McCain’s VP: Sarah Palin (Updated x5)
[Guest post by DRJ]
Justin Levine already posted on the possibility that McCain may pick Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his VP. I’m starting this thread so you will have a place to comment.
I like this. I hope it’s true.
UPDATE 1: It’s true. Fox News confirms it’s Palin.
UPDATE 2 BY PATTERICO: I think this is a home run. Palin is everything that Biden is not: down-to-earth (non-smarmy), honest, intelligent, principled, and a Washington outsider. (Yes, I know: Biden isn’t a Washington guy because he rides the train home to Delaware! Still.)
And she’s truly conservative.
For the first time, I’m excited about McCain’s candidacy.
For more on Palin, you can’t do any better than to read this post by Beldar. I linked it some time back, but it obviously has new relevance now.
[Note from DRJ: Beldar has consolidated his Palin posts into this easy-to-read post.]
UPDATE 3 by DRJ: Ann Althouse live-blogged McCain’s introduction of Palin as his VP and her first speech on the national ticket. Althouse thinks the comparisons will be McCain vs Biden (2 senior Senators) and Obama vs Palin (2 younger politicians with less experience). She also seems as impressed as I am with Palin.
UPDATE 4 by DRJ - The Boston Globe reports Hillary Clinton issued the following statement:
“We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin’s historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain. While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate.”
UPDATE 5: Jennifer Rubin at Commentary Magazine adds this postscript that Hillary wanted to add but didn’t:
“Her staff no doubt advised cutting a final sentence which likely went something like this: ” And if the Just Words guy had put me on the ticket, this never would have happened.”
H/T Instapundit.
– DRJ
Worst-kept secret ever.
Comment by otcconan — 8/29/2008 @ 7:57 am
Unless you are a member of the MSM. Then the news comes as a complete surprise.
Comment by Kevin Murphy — 8/29/2008 @ 7:58 am
It’s been confirmed by the Chicago Tribune and CNN.
A brilliant pick to electrify the Republican base.
Comment by aunursa — 8/29/2008 @ 8:02 am
Yeah, baby! I hope this means McCain will hammer Obama on the gun issue, or at least Palin will.
Comment by Brad — 8/29/2008 @ 8:06 am
Female, young, real reformer, pro-drilling, pro-life. Energetic, articulate and good-looking. What’s not to like?
Not often you can appeal to the center AND energize your base.
Comment by Kevin Murphy — 8/29/2008 @ 8:08 am
Excellent!! The best choice! (I wonder if Hillary is really annoyed by this…)
Comment by Dana — 8/29/2008 @ 8:10 am
Congratulations to Beldar. I understand he likes whisky, not whiskey, and I wonder whether he will skip the past the yardarm rule today to pour himself a Laphroaig.
Comment by nk — 8/29/2008 @ 8:12 am
Female, young, real reformer, pro-drilling, pro-life. Energetic, articulate and good-looking. What’s not to like?
Comment by Kevin Murphy — 8/29/2008 @ 8:08 am
You said it. *does happy dance*
(I wonder if Hillary is really annoyed by this…)
Comment by Dana — 8/29/2008 @ 8:10 am
You KNOW she’s purple with rage right now. Especially since she knows McCain’s going to win.
Am so happy I could just…just…write a huge check to McCain!
*faints*
Comment by no one you know — 8/29/2008 @ 8:17 am
Obama hack on TV decrying Palin’s lack of foreign policy experience and position on Roe v Wade. Boo hoo, like Obama HAS experience? And he’s the one that is fine with butchering children born alive. Anyway I’m happy to see that NBC’s first inclination is to hammer Palin. Eff the obama fellators and Andrea Mitchell. Time to switch stations.
Comment by madmax333 — 8/29/2008 @ 8:18 am
P.S. And the Laphroaig should be provided by Patterico because I remember him funning Beldar about this.
Comment by nk — 8/29/2008 @ 8:19 am
I am happy. Very happy.
Comment by JD — 8/29/2008 @ 8:21 am
I’m waiting until McNuggets makes the choice official before I comment.
Comment by PCD — 8/29/2008 @ 8:21 am
JD – When you get back from your bunk, let us know what you think.
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/29/2008 @ 8:21 am
An excellent choice.
Comment by Old Coot — 8/29/2008 @ 8:22 am
Hammer Obama on the Gun issue. This woman brought to term a son when it was confirmed through genetic testing, before birth, that he had Down’s Syndrome.
AS Jonah Goldberg stated, this could very well be the opening play in a full frontal assault on Obama’s Born Alive Protection Act weakness. One that is not known to most of the general public, but sounds like that will not be the case much longer.
Comment by Schmoe — 8/29/2008 @ 8:23 am
Obama spokesperson and sometime reporter Andrea Mitchell terms Palin pick…..
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/29/2008 @ 8:23 am
The strategy? McCain/Palin as the anti-corruption/reformer ticket, as the true agents of change. Possibly this means running against the Congress since the Congress is controlled by the Demo party majority.
Comment by Brad — 8/29/2008 @ 8:23 am
Only people with worst approval ratings than the President are Congress and the Media.
Comment by Schmoe — 8/29/2008 @ 8:25 am
This is *our* celebrity: The first woman governor of Alaska, ethics commissioner of Alaska Oil and Gas, mother of five, and a very pretty lady. Etc., etc.
Comment by m — 8/29/2008 @ 8:25 am
Many questions raised by this pick….state experience but little time on the national stage….
Sounds like Obama!
Comment by daleyrocks — 8/29/2008 @ 8:29 am
A little OT, but I love this line about Bambi:
NYTime: David Brooks
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 8:32 am
But with 10 years of executive experiance, running a state. And while the Dems needed a VP with “Foriegn Policy Experiance” to shore up a woefully lacking Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain doesn’t really need to. But thanks for playing…
So now WOMEN aren’t allowed to have an opinion on a woman’s reproductive rights?
Jeeze, who the hell is left then?
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 8/29/2008 @ 8:33 am
I think this will work very well for McCain. Very interesting. Think it will tie OBiden in knots.
Comment by Chris — 8/29/2008 @ 8:33 am
Why is inexperience OK in a presidential candidate, but not in a Veep? Isn’t the VP supposed to be the one doing the learning?
Comment by Kevin Murphy — 8/29/2008 @ 8:34 am
Scott #22: only the fetuses themselves who, conveniently enough, are too young to vote.
Comment by Xrlq — 8/29/2008 @ 8:35 am
There is a certain symmetry to Delaware and Alaska.
Another thing – at least she is not a senator.
Comment by Amphipolis — 8/29/2008 @ 8:37 am
This is a home run and she is no pushover.
In the roughly three years since she quit as the state’s chief regulator of the oil industry, Palin has crushed the Republican hierarchy (virtually all male) and nearly every other foe or critic. Political analysts in Alaska refer to the “body count” of Palin’s rivals. “The landscape is littered with the bodies of those who crossed Sarah,” says pollster Dave Dittman, who worked for her gubernatorial campaign. It includes Ruedrich, Renkes, Murkowski, gubernatorial contenders John Binkley and Andrew Halcro, the three big oil companies in Alaska, and a section of the Daily News called “Voice of the Times,” which was highly critical of Palin and is now defunct.
They call her Sarah Barracuda in Alaska.
Comment by Mike K — 8/29/2008 @ 8:39 am
#24no, no you missed the media/dnc talking points. Obama and Biden are a true dream team with Obama’s superior judgement of what is right for America, his ability as a racial uniter and Slow Joe’s 35 years in senate staring down dictators (yeah, right!) and immense foreign policy experience. So far what I see on tube are efforts to downplay Sarah as viable. Oh poor dems just getting started on opposition research on Palin. How the hell can people have talked about other women who are from Big Business being good VP choices if they have zero experience in government. Anyway I see the cable news media seems to disapprove of Sarah. Guess Chrissy Matthews and Olbermann will now lose their erections.
Comment by madmax333 — 8/29/2008 @ 8:39 am
McCain, you magnificent bastard!!!!!
