John McCain completely upended the presidential race by tapping Sarah Palin, an unknown and unremarkable governor of a small, remote red state, to be his running mate. McCain won the GOP primary largely by positioning himself as a man among boys, and he's been depicting the general election as a choice between the old soldier you know and a new, untested lightweight. Yet now McCain's ticket carries the weakest link, according to the instant judgment of the political class. Noting Palin's youth, inexperience and "ethical shadow," the AP dryly recited Palin's governing experience: "A governor for just 20 months, she was two-term mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town of 6,500 where the biggest issue is controlling growth and the biggest civic worry is whether there will be enough snow for the Iditarod dog-mushing race." Journalist Josh Marshall also concludes that Palin shreds McCain's greatest hope for victory. "With her choice, McCain, with one stroke, undercuts the best argument of his campaign: Obama's purported lack of experience for the job."

So did McCain really just sabotage his own presidential run? Not even close. This is probably the best move he's made during a largely lackluster campaign. Yes, Palin remains an odd choice -- she aspires to Barack Obama's youthful appeal, but without the substance or credentials, and she aims for Hillary Clinton's tenacity, but without a clear policy agenda. (That's why some conservatives are dispirited.) Yet Palin could deliver major political, message and substantive dividends -- for McCain and perhaps for the country.

Politically, she may lure independent women and former Hillary supporters. Surely GOP polling reflects that prospect, given McCain's recent ads courting those cohorts. For McCain's message, putting a new, young female politician on the ticket signals far more change -- and validates the maverick promises -- than the prospect of two senior citizen senators who pledge to "change Washington."

Substantively, which is most important, McCain is using his campaign as a vessel to break another glass ceiling in America's overwhelmingly (white) male-dominated power structure. It may be good politics for him, but it's also good for a Republican Party that grooms few women, and virtually no minorities, for leadership positions in government. (President Bush is a welcome and rare exception, as I've written before.) It's good for the country -- remarkable, inspiring and also long overdue -- that both presidential tickets promise to break a barrier fortified by America's long history of discrimination. The Democrats clearly deserve more credit for this progress, given decades of work backing civil rights and educational opportunity, along with the more recent activism of Democratic voters willing to "risk" their votes on a Jackson or Ferraro, and an Obama or Clinton. It would be a bitter irony, for many Americans, if the political climate developed by Democrats and Sen. Clinton redounded to benefit a Republican woman who did not place herself in the race for national office.

Clinton, however, struck a supportive note in her first official response to Palin's "historic nomination." After congratulating the Alaska Governor and Sen. McCain, Clinton noted that "while their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate." It is a voice, of course, that shouts down much of Clinton's life-long work -- and speaks in stubborn opposition to the economic and foreign policy changes favored by the public. Yet it is also another step towards delivering on the promise of American democracy, the selection of a government from all the people, to represent all the people. By marching towards that goal, in a messy fusion of self-interest, politics and idealistic progress, today McCain and Obama have something worthwhile in common.

Comments (55)

1. This is a very interesting, thoughtful piece but it's hard for me to see how an anti-choice creationist is going to have much luck wooing female Hillary supporters. It's even more hard for me to have any idea what "important new voice" Hillary can possibly be talking about!

   Posted by Peter Rothberg at 08/29/2008 @ 4:33pm

2. Peter: seems to be the McCain-Vagina argument. Wonder how many really buy it?

   (Besides, she's a pot-smoking moose-killer)

   Posted by leftofcenter at 08/29/2008 @ 4:40pm

3. Apparently a lot of people think women are pretty dumb. They will vote for someone who is against their best interests because they have a woman on the ticket.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 4:53pm

4. This must be the dumbest article I have ever read in The Nation. Check out Bill Greider's piece on the Palin choice, elsewhere on this site, for an accurate--and funny--take on this stupid choice by McCain.

   The pick resonates in so many ways that are poison for the Republicans. Greider hits many of them, but let me add one more. Since she is so pathetically unqualified, it is obvious that her sex is the only reason Palin was chosen. Doesn't this remind you of another occasion when a Republican leader cynically chose a similarly unqualified person for a high office solely because he was a member of a minority group? That's right, I mean Bush the First's nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. We all know how that one turned out, don't we?

