It’s Biden vs. Palin!
Okay, so now we know that it’s Barack Obama and Joe Biden vs. John McCain and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
Is this an overall plus or minus for McCain? I would argue a minus.
The biggest criticism by the Republicans against Obama (aside from the charge that he’s a flaming socialist) is his inexperience. McCain has a great deal of experience and has shown a willingness (occasionally) to buck the party. To counter the accusation of inexperience, Obama has picked Joe Biden, who’s been a Senator for over 30 years. He’s an insider, sure, but he’s also a moderate Catholic, which serves (in my opinion) to attract more than repel moderate voters.
But by picking Palin, the McCain camp can no longer use Obama’s inexperience against him. McCain’s older’n dirt; at 72 he’ll be the oldest man elected to a first term as President. There’s a fair chance he won’t survive even his first term. Is he seriously asking voters to believe that Palin, who’s only 44 years old and been a governor for less than two years, is ready to lead on Day One??? (And while I know little about Palin at this point - who does? - I have a sneaking suspicion that Biden will eat her alive at the VP debates. If, and it’s a big if, Biden can reign in his tendency toward borderline Tourrett’s.)
Further, while Palin may serve to solidify the Republican conservative base, she will do little to attract moderates and women. Sure, she brings youth and fresh blood to the party, and it’s hard to argue she’ll screw up Washington any worse than the old white guys who’ve run the show for the last couple of decades. But, like her geezery WASP counterparts, she’s a staunch pro-lifer and a darling of the religious right. It’s hard to imagine voters who are concerned about women’s issues voting for Palin with any relish.
August 30th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
The reasons that McCain chose Palin are obvious. He wanted to scoop up as many disenfranchised Clinton voters as possible, while strapping on someone who hasn’t been a part of “the last eight years” to ward off accusations of “more of the same.” Plus, voters that want to make history could now put a female veep in office, not that such a strategy would pull many voters from the prospect of a black president.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I have scoured over Palin’s political career records and while I am thrilled to see women rise in the echelons of power, she seems unprepared to be VP, much less POTUS.
It’s not just inexperience, it’s (1) she is imposing her anti-choice (even in case of rape!) religious beliefs on other women - and that is not American; (2) she believes in Creationism being taught in school, Rapture and End of Days; (3) she’s only been under scrutiny since August 29, and she’s already been proven to be lying about a number of issues, (4) she claims to want to help handicapped children yet opposes stem cell research and cuts funding for special ed and (4) she clearly has impetuous and Machiavellian governing methods.
Biden seems a solid choice. Tons of experience (became senator at youngest age possible), and spent a lifetime making waves in mostly good ways. I like the fact that Biden is not afraid to say what he thinks on subjects (even if he blusters too much sometimes) and I *love* the fact that although *HE PERSONALLY* does not believe in abortion, he believes we should allow each woman to make that decision for themselves.
I can’t contribute any more cash than the $100 I already gave.. but I have been posting calm and rational messages with links to some informative websites – at all the crazy extremist right wing blogs I see out there (this is not one of them) – there you read thousands of people praising the way she acts.
If you don’t want to be told how to worship; if you don’t want women having abortions with coat hangers; if you don’t want your social security and your grandchildren’s education spent on war…. please send emails and your favorite Anti-McCain links to anyone you know that is considering voting for McCain-Palin.
It’s what I’ve been doing with all my free time : )
http://www.VicePresidentDebates.com – each page a side by side look at candidate’s positions on dozens of issues
http://www.McCainNotFit.com – this is horrifying; organized facts/videos about McCain. Why everybody should focus on him instead of Palin.
http://www.McCainHatesWomen.com – Yes he does indeed. That’s why he selected someone that wants to control women
http://www.FirstLadyDebates.com - Side by side videos of Michelle and Cindy. (I’d rather have a beer with Michelle)
September 10th, 2008 at 10:22 am
McCain was clearly not thinking about the American People when he picked Sarah Palin as his VP. The reason he picked her is because he wants to win this race for his party and he thinks the American people are dumb enough to look past all of her glaring faults. Well, the American people did decide to keep Bush in office for another four years - ummm so, it’s possible that McCain’s sneaky trick might work.
Instead of listening to the news and listening to what propaganda artists spread, read the facts. No, middle class American should even consider a McCain/Palin ticket. But, sadly (according to the news) many are. Just read about McCain’s stance on healthcare reform - the Journal of American Medicine says that it probably wont work. In fact, his idea to repeal tax breaks that companies get for offering insurance may in fact cause many companies to stop providing insurance for their employees. **His plan will do nothing to change the fact that many hardworking, tax paying, Americans are un-insured.
Middle class America - right now: the Democrats have your back! It doesn’t matter if they seem elitist or if you don’t think you could have a beer with them. They will work for (you). It’s a fact that whenever a democrat is in office, the middle class becomes larger and wealth is distributed more evenly - (Similar to many European countries). However, when the Republican’s rule this even distribution of wealth changes. Typically more middle class American’s fall into the lower class and most of the wealth goes to the small minority of rich Americans - (Similar to what you see in Latin American countries). Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to catch a trickle of that wealth. But, most likely, you wont.
So, please don’t buy into the hype and right-wing propaganda. Obama/Biden are ready to be our leaders. Isn’t it funny how everyone tries to jump onto Obama’s bandwagon. He says change. Then, they say change. He says get out of Iraq and now we are slowly but surely leaving Iraq. Now, we are supposed to believe the the McCain ticket is about change. Give me a break! Why is McCain up in the polls - I just don’t get it? He steals every nugget of truth that Obama puts out there and tries to make it his own.