Sarah Who?
August 29, 2008
I still can’t get over how poor of a choice I feel this is. As globalization makes understanding the nuances of such foreign policy details as the difference between Shia and Sunni, or which countries Pakistan and Azerbaijan border, the difference between war and peace, I cannot imagine a worse choice. Obama is extremely well versed in these details. Forget saying no to Iraq. Any hippie could have gotten that right. He also suggested sending two more brigades to Afghanistan six months ago, and talking to Iran, the former of which the Joint Chiefs of Staff now recommends, and the latter of which the Bush administration recently acknowledge is necessary.
Biden is also extremely well versed. McCain, although he makes frequent errors in this arena (he has missed the two I referenced above), is well versed in foreign policy. Palin is not.
It’s as if McCain knows he’s going to lose so he feels he might as well campaign with a young, good looking woman. Totally in character for the birthday boy.
Palin on Iraq:
Alaska Business Monthly: We’ve lost a lot of Alaska’s military members to the war in Iraq. How do you feel about sending more troops into battle, as President Bush is suggesting?
Palin: I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place; I want assurances that we are doing all we can to keep our troops safe. Every life lost is such a tragedy. I am very, very proud of the troops we have in Alaska, those fighting overseas for our freedoms, and the families here who are making so many sacrifices.
If McCain wanted a woman on his ticket surely there are many more qualified and experienced women in the Republican party he could have chosen? My only thought is they thought that Democrats wouldn’t touch the “inexperienced” issue for fear of making it an issue for Obama as well, but given how laughably weak her resume is compared to Obama’s that hardly a concern.
Really quite an astoundingly poor selection.
Not to mention her scandal with firing her ex-brother-in-law. Did McCain not take that into account????
Its going to be awsome watching them on the stump. I sooo hope they catch McCain checking out her ass… it would make such an great clip. Still, she should shore up support among mildly psychopathic rednecks, a not unsubstantial voting block. Never forget that Americans as statistics are remarkably stupid.
This pick definitely makes the assumption that most voters are either dumb as toast, or make their decisions based solely on identity politics (which coincides with being dumb as toast).
Palin may actually appeal to Republicans that care not a hoot about experience, and care only for her position on their pet issues, such as creationism, anti-Choice, drilling in ANWR, etc… Problem is, that just means McCain is trying to shore up his base, which doesn’t expand the electorate he needs to win.
Independents won’t come running based on this selection. PUMAs were lost causes by today anyway.
The notion that McCain would pick someone with no experience in his first major decision just affirms how wrong he is to lead this nation. We’ve already had 8 years of incompetence in the White House. As Obama said on Thursday, “Enough!”
On the idea of a woman on the ticket - I wonder if he ever considered Elizabeth Dole? It’s been a while since she was a force on the national scene, but she would’ve been an inspired (and inspiring) choice.
holy shit, i can’t believe what hypocrites you all are.
“the notion that McCain would pick someone with no experience…affirms how wrong he is to lead this nation.”
Please compare how much more qualified Barack Obama is. John McCain chose someone with little experience as his #2, you all are supporting someone with little experience to be the #1. Executive experience is far more valuable than Senatorial. The burden of leading teaches one far more than the “burden” of being part of a committee or writing policy papers. “Republicans care not a hoot about experience” well apparently neither do Democrats, so we’ll call it a draw there.
“I sooo hope they catch McCain checking out her ass…” Really? That’s what you hope McCain does? Are you a sexist or just reduced to hoping YouTube has new material?
I think Andy asked in one of these blog posts about what the Republican readers think about his choice of running mate. I can’t give a straight answer. I first heard about Sarah Palin on NPR a few hours before the actual announcement. I think John McCain should have chosen a governor because of the executive experience there. I think he should have chosen someone with a strong financial backing especially as it relates to government spending policy. I think he should have chosen someone who is pro-life and with strong religious convictions to shore up the conservative base that were doubtful of supporting McCain. With all that, I would think Mitt Romney would have been the obvious answer. I’ll also point out that if he had chosen Romney, all of you would have been quick to say what a terrible decision that would have been.
