Biden, check. Palin, checkmate.

RedState.com ^ | August 23, 2008 | Josh Painter

[Josh Painter]

I've already shown how Sarah Palin would be a smart pick by John McCain to be his running mate. In light of recent events, she's looking like a smarter selection .

The announcement made early this morning by the Obama camp that Delaware Senator Joe Biden is Obama's choice to share the Democrat presidential ticket with him sets the stage for McCain to name his own vice presidential nominee. The conventional wisdom seems to be that it will be former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Although I think Romney would be a strong selection, the Biden pick would make Gov. Palin an even stronger one.

Within three hours of news of the Biden selection being aired, Team McCain produced and released this hard-hitting ad with video clips of Biden dissing Obama's inexperience and praising his old friend and Senate colleague, John McCain:

There's no shortage of similar clips from the GOP primariy season depicting Romney attacking McCain and McCain returning fire. A Romney pick would guarantee that the Democrats would use it and effectively cancel out the impact of the McCain ad. But Palin wasn't involved in that fight, so there's no such ammunition for the Obama campaign to use against her. McCain's ad could run from now through election day, and the Democrats would be denied the opportunity to reply in kind. Instead, Biden would be forced to explain his criticism of his own running mate.

One of Romney's strongest assets is economics. He was very successful in the private sector and has won acclaim for turning the Winter Olympics in his home state of Utah around. But to most Americans today, "economics" is translated as "oil". The price of gasoline at the pump and food at the grocery store is what's on their minds. The financial markets and corporate arenas where Romney earned his creds might as well be on a distant planet. Sarah Palin knows all about oil. She's an avid proponent of drilling in ANWR and makes a strong case for it.

But Palin is no stooge of Big Oil. She stood up to the oil companies in her state and pushed through a modest 2.5% increase on the state taxes they pay for their access to Alaska's bountiful oil deposits. That raised the tax from 22.5% to 25%, an amount the companies can pay and still enjoy considerable profits. The oil companies and some of her fellow Republicans had fought against the bill, arguing that the extra 2.5% would would put a damper on future Alaskan oil exploration. That has not been the case. Conservatives don't like tax-raising, but Palin justified the increase by pointing out that the previous 22.5% tax was passed in 2006 under suspicious circumstances. Several members of the legislature that set the amount of that tax were convicted or indicted on federal bribery charges related to the bill. Palin also explained that the '06 tax did not perform as advertised, and she offered as evidence an $800 million shortfall in expected revenue. Whether you agree or disagree with Palin's actions, you have to admit that the Democrats can't paint her as being in the pocket of Big Oil.

Gov. Sarah has also pushed through her legislature a gas pipeline project which will bring a fresh supply and lower prices to those of us in the lower 48:

The legislature had been trying for 30 years to authorize something like this and, up until now, had blown it. Palin got it through. Getting it off the ground, the state says, will be the biggest construction project in U.S. history.

Palin considers the $26 billion project her biggest accomplishment as governor. "It was not easy," she told IBD. "Alaska has been hoping and dreaming for a natural gas pipeline for decades. What it took was getting off the dime and creating a competitive market in Alaska."

The 1,715-mile gas line would stretch from Alaska's North Slope to Fairbanks and down to Alberta, Canada. Then it would take existing gas lines to Idaho. In 10 years, Palin says, the lower 48 states would receive 4.5 million cubic feet of natural gas a day. By 2030, according to Energy Department estimates, Alaska's annual natgas production would quintuple to 2 trillion cubic feet.

In light of the inablity of the U.S. Congress to do anything about our energy problem, voters will be favorably impressed with this "can-do" governor and her determination to move the ball downfield on energy. While others talk the problem to death, Sarah Palin has been doing plenty about it.

A McCain-Palin ticket would offer hope to Americans angry over our energy dependence on foreign - and often hostile - sources. It would stand in stark contrast to Obama and Biden, both of whom opposed increased domestic drilling. McCain is for drilling offshore, but has yet to be convinced to embrace drilling in ANWR. Sarah Palin is perhaps the only person who could convince him. McCain-Palin could even adopt the theme used by Sarah in her contest for Alaska's governorship - "Energy for America." It's a good one, and it should resonate with American voters who have been strapped for cash by high pump prices, as well as those concerned about America's energy security. Romney, as good as he is on economic matters, just can't relate to American voters on energy issues the way Palin can.

