Is McCain Serious?
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 8/29/08 @ 11:21 am - Filed Under 2008 National Elections
The guy is 72-years old and running his entire campaign on the mantra of experience. So he picks a candidate, Sarah Palin, with absolutely ZERO foreign policy experience - let alone experience with anything else. Not to mention she’s under investigation in her own state for ethical violations.
I’m sure the country will feel completely comfortable with Palin becoming president if something were to happen to McCain - especially considering 99% of the American people have never heard of her until today. I wonder if she’s related to Dan Quayle?
Two years ago she was the mayor of a town the size of Columbia City but now she’s ready to step in and lead the country - possibly become the President? Give me a break. Why not select Mayor Henry?
I still wish it would’ve been Lieberman - that would’ve been even more hilarious…
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78 Responses to “Is McCain Serious?”
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I have two words and two words only to describe this choice and the words are PRESIDENT OBAMA.
What an awful awful choice especially given McCain’s age. A hearbeat away from the Presidency? Are you kidding me? This makes George H.W Bush’s pick of Quayle look brilliant.
As the resident Republican I disagree with Jeff entirely on this.
I will put up a post illustrating why this was an outstanding pick and how this pick will give Senator McCain a much larger chance of becoming President.
She is a brilliant pick, unlike Biden.
Mike Sylvester
I just listened to Gov. Palin’s speech on satelite radio and I need to retract my earlier comments. This may end up being a brilliant pick. She so out of the traditional mold that she is going to attract new voters. It was interesting that she singled out Hillary Clinton for massive praise and directly asked her supporters to now help break through the glass ceiling that has “18 million” cracks in it.
five Kids, a Fisherman husband who is a member of the steelworkers union, a son who just enlisted in the army? a special needs kid? You cant accuse McCain of not being bold with this pick and I have to agree with Mr. Sylvester.
clearly all reasons she would be ready to be president - give me a break. Mike, be sure to explain how she has the experience to lead this country in forieng policy terms. I can’t wait
I actually think this is a very asute political pick. McCain is obviously going after Hillary democrats while not pissing off core conservative republicans voters. Is Palin qualified to run the country - absolutely not. But I would argue that Obama does not have the credentials to run the country either. And as such, Obama chose a Washington insider with amble experience as his VP. Remember, the vast MINORITY of VPs have actually stepped into a presedential role. I believe this is a great pick. Let the battle begin!
Jeff, are you REALLY going to make the experience argument? Governor Palin’s political experience is roughly equal to Obama’s. The only difference is that Palin has experience in an EXECUTIVE position.
Come on Jeff explain to me how Barry has the experience to run for President. Let see his response in the Democratic debates..: “Well, actually, my experience in foreign policy is probably more diverse than most others in the field. I’m somebody who has actually lived overseas, somebody who has studied overseas. I majored in international relations.”
Wow!! a BA in International Relations !!!
Both Biden and Barry have never held a real job. They a career politicians.
I didnt say “ready” to be president. I said “may help attract new voters”. She clearly is not ready to be president.
However, what makes you more prepared to be President? 2 years as Senator or 2 years as Governor? And, dont diminish her governorship by making fun of Alaska, because we had a quite acclaimed 8 year president from the redneck state of Arkansas. I know it is hard for some Obama supporters to get beyond their infactuation that seems to give them the same goosebumps as their first love, but please explain how his experience is so superior (and not just in the foreign policy area).
At least Palin is just running for VP, the other inexperienced individual is running for P.
Jeff,
First of all Palin has more exective experience then Obama, Biden, and McCain combined! She has been the Governor of a state for two years; while Biden, Obama, and McCain have abolsutely zero executive experience. Of the four only Palin has been the lead exectutive of a large government.
As far as foreign policy experience goes McCain and Biden both have a large amount of foreign policy experience from their long terms in the US Senate. Obama has been a US Senator for less then two years and for much of that time he has been running for President, not building his foreign policy experience. Palin has no foreign policy experience at all.
You could argue that McCain/Palin have less combined foreign policy experience than Obama/Biden. I would agree with that statement.
