SLUniverse Forums

Cindy Claveau · 09-04-2008, 07:39 PM

I found this article pretty thought-provoking. For all those who think that Palin was a bad pick, it may not be so bad after all from a politics viewpoint - and that's all that matters until the race is over.

How Palin changed the race - John F. Harris and Jim VandeHei - Politico.com

Excerpts:

Quote:

Until Wednesday night, many political professionals were whispering that there was a good chance that in picking Sarah Palin as his running mate John McCain had lost the election.

And some of them thought that with his last-minute, seemingly impulsive selection of a little-known and little-experienced governor he had lost his mind.

It’s as true on Thursday afternoon as it was on Wednesday that Palin is a risky pick. The public — and no doubt the McCain campaign as well — still doesn’t know what it doesn’t know about Palin, whose personal and public record in Alaska is still being raked by reporters and opposition researchers.

But in the space of one 36-minute speech by Palin, McCain proved that his choice was not a lapse into temporary (or even permanent) insanity. The speech’s political significance goes far beyond the fact that Palin showed herself capable of delivering a spirited reading of words that other people wrote.

Just as Barack Obama’s 2004 convention speech transformed his career, Palin’s speech has the potential to transform the dynamic of this race — in some ways that are obvious and some not

Quote:

Before Wednesday night, McCain was in big trouble when it comes to mobilizing conservative faithful. Now, Palin can help the party organize and turn out the same base of Christian evangelicals, Second Amendment supporters and abortion-rights opponents that proved instrumental to the back-to-back George W. Bush victories.

Before Wednesday night, McCain had little room for error with the right. They measured every word and made him pay for straying too far on the issues they care most about. Now, McCain can stretch and twist like a yoga instructor.

Quote:

And many voters in these big audiences likely will swoon for a telegenic hockey mom who eats moose she kills herself. You can’t make this stuff up. Her story is made for TV, glossy mags and the big screen.

A mother of five with a pregnant daughter. A ruggedly handsome husband who drills oil and races snowmobiles. She hunts. She fishes. She runs.

She is now a curiosity in a good way. That means big crowds at events and attention from people who otherwise might have ignored a more traditional ticket of two, old, rich, white Republican men who promise to kill terrorists and cut taxes.

Quote:

None of this proves she understands the complexities of world threats or can endure the stress of office. But she at least gets more time to make her case. Before Wednesday night, she was only one or two news cycles away from irretrievably losing control of her public image.

Quote:

It remains to be seen how effective she can be in more improvisational settings. Biden has weathered national campaigns and controversies; she has not. Biden has traveled the world, mixed it up with tough foreign leaders and mastered the complexities of global threats; she has not. Biden has studied virtually every national issue and debated them; she has not.

But she has shown a willingness and talent for tough talk. And it will be harder than usual for Democrats to attack back. Republicans will charge sexism at every turn. They will call women to her side to amplify their case. They will shame the media. Many of these complaints will be unfair — but some of it will probably be effective.

I'll add this thought - when Palin and Biden debate, Biden needs to be careful. He needs to completely destroy her or else there's going to be the perception that she "won" by not losing -- and yet if he's too brutal and merciless it will backfire on him. America will side with the hockey mom before they side with the big bully professional politician.

Quote:

Tom DeLay, the former House majority leader, told us this week that his wife, who is even more conservative than he is, doesn’t think much of McCain. But she loves Palin, perhaps enough to get her to now back the GOP ticket. He said he was astonished how Palin has woken “the sleeping giant: Republican women.”

Eboni Khan · 09-04-2008, 07:50 PM

She has certainly energized the race. I have greater interest in it than before. Although I am disappointed I won't have new daily images of Romney to lust over.

Quote:

He said he was astonished how Palin has woken “the sleeping giant: Republican women.”

That is probably the most important point in the whole article.

jacqueline trudeau · 09-04-2008, 08:00 PM

re: the Debate. I'm not seeing this as a potential pitfall.

1. The Obama camp runs a smart and disciplined campaign. Biden will be prepped on the protocol just as much as the issues.

2. All the Democrat candidates, including Biden, had practice rounds debating a female in the primaries. This is not new to him.

Eboni Khan · 09-04-2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacqueline trudeau

re: the Debate. I'm not seeing this as a potential pitfall.

1. The Obama camp runs a smart and disciplined campaign. Biden will be prepped on the protocol just as much as the issues.

2. All the Democrat candidates, including Biden, had practice rounds debating a female in the primaries. This is not new to him.

Biden's Primary result was like 5000 votes. Glad to see that practice paid off for him.

jacqueline trudeau · 09-04-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eboni Khan

Biden's Primary result was like 5000 votes. Glad to see that practice paid off for him.

Yeah, the entire population - adult and child - of Wasilla, AK turned out for him

Pol · 09-04-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eboni Khan

Biden's Primary result was like 5000 votes. Glad to see that practice paid off for him.

Love that Republican math.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Associated Press

Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

Malachi · 09-04-2008, 08:16 PM

Palin Good for the Democrats, Too

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYTimes Blog

...Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign is reporting that it has taken in $8 million over the Internet since Mrs. Palin’s speech, in which she tore into Mr. Obama.

By Thursday afternoon, more than 130,000 donors had kicked in, and the Obama campaign is on pace to collect $10 million by the time Senator John McCain takes the stage tonight....

And if McCain offers Mr. Palin a cabinet position too...

Beau Perkins · 09-04-2008, 09:18 PM

Palin was a great choice for McCain. His old self was in risk of losing so he went out and get the best looking female he could.

