.

 

[Evo]

An interesting article on McCain's pick.

6 things the Palin pick says about McCain

The risks of a backlash from choosing someone so unknown and so untested are obvious. In one swift stroke, McCain demolished what had been one of his main arguments against Obama.

“I think we’re going to have to examine our tag line, ‘dangerously inexperienced,’” a top McCain official said wryly

2. He’s willing to gamble — bigtime. Let’s face it: This is not the pick of a self-confident candidate. It is the political equivalent of a trick play or, as some Democrats called it, a Hail Mary pass in football. McCain talks incessantly about experience, and then goes and selects a woman he hardly knows, who hardly knows foreign policy and who can hardly be seen as instantly ready for the presidency.

There is no plausible way that McCain could say that he picked Palin, who was only elected governor in 2006 and whose most extended public service was as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (population 8,471), because she was ready to be president on Day One.

Nor can McCain argue that he was looking for someone he could trust as a close adviser. Most people know the staff at the local Starbucks better than McCain knows Palin. They met for the first time last February at a National Governors Association meeting in Washington. Then, they spoke again — by phone — on Sunday while she was at the Alaska state fair and he was at home in Arizona.

McCain has made a mockery out of his campaign's longtime contention that Barack Obama is too dangerously inexperienced to be commander in chief. Now, the Democratic ticket boasts 40 years of national experience (four years for Obama and 36 years for Joseph Biden of Delaware), while the Republican ticket has 26 (McCain’s four yeasr in the House and 22 in the Senate.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/12997

 

[LowlyPion]

You make some very solid points. She has some skeletons in her closet. :-)
To bad we don't have intelligent design in the election process, so we don't have to be talking about the likes of Palin, McCain, Biden, and Obama.

Elections aren't about intelligent design. Because one person's intelligent design is another's phewww.

Elections are about selection - one of the driving forces of evolution - a process apparently denied by ID.

 

[BobG]

You make some very solid points. She has some skeletons in her closet. :-)
To bad we don't have intelligent design in the election process, so we don't have to be talking about the likes of Palin, McCain, Biden, and Obama.

That's funny. I actually think all four are high quality candidates if you look only at attributes distinct from their political positions.

I think Palin is comparable to Obama in 2004 - a very bright star, but about 8 to 12 years away from being qualified to be President.

 

[gravenewworld]

So how long until McCain tries to cheat on this wife with Palin? McCain has an obsession with trying to surround himself with attractive women.

 

[LowlyPion]

She has some skeletons in her closet.

Unfortunately advocating evangelical beliefs is not a skeleton.

It's an indication of what she would subject others to if it was her prerogative. As the Governor of Alaska she can do little to affect that agenda, to impose her beliefs on the Supreme Court or carry national policy away from sound scientific basis. As President however, ...

 

[isly ilwott]

I asked you "in what ways?" I didn't presume anything. I stated "my" opinions. You still need to answer my question since you assigned a truth value to your statement.

I suggest you go back and reread my post since you obvioulsy misread it.

I think not.

You posted:

"In what ways? I don't see her qualified in any way as a President. What does she know about foreign affairs? How could she possibly be fit to be the Commander in Chief of the military?

This is what kills me about people voting for a President based on "family moral values" and how religious they are.

With McCain's advanced age and history of medical problems, it is very likely that she could end up as President, and that to me is completely unacceptable."

Pardon me if I mistakenly related that middle comment to my statement of support for Palin over Obama.

Foreign policy experts are a dime a dozen...good ones, maybe a buck a dozen. What President has not had multiple qualified advisors in every facet of government? I'm not worried about her lack of experience overseas. I am quite sure that with the same interpreters that Obama would need, she can talk turkey with any leader worthy of regard. I doubt she would be so anxious to parley with terrorists as Obama seems to be.

You see, I'm not worried about Obama's lack of experience either. I'm worried about his lack of good judgement. I'm worried about his socialist leanings. I'm worried about his apparent naivete regarding terrorists and what can be accomplished by talking with them.

Obama is still wet behind the ears.

 

[castlegates]

Elections aren't about intelligent design. Because one person's intelligent design is another's phewww.

Elections are about selection - one of the driving forces of evolution - a process apparently denied by ID.

