@1 thanks – corrected.
—
A thought after reading several pieces that covered yesterday’s McCain show.
He is now No.2 on the ticket, she is No. 1. Not officially, but for ‘the base’. They never liked him, now they have an idol they can follow.
Her speech was well written and well performed. His was quite bad and the presentation lame. Were all his speechwriters busy writing for SP? Will all his resources now be bound up for bringing her to speed before the discussions with Biden and some serious press interviews? How many people are now diverted to Alaska to finally vet her and to cover up the mess she made?
The overall campaign will have more problems because of the resource problem that comes with SP.
While this was a fine move towards the base, it was a bad move for the campaign. Senior repub messengers like Krauthammer are still upset about the SP choice. They know it will turn away independents and a lot of female non-base voters from the McCain ticket.
In an election where the dems have a big generic lead, is a red-meat base strategy really the smart thing to do?
It’s the economy stupid. If you think it is bad now – 100k job losses in July, some 10% of all mortgages in trouble, house prices down 20% – you ain’t seen nothing yet – only now consumer spending is starting to really contract … the economy will go down further and the bottom may be somewhere in late 2009 or early 2010.
Was there anything said about the economy in the whole repub festival? Those speeches didn’t touch the problems nor had they solutions but tax-cuts, tax-cuts, tax-cuts.

Posted by: b | Sep 5 2008 16:55 utc | 3

McCain should have dumped her when he had the chance, too late now. From now on its all about Sarah, as the republicans get their Clinton witch hunts payback.

Posted by: anna missed | Sep 5 2008 17:38 utc | 5

question: what could be the benefit of rove starting the rumor palin was fucking her husband’s business partner?
Because Rove has been charged with bringing down McCain. He works for those who really hold the strings (they have no party affiliation), and they’ve tapped Obama. McCain will play the fool, again, wittingly, or unwittingly.

Posted by: Lesbo | Sep 5 2008 18:19 utc | 7

damn good comments and questions being asked here, anna missed and b, et al…
but of all the question and comments thus far, b’s question, of, “How many people are now diverted to Alaska to finally vet her and to cover up the mess she made?” seems the most pertinent. If we know that, we would get a rare insight into how these things work, because if they can go down there and flash National Security Letter’s (NSL)’s, and other provisional authorizations e.g., seize records etc, then they are using National Security to cover up crime. This we already know, however, my fear is that is excactly what is taking place as we speak.
And upon preview, looks like anna missed just answered to that extent. Or at least that’s what I make of it, being as she has hightailed it back there under a hasty mission. Sarah-barracuda…

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Sep 5 2008 19:27 utc | 9

I hear you, but is this the kind of vetting we’re talking about, brought to us by one of the myriad of corporate news whores, Drew Griffin? If I didn’t know better, I’d say Drew was intructed to provide a convenient deflection regarding this particualr set of allegations. The story is now about the freak state trooper who should have been fired anyway, and no longer about Palin’s abuse of power. Don’t you just love vetting?

Posted by: Vet Erin | Sep 5 2008 19:48 utc | 11

her appeal is wide and encompassing. Hell, I want to vote for what she says, plus the Tina Fey look is compelling.

Posted by: plushtown | Sep 5 2008 23:23 utc | 13

EXILED ONLINE – MANKIND’S ONLY ALTERNATIVE » Sarah Palin’s Big Sleazy Safari – By John Dolan

Most people had never heard of Sarah Palin when she was named Republican VP nominee. But I’d been hearing her name all too often, because I belong to a group called Defenders of Wildlife–and in her time as governor of Alaska, Palin has used her position as governor of Alaska to ruin the Alaskan wilderness in every way she could.

Her most recent “victory” came on August 26 when Alaska’s voters defeated Measure 2, an initiative that would have banned hunting wolves from airplanes for sport.

More if you follow the link.

Posted by: a swedish kind of death | Sep 6 2008 0:53 utc | 15

Bow Wow #14, so, does this mean your other name is apple pie?

Posted by: plushtown | Sep 6 2008 1:29 utc | 17

vanity fair chimes in The Authoritative Trig Palin Conspiracy Time Line
w/poll

Posted by: annie | Sep 6 2008 1:49 utc | 19

AP photo of Palin in 7th month

Posted by: anna missed | Sep 6 2008 2:26 utc | 21

I think the other alias is Chevrolet
or Benz
ok, on to more serious matters. nobody ask me but i will tell you what i think anyway 😉
i think there is a likelihood the NE headlines are correct/explosive. NE secured the public records of divorce proceedings of the lover prior to him filing and being denied his requests to have the records sealed revealing wifes assertions of husbands infidelity in the proceedings.
in some unfortunate state of blue ball rapture anticipation for their beauty queen they under vetted (putting it mildly), or plain old undervalued the potential for disease/infection.
likely tipped off prior to the explosive info going public (explosive public headlines) they announced she wouldn’t be making any press interviews..waiting to see what springs… attempting damage control.
i think there is a chance they may be up a creek. they grossly underestimated the level of venom for palin in her home state, even wasilla.
if all was running smoothly they would be pimping her out to every fox dick and nbc from sea to shining sea.
but they aren’t. she is ‘studying’.
all hell could be breaking loose very shortly which will make ‘who’s ya mommagate’ the very least of their worries.
or not. i think they don’t know small town alaska. or any town alaska. in over their heads?

