I find it more disturbing that McCain picks a VP that he has met only twice and the total experience for McCain lasted only minutes. If McCain is not going to take this thing serious, why should we take him serious.

I don’t think it’s a matter of taking things serious or not. I think McCain & Co. are just trying to give the people what they want, or at least what they believe they want. Hillary seemed to garner a lot of support, well then, let’s get a woman. We are the party of conservative values(guns,pro-life,destroy the environment for a buck, etc.)let’s get a woman that stands for what we stand for. Sarah Palin- done!

TPM has a story up linking Palin to Abramoff:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/...

pd

Thanks for “educating” me on the difference between Governor and a Senator. If you’re going to make the argument for executive experience of a Governor over the legislative/policy experience of a Senator you must acknowledge McCain’s lack of type of tangible experience. Also, if we are to accept this claim, it becomes necessary to analyze Palin’s role as a chief executive. Surely, a good place to start would be the scope of her governance. According to 2007 census data the state of Alaska have a population of 683,478. This is less than the population estimates for Dauphin (254,176) and Lancaster (494,486) Counties in Central Pennsylvania. Further, Alaska is uniquely positioned when it comes to financing of state government operations. The oil and gas industry dominates the Alaskan economy, with more than 80% of the state’s revenues derived from petroleum extraction. Finally, the reports suggesting Palin’s misuse of power to fire a Alaska’s Public Safety Commissioner for failing to have her former brother-in-law terminated as a state trooper have many questioning her ethics. The abuse of executive power, even on this relatively small scale, should be a concern given the Republican Party’s track record in this regard over the past eight years.

To summarized, if Palin’s experience as a chief executive is to be celebrated, then it stands to reason that we need to evaluate its relevance:

1. McCain’s own lack of executive experience

2. The short time (19 months) span of this experience

3. Small population under her governance

4. Uniqueness of Alaska, where primary revenues of the state are derived from the oil and natural gas industry, as opposed to direct taxation of citizenry

5. If the executive experience is critical, then her misuse of her position is deserves equal evaluation.

pd
I agree that politics is not for those that faint at the sight of blood and let me assure you that I’m not one of them. My father, a retired union firefighter contract negotiator for Washington DC that now works next to my brother (an attorney for Habitat for Humanity)in the Maryland Obama Camp and has since Carter, has instilled a strong Liberal thrust throughout my family. And we all certainly understand that the 2 party system has turned to a constant bloodletting. My 35 years as a card carrying sheetmetal worker has taught me all too well what its like when a Republican administration is at the helm. But the point I was trying to make is that at some point its got to stop or this process will come to a screeching halt. With the hatred that is built up during this long campaign, any administration that gets in will find it impossible to make any connection aross the aisle. But it will be a long time before I get over Swift Boat.
JP

IMO, the thing that creates good government is a professional civil service class that can freely speak truth to power. For many years now, the GOP has been bent on destroying the professional civil servants by outsourcing, privatizing the work and/or cutting FTE end strength funding. I think that when there is professional, unbiased information from professional gov’t employees, then members of both parties can work together to solve problems.

Unfortunately, JP, I do not see much possibility of this with the current crop of Rs. They are he— bent on keeping power regardless of the cost.
They and their ideology have to be completely destroyed.

pd

They are all juiced up tonight at the GOP convention, because, for the first time, they actually have a “story” to tell which doesn’t involve John McCain’s torture in Viet Nam. They get to act all giddy and silly about a “maverick” from the boonies.

Here’s my take.

I don’t believe for a moment that Sarah Palin is any kind of maverick. Call it experience or gut instinct or whatever, but my guess (and yes, it’s only that…) is that Ms. Palin sought out the “reformer” narrative as simply a way to get elected and to further her personal ambitions. It has worked for plenty of pols before, on both sides of the aisle. Newt was a reformer. So was Spitzer. You almost can’t go wrong with that sort of “brand.” How can anyone NOT like a reformer, who’s going to “clean things up?” It’s the quintessential American story; it’s “High Noon” with Governor Palin recast in Gary Cooper’s role. “Alone against the forces of evil…..”

But, for me, she doesn’t pass the sniff test. She smells like the salmon that she undoubtedly catches and guts and cooks. (not that there’s anything wrong with that…)

What I suspect is that Ms. Palin has many more connections to the GOP establishment (including the shadow ones of consultants and PACs, et al) than we know. She didn’t just drop out of the sky yesterday; McCain, and the GOP know enough about her (Bristol aside) that they felt confident in picking her. Don’t be fooled. The “Hey, McCain made a bold move!” narrative is just crap for the masses. They knew EXACTLY what they were getting into and had parsed every piece of it.

All that’s left is to see whether the voters follow their better instincts…or not….

Piltdown Man

Go to Americablog.com. They have everything chronicled and linked to credible sources.

Really, Palin and her family belong on Dr Phil – or Springer.

pd

The Republicans fear of smart people has gotten to the point of being pathological. They used to criticize Bill Clinton for pausing before answering questions, claiming he was being devious and calculating. To them, it is better to shoot off your mouth first and ask questions later.

Now, we have Palin & Co. carping over and over about the “liberal elite,” Washington elite,” “East Coast” elite. Why are they so scared of intellectuals? Do they remind them of the fact that graduated in the middle of their class at some third-tier college?

Face it, nerds and intellectuals are today’s business leaders. You might not want to sit on a barstool next to Bill Gates, but you sure as hell want him running a major American company.

Why would you not want someone just as smart and savvy as Bill Gates running the country? The qualities you look for in a president should not be the same as those you look for in the rush chairman of your fraternity.

~ blackrobe

BR – never forget Adlai Stevenson’s famous reply when told he had the votes all the “thinking” people: “Yes, but I need a majority”.

I don’t believe Rs dislike intellectuals, but they do need a majority and those voters aren’t it. As much as you and I hate to admit it, there’s a lot of votes out there for candidates with the qualities of a frat rush chairman. (see Bush, George W),

pd

The Democratic “surge” for more registered voters to provide a broader base is right out of Rove’s playbook. He pushed the Republicans in that direction in 2004 and made big advances into the Latino and Black voting blocks. Luckily for the left, George Bush made some horrendous decisions scaring the Latino voter to the Left and Obama has obviously attracted something like 80% of the Black vote. A broad voter base has been a Democratic target for years and this time, with Karl Rove’s help, they have it. Speaking of intellectuals, Beijing and Putin have an interesting way of handling intellectuals…lock them away and there will be no questions. A different twist is to deny your staff from appearing at Congressional hearings, firing attorneys with different ideas from yours, falsifying intelligence reports to justify invading a soverign country, etc. etc.
JP

blackrobe, pd
What’s your take on Joe Lieberman?
JP

Lieberman would be what used to be called the “gypsy moths” – liberal NE Republicans. For me, if Dems didn’t need his caucus vote for control of the Senate, I’d kick him out of the caucus. All his “bipartisanship” talk notwithstanding, Joe Lieberman is in for himself. Why else would he refuse to accept his primary defeat?

pd