I would argue that Palin/McCain have more executive experience then Obama/Biden…
Better yet Palin is from a middle classed background and that should help the ticket a great deal. Her parents worked in an Elementary school one as a teach and one as a secretary…
Mike Sylvester
The oldest presidential candidate in history picks the least qualified vp candidate in history. I’m sure I will soon see the brilliance in the pick.
You will as soon as you put down the kool-aid. And Palin is only the least qualified VP candidate because Obama isn’t a VP candidate
Jeff - I also think that John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin is only going to help them keep Obama in the Senate next year. She is Pro-Life, based on her short speech in Dayton at noon a very articulate speaker, a fiscal conservative - “giving money back to taxpayers FROM cash in the bank instead of borrowing it from future generations” and a mother of five, married only once, et al.
Jeff,
Palin is as qualified as Barack Obama and he is running for President. She is running for Vice President.
As far as experience goes Obama and Palin could be considered to have similar levels of experience. Biden and McCain have similar levels of experience.
Biden is far more qualified to be President then Obama if you only look at experience.
Mike Sylvester
Executive experience? Is that like making the trains run on time? Are there any trains in Alaska?
The mayor of Columbia City has about the same level of executive experience as Palin but neither is qualified to be president.
Senators actually deal with NATIONAL issues. They debate health care, foreign policy, trade issues, tax policy - you know things a potential President should have some grasp over.
I seriously doubt a single one of you would feel comfortable with her as President even though you won’t admit it publicly. And that’s a serious issue considering McCain’s age.
This is the most ridiculous vice-presidential pick I have ever seen. And frankly it’s probably insulting to women that supported Hillary Clinton to suggest they will blindly support some inexperienced woman who doesn’t hold many (if any) common beliefs.
Good luck with selling that…
I think it was a smart pick. A few weeks ago, McCain was dead in the water. Now, he has breathed new life into his campaign.
There’s a new fork in the road now.
P.S. He’s still not the man to me however, good for him for having the balls to go outside of the typical republican selection.
Mike,
That is so ridiculous it’s not even worth debating. A mayor of Columbia City and 2 year Alaskan governor has more experience than Obama?
More experience doing what? Salting the roads? I think it would be hilarious for some reporter to start asking her questions about the situation in Georgia, NATO, Pakistan, etc.
You Republicans can’t have it both ways. Either you want someone with experience in dealing with foreign policy issues or you don’t. And given the age of your nominee I would think that would be a concern.
What this pick did was completely remove the topic of experience from the debate for John McCain. So where does he go now?
Rumpole,
I’ll do that if you share some of the stuff you’re smoking that makes you think this is a wise choice for a 72 year old candidate to make…
Jeff,
Whoa partner…
I would not be comfortable with seeing either Obama or Palin be the President of the United States based on their experience. Neither is qualified from an experience standpoint.
Luckily for Republicans McCain is the top of the Republican ticket.
Unfortunately for Democrats Obama is on top of their ticket rather then Biden…
Mike Sylvester
Jeff,
Obama has ran a campaign based on changing Washington DC. Then he blew it and picked a VP that has been a US Senator for 36 years. Obama has hurt his “change” message.
McCain has ran a platform based on experience and he has picked an inexperienced running mate. This will hurt his campaign message of “experience.
Both Obama and McCain made choices that do not reflect the theme of their campaign to date.
Mike Sylvester
Jeff as a female (me) - who is socially moderate and fiscally conservative - I’m thrilled to see a woman come out of the republican woodwork who is more than a door stop. She has a real life, with real views, and she isn’t 100 years old.
I don’t expect this team to get elected - but - if this is her time to at least get some national recognition - yay for her.
Regarding the investigation in her own state - I looked that up. From CNN’s website:
I don’t dismiss this allegations. Just like I don’t dismiss the fact that Obama and Biden are both known to plagarize ’stuff’. It’s just one more data point to consider…
Jeff -
You keep bringing up the issue of age in your agruments. Honestly - do you really think McCain will die in office if elected? Do you know something about his health that we don’t? I don’t think that McCain needed to pick some seasoned veteran to support his campaign in case he kicked off. He needed to pick some one that complemented his own views and filled voids in his resume. I believe Palin does this. I believe she is a great choice that gives his election a chance in the general election. As I stated early it is a great POLITICAL pick. Does she have the experience, work ethic, etc. to actually do the job - I don’t know. But an election is more about perception and possibilities, not reality! Good luck to both candidates!