   Posted by oisin at 08/29/2008 @ 4:58pm

5. Apparently a lot of people think women are pretty dumb. They will vote for someone who is against their best interests because they have a woman on the ticket.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 4:53pm

   actually,

   men do that even more.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/29/2008 @ 4:59pm

6. It's been a fascinating week of politics, folks.

   The Clintons came out in full support of Obama and within 40 hours or so McCain has essentially waved the white flag of surrender by throwing away his VP choice.

   The first word that came to mind when I got the news of McCain's VP choice:

   "Craven"

   Main Entry: cra·ven Pronunciation: \ˈkrā-vən\ Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English cravant Date: 13th century 1archaic : defeated, vanquished 2: lacking the least bit of courage : contemptibly fainthearted synonyms see cowardly

   Posted by b_kool_66 at 08/29/2008 @ 5:01pm

7. Ccomfox writes, "Apparently a lot of people think women are pretty dumb. They will vote for someone who is against their best interests because they have a woman on the ticket."

   A-hem! Didn't the results of 2004 pretty much establish that America as a whole is "pretty dumb" and that lots of people "will vote for someone who is against their best interests" for the dumbest of reasons?

   I rest my case.

   The way I see it, John needed someone a little warmer than Cindy "The Iceberg" McCain to give the place a nice homey feel.

   Posted by barnesgene at 08/29/2008 @ 5:07pm

8. Posted by Peter Rothberg at 08/29/2008 @ 4:33pm

   I concur, Peter...what is Ari thinking?

   New voice? As in fresh face or "new" policy?

   Hillary Clinton is still being coy, and should have blasted Palin as a fraud for the causes women care deeply about.

   Whether it is choice, universal healthcare, or equal pay for equal work, Palin is the wrong choice for women, and Hillary knows this.

   Hillary needs to stop this underhanded subterfuge and get with the program! She still thinks this is about her, when it is about what is best for this country.

   Posted by Metteyya at 08/29/2008 @ 5:16pm

9. What I find odd. McCain has a history of going after the younger, prettier women. Cindy is getting on in years.... Does he still think he's young?

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 5:19pm

10. That was a joke by the way. I don't really think he is going to sleep with Sarah Palin.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 5:19pm

11. Posted by Zero at 08/29/2008 @ 5:12pm

    How about this for a complaint? She is under investigation for ethics violations.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 5:21pm

12. Posted by Zero at 08/29/2008 @ 5:12pm

    Oh and abuse of power. Which we definitely need more of in this country.

    If they do find her guilty then she is indefensible and she plays in to the stereotypes so many misguided people have about women, they are unstable, emotional, vindictive and ill equipped to lead. All of these are completely wrong but people will think of them when the investigation and the charges against her are brought up.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 5:25pm

13. this is all so stupid.

    america is losing lives and piling on the debt in two wars,

    the dollar is uncomfortable toilet paper,

    greenland is about to fall into the north atlantic,

    russia is about to control world gas supplies,

    china is about to buy up america,

    and millions of americans have no job.

    AND WE TALK ABOUT BATHING SUITS AND BLACKNESS.

    wtf?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/29/2008 @ 5:38pm

14. this is all so stupid.

    america is losing lives and piling on the debt in two wars,

    the dollar is uncomfortable toilet paper,

    greenland is about to fall into the north atlantic,

    russia is about to control world gas supplies,

    china is about to buy up america, and millions of americans have no job.

    AND WE TALK ABOUT BATHING SUITS AND BLACKNESS.

    wtf?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/29/2008 @ 5:39pm

15. oops.

    well,

    it's doubly stoopid.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/29/2008 @ 5:40pm

16. it sure might be an issue, but, then, ethics investigations (plural) didn't seem to stop either Clinton in any election. Posted by Zero at 08/29/2008 @ 5:31pm

    Actually you could consider part of Bills ethics violations as a partial responsibility for Al Gore doing poorly.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 5:43pm

17. You know what else makes me feel good. Happy is spinning so fast his head is about to pop off. You know how I can tell he is worried. He is lying about numbers , He is bringing up the specter of assassination and early death, he is actually defending her lack of experience while at the same time trying to make her seem more experienced than Obama and the icing on the cake is that now all of a sudden he is calling everyone sexist and racist. The man who defends calling Obama Magic Negro and Half & Half is all of a sudden a little sensitive about criticism of Palin.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 6:01pm

18. "Pander Bear Picks Miss Congeniality!"