Comment by MartyH — 8/29/2008 @ 8:48 am
John McCain just earned my vote.
Comment by JD — 8/29/2008 @ 8:48 am
You KNOW she’s purple with rage right now. Especially since she knows McCain’s going to win.
This is just frosting on the CAKE!!
Comment by Dana — 8/29/2008 @ 8:50 am
The more the MSM tries to downgrade her, the better she comes off to the undecideds – this is really a checkpoint to Obama’s hopieness and changieness bloviations. “Where’s your Messiah now?”
Comment by Dmac — 8/29/2008 @ 8:51 am
All I can say is “wow.” I never expected JSM to go for a young, fresh woman – I thought he’d go with an established pol.
I could have lived with Pawlenty or Romney. But this is an exciting, fresh choice.
Nice to know she’s one of the people that killed the “Bridge to Nowhere.”
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 8:59 am
Incredible and brilliant. I first heard of her on this blog, and I was really, really charmed to read of her spending views.
She’s going to be great. Thrilling pick.
–JRM
Comment by JRM — 8/29/2008 @ 9:00 am
“Sarah Barracuda”…
According to Laura Ingraham, that was a nick-name she picked up in High-School!
Biden better be wearing body-armour – the hard stuff, as he’s going to need it.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 9:01 am
Fantastic pick not because she’s a woman (I hate that game.), but because she’s a tough, likeable conservative. Also, has anyone heard any of the long-winded BO worship that should have taken up at least the morning, if not the whole day? I have on CNN, and while they keep trying to find negatives, it’s still an All-Palin show. They have let me know McCain is old.
Comment by brobin — 8/29/2008 @ 9:03 am
If only McCain would have somehow leaked this pick right before Hillary’s speech at the Denver convention.
Comment by JVW — 8/29/2008 @ 9:03 am
No, I think he’s played this just right.
Think back to ‘92, when Bubba and the algore went immediately onto the road to gin-up support.
By making his VP pick today, McCain has taken the spotlight away from Obiden for the week-end –
and then he gets to go to St.Paul.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 9:08 am
I want some damn kudos, too…
Although it seems that I am one of many who made the prediction.
Awesome choice… awesome. Insofar as my primary interest in politics right now is seeing hell raised (I was hoping Clinton would come out of nowhere and hijack the convention, just for the pure craziness of it), I couldn’t hope for a better choice.
So much for Hillary’s conciliatory exhortations. Let’s see where her disgruntled female supporters go, now.
Comment by Leviticus — 8/29/2008 @ 9:15 am
I’m just saying that had we known then, Hillary’s whole spiel about “an historic event” and “breaking the glass ceiling” would have been highly ironic.
Comment by JVW — 8/29/2008 @ 9:16 am
“Sarah Barracuda” — ok, that’s possibly the best female nickname I’ve ever heard.
As to the ‘experience’ issue: she’s governor of a state that borders Russia. Russia. Let that word roll around your mouth a few times. How much executive experience do Obama and Biden have in dealing with Russia?
Heh. ..bruce..
Comment by bfwebster — 8/29/2008 @ 9:27 am
My first choice was Condi Rice, she has plenty of experience to be VP, but Sarah Palin is a fine choice and will get my support. Palin is an impressive candidate, and would be an excellent choice even without the gender appeal.
Sit back and enjoy the spectacle of Dems twisting themselves into absurd contradictions attacking Palin on her lack of experience, which will only remind everyone Obama can’t begin to match her on that issue.
Dems will have to rely on Joe Biden to beat Palin up in the VP debates. Biden will try to make her cry, he’s known for that. The Democrat’s stable of female character assassins will have to take the lead in attacking every ideal of American womanhood, as they try to stab a sister in the back for Obama and Biden , the two guys who just turned their backs on Hillary Clinton.
Obama and Biden, of course, will hide behind NOW’s skirts, the same skirts Bill Clinton hid behind while feminists sliced up Paula Jones. That sorry display will surely impress Islamic terrorists and Russian dictators.
This is going to be good, very good.
Comment by Ropelight — 8/29/2008 @ 9:27 am
JVW wrote: I’m just saying that had we known then, Hillary’s whole spiel about “an historic event” and “breaking the glass ceiling” would have been highly ironic.
I hope it doesn’t make me a bad person that every time someone talked about how the glass ceiling now has 18 million cracks in it, I imagined Bill Clinton saying to himself (in the style of Homer Simpson) “Mmmm…18 million cracks…”
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 9:28 am
Do you hear that?
Crickets chirping at Invesco field.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 9:30 am
Glad to see you guys so animated and excited about your party. For the first time this year, life has come into the Republican camp. Look at you: all elated, exuberant and gay. Never seen you guys so happy. This must be good.
Comment by love2008 — 8/29/2008 @ 9:30 am
Yes, we are happy that (it seems) FOR ONCE McCain hasn’t stabbed his finger in the eyes of the conservative base.
In fact, this choice is rather easy on the eyes.
Just sayin’…
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 9:33 am
Just be sure to put on fresh plastic gloves when you donut my donut, love2008. No cream or sugar for my coffee, thank you.
Comment by nk — 8/29/2008 @ 9:34 am
Yeah, pretty much. My feelings up until now have been pretty much summed up by a church marquee that my wife and I saw while driving through a small town a few weeks back: “If God had wanted us to vote, He would have given us candidates.”
The Palin pick will, I believe, tremendously energize the Republican base while bringing in independents. And I suspect McCain could hit it out of the park with a “one term and out” pledge at the GOP Convention, all but ensuring Palin the GOP candidacy in 2012. (Geez, are we really talking about 2012 already?) ..bruce..
Comment by bfwebster — 8/29/2008 @ 9:35 am
Ropelight wrote: My first choice was Condi Rice, she has plenty of experience to be VP
I agree that Rice has the resume — she kicks the crap outta Biden foreign policy-wise — but she’s got Bush around her neck like an albatross. It would hurt more than it would have helped McCain’s electability.
I’m listening to Palin on Rush. She’s just given me a flutter by mentioning hockey. COOL!
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 9:36 am
nk – LMFAO!!!
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 9:37 am
We’re goin’ to win!
We’re goin’ to win!
We’re goin’ to win!
We’re goin’ to win!
We’re goin’ to win!
How sweet it is!
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 9:41 am
I like Condi, too, for her strong stands (not so much as Sec’y State, though).
But she isn’t a politician. She’s a policy wonk. She’s good as a Sec’y State. She hasn’t shown what’s needed for a Prexy position.
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 9:41 am
Icy Truth: In fact, this choice is rather easy on the eyes.
Just sayin’…
I know what you mean.
H-o-w-e-v-e-r, it could be hazardous making too much of her being hot – it could … how can I say this nicely … uh … cause a backlash among the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuit crowd, if you know what I mean and I think you do.
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 9:42 am
Sarah Palin is on-stage now. Hearing her speak makes me proud of John McCain, the GOP, and all American women who have the personal integrity to see this magnificient candidate for the able leader she so obviously is. Sarah Palin is qualified for the VP spot. No question about it.
Comment by Ropelight — 8/29/2008 @ 9:43 am
I wonder whether Barack Be-runnin’-havin’-great-big-fun Obama will now throw Biden under the bus and get Oprah to change state of residence.
Comment by nk — 8/29/2008 @ 9:43 am
Awesome! As I type, Gov. Palin is making an all-out play for Hillary voters!
Comment by JVW — 8/29/2008 @ 9:44 am
She’s kicking Biden’s ass and they aren’t even in the same room yet!
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 9:45 am
L.N….
Yeh, jealosy is such a b….
Especially when one doesn’t wear a pantsuit.
What a stem-winder!
I think Slow-Joe just gagged on his lunch.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 9:46 am
love2008 facetiously wrote: Glad to see you guys so animated and excited about your party. For the first time this year, life has come into the Republican camp. Look at you: all elated, exuberant and gay. Never seen you guys so happy. This must be good.
What’s even better is that conservatives have a real reason to be excited: a leader, not a celebrity.