Jeff,
I’ll happily share what I’m smoking, just as long as you promise to honor the traditional “puff, puff, give” rotation.
Jeff
I’ve smoked some of what Rumpole is smoking, and please don’t knock it until you try it.
Your hypocrisy on this post is amazing. As you all know, I begged McCain to pick Palin on this very site last week. I know you’re frustrated because Obama wasted his pick, but don’t take that out on the Republicans. It was a brilliant pick (and I don’t say that just because I called it). It was courageous. It was someone energetic, not old and tired like Biden. I even hear she’s never plagarized anything. Great work McCain.
Jeff,
By your definition, Palin is equally ill equipped to be President as Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan since neither of these individuals served in the Senate. Boy, we were lucky to survive those 16 years.
You can argue that Biden is better qualified to be VP than Palin, but you cannot argue that Obama is materially more qualified to be P than Palin.
Jeff - I’m 72 going on 73 - just like the John who is the Republican nominee for US President in November - I sure don’t feel old - and I’ll bet MaCain doesn’t either. I am sure that Sarah was an excellent choice - and I’ll bet lots of Hillary supporters will also - maybe even my two Democratic daughters - I’ll let you know on that - if my two girls will vote for MaCain/Palin, so will lots of others!
Jeff:
Two points I think you ought to concede:
1. The McCain choice has his base (and others) excited and cheering. The Biden selection created no similar reaction.
2. The experience argument is now a real trap for Democrats, as you (and many others) have already experienced. Her experience is very limited but compares very favorably with that of Obama. Criticize her and you end up trying to defend Obama.
Palin doesn’t mind talking about her experience, unlike Obama. I don’t know what success he had as a Community organizor or in his two years with a law firm. He doesn’t want us to know anything about his time as Board President for the Anneneberg (sp?) trust (with Ayres at Exec. Dir.)
Honestly, I know more abouth the accomplishments of his grandparents than I do about his post high school pre-senate life.
My reaction to this was exactly the same as Mr. Green Jeans. When I heard the pick I thought.. What did my dear friend John McCain do now (sorry Mr. Green Jeans)
Then I heard the lady speak. She is brilliant. Experience? She has years more experience as an executive than Obama has. She has a child deploying to Iraq, she is strongly pro-life, she is anti-establishment…..SHE EVEN HUNTS MOOSE!!!(A primary consideration for a VP pick in my book)
This choice will solidify the conservative base of the Republican Party that may have been wavering on McCain. She is also untouchable. The dem attack machine will grind it gears off going after her and every time the they attack her it will backfire. Its gona be an interesting 2 months.
Peter,
Life expectancy of males in the US is 75 so yes I think it’s a real possibility. Also, I believe he’s been diagnosed with cancer in the past.
John,
No offense, but I would be worried about your health as President as well regardless of whether or not you feel old. I think assuming Hillary supporters only supported her candidacy because she was a woman is a massive oversimplification.
Mark,
I think the experience argument isn’t a trap for Democrats - it’s a trap for Republicans as they were the ones making it in the first place. This pick takes that issue off the table for them. So now what? They run on “we’re the choice for change” because they have an inexperienced VP candidate. I don’t think that will work.
I will concede that this pick excites the base but again I’m sure even the base has worries about her taking the reigns if it would come to that…
My dear friend, Mr. Olinger, not only does she Hunt Moose, she is almost certainly a better shot than Dick Cheney.
I am starting to enjoy the Obamanites harping on her inexperience. Rumpole said it best above when he said Palin IS the most inexperienced VP candidate but only becausem Obama is not running for VP. I heard one talking head say today “McCain has put a small town mayor a heartbeat away from the Presidency” Insert “Junior state legislator from Illinois” for “small town mayor” and I am not sure I get great comfort from either.
Don’t short change being Governor of Alaska. You probably need to live there a few years before you make the claim that its backwoods.
Green Jeans,
Obama was elected not simply chosen by another nominee.
Obviously the people thought his experience outweighed that of a Columbia City mayor.
Fred,
Who called Alaska “backwoods”?