    LOL

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/29/2008 @ 6:02pm

19. Eh...personally I would have waited for the "Palin Shock" to die before writing an article like this. Every commentary I've read so far is just running on some emotional tantrum. Wait until the shock dies and we all get used to seeing her face. Although I doubt much more commentary can be made about a former mayor of 6500.

    Don't forget, she still needs to win the nomination. Maybe a last minute VP change up is the fall surprise?

    Posted by phnord at 08/29/2008 @ 6:30pm

20. The US is mostly self-sufficient and imports little!

    Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/29/2008 @ 6:08pm

    so why afghanistan?

    why georgia?

    the u.s. is worried about INDIA'S gas.

    http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/JG30Ag01.html

    Russia takes control of Turkmen (world?) gas

    By M K Bhadrakumar

    From the details coming out of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan and Moscow over the weekend, it is apparent that the great game over Caspian energy has taken a dramatic turn. In the geopolitics of energy security, nothing like this has happened before. The United States has suffered a huge defeat in the race for Caspian gas. The question now is how much longer Washington could afford to keep Iran out of the energy market.

    Gazprom, Russia's energy leviathan, signed two major agreements in Ashgabat on Friday outlining a new scheme for purchase of Turkmen gas. The first one elaborates the price formation principles that will be guiding the Russian gas purchase from Turkmenistan during the next 20-year period. The second

    agreement is a unique one, making Gazprom the donor for local Turkmen energy projects. In essence, the two agreements ensure that Russia will keep control over Turkmen gas exports.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/29/2008 @ 6:41pm

21. imagine nuclear india being iran's best friend........

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/29/2008 @ 6:42pm

22. McCain just got himself in a whole lot of trouble with this one, as if he wasn't in enough after Obama's speech last night which was FANTASTIC. I think every environmental group in the country will rip this woman apart and she deserves it. Just like the previous governor of Alaska, Murkowski, she is obviously in thrall to big oil companies. Global warming is devastating the state. It is thawing the permafrost and causing homes to collapse from lack of support. It is thawing the rivers too early so that caribou calves drown during migrations. Polar bears are drowning and starving and she is trying to have them removed from the endangered species list. She is allowing state game officials to hunt and kill Alaskan wolves, even in denning areas where puppies have been shot in the head! McCain voted against drilling in ANWR, but now he is for it. Is he, also, in thrall to big oil? His VP pick seems to indicate that he is no longer in favor of protectin the environment and its wildlife. Not to mention that Ted Stevens' trial is coming up...good move, McSame...I expect Obama/Biden to win in a landslide.

    Posted by Dena at 08/29/2008 @ 6:52pm

23. Credit where credit is due:

    Ari Melber has written about the first fair article I have ever seen on The Nation.

    He gives John McCain some credit, and HE EVEN MADE A GOOD COMMENT ABOUT PRESIDENT BUSH!!

    Ari Melber does make some "qualifications" or praise for Democrats over Republicans, but for The Nation website, history has been made today with this article! I wasn't sure I would live long enough to see it.

    Posted by sjchermak at 08/29/2008 @ 6:57pm

24. One of Ari's best pieces. No compromise to his core beliefs, but he looked outside himself to provide an incredibly thoughtful analysis. Great job. Thank you.

    Heck, I don't know if this was a brilliant or foolish choice by McCain. I contend none of us really know yet.

    I can say that those embittered, small-town Americans, who "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations" are going to be a lot more interested in McCain now because of her.

    Posted by freiheit1 at 08/29/2008 @ 7:07pm

25. "She is allowing state game officials to hunt and kill Alaskan wolves..."

    Posted by Dena at 08/29/2008 @ 6:52pm

    Probably because the state GAME officials know more about wolves than you and didn't get their information from a Disney movie.