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 9:47 am
MSMBC couldn’t handle Sarah Palin, they went to commercial rather than cablecast the news. I do love it so.
Comment by Ropelight — 8/29/2008 @ 9:47 am
Icy Truth #50,
I really did not intend it that way — I was just mocking love2008′ incoherence and irrelevance — but I guess I have an evil subconscious.
Comment by nk — 8/29/2008 @ 9:48 am
ok……..my issue is Nanny Government and our rights slowly but surely being chipped away. I can’t really find where she stands on such things. Any suggestions?
Comment by Barb Durtche — 8/29/2008 @ 9:49 am
How do’ya love it?
Andrea Mitchell: “The campaign has just given up the experience argument.”
Fox News: “Of course she’s go foreign policy experience! Alaska is next to Russia!”
And then of course there’s a little scandal
Comment by JAR — 8/29/2008 @ 9:50 am
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 9:42 am
You made me laugh out loud.
I will say this about Senorita Pantsuit: she gave way with grace. That must have been the second-most difficult thing she’s had to deal with in her life.
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 9:50 am
L.N. Smithee (9:42 am)
That wasn’t me who said that, although I certainly share the sentiment. As for making too much of her being hot, beyond the blogosphere that simply is not going to happen. There will be a few within the lamestream media that will make something out of it, but it will not have legs (no pun intended).
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 9:51 am
And I suspect McCain could hit it out of the park with a “one term and out” pledge at the GOP Convention, all but ensuring Palin the GOP candidacy in 2012.
That is NOT a good idea. He would be instantly assigning himself lame duck status upon inauguration.
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 9:52 am
And since Justin Levine refuses comments, leading one to think he’s actually dishonest rather than simply dim.
Popular Science June 2008
Comment by JAR — 8/29/2008 @ 9:52 am
nk @ 9:48…
I denounce evil…
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 9:53 am
More info for JARhead….
and, if all of the North Polar Ice Cap melts, it will not raise the level of the world’s oceans one millimeter.
Plus, then it will be easier to resupply the North Slope of Alaska.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 9:55 am
JAR, you might do a bit of study about the volcanoes erupting in the Arctic. Here’s a start. Now it’s up to you. The ice cap is growing in Antarctica. When there is farming on Greenland, as there was in 1300, I’ll start to worry about global warming.
Comment by Mike K — 8/29/2008 @ 9:56 am
Right now Hillary is promising to campaign for Obama this fall. She’s telling him that she will visit New York, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Hollywood, the Hamptons (but only until next week), Miami, Hawaii, Hilton Head, and Martha’s Vineyard on his behalf. He can deal with the flyover states himself.
Comment by JVW — 8/29/2008 @ 9:56 am
Weren’t the passes in the Alps snow free at some time in the known past, say about 2000 or so years ago? Wouldn’t that speak to a warmer climate that also might include ice-free regions in the Arctic?
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 9:57 am
“…When there is farming on Greenland…”
Why worry, that’s the time to be looking into some great real-estate deals there.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 9:58 am
Mason JAR -
Have you managed to grab ahold of any of those straws you’ve been grasping at, yet?
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 9:59 am
There goes “The Experience” argument. Glad to know how scared you all were. Experience was not going to be enough to win it, so there.
Comment by love2008 — 8/29/2008 @ 9:59 am
Icy…
You’re too kind to JARhead.
A Mason Jar actually serves a purpose.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 10:00 am
ok……..my issue is Nanny Government and our rights slowly but surely being chipped away. I can’t really find where she stands on such things. Any suggestions?
Comment by Barb Durtche
Read about her career. My blog has some of the links. She cut spending and property taxes when she was Mayor of Wasilla. Do you know how hard that is ? I’ve been in small city government.
Comment by Mike K — 8/29/2008 @ 10:01 am
McCain has had one major problem with his campaign and that is that the conservative base has been somewhat iffy about him. Without solid support “get out the vote” efforts and connecting with Evangelicals has prevented him from being able to count on holding states Bush won in 2004.
Choosing Palin goes a long way toward healing that rift and will probably galvanize the base in a big way.
Beyond that it addresses the disenchanted Hillary supporters. There is an underreported undercurrent among women in the 45+ age groups that they have been passed by yet again and the glass ceiling is still solid. Estimates are as high as 25% of these voters are considering not voting for Obama or switching to McCain. Even if only half of these voters sat it out Obama would be scrambling to make up 2 million votes nation wide — not an easy trick with an unabashed liberal agenda in regards to taxes and position on abortion.
The GOP base took six months to get used to a McCain candidacy. Democrats have only 67 days to heal their rift – something McCain won’t make easy.
Who knows… Palin/Jindal in 2012 or 2016 may be the GOP ticket.
Comment by voiceofreason2 — 8/29/2008 @ 10:02 am
Anyone who’s already had their breakfast, tune into Andrea Mitchell, MSNBC, listen to the horror, the horror, she’s working so hard to hide, and not doing a very good job of it.
Comment by Ropelight — 8/29/2008 @ 10:02 am
Actually, that “first time in recorded history” only means since 1979, when we started monitoring the North Pole via satellite. There are historical records showing very little ice at the North Pole during a period back in the 1930s. Go check out the actual monitoring and figures at Climate Audit. ..bruce..
Comment by bfwebster — 8/29/2008 @ 10:02 am
bfwebster…
Would that clear-ice period just happen to coincide with the warmest years on record in the 20th-Century?
Oh my Gawd! What a ….ing coincidence!
The Dems should throw algore under the bus, but they’ve run out of room.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 10:06 am
As opposed to Biden helping cause the Mortgage crash, Obama’s buddy Ayers, Obama’s complete and total lack of experiance…
Yeah, it were Palin vs Obama, maybe you’d have something…
If it wasn’t for the fact that she’s actually run something, while Obama has… Ummm…
Oh yeah. Hope and Change…
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 8/29/2008 @ 10:07 am
love2008 — 8/29/2008 @ 9:59 am
How exactly does the news today change the discussion of experience re: McCain v. Obama?
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 10:09 am
Theme Song for McCain/Palin:
James Brown, I FEEL GOOD!
Comment by Ropelight — 8/29/2008 @ 10:09 am
Sorry, everyone. I inadvertently closed comments by updating. Some sort of Treo-related glitch.
Comments are open again. DRJ, could you please delete JAR’s off-topic comment and every comment that responds to it?
Comment by Patterico — 8/29/2008 @ 11:18 am
Thanks, Patterico.
What a great day for Repubs. Am sure there’s going to be a big bounce in McCain donations this weekend. *writes check*
Whoo hoo – Go McCain/Palin!
Comment by no one you know — 8/29/2008 @ 11:28 am
Now this is the kind of change that I like.
Comment by JD — 8/29/2008 @ 11:29 am
Nominating a hot chick for VP is an insult to Islam.
Comment by Perfect Sense — 8/29/2008 @ 11:30 am
“She knows when to stand up and doesn’t let anyone tell her to sit down…She’s exactly who I need, she’s exactly who this country needs…”
And if she can straighten him out on climate change and immigration it could be a blow out.
Comment by jeff — 8/29/2008 @ 11:37 am
Reveling in Palin’s choice takes some punch out of Republicans criticism of Obama’s inexperience. Democrats will recognize this; Republicans will ignore it.
Any criticism of Palin by Democrats for her inexperience is asking for a comparison to Obama. Republicans will recognize it; Democrats will ignore it.
There’s not much difference. Obama has (a little) national experience. Palin has (a little) executive experience.
The main difference is, Obama is at the top of his ticket.
Comment by Patterico — 8/29/2008 @ 11:37 am
First impression: We always knew the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt would return one day. We just never knew it would look so good.
Comment by ras — 8/29/2008 @ 11:38 am
Wow! “I felt a thrill run up my leg” when
McCain announced Sara Palin, the Gov. of
Alaska. She has more executive Exp. than
Barack Obama or Sen. Biden. I just made a contribution,the highest level of support & participation. No insider! No Washingtonian!
Wow!
