Posted on 09/05/2008 2:33:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Nobody was more surprised by John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate than the people who run Barack Obama's campaign. "I can honestly say that we weren't prepared for that," says David Axelrod, Obama's top strategist. "I mean, her name wasn't on anybody's list. It was a surprise to a lot of Republicans as well."
Their shock was evident in their initial, clumsy reaction, a hard-hitting two-sentence statement from Obama spokesman Bill Burton that included this zinger: "Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency." Eighty-six minutes later, the campaign corrected course, issuing a second statement from both Obama and his running mate, Delaware Senator Joe Biden: "While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward, Governor Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign."
Later that afternoon, Obama, almost apologetically, explained the discrepancy: "You know campaigns start getting these hair triggers, and the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments." The do-si-do by the campaign reflects its initial uncertainty on how to deal with Palin, a rare moment of unsure footing for the usually flawlessly managed 19-month-old operation.
The dilemma the campaign has about the sudden emergence of this political superstar comes down to this: it can't possibly ignore her, but going after her directly could easily backfire. If anything, the past week has shown that Palin wears a similar coat of Teflon as Obama. Just as many of Obama's opponents suddenly found themselves accused of playing the race card, many of Palin's supporters have been quick to accuse Dems of outrageous sexism in the frontal assault on Palin's record and family.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
“Mr. Obama, it’s three in the morning and Putin has just attacked Ukraine and the Baltic States. Russian tanks and planes are killing civilians by the thousands. What should we do?”
“Who? Uh. Well. Er. Sorry, that’s above my pay grade. Call me again after breakfast and maybe I can get a few advisers together to discuss it.”
Her name WAS on plenty of lists. Why do they think the base was so jazzed when she was picked? Sarah-mania started on Friday morning. All of my conservative friends were thrilled and this was BEFORE hearing her speak on Friday and BEFORE hearing her speak Wednesday night.
Sarah Palin wasn't on THEIR list but that's because of their own particular blinders. They figured a Republican couldn't choose a woman before Republicans hate women and want to force them all to bear children and be submissive to their husbands. They banked their own lame VP pick on their belief that McCain would pick a lame safe VP himself. Too bad boys, you screwed up big time.
One more point: Welcome to the challenge of administration. Y'know sometimes the unexpected happens and sometimes you have to have contigency plans. Sometimes Russia invades Georgia after they promise you they won't Sometimes a couple of planes fly into the World Trade Center and kill 3,000 people. So you will be judge not just by your words but also by how you react to the stress of leadership.
Organize that Barry!
He operates inside the enemies decision cycle. Napolean was good at it . Politics is war by other means and John seems to be a good tactician and planner.
This pipeline is long enough to go from LA to Maine.
No doubt it will take ten years or more to complete.
She never said anything else.
Besides had we started it 10 years ago it would be mostly completed. You got to start sometime to get it.
Even I knew she was on the short list.
And I am just a FReeper.
Just shows how much these people have their heads in the sand. They probably didn't worry who McCain picked because they felt they had it all wrapped up and whoever he chose wouldn't make any difference. But, Sarah's name was mentioned several months ago. Even here on FR people were mentioning her as a possibility. I remember because that's when I started reading about her to see who she was. I did the same to learn more on Bobby Jindal about then. I had hoped she would be the pick, then there was so much talk about others, I thought the idea had passed with McCain's people. Anyway...the campaign staff of the big Zero sure missed it big time. Thank goodness.
I monitor Hot Air.
The talk about Sara was constant. I knew all about troopergate and her somewhat limited experience. I also knew she was high up on the short list just hoped it wouldn’t be her. I knew John really liked her but not really why.
I of course have changed my mind now and love Sarah.
But to say she was on no ones short list is a lie beyond belief. You just had to look at the Republican Blogs.
That natural gas pipeline has been talked about/ planned/ etc. for 30 years. Governor Palin got the agreement negotiated within 18 months of becoming Governor.
Sarah:
Mr. Obama, you think the boys play rougher than the girls.
You ain’t been around long, have you?
If I was Axelrod I would not use the term ZERO !!
His Guy is the the REAL ZERO ,O experience O Military O Vocabulary except Uh AH UGh Oh UHHHHHHH
Obama quote.
Obambi's been at this for 19 months? He could have birthed an elephant in that amount of time.
And his skill at managing that campaign is proof positive of his ability to handle the job of President of the United States, don'tcha know...
“Who? Uh. Please! Make the bad men go away. I just want to eat my waffle."
Never fear, I have complete confidence that whatever October surprise ‘Lie’ the Obama camp comes up with will more than adequately be diminished, subdued and overtaken by the waiting in the wings October Surprise the McCain campaign has ready against the Obama messiah that will be ‘factual’ and completely sourced. This in turn will send the obama camp into panic mode. And our slimeball media will not be able to hush it up and nobody will even remember what the ‘lie’ even was or if it was even important in the grand scheme of things.
I am convinced the McCain camp has an October surprise waiting for Obama that will knock your socks off.
***”You know campaigns start getting these hair triggers, and the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments.”***
This country doesn’t need a president with a “hair trigger,” Obama. We need a president who can think fast, and clearly, before he reaches for the red button and starts WW III.
***If the campaign were flawless, they’d keep Michelle in a cave in Afghanistan till after the election.***
Allow me to add ONE word to that.
If the campaign were flawless, they’d keep Morose Michelle in a cave in Afghanistan till after the election.
Give him another couple of months.
Nonsense. Rush told us in January that Palin was on the VP list. Newt talked about her way back. Larry Kudlow talked about her way back. Many of us here on Freepers knew several months ago and talked about her too. The media lies.
We (the conservative pundits and bloggers) need to start warning people now that Obama is a Chicago politician where they will do anything to eliminat the competiton. Lets not get blindsided at the last moment.
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