McCain taps Palin for VP!

[Swift]

Hmm, what an amazingly sexist, nationalist and patronizing sentiment.

Yes, and it likely should have been qualified, but you would be hard pressed to disagree with the fact that a majority of Americans (and, likely, the majority in most countries) do not research their candidates and just vote based on flash topics or for utterly illogical reasons ("He looks like a worker!").

[Grand Fromage]

Obama's support among the former Hillary crowd is up 11% though, so on top of the giant pile of skeletons falling out of Palin's closet I think this was a failure all around.

[NickD]

Palin was a member of the American Independence Party for years who's agenda is to split from the US before she switched to go Republican.

Apparently this is not true.

Her husband was for a couple of years, not her.

[Lusipher]

Maybe not in San Francisco where the demographic is more urbane and politically savvy, but certainly elsewhere.

ahahahahahahaha...um...yeah. that was funny

[Kest]

At the least, Republicans close to the campaign said it was increasingly apparent that Ms. Palin had been selected as Mr. McCain’s running mate with more haste than McCain advisers initially described.

Up until midweek last week, some 48 to 72 hours before Mr. McCain introduced Ms. Palin at a Friday rally in Dayton, Ohio, Mr. McCain was still holding out the hope that he could choose a good friend, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, a Republican close to the campaign said. Mr. McCain had also been interested in another favorite, former Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania.

But both men favor abortion rights, anathema to the Christian conservatives who make up a crucial base of the Republican Party. As word leaked out that Mr. McCain was seriously considering the men, the campaign was bombarded by outrage from influential conservatives who predicted an explosive floor fight at the convention and vowed rejection of Mr. Ridge or Mr. Lieberman by the delegates.

Perhaps more important, several Republicans said, Mr. McCain was getting advice that if he did not do something to shake up the race, his campaign would be stuck on a potentially losing trajectory.

With time running out — and as Mr. McCain discarded two safer choices, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, as too predictable — he turned to Ms. Palin. He had his first face-to-face interview with her on Thursday and offered her the job moments later. Advisers to Mr. Pawlenty and another of the finalists on Mr. McCain’s list described an intensive vetting process for those candidates that lasted one to two months.

“They didn’t seriously consider her until four or five days from the time she was picked, before she was asked, maybe the Thursday or Friday before,” said a Republican close to the campaign. “This was really kind of rushed at the end, because John didn’t get what he wanted. He wanted to do Joe or Ridge.”

This article was a bit interesting.

In Alaska, several state leaders and local officials said they knew of no efforts by the McCain campaign to find out more information about Ms. Palin before the announcement of her selection, Although campaigns are typically discreet when they make inquiries into potential running mates, officials in Alaska said Monday they thought it was peculiar that no one in the state had the slightest hint that Ms. Palin might be under consideration.

“They didn’t speak to anyone in the Legislature, they didn’t speak to anyone in the business community,” said Lyda Green, the State Senate president, who lives in Wasilla, where Ms. Palin served as mayor.

Representative Gail Phillips, a Republican and former speaker of the State House, said the widespread surprise in Alaska when Ms. Palin was named to the ticket made her wonder how intensively the McCain campaign had vetted her.

“I started calling around and asking, and I have not been able to find one person that was called,” Ms. Phillips said. “I called 30 to 40 people, political leaders, business leaders, community leaders. Not one of them had heard. Alaska is a very small community, we know people all over, but I haven’t found anybody who was asked anything.”

The current mayor of Wasilla, Dianne M. Keller, said she had not heard of any efforts to look into Ms. Palin’s background. And Randy Ruedrich, the state Republican Party chairman, said he knew nothing of any vetting that had been conducted.

State Senator Hollis French, a Democrat who is directing the ethics investigation, said that no one asked him about the allegations. “I heard not a word, not a single contact,” he said.

A number of Republicans said the McCain campaign had to some degree tied its hands in its effort to keep the selection process so secret.

[Veilan]

because that is the demographic. In reality what I said is true for all people everywhere. A lot of people simply don't research things that don't affect them directly or even things that do affect them directly.

Yes, I've stated it as the 70-percent rule before (at least 70% of people anywhere are dumb as sour dough, not to mention ignorant and lazy). We now got it visualised, thanks to VIRUS COMIX:

[Mulu]

Mr. McCain was still holding out the hope that he could choose a good friend, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, a Republican close to the campaign said. Mr. McCain had also been interested in another favorite, former Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania.

Turns out I can read McCain's mind. He just buckled to the right wing screamers. Wouldn't it be wonderful if caving in to them ultimately cost him the election?