Comment by Elvis HEster — 8/29/2008 @ 11:40 am
Perfect Sense -
Nominating a hot chick for VP is an insult to Islam.
– And therefore an insult to the Muslim candidate?
Bigot!
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 11:43 am
Haven’t read all the comments, so I don’t know whether anyone has said this:
I was on the fence about McCain. In fact, I was thinking of not voting at all.
But this action has convinced me. Not because Palin’s a woman, at least not directly so. No, what it has showed me is that McCain is willing to make a bold move. Obama played it safe and chose a plain-vanilla running mate. McCain took a huge stretch on this.
Many years ago, probably around 1990, I told my mother-in-law that the first female President of the US would be a Republican Vice President who succeeded a departed President. Not that I’d wish any ill on McCain, but this pick may prove me correct.
Comment by Steverino — 8/29/2008 @ 11:43 am
“Departing” could mean “John McCain flying away by helicopter to his retirement in Sedona after serving two full terms in office, waving good-bye to Sarah Palin, first woman President of the United States.”
It could happen.
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 11:48 am
Campaign slogans (I plagiarize myself):
No-bama – Vote Baby Mama!
Sarah Palin – She Changes Her Children’s Diapers, and Joe Biden’s Too
Sarah Palin – Are You Really Going To Vote Them Down Twice In One Year?
– “them” being women of course.
McCain/Palin – Vote For The Non-Sexist Ticket
Maverick/Outsider vs. Marxist/Insider – You Decide
Experince/Youth vs. Youth/Experience – Which One Would YOU Rather See First?
I WOULD Kick Joe Biden Out Of The Bed
– I denounce myself 10 million (to the power of infinity) times. [See how I still chickened out and wrote "the bed" instead of "my bed"?]
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 11:50 am
In retrospect, a tip o’ the hat” to Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Personally, I think that she simultaneously opened the door for both African Americans and women in federal executive government. She had difficulties, to be sure, but few thought her incompetent either by race or gender. Whoever wins this election will have at least one foot upon “Condi’s” shoulder(s).
And regarding Gov. Palin as VP? As the current saying goes, I can now “vote for McCain without holding my nose”.
Comment by C. Norris — 8/29/2008 @ 11:52 am
Ropelight @ 10:09…
I was going to throw this in before PP inadvertantly slammed the gate shut, so…
I FEEL GOOD! was Rush’s theme of the day on the Wednesday following the election in ‘94. I think he wore out a dozen tapes/etc. he played it so hard.
It is still appropriate.
Thank you.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 11:54 am
Scott Jacobs,
But with 10 years of executive experiance, running a state.
Gov. Palin has only been running the state for two years. Where did her other executive experience come from?
Comment by aphrael — 8/29/2008 @ 11:58 am
This really does open up a lot of interesting possibilities. For example, what if McCain simply decides to stop after one term (not wishing him ill, but people have suggested he limit his terms).
It’s a reasonable possibility that there could be women at the top of both parties’ tickets for 2012.
Not saying it’s going to happen, but it’s a heck of a lot more likely than it was 24 hours ago.
Comment by Phil — 8/29/2008 @ 11:58 am
what if McCain simply decides to stop after one term
– What if Jesus comes back and names Bambi as HIS chosen successor?
What? The odds are closer than you might think.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 12:05 pm
Well, she was a mayor. That’s also executive experience.
Even so, she has more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket.
Comment by Steverino — 8/29/2008 @ 12:06 pm
Icy – Excellent: Sarah Palin – Are You Really Going To Vote Them Down Twice In One Year?
Comment by ROA — 8/29/2008 @ 12:08 pm
Steverino: I’ll grant that she has more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket. However, I’ll argue with the “10 years of experience, running a state” claim.
Comment by aphrael — 8/29/2008 @ 12:24 pm
I must admit I was impressed when I learned of this for about a 30 seconds before I realized what an outright insult this was to the very women McCain is trying to hoodwink.
John McCain must think Democratic women are gullible idiots. Talk about a trojan horse. It makes him seem desperate and defensive and goes to show that they McCain campaign is taking their cues more from the Dems then from the GOP.
1. She is no Hillary Clinton. She’s more like a “Geraldine Quayle”.
2. Voting her and McCain in would be a HUGE step backwards for women in this country.
*Write even bigger check to Obama/Biden 2008*
[Peter, is that you? Please use a consistent name when you post or you will go back in moderation. -- DRJ]
Comment by Torquil — 8/29/2008 @ 12:24 pm
Obama: Is Alaska the 56th or 57th state?
Comment by Perfect Sense — 8/29/2008 @ 12:34 pm
It’s not a state at all, according to the Obama campaign’s petty press release. It’s just a city of 9,000 people, and she’s the mayor.
Comment by Xrlq — 8/29/2008 @ 12:36 pm
I love that argument: Sarah Palin has just as much experience as Barack Obama to be the vice-president. LOL.
Comment by bio mom — 8/29/2008 @ 12:37 pm
She and her husband also run a commercial fishing business. I think this will really help McCain and the Obamabots can’t squeal too loud about experience.
Comment by Mike K — 8/29/2008 @ 12:40 pm
If America is attacked by an enemy, BHO’s first instinct will be to find a way to negotiate; he’s said as much. The instincts of McCain and Palin, (and, hell, Biden) would be to fight back. It’s an easy choice.
Comment by gp — 8/29/2008 @ 12:45 pm
#96 Licey Doof
Sarah Palin – She Changes Her Children’s Diapers, and Joe Biden’s Too
McCain depends on Sarah Palin…to Change His Depends!
Sarah Palin – Are You Really Going To Vote Them Down Twice In One Year?
– “them” being women of course.
Why Sarah Palin? – Because McCain Thinks PUMA Women Are His Bit*hes…
McCain/Palin – Vote For The Non-Sexist Ticket
McCain/Palin – Vote For The Ticket That Will Take Away Your Right To Choose.
Maverick/Outsider vs. Marxist/Insider – You Decide
NeoCon Shill who’s flipped on everything he once believed/”Geraldine Quayle” vs. a Genius Visionary/Genius Pragmatist (who don’t want to set women back a half century) – You Decide.
Experince/Youth vs. Youth/Experience – Which One Would YOU Rather See First?
Experience being a POW/Youthful Trojan Horse vs. Youthful Genius/Real Experience with Foreign Policy – Which One Would YOU Rather See First?
I WOULD Kick Joe Biden Out Of The Bed
You Would Get Kicked in the Head by Joe Biden if You Went anywhere near him.
Comment by Torquil — 8/29/2008 @ 12:55 pm
Hey, the gal has more experience than Obama– and she’s not a Marxist!
She’s pro-life, pro-gun, pro-drilling, and on top of it all she’s pretty!
Comment by Foxfier — 8/29/2008 @ 12:57 pm
and the horse’s ass contingent is heard from. “HUGE step backwards for women”??? A woman who went against the establishment to win the governorship and who espouses conservative values like pro-life is bad for women? Get your head out of Obama’s ass. When I turned on the tube earlier today, the I-wanna-copulate-Obama media was denigrating Palin with Obambi talking points. Andrea Mitchell sure looked pissed off. WHAT expereince does Obambi have other than voting present, hiring legions of lawyers to sue his way to prior victories, skill in front of a teleprompter,etc.? So the world loves him- pity they don’t have a vote. Fact is Palin has more executive experience than the three senators combined and pray tell what foreign policy does obambi possess at all, other than negotiating with the Krauts about where he might speak in Berlin? All of Torquil and friends’ money isn’t going to be enough to buy him the WH. Bwaahhhhh!
Comment by madmax333 — 8/29/2008 @ 1:01 pm
Serves me right for having run out of popcorn the other day.
The biggest loser today is not The One. The biggest loser is the GOP establishment. This is the beginning of the flushing out of the milquetoast panderers. The future is Jindal and Palin. Thank God.
HRC is screwed two ways. One, as Rush gleefully shared, is that she has now been abandoned for another woman – again. The second is that if Palin is elected VP, she becomes the face of the woman’s ceiling-busting movement. No longer can HRC count on an anointing in 2012 if BHO loses this election.
