Comments on: Sarah Palin: John McCain’s Political Hail Mary Pass

By: Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » More Thoughts On Campaign Suspensions

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:15:30 +0000

[...] McCain’s decision but as the hours have passed it seems more and more like the same kind of political Haily Mary pass that his selection of Sarah Palin was last month (by the way, she hasn’t brought the [...]

By: Donklephant » Blog Archive » The Biggest Night Of Sarah Palin’s Career

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:11:39 +0000

[...] of that criticism, such that the issues that relate to her qualifications and the question of whether the McCain campaign properly vetted Palin before announcing the [...]

By: Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » The Biggest Night Of Sarah Palin’s Career

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:09:36 +0000

[...] of that criticism, such that the issues that relate to her qualifications and the question of whether the McCain campaign properly vetted Palin before announcing the [...]

By: Dennis

Dennis — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:40:12 +0000

I think Palin is a good choice for McCain politically. Based on her first speech, she speaks well, seems more like a down-to-Earth person than most “experienced” politicians, is attractive (which always helps), and is an outside the box pick that will give independents and disgruntled Democrats a reason to give McCain a second look. Even though that may all be true, Obama’s foreign and economic policies are better for the long-term success and security of the United States. So far, the biggest thing that should concern all of us about Palin is her admitted non-interest and ignorance of Iraq and Afghanistan. However, is that what we really need, a person who has little interest or knowledge in foreign affairs? Iâ€™m not criticizing her lack of experience; Iâ€™m criticizing her lack of interest. To me, thatâ€™s far more dangerous. Ironically, this choice demonstrates McCainâ€™s willingness to put politics before country, and further calls into question his lack of good judgment when considering the security of our nation. After eight years of the Bush administrationâ€™s incompetence and poor judgment, four years of McCain/Palin would seriously weaken our nation. The Obama/Biden ticket is our best hope for increased prosperity, security, and the rule of law that can reign in the dangerous expansion of presidential power under Bush.

By: Andrew K.

Andrew K. — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:53:12 +0000

It’s amusing to see bloggers and pundits call the Palin pick a “risk” or “hail mary pass”. The race is a statistical dead heat. And with Obama losing points all throughout his convention (up until his own speech), it’s anything but a risk. ROMNEY would’ve been a risk at this point in the campaign. Picking Palin is strategic mastery by whoever is behind McCain’s move. It shows he has his own Karl Rove behind the scenes.

The comments of “grasping” and “hail mary” move are defensive blurbs made from squirming Dems filled with fear of a devastating loss in November. I will say, it is glorious to watch. Keep it comin’!!! :)

Meanwhile, we’ll look forward to President Palin in 2012. Damn that has a nice ring to it!!!!

By: Jimmy the Dhimmi

Jimmy the Dhimmi — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:55:31 +0000

people who â€œpickedâ€ Obama are 18 million primary voters and caucus goers over the course of more than a year of testing, vetting, debating, and soul-searching. The only person who â€œpickedâ€ Palin is a panic-stricken old white guy who needs something exciting to get headlines.

Then by your logic, since you don’t seem to dispute Obama’s lack of experience, it appears that 18 million primary voters and caucus goers have the intellect of a panic-stiriken old white guy and were just looking for something exciting.

The fact that Obama was vetted and investigated by people over the course of the primary did not change or improve the substance of his political experience.

Besides, did you hear the reaction from Republicans today? They are ecstatic! Hey, who needs all that vetting; how much is there to probe anyway? And again, she is at the bottom of the ticket – a hugely important factor that seems to have gotten lost in all of this discussion today. She is not running to be the leader of the free world.

By: SMARTEN UP

SMARTEN UP — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:04:15 +0000

To everyone comparing Obama and Palinâ€™s experience: Does Palin have the endorsements of former Presidents and Vice Presidents such as Bill Clinton and Al Gore? Did Palin win millions of Americans Votes in the Primaries? Americans who believe she is capable of leading this nation? NO, NO, NO
The only person who believes she is capable of being VP is John McCain, who has spent the majority of his career in the senate voting WITH BUSH and running FAILED PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS!!! PALIN IS AN ACT OF DESPERATION! SIMPLE AND PLAIN

By: Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » A Conservative Second Thought On Palin

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:58:43 +0000

[...] It seems to me that these are problems with the Palin nomination that should have been apparent from the beginning so the McCain camp with surely have a response to them rather than just treating the whole thing as one big Hail Mary pass. [...]

By: mike mcEachran

mike mcEachran — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:30:24 +0000

Jimmy- the difference in your little punto-reverso word play is that people who “picked” Obama are 18 million primary voters and caucus goers over the course of more than a year of testing, vetting, debating, and soul-searching. The only person who “picked” Palin is a panic-stricken old white guy who needs something exciting to get headlines. (hyperbole intended for effect)

Your spin is clever, Jimmy, but usually full of holes.

By: Andres

Andres — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:52:52 +0000

Gimmick? Very harsh. You are saying that neither McCain nor Palin are taking this seriously?

