However, it does not change the fact that McCain's selection of her was a cynical misuse of the process and against everything he'd been preaching concerning the need for a strong world leader to defend our interests abroad.
Though I hope he's not elected I can surely say that if he IS... then I wish him long life and good health!!!
She's very talented and I've said from the beginning that I'm impressed with her speaking ability. That said, the Republicans have showed no class this convention. Compare their attacks to the Dems', who went out of their way over and over again to say how great a person McCain is, how he has the best intentions, etc., etc. The Republicans are just downright mean when they go after Obama. It's personal, and it's vicious.
Mark - Disagree, unless you think Obama's selection was a cynical misuse of everything he said about change.
JA - What no class?! What personal attacks? They went after his platform claims, and his supposed experience. And pretty darn well, too. I didn't see a single personal attack, and commend Obama for doing the same regarding Palin's daughter.
- What no class?! What personal attacks? They went after his platform claims, and his supposed experience. And pretty darn well, too. I didn't see a single personal attack, and commend Obama for doing the same regarding Palin's daughter.
The Dems explicitly and repeatedly said that McCain is a great man who has devoted his life to the country and who means well, but is simply wrong. The Republicans are doing everything they can to push the message that Obama is putting his own interests above his country's. That's a big difference.
Dems: McCain's a good man who just doesn't get it. Reps: Obama's a bad man who will do anything for power.
JA - Firstly, let's be frank: The Dems *can't* go after McCain personally without severely pissing people off or looking really dumb. When Kerry ran on his service record it was odd considering what he'd said and done afterward. McCain is a well-known war hero who never did anything like that, so they're pushing him as an old/senile/out of touch guy.
The Republicans are pushing that Obama has no real experience, and that all he's done seems to be campaign. He's not a bad man - I've never heard that implied - just someone who has done absolutely nothing. They mock the empty rhetoric and emphasize what McCain and Palin *have* done. I've yet to see a bashing of Obama that didn't relate to his supposed "experience" or political views.
If anything, JA, you're summing up the biggest issue with Obama - he's running almost purely on personality, so any criticism sounds to his backers like a personal attack. Ironic, actually.
It's implied because he has no experience, no platform, and nothing substantial to say - just "Change!"
!! Politics really is the mind-killer. How can you say with a straight face he has no platform? And nothing substantial to say? Or are you kidding? So hard to tell on the internet.
In all seriousness - have you read through his policy statements? They're so empty it's mind-boggling. His speeches call for much change with little explanation of what that change is. On the few issues where he's been clear, he's been ripped apart.
"...unless you think Obama's selection was a cynical misuse of everything he said about change."
Are you saying that moving from a Bush/Republican administration to an Obama/Biden one does not portend change. Why? Because Biden has served in the senate for so many years, mostly under Republican presidents and/or Republican controlled congresses??
Are you seriously claiming that to bring change (if that's desired, and after 8 years of Bush it sure seems desirable to me)... to bring change we should DAVKA select totally unprepared individuals to the administration. Can you honestly say that, other than for the purpose of being elected, Palin is the best person for the job (as I can sincerely say about Biden!).
You don't think Biden was completely about trying to get elected by shoring up Obama's weakest points?
Pick your poison.
If you (collective left wing) really thought Biden was best prepared, why did he get almost no votes in the primaries? If Obama was also as prepared or more prepared, then why did he need Biden?
I really think it's soooo cool to see a woman on the ticket and also she's a really good speaker. I liked McCain anyway but now I'm even happier with the Republicans!
Palin's a great speaker. But the fact that McCain picked her with apparently minimal to no vetting demonstrates that he is very rash and impulsive. Kind of reminds me on invading a country with no good exit strategy.
Jackie - Why is it assumed that there was little to no vetting? Apparently they knew that the daughter was pregnant, and they definitely knew of the controversy over the trooper. I'm not sure how important either of those are or would be, relative to the gains his campaign can get from her. Her speech was apparently a big "Wow" all across the country - 37 million watched, almost as many as watched Obama (39), from what I heard today on the radio.
