In a bold and, to many, including most of the MSM, surprising move, John McCain, with exquisite timing has named Sarah Palin, the Republican Governor of Alaska, as his running mate.
Announcing the pick today, his 72nd birthday, McCain, true to his reputation as a maverick, has completely overturned the dynamics of the Presidential race by picking the 44-year-old Palin as the first ever female Republican Vice Presidential candidate.
Palin, also known as a maverick, but little known outside of her home state of Alaska, has an 80% approval rating from Alaskan voters, after a little more than a year in office as Governor, making her the most popular governor in America.
Blog and MSM pundits across the nation are agog with excitement (positive and negative) over McCain's unprecedented choice. Inevitably, we will certainly see plenty of nay-saying pointing out Palin's lack of political experience, and probably regarding her youth as well.
But in Alaska, Palin has a reputation, not only as a maverick, but also as a tough cookie. Prior to being elected Governor, as the mayor of her hometown of Wasilla, she earned the nickname of “Sarah Barracuda.”
As Governor, Palin has used her toughness to oppose the environmentalists on the issue of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and has begun a vigorous overhaul of the Alaskan state government, shaking up the traditional Alaskan political establishment.
The PUMA blog Count Us Out features a series of paeans to Palin, titled “PUMAs at Count Us Out Like The Barracuda from Alaska, Sarah Palin", a strong indicator that the McCain campaign will almost certainly attract a significant number of voters dissatisfied with the treatment Hillary has received at the hands of Obama. Obviously, this factored prominently in the McCain decision-making process.
While it's too early to determine how large a positive effect (or even if the effect will, in fact, be positive) the choice of Governor Sarah Palin will have on the McCain campaign, the campaign braintrust obviously expects it to be both positive and significant.
Significant, yes, assuredly. Historic as well.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Silas Kain
The core of Hillary's support now have a woman on the national ticket. It's not Hillary. Sarah's better. Feminists, put your money where your mouth is. She may not agree with the left on all the issues but how can one discount the significance of Sarah Palin? And to the unions -- Palin's husband is a steelworker. Will unions turn their backs on one of their own dues-paying members? John McCain accomplished what he needed by nominating Sarah Palin. Perhaps for once in our lives we will have to vote our conscience -- and that will be the true test of our current character as a nation.
2 - Clavos
It is real a red letter day (pun intended) for these two Republican candidates.
Besides being McCain's 72nd birthday; Palin, during her acceptance speech, announce that today was her and her husband's 20th wedding anniversary.
A momentous day on several levels!
3 - Baritone
McCain's choice is fairly stunning. How it will play out over the next two months is anybody's guess.
In the immediate, it has served very well in taking the focus off of Obama and his great speech last nite. It has the media buzzing, and may serve to reduce any "bounce" the Dems might have gotten from their convention.
Palin should help salve the right wingers owing to her particular proclivities - anti-abortion, member of the NRA, anti-environment.
She looks good (a former runner up in the Miss Alaska contest) and seems nonplussed with the situation. She gave a good speech, pushed all the right buttons.
Obviously, her "experience" factor may become an issue as she has a good deal less than Obama and virtually none as compared to Biden. When one thinks of her being a heart beat away from the presidency, it might give one pause. We'll see.
But, on the surface of it, it seems to be an inspired selection.
B
4 - Dr Dreadful
I'm just relieved it's not Romney.
(What's that tiny whimpering sound? Sounds like it's coming from up New Hampshire way...)
I'm now fine with whoever you Seppos decide to put in the Byeliy Dom. But I'm still gonna have fun calling bullshit on y'all between now and then... :-)
5 - Clavos
What's with the decidedly un-Brit use of "y'all," Mr. Pom? :)
6 - Dr Dreadful
Goodness gracious me, surely I am not knowing vhat you are meaning, Clav Sahib.
7 - Baritone
This scenario reminds me of the short lived TV series "Commander in Chief" wherein Gena Davis portrayed MacKenzie Allen, a recently elected vice president who is thrust into the Oval Office after the unexpected death of the president.
As she was included on the ticket essentially as window dressing only to assuage women voters and had little political experience, she was expected and urged to stand down rather than taking the office. Obviously, she chooses to take the office much to the chagrin of about everybody around her.
Could that series have been prescient?
B
8 - Arch Conservative
I suddenly feel like serenading all of the Obamabots.
This one goes out to all you hopers and changes out there.........
The party's over
It's time to call it a day
They've burst your pretty balloon
And taken the moon away
It's time to wind up the masquerade
Just make your mind up the piper must be paid
The party's over
The candles flicker and dim
You danced and dreamed through the night
It seemed to be right just being with him
Now you must wake up, all dreams must end
Take off your makeup, the party's over
It's all over, my friend
9 - Arch Conservative
I suddenly feel like serendaing all of the Obamabots.
This one goes out to all you hopers and changes out there.........
