Posted on 09/06/2008 6:45:55 AM PDT by MaestroLC
The U.S. election of 2008 is shaping up as a contest about a vice-president — possibly a first in America. In most American elections, few things matter less than the second-in-command. In this one, judging by the media attention, few things matter more.
There are various reasons for this, but one is obvious. John McCain is 72. Never has a 2IC had better odds of becoming a commander-in-chief before she figured out the location of the washrooms in the White House than this Republican nominee. Her resumé might end up reading: Small town mayor; small state governor; leader of the free world.
The office for which Hillary Clinton strove with merciless determination for a lifetime, only to see it snatched away from her in the 11th hour, could fall into the lap of Sarah Palin, a populist outsider, who hadn’t prepared or even looked for the job. While Hillary was hobnobbing with Washington’s Who’s Who, Sarah chatted with the fire chief of Wasilla, Alaska, pop. 7,000. This makes Democrats livid. Feminists, in particular, can barely contain themselves.
Let’s fine-tune this. There are two kinds of feminists: Those who want to see the presidency available to women, and those who want to see the presidency available to card-carrying, licensed and agenda-certified female feminists. No accidental, willy-nilly women need apply. Sen. McCain’s choice made the second kind livid.
In the space of one weekend, Gov. Palin caused the sisterhood to metamorphose into veritable replicas of Boticelli’s Madonna. The wounded cry, “But what about the children?” echoed all over the land.
(Excerpt) Read more at network.nationalpost.com ...
Small state governor? ALASKA?
Reagan was 70 when he assumed office and after losing the nomination twice. ‘Nuf said.
In 1968 Humphrey said he was so evenly matched against Nixon that the election would be decided by the VP's.
That's right, sweetie, you FAILED.
Well, what about the BOWEL Movement's resumé? Community organizer, state senator who voted present 130 times, US senator with no major bills may be the leader of the free world.
God help us.
In an era of Islamic terrorists assassinating world leaders, age is not the only risk factor an America President faces.
The press made a big stink over a bogus death threat in Denver against Obama but has downplayed all of the credible plots against President Bush.
When she walked out on stage the other night, I told Mr. I we might be looking at the first woman POTUS. He agreed. I think I can wait for that to happen in 2012 or 16.
Obama has made the calculation that he can’t beat McCain, so he has re-tooled his campaign to run against Palin, and the DNC press monkies are cooperating.
Its a judo move. They think if they can bring her down, McCain falls with her. Its pretty transparent, the strategy, and the fact that the propagandists carrying press badges are so complicit with his campaign.
The funny thing is that he miscalculated. She is the more charismatic of the two. The more they throw at Palin, the more his campaign founders and flounders. I’m enjoying the spectacle. Every time he points at her supposed lack of credentials it reminds people that he doesn’t have any.
His only chance at the White House depends upon his ability to be all things to all people and no one noticing that he has made it all up, nothing is real. She’s real. Check. Mate.
Leadership is not about experience, it is a natural force within some people. Management can be taught and knowledge acquired.
A reading of the biographies of great achievers reveals gems of insight into leadership. If I recall correctly, Henry Ford had a third grade education, and once under cross examination by an over zealous lawyer, the lawyer made the mistake of raising that fact. Mr Ford replied, “Young man, on the side of my desk is a button that I can push and get the answer to any question, including questions from damn fool lawyers like yourself.”
. . BUT...BUT...BUT... Senator “O” has a lot of photo-ops with big world leaders from his big world tour last month to use in t.v. commercials . . what about that?
(Never mind that those world leaders all had puzzled looks on their faces as in, “What is this guy doing in my office?”
McCain made a a multi faceted move that even some on the right missed and most of the media. It really wasn’t a mindless grab at Hillary/women voters at all.
Palin is a mirror for Obama’s experience. Obama was goaded into arguing with the other sides VP over THEIR resumes, leaving McCain “above it all” and Biden a forgotten footnote.
On a second level, it covered McCain’s political rear and allowed him to venture out to get those independents and moderated democrats who aren’t fired up about Obama.
On a third level, it reinforced the Maverick/reform image McCain had, which both refutes the stupid “McSame” charge AND hugs Obama on the “change agent” angle.
The bonus was the media overreach creating a massive TV audience and sympathy for Palin.
If McCain pulls this off, he has to have a place in the front row of politicians strategery wise. He was DEAD in the water this time last year and now look at him.
It really is quite remarkable, but it isn’t over yet.
Those world leaders all had puzzled looks on their faces as in saying “This guy wouldn’t make a pimple on a world leader’s @$$.”
It's a strategic and tactical blunder.Obama has been pulled completely off message ("a new kind of candidate offering hope - a uniter.")
In attacking Palin, he becomes just another mean and desperate politician. Obama turned angry in his Denver speech and now he's turning just plain mean.
His whole campaign carries the stench of massive defeat. Don't be fooled by the "tight" polls. Obama's been told privately he's going to get his butt kicked on November 4th.
That is the only explanation for the panicked abandonment of his original strategy. The over-the-top smears and trashing of the GOP female Vice-Presidential pick is the clear sign of a loser.
There's too much downside to the risk of a massive backlash from a vicious attack on Palin unless you KNOW you're getting whipped.
You cannot "win the hearts of the undecided" by being a low-down, dirty, rotten son-of-a-bitch.
This election is effectively over so Obama apparently believes he has nothing to lose now in his campaign's collapse.
It's very obvious to a majority of Americans the attacks on Sarah Palin are completely beyond the pale in their depravity.
We're watching a trapped, dying animal lashing out in the throes of a last-gasp fight.
“This election is effectively over so Obama apparently believes he has nothing to lose now in his campaign’s collapse.”
It brings a new meaning to the Stephanoplous statement the weekend before the Dem Convention saying that Obama was down TWELVE POINTS in internal Dem polling he hasd seen, doesn’t it?
That had to be a goodly part of McCain's strategy. If the fight stays between Barry and Baracuda, the worst that happens for our side is a draw. McCain gets to stay above the fray, and Obambi never really gets around to attacking McCain's positions. Meanwhile attacks on Sarah galvanize the base.
The Rats and their media lackeys are falling right into place.
Another excellent article from the National Post.
Many years ago I read a Heinlein story where the plotline involved a local political race with a female war vet running against the local machine.
Much of the discussion was about the difficulty for a male candidate of getting too aggressive against his female opponent. Tends to piss off both men and women in the audience.
If anybody can point me toward the story I’d appreciate it.
Population-wise. On that basis, it's smaller than Oklahoma, IIRC. 3 million in Alaska, and 3 million in OKC alone. 6 million for the state.
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