"Under no circumstances will I entertain such a proposal." — John McCain, when asked by Dan Rather if he would consider being George W. Bush's vice presidential running mate in 2000.
And so the war between Bush and McCain began. For the past eight years we've seen Bush and McCain rear their ugly heads in battle over campaign finance reform and other issues that have virtually alienated McCain from the conservative wing of the Republican Party.
The raging war between Bush and McCain is important to note, because McCain's surprise choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for a vice presidential running mate is far less about securing the support of the people and far more about spiting a hostile White House, with which McCain has been embroiled in battle since he challenged Bush in the 2000 presidential primary and lost.
So why choose Sarah Palin?
McCain has had no personal or professional relationship with Palin. He's met her once prior to asking her to run the free world if he happens to kick the bucket while in office. She brings with her more baggage than can fit into the overhead compartment, not the least of which is a pending investigation into possible abuse of power, which, ironically, is the same charge being levied against the Bush administration by Congress. McCain faces far more problems with Palin on the ticket than with a more conservative choice. Here are a few thoughts to consider:
- Conservative stay-at-home moms will wonder why Palin — who has four children still living at home, one of whom is newly born with Down Syndrome — is willing to leave her precious children 90 percent of the time while she goes to meetings, travels around the globe and plays war games.
- Conservative white men will question why McCain dragged this cute fireball female down from up north in an attempt to make her the Republican version of Hillary Clinton, whom they despise.
- Many of Hillary's die-hard radical fanatics who hate Obama won't be fooled into supporting this woman solely based on her ovaries when her politics differ so much from their own (still some said they were willing to support McCain though the same political premise persists).
- Palin brings to the table virtually no beneficial constituency to the campaign. Her very presence in the campaign steers onlookers away from the issues and into her youthful 44-year-old former beauty queen eyes. Her presence also forces McCain strategists to jettison the core of his attack campaign, which is to charge Barack Obama with being "dangerously inexperienced" and unfit to be Commander in Chief. Of course, Palin is far less so.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dave Nalle
Truly bizarre and delusional. Why do leftists insist on trying to sell us this wishful thinking claptrap garbage?
Are you paying NO attention at all? The Palin nomination has united the GOP as never before and swept away the doubts which some had about McCain. Go READ my article on the subject.
You remind me yet again of how fundamentally divorced from reality the politics of the left are.
Dave
2 - Clavos
As a self-styled "Christian conservative" (according to your bio), one would think you would be more in tune with your fellow Christian conservatives, who are among the most enthusiastic and committed supporters of Senator McCain's choice of VPOTUS candidate.
Even James Dobson, who once swore he would never vote for McCain, has now declared himself on board.
3 - Dave Nalle
Wow, I didn't read his bio. I can't see how that bio and this article fit together at all.
Dave
4 - Mike Green
Thanks Dave. I appreciate your consistent opposition.
Perhaps I am delusional, as you suggest. That's what my opponents said in 2000 when I publicly disclosed the political machinations that I claimed were seeking to strategically place Hillary in line to succeed Bush. (As it turned out, I wasn't delusional at all).
Back in 2000, I was then a staunch Bush supporter; even attended his inauguration and one of the inaugural balls (at the Library of Congress).
Yet, here we are in 2008, watching more than a handful of Democrats mourning the phenomenal efforts of Hillary and company to retake the White House. I even included in my article above a link to the Bush White House support she received early in her campaign when it was floundering.
So if McCain's choice in Palin is indeed a party unifier, as you suggest, the evidence of that will be seen over time, not in the immediate aftermath of an announcement of his decision. After all, the public vetting process has scarcely been given an opportunity to begin.
My analysis covers the past, present and future. And I am confident that the future will determine whether or not I am delusional. Perhaps I could misjudge one factor or another. Perhaps. I don't claim to be perfect. But proclaiming that I am delusional does nothing to debate the issue, substantiate an alternative viewpoint or discount my overall analysis.
It merely means you disagree with me. And on that note, I challenge those who disagree with me to provide their own analysis and what McCain's choice will ultimately mean. Come out on the limb with me and state the case loudly regarding how and why McCain will be the next president.
I say McCain's choice in Palin as his running mate means political suicide of McCain's presidential campaign. And the move is a deliberate blow to the efforts of the White House to control the process to further its agenda. McCain's facade will be seen for what it is if his campaign is damaged beyond recovery.
And as I stated above, then we can all watch to see how the White House will respond to prevent Obama from becoming president. I know I will be glued to the coming events in this election process. Will you?
5 - handyguy
Clavos and Nalle--
Doesn't James Dobson's support give you pause? I know neither of you could be fans of his. I don't expect you to actually change your minds, but he is such a maroon....
6 - Clavos
Doesn't James Dobson's support give you pause?
Not any more than Wright's or Pfleger's.
They're ALL "maroons." They're religionists.
But so are a substantial portion of the population.
Ya can't elect anyone with just the atheist/agnostic vote.
