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Posted on 02/22/2009 9:52:31 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
...it was not intentional. In fact, quite the contrary. It happened when the press and networks covering the Democratic convention puffed up the likely defection of Hillary supporters -- inspiring McCain to name Palin as his running mate.
Barack Obama might very well have won anyway, by a very narrow margin, but I believe that the true turning point in the fall campaign -- though rarely noted -- actually came in late-summer, at the Democratic convention in Denver. No, it was not the general good vibes about Obama, the ringing speeches by Teddy, Michelle, Bill, and by the candidate himself.
Rather, it was the electronic media's overblown coverage of the allegedly widespread threat by female Hillary delegates, and other Clinton fans, to bolt Obama in favor of McCain.
As you recall, the dissidents, known as "PUMAS," got massive face time on TV and, it was said, they represented just the tip of the iceberg. And it was said (by commentators, not just by the new pro-Hillary media stars), that women, particularly older ones and suburban/blue-collar types who had voted for Hillary in the primaries, would likely abandon the Democrats in November.
There was no firm evidence for this, of course - and few pundits, on TV and in print, seemed to notice that the same few disgruntled Hillary delegates appeared on all of the shows. No matter. Obama's possible defeat because of the possible defections was widely predicted.
Why did this matter, since the mass defections never happened? Especially since here and elsewhere at liberal political blogs no one ever took the threats seriously?
Because John McCain and his people bought it, hook, line and sinker. This explains the sudden rise of Sarah Palin to the top of their VP list. They saw an opening - which really wasn't there - and went completely overboard. Not only did a female VP suddenly look like a great idea, but one who would have extra appeal to the particular type of Hillary primary voters so hyped by the media.
So the preposterous media coverage of the (few) unhappy Hillary-ites at the Dem convention - which was aimed not at helping Obama but maintaining interest in the affair and the coming campaign - inspired McCain to select as his running mate someone who would virtually destroy his campaign (as I make clear in my new book on the campaign, "Why Obama Won").
Recall that after months of trailing, McCain came out of his convention with a bump that led to at least a tie with Obama in the polls -- then he plummeted very quickly as the truth about Palin seeped out. A week after the GOP convention ended, polls were already showing (as many of us, if not most MSM pundits, had predicted) that, if anything, women thought LESS of Palin than did men.
Imagine if McCain had picked even a neutral figure such as a Pawlenty or, say, Kay Bailey Hutchison. Yes, Obama likely still would have won (he ran a fine campaign and the economy collapsed) -- but if he did, it would have been in a real nail biter. And Tina Fey would not have been named entertainer of the year, and we wouldn't have had that turkey slaughtering video to enjoy.
“The truth about Palin”? What the devil is he talking about?
The GOP was doomed when it let the media pick its presidential candidate.
Sarah almost turned it around.
They wouldn’t keep going after Palin if they weren’t scared of her. They hate her for the same reasons they hate you and me. She’s normal, she’s principled, she believes in God and she believes in America. Pick anyone else who believes the same and the press monkeys will go into the very same frenzy. Bork, Thomas, Quayle, GW, Cheney and Palin. If you’re normal, decent, and you believe in the American principle, they are going to savage you non-stop until your very name becomes a punchline for late night comics. They’ll make sure all the smart people hate you, the smart people who get their views from the View and the Comedy Channel and the alphabet networks, that is.
You’re right. Some us here were rooting for a FRed Thompson/Sarah Palin ticket.
That would have rocked!
McCain lost the election all by himself, and he did it without PUMAs, Palin, the MSM, or anyone else.
McCain lost the election on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008, sometime in the mid-afternoon, iirc.
McCain sealed his fate by suspending his campaign so that he could return to DC and oversee the bailout. McCain was needed, he assured the world and only his leadership could fix things. He was gonna be like Superman, except old and prone to irrational outbursts.
McCain said that the situation was critical, but of course that didn’t stop him from then meandering around the east coast for a day or so before eventually returning to DC, where he stood around, angering both parties and going along with whatever the Democrats wanted.
Them at the start of the following week, McCain stumbled back onto the campaign trail, having shown the American people and the entire world that he could not, in fact chew gum and think at the same time. He proved himself to be erratic, without principles, and without a clue.
McCain may not have won even without his grandstanding idiocy, but once he committed himself to such foolishness, losing was a done deal.
Don’t blame Palin.
Don’t blame the mythical PUMAs.
Don’t blame the MSM. In my lifetime, there have been more Republican presidents than Democrat presidents. They all managed to get elected with a liberal media, variously successful vice presidential running makes, and so on.
Place the blame right where it belongs, square on the shoulders of John McCain.
If we don’t admit the truth (that we somehow managed to nominate someone who should never have been nominated), we can never move forward. It’s so easy to blame everyone and everything else, but it never helps.
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McCain was either even or ahead in the polls until Sec. Treasury Paulson shows up in the middle of September saying that the banks were sinking from bad loans. Sending the markets and our economy down the tank. That's what cost McCain the election more than anything else.
This article is BS indeed.
They are not even good at spinning anymore. Baldface lies of course are always there.
Kay Bailey Hutchison? Riight. Then McCain would have gotten even FEWER votes, because conservcatives would have stayed home and not even bothered to vote.
I don't know anything about Tim Palwnty, but unless he is a dyed in the wool conservative, with some charisma, I don't see how he would have done any better than Sarah did.
Looks to me like just another hit piece on Sarah, trying to reduce her possibilities for any future national election.
I judt got through reading "Bias", can't wait to read "Slobbering Love Affair".
That seems to be the answer from a lot of people that voted for Obama. I don’t want to talk about it or one sentence statements that have no insight whatsoever. They will eventually pay for their mistake. They have been conned again. Oh sure, Obama told them in pretty words; but he never told them what only hope and change and they fell for it. They don’t know it; but they will pay. The one conclusion I have come to are these are very non thinking people. It’s almost as if they love to be bullied and pushed around.
Who, Sarah? I don't think so.
redk is talking about that old woman who asked McCain whether Obama is an Arab.
I know I couldn't deal with a lib wife.
McLAME with Palin ... you saw the vote totals
McLAME withOUT Palin... McLame’s Loss would have looked more like MONDALE’s 84 Loss against REAGAN!!
IMHO
McLAME with Palin ... you saw the vote totals
McLAME withOUT Palin... McLame’s Loss would have looked more like MONDALE’s 84 Loss against REAGAN!!
IMHO
These lies are further proof they fear this woman.
Truth? You can't handle the truth.
Peeking Out From the McCain Wreckage: Mitt Romney
Someone's got to say it: IS MITT ROMNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBAMA'S VICTORY?
Vanity: Team Romney Sabotaged Palin and Continuing to Do So?
Romney Supporters Trashing Palin
Romney advisors sniping at Palin?
Similar to Romney's other scortched earth tactics:
Novak: Fred Thompson drop-out rumors traced to Romney campaign
No bias here. Nope. Just good honest journalism! (sarc)
1)McCain came out of the convention with a bump for one reason and one reason only - Sarah's speech.
2)The "truth" about Sarah never "seeped out". She was defiled by the press and the libs!
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