Sorry for the length, but I just saw an NYU marketing professor intoning how the choice forces the GOP to justify picking an inexperienced candidate after having excoriated BHO for the same. Poor, poor, professor. With every appearance, she reminds all the voters that at the TOP of the Dem ticket, lies a dangerously naive fool. Dear professor, tell me again which party has to make that sale?
Man, time to go to Costco for the industrial size popcorn pack.
Comment by Ed — 8/29/2008 @ 1:02 pm
Patterico wrote:
Dems should be reminded that Palin — unlike Obama — has a record to run on. Her past is an open book.
OTOH, Obama, as his “new politics” acceptance speech was being prepared, had his minions slandering the reputation of a scholarly anthropologist (Stanley Kurtz), spamming the email and jamming the telephone lines of a Chicago radio station on which he was a guest Tuesday night (after his campaign HQ refused to send a representative to tell their side). Why? Because Obama wants to CLOSE the book on his past.
Bill Clinton, in his speech Wednesday, lowered the bar to the floor. He suggested that false concerns about his lack of experience in 1992 was the equivalent of concern about Obama’s lack in 2008. Slick ran Arkansas for six years; Palin has run Alaska for two. Obama hasn’t run anything but his mouth.
Even if Palin’s only one-third as qualified as Clinton was, that still leaves Obama at ZERO.
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 1:03 pm
The best news I’ve heard all year. I think Obama is toast. Biden certainly will be.
Comment by driver — 8/29/2008 @ 1:06 pm
“2. Voting her and McCain in would be a HUGE step backwards for women in this country.”
Not at all .. unless you are a women who likes to kill her own unborn children.
This attack on a woman as ‘anti-woman’ because she let her own down syndrome child live is (shudder) creeeeepy.
Comment by Travis Monitor — 8/29/2008 @ 1:08 pm
Hey, our buddy Torque Wrench is back. And he’s torqued!
I would really appreciate if you could explain this, Torquil. It would be a step backwards…HOW?
Be specific. Don’t chicken out.
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 1:12 pm
This attack on a woman as ‘anti-woman’ because she let her own down syndrome child live is (shudder) creeeeepy.
Comment by Travis Monitor — 8/29/2008 @ 1:08 pm
Amen.
Comment by Foxfier — 8/29/2008 @ 1:16 pm
I’ve updated the post with a link to Ann Althouse’s live-blog of Palin’s introduction and speech.
Comment by DRJ — 8/29/2008 @ 1:18 pm
To be fair, all conservatives think Democratic women are gullible idiots.
Comment by grs — 8/29/2008 @ 1:20 pm
Those 18 million cracks in the ceiling? Well, they just called and cancelled their subscriptions.
“Geraldine Quayle” is no ones idea of breaking the glass ceiling for women, except someone as politically tone deaf as JM. They won’t for her anymore than they would vote for Leiberman or Romney or Pawlenty.
Check and mate.
Although granted, McHousey wins the news cycle. Well done sir, well done….now watch how quickly he gets eviscerated for this transparent ploy.
PUMA women were going to vote for Obama anyway, but this is just the insult they need to do it with conviction.
Comment by Torquil — 8/29/2008 @ 1:23 pm
This attack on a woman, as anti-woman, because she would let her die, before aborting a baby, or a teenage girl die before gettin permission from her parents when time is of the essence to save her life is moral, ethical, compassionate and respectful of women’s right to have jurisdiction over their own bodies and souls.
But apparently McCain would sell the soul of his own mother, daughter and wife (one he’s already deep sixed for self gain BTW) to be POTUS.
And Palin is beneath contempt, for daring to compare herself this morning to even being in the same sphere of ability as Hillary Clinton.
Pathetic.
Comment by Torquil — 8/29/2008 @ 1:29 pm
Really, is there a better indication of how good a pick this is than the extent to which certain trolls are going nuts over it?
I say no.
Comment by Anon — 8/29/2008 @ 1:32 pm
And Palin is beneath contempt, for daring to compare herself this morning to even being in the same sphere of ability as Hillary Clinton.
Pathetic.
Comment by Torquil — 8/29/2008 @ 1:29 pm
I’d really like to find out how their records compare as to true reaching across the aisle (Palin’s appointed independents and Democrats, unless I’m mistaken, and worked with them in other ways, as well, as Hillary as, correct?)
And…I’m sorry, how many years was Hillary Clinton an executive? Has she ever run a state?
Also, didn’t one of the co-bloggers just tell you you needed to keep to one screen name?
Comment by no one you know — 8/29/2008 @ 1:33 pm
Really, is there a better indication of how good a pick this is than the extent to which certain trolls are going nuts over it?
I say no.
Comment by Anon — 8/29/2008 @ 1:32 pm
“Lunch and no cleanup – can life get better? I submit that it canNOT!” –Brian Regan
Comment by no one you know — 8/29/2008 @ 1:35 pm
“10 years of experience, running a state”
aphrael, you have to realize that in Alaska, you build experience quickly;
The days are much longer there!
//chuckle, chuckle//
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 1:37 pm
Torquil wrote: Those 18 million cracks in the ceiling? Well, they just called and cancelled their subscriptions.
A-A-A-A-AND THAT’S OUR WEIRD MIXED METAPHOR OF THE DAY!
Tune in Monday to Bad Taste Bobby and Nutbag Ned and the rest of the Morning Asylum and be the tenth caller when they ask, “What was Friday’s Weird Mixed Metaphor of the Day?” and win a gift certificate to the Waffle House along with your own Barack Obama “Why Can’t I Just Eat My Waffle?” T-shirt!
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 1:38 pm
The only thing Hill has run, besides her mouth, is Bubba.
And he runs as far as he can away from her.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 1:39 pm
Torquil is in moderation until I figure out who he is.
Comment by DRJ — 8/29/2008 @ 1:39 pm
Torquil — who is apparently close to OD’ing on NyQuil — wrote:
Dude, I hope you aren’t operating heavy machinery.
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 1:41 pm
Hmmm…I wonder how many “PUMAs” are “cougars.” Just a thought…
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 1:44 pm
One hopes the possible sock puppet had enough foresight to change PCs to show different IP address. Of course the moonbats will say it may be the same IP for thousands of computers.
Love how the media jumped out with Obama talking points putting down Palin. I hope she shows up Biden for the diarrhea of the mouth attack dog scoundrel/wrong over and over on Iraq crapweasel that he is.
Comment by madmax333 — 8/29/2008 @ 1:45 pm
max…
You’re getting too, too moderate in your descriptions.
Please, tell us how you really feel.
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 1:52 pm
Hillary Clinton has issued a statement on Sarah Palin and I’ve added it as Update 4.
Comment by DRJ — 8/29/2008 @ 1:57 pm
Right.
Hillary came to power on the back of her husband. Sarah Palin climbed the ranks and became governor in her own right.
Comment by akm — 8/29/2008 @ 1:59 pm
[...] this just keeps getting better: her nickname as Governor is “Sarah Barracuda”. Apparently she first had that nickname in high school, but it’s come back during her [...]
Pingback by Woot! It’s Gov. Sarah “Barracuda” Palin! | And Still I Persist — 8/29/2008 @ 2:10 pm
[...] Patterico is also happy, and provides a link to a great Beldar piece, with great Palin [...]
Pingback by Amused Cynic » Blog Archive » Joe “Pit Bull” Biden…meet Sarah “Barracuda” Palin…. — 8/29/2008 @ 2:12 pm
And fairly so. I indeed err’d.
Enjoy it. All yer getting from me, bubba.
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 8/29/2008 @ 2:22 pm
My respect for Hillary has grown another notch. She was graceful and while pointing out her differences, noted that it was JOHN MCCAIN who picked a woman and not the Democrat Party.
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 2:27 pm
I admire Hillary’s gracious response, especially since it must be her worst nightmare.
