The Moderate Voice - Latest Comments in Minneapolis, we have a problem…

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

Lula — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:57:40 -0000

To Sarah Palin: "Honey, you just ain't got the pantsuit."

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

kritt11 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:27:38 -0000

I mostly agree with joep-

except I also think its about showing women that the GOP can be more progressive--- and not just nominate white males.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

joep — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:49:06 -0000

The analysis comparing Obama's background to Palin's is absurd on it's face. The election was, and will continue to be about McCain vs. Obama. The people who were for McCain will stay with McCain, he just might get a little stronger support from his right wing fundamentalist base (which what this selection was all about). The people who were for Obama will still be with Obama.

The difference is that this selection blows up McCain's bid for the undecided middle. For the rational person in the middle, if they were looking for a reason to go with Obama vs. McCain , this selection sealed the deal for Obama. If someone was really UNDECIDED there is no way that person would go with McCain in light of this selection. This selection also seals the deal with any undecided voter who thought that McCain was actually a moderate on choice.

And the debates--what a disaster. Palin vs. Biden--you have got to be kidding me. And those people that think that Biden will overplay his hand and be too aggressive like Rick Lazio vs. Hillary, don't worry about it. All Biden needs to do is attack McCain and ignore Palin. Be nice, be polite but slice and dice McCain like a ginsu. And what will Palin be able to do.

Mayor of a 6,000 person town followed by the governor for 1 1/2 years of a state with less population than your standard suburban county. My county executive has more experience running a government operation.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

casualobserver — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:54:05 -0000

"You seem to be in a bad mood today, casual.... :)"

Not at all. I've done some rejiggering to potentially defer 50% of my 2009 wages into a non-qualified tax-deferred plan to weather out the possible foray into 4 years of socialism. It can only be upside potential from here on out.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

StockBoySF — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:36:04 -0000

One thing I want to add... more of a clarification.... I may not think she's the best pick for McCain but I'm not dismissing her either. I can see her appeal to certain people. Personally I still don't think she'll get McCain any significant number of votes.

Bottom line: She said during her speech today that she supports McCain's policies (and McCain supports Bush's) so what does she really bring, other than a woman who toes the GOP line?

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

pacatrue — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:19:14 -0000

You seem to be in a bad mood today, casual.... :)

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

casualobserver — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:14:46 -0000

"casualobserver:

"The myopocy of the left tilt here..."

what's "myopocy"? is that a real word?"

No, the real word is myopia....

But, in a posting forum of people who have a proven track record of NOT knowing how uncommitted voters will break, why confine yourself to reality?

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

Neocon — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:08:27 -0000

Another thing missed here is that if McCain wins and adheres to his one term limit that means Obama lost and Palin would be running against Hillary with 4 years as vice president as well as her other experience not to mention being a woman vs woman.

If McCain loses as many expect him to do, the GOP did not want to take down their best and brightest in a blaze of glory.

This pick by McCain was a sure sign to me that they understand they are going to lose the election in November.

If so then why bring down the future with them???

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

pacatrue — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:50:23 -0000

I haven't heard Palin speak yet. In fact, I've just started reading her bio today. If she can reliably and passionately present her own life, there will certainly be a lot of appeal. Most politicians point to their grandfather or great grandfather, the coal miner, the mill worker, etc. Palin still lived that life until 2 years ago. Husband an oil worker, parents with a hunting camp,.... She's personally attractive and actively managing motherhood with a successful political career (as in she just gave birth in April!) A small town mayor. And she's got a record of turning in people of her own party who do the wrong thing when both parties in Washington are famous for shielding their own member's ethical violations for the perceived party good. A lot of people will see themselves in her or at least a version of who they wanted to be.

Whether these appealing characteristics grab more people than a Romney or other pick would have, I have no idea. It should be noted that both of her previous significant political victories came against people who had many years of experience, so she should not be discounted as obviously naive.

One thing the Dems could seize on pretty quickly to hamper the folksy, I'm-like-you image, is to highlight her apparent opposition to putting polar bears on the endangered species list as well as her strong ties to oil. Are her ties to oil the way to go when we are supposed to be seriously seeking alternatives? And those polar bears are pretty popular. Most people couldn't care less if you wipe out the snail darter, but polar bears get a reaction.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

onleyone — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:48:42 -0000

casualobserver:

"The myopocy of the left tilt here..."

what's "myopocy"? is that a real word?

