GOP VP thread: Palin is the pick

Well, Demo, you kind of missed my point, which was that if on this thread, some (yes, like Cadet) espouse women's rights, I think it's disingenuous to give any attention whatsoever to this rumor. What about the right to privacy? This isn't some Edwards affair; this is a family's child.

Yes, a woman has the fucking right to have her children without a bunch of assholes discussing the circumstances behind its birth. If it is true, who the hell cares? We can't bitch in one breath that our political dialogue needs to be better, and then say, "gee, I wonder if that's true about Palin?" in the next.

When Obama said "Leave my wife ALONE!!!!" people said, "Yeah, that damn GOP! Let's get Cindy's tax returns!!!!!" But when people have the gall to speculate on whether or not a candidate's baby actually belongs to her . . . "Wow, how very interesting!"

 

If this is true it would be many things:

1. The ultimate form of slut shaming on the daughter.
2. A blow to "abstinence only education."
3. An important insight into the problem-solving abilities of the future VP.
4. Ammunition for the "women should stay home" crowd.
5. An example of the conservative epidemic of living perfect public lives and secret private lives.

 

Cadet, you know I respect you, but:

I think you're judging this based on your personal politics, and it frankly doesn't jibe with your earlier views on this thread regarding women's rights to choices. Don't allow your dislike of the candidate to cloud your views.

And I think we need to establish that people in both parties live perfect public lives and secret private lives.

 

And I really hope McCain, picking Palin, wasn't just throwing crap against the wall figuring if something came up and she had to bail from the ticket, he could bring in his ol buddy Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge and tell the conservatives to screw themselves.

 

I agree with that . . . .

It would have been very nice to see him tell the conservatives to go screw themselves long ago.

 

Politco has a report that said McCain didn't pick Palin until just a few days ago.
He wanted Lieberman and got talked out of him.
McCain has talked to her two times before that.
Freaking unreal.
And while it sucks to idly speculate on the parentage, if that rumor is true, does anyone think Palin can stay on the ticket?
I don't see how she could.

 

Hell, if the rumor about her trying to get Mr. State Trooper fired is true, she shouldn't be on the ticket. Abuses of power are what the outgoing administration is all about, not what those who vie to be the next adminsitration should do.

The McCain camp clearly did not do its homework, beyond a surface check for her views on a certain few issues, and yeah, her gender.

 

I agree that No. 2 is a reflection of my personal political beliefs, and No. 5 is a reflection of my personal opinion.

But in No. 5, I wasn't referring to politicians. I was thinking more about the preacher's wife who's in the front pew on Sunday and sneaking off to terminate a pregnancy on Monday.

Point No. 3 is absolutely relevant and non-partisan: How does the potential Commander in Chief solve problems? What is his/her decision making process? Dealing with a major personal situation (like, ahem, being a POW) gives a great deal of insight.

I support Sarah OR Bristol's choice to have a baby. I cannot support the choice of trying to cover up the "scandal" of a teenage pregnancy. It's not a scandal. It's a fact of life. One that social conservatives are inclined to deny.

As I stated, I hope this isn't true. While it would certainly help the Democrats' cause in the election, I'm afraid of the greater damage this could bring to women and especially the perception of professional women.

 

Before the pick, Palin was a curiosity within the GOP, an attractive politician on the rise. Yet they didn't even have her speaking at the convention. That tells you all you need to know about what the GOP thought of her before McCain's pick.

 

A couple of points after skimming:

- He took a chance, high risk, high reward. The debate over her qualifications vs. hers is irrelevant. Obama was not close to qualified for the presidency (I think is resume was weaker than Quayle's), but he dulled the issue by proving himself supremely talented as a politician and a speaker. If she comes off as a regular mom, McCain is in trouble - she needs to be really good. None of us know if she is, we'll see. If she's that good, it's an inspired pick that will net him real gains.

- Almost every presidential candidate will either be a senator or governor, thus vulnerable to either the argument that they have no administrative experience or none on foreign policy (Clinton had none either). Do you hire the hot assistant coach you hope will be great, but has no experience running a team, or the hot college coach who has never done it in the pros. Unless you want Carter or Bush senior, no one has the requisite experience.

- She now has the chance to break the glass ceiling for women, something we've been hearing about for a long time. You can dislike her or her policies, but when you were waxing poetic about that possibility with Hillary, and we never hear of it again, alot of talking heads will be (re)exposed as full of crap.

- Judging from SportsJournalists.com, McCain is in big trouble with Obama voters.

 

Well said.

 

Doesn't mean it's not a factor, it is, and it's a valid criticism of both Obama and Palin (I'd say more Obama because he's at the top of the ticket, but McCain's age makes it a bit closer). It's a factor, but not the only one.