Posted on 08/23/2008 2:31:55 PM PDT by TitansAFC
(Note: After I wrote the following piece making light of "breaking news," news in fact did emerge from FOX about Sarah Palin receiving a major speaking role on the second night of the Republican convention (see end of this column). Kristofer and I are mulling over what exactly this means, and we don't believe it signifies that Sarah isn't the nominee. More later.)
Dear Friends, this will be my last day doing guest posts on Adam's blog, one devoted to a thoroughly remarkable woman, Sarah Heath Palin, Governor of Alaska. All highly successful blogs -- and this is surely one of them -- are devoted in part to "breaking news." Frankly, at this point in the process, however, most of the "news" actually consists of "breaking rumors."
Let me reminisce some about why I came on board when Adam asked me -- about 18 months ago -- to support someone whose name was barely familiar to me: Gov. Palin. Like so many of you, I had to learn how to pronounce Sarah's name correctly: PALE -in.
One reason "Sarah for VP" had appeal to me so long ago was that I believed the conventional wisdom then about the person the Democrats would nominate for President. Of course (silly us), it would be Hillary Rodham Clinton, right? Nope! The Democrats have made a truly bizarre choice, an inexperienced, unqualified, untrustworthy, and dangerous (as in "invade Pakistan") man named Barack Hussein Obama.
Would a McCain-Palin ticket beat an Obama-anybody ticket? They would beat them, as an old Pittsburgh-area sportscaster put it, "like a rented mule." The most recent Zogby poll had McCain leading nationally by five points (while Gallup and Rasmussen have the right roughly even). I believe Zogby is correct. As The Economist put it recently, the nation is suffering from "Obama fatigue." We've found that our golden-tongued orator is just a young windbag, a guy who does a great job reading a speech (that someone else wrote) off a TelePrompter.
Since April (around the time of the PA Primary), I've been working with Supporters of Hillary Clinton, people who are very angry at the fraud and strong-arm tactics that took place in the Democratic caucuses. The NoBama Movement is large, and it is growing. On two of my blogs, I'm printing letter-after-letter from former Democrats, men and women who are leaving the Party they once thought was theirs. The MSM being the MSM, you probably haven't heard about that important development.
In all probability, John McCain is going to be the next President. For him to choose Sarah as his running mate would be both bold and wise.
Of course, we Republicans aren't exactly noted for boldness. Like Claude Rains in "Casablanca," our tendency is to "round up the usual suspects." At this time in history, the usual suspects -- say, a Mitt Romney or a Mike Huckabee or a Tom Ridge -- are not good enough. Such people are the "Ghosts of the GOP Past." They do not represent the future of the Republican Party or or of the country.
Sarah Palin does represent that future. To be fair, there are other potential candidates, such as Bobby Jindal, Mark Sanford, and Eric Cantor, who will be part of that future. But McCain can't do better than Sarah, an individual synonymous with toughness, courage, integrity, and consistency. Sarah Palin is the quintessential Amrican.
Let me end by saluting those of you who have embraced this remarkable young woman. You're doing a service to your country -- as she's doing for hers.
BTTT!
She’s a token woman. I would not want her for president as she has less experience than Obama.
Palin would be a good choice if McCain wants to claim he and his ticket is for change.
Palin is lovely, intelligent, and would present a true ticket for change.
Sorry, I cannot see McCain asking her. My 2 cents worth.
What in her resume indicates she has the experience and ability to be president? She has been a small town mayor, and governor of a small state government for less than two years.
President and VP are no place for affirmative action picks.
don’t know much about her and really do not have time to check up on here right now but later I will
However I will say that there are many women out there who were voting for Clinton and they feel she never got it because she is a woman.
Mc Cain if he did have a woman would certainly bring over more votes for him, how many I do not know
I will say this I bet McCain will get nothing like the coverage the second coming obama got with his VP selection
Mitt would give McCain Michigan , Nevada and Colorado. He is the best choice.