Comment by DRJ — 8/29/2008 @ 2:41 pm
I can’t count how many times I’ve heard/read “no foreign policy experience” today, and I just have to wonder:
- Obama’s foreign policy is what exactly?
- How can you govern Alaska without dealing with Russia and Canada on some level, especially given that Alaska doesn’t even border the USA?
And the Obama statement ridiculing flyover country by insulting towns of 9000 was a nice bonus touch for the elitists over there. I can’t wait to see the debates.
Comment by carlitos — 8/29/2008 @ 2:52 pm
freudian slip, Obama’s “foreign policy” should be “foreign policy experience” Although I could ask what his foreign policy is as well – perhaps a platform to join the EU or something…
Comment by carlitos — 8/29/2008 @ 2:53 pm
I found my first thing to be turned off about re: Palin — watching her acceptance speech, she mentioned that her son is serving in the armed forces and a cheer went up in the crowd, and then a really loud “USA, USA, USA” sorta like a sports team chant started. The only time they chanted like was about the war.
This is what really pisses me off about the neocon perspective, and what keeps pushing me back to Obama, even though I disagree with a lot of his liberal economic policies. It’s the attitude that foreign policy is a fun, kick-ass action movie or spectator sport. The attitude that the U.S. is supposed to swagger around the globe forcing everyone to be exactly the kind of country we want them to.
This isn’t about the armed forces themselves, of course, most of whom as far as I can tell don’t feel that way at all. It’s primarily a spectator attitude from what I’ve seen; unfortunately, the Republican party has become the party of war cheerleaders.
Comment by Phil — 8/29/2008 @ 3:04 pm
More likely annexation by Kenya or Indonesia.
Comment by nk — 8/29/2008 @ 3:05 pm
the Republican party has become the party of war cheerleaders
And the Democratic Party has become the best client of San Francisco “sex workers”.
Comment by nk — 8/29/2008 @ 3:07 pm
We cheer for the military, not war. There’s a difference.
Comment by DRJ — 8/29/2008 @ 3:08 pm
I should qualify that Palin herself wasn’t leading the fight-song chants. Actually, she went straight to reading off the teleprompter when she talked about war and fighting and how McCain will be such a great military leader. But why is the war the only thing Republicans are excited about in this election?
I’d have loved to see the audience chant “USA, USA, USA” as Palin talked about shrinking government and cutting taxes. Sadly, no. Just the war.
Comment by Phil — 8/29/2008 @ 3:10 pm
aphrael, you have to realize that in Alaska, you build experience quickly;
The days are much longer there!
Even better! This means that Gov. Palin has only been governor for a couple of weeks, right?
Comment by aphrael — 8/29/2008 @ 3:18 pm
They chanted because he volunteered at 18 to be an infantry grunt, not because they like a’killin’ things…
Comment by Scott Jacobs — 8/29/2008 @ 3:20 pm
Phil, three questions:
1. How is Sarah to blame for that?
2. What would be your preferred reaction to that sort of statement?
(This is what I’m getting at – On the one hand, a Republican doesn’t have a kid who’s willing to go in the Army? – Chickenhawk – On the other hand, a Republican does have a kid who’s willing to go to the Army and Republicans cheer it? – You’re a militaristic booster who treats foreign policy like a videogame.)
3. What’s a neocon? (sorry, I realize this is a little cheap, but neo-con up until Bush had one meaning: leftwingers (especially socialists and communists from the 40s) who moved rightward. Today, I believe it has another meaning: every conservative except Pat Buchanan.)
Comment by Anon — 8/29/2008 @ 3:20 pm
*snort* Good one.
I like Palin so far, but that was funny!
Comment by Stashiu3 — 8/29/2008 @ 3:21 pm
“The attitude that the U.S. is supposed to swagger around the globe forcing everyone to be exactly the kind of country we want them to.”
We’re not inclined to do anything, in fact – but it’s only when the rest of the world deigns to do absolutely nothing is when we have to send in the Marines. The rest of the Western world has negligible armies to speak of, and even more reluctance to ever use them in a time of crisis. So when they go to the UN and then complain that it’s a waste of time (quel surprise), guess who always ends up taking the weight for their everlasting fecklessness? Their Daddy and Mommy – the ones they know will always come to clean up the messes they can’t. We didn’t ask to be the world’s policeman – the teenagers running the rest of Europe made us that way. We sacrifice our blood and treasure to help keep the world safe, while our erstwhile critics sit back and hold meetings in Brussels to try to figure out what kind of position statement to craft in response to atrocities and criminal acts committed against the helpless and the powerless.
Comment by Dmac — 8/29/2008 @ 3:26 pm
Patterico….
I’ve got to say that it’s not a homer, it’s GRAND SLAM! This was a head shot to the Obama/Biden campaign, and their first response was “WWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!”, and now they are trying to make nicey-nice…
I hope McCain/Palin rives the point home that HOPEY/CHANGEY ain’t the way to go.
6 hours later and I’m still crying over the choice…UFB!
Comment by fmfnavydoc — 8/29/2008 @ 3:35 pm
#105, “…the very women McCain is trying to hoodwink.”
I could not let such illtempered hogwash go unanswered. Sarcasim follows.
Shame on Democrats for picking an African-American candidate. It shows how willing they are to get down in the gutter and pander to the uneducated and least intelligent among us.
Dems are attempting to foist an unqualified racist pretender on an unsuspecting public in order to destroy the national parks, kill unborn babies, and polute the ocean seas. What scum!
No self respecting black person in America is so stupid as to fall for such a cheap stunt. Shame on Democrats for using a young man, who happens to be of mixed ancestry, to further their Marxist agenda. Shame on Democrats for trying to hoodwink Uncle Sam.
Comment by Ropelight — 8/29/2008 @ 4:00 pm
Peter Torq-uil (finally I get to do a Monkees joke) -
John McCain must think Democratic women are gullible idiots. Talk about a trojan horse.
– Who says that his choice is an attempt to draw votes from Democratic women?
It makes him seem desperate and defensive and goes to show that they McCain campaign is taking their cues more from the Dems then from the GOP.
– What a surprise. You took the criticisms leveled at Obama for choosing Biden and turned them on McCain. How creative.
She is no Hillary Clinton. She’s more like a “Geraldine Quayle”.
– Is this where we compare Quayle’s experience with Obama’s?
Voting her and McCain in would be a HUGE step backwards for women in this country.
– I’m thinkin’ that regardless of political affiliation most women will not feel that way.
*Write even bigger check to Obama/Biden 2008*
– By all means, you give them as much money as the law allows.
Licey Doof
– I’ll give you credit for trying to be a good sport. So-so at best on the results.
Those 18 million cracks in the ceiling? Well, they just called and cancelled their subscriptions.
– What is that supposed to mean? They’re all giving up and telling themselves (and each other), “Maybe next time”?
PUMA women were going to vote for Obama anyway, but this is just the insult they need to do it with conviction.
– Why do I have the feeling that it will mainly be liberal men that label this an insult to women?
This attack on a woman, as anti-woman, because she would let her die, before aborting a baby, or a teenage girl die before gettin permission from her parents when time is of the essence
– Is lying like this catharctic? or has it just become an irreversible habit?
And Palin is beneath contempt, for daring to compare herself this morning to even being in the same sphere of ability as Hillary Clinton.
– The secular disease of deifying mere mortals continues.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 4:01 pm
Cautionary note to Slo-Joe Biden:
Barracuda’s have sharp teeth, and they’re quick, too!
Comment by Another Drew — 8/29/2008 @ 4:19 pm
Hi DRJ,
Oh how quickly quickly, those with disparate political views are ushered into “moderation” (koff..censorship…koff…on a right wing site..koff…go figure…koff koff…yeah I nead to quit smoking, what’s it to you anyhow? Koff.), AKA known as the Free Speech Zone. Yet, so many little indians round these here parts are misbehaving little buggers, who somehow never get the proverbial slap on the wrist simply cos they’re fellow travelers.
Torquil is my GF and we share a Wi-fi connection. She’s quite the pistol, no?
