Palin Pick Not About Good Governance
The surprise vice presidential pick of Sarah Palin by John McCain told us a lot about the campaign, much of it concerning. The first and most obvious, is that most of his strategy has become trying to convince Hillary supporters to switch over to him. Rudy has been going on radio and television shows trying to make the case that choosing Biden was a giant snub for women everywhere. And John McCain approved this message:
McCain has made his new campaign strategy an attempt to drive a wedge between women voters who are weary about his agenda and believe in Obama’s platform, but who don’t really like Obama. This is a bit weird to say the least. McCain is now a candidate without a message, and the Palin choice shows that ten times over. His theme is “aren’t you pissed about Hillary?”
The best case for John McCain is that he is an experienced leader in a dangerous world. Up until last week, that was the message, and it was convincing to some. This logic would say that we can’t take a risk on someone with Obama’s experience, or lack thereof. McCain strongly believes this. Or so we thought. He argued it would be extremely dangerous for our country to be led by someone who only has four years of national experience. But does he really believe this?
Sarah Palin, if elected, will have been governor for fewer than two years. Of the smallest state in population in America. Before her 500+ days as governor, she was mayor of Wasilla for eight years and on the city council for another four. If you think that sounds like a decent resume, it might be pointed out, according to the city’s own website, the population of Wasilla is 6,715 (the census says it considerably less, but when your city is under 10,000, who cares?) When Obama launched his campaign she was still mayor of a town with fewer residents than the Yankees have employees.
So, the McCain argument is that the world is a dangerous place, experience matters, Obama is “a nice young man” (but is he ready to lead), but Sarah Palin, three years his junior and with a much thinner resume, is ready to take the reins from the 72 year-old John McCain. Talk about mixed messages. If, God forbid, something should happen to John McCain, Sarah Palin, a woman who 20 months ago was mayor of Wasilla, and since has been the governor of the state with the [4th] smallest population in the union (total population is less than Columbus, Ohio), would be in charge of negotiating with President Putin, President Hu and Hugo Chavez. If a Palin administration would be willing to speak with any world leaders who might not agree with her.
There are of course reasons why McCain picked her. She is an outside the beltway type and self-styled “reformer.” She is very conservative, so he has pleased the hard-right of the party, like Karl Rove, who loved the pick. She is physically attractive, like a John Edwards or Dan Quayle. But most importantly, she is a woman. And here is the real and most obvious reason why he went with a governor that almost no one had heard of 12 hours ago.
This brings us to something stunningly obvious in the two vice presidential picks: Obama chose Biden because he would help him govern, while McCain picked Palin on strictly political grounds. The entire McCain strategy can now be summed up in one sentence: Convince Hillary supporters not to go to Obama. In the most important decision of the election, Obama chose good governance, while McCain went for cynical politics.
No longer can McCain make the already-dubious claim that he is better on foreign policy. No longer can he try to say that experience matters most. His entire campaign is holding the base and peeling off women voters from the Hillary crowd.
Can it work? I doubt it, but you never know. It is hard to imagine that any Hillary supporters who agree with her on the issues would go for a McCain ticket just because there is a woman on it. Palin is strongly anti-choice. She believes in the Bush tax cuts for the rich and opposes universal healthcare. Hell, last week she even said, “I’m not one… who would attribute [global warming] to being man-made.”
In fact, a recent interview with the ultra right-wing website Newsmax.com tells you all you need to know about Governor Palin’s extreme views on virtually everything. Here are some of what she thinks:
On energy: “We have a very pro-development president in President Bush, and yet he failed to push for opening up parts of Alaska to drilling through Congress — and a Republican-controlled Congress, I might add.” That’s right, Bush’s biggest failing is not drilling in Alaska wildlife areas. McCain doesn’t support drilling in the Artic…even now.
“I would push for a strong military and a sound energy policy. I believe that Alaska can help set an example on energy policy.” Drill our way out of it!
On global warming: “A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I’m not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.” Yikes!
On abortion: “I’m pro-life. I’ll do all I can to see every baby is created with a future and potential. The legislature should do all it can to protect human life.” This wasn’t Hillary’s platform, was it?
John McCain has now staked his entire candidacy on the gender issue. He has gone all-in on the notion that he could not win on experience or ideas. Instead he picked someone with 20 months experience running a state with fewer inhabitants than Dayton, Ohio. This was not a pick based on governance, it was based on trying to exploit a perceived Hillary-Obama rift. That it is no way to lead a country.