Sarah Palin is the right type of running mate (executive, cut excessive spending, pro-life) for John McCain, but since I’ve known her name for less than 24 hours I’m not going to say she’s the best choice.
Jeff - You’ll notice in both of my posts on the subject, I did not use the word experience once. Qualified. Do you have so little respect for Obama that you think he is this unqualified? Now, Obama has only served as a US Senator for four years and a state Senator for 6, but he understands foreign policy and the economy as well as of the primary candidates did. I know you are skeptical of his views on trade and taxes, but its hard to argue that he hasn’t thought and studied extensively on these subjects for years. Palin, by her own admissions, knows very little about foreign policy or the whole US economy. She has been running a largely unpopulated swath of land very far of away from the rest of the US, with a very different economy (Alaska’s economy is so oil-based that instead of taxes they pay people for living there), and she has only been running that state for two years. And in that time she is ALREADY under investigation for abuse of power.
Jeff- I should also mention that part of many people problem with Palin’ lack of experience is that this pick was kind of out of the blue, so Palin has not spent the last several months/years getting prepped on foreign policy and the economy. If she had been a primary election candidate and spent months focused on these issues, I would feel much more comfortable about her level of preparation. As it stands, McCain had only spoken with her in person once, and a second time on the phone, before he made this decision last week. I would think that Palin should have undergone a more serious vetting and prepping process before being selected.
Also, I would have said that Romney was a terrible choice. I also would have said he was the best choice from the options that I had heard that McCain was looking at. The only Republican party leaders I still have respect for, like Hagel or Specter, were never considered as serious options. And of course, my favorite Republican (and my favorite governor period) is not American-born. You know the one, he would have terminated McCain in the primaries.
Andy, other commenters remarked on the experience. I tried answering your original question about what conservatives think of Palin. I only gave a half answer (she’s the right type at least) because I’ve only known who she is for going on 36 hours now.
You’re right that she doesn’t have a foreign policy background, but I’m going to argue the economic intelligence she brings. She’s had to manage a budget and she’s in an oil state where ANWAR drilling and oil prices are a hot issue. Those issues have honed her ability to make economic decisions. As governor, those are autonomous decisions. When I keep referring to executive experience, it’s the autonomous decision making that I refer to. Senators don’t have that experience. Don’t forget also that Obama voted in favor of the Bridge to Nowhere bill - but Governor Palin shut it down. In terms of economic decision making, one voted for a $200 million waste and the other canceled it. As for foreign policy, she’s the VP candidate not the secretary of state hopeful. What were Al Gore and Walter Mondale’s foreign policy credentials?
I don’t understand your question, “Do you have so little respect for Obama that you think he is this unqualified?” Sarah Palin isn’t running against Barack Obama, John McCain is, and how does selecting Sarah Palin indicate that Barack Obama is unqualified?
As for your preferred choice of Republican candidate, I met him a few weeks ago and I’m going to be a smug fucker and post a link about it here. It was awesome.
Jeff - Indications are she ran the town she was major of into a financial hole they’re still trying to get out of and she has not got a great track record as Alaska’s governor.
There were many other women more qualified than Palin, so kindly explain why she, and not them, was selected for such an important position. We’ve already suffered through an administration that’s put too many unqualified people in positions of power, and this screams of more of the same from McCain. As a first decision as a presidential nominee, that hardly inspires confidence in his judgment.
Daniel K:
I already said in my previous post why she selected: executive experience, pro-life, and restrictive government spending on useless projects. As to more qualified candidates who would you suggest? I will also point out there are many more qualified Democrats to be President, but Obama is the nominee. What are your metrics for President/Vice President qualifications?