Oh and BTW, far as I know, I’m still in moderation with no end in sight I guess, so I’m not sure what you mean by “going back” into moderation. Lady, I never even left. LOL.
Oh well, you guys will miss me when I tire of waiting for my comments to be inspected and allowed to come up.
As for Ms. Torquil she called you all a very nasty word, I won’t repeat here, and says she doesn’t want to be part of a board that will censor her passionate views.
What can I do?
I told her you guys weren’t all that bad, and are occasionally, even somewhat entertaining in that way clowns have of being when an endless stream of them piles happily out of a tiny tiny tiny automobile on after the other.
But she said she “doesn’t do clowns.”
*Shrug*
Comment by Peter — 8/29/2008 @ 4:20 pm
Phil, you really need to quit confusing your fantasy life with actual people’s opinions. People cheered Palin because they are proud of our military’s fine work. The crap you post about neocons is nothing but some bile from the dark crevices of your mind.
Comment by SPQR — 8/29/2008 @ 4:22 pm
Over at the Daily Kos swamp they’re foaming over a supposed rumor that Governor Palin’s daughter actually gave birth to the child with Downs syndrome and that Sarah is claiming the child as hers. A big cover up, you see. Whether Ron Paul and the Truthers are buying into this, I don’t know.
But let’s see whether the MSM gives Palin the benefit of the doubt as they say they did with the other “baby” story…the Edwards affair. We shall wee.
Comment by PC14 — 8/29/2008 @ 4:25 pm
PC14, some really sick people evidently.
Comment by SPQR — 8/29/2008 @ 4:56 pm
Peter – 8/29/2008 @ 4:20 PM:
Peter,
As you may know, Patterico has a rule that people must use consistent identities when commenting. Torquil’s first two comments came from the same IP address as yours and went into moderation, which is where I found them. She later reposted the same comments using slightly different information and they went through. It’s not unheard of for two people to post using the same IP address but it is unusual, so I put a hold on Torquil’s comments until I could clarify what was going on.
I appreciate your explanation and I’ve removed my hold. It’s up to Patterico to release his hold on your comments. I also apologize to Torquil for my mistake but I’m content with her decision to avoid this website.
Comment by DRJ — 8/29/2008 @ 5:02 pm
As for Ms. Torquil she called you all a very nasty word, I won’t repeat here, and says she doesn’t want to be part of a board that will censor her passionate views.
– How ladylike.
But she said she “doesn’t do clowns.”
– We beg to differ.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 5:16 pm
Thomas Ellers and Rick Ellensburg just emailed me and vouched for Torquil and Peter.
“They’re ok. I swear.”, said Ellers.
“They’re ok. I swear.”, said Ellensburg.
I’m convinced.
Comment by Stashiu3 — 8/29/2008 @ 5:31 pm
Peter/Torquil –
Do you even understand that posting from the same IP using different names smacks of sock-puppetry?
And it’s perfectly reasonable to doubt the existence of two people sharing the same IP?
This is the same situation as with Gleenwald and his sock puppets. You might want to look at the Patterico Archives on how that went on this site, and you may appreciate the reluctance of this site to simply believe that two different people are posting from the same IP address.
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 5:36 pm
Oh how quickly quickly, those with disparate political views are ushered into “moderation”
Um, compared to which leftwing site?
If tossing out comments like “McCain would sell the soul of his own mother” and stuff about changing Depends is what counts for insightful commentary among liberals, it says more about liberals and your girlfriend than it does this site.
I hope you think your side’s capable of more than this, but if you don’t – I won’t argue. If that’s all the thought and analysis you two put into forming your positions, so be it.
She’s not really adding anything to the debate other than comments that look as though she is physically shouting at her computer to let everybody know how angry she is. I don’t really care or see that as being much of a loss and I doubt many people here do.
Comment by Anon — 8/29/2008 @ 5:36 pm
Plus – called us names? Like that is supposed to somehow be the ne plus ultra of all comebacks?
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 5:38 pm
When McCain picked Sarah Palin,
The liberals started to wailin’
This he can’t do,
’cause she’s so new,
But Barack’s campaign now is flailin.’
Comment by The Limerick Avenger — 8/29/2008 @ 5:39 pm
Phil wrote:
A comment of mine from a thread earlier this month:
Whether you are proud or ashamed of it, it’s a fact: America became what it is because of its military might and the willingness of Presidents such as Monroe, Tyler, and Polk (partial list) to stretch the boundaries of the fledgling U.S. of A. from the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Coast and beyond. While its days of expansionism are well in the past, America is still the world’s premier superpower, if not its only one. Those who suggest that the world would be a better place if the U.S. abdicated its superpower status never seem to be able to answer which entity that would fill the vacuum would improve the prospects for a more peaceful planet.
Should he be elected, Barack Obama will take the oath of office requiring him to protect the nation from its enemies, and may have to decide whether or not to send American soldiers into places such as Pakistan (as he has already stated for the record he would), Sudan, Iran, Georgia, perhaps even North Korea, Taiwan or — if worse comes to worst — Russia. If you think he’ll be able to talk his way out of Putin/Medvedev’s drive toward a Soviet renaissance, congratulations on being able to surf the net while dreaming.
You seem to be suggesting that McCain has a Xbox gamer’s approach to war, when he knows more than Obama can ever imagine what war is really about. Yeah, there’s some more “milk” for Jimmy Carter, but consider what happened when Carter — who I’ll never be able to prove is a closet pacifist, but I believe it nonetheless — couldn’t countenance standing up for the corrupt Shah of Iran, and mistakenly thought “Ayatollah Khomeini” was Arabic for “Mahatma Gandhi.”
I don’t, however, know what “swagger around the globe” attitude you’re talking about in this day and age. I can think of situations in the past that could fit that description: Reagan with Lebanon, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Grenada; George H.W. Bush with Iraq, Panama and Somalia; Bill Clinton and Somalia, Haiti, Sudan, and Serbia/Kosovo. OTOH, George W. Bush was faced with the most devastating attack on America in its history months after taking office. A military response not only was warranted, it would have been a dereliction of his duty as Commander-in-Chief not to retaliate. People can debate the strategy, the tactics, or the venues, but to suggest that America’s strutting its soldiers more under Bush’s “neocons” just doesn’t jibe with the facts.
.:*Sigh*:. That’s just silly.
Comment by L.N. Smithee — 8/29/2008 @ 5:41 pm
But she said she “doesn’t do clowns.”
Oh, and BTW, my girlfriend (who looks like Megyn Kelly with a $100 million trust fund and who is a world renowned cardiovascular surgeon) just said to say she thinks you all are awesome and she would make out with any one of you if she wasn’t dating me (what can I say? I’m “the best she’s ever had”). So there.
Comment by Anon — 8/29/2008 @ 5:44 pm
Peter,
Ever try disagreeing with the moderators on a liberal site, genius? Try it and see how quickly you’re banned forever, NOT just placed in moderation.
IOW, take your partisan hypocrisy and choke on it.
Also, tell your blow-up-doll “girlfriend” that when she can figure out how to engage us on the issues like a grownup instead of a screaming idiot brat, she’s more than welcome to return.
Comment by qdpsteve — 8/29/2008 @ 5:46 pm
Joe Biden asked, “Who’s this chick Sarah?
Could this story really be an error?”
He had to hesitate
Didn’t want to debate
A woman who filled him with terror.
Comment by The Limerick Avenger — 8/29/2008 @ 5:48 pm
“Torquil is my GF and we share a Wi-fi connection. She’s quite the pistol, no?”
I have yet to meet anyone whose wife or husband (or other) posts on the same blogs, except their own shared site. My experiences at other political blogs is that the perp is always exposed as just another form in the guise of sock puppetry. You’ve been found out, douchebag – now take your medicine and admit it, rather than keep claiming that others are posting in your own name. What kind of coward are you, anyway?
Comment by Dmac — 8/29/2008 @ 5:48 pm
I can see a scenario where two wonks share the same Wi-Fi connection in the apartment using their laptops, but I can’t imagine how that would be any fun in conversation. Do they talk to each other live, or are they using Facebook or IM?
