Update: McCain Selects Gov. Sarah Palin as Running Mate

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

I disagree. I think this is the one time in history the VP is the most important choice for the campaigns. I pray Obama isn't assassinated, and I also pray McCain doesn't expire.. but I think both could very well happen, making the VP VERY important.

Those are both emotional/superficial thought reactions though, there's not a whole lot of thought behind it.

The probability of a successful assassination attempt on Obama is so small. I get that he's black and there are crazies out there who may try it, but it's insanely hard to get it done. The secret service is incredibly good at their jobs; and they do an awful lot more than just jump in front of bullets.

As for McCain, check his health records. He's in tremendous shape, despite the previous bouts with melanoma. While melanoma can be deadly, and you'll hear about that in the media, it is easily treatable and near harmless if detected in time. Given that he sees a dermatologist regularly, the chances are nil that skin cancer will be his downfall. There's no sign of heart trouble, no sign of orthopedic, nervous system, or muscular problems. The guy's in great shape and can easily handle four years.

[SmootSmack]

I think after Cheney a lot of people are more interested now in who the next VP might be. For me, I've always found it intriguing since Mondale chose Ferraro.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

As for McCain, check his health records. He's in tremendous shape, despite the previous bouts with melanoma. While melanoma can be deadly, and you'll hear about that in the media, it is easily treatable and near harmless if detected in time. Given that he sees a dermatologist regularly, the chances are nil that skin cancer will be his downfall. There's no sign of heart trouble, no sign of orthopedic, nervous system, or muscular problems. The guy's in great shape and can easily handle four years.

Strangely, this feels like I'm making the case for trading for Jason Taylor.

Yeah he's old, but check his health records, he's fine! LOL

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think after Cheney a lot of people are more interested now in who the next VP might be. For me, I've always found it intriguing since Mondale chose Ferraro.

Does it prominently factor in deciding your vote?

[saden1]

If Obama is inexperienced, Palin is woefully inexperienced. How is McCain going to play the experience and national security card? Seriously, at 72 he has one foot in the grave and his VP was nothing more than a mayor of a small town one and half years ago. Palin is also batshit crazy...no abortion in case of rape and incest! She'll get the Hillary vote alright.



I'm looking forward to the VP debate.

[12thMan]

I don't think the pick was brilliant at all. Interesting, yes. Brilliant,that remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, we still haven't seen how this woman responds to the national spot light. The other three candidates have been vetted and then some for the past nineteen months. She'll get her's condensed over the next two. I have no doubt that she's smart and a solid politician, but she'll have to flesh that out for all to see.

Also, I feel there's far more downside than upside to this pick. For one, if McCain somehow thinks this will sow up the disaffected Hillary supporters, I think that's a serious miscalculation on his part and could have a serious backlash. In other words, this pick somehow suggests that these women were in it because of gender and not passionate about issues like a woman's right to choose. Speaking of which, she's a staunch conservative on most major issues that matter to women of Hillary's ilk and that of the Dem. party.

So on paper this pick looks interesting, but let's see how she performs in the ring of battle and on the stump day in and day out.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Does it prominently factor in deciding your vote?

Prominently? No. A little? Sure

I wasn't, for example, thrilled with the idea of Romney. Though I wouldn't have had as big a problem with him as President ironically. Something about him tells me he can't be a #2 guy

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by saden1

If Obama is inexperienced, Palin is woefully inexperienced. How is McCain going to play the experience and national security card? Seriously, at 72 he has one foot in the grave and his VP was nothing more than a mayor of a small town one and half years ago. Palin is also batshit crazy...no abortion in case of rape and incest! She'll get the Hillary vote alright.



I'm looking forward to the VP debate.

You're right, if people think that because she was/is a governor that somehow translates to executive experience, they are mistaken. She's a first term governor and was previously the mayor of a city the size of Mayberry. McCain has effectively, if not taken the experience argument off the table, at least undermined it.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Does it prominently factor in deciding your vote?

I will take this as a question to all.

No and yes. I won't for someone because of the VEEP but it is an interesting development always and in some cases it does offer insight into the main candidates. I think in this case McCain's choice is more important ultimately than Obama's. Looking at both candidates it strikes me that while Biden doesn't offer much to Obama other than "he is safe" Palin offers McCain's is a homerun swing. It is either going to go foul or be a grandslam.

She seems like a doer. Somone who actually achieves things. It is hard for long time Senators to come across like that. Or Senators in general I guess. Put it this way. Knowing very little about her admittedly; if i had to chose, from the four main people right, now someone to run my city or be a principal at my child's school, I'd choose her over all the others. Not nearly comparable responsibilties I know but it reflects how apathetic I am towards the three Senators running for the biggest jobs in our country. I guess I don't like Senators all that much. They just seem like do nothings to me.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by saden1

If Obama is inexperienced, Palin is woefully inexperienced. How is McCain going to play the experience and national security card? Seriously, at 72 he has one foot in the grave and his VP was nothing more than a mayor of a small town one and half years ago. Palin is also batshit crazy...no abortion in case of rape and incest! She'll get the Hillary vote alright.