I believe McCain was of the few that felt there should have been more of a strategy in place to start in Iraq, and felt that more troops should have been there all along.
"...You don't think Biden was completely about trying to get elected..."
Of course a choice of a running mate is about trying to get elected. That's true for both parties and in every election year.
However, the Democrats chose Biden because they hoped that voters would feel that he was qualified for the position.
The Republicans, however, chose Palin because they hoped that voters would either vote for her because she's a woman, or they hoped that they'd be able to play up Obama's own supposed lack of experience. They cynically do not care that she is not the most qualified person available.
If you (collective left wing) really thought Biden was best prepared, why did he get almost no votes in the primaries?
Because Hillary got the experience votes in the primaries, and because Biden is missing the other talents required to get elected president, as compared to either of them (or pre-affair Edwards, etc.) While Biden would make a perfectly acceptable president in case of emergency, he's not exactly going to get anyone excited about him. I think that's perfect for a VP. Think of it as the GHWB model.
As for Obama, I think the implication that he doesn't put country first is just disgusting. They're basically calling him a traitor and saying he's not a patriot when in reality he wants what's best for America at least as much as McCain and Palin do -- he just has different ideas about what's best.
-"As for Obama, I think the implication that he doesn't put country first is just disgusting. They're basically calling him a traitor..." It's a far cry from calling him a traitor, they're calling him a standard politician who goes with what's popular.
Palin supported the bridge to nowhere for a while before opposing it. She increased the budget and speding and defecit as the mayor of Wasilla. She admitted not long ago that she doesn't know what the Vice President does, and that all she knows about the surge she ehard on cable TV. Her church claims that the Jews get punished with the intifada because they don't accept Jesus.
You may claim that none of these details bother you. Tob e honest, none of them except for her utter lack of interest in foreign affairs bother me.
But what bothers me is that when the oppo research came to Wasilla and Anchorage and Juneau last week to see the local newspaper records, they asks the archivists if people had seen the records before. And across the board they got the answer that no one had. McCain's vetting staff arrived in Alaska after she was chosen. The vast majority of his closest staff had no idea that she was being considered until the day before she was chosen.
So, perhaps she's wonderful--although I wouldn't make any judgment on that until we hear her say a single unscripted word (and that means wait indefinitely, because she's toof ragile to speak to the press right now). But while we may know very little that reflects on Palin right now, we do see very clearly the way in which McCain approached his first and only executive move of his career: he did so in a secretive, rash, and impulsive manner, with very little research.
It's not a decision making process that inspires confidence.
"The Republicans are just downright mean when they go after Obama. It's personal, and it's vicious."
Umm...did anyone else hear the "lipstick-pig" comment Obama made recently? Yeah, y'all can make technicalities & say "He was talking bout McCain's policies, blahblahblah....". That was an absolutely disgusting comment of him to say. So cocky. Did you hear all those liberals cheering so loud when he said that?
And apparently being a Governor doesn't count as experience anymore.
blah blah politics blah blah
ReplyDelete;)
Impressive - yes, the speech was impressive.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it does not change the fact that McCain's selection of her was a cynical misuse of the process and against everything he'd been preaching concerning the need for a strong world leader to defend our interests abroad.
Though I hope he's not elected I can surely say that if he IS... then I wish him long life and good health!!!
She's very talented and I've said from the beginning that I'm impressed with her speaking ability. That said, the Republicans have showed no class this convention. Compare their attacks to the Dems', who went out of their way over and over again to say how great a person McCain is, how he has the best intentions, etc., etc. The Republicans are just downright mean when they go after Obama. It's personal, and it's vicious.
ReplyDeleteI liked it when the baby's sister spit on her hand and slicked down his hair with the spit.
ReplyDeleteStam - LOL
ReplyDeleteMark - Disagree, unless you think Obama's selection was a cynical misuse of everything he said about change.
