John McCain has made a brilliant strategic decision today in picking Sarah Palin. Palin is a reformer. She defeated the corrupt Murkouski to become Governor of Alaska. She is anti-pork. She is the exact opposite of the corrupt and incompetent GOP leadership that lost us the majority two years ago.
Even if Senator McCain does not win in November, he has raised Palin’s profile putting her in a solid position to be the nominee in four years. This would change the course of the GOP back towards responsible limited government.
John McCain has saved the GOP today.
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I’m so upset. Sonny was a leading candidate. He said so himself on every trip overseas and at fundraisers here in GA.
He was “on the short list”. How could he not have been the pick????
i am of course kidding. Sonny is a joke. but I think the whole thing is funny.
Limbaugh loves Palin and is ripping O’bama a new one.
Icarus is trying to get out of town (one step ahead of the law, as usual),
but I have to go back to a very early comment from Chris H on Obama’s experience.
His crowining achievement is being President of Harvard Law Review.
Seriously.
That’s the actual “achievement” on Obama’s resume.
Nice.
I just saw a clip of Gov Palin shooting what appeared to be an M-16 on full auto. You have to love a woman who can effectively squeeze off 3 round bursts AND cut wasteful spending.
I jazzed!
make that “I’m”
From John Oxendine:
Senator John McCain has made an outstanding choice in Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. Governor Palin is strong for America and will be strong in Georgia and the South. Her strong pro-life principles will be well received across Georgia. More then that, her common sense approach to the energy crisis and her support for drilling for oil is what America needs. Governor Palin is a lifetime member of the NRA and strong supporter of free market capitalism.
By picking a strong conservative, Senator McCain has ensured that Georgia will deliver its electoral votes for the Republican ticket. Georgia conservatives are very excited to welcome Governor Palin to our state; we are fired up to win Georgia for the McCain-Palin ticket.
“You have to love a woman who can effectively squeeze off 3 round bursts ”
You would think so, but Erick keeps trying to shut down the spas anyway.
Icarus, Out.
Wreck — It was an M4. But an M4 is just a cut down M16, so close enough.
A GREAT CHOICE FOR AMERICA!
It seems that the Democratic detractors to Gov. Palin have overlooked tow very important issues.
First, they are ranting about her shortcoming with respect to foreign policy experience. In addition to being mentored by a true sage in FP, Alaska and therefore Gov. Palin are on point for America in that most prominent of global issues–energy. It is also relevant that Alaska’s nearest neighbors are Canada and Russia. Talk about “tip of the spear”, Alaskans live at the “tip of the spear” Somehow being from Delaware or a community organizer from Chicago just doesn’t measure up.
Second, and I believe more important is that she has been a mayor of a city of 9000. The GOP should constantly remind us of that fact. From what I have seen in my time in Iraq and Afghanistan is that the Federal approach to all problems is often more of a hindrance than a help. Perhaps you have heard the saying “When the only tool you have is a hammer, the whole world suddenly becomes a nail” I like the fact that she was a mayor. Not only does that executive experience trump that of the entire Democratic ticket, but I bet your executive and political skills have to be practiced on a much higher level when you are apt to run into your constituents at the local supermarket.
GO SARAH
Palin was the safest “risky choice”, executive experience, strong woman. I really thought McCain was going to pick a northerner to help in PA so Im a bit suprised but it is a good pick. I’m a goldwater/ron paul republican and im ok with the choice and it appears from the people I’ve talked to that the social conservatives are ok with it as well.
I’d love to have seen Danforth or Lieberman. I’m glad it’s not Romney.
A bunch of red state Republican Georgians who loved Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney are now cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs for Sarah Palin because she’s a creationist who can shoot and fillet moose.
If I’m an Obama strategist, I’m feeling good today.
I must say I disagree with Farris.
If anything, McCain has shown that the only thing that the GOP cares about is trying to win elections.
Obama was spot on last night. The GOP does not get it.
I will leave it at that.
Doug
The reality is all the polls show disenfranchised Hillary supporters were keeping the race close. Why do you think a woman (Sarah Palin) who believes in creationism and is pro-life will maintain or keep drawing over Hillary supporters who are pro-choice soccer moms? At the end most experts on both sides think the race hinges on the 30% of woman who voted for Hillary and are mad as hell she did not win.
At the end what people like you and I think does not matter because pollster believe we are in our camps. You are voting for McCain and I am voting for Barr. They claim the swing vote is woman like Spacey. I know some die hard female Hillary supporters and in my opinion this selection was a poor pick for them. And I would be interested in what Spacey thought because she is the target market for the pick not most the people commenting on this thread.
She is a brilliant choice and I applaud McCain and his team! To quote the dem at lunch – McCain will win! What? An Obama supporter saying that McCain wins with this choice?!?! And no, he wasn’t being sarcastic.