I'm looking forward to the VP debate.

Woefully? She is the only one who has actual experience running a government.


"batshit crazy" there you go sounding completely sane a reasonable again. I know you disagree but I think you could state your arguments more eloquently sometimes and probably be much more persuasive man.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I don't think the pick was brilliant at all. Interesting, yes. Brilliant,that remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, we still haven't seen how this woman responds to the national spot light. The other three candidates have been vetted and then some for the past nineteen months. She'll get her's condensed over the next two. I have no doubt that she's smart and a solid politician, but she'll have to flesh that out for all to see.

Also, I feel there's far more downside than upside to this pick. For one, if McCain somehow thinks this will sow up the disaffected Hillary supporters, I think that's a serious miscalculation on his part and could have a serious backlash. In other words, this pick somehow suggests that these women were in it because of gender and not passionate about issues like a woman's right to choose. Speaking of which, she's a staunch conservative on most major issues that matter to women of Hillary's ilk and that of the Dem. party.

So on paper this pick looks interesting, but let's see how she performs in the ring of battle and on the stump day in and day out.

The Palin move wasn't meant to go after Hillary supporters as much as it was to energize the conservative base. Conservatives have been very concerned about McCain's committment to conservative social values, and they vowed to give him a hard time if he selected Joe Lieberman as his running mate.

When it comes to Hillary supporters, 75% of them said they supported Obama before he picked Biden. When he picked Biden and passed over Hillary, only 66% of Hillary supporters said they would support Obama.

The act of passing over Hillary for VP appeared to alienate some of her supporters, and McCain sensed that he could appeal to them. But he's not doing that through Palin, Palin is there to pander to the conservatives. He's going to appeal to Hillary's supporters through his own centrist tendencies.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by saden1

If Obama is inexperienced, Palin is woefully inexperienced. How is McCain going to play the experience and national security card? Seriously, at 72 he has one foot in the grave and his VP was nothing more than a mayor of a small town one and half years ago.

Really?

Obama is 47 and has been in the U.S. Senate for about three years. Palin is 44 and has been governor of Alaska for about three years.

Obama spent a decade or so in the Illinois state senate. Palin spent a decade or so on the city council and as a mayor.

Sure, I'll grant the edge in experience to Obama vs Palin, but trying to contrast them as night and day or super-experienced vs. childlike is a gross overstatement.

Originally Posted by saden1

Palin is also batshit crazy...no abortion in case of rape and incest! She'll get the Hillary vote alright.

Nothing furthers productive political discourse like declaring a party "batshit crazy."

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

The Palin move wasn't meant to go after Hillary supporters as much as it was to energize the conservative base. Conservatives have been very concerned about McCain's committment to conservative social values, and they vowed to give him a hard time if he selected Joe Lieberman as his running mate.

When it comes to Hillary supporters, 75% of them said they supported Obama before he picked Biden. When he picked Biden and passed over Hillary, only 66% of Hillary supporters said they would support Obama.

The act of passing over Hillary for VP appeared to alienate some of her supporters, and McCain sensed that he could appeal to them. But he's not doing that through Palin, Palin is there to pander to the conservatives. He's going to appeal to Hillary's supporters through his own centrist tendencies.

I disagree, I think in large part McCain took keen note of the trouble Barack was having with some Hill supporters and saw this as an opening and a potential game changer. Yes, he may rally the conservative base but at what cost? What do Indie voters think about this pick? Are they as conservative on many of the social issues that Palin has and does stand for? In the end, this election is coming down to that slice of the electorate. Obama is trying to rally his base and so is McCain. If both are successful, then it comes down to the independent voter. Another thing, McCain needs that vote more than Obama. This woman adds maybe two things to McCain's ticket. She's an energy buff, coming from the state of Alaska, and she's a woman. And to the extent he can capitilize on the latter will determine how good a pick this was. Now whether or not this was truly McCain's motive, no one knows. But I can tell you first hand, many of my Hillary friends see this as an insult.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Woefully? She is the only one who has actual experience running a government.


"batshit crazy" there you go sounding completely sane a reasonable again. I know you disagree but I think you could state your arguments more eloquently sometimes and probably be much more persuasive man.

Come now, you're saying she's more qualified/experienced than McCain or Obama to be president/vp?

What does it mean to be anti-abortion in the case of rape or incest? It's the most cruel thing I can imagine you can do to a woman after suffering a traumatic event. Oh "I know you have been raped/molest but you got to carry that child to term because [insert crazy religious reason]."

I was correct in my assessment but gentleman as I am I'll just say she is highly disagreeable.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by mheisig

Really?

Obama is 47 and has been in the U.S. Senate for about three years. Palin is 44 and has been governor of Alaska for about three years.

Obama spent a decade or so in the Illinois state senate. Palin spent a decade or so on the city council and as a mayor.

Sure, I'll grant the edge in experience to Obama vs Palin, but trying to contrast them as night and day or super-experienced vs. childlike is a gross overstatement.



Nothing furthers productive political discourse like declaring a party "batshit crazy."

Palin took office in December 2006. Not even two years to date.