Sarah Palin's selection as John McCain's running mate was a "Madison Avenue" style stroke of brilliance.
Senator John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate was smart, perhaps brilliant, from the standpoint that it was totally unexpected and has obviously shaken things up in both parties, perhaps even more so in the media.…
Article comments
26 - Dan
"Most of the "window smashers" are actually NOT Obama supporters. They are beyond supporting any main stream politicians."
Of course. It wouldn't be fair to say they're "for" Obama. We could probably agree though, that they are for "change". Still, they weren't smashing windows in Denver.
Oprah Winfrey has a dilemma now though. According to Drudge, many of her fans have been pestering her to have Palin interviewed, but Oprah is blocking, like she did with Clarence Thomas last year. Despite having Obama as a guest, twice, she say's she doesn't want to have her show used as a political platform.
I agree with you that Palin's being a woman will make it hard for Democrats to attack her, but then that is the game that they themselves have engineered. They just never gave adequate consideration to what happens when the shoe is on the other foot.
On the other hand, Obama finally found the courage to accept Bill O'reilly's invitation, and was promptly undressed. While repeatedly having his feet held to the fire concerning the surge in Iraq he admitted "...it’s succeeded beyond our wildest dreams."
That can't be good for him. Especially since, Joe Biden has been going around saying that the handover of Anbar Province to the Iraqi's, and the natural withdraw of troops from a successful mission is somehow an acknowledgement by Bush that he finally understands the correctness of Obama's surge position.
27 - Cannonshop
I give you your point, Baritone, and accept the (appropriate) hazing that is sure to follow. (as in, I dun screwed up.)
Still, for a while my mom (newly divorced then) and us kids were located in Fairbanks, and there was, indeed, a moose that did wander into our back-yard. (then again, it was the seventies, I was very small, and the only memory I personally have of the event was a picture mom took out the kitchen window.) This was before my (then newly divorced) mom moved us back to Colorado, where she could make a decent living.
28 - Baritone
Hey, I live in suburban Indianapolis and we have coyotes, fox and deer running through our back yard. I know it's not bear or moose, but it's still a relatively new development around here. I guess it's because we keep encroaching on their habitat and they have nowhere to go. Or, maybe they just like suburban living.
Oh, and back to Palin: It seems that the Republican ticket now has its own celebrity, its own rock star; their own version of Paris Hilton, but one who packs heat. Sarah "Annie Oakley" Palin!
Around here in Indy we have "soccer moms." I'm told that the main difference between soccer moms and hockey moms is that the latter generally have a fewer teeth. {;%)>
B
29 - Jordan Richardson
Around here in Indy we have "soccer moms." I'm told that the main difference between soccer moms and hockey moms is that the latter generally have a fewer teeth.
Pretty much.
30 - bliffle
Alaska is the biggest welfare state in the nation, but that doesn't stop a lot of blustering fake conservatives in plaid shirts from running around telling everyone what rugged individualists they are because they know how to field dress a moose.
If we pulled the federal tit away 90% of them would dry up and blow away.
31 - troll
I'm waiting for the article: 'Sarah Palin - The Chavez of the North'
32 - Dave Nalle
The difference between Palin and Chavez is that Palin actually distributed oil profits to her people, while Chavez promised to do so and instead funneled all the money to his cronies.
Dave
33 - johng
"I do find it curious that despite the large amount of crude oil that Alaska has, fuel prices there are as high or higher than most of the rest of the country."
-just guessing: if there are no refineries in AK, the stuff has to go south and be distilled, cracked, and made into your octane grade, then shipped back to your AK gas station; getting back to AK probably is expensive compared to where else it goes from the refinery.
For all I know, the gas you get in AK just as likely comes from a hole in the ground just south of Abu Dabi....
34 - bliffle
Indeed, it is so, for oil is fungible.
35 - Franco
Baritone says…….
"It has been repeatedly noted that Palin flip-flopped on the 'bridge to nowhere', but not much notice has been paid to the fact that as mayor of Wasilla, largely through the efforts of paid lobbyists, she managed to obtain over 25 million dollars in federal "earmarks" for the town; just the kind of thing that is supposedly anathema to McCain."
Barack Obama for the first time yesterday took a shot at Palin, scoffing at her boast that she's an anti-earmark "champion."
Palin took note of Obama's shot later yesterday at a rally in Albuquerque, saying she was surprised he had brought it up since he is responsible for "nearly $1 billion in earmarks in just three years ... that's about a million dollars a day." She paused. "Just wait until President John McCain puts a stop to that."