[Swift]

http://www.videosift.com/video/James-Ca ... hman-R-Min

Funny

Olympia Snowe since it is mentioned in the vid.

[Kest]

god what a creepy facial expression she has

like a female john travolta that cannot stop smiling

[HATEFACE]

I'm from minnesota, so, I really don't give a shit about sound bites because you kinda know what politicans do so other stuff becomes irrelevant. Yeah, James Carville murders her on that issue but I've seen James Carville's ass handed to him plenty of times. I guess he found someone he can actually debate against and not come off as a total fruitcake and/or crazy. The democrats are essentially championing the same thing they did with bill clinton which is "change vs more of the same." "Change" "Hope" "We Believe in" dogmatic keywords & mottos that help to implant the soon-to-be-brainwashed masses.

Turns out I can read McCain's mind. He just buckled to the right wing screamers. Wouldn't it be wonderful if caving in to them ultimately cost him the election?

Turns out you can't. I certainly expected Lieberman but I didn't expect Palin. He didn't buckle to "right wing screamers" as you put it but I think he made a fair choice. Do you know of anyone who would honestly vote for a McCain / Lieberman ticket? Something tells me, no.

I find it hilarious that some people's comments are designed to be antagonistic. You guys have certain victory with an unpopular president? Obama's DNC was the most popular ever. Obama is chosen. He will deliver. No need to make fun unless maybe you like to grind your heel on that person's forehead when they're down and out. That motherfucker deserved it. Kill him.

[MorbidKate]

Palin was a member of the American Independence Party for years who's agenda is to split from the US before she switched to go Republican.

Apparently this is not true.

Her husband was for a couple of years, not her.

A couple eh? How about 7 years

From the LA Times:

"For all but two months from 1995 to 2002, the governor's husband was registered as an Alaskan Independence Party member, according to the Alaska Division of Elections.

Palin and her husband attended the party's 1994 convention at a Best Western in Wasilla, Alaska, said former Chairman Mark Chryson, a computer repairman who is now the party's webmaster.

A former mayor of Wasilla, Palin also spoke to the party's convention in the same hotel in 2006 when she was running for governor, Chryson said.

Dexter Clark, an Alaskan Independence Party vice chairman, brought up Palin's ties to the group in videotaped remarks to the second North American Secessionist Convention in October in Chattanooga, Tenn.

"She was an AIP member before she got the job as the mayor of a small town," Clark told the group. "That was a nonpartisan job. But you get along to go along. She eventually joined the Republican Party."

McCain's campaign distributed Palin's voter registration records Tuesday to show that she had never been a member of the AIP."

---

Sounds like she was more than agreeable to what her hubby was doing and in fact clearly supported it. Just because she wasn't dumb enough to actually list her allegiance on accessible voter registration cards is a plus I suppose but I wonder how she actually voted?

Between that and getting a staffer in her office to make the call to get her ex brother-in-law fired... staffer supposedy did it all by themselves of course as was let go (LOL!)... it's pretty obvious that she's no different than anyone else in power. Still, funny to see the term "Maverick" and "Outsider" warped into meaning totally new and inexperienced for the job at hand. If being Mayor of a town of 8,500 people or a Governor for just 2 years is now all that's needed to run a country then the vetting list just got a LOT longer

Oh yes, and here she is bucking science ala Bush just because it goes against her will:

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/0 ... n-pic.html

Btw, anyone see Colbert last night? Awesome to see him highlight the next VP for 2012

http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/index.jhtml

Kate

[HATEFACE]

Palin and her husband attended the party's 1994 convention at a Best Western in Wasilla, Alaska, said former Chairman Mark Chryson, a computer repairman who is now the party's webmaster.

A former mayor of Wasilla, Palin also spoke to the party's convention in the same hotel in 2006 when she was running for governor, Chryson said.

Dexter Clark, an Alaskan Independence Party vice chairman, brought up Palin's ties to the group in videotaped remarks to the second North American Secessionist Convention in October in Chattanooga, Tenn.

"She was an AIP member before she got the job as the mayor of a small town," Clark told the group. "That was a nonpartisan job. But you get along to go along. She eventually joined the Republican Party."

McCain's campaign distributed Palin's voter registration records Tuesday to show that she had never been a member of the AIP."

---

Sounds like she was more than agreeable to what her hubby was doing and in fact clearly supported it. Just because she wasn't dumb enough to actually list her allegiance on accessible voter registration cards is a plus I suppose but I wonder how she actually voted?