I have the distinct impression you missed my play on words. :-)

 

[Evo]

I think Palin is comparable to Obama in 2004 - a very bright star, but about 8 to 12 years away from being qualified to be President.

I have to agree with Obama lacking experience.

I don't have a problem with a person being religious and following their beliefs in their personal life. It's when that person's religious beliefs can become law and tell me how I live my life that it becomes a real problem. Of course one can argue that everyone has personal beliefs that will affect the decisions they make in public office, but it seems to me that religious beliefs tend to be stronger and aren't always based on sound logic or even good sense and one could possibly be more easily swayed by pressure from religious groups. I don't believe that McCain is that deeply religious, and up until now I haven't been that worried about him, but I do believe that Palin, a devout Pentacostal, would be very scary as President.

 

[Evo]

I think not.

You posted:

That was a different paragraph and nothing to do with you.

 

[isly ilwott]

That was a different paragraph and nothing to do with you.

Be serious. How do you expect anyone who reads:

Originally Posted by isly ilwott
Palin would make a much better President than Obama.

In what ways? I don't see her qualified in any way as a President. What does she know about foreign affairs? How could she possibly be fit to be the Commander in Chief of the military?

This is what kills me about people voting for a President based on "family moral values" and how religious they are.

With McCain's advanced age and history of medical problems, it is very likely that she could end up as President, and that to me is completely unacceptable.

to think that the middle statement does not relate to the quoted statement?

 

[Evo]

Be serious. How do you expect anyone who reads:


to think that the middle statement does not relate to the quoted statement?

Because it has nothing to do with your quoted statement?

 

[Evo]

In case anyone doesn't understand Palin's hairdo, Pentacostal women are discouraged from cutting their hair, or wear pants, among many other things that women are strongly discouraged from.

 

[turbo]

The notion that somebody would make a blanket statement about Palin being a better president than Obama before ANYTHING is known of her positions on national and international issues is hard to fathom. In matters of faith, political ideology, racial, or gender preferences, it is easy to make such sweeping statements, however illogical they may be, because the preference(s) drive the selection process. Right now, apart from her stances on faith, Intelligent Design, and reproductive rights, we know nothing of Palin. She may be smart, savvy, and well-informed on issues relevant to her potential position in the Executive branch, but right now, none of us have a clue. Even McCain had only met her once in person before asking her to be his running mate. That's a pretty reckless roll of the dice, IMO.

 

[castlegates]

Unfortunately advocating evangelical beliefs is not a skeleton.

I'll rephrase ;-) It's a skeleton to any rational human being.

It's an indication of what she would subject others to if it was her prerogative.

As the sickness goes.

As the Governor of Alaska she can do little to affect that agenda, to impose her beliefs on the Supreme Court or carry national policy away from sound scientific basis.

Thank God for that <---- Thats a play on a word by the way.

As President however, ...

Pop goes the skeleton!

 

[LowlyPion]

I have the distinct impression you missed my play on words. :-)

Apparently so.

Cheers.

 

[isly ilwott]

Because it has nothing to do with your quoted statement?

Then why put it in the response immediately following it? It appears to be part of your reply to my statement, attempting to imply that my motives are based on family moral values and religion.

 

[isly ilwott]

In case anyone doesn't understand Palin's hairdo, Pentacostal women are discouraged from cutting their hair, or wear pants, among many other things that women are strongly discouraged from.

You should see when they let it all hang down!

 

[Evo]

Then why put it in the response immediately following it? It appears to be part of your reply to my statement, attempting to imply that my motives are based on family moral values and religion.

Why would it appear that is was addressed at your quote when it had absolutely nothing to do with your quote? You're trying to create an issue where there is none. I've explained it to you already.

 

[LowlyPion]

..., but I do believe that Palin, a devout Pentacostal, would be very scary as President.

If she were to assume office as President, she would be Ralph Reed and Karl Rove's wildest wet dream scenario come true. At once they would be rid of McCain and have a Pentecostal puppet to front things for them.

Imagine the advisers she would surround herself with. Who she would appoint as VP. And cabinet choices.

Imagine how the country would countdown the days to the end of her term.

 

[turbo]

If she were to assume office as President, she would be Ralph Reed and Karl Rove's wildest wet dream scenario come true. At once they would be rid of McCain and have a Pentecostal puppet to front things for them.