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

surakmn — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:47:15 -0000

Minneapolis?

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

StockBoySF — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:44:11 -0000

As far as Obama's experience v. Palin's: Obama graduated with honors in law from Harvard, Obama choose to work in Chicago's Southside to help the poor and middle calss who had lost their jobs or had fallen on hard times. He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago (as president he does take an oath to uphold the US Constitution so understanding it is very important). He went into the state legislature and eventually became US Senator. He has traveled all over the world and met with world leaders and has their respect. His judgement on Iraq was truly right (he beleived we should have gone after the people who attacked us in Afghanistan, rather than divert our attention to someone who had no part in the terrorist attacks). While in elected office Obama has worked on a multitude of bills and has sat on various committees. In the legilature he sponsored bill a giving tax credits to low income workers, supported ethics and healthcare reform. Obama supported the Republican's predatory mortgage lending regulations which were aimed at averting home foreclosures. He was re-elected two times. Obama was chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.

In the US Senate Obama was on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans' Affairs. He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. Obama is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He co-sponsored legislation on nuclear safety, conventional arms (among others).

Palin, on the other hand, has a bachelors in Journalism from the University of IDaho, was mayor of a small town and has been governor of Alaska (with fewer people than Austin TX) for less than two years. Her legislation is good ethics reform, promoting oil drilling, and doing away with many pork-barrel projects, as well as lowering taxes.

So for those of you who believe that Obama does not have any experience or that Palin's experience is better than his, I ask you to look at their records. I'll take Obama's vast and far broader experience over Palin's thin experience (and she might be a new governor but there are many cities in the US with larger populations than her state) any day.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

ChrisWWW — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:34:31 -0000

CO,
Huh?

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

casualobserver — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:16:50 -0000

The myopocy of the left tilt here is evidenced by even the MSNBC website poll.........and don't even think of telling me this website is spammed by the right wing....

What do you think of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate? * 348935 responses

Sarah Palin is the best choice for the job.
49%

McCain should have picked someone else.
51%
Not a scientific survey. Click to learn more. Results may not total 100% due to

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

Silhouette — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:15:55 -0000

I made the same exact argument for Obama. And guess what? Skin color won out over experience.

I'm telling you this race isnt' about issues because if it was, it would be a very different race indeed. People are swept up in "making history" and are delusional when it comes to weighing what really matters. Clinton would've turned this country around on its heels and brought new prosperity where debt now chokes us nearly to death.

Nobody wanted to look at that. Obama's glowing brown skin had them mesmerized so much that even their empty wallets didn't feel so thin anymore...filled with "hope" instead.

Clinton would've put some Benjamin Franklins in there...but...noooooooooo.....

People aren't sane this time around. I think they're acting like a panicky herd of wildebeasts....and look for gut-voting when that happens..

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

jwest — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:14:34 -0000

Elrod,

Obama was a fundamentally unserious choice for president.

Didn’t you listen to any of Hillary’s speeches?

Let’s hope that someone on Obama’s staff or the media says that Palin is a “fundamentally unserious choice”. That will play real well.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

elrod — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:08:01 -0000

Not only is Palin woefully unprepared for the Presidency if McCain goes down, but this pick shows McCain's temperamental problems. He just shot from the hip and said FU to everybody else. Palin is a fundamentally unserious choice for VP. Once the novelty wears off, voters will see it.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

Silhouette — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:56:42 -0000

I heartily agree with Austin. Saying Palin is a good pick merely because she owns a uterus is stupid as well. However, there are things about her that are very appealing in and of their own right. Just on appearance, she surpasses Obama's energetic presence. She oozes enthusiasm, not cold enthusiasm carefully crafted and reheated for presentation like Obama does, but actual bubbling from somewhere down within. An appealing thing which goes directly to people's gut.

The majority if voters vote their gut. Thought I'd just remind folks of that.

And Palin comes across as intelligent, gutsy, and no-nonsense. Her nickname "Sarah-Barricuda" will serve her well in time of war. Her stance on abortion is worrying, yet when you consider that BigOil calls the shots in the GOP camp, you can rest assured that they won't let that issue interfere with the GOP popularity in four years should these two rock the boat too much with middle-ground voters..