Can’t wait to see Tina Fey doing Palin impressions on SNL for the next 6 weeks. “I went fishing and shot a bear before breakfast”. “I fought the big spenders at the Jefferson Elementary PTA”. There’s no condoms im MY nightstand!”. “I fought corruption among the judges at the Miss Wasilla beauty contest.” Lots of good new material here.
Jeff
Have you checked the life expectancy of males who are already 72? I would guess it would be more than four years. But again, facts aren’t your strong suit.
This is a great pick if for no other reason than that everybody is talking about it and nobody is talking about the speech that what’s his name gave last night.
Tim, be fair. Palin is significantly more attractive than Tina Fey.
She pushed through a bill that offers $500 million in incentives for any company who gets the contract to build a natural gas pipeline in Alaska.
It is nice to see that in a state of less than 700,000 people, they can afford such incentives
When she was mayor, she pushed through a tax increase for a civic center. A town of 8000 people could afford that as well.
I wonder if the other candidates started to turn down Sen. McCain’s offer to join the ticket as they realized his chances of being elected are slim. Rather than be associated with this failure, they will wait until the next time around.
Dick Morris has said the pick was “brilliant.” But what does he know?
Keith,
I wondered how long it would take for the personal attacks - longer than I thought actually. If you want to debate then at least do it honestly.
Suggesting “facts aren’t my strong suit” is ridiculous and makes it look like you have no legitimate argument to make.
And I might suggest you do your own research for statistics to support your argument. Saying I don’t use facts just because I won’t do the work you should be doing is intellectually lazy…
John Brown.. You’re counting your chicken’s way before they are hatched. Obama went into the convention either even or behind in the polls. Currently Gallup has him up six. Only a six point bump during the convention. McCain will gain that back next week. This will not be a blowout by any candidate, but if Obama wins it will be like every other dem in my lifetime, with less than 50% of the popular vote.
Jeff… Obama was elected…to the legislature… Palin was elected to run a.
State. Both were elected, not appointed. That being said lets look where the experts with lots of experience have taken us. Experts like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have had control of congress now for two years and have accomplished nothing. Personally, I would trust Palin to run the country before Obama or McCain.
I have read a fair amount of Ms. Palin long before she was selected by McCain. I follow the Alaska newspapers as I find so much of what goes on up there interesting. Be it bears coming into town to the oil issues.
But think about this…
1- Starts out in the PTA
2- Doesn’t screw up too much because she gets elected mayor of a town of under 7,000.
3- Doesn’t screw that up too much as she is elected to be the chief elected officer of the state by a 49-41 percentage.
4- Has not screwed that up too much as she has a approval rating of 80% across the state.
5- She has cut the budget in the state by tens of millions of dollars.
6- She has “danced” with BP and other big oil companies who have tried to rip off the state in oil deals.
7- She has to continued to expand wind power in her state.
Ms. Palin is number two on the ticket. Mr. Obama is number one on his ticket. Ms. Palin, being number two, can be brought up to speed on various subjects by number one McCain. Mr. Obama will need to be brought up to speed by number two. Number two was rejected early on by Iowa voters.
Well I am off to research more on her.
OH… and here is another thought…
Is there anything Obama could have done to generate almost 40 posts on this blog?
1.Everyone in Alaska is under investigation. I’m almost tempted to demand our money back from the Russians.
2.If being governor of Alaska does make you qualified to be president, does being Governor of Arkansas, Texas, California, or Georgia qualify you for the job?
3.Not only does Bob Barr has more foriegn policy experience than Obama, he was in Congress longer too.
Ok…there is another..another thought…
she is hot…. and SHE HUNTS MOOSE!!..did I say that?
Too bad we can’t combine Palin and Obama into one ticket. That might work for me.
Jon,
Think of this….
She could knock Putin down with a nasty “cross check!” Then chase his butt down on a snowmobile. If all fails she could wing him at 1 mile with a rifle shot.
The average U.S. male, age 72-73 years old, is expected to live another 12.2 years.
Source: United States Center for Disease Control; National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr54/nvsr54_14.pdf (p. 11)
Jon:
OK, so we agree that taking Sarah Palin on a hunting trip is MUCH MORE preferable than taking Dick Cheney…right?
;)
B.G.