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Rhys responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2008 at 7:11 pm →
Holy shit! Nice analysis man. I hope American voters see it in the same way. But then again, they voted GWB in so I fail to be reassured.
d.b. echo responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2008 at 9:46 pm →
Excellent! One quibble, though - Alaska is not the state with the lowest population. That would be Wyoming, where DICK! Cheney claims to be from. Alaska is either 48th or 47th, with Vermont in 49th place and North Dakota in 48th place in the 2006 estimates, but not in the official 2000 census.
Good, quotable stuff:
This brings us to something stunningly obvious in the two vice presidential picks: Obama chose Biden because he would help him govern, while McCain picked Palin on strictly political grounds. The entire McCain strategy can now be summed up in one sentence: Convince Hillary supporters not to go to Obama. In the most important decision of the election, Obama chose good governance, while McCain went for cynical politics.
“A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I’m not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.” - I imagine she means, “Warmer weather for Alaska, more access to shipping lanes? Bring it on! Tough luck, everybody else. I guess you can just rlocate to my state!”
Pete Braden responds:
Posted: August 30th, 2008 at 9:58 pm →
Don’t forget about Star Wars. That boondoggle has sucked up billions of dollars but can be foiled with helium balloons. But that doesn’t keep it from being wildly popular in Alaska, where many of the sensors/launchers etc would be based. Palin will no doubt offer full support for that idiotic fantasy.
Picking Palin was a grossly arrogant and foolhardy move by McCain. It’s bad for the party’s future prospects, too. If indeed McCain only serves four years, the presumed standard bearer of the GOP will be a novice, hard-right governor who also served 4 years in an office “not worth a pitcher of warm piss.” That almost guarantees some serious infighting in the next Republican primary.
chriswaugh_bj responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2008 at 10:54 am →
That would be Prime Minister Putin. Russia’s president goes by the surname Medvedev. Not that it makes much difference. Chavez is also legally entitled to be called “President” too, by the way.
But you’ve seriously misinterpreted Palin on one point. She said quite clearly, and you quote her as saying so:
“he failed to push for opening up parts of Alaska to drilling through Congress ”
It’s very clear she believes Bush’s biggest failure is that he did not allow parts of Alaska to move to Washington and drill through Congress. It’s obvious, putting a nice big hole through Congress- and several parts of Alaska are ideal for the job- would allow all that hot air generated inside to escape more effectively. Set up some nice, big wind turbines at either end of the hole, and you’ve solved America’s energy problems.
John Ryland responds:
Posted: August 31st, 2008 at 7:39 pm →
I’m worried now. I think McCain might have a chance, most voters aren’t intellectuals that make distinctions between what is responsible governance and cynical politics. Voters vote for people they can relate to and who they think will win. 50% of voters are female, so winning those votes by McCain is a very smart move. It comes down to being a popularity contest, not about good governance. Perhaps I’m too cynical. Who would have thought Bush would win… and again and again after everyone found out what a dooffus he is.
It really makes me stop and wonder if the masses really are the most qualified to make such important decisions. I only say that because the majority of people in America evidently disagree with me that GWB is the most qualified person to run their country. And they vote for actors like Reagan and Arnie. Imagine in China you would end up with Yao Ming and Jackie Chan running the country if the Chinese people voted in the same way Americans do (but I don’t think Chinese people would actually vote this way).
I loved Arnie’s movies, but I fail to see how acting is the best qualification for leadership compared with, I don’t know, say perhaps academic study combined with political, international and public service experience. I can see how the acting part is better for making politics more entertaining and it’s nicer to have someone convincingly lie to you.
If you have to watch those guys on the TV everyday, it better be someone mildly entertaining. Bill Clinton wasn’t an actor but was entertaining with his sax playing and philandering. Certainly it is fun listening to Bushisms and watching him prove that it appears that it doesn’t take much intelligence to be President, which I think people then relate to and feel pleased because even though their kid is not passing at school, perhaps they still have a shot at being president (too bad though they don’t belong to the Bush dynastic ruling family).
I’m not sure though who will be more entertaining between McCain or Obama. Palin meeting Putin or Chevez is something I might pay to see for a laugh.