Say what you will, but McCain is going to the White House for 4 years!
This is the move of a desparate man. She is unknown and inexperienced. I bet many of the fundamentalist base will come to believe that a mother of a four month baby with down syndrome should stay home.
Doug
And one more thing I have said on multiple occasions I though his smartest pick would have been Ridge or Paul. Ridge because of Pennsylvania being a key state and Paul to target fiscal conservatives like me.
sorry
thought not though
John,
Space case and those idiots at the Dem convention are a tiny fraction of what comprise real word people. You actually think that delegates to a convention or political junkies posting on web sites in any way resemble ordinary people?
The kooks in Denver are the distilled spirits of various themes supported by the voters at large. McCain does not want them, he wants part of that 18 million, plus the 30 million of the voters out there that does not make up their mind by looking at the r or d before pulling the lever.
Palin has taken on the bad folks in her party, McCain has been very critical of the very same people that you have been critical of. He is not my favorite candidate, but my favorite candidates have about a 0% chance between them of winning a nomination. That is what independents are looking for.
And it is the independent voter that determines the winner every time.
“Progressive”Dem,
Go ahead, you Dems make the “she should stay home” comment over the next 2 months and see how far Obama gets buried in the landslide. Why is Obama abandoning his pre-teen daughters performing a 24-7 job like President when I am sure they could use a father. The VP’s only duty is to stand behind the President during the State of the Union and fill in at the death of the President.
She raise her family much better than Obama can. But of course you now think a woman’s place is in the home. Try that approach too!
I still find it humorous that Dems are calling her inexperienced. Her as VP brings more to the table than Obama as Pres. She represents middle class America, she appeals to Joe Sixpack, she’s a successful female with executive experience in local and state government. She relates to the hunting and fishing crowd. She’s a union member. She has the photogenic family. She’s fought corruption and wasteful spending. She’s smalltown America.
Last night we heard about Obama’s middle America roots. Palin is far more representative to middle America than Obama could dream of. She is far more in touch with middle America than career DC politician Biden and professor Obama.
I just think it’s hillarious that what Obama is, Dems are throwing at Palin. Using the line inexperience a heartbeat away from the White House is laughable when inexperience IN the White House is what Obama brings.
Yes, like when Fred Thompson left the Senate after the death of his daughter.
Biden was a 29 year old Senator-elect then. He was still an attorney. Doubtful he would have had no prospects for a high income much closer to home and his family.
Biden can always count on his lobbyist son or brother to give him a job. Of course him leaving cuts off their access to the trough though.
Barack “I am my brother’s keeper” Obama…how’s George Obama doing these days?
“Sarah Palin because she’s a creationist who can shoot and fillet moose. If I’m an Obama strategist, I’m feeling good today.”
Andisheh, don’t know if you saw Obama’s video last night, but there weren’t a whole lot of green tea sipping liberal types on it. Most of the pictures were of white, WWII generation, swing voters.
Obama made fun of those salt-of-the-earth types when raising money in San Fran and has been back-tracking ever since.
They’ve already got your gang on your board, this election is about those swing voters: hard working miners, factory workers, and farmers from states like Ohio and Penn.; who like to hunt and go to church on Sundays.
Chelf,
He wants everyone else to be their brother’s keepers. He is happily distant, thank you.
Obama, how many huts do you own?
Doug
Anyone can see McCain has been playing the Hillary card with his advertising dollars. Why do you think he is dong it? I am not arguing policy I am just pointing out what the polls say. And this pick goes against McCain’s strategy of going after Hillary supporters. I think he made the pick thinking it would help, but my only point is I think it will backfire.
And I think you were right on the other thread that the abortion issue weighted to hard will hurt the GOP. And I think the McCain of old would of made a maverick move and picked the most qualified person regardless of social issues.
I support this maverick that has really tried to end corruption in her own home state. I am dying to know when that will really happen in GA. — likely when florida freezes over. It’s about time that a woman can show how to buck the system. And it’s about time us women get due respect in politics.
John,
I would have to disagree with you there. There have been a lot of conservatives pushing for Palin as someone fresh and new for a while now. I have been suggesting her as a potential running mate for several months now, the perfect candidate, but too much of a dark horse to really get the nod…too far off the radar out there in Alaska.
After this bold move coupled with his Saddleback Church appearance, he has earned the full trust of the bulk of the Conservative base.
Doug,
Try to pay attention. I said the fundamentalist base (your family values voters that Rove whips into a lather every four years) will eventually be critical of her not staying at home with a down syndrome baby. The Democrats won’t criticize her, you all will eat your own.
P.G.
You need to read the “progressive blogs”. That is one of the big points they are making. How dare she leave a 4 month old baby to campaign? Basically same ol’ same ol’. Changing core beliefs to fit the desired outcome.