The party's over
It's time to call it a day
They've burst your pretty balloon
And taken the moon away
It's time to wind up the masquerade
Just make your mind up the piper must be paid
The party's over
The candles flicker and dim
You danced and dreamed through the night
It seemed to be right just being with him
Now you must wake up, all dreams must end
Take off your makeup, the party's over
It's all over, my friend
10 - Dave Nalle
It must be a momentous event if it reduces Arch to poetry.
Good newsy report, Clavos. Counterbalances my near-orgasm article nicely.
Dave
11 - Arch Conservative
I must admit to having something in common with Joe Biden Dave.
That's not an AC original.
It's a Nat King Cole song.
12 - Silas Kain
Arch, my friend, you have been the source of my laughter for over 24 hours. Your comment on the Colonies being absorbed by the Crown left me in tears. And now you introduce the lyrics to a classic Shirley Bassey song which has been a favourite of mine for 30 years! Many of you do not know who Dame Shirley Bassey is but in the GLBT community she is an icon.
B: This scenario reminds me of the short lived TV series "Commander in Chief" wherein Gena Davis portrayed MacKenzie Allen, a recently elected vice president who is thrust into the Oval Office after the unexpected death of the president.
As Brian Williams pointed out last night after the Obama speech, there are many parallels between Sorkin scripts and the speech he made. Obama is taking the rock star approach. He will take lines out of The American President and West Wing scripts to make his case in point. That's not original. That's not inspiring. This isn't the silver screen, Barack. While it's almost romantic to borrow lines from scripts it does nothing to get this country out of this mess.
13 - Silas Kain
Sorry, Arch, I confused a comment by Ruvy with you. My apologies. Be it as it may, I am still grateful for your rendition of The Party's Over. Yes, Arch, it is indeed.
14 - bliffle
Hmmm. I wonder how Palin feels about being chosen because of her sex organs?
15 - Jordan Richardson
Silas, I know Shirley Bassey.
16 - troll
were the ticket Palin/McCain would you vote for it - ?
17 - Arch Conservative
Probably the same way Obama feels about only being taken so seriously as a presidential nomineee because of the color of his skin......A little uneasy at first but then hey who really gives a shit as long as I get mine.
18 - Dr Dreadful
Ah, good old Dame Shirley. I remember she was one of my grandmother's faves. She would always stop what she was doing and sit down to watch when Shirley Bassey was on TV.
Probably best known in the US for singing the theme songs to the James Bond movies Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.
19 - Arch Conservative
I thought it was a Nat King Cole song....Anyhow I'm a big Nina Simone fan but no Nina Simone songs jumped into my mind when trying to express myself through music reagrding the pitifulness of Obama's campaign.
His dismantling of the Clinton machine during the moonbat primaries was impressive but he's in the deep water now and clearly treading water more furiously with each passing day.
20 - Arch Conservative
Who would have thought that the outocome of the 2008 election for president of the United States could be summed up in two simple words tha are't that frequently heard toegther.
Gubernatorial Vagina
21 - Silas Kain
were the ticket Palin/McCain would you vote for it - ?
Yes. After reading about how she has dealt with the Republican machine in Alaska I see Sarah Palin as the GOP's last best hope to bring the party back to its heart.
Anyhow I'm a big Nina Simone fan but no Nina Simone songs jumped into my mind when trying to express myself through music reagrding the pitifulness of Obama's campaign.
How about I Shall Be Released? You know, Arch, Nina is another GLBT icon. There is hope for you yet!
22 - Cannonshop
Well, this does make the election a bit more interesting, I'm kinda wondering if Gov. Palin will be a Ferraro, though- Geraldine's selection didn't help Mike Dukakis in the eighties.
23 - Arch Conservative
The only relation I see in the lyrics of I shall be released and our current political situation is if we were to finally elect a third party candidate and that person actually did something for the good of all Americans...."releasing" us all from the two party dictatorship that is apathetic the wansts and needs of we citizens.........
Hope for me yet? I have long been a supporter of civil unions which would bestow the same legal benefits and obligations as marriage for gays/lesbians. But I am a traditionailist and believe that we should continue to define marriage as one man and one woman. I think the polls refelct that I am pretty mainstream on this issue as most Americans agree with my view on it rather than adopting an all or nothing attitude on either side.
24 - Clavos
Interestingly, the first criticisms of Palin by the Democrats have veered dangerously close to shooting themselves in the foot once again, as they assail Palin for what they call her "lack of experience.
Yet, unlike Obama, Palin has nearly two years of government executive experience in her resume.
25 - Independent
I guess "Arch Conservative" cannot read. I refer to personal attacks, i.e. "guernatorial Vagina". As for Cannoball. Geraldine was an extremely versed woman and the only one you took her down, was, as usual, us men. Our so called unbiased press and then of course her husband's real estate deals. If only that was the only issue in todays politics.