Good pick! The base will get energized, more women might vote for this ticket and more men and younger male voters might get interested in McCain with a hot milf VP and thus vote McCain =)
I don’t know much beyond the surface about Palin, but from what I do know about her, I’m very impressed.
I think that if McCain does pick a woman to run with, he will win in a landslide, but not for the reasons most are saying, that people are scared of Obama (as am I, don’t doubt that).
If McCain would put a woman on the ticket, the raging feminists and outraged PUMAs would go ALL OUT to elect McCain in that case, strictly because they would figure that in 2012 it would be Hillary against the female VP - and that would guarantee that a female would be president of the US. I just wish that Condalezza wanted the job...
Perhaps not his most experienced option, but certainly his hottest!
She has more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket combined!
I think she must be more than that, as while she may be unknown to many of us, she has impressed many Washington insiders for a while now.
That alone should disqualify her.
But can she type?
Mitt may - may - maybe - give a little help in Colorado and Nevada.
Only his worshippers believe he’d actually - by the sheer power of his existence - turn Michigan red. No credible analysis shows otherwise.
I would, however, gladly support Mitt Romney if he is the pick.
I prefer Sarah Palin.
“Of course, we Republicans aren’t exactly noted for boldness. Like Claude Rains in “Casablanca,” our tendency is to “round up the usual suspects.” At this time in history, the usual suspects — say, a Mitt Romney or a Mike Huckabee or a Tom Ridge — are not good enough. Such people are the “Ghosts of the GOP Past.” They do not represent the future of the Republican Party or or of the country.
Sarah Palin does represent that future. To be fair, there are other potential candidates, such as Bobby Jindal, Mark Sanford, and Eric Cantor, who will be part of that future.”
Excellent excerpt.
I think you over estimate the woman thing.
There are no Margaret Thatchers around....
And liberals aren’t going to cross over to vote for a woman...
Sarah is amazing! Back in February, when I first heard her mentioned, I investigated and found her to be the absolute best VP candidate I’d ever heard of — entirely refreshing, exciting, competent and conservative. And the fact that her nickname from her basketball-playing days was “Sarah-cuda” gives some indication of her feistiness and competitiveness.
Clarification: The RIGHT Washington insiders, and yes, there are a few, and McCain will need them to help get him elected.
Wouldn't you do that with a native son?
My guess, Kasich.
Yes I know some think their are issues (Condit, Rumors etc).
But this was the guy that was the beginning of the end for Bob Foley with Kasich-Penny.
One of the prime revolutionaries that truly believed in government cost cutting. With McCain screaming about that and John's ability to reach across the aisle, It makes sense to me.
Although now an Evangelical, Kasich was a Catholic. IMHO it is all about the Catholic Vote this year (Biden is one), after Schumer-Emanuel took the House and Senate with a westward sweep of Catholic districts from PA to IL.
She’d make a great choice but absolutely NOT until after the RATs complete their nominating process. Don’t give Hillary one more reason to engineer the coup.
I agree completely, but I do worry about her lack of major political experience at this time.
Still, with Obama derailing his ‘hope and change’ theme by selecting a 35 year US senator as VP, McCain has a unique opportunity here to steal that message from Obama if he chooses to do so. Regardless of who he ultimately chooses, I think he’d be wise to consider going at least a bit unconventional with his choice.
Sarah Palin would a great pick!
J.C. Watts?
But she's the celebrity of the month on FR.
I don't know where these flavors of the month come from, but there sure are a lot of groupies on this forum.
That's really working out well for the country, isn't it?
And one more thing, Anyonw who is Budget Wipp probably had to look at “Black-Program” items, and chances are IMHO Kasich is probably already “Vetted”.......
You are not voting for her for president. You are voting for John. The VP slot is one where you can learn on the job.