I wonder why no one ever explains “why” when it comes to Obama. Why did Obama reject public funds and only accept private donations (the only candidate to ever do that)? What is Obama’s view on gun control? Why did Obama threaten to shut down NAFTA then rescind that decision? Why is he going to raise corporate taxes (already the tied for highest in the world with Japan)? Why is he going to raise capital gains when he has admitted it will likely decrease tax revenue? Why does he always avoid direct answers when questioned? How come he’s been in the public spotlight for a over a year but he has yet to demonstrate a single major bill that he’s been part of in his history as a legislator (much less illustrated reform/change or been bipartisan though he claims he’s adept at both)?
I hope thats what McCain does because I would both be entertained and It would help defeat McCain from being the president. The woman is a creationist, pro life, freak.. He is old as hell and survived several bouts of cancer. The thought of this crazy woman as the president scares me. considering the supreme court, they both scare me.. As for hypocrites, We just had a republican praising Hillary Clinton, talk about a fucking hypocrites. The republicans still rule that roost
Jeff- Obama appears to be a strong supporter of gun control in states that are predominately urban, with less restrictions in more rural states.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Gun_Control.htm
I’m not quite sure where you’re getting those facts about capital gains taxes.
http://www.sltrib.com/utahutes/ci_10329389
Laws he passed in Illinios-
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR2008010303303.html
Laws or amendments he sponsored in DC-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132×4684887#4685195
What impressed me the most about Obama is his judgement thus far with respect to foreign policy, particularly towards Iraq (opposing the war initially, supporting withdrawl timetables that al-Maliki is pushing for), sending more brigades to Afghanistan, and diplomacy towards Iran (which the Bush administation has started doing. Over a year AFTER it mocked Obama’s position). He has also ran a highly disciplined and organized campaign that suggests he will ran a highly disciplined and organized White House. McCain’s campaign has been described by former campaign managers as poorly run and highly disorganized.
And I believe I’ve said this many times; I agree that Obama is wrong on NAFTA, and he occasionally goes off to far on overly populist message. Given his positions on most other issues, especially with regards to foreign policy, and his effectiveness with regards to his campaign, I’m willing to accept that flaw.
Pro-life freaks? Yikes. Before you start judging her, maybe you should do some introspection.
John McCain hasn’t just survived cancer, he’s survived far worse. My favorite was when he ejected from his jet, and due to malfunction the jet hit him as it went down. If being hit by a flying fighter jet and being tortured for five years couldn’t get him, cancer never had a chance!
Apparently you missed the Democratic National Convention and the speeches associated with it, which is a shame because apparently you are a liberal. I imagine you would have been interested. However, I’ll help you out and fill you in on what Barack Obama said at the convention. (Barack Obama is the Democratic Party nominee for President)
Barack Obama said that John McCain was a fine American with a distinguished career. So when you say that the Republicans are hypocrites for praising Hillary Clinton, you point out your own ignorance or hypocrisy (I’ll let you choose which) because your candidate did the same and praised a member of the opposing party. Besides, Barack Obama claims he wants to improve cross party relationships; why don’t you support him on this? Not everyone hates the other half of politics like you do (I reference your “freak” remark) so when one side praises the other, you should take it easy.
I’ll also be a super prick this time around and point out some of the unique grammar techniques you use. I’ll even give you a little tip: when you are trying to prove a point or discount an opposing argument you should really proofread. You sound hasty and careless - traits an argument shouldn’t have. “a fucking hypocrites” would be better replaced with “a fucking hypocrite” and your use of double periods should be replaced by either a single or triple depending on what effect you want. I thought some of your word use could have been better as well, when you say “would help defeat McCain from being the president,” would have been better stated, “would help prevent McCain from being the president.” Your random capitalization was also puzzling. Overall, I give your comment a C- and will expect better in the future.
I did have one question. When you mention the Supreme Court and how, “they both scare” you, do you mean that both Sarah Palin and the Supreme Court scare you? On that we do agree, I also check under my bed at night for Ruth Bader Ginsbergs.
Jeff - More on Obama’s legislative career.