And if any one thinks thats sexist, it isn't. There are plenty more qualified VP candidates, both male and female. In the end all he wanted was votes, she will bring them on looks alone. It's no secret what head a lot of guys think with. Not to mention she has the perfect attitude to get the support some of woman.

Vengence Opus · 09-04-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beau Perkins

Palin was a great choice for McCain. His old self was in risk of losing so he went out and get the best looking female he could.

And if any one thinks thats sexist, it isn't. There are plenty more qualified VP candidates, both male and female. In the end all he wanted was votes, she will bring them on looks alone. It's no secret what head a lot of guys think with. Not to mention she has the perfect attitude to get the support some of woman.

Obama lover!!

wait...

Beau Perkins · 09-04-2008, 09:21 PM

McCain is no longer the star on that ticket. It's all about that sexy hockey mom.

Richie Waves · 09-04-2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beau Perkins

McCain is no longer the star on that ticket. It's all about that sexy hockey mom.

Lets not be cynical! its barracuda bebe!

io Kukulcan · 09-04-2008, 09:42 PM

how awesome is this song:

YouTube - Heart - Barracuda

Eboni Khan · 09-04-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pol

Love that Republican math.

I love that Democratic math.

Hillary got 18 million and got nothing for it, she didn't even get the courtesy of being considered for the VP spot. Old white guy whom no one cares about, over the Woman who go more votes than he could ever dream of.

18000000-76165=

BTW I googled earlier for the number couldn't find one an accurate one. Your google-fu is stronger than mine.

jacqueline trudeau · 09-04-2008, 10:27 PM

Oh, poor poor pitiful Hillary

Pol · 09-04-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eboni Khan

Hillary got 18 million and got nothing for it, she didn't even get the courtesy of being considered for the VP spot. Old white guy whom no one cares about, over the Woman who go more votes than he could ever dream of.

18000000-76165=

If you think that's weird, you should see who the Republicans picked for VP.

Edav Nomad · 09-04-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malachi

Palin Good for the Democrats, Too

And if McCain offers Mr. Palin a cabinet position too...

That feels like they got a bit scared after her speech. Especially how some of the Republicans who weren't sure of her before are now sure of her.

jacqueline trudeau · 09-05-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eboni Khan

Biden's Primary result was like 5000 votes. Glad to see that practice paid off for him.

Anyways... way to miss the point. Debate with a woman present is experience all the democrats, even Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich, have had over the course of the campaign.

Cindy Claveau · 09-05-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edav Nomad

That feels like they got a bit scared after her speech. Especially how some of the Republicans who weren't sure of her before are now sure of her.

And that, I think, is the whole point here. Prior to Palin, the GOP was looking at yet another old-white-guy ticket unless McCain stepped beyond what was expected and grabbed someone who could provide some energy.

As we saw last night, "energy" is NOT McCain's middle name. So like her or not, Palin injected electricity into that convention just by coming across as an everyday person who understands what Mrs. Average Voter goes through in our daily lives and offering the "freshness" that comes with not being part of the Washington Beltway.

Before Palin, this could well have been a walkthrough for Obama. It still may be, but the odds have evened up a bit.

Richie Waves · 09-05-2008, 02:34 PM

Biden got 73000 votes in the primary Eboni.. not 5000

Eboni Khan · 09-05-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richie Waves

Biden got 73000 votes in the primary Eboni.. not 5000

I have already been corrected that less that .02% of the US Population voted for him. Thanks for driving home the fact no one cares about Biden.

On topic..

I think all the media attention about Palin gave the GOP a television audience that no one would have predicted last week. McCain has been lagging behind on free press coverage, he has never have the coverage that Obama receives. Now the media has people paying attention to the McCain campaign, which could be good or bad, we will know in November

09-04-2008, 08:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
jacqueline trudeau Openspace Abuser Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: They call it a mine, a mine! Posts: 2,453 Business: Trudeau Classic Sailing Yachts SLShopper Ads: 4 My Mood:	re: the Debate. I'm not seeing this as a potential pitfall. 1. The Obama camp runs a smart and disciplined campaign. Biden will be prepped on the protocol just as much as the issues. 2. All the Democrat candidates, including Biden, had practice rounds debating a female in the primaries. This is not new to him. __________________ Trudeau Classic Sailing Yachts

09-04-2008, 09:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Beau Perkins Is a sickly peach color I'm a heretical Jew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT Posts: 5,963 SL Join Date: 12/24/2003 My Mood:	Palin was a great choice for McCain. His old self was in risk of losing so he went out and get the best looking female he could. And if any one thinks thats sexist, it isn't. There are plenty more qualified VP candidates, both male and female. In the end all he wanted was votes, she will bring them on looks alone. It's no secret what head a lot of guys think with. Not to mention she has the perfect attitude to get the support some of woman. __________________ Living is easy with eyes closed Misunderstanding all you see It's getting hard to be someone, but it all works out It doesn't matter much to me -John Lennon.

09-04-2008, 09:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Beau Perkins Is a sickly peach color I'm a heretical Jew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CT Posts: 5,963 SL Join Date: 12/24/2003 My Mood:	McCain is no longer the star on that ticket. It's all about that sexy hockey mom.

09-04-2008, 10:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
jacqueline trudeau Openspace Abuser Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: They call it a mine, a mine! Posts: 2,453 Business: Trudeau Classic Sailing Yachts SLShopper Ads: 4 My Mood:	Oh, poor poor pitiful Hillary

09-05-2008, 02:34 PM	#19 (permalink)
Richie Waves Deus ibi est I haz Pacman! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 5,323 SL Join Date: 27/06/2005 My Mood:	Biden got 73000 votes in the primary Eboni.. not 5000

09-05-2008, 05:34 PM	#21 (permalink)
Pol Prim hair is for sissies.