She shoots better than Cheney, drive’s better than Kennedy and looks better than both…
and she was a point guard on a High School Basketball team….that takes Indiana out of play for Obama.
Jon,
Obama was elected to be the nominee of his party. That election went through all 50 states and the territories. Palin was appointed to the ticket - there’s a huge difference and you know it…
Dick Morris? Sometimes it’s hard to discern someone’s tone on the internet so I’ll just assume that was made tongue-in-cheek.
I’ve read several quotes from conservatives that are not happy with this pick and it will only get worse from here.
I agree with the National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru - this is tokenism at its worst. There is no way this choice would be made if Palin were male. There are other GOP women that are probably deserving to be on the ticket - Palin isn’t one of them…
So men my age have a life expectancy of over 12 years! And my wife has been telling me “You only have 10 good years left” I guess she must know something that the National Center for Health Statisics people don’t. I can’t remember anything that came from the Obama camp that drew as many “positive” responses to FWP as has this post.
Jeff, Palin is not the top of the ticket. Your comparing apples and oranges. Joe Biden is not capable of winning a national election. He gets his butt kicked every time he puts his name out there. Thus he is appointed as is every vp candidate in modern times.
John,
This is certainly some kind of record for comments…
Jeff -
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I agree with the National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru - this is tokenism at its worst. There is no way this choice would be made if Palin were male. There are other GOP women that are probably deserving to be on the ticket - Palin isn’t one of them
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I can’t argue with your point above. But from a POLITICAL and PERCEPTION standpoint I think McCain made a great pick. We all need to remember that the majority of voters are not researching issues and debating experience. They are voting single issues based on talking points. Palin’s conservative and pro-life stance appease the party’s conservative base and her gender may sway some disheartened Hillary supporters. This morning, I was discussing Obama landslide, but after this pick, I think McCain may have some life. the next two months will tell …
Great discussion!
Jeff;
Turkette had a post in August 2007 that generated 44 comments. I’m not sure if he’s ever had anything longer than that. Regardless, given the fact that your post was just added a little over twelve hours ago, I think a record among local blogs has indeed been set!
Jeff,
You are seldom wrong, but Obama “elected?”…”50 States?” Kinda forgot Michigan and Florida then didntcha? Democrats: every vote (that we allow) counts! Also, did anyone else notice that Hillary took over the convention. Voting stopped and Obama was christened…errr…acclaimed, was he not? [wonder what's in it for her]
Obama choosing Biden…The father figure he always wished he had. “Thanks, Joe, for the ‘pay grade’ idiom.” I kind of liked him until Biden.
McCain choosing Palin is brilliant!
I’m still undecided, but as an old friend of mine who stopped me on the street said, “No matter what, we’re getting change.”
Peter, on the flip side of the coin dont tell me that sexism isnt involved here as well. No way would there be this sort of outrage if Palin were a male. No way. If Tim Pawlenty had been chosen, he would have been praised and he has been the gov of minnesota for 5 years. Alaska? Minnestota? 2 years? 5 years? In my opinion the outrage is resulting from the fact that she is a woman and I am surprised that so much of this outrage is from liberals.
Maybe she is not viewed as a “real” woman candidate because she is pro-life.
Paul Begala made me sick last night. He said he was terrified for the country that she would be VP. Why no Terror about putting a Illinois State legislator at the helm?
Mrs. Green Jeans
My whole thing is - people seem to be harping on “experience” and “foreign policy” and I look at those qualities in people (in the past and present) who have both and I’m left thinking…the following…
How have those people helped move our country forward?
I don’t have an answer. Someone want to enlighten me?
Sen. Obama has been such for nearly 4 years. However, his real “time served” is a tad over two years because of his run for President.
For those who want to read up on Ms. Palin, including the ethics charges, is to check out the many newspapers from her state that are online. What I found is both Demo and GOP people love/hate her. She must be doing something right!
http://www.usnpl.com/aknews.php
The above is a site you can go to in finding newspapers from all over the state.
Kenny,
I didn’t forget. There was a primary in both states and Michigan was the only one Obama wasn’t on the ballot for. In the end those states got half votes and were seated at the convention…
Mrs Green Jeans,
I don’t think there’s any sexism here. You’re either qualified or your not - she isn’t.