Comment by steve miller — 8/29/2008 @ 5:52 pm
Hill’ry Clinton’s anger had quelled,
But now she’s starting to yell,
“If they had picked me,
Who’d hear of SP?
Now Obama will be a tough sell!”
Comment by The Limerick Avenger — 8/29/2008 @ 5:53 pm
But Dmac, you CAN’T PROVE IT!!!
Besides, I have those emails from Tom and Rick… how can you refute that? Huh? Huh? Didn’t think so. Clearly, Torquil was posting from the cabana.
/sarc
Comment by Stashiu3 — 8/29/2008 @ 5:55 pm
She’s already beat Governor Frank,
Now Joe Biden’s starting to tank!
“I should be VP,
But I’m starting to see,
That my future with Obama just sank!
Comment by The Limerick Avenger — 8/29/2008 @ 6:01 pm
Peter’s girlfriend said she “doesn’t do clowns.”
– She ‘does’ at least one.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 6:04 pm
I think in this case it’s something we would delicately call “self-soothing”.
Comment by Stashiu3 — 8/29/2008 @ 6:27 pm
“Clearly, Torquil was posting from the cabana.”
But Rick Ellensberg was also using the same IP, so there!
Comment by Dmac — 8/29/2008 @ 6:35 pm
Obvious GOP pander…….. I would of never guessed that.
Comment by Oiram — 8/29/2008 @ 6:42 pm
#20 “Many questions raised by this pick….state experience but little time on the national stage….
Sounds like Obama!”
Daley, I might ad , also sounds like John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush!
Comment by Oiram — 8/29/2008 @ 6:45 pm
Stashiu3 –
Do you think he paints a little clown face on his fist?
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 6:49 pm
Hey, it’s not as if anyone here urged the DOJ to launch an investigation against Ms. Torquil for expressing a dissenting view. That sort of thing comes from YOUR end of the political spectrum.
Comment by Steverino — 8/29/2008 @ 6:51 pm
Oiram, perhaps you’d like to compile a list of VP candidates that had “time on the national stage” prior to their nomination?
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 6:53 pm
I was going to put something else here, but it would be more appropriate over at The Hostages. Nothing is inappropriate there.
I would just say that I’m sure Peter and Torquil have identical opinions on every single issue… including clowns. In fact, any responses from now on should just be to Petorquil.
Comment by Stashiu3 — 8/29/2008 @ 6:57 pm
#185 No, I’ll let you google the list ICY.
I have no problem with her, but when one of you tries to justify her lack of experience by comparing her to Obama as did Daley #20, I have to remind you who else didn’t have much experience.
Comment by oiram — 8/29/2008 @ 6:57 pm
It is amusing how the Obama shills are so bereft of any sense of irony. I guess its all that Koolaid backing up.
Comment by SPQR — 8/29/2008 @ 7:02 pm
Take it as a given that I will never Google anything because you “let” me.
Comment by Icy Truth — 8/29/2008 @ 7:05 pm
The problem, Mario, is not just the amount of experience, it’s the type. Obama has never had an executive position in his life. Palin has, both as a mayor and a governor.
The other difference is that Obama’s at the top of the ticket. We’re not voting on who would make the best surviving Vice President, we’re voting on who would make the best President.
Obama’s not running against Palin.
Comment by Steverino — 8/29/2008 @ 7:24 pm
These comments speak for themselves guys and DRJ, I’m sorry it had to come to this, you’re usually more even handed.
#166 “Anon:”
Um, compared to which leftwing site?
Metafilter. The gold standard of community blogs. I dare any of to go there and have a real political discussion, granted it’s not specific to politics, but they come up pretty frequently and it you want smart discussion, I’d check it out. But really I think we just want to argue and put eacho other down.
If tossing out comments like “McCain would sell the soul of his own mother” and stuff about changing Depends is what counts for insightful commentary among liberals, it says more about liberals and your girlfriend than it does this site.
You have selective reading abilities or what? Why don’t you include what she was responding to. That was a parody of one of your peoples inanity.
I hope you think your side’s capable of more than this, but if you don’t – I won’t argue. If that’s all the thought and analysis you two put into forming your positions, so be it.
Pal, I’ve written multitudes of thought out and sourced comments only to be received with the very grown up digital raspberries that seem to be a mainstay of the lexicon here. So that doesn’t wash. I’ve made a good faith effort to keep up a dialogue in spite of it.
She’s not really adding anything to the debate other than comments that look as though she is physically shouting at her computer to let everybody know how angry she is. I don’t really care or see that as being much of a loss and I doubt many people here do.
Well, what can I tell you? I think she saw it as quite a bit of grandstanding and she was and is in fact (as someone who voted for Hillary), pretty miffed about things and sees this latest move by McCain as deeply cynical and phony.
Anyhow, I need a vacation from you guys. Yeah you too right? Fine. See ya around.
Comment by Peter — 8/29/2008 @ 8:59 pm
For those using the term JARhead to insult that intellectually and integrity challanged poster “JAR”. Please note that those of us who served in the Corps use the term Jarhead with affection in referring brother Marines. Most Marines (except Murtha) are both honest and intelligent, unlike “JAR”.
Comment by Cowboy is a compliment — 8/30/2008 @ 9:51 am
He’s more like his idol in any case. Perhaps JUGhead is more apropos.
I see big fat, scruffy looking Mikey Moore is ecstatic about Gustav approaching NOLA and dampening GOP spirits.
Also one has to wonder what nonsense the obamatards-turds will bring to bear next in order to silence those who dare question big ZERO’s past acts and associations.
Comment by madmax333 — 8/30/2008 @ 9:58 am
191, I would exclude F. Lee Bailey and Bobby Garwood with Murtha.
Comment by PCD — 8/30/2008 @ 10:06 am
No need to hurry back Petorquil. Go “clown around” and remember to take your socks.
Comment by Stashiu3 — 8/30/2008 @ 1:41 pm
A Warning for Barack Obama. You are going to have to watch your emotional sense of Sarah Palin. People like her, conservatives, are just following rules in their consideration for others. They are rules as in a competition or sporting event, rules that must be obeyed and that derive from fear of judgment from authority, not from any real empathy for the pain and suffering of others. For all conservatives have had their natural emotions wiped from their psyches and replaced by fear of punishment for disobeying rules, fear and guilt inculcated as “conscience” by fear of punishment at a young age. Rather than caring about people as I know you do, Barack, out of genuine empathy, they care about how they are seen and judged in the way that they treat people. Much will be made about McCain and Palin’s attitudes toward people during Hurricane Gustav. There are limits as to how much you can thwart the perception of the electorate towards her and McCain’s sympathy for victims of the storm, for visible statements of concern and supporting deeds speak for themselves are hard to contradict in people’s minds whatever their motive. Reality is the unrehearsed response by conservatives to what happened during Hurricane Katrina. Counterbalance their kind act political theatre during this storm when all eyes are upon them as best you can within the limits of political reality. But you must not, yourself, not even for a moment, become emotionally connected toward Palin as a fellow caring individual in any way, for that misplaced identification of her with yourself would be emotionally fatal to the proper attitude you must have towards her no more than a player on the Bush, Rove, Limbaugh conservative gang that seeks four more years of power, four more years that will destroy us all. She is no more than the sheep’s clothing of the wolf, never more in your mind than an enemy of the people that must be defeated in her efforts to get McCain into the White House.
Ruth Calabria matrix-evolutions
Comment by Ruth Calabria — 9/1/2008 @ 2:27 pm
Cowboy… @ 8/30-9:51am…
I believe I first used JARhead as a term of diresion for JAR. My apologies to the members of the Corp, for whom I have always had the highest level of respect.
Ruth C….
please ask your physician to review your med levels.
Comment by Another Drew — 9/1/2008 @ 2:50 pm
Peter, your idea of “well thought out” and “sourced” is evidently different than the one I found in the dictionary.
Comment by SPQR — 9/1/2008 @ 2:53 pm