Imagine the advisers she would surround herself with. Who she would appoint as VP. And cabinet choices.

Imagine how the country would countdown the days to the end of her term.

And don't forget Supreme Court justices. Activist right-wing justices who hew to her views would quickly spell the end to women's rights to reproductive choice at a minimum, and could end up being much more intrusive in social and educational systems and roll back environmental initiatives.

 

[LowlyPion]

And don't forget Supreme Court justices. Activist right-wing justices who hew to her views would quickly spell the end to women's rights to reproductive choice at a minimum, and could end up being much more intrusive in social and educational systems and roll back environmental initiatives.

That of course depends upon her opportunity to appoint and surely we would hope they would at least survive her term.

 

[Evo]

What is interesting is that for the first time in US history, we are either going to end up with a black President or female Vice-President.

 

[LowlyPion]

What is interesting is that for the first time in US history, we are either going to end up with a black President or female Vice-President.

Well at least "idiot" has been taken off the table.

 

[Andre]

Just an observation about "inexperience" in both camps. basically that's heavily overrated. Experience brings about complacency (been there, done that) whereas inexperience should trigger eagerness to learn and adrenaline to help alertness and be better judges of the real situation, unbiased by "experience".

The major issue is superior leadership, the ability to judge accurately for taking the best position and motivate people to do the right thing. This is not depending on being male, female, black or white. The best natural leader I know, is my oldest daughter. I mean it; she is truly amazing.

 

[turbo]

Some reactions from journalists and fellow politicians in Alaska:
http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/510249.html
http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/510220.html
http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/510048.html

 

[Math Is Hard]

I heard her name come up about a month ago as a possibility but then after that, not another peep. They did a good job keeping the surprise under wraps.

 

[Evo]

You hear all this talk about how Palin will help get the women's vote. I seriously doubt that. Who are these people that seem to think women are mindless sheeples? I'm personally appalled by her. She follows a religious belief of keeping women in their place as set forth in the bible and would take away a woman's right to choose (abortion). I believe that it should be "a woman's right to choose", it's not that a woman would be forced to have an abortion, she doesn't even believe that women should have a choice. She's what I would call a "throwback".

 

[BobG]

I like this. Unfortunately, these are very significant factors. Regardless of whether you're right about Obama & Biden together, it won't be an issue since they'll campaign separately. Biden will be a great VP on the campaign trail - and he does add something for those looking for some serious punch in terms of experience.

I see this relationship going the way of the Kennedy Johnson relationship. The more they learn about each others personal lives, the more they turn to hate of each other. It will be fun to watch.

He who laughs at the misfortune of others understands the meaning of life?

Mmmm, I can relate to that.

 

[Evo]

I heard her name come up about a month ago as a possibility but then after that, not another peep. They did a good job keeping the surprise under wraps.

From what I've heard, it was a surprise to her too!

Apparently McCain bypassed the normal procedure of investigating her.

 

[Gokul43201]

Any one of the three others on the tickets would be a better President than Obama.

You never cease to keep me amused. Thanks!

 

[BobG]

You hear all this talk about how Palin will help get the women's vote. I seriously doubt that. Who are these people that seem to think women are mindless sheeples? I'm personally appalled by her. She follows a religious belief of keeping women in their place as set forth in the bible and would take away a woman's right to choose (abortion). I believe that it should be "a woman's right to choose", it's not that a woman would be forced to have an abortion, she doesn't even believe that women should have a choice. She's what I would call a "throwback".

PUMAs will vote for McCain-Palin. In fact, they have some snazzy campaign slogans expressing their emotion over the Democratic primary results:

Dammit, I’m mad!

Surely there can be other good "Palin-dromes" as the campaign progresses.

PUMAs comparing Hillary to Ferraro: Gerry paved the way for Hillary. That took 24 years. Hillary paved the way for Sarah. That took two days!

 

[Evo]

PUMAs will vote for McCain-Palin. In fact, they have some snazzy campaign slogans expressing their emotion over the Democratic primary results:

I think a lot would have voted for McCain, but I think (as one PUMA was interviewed after the Palin announcement said, she would not be voting for McCain now) that this is going to turn a lot of them away as they are feminists first and would not approve of her. Still there are ones that are just stupid, IMO. To vote for someone you disagree with on most levels, which I would assume if they were in agreement with Hillary, has got to be pure idiocy. I think this is going to slap some sense back into a lot of them. What kind of numbers do the PUMA's claim to have? I saw a couple of them on tv and they were rather frightening, they were just a hair away from screaming.