They will use it now of course to rope in conservatives, but in PRACTICE it won't be an issue. BigOil will make sure of that..

Palin also is extremely appealing to women because if McCain's advanced age makes him unfit to lead, guess what? The first woman president could be a reality in less than four years! She could be satan personified, but like Obama, everyone will be willing to look past even the worst of flaws in order to see that skin color [substitute "gender" in Palin's case] make history...

People think with their guts and vote the same way. If that reality didn't hit home with democrats lining up so heartily behind the worst of two choices strategically, then it never will.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

Neocon — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:54:37 -0000

Back from my binge of anger at the two party lunacy.

Palin is a strategic choice. She is NO Hillary. She is not even close. However she is a woman. As Obama is a first for his party, Palin is a first for hers.

This election seems to have slid once again into emotion and now roughly 51 percent of Americans have something new to think about. Voting for a woman. Palin pulls in the conservative base and might just add some of those disaffected Hillary voters even more then Mccain did.

Additonally what are we talking about today? Obama? His speech? The Democrats? NOPE.........were talking about the GOP and Palin and McCain.

The best thing that the blogs could have done for Obama is to totally ignore this selection for about 3 days while they basked in Obama's glow. Nope. They had to go out and give Palin and McCAin all the press coverage.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

jwest — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:53:13 -0000

The democrats have been trying to offend the older voters – the most dependable voting group – for months.

Palin will give them the opportunity to offend the largest group.

This is going to be fun.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

EEllis — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:50:47 -0000

It's obvious that experience is not that big a deal to votes or Obama wouldn't be a candidate. If Palin is a good campaigner, does well in the debate, and sets forth some issue to champion (beltway corruption maybe?) then she will be great for the ticket and republican party in general. Time will tell.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

Leonidas — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:45:23 -0000

Palin really shouldn't be compared to Hilliary as far as politics, the two are totally different people. They are both women and the fact that a woman was chosen as McCain's VP still is a big plus with women voters, however. Palin still has a woman's perspective, is a champion of education, and knows what it is to be a mother.

However, the real comparison is between Palin and Obama. Palin brings to the table executive experience, and actual concrete achievement in the area of ethics reform and anti-corruption, not just speeches. She trumps the Obama message of Change by being the embodiment of positive change from outside the beltway that has stood up to and won against the "establishment". Obama can point to his speeches, Palin can point to her resume and real achievement.

The quicker that the Palin as a substitute to Hilliary is dismissed (after all Palin is running against Hilliary is as irrelevent as Obama running against Bush) the better. This election needs to be about the folks running, and a comparison of their experience, achievements, and policies for the future, not meaningless comparisons with folks who aren't running. To do otherwise is to do an injustice to Palin and her remarkable achievements and the vison she brings for America.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

AustinRoth — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:37:28 -0000

jwest - Isn't it time to say that we have come far enough to say a specific women is a bad pick if she is a bad pick? Your position is no different than saying if you don't vote for Obama, you are racist.

This is not a good pick, politically. She does not make the ticket stronger, it smacks of a cheap stunt, and will backfire.

I truly thought Obama was becoming vulnerable, but not now.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

EEllis — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:37:26 -0000

The idea that anyone who supports Obama would say anything at all about anyone experience is so absurd as to be unreal. Palin is a political outsider which most people think is a good thing, supports the campaign platform, and hasn't said anything negative that I have heard about McCain campaign unlike Biden and Obama. OK she is a woman, we should now see this as a bad thing? It adds a different perspective and view point to the team and can appeal to many who are tired of seeing old white guy's running things. Isn't that what the whole Obama campaign about? Personally I think it's great that the Conservatives are reaching out and trying to be diverse.

Re: Minneapolis, we have a problem…

jwest — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:31:31 -0000

Apparently, a good number of our liberal friends haven’t contemplated the eggshells they will be tap dancing on with the sexist issue.

Let’s see how the MSM handles telling the public that a woman is a bad pick.

If you think the republicans had a rough time dancing around Barak and racism (with the only downside being the risk of offending the black vote – which they wouldn’t get anyway), wait until it sinks in how carefully the words need to be picked so as not to offend 53% of the voting public.