7 - Ruvy
Mike, et alia,
I read this article, and it seemed to make sense, looking at the motivations of the men involved. Frankly, this kind of petty nastiness and viciousness is all too common in people and it may well be at the root of the motivations of Senator McCain. The part I have trouble with is why the Bush family would make a pact with the Clinton family to rotate the executive office. It was always my impression that Bush hated Clinton.
In spite of all that, it may well be Senator McCain's intent here.
But, and this observation is specifically aimed at you, Mike (a fellow with Dave Nalle's belief system would just not understand), you seem to forget that there is another Actor in this whole game, and His will is the one factor you seem to have ignored entirely.
In other words, you may have diagnosed McCain accurately. I'm not sure that you have, but that is besides the point. Let's stipulate that you have called McCain's motives accurately here. Just because these are McCain's motives, does not mean that his desires will come to fruition.
What little experience I've had with the Creator is that a sense of Irony seems to pervade the way He runs His universe. So, assuming that you are right, I would expect results based on unintended consequences that seem small or unimportant now - unintended consequences that will, in the end, make you wrong.
I do hope you are following me here, Mike.
I do agree with you that this race will be fun to watch, though. What won't be fun, in my humble opinion, will be the result.
8 - Clavos
The part I have trouble with is why the Bush family would make a pact with the Clinton family to rotate the executive office. It was always my impression that Bush hated Clinton.
Bingo!
'Nuff said...
9 - Glenn Contrarian
Mike -
I disagree with you. Such a scenario would require not only a vindictive, spiteful nature on McCain's part (which he apparently has) and the ability to give up his one real shot at ultimate power (which I doubt ANY long-term senator has), but also a brilliantly imaginative mind with a Machiavellian bent - which I sincerely doubt McCain has.
In other words, he's just not that smart. Like Bush II, he has little or no intellectual curiosity, and that above all else precludes any possibility of your scenario. McCain is simply doing what McCain thinks is right and best to do. Whether what he does really is the right and best thing for America...is a matter for debate.
Dave Nalle -
"The Palin nomination has united the GOP as never before" Outside religion, your claim is one of the most self-delusional statements I've ever heard anyone make. Either that, or you don't remember the Republicans under Reagan (I was one then) or under Gingrich and his 'Contract with America'.
It's sorta like the fans out at Safeco Field cheering the Mariners - "We're number one!"
My fellow military retirees are anything but thrilled with her. The nurse working with my Foster children right now is a lifelong Republican, but she told me this morning she won't be voting for McCain.
But hey! The Republicans might win. Above all else, they have Diebold on their side.
10 - Mike Green
I appreciate those words of wisdom, Ruvy. I do always take into account that God is in control. But I do not know His interim decisions and processes. I am only provided knowledge of the ultimate outcome, which doesn't give me any insight into any particular nation's internal political turmoil, including my own.
I do know, however, that God was in control when every president in our nation was elected. God was also in control when all of the diverse peoples of this nation were abused.
And God was in control when Bush (41) invaded Iraq in 1991. God was still in control when the Clinton administration continued the bombing of Iraq throughout Bill and Hillary's eight years in the White House.
The continuation of America's aggressive foreign policies in the Middle East was not an accident. And the external feuding between the families did not interrupt the consistent death and destruction both families maintained in Iraq throughout both administrations. And that trail of Mideast tears extends back into history through more than a dozen presidents, which I wrote about in detail in my book.
As a veteran, I am hopeful that there will be some method of intervention to disrupt the continued carnage that I read about almost daily. But if this White House gets its way, that will not change. It has already set the stage for U.S. troops to remain through much of the next presidency. And that's just what we can see on the surface.
How will Obama impact all those plans America has in Iraq? How will Obama impact U.S. control over Iraq's the Oil Ministry and the lining up of U.S. oil companies to obtain control over lands in Iraq? And will Obama use the office of the presidency to apologize to African Americans for hundreds of years of deplorable treatment? There are so many unanswered questions with an Obama presidency.
There is ample evidence to show this White House was actively involved in helping Hillary. And I think McCain, the war hero, is enraged. In my estimation, this move (choosing Palin) is his way of derailing the machinations he knows are at work to manipulate the political process.
The White House didn't want him. It got stuck with him. So, he is ready to give Bush his worst fear. I'm not sure what God's plan is in it all. And I cannot purport to even guess how God's Hand is involved.
But I can analyze what men are doing both in front of and behind the scenes. Hopefully, my analysis will spark some investigation into such allegations to see if there really is a battle raging behind the facade of smiling faces.
11 - john Dougan
Mike, I'm thinking you're half right here. Yes, McCain does hate the Bush whitehouse but he also hates much of the republican party. I excpect that this is because of the compromises they've forced him into and because they've set him up to lose too many times, includng this one. However, he's an old military man and as you no doubt know they like winning. A lot.
I think Palin was a much better pick than you seem to. If he'd picked one of the usual suspects he'd have been dead for sure. Instead he's developed interest in his candidacy and has got room to move.
To use a tired football analogy: This isn't the Hail Mary play the pundits are talking about. This is setting up for a run and having your wide out sneak down the field for a deep pass. Not a game winner, but it gets you in a much better field position.