John K,
If by qualified you mean those empty suits that ran for the GOP nomination, no thanks. No one worth my vote ran for President in either party, but McCain represents the best and only hope. Palin on the other hand has a number of libertarian leanings (the right kind) and actually fights against corruption. If you actually cared about those issues, you wanted be wasting your time on a kook like Barr.
Cobb Needs a Front Page Poster
You are not disagreeing with me I am just pointing out the strategy. Read for yourself.
More Hillary supporters going for McCain
Sixty-six percent of Clinton supporters, registered Democrats who want Clinton as the nominee, are now backing Obama. That’s down from 75 percent in the end of June. Twenty-seven percent of them now say they’ll support McCain, up from 16 percent in late June.
“The number of Clinton Democrats who say they would vote for McCain has gone up 11 points since June, enough to account for most although not all of the support McCain has gained in that time,” says Holland.
http://rightwingsparkle.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-hillary-supporters-going-for.html
McCain Ad Appeals to Clinton Supporters
FROM WSJ
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/08/25/mccain-ad-appeals-to-clinton-supporters/?mod=googlenews_wsj
Doug,
Do you believe the self-proclaimed Christian Right would criticize a female, liberal, Democratic candidate if she didn’t dedicate the majority of her time to taking care of her four month old disabled child? Or would they give her a free pass because they respect her to make the right decisons for her family? I think the family values types would be all over her. I don’t know what’s going on at other blogs, but pointing out the hypocracy of the other side is fair game, and just who is changing “core beliefs to fit the outcome,” Doug? Can you say, “family values conservatives?”
How come the press is not covering Obama’s statements from the acceptance speech that he is going to make college accessible to everyone. How is that possible and How is he going to pay for it. He alluded that people in this country can’t send their children to college because they do not have access to student loans.
I can firmly attest that this is categorically untrue. I am middle class that has a student now attending college. He had an opportunity to use Federal Student Loans to use for tuition.He qualified for scholarships too. We opted out of the loan option and dipped into our savings so our child would not have the burden of repayment when he finishes college. IT IS up to the parents of children to save for their tuition and not overspend. We have sacrificed much to send our child to colege. And we are a hard working middle class family. My own child works to help pay for his college. We were offered several federal student loans but declined them. We applied for scholarships too and received 1.
IT IS CATEGORICALLY UNTRUE THAT STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO STUDENT LOANS, OR SCHOLARSHIPS, WHEN THERE ARE ONLINE SEARCH ENGINES THAT HELP ANY STUDENT OBTAIN THE FINANCING THEY NEED TO AFFORD COLLEGE.
It’s funny that the ones who are complaining about this are the liberals. That must mean it’s the right pick. Biden wasn’t the highest approved selection by Obama because of Hilary, but the Republicans don’t seem to have that problem.
John Konop,
More Hillary supporters are going to McCain, and you’re going to Bob Barr. Clever ploy there to help yourself get a brighter future.
“Andisheh, don’t know if you saw Obama’s video last night, but there weren’t a whole lot of green tea sipping liberal types on it.”
You’re right. Obama’s video did not include Republican caricatures of Democrats.
I suspect McCain’s bio video will not include rebel flags and shotgun racks either.
Bill
My point is picking Sarah Palin will hurt McCain with Hillary supporters. Also I do not depend on the government from either party to help me with my future. I just figure out the best products and companies via which side is in control. Do you think Bush and company running up a 10 trillion dollar national debt help your future?
I must say, these bitter fringe/Paulista conservatives are really starting to get on my nerves. They are worse than the Hillary whiners. You lost. And you bash Gov. Palin, who is, by her record, exactly what you should want. She has cut unnecessary spending items in the state budget, grounded state helicopters/planes to save money, and worked against the GOP machine and wasteful pork spending. Alaska is a libertarian-leaning state, and she represents that well. Guess what, no candidate with a shot at actually being President will fit your preferences completely, and since you folks only make up, maybe 5% of the national vote, you will never see a serious presidential contender in the mold of Ron Paul or Chuck Baldwin. You are living a fantasy. And sadly, you actually have a chance to push forward a VP candidate who can take on the mantle of the Republican party and who matches, for the most part, your values. But nope, you go on talking about people who will NEVER be president or real leaders, like Paul, Barr, and Baldwin.
konop, palin will hurt mccain? are you serious? her selection is the single best move made by anybody in the gop over the past 14 years.
what ever made you think you belonged in the category of conservative republican? as bill said, you are really either very naive or just full of **it.
Three Jack
Read this and tell my how picking Sarah Palin helps McCain with Hillary supporters?
More Hillary supporters going for McCain
Sixty-six percent of Clinton supporters, registered Democrats who want Clinton as the nominee, are now backing Obama. That’s down from 75 percent in the end of June. Twenty-seven percent of them now say they’ll support McCain, up from 16 percent in late June.