In a nutshell:
He teamed with Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., to study the dangers of nuclear proliferation and pass legislation meant to keep nuclear material from falling into the hands of terrorists.
Obama also joined with Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., after Hurricane Katrina to improve oversight of federal spending.
And he shared billing with a Republican presidential hopeful when he joined Arizona Sen. John McCain in sponsoring legislation that called for sharp, mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
In depth:
Obama passed legislation with Republican Senator Jim Talent to give gas stations a tax credit for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps. The tax credit covers 30 percent of the costs of switching one or more traditional petroleum pumps to E85, which is an 85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline blend.
-After a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases.
-His first law was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent.
-Obama created the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income working families in 2000 and successfully sponsored a measure to make the credit permanent in 2003. The law offered about $105 million in tax relief over three years.
-Obama joined forces with former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D-IL) to pass the toughest campaign finance law in Illinois history. The legislation banned the personal use of campaign money by Illinois legislators and banned gifts from lobbyists. Before the law was passed, one organization ranked Illinois worst among 50 states for its campaign finance regulations.
-As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Obama has fought to help Illinois veterans get the disability pay they were promised, while working to prepare the VA for the return of the thousands of veterans who will need care after Iraq and Afghanistan.
-He traveled to Russia with Republican Dick Lugar to begin a new generation of non-proliferation efforts designed to find and secure deadly weapons around the world.
-Obama has been a leading advocate for protecting the right to vote, helping to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act and leading the opposition against discriminatory barriers to voting.
- In the U.S. Senate, Obama introduced the STOP FRAUD Act to increase penalties for mortgage fraud and provide more protections for low-income homebuyers, well before the current subprime crisis began.
-Obama sponsored legislation to combat predatory payday loans, and he also was credited with lobbied the state to more closely regulate some of the most egregious predatory lending practices.
-Barack Obama introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 to provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America relative to those outside the US; maintain their corporate headquarters in America; pay decent wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; and support employees who serve in the military.
-Obama worked to pass a number of laws in Illinois and Washington to improve the health of women. His accomplishments include creating a task force on cervical cancer, providing greater access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, and helping improve prenatal and premature birth services.
-Obama has introduced and helped pass bipartisan legislation to limit the abuse of no-bid federal contracts.
-Obama and Senator Feingold (D-WI) took on both parties and proposed ethics legislation that was described as the “gold standard” for reform. It was because of their leadership that ending subsidized corporate jet travel, mandating disclosure of lobbyists’ bundling of contributions, and enacting strong new restrictions of lobbyist-sponsored trips became part of the final ethics bill that was signed into law.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama#Senat...
His wikipedia page that lists the legislation he’s worked on and contributed to in the U.S. Senate and Illinois State Senate.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/articl...
A Time article that includes a more general account of his record.
http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_...
An extremely in-depth, informative blog post with its sources linked.
Was that so hard? I’ve been waiting 18 months for someone to do this.
**The bottom two links didn’t work; however the bottom link I’ve seen material from before and it would be akin to directing you to National Review or Wall Street Journal for a background on McCain. So you only get partial credit there.
I have to warn you on some of this stuff though, especially the campaign finance reform bullets since Obama may have done finance reform at the state level, but his opponent did it on the national level. Plus, Obama is rejecting public donations and going the private funding route. His reform to prevent gifts from lobbyists also has be questioned when he accepts $250,000 from habitual briber and current felon Tony Rezko - a real estate contractor that looked to score favorable acquisitions from the government through large donations. Obama has done a lot for the right to vote; but also to discount that right. When he was a state senator he worked to remove names from a petition to put Alice Palmer on the ballot running against him. I have issue with his work on no-bid federal contracts since he also signed the bill that included the Bridge to Nowhere.
Jeff:
… People HAVE been doing that for 18 months. My only question then is, and I ask this as politely as this question can possibly be asked, why have you not looked for such a list yourself?