36 - Surfer
B-tone: "Hey, I live in suburban Indianapolis and we have coyotes, fox and deer running through our back yard"
Hey, I live in suburban New South Wales, and we have nasty kangaroos with sharp claws, about a million species of highly venomous snakes and killer spiders, giant veranda-eating cockatoos, and various other marsupials and fearsome mammals sleeping in our trees or running through OUR backyards. On top of that, the seas are awash with poisonous critters, and there are nasty sharks with very sharp teeth all over the coastline. And up in sunny Queensland, they're knee-deep in cane toads and man-eating crocodiles.
Beat that B-tone ... Polar Bears? Phhht!
37 - Franco
Baritone says.......
"They would have picked over her thin resume in much the same way as is now being done".
Her resume is anything but thin, and doubly so when compared to Obama. And he is running for precedent and she is not. Let the pick, it only makes Obama look less qualified.
Obama campaign of Smoke and Mirrors and lots of flash without any substance is getting nauseating. His speeches, along with your posts are full of empty rhetoric, and his attacks, like yours, on his opponents are cowardly smoke and mirror side step cover-ups.
Just the latest case in point:
In an interview on CNN's Anderson Cooper, Obama was asked about whether his experience in the U.S. Senate compares to Palin’s executive experience running the state of Alaska and as the small town mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.
Obama said.....“My understanding is that Gov. Palin’s town, Wassilla, has I think 50 employees. We've got 2500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe 12 million dollars a year " we have a budget of about three times that just for the month. Our ability to manage large systems and to execute I think has been made clear over the past couple of years.”
Notice that Anderson Cooper’s question concerns Sarah Palins experience as both Governor and Mayor. Look at how smoothly Obama sidesteps that answer by first calling her Governor, and then tries to belittle it by associating that experience with her hometown when she was mayor.
Obama didn’t answer the question, and he set up a straw man argument in response to Cooper.
Obama blithely pretends that she’s still the mayor of “Wasilly” in order to boost himself. However, running for office isn’t executive experience, for one good reason: Obama isn’t the campaign manager. He has a CEO actually running the campaign, handling the budget, and managing the people while Obama makes the speeches.
Here are the facts that Obama is trying to smoke and mirror out of the way so he dose not have to answer honestly because the truth would hurt way too much.
Sarah Palin is Governor of a state with hundreds of thousands of people, close to 700,000 to be exact, which has a 9 billion dollar budget, manages the country's 7th largest economy, and runs a government that employs 25,000 people and the Americans in that fine State support here dearly.
For Barack Obama to lower himself to argue that he’s experienced enough to be president because he’s running for president is desperate circular logic and it’s very disturbing. It is a testament to Barack Obama’s inexperience and failing qualifications that he would stoop to passing off his candidacy as superior to Governor Sarah Palin’s executive experience managing a budget of over 10 billion dollar dollars, and more than 24,000 employees.”
If this is Obama’s best response on the experience question, then Americans should be asking themselves harder questions and taking a closer look for themselves because the MSM will not be doing it for you.
One more thing to consider. Governors have more tried and truely tested executive experience than senators. Senators have the luxury of taking time to research issues and play out party politices. Governors are continually tested time and time again with having to make immediate decisions. Governors of states have a similar experience as Presidents because the State Government is a microcosm of the Federal Government. Palin is going to feel right at home as VP. Shoes, which Obama has no experience in filling, and he is running for President. You do the math.
38 - Franco
Baritone says.......
"Obama life has been scoured, picked and prodded up, down and sideways, with all manner of distortions, half truths and outright lies bandied about since he announced his candidacy".
"The Obama Nation which has taken all the above noted crap, added more, and condensed it under one convenient cover. This book sits near the top of the New York Times best seller list".
In contrast to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama has not been vetted at all, not even by Democrats. Even today Obama is largely an unknown to all but a small handful of dogged political professionals.
Baritone's claims that Jerome Corsi book "The Obama Nation" is full of all manner of distortions with out backing up his assertion makes them impotent and that would also be the case with Jerome Corsi if he did the same. The question then is, did he?.
From the 'The Obama Nation' By JEROME R. CORSI
"My intent in writing this book is to fully document all arguments and contentions I make, extensively footnoting all references, so readers can determine for themselves the truth and validity of the factual claims".
"I have never been a registered member of the Republican or Democratic Party, unless voting in some particular state primary over the past forty years necessitated that result. The only political party I ever consciously joined is the Constitution Party, of which I am a registered member in the state of New Jersey, where I currently reside. Let me also clearly state that I am writing this book strictly to examine and oppose Barack Obama, not to support Senator John McCain or any other Republican Party or third-party candidate for the presidency."
"Finally, let me clearly state that this book has been written solely on my initiative. There has been no attempt made, nor will there be any attempt made, to communicate the shape or contents of this book with anyone in the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the Constitution Party, or in any third party with a candidate running for the presidency."