    Posted by Benchrest at 08/29/2008 @ 7:49pm

26. I still expect Palin to pull a "Dan Quayle" at the Veep debates.

    Or babbling when (after the 500th recitation of her "Why I didn't abort my 5th child" story)...she is asked "But Governor, YOU had a CHOICE...and you and Senator McCain want to TAKE that choice from other women, right?"

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/29/2008 @ 8:15pm

27. "Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate." HRC

    Hillary, if she were an older male would you say this? So, which is it, sexism or ageism?

    Answer: sexism, she adores 72 y/o John.

    Posted by winyahn at 08/29/2008 @ 8:36pm

28. GAME officials know more about wolves than you and didn't get their information from a Disney movie. Posted by Benchrest at 08/29/2008 @ 7:49pm

    So there's another valid role for government, besides invading and occupying sovereign countries? Cool.

    Posted by winyahn at 08/29/2008 @ 8:40pm

29. Have you guys checked out the world's three most colorful conspiracy theorists (next to Rese)?:

    http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=phil+schneider&emb=0#

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2221852945040630461

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7C31DJsmGg

    Posted by winyahn at 08/29/2008 @ 8:45pm

30. Posted by winyahn at 08/29/2008 @ 8:40pm

    Who would you suggest manage the wolf population then? The ranchers?

    Posted by Benchrest at 08/29/2008 @ 8:46pm

31. Bob Barr is polling in single digits. By choosing Palin, McCain completely undercuts Barr thereby taking those votes and pulling ahead of Obama in the western states that the Dems were hoping to pick off. That;s the impact Sarah Palin is going to have. The western libertarians view her as one of their own. I don't think the Republicans really think they are going to pick up too many of Hilary's voters because Palin is the anti-thesis of Hilary on social issues - anti-abortion, anti-evolution, anti-gun control.

    I think McCain;s choice was smart but still risky.

    Posted by susa at 08/29/2008 @ 8:49pm

32. The western libertarians view her as one of their own.----Posted by susa at 08/29/2008 @ 8:49pm

    "western libertarians" are for banning abortion???

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/29/2008 @ 8:55pm

33. http://tinyurl.com/6yd5qr

    Posted by leftofcenter at 08/29/2008 @ 9:23pm

34. Palin, is quite typically of the women that McCain likes to choose. They have to be a model, or look like one, or a beauty contestant. His first wife was a model, when her looks failed,he flirted with younger women (while married) until he laid eyes on his current wife (while still married) who was a beauty contestant. He spoked of the pleasure a woman received when she was attacked and raped by an ape in a joke. He laughed when a staff member referred to Hillary as a bitch, he refers to his wife as a cunt. He disrepects women, and instead of seeking the Whitehouse, he should ask for a room in Hugh Heiffner's mansion. Where he would undoubtly die a happy death!!

    Posted by buddbo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 10:32pm

35. Palin, is quite typically of the women that McCain likes to choose. They have to be a model, or look like one, or a beauty contestant. His first wife was a model, when her looks failed,he flirted with younger women (while married) until he laid eyes on his current wife (while still married) who was a beauty contestant. He spoked of the pleasure a woman received when she was attacked and raped by an ape in a joke. He laughed when a staff member referred to Hillary as a bitch, he refers to his wife as a cunt. He disrepects women, and instead of seeking the Whitehouse, he should ask for a room in Hugh Heiffner's mansion. Where he would undoubtly die a happy death!!

    Posted by buddbo1 at 08/29/2008 @ 10:40pm

36. She's a creationist as well?

    Goodness, then she does make a good pair with the 6000-year-old man.

    But seriously, folks, there's only 1 important question here: we know Borat approves the choice, and Monty Python too, but what does AIPAC think of her?

    Posted by sloper at 08/29/2008 @ 10:59pm

37. Who would you suggest manage the wolf population then? The ranchers?

    Posted by Benchrest at 08/29/2008 @ 8:46pm

    No. I am in agreement on principle, that good, smart govt should carry this out - to balance the competing special interests.

    Same with many areas, like stem cell research.