Karl Rove was on tv talking about how woefully unqualified Gov Tim Kaine was when he thought he might be the Democratic nominee yet Kaine has more experience than Palin. Somehow I doubt we’ll see Rove making the same argument regarding Palin…
Jeff,
This is not a “shot at you” but a general statement. When have we started to put blind trust in talking heads.
Being from the middle I am a clicker between CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. I can not believe how each side spins any story. Be it pro or con. I have gotten to the point I laugh at both sides.
My spin on Obama’s speach was, “How in the hell are we going to pay for all of this?”
I also love office holders who promise to fix problems and spend money well past their term in office. To me it says, “I can not fix the problem but I am going to throw money at it!”
Jeff,
You are absolutely right. “You’re either qualified or you’re not. [Palin] isn’t.” No question about it.
How exactly is Obama qualified, again?
“My whole thing is - people seem to be harping on “experience” and “foreign policy” and I look at those qualities in people (in the past and present) who have both and I’m left thinking…the following…
How have those people helped move our country forward?
I don’t have an answer. Someone want to enlighten me?”
BINGO!!! Kristina is right… All this experience in Congress and in the White House for the last 40 years has gotten us 4$ per gallon gas!!
Sexism? Come on folks… Let’s take Obama’s entire pedigree and put it on a white guy… he wouldn’t be elected to the state legislature. The only reason Obama is where he is, with as little experience as he has, is that he brings race to the table in a way it has never been brought before….
Last night I watched the MSNBC special biography on Barack. After watching that show, I defy anybody to say he is any more qualified to be President than Sarah Palin.
His qualifications can be summed up as:
1. Community Organizer
2. Great Speech at 2004 Convention
3. 2 Years as Junior Inconsequential Senator
4. 2 Years as Full Time candidate
No way is he anymore qualified than Palin. You guys are just all blinded by the adoration.
Obama blaming all the problems on McCain…. One has to wonder what the heck Biden, and his so called leadership skills, where doing during that time? One also wonders what the heck Clintons where doing during this same time?
Jeff, I’m still trying to get my head around your argument. It appears to be that the McCain-Palin ticket, which has an inexperienced politician a heartbeat away from the presidency, is worse than the Obama-Biden ticket, which has an inexperienced politician actually becoming president. Surely, that can’t be your argument. Unless you’re advocating for a bumper sticker that says, “Obama-Biden: Experience is only a heartbeat away.”
Rumpole (et al),
For everyone trying to make the argument that Palin has as much as experience as Obama - save it. It’s ridiculous on its face. She was the mayor of Columbia City and the governor of a state whose largest city is barely bigger than Allen County. You can argue that Obama is too inexperienced to be President but please stop the ridiculousness of Palin being more experienced.
The other fact that’s consistently ignored is despite Obama’s experience he was selected by the voters - Palin was not. A vast majority of Americans obviously think he has enough experience to be President.
Palin would’ve been laughed out of the gate if she ran for President. Her pick is one based on tokenism and is blatantly political.
Country First? What a joke…
Jeff, following you thought process then Biden was slam dunk rejected by the people voting Democrat. Where did he finish in the Iowa vote? Yet, he is the second best of all the Democrats.
Just like the talking heads on TV you want to compare Palin to Obama.
Yes, she may be one heart beat away from the President. However, Obama is the heart beat that will have to call Biden in the middle of the night and scream into the phone, “HELP!”
So Jeff, your argument appears to be they are both inexperienced but Obama is much less inexperienced. HOWEVER Obama is running for PRESIDENT not VICE PRESIDENT. Why is “community organizer” worth more points than “small town mayor”. My god, somebody with some local government exeperience would not be all that bad. Harry Truman (from Missori, almost a Kansan) was just 8 years removed from being County Commissioner (you know, like Linda Bloom) when he became President and he was just 12 years removed from working in a habidashery (no idea how to spell this). So argue all you want that Palin is inexperienced and you will be correct, but dont let your Rose colored Obama glasses cause you to wrongly conclude that Obama’s experience is better or worth more. I will take small town mayor experience OVER harvard law review any day of the week.