Posted by: annie | Sep 6 2008 3:36 utc | 23

Was about to link the Exile piece when I saw that askod had already done so. Great read. And Dole’s last paragraph kind of sums it up for me:

Perhaps the saddest aspect of Palin’s disgusting record on environmental issues is the fact that it’s hardly even being mentioned in the debate about her nomination. Most of the focus, for an audience of suckers weaned on celebrity gossip, seems to be about her mothering skills, her daughter’s pregnancy, and whether she was Miss Congeniality or just a runner-up in some beauty pageant. The fact that she makes her living helping to wipe out whole species, poison productive watersheds, and play to the stupidest great-white-hunter fantasies of her constituency hardly even seems worth a mention.

b real, thanx for the link on Obama’s surge protection. Floyd’s summary is hard to argue with:

But there is no hope in Obama’s stance on Iraq today, which does not differ in any fundamental way from that of George W. Bush or John McCain. And given the Democrats’ agreement on every front with Republican positions — on Iraq, Iran, Russia, the War on Terror, authoritarianism, offshore drilling, etc., etc., etc. — there will be no change come November either.

And thats where its at.

Posted by: Juan Moment | Sep 6 2008 4:18 utc | 25

thank you choice for the link to stupidity. I guess watching that presentation probably means I am at least an imbecile striving to be a moron, though I sometimes long to be an idiot.
So should we embrace stupidity? it does seem to work well for the rightwing authoritarians, and they are a growing majority.
which is better, to observe with impotence or just “don’t worry be happy”?
it is a dreary day here in central europe and that film did nothing to raise my spirits.

Posted by: dan of steele | Sep 6 2008 8:42 utc | 27

Well….. I woke up this morning with a song in my head..and decided it needed new words. It’s buried here on the back page of the bar, so if anyone notices it, I’ll be surprised. I am the author of every poor lyric: and as me momma often told me, bars are made for drinking and singing. Is that Joe at a dark table?
From the Rock Opera Johnny by Palin Who?
Death of a “Maverick” (or “Mavrik” as one sign at the RNC convention stated)
(My serious apologies to Peter Townsend)
Little Johnny was down, deep in the polls, way behind Barak Obama.
The Neocons whined as he tied them down, and kept them from himself.
The hurricane kept Bush away from the convention and Cheney hidden too.
Things were going all right. He survived the first night, then it turned into a zoo!
He knew from the start deep down in his heart that he and Palin were worlds apart.
But Dobson made his demands and they said. Let This Be!
McCain had a buddy from the wrong part of town he liked to call little Joe.
He wanted him for the number two spot but Rove said he had to go.
Johnny made a fuss and Johnny tried to fight, but heck he’s 72!
And when Neocons make their choices, it sticks to the party just like glue!
He knew from the start deep down in his heart that he and Palin were worlds apart.
But Sun Myung Moon took control and he said. Let This Be!
Johnny was a maverick or so he said when he told them his concerns.
Joey would unite the party, and changes had to be learned.
They told him that winning was everything, shut up, and be the man!
They kicked the maverick right out the door to put the religion in the band!
The crowd went crazy
When Palin hit the stage.
Little Joey got tossed by a Rovian Boss
And the Religious Right just Raved!
Dobson danced and the ghost of Falwell pranced and Moon said “You know I told you!”
Joey went down to the nearest bar and tossed down scotch and sodas!
Palin always talks about the day the disciples all went wild.
Johnny still carries a scar in his soul that throbs each time she smiles.
John knew from the start deep down in his heart that he and Palin were worlds apart.
But the base is a fickle thing and the bosses said,” Let this be!”

Posted by: Diogenes | Sep 6 2008 13:40 utc | 29

@28 – 🙂
I’m that old. Thank you. Have on on me.

Posted by: beq | Sep 6 2008 14:10 utc | 31

b asked, In an election where the dems have a big generic lead, is a red-meat base strategy really the smart thing to do?
One would think not.
All McC had to do was make a conventional VP pick, then Obama would have been the only odd man out, McC could let the dems go on shooting themselves in the foot, let the campaign gather momentum and return to ‘reality’, attack Obama, etc. Obamamania that the media and the blogs loved to push in everyone’s faces would have deflated and lost impact slowly, or so I thought.
Considering a black pres. is flattering to all, media hype muddies all issues, etc.
Now, he has lost a lot of potential votes. First, the dem-rep cross over vote, of which he had 5 % or considerably more in hand (dem cross about 10 pc in bush 1, 2, and expected to be far higher in 08 because of Hill fans, minus 5 pc. rep. cross) – now the dems will cross over less, far less. Then, the moderates, the independents, the outside cand. supporters – e.g. Naderites – who in some proportion decide to vote ‘useful’ at the last minute, stay at homes, etc. Women will not be fooled by the Palin nomination.
McC has been acting the doddering loser, see Kerry for ex. He looks like he is turning over the election to his VP! (at the moment.) Maybe the Repubs. don’t want to win, or think they can’t, and the firing up of the base is the best show of sincerity – the we believe, we want to win, lets all cheer, rah rah rah, togetherness, etc. Then they will have looked like they tried, and the base will just be sore at the winners.
The move reinforces a cultural war and the public face of a two-party system.
Like in Iraq and Afgh. (Though the embryonic pol. parties of these countries are multiple.)

Posted by: Tangerine | Sep 7 2008 16:38 utc | 33

Diogenes, lol, good one.
tangerine He looks like he is turning over the election to his VP!
morning headline..’palin more popular than mcCain?’
not worth linking.

Posted by: annie | Sep 7 2008 16:50 utc | 35