Biden is going to be Obama's attack dog, a role vice presidential picks are usually given so that the presidential candidate's hands don't have to be washed. Can Sarah Palin stand up to the crusty old Senator in a fight? It would be a mistake to write her off. Alaska is a tough place, and it demands much of those who choose to live there. Palin has taken on her own party by fighting corruption and using the line item veto to cut the budget, angering Democrats and entrenched Republicans alike. In a piece for the Weekly Standard last year, Fred Barnes wrote:

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.

-snip-

Gov. Palin grew up in Wasilla, where as star of her high school basketball team she got the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" for her fierce competitiveness. She led her underdog team to the state basketball championship. Palin also won the Miss Wasilla beauty contest, in which she was named Miss Congeniality, and went on to compete in the Miss Alaska pageant.

Don't let that pretty face fool you. She's tough. I'll wager that because she was tough enough to take on Alaska's corrupt pols, she should have no problem with Biden in the VP debate or with bringing the elite Obama down a peg or two.

Palin has another appeal that Mitt Romney just can't match, and it's through no fault of his. It's a matter of gender. Recent polling shows a problem for Obama:

Perhaps the biggest factor keeping the presidential race close has been Obama’s inability to close the deal with some of Hillary Clinton’s supporters. According to the poll, 52 percent of them say they will vote for Obama, but 21 percent are backing McCain, with an additional 27 percent who are undecided or want to vote for someone else.

What’s more, those who backed Clinton in the primaries — but aren’t supporting Obama right now — tend to view McCain in a better light than Obama and have more confidence in McCain’s ability to be commander-in-chief.

Obama's decision to choose Biden and stiff Hillary has her supporters even angrier right now. By selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain would show them that he, unlike Obama, doesn't take women's votes for granted.

The Democrats are touting Joe Biden's blue collar roots, which they will exploit to try to continue to define McCain as so out of touch with the average American that "he doesn't even know how many houses he owns" - nevermind that all members of the Senate are rich, and Biden's compound is not your average American crib. They will tell us how he had to take second and third mortgages on his house to send his kids to college, and they will have many more stories of Biden as the average Joe.

If McCain chooses him, Romney will be portrayed by the Dems, rightly or wrongly, as a zillionaire who's out of touch with average Americans. They can't define Palin that way. Her parents were school teachers. Her husband Todd actually worked for a living in a blue-collar production job for BP on the North Slope for 20 years. And he's a commercial fisherman in the summer. Todd is also something of an Alaska sports legend, having won the gruelling 2,000-mile Iron Dog snowmobile race four times. Oh, and he raises the kids while mom is working as Alaska's CEO. The couple's youngest child has Down's Syndrome, a condition the doctors made them aware of before its birth. Yet they never even considered abortion, and they say the baby is "a blessing." The story marks a stunning contrast to the pro-abortion positions of Obama and Biden. Palin is also a lifetime member of the NRA, an organization which has given Biden an F-rating. He even boasted that he wrote the language contained in the assault weapons bill. Romney's record on gun control is shaky, while Palin's is rock solid. America'a 80 million gun owners will love her.

The Palin family is a great story waiting to be told to the lower 48 if McCain is wise enough to pick Sarah. Even the drive-by media will be fascinated by it and eager to tell it. As good as Mitt Romney is as a vice-presidential choice, Palin is even better.

-JP

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Man, Palin would be a “wow!” choice, but I don't know that she is up for it yet.

A Governor, not another legislator, is the right choice, but I don't think Romney can sell it. Bill Owens might be a good choice if he wasn't in the middle of a divorce.

Mitch Daniels is running for re-election in Indiana, but there is a candidate that would help McCain.

[padre35]

I disagree with that The Lumster, tax revenue bills passed while Congresscritters are being bribed is an entirely different kettle of fish then mere tax increases to buy votes.

Especially when it involves natural wealth extraction, which has a high mark up and once it’s been used, it is gone.

[rrrod]

PALIN HASNT BEEN RUINED BY THE LOWLIFE SCUMBAB SPINELESS REPUBLICAN TOE TAPPERS!

[Josh Painter]

Despite tax increase,oil profits rise

Excerpt:

"Driving the state's increased revenue, while allowing the company profits to remain high is the structure of the new tax. It is a production tax, calculated before profits are figured. That means some of the state's increased production tax revenue comes at the expense of state and federal income taxes, which actually declined for both companies."

-snip-

"Among the legislative critics' big concerns was that the new taxes would reduce investment in the state, a fear the oil companies tried to instill as well."

"Since the passage of the ACES tax, however, investment appears to be up."

[BigEdLB]

FYI - Top Intrade %s on McCain VP Pick


Romney 60.5
Pawlenty 20.1
Ridge 9.0
Palin 6.8
Portman 5.3
Crist 5.1
Lieberman 4.0

[Onelifetogive]

Palin also won the Miss Wasilla beauty contest

Got any pictures of her on a horse?