Or
Hate to burst somebodies bubble but Palin could not run America, I have seen her actions in the town she was mayor in which is Wasilla, Alaska.
She had circulating rumors at one time that she was backing to keep the Wasilla bars open well into the night and in Wasilla thats 5am, one bar owner admitted that Palin was “on the take”.
I have no confidence in her even after she allowed an extra $1200 to be added per person on top of the PFD thats maybe over $2100 ($3300.00 for each person) this year.
She is just a token face.
-—”I don’t know where these flavors of the month come from, but there sure are a lot of groupies on this forum.”-—
Well, Mitt was a dirty word in Conservative circles until his run - his groupies now show here regularly.
Rudy Giuliani was an enemy until his groupies joined the board.
Ron Paul - same.
There are always groupies - but at least Palin is an up-and-comer who’s ALWAYS been Conservative - and LIVES the example.
I’d proudly support her nomination.
“That’s really working out well for the country, isn’t it?”
And I bet you have an instant solution, too. By the way, I wasn’t referring to politicians, but I’m sure you will have a quick response to that also. I think we know how you feel by now. My only point I cared to make here is that I have heard good things about her from people I know who matter.
You are still afraid of Romney huh?
Yes! Palin is perfect.
Yes. You are.
One heartbeat away, right? One scandal away, right?
I like her but you want the VP pick to accentuate the top of the ticket and support a consistent theme. This is where Obama just made a huge mistake. McCain needs to play it safe.
She has been an elected official for 16 years.
She has ethics, morals, determination, and a willingness to buck the party status-quo like McCain has done.
She has been a small town mayor, and governor of a small state government for less than two years.
See first sentence above. She also served some time heading the Oil and Gas commission. BTW, Alaska's government is not "small." Being the largest (land) state in the country with huge natural resources, it's more complex and demanding than being Governor of any other state.
President and VP are no place for affirmative action picks.
Where in the Constitution does it say the VP selection has to meet a set of prerequisites? Hello, you have a total empty suit running for President as a Democrat. This woman worked her way up the food chain in politics and is by no means an "affirmative action" choice. She has the elective experience to be VP, and her other intangibles (ethics, morals, strong family, commitment to the people who elected her) puts her over the top.
They didn't call Palin "Barracuda" in high school basketball for nothing.
But would a bunch of pro-choice women vote for a pro-life woman just because she’s a woman? I think issue trumps gender.
When McCain is sworn in, he will be exactly 5 months and 8 days older than Ronald Reagan when he took office. Come one, let's drop the "he's too old" shtick...
Who are these "people" who matter?
How did she win her position as AK Governor then?
I would not want her for president as she has less experience than Obama.
Palin has FAR more experience than The Messiah. She has been involved in politics since 1992.
“She had circulating rumors at one time that she was......... “on the take”.
And no one else who runs for public office have even been the subject of rumors. Is there more to this you can reference for the rest of us?
On the GOP side, McCain, the candidate, has the experience, even though I really do not like him as a Republican candidate.
I heard Palin on the Laura Ingraham Show a while back and I was totally impressed.
She is smart, articulate, conservative, pro life, and she is a woman. True change here by choosing her.
McCain needs to stay away from the usual old, boring politician and go out on a limb.
The guys out there would be happy to have a lovely lady like Palin as a Veep candidate. She sure has it all on Biden.
New to the board, eh?
I was a die-hard Romneyite in the primaries. I’m still on the ping list.
Unlike MANY here at FR, I believe him to be an authentic Conservative. I genuinely like him, though I think he’s not a good strategic choice.
I only feared Giuliani and Lieberman.
V.P. is a different animal - different strategies apply. Sarah Palin adds new voters - Romney takes some away.
As I said before, I’d still gladly support the ticket with Romney on it.
Look if anything, Obama’s choice of Biden puts Huckabee back into the mix. That is a far outside of the box McCain should venture.
Glenn, you’d have to be ***** to think I’d list them here.
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