What astonishes me is that every conservative or Republican-leaning person I have ever seen ask for such a list always follows the list with “I have been waiting XX months for that!” But I see such lists all the time. Do people really want to see such lists, or do they not really care and prefer to stick with the year-old “He has no experience!” meme that seems to be so popular, and only own up to the fact that it’s completely inaccurate when it’s thrown in their face?
I’m really not trying to be rude here. I just don’t understand why, if the desire to see such a list is so strong, and people have been making them for ages, you needed Andy to present one for you.
Because if you cared, you would have answered long ago when I asked - and I have asked many times on this blog for someone to do it, and no one ever did. He’s your party candidate not mine. Is it so odd that maybe you would know more about him than I do? Or welcome the opportunity to prove me wrong or spread the accomplishments of the candidate you support for President?
If you don’t understand why I haven’t looked for such a list myself, then I’m going to suggest you make a very simple effort and just click my name on any comment. If that is too difficult I’ll direct you straight to a summary I have compiled on what Obama has done or where his reform will take us. My findings are listed here! Click here Patrick! Right here!. I don’t need Andy to post one for me (check the dates of the comparative postings). What was refreshing was to see an Obama supporter actually present a substantial collection of accomplishments.
Before you go off trying to tell someone that you are astonished by their ignorance, you should actually do some work yourself. If you had, you would have either a) shut me up long ago with some proof that Obama has actually done something b) seen that I had already figured out what Obama has done myself but I still challenge Obama supporters to do the same because they never have an objective answer when asked. What have you done to spread the work Obama has done? I see the same bullshit coming for you that I see from most Obama supporters: they all say how glorious Barack Obama is and how un-Bush he is, and how he will bring health care to us all, and improve international relations, and tax those bastards that deserve to be taxed. What in his history indicates he will do those things successfully? What in his history indicates that he knows how to go about doing any of that? I’m saying he can’t do it, and I’ve been waiting 18 months for someone to prove me otherwise. He’s your candidate, stand up for him! But do it in a worthwhile way, don’t just mentally fellate him.
One of these should work (Teresa, I might need some help on getting at least one of them to work, they are the same clip) and illustrates my argument perfectly. Obama supporters, high profile politicians, can’t explain what Barack Obama has done. Why are so you flabbergasted that a conservative is asking the same?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGeu_4Ekx-o]
Because if you cared, you would have answered long ago when I asked - and I have asked many times on this blog for someone to do it, and no one ever did. He’s your party candidate not mine. Is it so odd that maybe you would know more about him than I do? Or welcome the opportunity to prove me wrong or spread the accomplishments of the candidate you support for President?
If you don’t understand why I haven’t looked for such a list myself, then I’m going to suggest you make a very simple effort and just click my name on any comment. If that is too difficult I’ll direct you straight to a summary I have compiled on what Obama has done or where his reform will take us. My findings are listed here! Click here Patrick! Right here!. I don’t need Andy to post one for me (check the dates of the comparative postings). What was refreshing was to see an Obama supporter actually present a substantial collection of accomplishments.
Before you go off trying to tell someone that you are astonished by their ignorance, you should actually do some work yourself. If you had, you would have either a) shut me up long ago with some proof that Obama has actually done something b) seen that I had already figured out what Obama has done myself but I still challenge Obama supporters to do the same because they never have an objective answer when asked. What have you done to spread the work Obama has done? I see the same bullshit coming for you that I see from most Obama supporters: they all say how glorious Barack Obama is and how un-Bush he is, and how he will bring health care to us all, and improve international relations, and tax those bastards that deserve to be taxed. What in his history indicates he will do those things successfully? What in his history indicates that he knows how to go about doing any of that? I’m saying he can’t do it, and I’ve been waiting 18 months for someone to prove me otherwise. He’s your candidate, stand up for him! But do it in a worthwhile way, don’t just mentally fellate him.