Arguably, the most experienced person to become President in the last half century was Richard Nixon. How the hell did that workout? And, you dems worship the ground of Bill Clinton whose sole foreign affairs experience in 1992 was limited to the Arkansas National Guard and hitting on the occasional tourist.
Green Jeans,
That’s disingenuous. He was a State Senator for 8 years and a US Senator for 4 - in a state that actually has people in it.
She was the mayor of Columbia City - is that even a full time job? And yes she was the governor of Alaska for two which is a job that is probably less challenging than being the mayor of Indianapolis.
Also, the people have elected Obama - they are obviously comfortable with his experience. There is no way in hell the people would’ve elected Palin.
And if we’re comparing college experience then I’d take Harvard Law Review over the Idaho School Of Journalism…
So, Jeff, your main point seems to be that Obama’s inexperience is magically mitigated by the fact that “the people elected him.”
So, I take it, you will withdraw your objections to Palin’s inexperience if the people elect her and McCain?
And, as somebody mentioned earlier, there is no way anybody would have elected Biden!! He has been a perpetual Presidential candidate since his plagiarism days in the 80s and he has never got enough traction to make it much past Iowa.
8 Years as a Illinois State Legislature???!! are you kidding me? Well I stand corrected, he is about as qualified as Phylis Pond to be President given that measurement.
By the way, according to Drudge Report and Zogby International, McCain-Palin 47% Obama-Biden 45%. Wow, if this is Obama’s convention bounce, it is of the “dead cat bounce” variety. Wasnt Dukakis up 24% after the 88 convention??
Explain to me why anyone should care about “the bounce”? The media cycle is different now than it was in ‘88.
And I’m not just saying this because of the poll you cherry-picked. Some of the Democratic blogosphere is a buzz over other polls showing an Obama “bounce”. It’s pointless. The race is going to be close whether or not there’s a “bounce” for Obama or McCain.
If you want to get a feel for where things are then head over to Intrade which is a futures market for current events. Right now Obama is trading at 60 with McCain at 40. I would expect that to tighten up. Of course Palin was trading below 10 just a day before her selection so these things aren’t perfect either.
The question is can McCain win enough states like Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, Missouri? It doesn’t look good for him right now but the election is in November and not September…
Having done some polling work a few years ago I will tell you this, “THEY ARE A SNAPSHOT!” They are used by the media today as a talking point for the talking heads.
The thing I have not heard is what states like Indiana had in cross over vote and how that group breaks out today. See, you take a copy of the poll book and see who voted “D” that normally go “R.” Then you poll those people to see who they are planning on voting for in November.
You also should poll females in the “D” group to see if the Palin impact has done anything. Not now, but in a couple of weeks as the average voter learns about her and may see her on TV or read about her.
As for bounce, it only tells Obama’s people the convention coverage did not loose voters. Likewise the GOP should close some of the gap after the convention. If not, then they have to get busy.
Also keep in mind they do not provide their methodology. That calulates out a percentage of confidence based on a poll being repeated 100 times. So if the confidence level comes out at 95% (this is high confidence level) then the poll would produce the same nubers 95 of 100 times, within the margin of error.
The other thing people miss is the margin of error is for each percentage indicated. Say Obama has 48 to McCain 42 with a +/-2 percent variable. Obama could have 46 to 52 percent. McCain would be in the 40 to 44 percent range. Based on a confidence of 95% this would mean these spread numbers should hold true 95 times in 100 samplings. So the tighter the race the less the numbers mean other then you are in a close race.
Jeff, I checked out that intrade site. I figured it was only for fun, but it appears you actually do put money down.
There are some laws against betting on elections, but they appear to be obscure and seldom used. From what I read though, I think a person would have a good chance of arguing that it is an unenforcable contract. So go ahead and bet on both candidates, using two different betting agents. Take the winning money from one and sue the other to get your money back.
I checked out Intrade… seems like a great time to buy MCCain stock and sell Obama:)
“It was interesting that she singled out Hillary Clinton for massive praise and directly asked her supporters to now help break through the glass ceiling that has “18 million” cracks in it.”
Pander, Pander, Pander!
She’s no different than any other politician. If praising Satan would get votes, they’ll do it! If there had not been such an uproar over Hillary, Palin would still be a little known Governor.