[gswilder]

I think it will be either Romney or Pawlenty. Romney is a known candidate and has been vetted already. Pawlenty is in PA this weekend, as sort of a pre-job interview.

Now that Obama has made his move, McCain has about 6 days to decide. Let’s pray he makes the right choice.

Personally, I like Palin of Alaska.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

She brings exactly the same number Dick Cheney brought.

And there all comparison ends.

About a week ago, I posted several times about the foolishness of Palin-as-veep. It was too depressing to repeat; depressing to discover the irrationality and low level to which freepers can descend, trying to argue for an indefensible choice. I asked many times for rational argument, got a lot of the other kind. No different from libs when you challenge their Lord Obama.

Relevant threads:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2062957/posts
"McCain Should Pick Sarah Palin for VP"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063488/posts
"The Beauty of Sarah Palin"

[Earthdweller]

"Romney is telegenic, will stand up to Biden, and get Joe to lose his temper."

My saintly grandmother could eat him alive by staying calm and asking him questions so he opens his mouth.

[truthguy]

The VP should be chosen to be able to serve as President if necessary, not what works best against the opposite party. Mistake number one of the Dems. Does anyone in America think Biden could/should be president of this country if necessary? Not thinking people. McCain should choose who he thinks could serve if he cannot.

I could not have said it better. I love FR but sometimes you get some really strange opinions. This Painter guy is way out of line. There are some major wingnuts on this site. McCain should pick someone who could assume the presidency if something should happen to him. This idea of Palin is absurd.

[DakotaRed]

McCain has a golden opportunity to run away with this.

Sadly, neither McCain nor the GOP the past few years seems able to grasp golden opportunities to save America.

The VP choice will indicate whether or not they have learned anything.

[Norman Arbuthnot]

Biden would eat Palin or Pawlenty alive in the VP debate. She’s good, but unprepared for the demands of the national stage.

Romney is telegenic, will stand up to Biden, and get Joe to lose his temper.

I too hold Palin in high regard, but I totally agree about Romney.

Since Obama decided to go with a "heavyweight" (By Dem standards) McCain has to counter with a VP pick who has comparable gravitas and that means Mitt Romney.

[Mr. Jeeves]

If Palin were a man, no one would be excitedly talking about the Alaska governor's oil experience as an asset on the ticket. Selecting her at this relatively early stage in her political career would be pure Democrat-style tokenism.

The selection of establishment white guy Biden has freed McCain up to pick the most qualified VP candidate, rather than forcing him to play "I'm-just-as-politically-correct-as-you."

[Migraine]

Biden would eat Palin or Pawlenty alive

NOT Palin. She's quick, with plenty of intellectual breadth and depth. And if he tried to get rough, he'd pay dearly in style points. People don't like when old men beat up on women, especially pretty young ones with Sarah's smiling charm. Some people dream of a white Christmas -- I've been dreaming of Sarah Palin as VP. She is not your standard, run-of-the-mill VP candidate; but this is not your standard campaign year. This is a year for some of the most unusual outcomes any of us ever dreamed of. In that regard, a Palin pick would fit right in and give a breath of fresh air and excitement to the whole mix.

[BigEdLB]

Biden opens mouth... and says...

Sort of like ... If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, how do we now it made a noise?

I want to see Mitt lay some zingers on Bidens “pearls of wisdom”. Should be juicy.

Palin has some extra substance behind her . Her son, age 19 is in the Army, and in Afghanistan.

[Eagle Eye]

Is there any indication that McCain has even talked to Palin?

Palin is probably more qualified than McCain and I doubt that he would have anything to do with her.

[dforest]

This woman, Palin, stood and gave a speech while she was in labor.

How many guys would do that? She is smart, tough, conservative and would be a great Veep.

[precisionshootist]

“This idea of Palin is absurd.”

BINGO!

A VP must be ready to serve as president. America is not ready for a woman to lead this country! Sorry but her gender disqualifies her. That might sound sexist but it’s reality.

The libs would like nothing more than for McCain to pick a woman VP.

[buccaneer81]

How about...Butch Otter, Governor of Idaho.

Catholic, been in politics since 1972, former congressman. Same age as Biden.

Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 67% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record. (Dec 2002)

Rated 71% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)

Rated 0% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-labor union voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 100% by FAIR, indicating a voting record restricting immigration. (Dec 2003)

Rated 97% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 92% by the Christian Coalition, indicating a pro-life, anti-gay marriage voting record. (Dec 2003)

[eyedigress]

I agree with you on that.