“The number of Clinton Democrats who say they would vote for McCain has gone up 11 points since June, enough to account for most although not all of the support McCain has gained in that time,” says Holland.
http://rightwingsparkle.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-hillary-supporters-going-for.html
McCain Ad Appeals to Clinton Supporters
FROM WSJ
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/08/25/mccain-ad-appeals-to-clinton-supporters/?mod=googlenews_wsj
Three Jack
I am a conservative American first! Unlike you my country comes first!
The Christian right is energized and ready to deliver. A gruop of us knocked on 300+ doors 2nite. Sarah Palin came from us and we will not let her down….
The christian right really just needs to shut the f*ck up.
This is not a “christian” nation, and your silly beliefs are costing real living human beings their jobs and standards of living.
FYI
FROM NRO
Palin
The longer I think about it, the less well this selection sits with me. And I increasingly doubt that it will prove good politics. The Palin choice looks cynical. The wires are showing.
John McCain wanted a woman: good.
He wanted to keep conservatives and pro-lifers happy: naturally.
He wanted someone who looked young and dynamic: smart.
And he discovered that he could not reconcile all these imperatives with the stated goal of finding a running mate qualified to assume the duties of the presidency “on day one.”
Sarah Palin may well have concealed inner reservoirs of greatness. I hope so! But I’d guess that John McCain does not have a much better sense of who she is, what she believes, and the extent of her abilities than my enthusiastic friends over at the Corner. It’s a wild gamble, undertaken by our oldest ever first-time candidate for president in hopes of changing the board of this election campaign. Maybe it will work. But maybe (and at least as likely) it will reinforce a theme that I’d be pounding home if I were the Obama campaign: that it’s John McCain for all his white hair who represents the risky choice, while it is Barack Obama who offers cautious, steady, predictable governance.
Here’s I fear the worst harm that may be done by this selection. The McCain campaign’s slogan is “country first.” It’s a good slogan, and it aptly describes John McCain, one of the most self-sacrificing, gallant, and honorable men ever to seek the presidency.
But question: If it were your decision, and you were putting your country first, would you put an untested small-town mayor a heartbeat away from the presidency?
http://frum.nationalreview.com/post/?q=M2VhOWE0N2VkOWI3MDdlODRlZWE4ODljMDc2NjliZDk=
It seems that Goldwater Conservative thinks that Christians shouldn’t be allowed to practice free speech because of their religious beliefs. It reminds me of some guy in Germany who believed that Jews should be silenced because of their religious beliefs.
Okay – I am weighing in!
I have been sitting on my peach colored chase lounge watching C-Span, CNN, and FOX cover the Presentation of America’s Princess – Sarah ( which is Hebrew for Princess) Palin -
I see a noble, down to earth, common -sense, leader who is PRO-LIFE !!! She is the most articulate of all the candidates. She clearly speaks from the heart. We are blessed to have such an opportunity to make history.
When given a chance, there is no stronger candidate than a conservative woman. ( It is a shame we let Doug Stoner unseat Ginger Collins) .
I have been thinking of how proud Cindy and John McCain’s mother must feel. How secure John is to stand beside such a person as Governor Sarah Palin. WOW!
Now, I know this is PEACH PUNDIT and Erick wants us to relate everything to Georgia – so I will.
The whole time I was watching Sarah Palin, I thought of Cindye Coates – having a solid family and a strong husband who stands in complete support.
Sarah Palin lost her race for Lt. Gov and then ran again and won! I am so very glad our C-Biscut is running again. She, like Sarah is no quitter and I am glad to see so many peopke supporting her in the Cobb and State GOP. That is just wonderful!
This is an exciting time to see these young conservative women show such strength and leadership. Even though they have husbands to love and kids to raise, they still have the heart to get out there and make the effort to fight for their community.
I am inspired and I am excited – like NEVER BEFORE! Yeah – I am truly excited. This is helping me get completely over Gov. Mike Huckabee. THAT IS SAYING A LOT!!!!
*many people supporting
( still early – no coffee yet )
GOPeach
I am not debating policy; I am just debating the logic. Palin was clear she is going after the 18 million women who noted for Hillary. Help me understand why you think a female democrat will vote for a pro-life woman with no exceptions and is for teaching creationism in the schools?
Ann Coulter was a Hillary supporter and she is PRO-LIFE and an advocate for creation science.
It is a woman thing! — Breaking the glass ceiling principal…. She will make it good for all women to be taken more seriously … and you don’t have to look like Janet Reno either.
There is a myth that women who are young, pretty, married with children at home can not be a logical choice for a leader. This is being shattered as we speak!
I know quite a few Conservative Christian women who would have voted for Hillary had she got the democratic nomination… just because she is a woman and it would do great things for women in business.
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