Lu responds:
Posted: September 1st, 2008 at 1:11 am →
“50% of voters are female, so winning those votes by McCain is a very smart move. ” Women don’t automatically vote for everything female. Since women, too, do think, many would vote on issues rather than on sex. I hope American women are smart enough to vote on issues, and realize who would be better for them.
Will Lewis responds:
Posted: September 1st, 2008 at 11:48 am →
It is f-ing disgusting. All it shows is that the Republicans are more interested in power than in running this country. I am angry!
John Ryland responds:
Posted: September 1st, 2008 at 12:19 pm →
Actually I just found out that McCain is an actor on the side. He appeared in the TV series 24. I kid you not.
Check this out here:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/02/09/24-cameo-by-senator-mccain/
Josh responds:
Posted: September 1st, 2008 at 2:52 pm →
And Wedding Crashers!
cnn responds:
Posted: September 1st, 2008 at 10:06 pm →
copy –> paste
someone’s been reading cnn a bit too much
Scott responds:
Posted: September 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 am →
I can’t wait for the VP debates now. I don’t care for McCain or Obama, but I like Biden and all of his politcal un-correctness, and now we have a woman in the mix who is more ‘manly’ than at least one of the other candidates. I can see the VP debate now with Biden behaving like Peter Griffen. Anyway, it is time for a change, and speaks change more than Palin? Regardless, we will either have the first half-black president or the first woman VP, assuming McCain can make it and the Big O can prove he is a natural-born US citizen. Great times. In all seriousness, I think she is a great pick and a good strategy for the GOP, and it has already negated the DNC ‘bounce’. Thank heavens I am not in the States to see all the coverage and those stupid “I’m (insert candidate name) and I approve this message” spots.
Rhys responds:
Posted: September 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am →
“Even her mother-in-law, Faye Palin, who said she was still thinking of voting for Senator Obama, sounded sceptical.
She said: “I’m not sure whatshe brings to the ticket, other than she’s a woman and a conservative.” ”
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24277265-5013948,00.html
Dan responds:
Posted: September 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm →
Palin does not have the experience to be President (or VP for that matter) and McCain’s picking her was obviously a political move. But dude, do not be so naive/blind when it comes to Obama, who obviously picked Biden because he is 1) White, 2) Old, 3) Allegedly blue collar — I have never understood how a lifetime politician can be blue collar, but I seem to be in the minority on this 4) from PA, 5) from Scranton… all of which add up to filling a demographic niche.
Elana responds:
Posted: September 3rd, 2008 at 1:37 am →
The pick is completely fascinating, if nothing else. (I mean, look at how much attention WE’RE giving it! Did Biden get this much attention? I’d say not)
It’s true that McCain stole the DNC bounce in several news cycles and continues to do so even during the RNC, the only thing upstaging it is Hurricane Gustav. So the timing and the explosiveness of the decision are brililantly executed from a political standpoint.
As for the woman herself, Palin has yet to prove that she’s worthy. I saw a couple of her speeches on TV recently and she presents herself well. I do agree that, as her personal story unfolds, voters in middle America are likely to feel like they can relate to her. And, sadly, I have heard that some women are gravitating to her because she’s a woman while others are totally offended.
In my opinion, this pick allows McCain to run as himself rather than pandering to the right, which he doesn’t like to do. She will end up taking care of some of that. I certainly have extremely strong doubts about her capabilities and experience.
As for the video about Hillary, McCain would have run that ad regardless of whether or not he had picked a woman as his own running mate. He’s been running ads that have John Edwards saying stuff about Obama and probably Biden, too. That’s just a tactic to split the party and undermine the credibility in unity. It just so happens that Hillary is a woman. I think it’s a partial stretch to say that that particular ad was aimed at the gender issue.
Josh responds:
Posted: September 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 am →
@Dan
Let’s just say it’s not hard to find an old, white poltician. Furthermore, we all know that he hasn’t been from PA or Scranton since he was 10, so that’s just spinning his history. If they wanted Pennsylvania (which is a lock anyway) they would have gone with Ed Rendell, who happens to be old, white, allegedly clue collar and from PA.
Josh responds:
Posted: September 3rd, 2008 at 9:21 am →
At Elana:
The Palin pick ended the Obama news cycle, but not the convention bounce. Five separate polls came out Tuesday showing Obama with a 6-9 point lead, much more than a week ago:
If this pick represented McCain so well, then why does every say that he really wanted Lieberman but tested the pick and discovered the convention would revolt? Article here.