JA - What no class?! What personal attacks? They went after his platform claims, and his supposed experience. And pretty darn well, too. I didn't see a single personal attack, and commend Obama for doing the same regarding Palin's daughter.
Baila - I thought that was HILARIOUS.
- What no class?! What personal attacks? They went after his platform claims, and his supposed experience. And pretty darn well, too. I didn't see a single personal attack, and commend Obama for doing the same regarding Palin's daughter.
ReplyDeleteThe Dems explicitly and repeatedly said that McCain is a great man who has devoted his life to the country and who means well, but is simply wrong. The Republicans are doing everything they can to push the message that Obama is putting his own interests above his country's. That's a big difference.
Dems: McCain's a good man who just doesn't get it.
Reps: Obama's a bad man who will do anything for power.
JA - Firstly, let's be frank: The Dems *can't* go after McCain personally without severely pissing people off or looking really dumb. When Kerry ran on his service record it was odd considering what he'd said and done afterward. McCain is a well-known war hero who never did anything like that, so they're pushing him as an old/senile/out of touch guy.
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans are pushing that Obama has no real experience, and that all he's done seems to be campaign. He's not a bad man - I've never heard that implied - just someone who has done absolutely nothing. They mock the empty rhetoric and emphasize what McCain and Palin *have* done. I've yet to see a bashing of Obama that didn't relate to his supposed "experience" or political views.
If anything, JA, you're summing up the biggest issue with Obama - he's running almost purely on personality, so any criticism sounds to his backers like a personal attack. Ironic, actually.
ReplyDeleteDon't be disingenuous. They're saying that Obama's putting ambition ahead of country. This has nothing to do with experience or personality.
ReplyDeleteIt's implied because he has no experience, no platform, and nothing substantial to say - just "Change!"
ReplyDeleteIt's implied because he has no experience, no platform, and nothing substantial to say - just "Change!"
ReplyDelete!! Politics really is the mind-killer. How can you say with a straight face he has no platform? And nothing substantial to say? Or are you kidding? So hard to tell on the internet.
In all seriousness - have you read through his policy statements? They're so empty it's mind-boggling. His speeches call for much change with little explanation of what that change is. On the few issues where he's been clear, he's been ripped apart.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the debates? I am.
What some Democrats (might have) said in praise of McCain was true, and what the Republicans said to ridicule Obama was also true.
ReplyDeleteI recommend to anyone Hubert Humphrey's classic attack speech at the 1964 Democratic convention gleefully bashing Barry Goldwater.
See http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/huberthumphrey1964dnc.htm
That's what VP speeches are for, as people outside ivory towers know.
Rudy got in a few zingers, too. More power to him.
No more free pass for Obama, the quintessential front man for Chicago machine politics.
My last comment posted in a way that truncated the web address of Humphrey's speech. It ends with
ReplyDelete/huberthumphrey1964dnc.htm
"...unless you think Obama's selection was a cynical misuse of everything he said about change."
ReplyDeleteAre you saying that moving from a Bush/Republican administration to an Obama/Biden one does not portend change. Why? Because Biden has served in the senate for so many years, mostly under Republican presidents and/or Republican controlled congresses??
Are you seriously claiming that to bring change (if that's desired, and after 8 years of Bush it sure seems desirable to me)... to bring change we should DAVKA select totally unprepared individuals to the administration. Can you honestly say that, other than for the purpose of being elected, Palin is the best person for the job (as I can sincerely say about Biden!).
Actually the original Humphrey link only showed wrong on the "post a comment" page.
ReplyDeleteYou don't think Biden was completely about trying to get elected by shoring up Obama's weakest points?
ReplyDeletePick your poison.
If you (collective left wing) really thought Biden was best prepared, why did he get almost no votes in the primaries? If Obama was also as prepared or more prepared, then why did he need Biden?
I really think it's soooo cool to see a woman on the ticket and also she's a really good speaker. I liked McCain anyway but now I'm even happier with the Republicans!