I would argue what he's set up is a hard-to-lose-completely situation for himself.
Possibility 1, his preferred possibility: He wins, serves 4 years and has groomed a VP that will carry the party in the direction he prefers. He steps down, and passes the torch to Palin. So in 2012 we have a Hillary vs. Sarah matchup....and that could go either way depending on how well a McCain presidency goes.
Possibility 2, the likely possibility: He loses. Black man in the Whitehouse, RNC's collective heads explode. Palin goes back to Alaska and gets some more seasoning as State Gov. There will probably be some bloodletting in the RNC. At this moment it is clear that the Palin pick has energized the religious right base of the republican party and she will be in their minds 4 years from now, particularly if the RNC tries to foist off some boring white dude who's main qualification is that he's loyal to the party.
Either way, he has probably broken up any Bush/Clinton plans for the future and his self perceived legacy (as a "maverick" reformer) lives on.
12 - Dave Nalle
Mike, you listen to Alex Jones, don't you. You manage to tone it down, but I can tell where you're really coming from.
Doesn't James Dobson's support give you pause? I know neither of you could be fans of his. I don't expect you to actually change your minds, but he is such a maroon....
As has been said before many times, you can't damn someone politicially just because of the support they attract. I'll be troubled when she starts making appearances with Dobson.
Dave
13 - Bennett
Mike: I've read Nalle's silly piece, and Babeneck's equally predictable and boring article, and I have to hand it to you.
This post of yours is enjoyable to read, thought provoking, and bound to make the GOP members of blogcritics see red. When Dave jumps in with "delusional" and "claptrap", you know you're on the right track.
Well done!
14 - Jonathan Scanlan
"When Dave jumps in with "delusional" and "claptrap", you know you're on the right track."
Yeah, that's how I determine that I've done a good job with an article. :P
15 - Dr Dreadful
AS much hoo-ha as there has been in the media - notably this site - about McCain's selection of Palin, it seems to me that if his intention was to upstage Obama's DNC anointing, he's failed.
I've had the opportunity to be in on a fair few conversations about the election this weekend, and you'd have thought the notion of a female VP (especially one who looks like Sarah Palin) would have caused a fair bit of buzz. But all the talk was still about Obama's convention speech. I don't think I heard Palin mentioned once.
Now the more cynical of you may observe that I live in DPR California... however, as I've mentioned before, I neither live nor move in particularly left-leaning circles.
16 - Pablo
Dave RE post 12 you said:
"As has been said before many times, you can't damn someone politicially just because of the support they attract. I'll be troubled when she starts making appearances with Dobson."
Ummm isn't this what you did for months with Dr. Paul bubba? Yes it was, you attempted at every turn with regards to him. As I keep saying your hypocrisy literally knows no bounds. How you can say what you do with a straight face is beyond me, but quite amusing.
17 - Clavos
How you can say what you do with a straight face is beyond me, but quite amusing.
You can't even see his face, booboo.
You are waaay too literal-minded for blogging...
18 - Dave Nalle
Actually, Pablo, it's one of our other authors who produced the articles condemning Paul for getting support from neo-nazis and the KKK and the aryan nation. My position in response to those articles and in my own is that you can't blame him for attracting those supporters, but you CAN take him to task for not distancing himself from them and even moreso for pandering to them by not making his position clear in opposition to racism and extremism. Maybe the difference is too subtle for you.
Dave
19 - Mike Green
John Dougan, congrats. You made me laugh. I chuckled over the RNC's collective heads exploding. And I listened to your perspective. I think it has merit.
Nevertheless, the idea that the conservatives like Palin as the top choice is one I can't buy. And the notion that this choice has galvanized the right is also one I can't buy. After all, the right already knows what it wants and who it wants. And if it wanted Palin, that case would've been made before the cheer committee was dragged out of the morgue and forced to do backflips after the fact.
The sudden resurrection of the right-wing booster club isn't over the Palin selection in my mind. It is because that's the only way the RNC puts another R in the White House. No matter who McCain would've chosen, the RNC would've put a red ribbon on him or her and dressed the whole thing up in red, white and blue and threw a parade.
That drama was just waiting for the cue to come on stage.
I think they came running out with big smiles while the backstage talk is how awful the show is.
But we'll see. You make good points. Time will tell what the true story is. And that's gonna be soon. Not much time left. And Palin's vetting process in the press is coming.
I sure hope those smiles aren't just painted on the evangelicals. When Palin's luggage is opened, there may be more than one surprise in there. And the cheer squad will have to cheer louder to drown out the sorrow.
20 - Dave Nalle
Mike. I can't speak for other Republican bloggers, but if the nominee had been Romney I'd be writing articles about what a good idea it is for Republicans to vote for Bob Barr. If it had been Pawlenty I'd be researching him and trying to figure out if he has some fine characteristics I somehow missed.
Palin wasn't my first choice - that would still be Mark Sanford - but she was in my top 3. She enhances the ticket in so many ways that it's just about the most exciting thing I've seen out of the GOP in a long, long time.
You can try to write it off and minimize it, but the truth is that for most of us the excitement is genuine.
Dave