One of these should work (Teresa, I might need some help on getting at least one of them to work, they are the same clip) and illustrates my argument perfectly. Obama supporters, high profile politicians, can’t explain what Barack Obama has done. Why are so you flabbergasted that a conservative is asking the same?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGeu_4Ekx-o]
Dammit, the link didn’t work. That’s what i get for being smug, just follow it here:
http://sommers03.blogspot.com/2008/08/dnc-week-wrap-up.html
Jeff - McCain was absent for crucial votes on the bill, so I don’t think he gets credit here. And the ‘bridge to nowhere’ money was actually moved onto a general Alaskan transportation bill, and the bridge was never built. So I don’t think McCain gets a one-up on Obama here.
http://www.factcheck.org/outrageous_exaggerations.html
Addtionally, Obama, with over one-million individual donors, is the model we want for campaign finance: large numbers of small, enthusiastic, donors.
And as for as McCain and campaign finance goes, the McCain-Feingold bill was largely symbolic, and had no teeth. And you might want to check out his involvement with the Keating Five,
Good post Jeff. Will debate you on some of the points more when I get some more time. Although the one I have to take immediate issue with is your contention that Obama has said recently that he is not ready to be President. I’m really going to need a link on that one because Obama has been saying he’s ready to be President since Hillary’s “READY ON DAY ONE” meme.
Also, congrats on meeting the governor. That sounded awesome.
Another link about Obama’s foreign policy credentials.
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/08/29/an-astonishingly-arrogant-v-p-selection.aspx
Ok, Jeff.
I happen to have an extremely busy life - I don’t make it a point to read even a fraction of the comments posted here. Nor do I spend alot of time clicking extraneous links to other websites.
1. Didn’t call you ignorant - I was merely curious why Andy’s post was the first of its kind you had seen, or, if you valued said post so highly, why you hadn’t searched for one. There is obviously no way for me to know whether you ever had or not.
2. You really expect me to go off galivanting across the internet to see if you had actually ever discovered such a post somewhere else? Doesn’t the fact that you asked for one seem to suggest the answer to that?
Ok, try this. Go find somewhere where I’ve noted the things I don’t like about Hillary Clinton. Ok go. How long will it take you? Where would you start? Why would it even make sense for me to ask you to do such a thing?
…. Really? From me specifically? Ok, Jeff, now I’m going to challenge you to actually back up that statement.
The worst part is, I made it a point to tell you I was genuinely curious about your response, and the way you’ve responded doesn’t seem to have taken that into account. It doesn’t exactly encourage me to continue. Don’t get me wrong, normally I enjoy the challenge you present here, but this is unnecessary - my response to you was not intended to be emotional, accusatory, or any of those things. No defensive response was needed.
Patrick:
Likewise, I lead a busy life, and while a defensive response may not have been needed it got my point across a hell of a lot faster and I needed to hit the road for San Fran.
Andy said in a recent post that he’ll get more into it later and I’m going to do the same, just back from San Fran and need some sleep. So, I’ll get around responding in depth.
Andy:
My remark that Sen Obama isnself admittedly not ready for the Presidency is reflective of his comment about abortion and how that issue was above his pay grade.
Patrick,
I said I’d get back to you, but please realize your “challenge” will take some time. However, I’m game so I’ll look back and see what you do support through your comments.
I must point the following before I begin:
1) You may not have said that I’m ignorant, but you certainly implied it. When you say that you are shocked that I haven’t found resources to Obama’s accomplishments even though you find them everywhere, that’s either calling me ignorant or lazy. Since we live in a democracy, I’ll let you choose which.
2) I don’t expect any galivanting - good use of the word by the way - across the internet. However, if someone is arguing you and there is a link to that person, use some initiative and see who that person is. It makes the debate/conversation/whatever you want to call it much more interesting. I do find it interesting that your extremely busy life precludes galivanting, but you challenge me to do just that.
Asking people questions of their beliefs is a very common thing. When I ask Obama supporters to prove why they support him and to provide evidence because I’m not convinced - it’s just a dumbed down version of being Socratic.