Honestly, if this proves to be the case, then McCain is a fool who does not deserve to be president. However, if Palin proves to be more than just added flavor to spice up the election, this pick will be the deciding factor. This election was Obama’s to lose. McCain could swing things back into his court.

By: mw

mw — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:06:13 +0000

“…rehashing an Obama smear…” – cap

Did I miss something? Is there an Obama smear in this thread? Or are you referring to Obama’s lack of experience, which is um… the exact same “smear” you leveled at Palin?

By: McCain Fails in Choosing VP | David Ortez

McCain Fails in Choosing VP | David Ortez — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:01:18 +0000

[...] not have much experience in politics it does not stop her from being in a potential ethics problem. Doug Mataconis reports, â€œLawmakers will hire someone within a week to investigate whether Governor Sarah Palin [...]

By: CaptainUltimate

CaptainUltimate — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:53:12 +0000

When in doubt deflect, deflect, deflect. The inability to properly defend Palin without just rehashing an Obama smear is telling.

By: kranky kritter

kranky kritter — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:30:50 +0000

People keep saying this is risky before they’ve even taken the time to familiarize themselves with Palin. Fact is, unless Palin comes across as a lightweight and an incompetent, like the aforementioned Quayle, then there isn’t any risk, just a good move.

The fact that she’s well-liked, popular, has 2 years as governor, and is a darling of the GOP faithful suggests that she is going to appear as competent and indeed vibrant. Which the ticket needs. Not to mention she’s an attractive symbol of where the GOP wants to head over the next generation. Which means that there really isn’t much if any risk at all. Just a little well-informed and shrewdly-measured audacity.

A LOT more folks are going to to be kicking the tires on the ticket now that it’s McCain-Palin. Few new customers were going to run out to kick the tires on a ticket with goofball Pawlenty or the smug insincere Romney. That’s why the Palin pick is so shrewd.

Regular folks might be a lot of things, but one thing they aren’t is stupid enough to give more credit to the paper record than to their own measure of the person.Palin won’t be regarded as an unprepared lightweight unless she henceforth gives weight to that by her actions or demeanor. We’ve no reason at this point to think that’ll be the case,.

She’s an unknown quantity to many of us, and that’s why so many of us are saying this is risky. But if she’s more of a known quantity to the folks who pickede her, quite likely they know how much risk there is. Not much. Folks keep mentioning Quayle. Ha-ha, but the lesson everyone learned from Mr Potatoe was “do your homework.” So nowadays, folks do!

By: Jimmy the Dhimmi

Jimmy the Dhimmi — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:29:54 +0000

Or to be stated another way:

The [insert inexperienced candidate here] pick is a complete gimmick play. There is nothing about her [or his?] resume that would justify being nominated for the [...] presidential office...

By: mw

mw — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:22:47 +0000

The choice is clear here.

Indeed. Your government choices in 2009:

Choice A) McCain/Palin (R) + Pelosi leading a 100 vote D majority in the House + Clinton/Reid leading a potential 60/40 filibuster proof D majority in the Senate. Two Republican maverick reformers with a reputation for bi-partisanship working with a Democratic Party largest single party congressional majorities in modern history. - or - Choice B) Obama/Biden (D) + Pelosi leading a 100 vote D majority in the House + Clinton/Reid leading a potential 60/40 filibuster proof D majority in the Senate. A toe-the-party-line Democratic President with a liberal agenda working with a Democratic Party largest single party congressional majorities in modern history.

Choose wisely.

By: CaptainUltimate

CaptainUltimate — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:57:47 +0000

exactly. We can sit here and quibble about numbers spent running an “executive” office versus a “legislative” office. The results are all I really care about. Obama outlines and 16 month withdrawal timetable, and it’s quickly adopted by both the Iraqi AND American governments. He’s got good ideas, and Joe Biden was picked to help him execute them. John McCain continually fails at making sensible policy suggestions (e.g. bomb Iran, kick Russia out of G8, etc.) and then he resorts to a gimmick VP pick.

The choice is clear here.

By: khaki

khaki — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:42:28 +0000

You’re pretty hung up on the “executive” thing, dude. Bush had “executive” experience. Lot of good that did us.

By: mw

mw — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:39:12 +0000

@captainultimate
As point of factual accuracy – 1.5 years of executive experience, is 1.5 years more that Obama, Biden, and McCain combined.

By: CaptainUltimate

CaptainUltimate — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:59:26 +0000

We’re dancing around the obvious here. The Palin pick is a complete gimmick play. There is nothing about her resume that would justify being nominated for the vice presidential office, other than McCain needs to grab a headline.

If McCain wanted to go the “progressive” other gender route, (as if picking an anti-women’s rights woman is some how progressive) why not, at least, Carly Fiorina? Someone serious. John McCain is staking his entire campaign on being the more serious candidate of the two. And he picks someone with only 1.5 years of higher office? As the governor of the 48th most populated state?

Please.