ReplyDeleteYou go girl! :D
Palin's a great speaker. But the fact that McCain picked her with apparently minimal to no vetting demonstrates that he is very rash and impulsive. Kind of reminds me on invading a country with no good exit strategy.
ReplyDeleteFrankly rather worrisome.
Jackie - Why is it assumed that there was little to no vetting? Apparently they knew that the daughter was pregnant, and they definitely knew of the controversy over the trooper. I'm not sure how important either of those are or would be, relative to the gains his campaign can get from her. Her speech was apparently a big "Wow" all across the country - 37 million watched, almost as many as watched Obama (39), from what I heard today on the radio.
ReplyDeleteI believe McCain was of the few that felt there should have been more of a strategy in place to start in Iraq, and felt that more troops should have been there all along.
all hype and no substance.
ReplyDeleteall pomp and no issues.
all fuff and no detail.
all pep and no content.
a republican obama.
Anon - Well, then, one should vote for McCain.
ReplyDelete"...You don't think Biden was completely about trying to get elected..."
ReplyDeleteOf course a choice of a running mate is about trying to get elected. That's true for both parties and in every election year.
However, the Democrats chose Biden because they hoped that voters would feel that he was qualified for the position.
The Republicans, however, chose Palin because they hoped that voters would either vote for her because she's a woman, or they hoped that they'd be able to play up Obama's own supposed lack of experience. They cynically do not care that she is not the most qualified person available.
If you (collective left wing) really thought Biden was best prepared, why did he get almost no votes in the primaries?
ReplyDeleteBecause Hillary got the experience votes in the primaries, and because Biden is missing the other talents required to get elected president, as compared to either of them (or pre-affair Edwards, etc.) While Biden would make a perfectly acceptable president in case of emergency, he's not exactly going to get anyone excited about him. I think that's perfect for a VP. Think of it as the GHWB model.
As for Obama, I think the implication that he doesn't put country first is just disgusting. They're basically calling him a traitor and saying he's not a patriot when in reality he wants what's best for America at least as much as McCain and Palin do -- he just has different ideas about what's best.
-"As for Obama, I think the implication that he doesn't put country first is just disgusting. They're basically calling him a traitor..."
ReplyDeleteIt's a far cry from calling him a traitor, they're calling him a standard politician who goes with what's popular.
Palin supported the bridge to nowhere for a while before opposing it. She increased the budget and speding and defecit as the mayor of Wasilla. She admitted not long ago that she doesn't know what the Vice President does, and that all she knows about the surge she ehard on cable TV. Her church claims that the Jews get punished with the intifada because they don't accept Jesus.
ReplyDeleteYou may claim that none of these details bother you. Tob e honest, none of them except for her utter lack of interest in foreign affairs bother me.
But what bothers me is that when the oppo research came to Wasilla and Anchorage and Juneau last week to see the local newspaper records, they asks the archivists if people had seen the records before. And across the board they got the answer that no one had. McCain's vetting staff arrived in Alaska after she was chosen. The vast majority of his closest staff had no idea that she was being considered until the day before she was chosen.
So, perhaps she's wonderful--although I wouldn't make any judgment on that until we hear her say a single unscripted word (and that means wait indefinitely, because she's toof ragile to speak to the press right now). But while we may know very little that reflects on Palin right now, we do see very clearly the way in which McCain approached his first and only executive move of his career: he did so in a secretive, rash, and impulsive manner, with very little research.
It's not a decision making process that inspires confidence.
he did so in a secretive, rash, and impulsive manner, with very little research.
ReplyDeleteSounds a little too familiar to me.
"The Republicans are just downright mean when they go after Obama. It's personal, and it's vicious."
ReplyDeleteUmm...did anyone else hear the "lipstick-pig" comment Obama made recently? Yeah, y'all can make technicalities & say "He was talking bout McCain's policies, blahblahblah....".
That was an absolutely disgusting comment of him to say. So cocky. Did you hear all those liberals cheering so loud when he said that?
And apparently being a Governor doesn't count as experience anymore.