 

[castlegates]

I think a lot would have voted for McCain, but I think (as one PUMA was interviewed after the Palin announcement said, she would not be voting for McCain now) that this is going to turn a lot of them away as they are feminists first and would not approve of her. Still there are ones that are just stupid, IMO. To vote for someone you disagree with on most levels, which I would assume if they were in agreement with Hillary, has got to be pure idiocy. I think this is going to slap some sense back into a lot of them. What kind of numbers do the PUMA's claim to have? I saw a couple of them on tv and they were rather frightening, they were just a hair away from screaming.

These people will vote democrat regardless of what they say, or regardless of what is done to them by the democrat party. This is the true definition of sheeple. There vote was cast in cement many moons ago.

 

[Evo]

He who laughs at the misfortune of others understands the meaning of life?

Mmmm, I can relate to that.

You know Bob, if anyone could convince me of voting for someone I didn't agree with, it would be you. You seem to be the most level headed poster in P&WA and I wish there was some kind of medal I could give you. But then people that don't like me would turn on you, so maybe you're better off if I ignore you.

 

[BobG]

I think a lot would have voted for McCain, but I think (as one PUMA was interviewed after the Palin announcement said, she would not be voting for McCain now) that this is going to turn a lot of them away as they are feminists first and would not approve of her. Still there are ones that are just stupid, IMO. To vote for someone you disagree with on most levels, which I would assume if they were in agreement with Hillary, has got to be pure idiocy. I think this is going to slap some sense back into a lot of them. What kind of numbers do the PUMA's claim to have? I saw a couple of them on tv and they were rather frightening, they were just a hair away from screaming.

Combined with some other similar groups, their estimate is around 10% of Clinton supporters (1.8 million). (Party Unity Means Action - they changed their name).

Just as one might ask how many Feminists for Life members supported Clinton in spite of her views on abortion, you could also ask how many PUMAs will support a McCain-Palin ticket in spite of their views on abortion. The only power any minority political group has is to show they're willing to throw an election rather than have their viewpoints ignored.

It rarely works. The election is rarely close enough for the defectors to matter. Once in a while, though, the party they left wishes they hadn't.

 

[Gokul43201]

You see, I'm not worried about Obama's lack of experience either.
...
Obama is still wet behind the ears.

Do you know what you mean when you type those words up?

And speaking of lousy judgment, how about that McCain huh? And I thought George Bush was clueless about the Middle East.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0209/24/lkl.00.html

CALLER: Being a veteran yourself, Mr. McCain, how do you feel about going to war a third time?

MCCAIN: I thank you for the question because that keeps me awake at night. Because I know that as successful as I believe we will be, and I believe that the success will be fairly easy, we will still lose some American young men or women. And that's a great tragedy. But I also believe that these young men and women, as they go into war, are fully understanding that they will be possibly saving the lives of possibly millions of people, including possibly millions of their fellow citizens, because there is very little doubt that if Saddam Hussein acquired a nuclear weapon and the means to deliver it, that he would attack the United States of America.

Freaking funny!

For a change, can we have someone that is capable of a little thought, please?

 

[castlegates]

Just saw Palin give another speech. Yipes!
She repeated the first speech almost word for word.
The speech writers must be off for Labor Day.
She's still wearing those high tec Spectacles though, so everything is going to be all right!

 

[BobG]

Actually, the counter to Palin on the ticket is pretty straight forward.

Hillary Clinton is going to have to play a key role in the Obama campaign and go on a serious attack against Palin.

Will she do it? There's some risk to her own political career if she attacks too hard.

If she's accepted that she had her only real shot at the Presidency, then she probably will. She sets the table for other Democratic candidates like Napolitano or Sebelius. (This would be best for a number of reasons, not least that succeeding a husband isn't exactly the best feminist message - it looks too much like a Bill Clinton 3rd term instead of the first woman President.)

Of course, 2000 should have been McCain's only real shot and look at where we are today. It's not 100% given that this is Clinton's only shot. She might not want to make her most ardent supporters mad.