It dose not get anymore politically unbiased then that. And because the MSM will not lift a finger to help Americans understand Obama better, thank goodness this book sits near the top of the New York Times best seller list".
Read America, Read!
For in closer inside look at the author of The Obama Nation see this review.
[Link fixed. Franco, the same problem you describe happened to me a few weeks ago. I suggest going to Akismet's website and reporting it directly to them. Tell them what your IP address is, if you know it, and which sites you're having trouble commenting on. It may take them a few days to get back to you, but they should be able to fix it for you.
Dr Dreadful
Assistant Comments Editor]
39 - Dr Dreadful
Surfer, #36:
As I've remarked many times, it's a wonder any of you Aussies make it to adulthood. There's absolutely no doubt that the environment of Australia is Out To Get You.
Kind of makes Alaska look like Disney World...!
40 - STM
While some us grow old Doc, most of us never actually make it to adulthood. Witness this exchange to follow (Dave, Clav, B-tone, troll, et al, this will amuse you guys too)
I know your interest in the amazing parliamentary orator Paul Keating and the boring little Johnny Howard.
Here's a little treat for you - a near apoplectic censure motion moved in the Australian Federal Parliament by Howard when he was Leader of the Opposition, against then Prime Minister Keating, back in the early '90s. It's hilarious, and the first time I've seen Howard really lose his cool.
The best part, however, is Keating's teasing, contemptuous reply. Americans, I fear, will think it the most shocking thing they've ever seen in terms of political exchange in a so-called "civilised setting".
But as you know, Doc, it's how we do it in a parliamentary democracy. You have to watch both bits to get it, and IMO it's really bloody entertaining.
Great prime-time political TV, and I reckon Sarah Palin would be a walk-up start Down Under. We need a moose-griller from Wasilla (a 'roo eater from Cabarita???) in parliament because the current PM could bore for Australia - and win Gold.
41 - Silas Kain
Imagine a brawl between Nancy Pelosi and a Vice President Palin during a joint session of Congress next year. That would get some serious ratings! Palin's a pit bull and Pelosi's a werewolf.
42 - STM
Here's some more recent stuff guys: Great Moments in Australian Politics Parts One and Two (For those not in the know, Peter Garrett is the current Federal Environment Minister, and former lead singer of the rock band Midnight Oil :)
43 - Dr Dreadful
Keating's parliamentary diatribe is legendary. According to Bill Bryson in his book In a Sunburned Country, the former PM is recorded as having referred to his political opponents as 'scumbags', 'pieces of criminal garbage', 'stupid foul-mouthed grubs', 'mangy maggots' and others. Whether any of those outbursts were caught for posterity by the cameras, I don't know.
44 - STM
Doc, in his reply above in those two main links, he really gives it to Howard ... suggesting he's dragged his carcass back to the front bench, etc. It's hilarious.
45 - Dr Dreadful
Yep, it was great stuff. Johnny must've thought he'd scored the winning try with his onslaught, even though Keating was sitting there the whole time making notes and apparently not even listening.
What was the result of that censure motion, BTW?
As you know, I'm well used to that style of debate from watching the UK parliament - although we Brits tend to go heavier on the sardonic humour and ease off slightly on the direct insults!
46 - STM
Doc: Censure motion was lost on the numbers. It was just a bit of political theatre staged by Howard, who was never a great orator but was trying to have a go. There's nothing like this is the American system in terms of debate in the house, despite the campaign rhetoric getting fiery at times ... more's the pity, which is probably why Bryson liked it so much.
Recently the Oppsition brought a life-sized cardboard cut-out of the Prime Minister into the House, because Rudd was up in the Northern Territory doing something. Hilarious. It's a toss-up as to whether the real Rudd or the fake one is more interesting. The fake one wins in my book.
It's all a great day out too :)
47 - Cannonshop
#20
"Alaska is the biggest welfare state in the nation..."
and who made it that way? Who closed off most of the state to development, and forced it onto the federal teat in the seventies?
The problem you seem to have, in my eyes, Jet, is that after being shoved onto the dole, the Alaskans have the discourtesy of blaming the Feds, instead of being good, grateful, guaranteed voters for the party of the Welfare State.
48 - Dr Dreadful
It's a toss-up as to whether the real Rudd or the fake one is more interesting. The fake one wins in my book.
Maybe, but just when you think he's as dry as the Simpson Desert, he goes and does something like that 'incident' in NYC.
What strikes me, though, is just how uncomfortable the Rudds and Howards of this world seem to be with the whole state of Aussieness. The mere donning of a suit seems to cause Howard to seek communion with the carpet, and Rudd can't even down a beer without looking terminally awkward and embarrassed.
Keating, as ridiculously flashy and poncy as his suits were, at least seemed at ease with who he was.