Between that and getting a staffer in her office to make the call to get her ex brother-in-law fired... staffer supposedy did it all by themselves of course as was let go. it's pretty obvious that she's no different than anyone else in power. Still, funny to see the term "Maverick" and "Outsider" warped into meaning totally new and inexperienced for the job at hand. If being Mayor of a town of 8,500 people or a Governor for just 2 years is now all that's needed to run a country then the vetting list just got a LOT longer

Oh yes, and here she is bucking science ala Bush just because it goes against her will:

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/0 ... n-pic.html

Btw, anyone see Colbert last night? Awesome to see him highlight the next VP for 2012

http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/index.jhtml

Kate

Interestingly enough the party is the third largest in alaska.

I got a few questions. This is assuming what is implied here is true, i.e., 'That she wants to succeed from the union.'

What makes you think America would go with succession it IF it IS her agenda?

Why is this proposition the LA times makes so laughable?

Why shouldn't she appeal to one of the larger parties in alaska while running for governer, one where her husband apparently likes?

They seem like a tightly knit family to me. I'm not at all suprised that Palin would go to something like that. Alaskans have their own view of things, which you would know, if you ever lived there. Its also not suprising that often times they're viewed as not even part of the united states.

I went to a Ron Paul rally, crazy but true. I also went to a Obama rally, crazy but true. It's genuinely suprising to hear the issues than actually hear & speak with the people who support them. Find out who they really are. Maddening experiences to say the least.

Also, is Obama a secret muslim? See, I can do it too.

One a mora thinga! Credible sources please, don't pull a Mulu on people. Don't get me wrong, I love LA times, vanity faire, wired, jim john's slack jawed rumor blog, and the inquirer. Anyway - Continue your sewing circle old crones.

[Mulu]

Do you know of anyone who would honestly vote for a McCain / Lieberman ticket? Something tells me, no.[/url]

Any moderate Republican, obviously, and a fair number of independents.

McCain *wanted* Lieberman, he settled for Palin when the right wingers essentially threatened civil war at the RNC. They were going to challenge his nomination. They'd lose, but the political damage would be done. You just don't go into a general election with a party divided, that's why the DNC kept harping on the unity theme.

[HATEFACE]

Do you know of anyone who would honestly vote for a McCain / Lieberman ticket? Something tells me, no.[/url]

Any moderate Republican, obviously, and a fair number of independents.

McCain *wanted* Lieberman, he settled for Palin when the right wingers essentially threatened civil war at the RNC. They were going to challenge his nomination. They'd lose, but the political damage would be done. You just don't go into a general election with a party divided, that's why the DNC kept harping on the unity theme.

Wow, now I know the complete truth. Just to reiterate, I live in minnesota, minneapolis, in fact. Let me tell you about the batshit wackos at the RNC, they don't support Palin, McCain, or any elected gov' official. I'll tell you one thing they DO believe in, UFOs that and that government is a danger and must be abolished, destroyed. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn-type shit. They're Anarchists mulu. Do you know what Anarchists are? I'll give you a hint, they're definately not republicans, nor are they socialists of any denomination.

Now as far as any other right wingers threatening civil war at the RNC, I don't know of any because I haven't seen any. I've seen Ron Paulites, those fellows are. . .neat. I'm being nice, us minesotans are known for that. . . but to say that they are republicans, would be like saying, hitler(godwin), was a socialist- oh wait uh, that his views were in-line with the modern democratic parties in terms of race relations.

The fact is that Ron Paulites represent. . .libertarians mostly and a few disinfranchised voters, both left & right people who hate the Iraq War and everything accomplished therein. I've spoken with quite a few of them. Most are left who went so left that they went right again - As THorin put it ;p Full circle insanity.

Here's a small video to sum up your entire world view. Enjoy.

Just out of curiosity, who in your family supports Liberman? He was always championed by the left as a traitor.

[Swift]

The fact is that Ron Paulites represent. . .libertarians mostly and a few disinfranchised voters, both left & right people who hate the Iraq War and everything accomplished therein.

What exactly did the war accomplish apart from:

1) 1 Dead Dictator
2) Finding no weapons that could have been even a remote threat to anybody
3) Civil War
4) Strained American relations with much of the Western world, not to mention further inflaming anti-American sentiment in extremist hotspots.
5) Put the brakes firmly on the American economy, bring it to the brink of recession as every spare dollar gets sunk into supporting the ongoing conflict.

I cant imagine why anybody would hate a war that did that