    Neocons assert there's no such thing as constructive, good, positive government:

    The market alone is Go(o)d.

    Mean bad govt taxes, but alas our Super W mannn promises (tax = burden) "relief".

    De-regulation, let the home on the range ranchers shoot 'em!

    Posted by winyahn at 08/29/2008 @ 11:11pm

38. Sure the DMV can suck

    So can FEMA too

    But just ask the BBB

    If private companies

    Sometimes do tooooo

    Posted by winyahn at 08/29/2008 @ 11:31pm

39. This will probably go down as the "political play of the year". Great choice by McCain. Palin is a strong woman with every bit as much substance, if not more, as Obama. This is going to attract a lot of independent minded women (plus increase the enrollment of the NRA). Moose burger anyone?

    Posted by pyeatte at 08/30/2008 @ 12:56am

40. His choice of a female running mate doesn't sway me. I want real people with who have a real chance to make change in our country. I can't feel strongly enough to follow their ridged thought process to take my vote to the Republican party for four more years of this type of Goverment. Ick. I'm sorry, but it just strikes me as curious that so many woman would find more comfort in McCain, when we can bath in the warm rays of change that Obama/Biden ticket can bring.

    Yes, this is a historic thing they are doing. Putting a woman on the ticket, but how much of this is PR? How much of it is good politics? Clinton gave her nod for it's historical note, yes, because in that respect it's pretty cool. But honestly, if you look at it plainly how much of this is sorta like the belittling 'little woman' idea. While it's cool she's on the ticket, how much nodding and smiling pretty will she do for the cameras? Maybe that's an old fashioned sorta thinking, but they are an old fashioned party. No matter how young, how fresh faced, how female, she's still playing second fiddle. Will she ever make it on the ticket as the top biller? Probably not, it's a long shot. Not because she's unexperienced, but because you have to do remarkable things (or maybe pay off remarkably rich people, I don't know take your pick.) Maybe in the future she will, but as of right now, I can't be convinced.

    Yes, it's breaking the glass ceiling for women, but at what cost to us? This nomination for me leaves more questions than it honestly does answers. What are they trying to say to us American Women? Take away her being a woman and she's just another republican telling me everything else republicans have been wanting me to believe for years. I didn't buy it then and I can't buy it now.

    Posted by LaughingEarth at 08/30/2008 @ 01:00am

41. buddbo1: Vulgarity will get you no where.

    Posted by pyeatte at 08/30/2008 @ 01:02am

42. I was shocked to read Ari Melber'[s piece. It is neither "interesting" nor "thoughtful." McCain's pick is insulting not only to women voters but to the many talented, experienced Republican women who would have been excellent choices for the VP nomination, if McCain felt he must choose a woman. One blogger used the expression "kicked to the curb" to describe the feeling that many Republican women must have, and I agree. Susan Collins, Liddy Dole, Condi Rice, Olympia Snowe, Christine Whitman...that's five in a brief thought experiment by this lifelong Democrat. Shame on McCain, and shame on Melber, who sounds as though he's angling for a GOP position! (He'll get nowhere, of course.)

    Posted by idedaryl at 08/30/2008 @ 01:55am

43. Wow. Really? Wow.

    Well so much for "Putting my country first." This was absolutely a political choice:

    *She holds the reigns of Alaska oil *The religious wrong love her *She might impress PUMAS *Now their ticket is also historic

    Too bad there are a few problems:

    *Being investigated for abuse of power *Said the Iraq war did not interest her *Opposes abortion in rape and incest *ZERO foreign affairs experience *Has governed 20 months *In one of the lowest populations

    This choice further disrespects the women of America, by assuming that those women who supported Clinton were vagina voting.

    I wonder if he is going to offer her up to the biker crowd for a COW-CHIP pageant!

    Posted by PrairieDeb at 08/30/2008 @ 02:44am

44. "Care to document for us exactly where Justice Thomas has failed to perform as a SC Justice? where his opinions was challenged and overturned? Or, is your derision based on nothing more than he's black?"

    I must have missed something in my civics class. I was not aware Supreme Court decisions could be overturned.

    That said, Antonin Scalia is harsh as all hell about Thomas, once saying something along the lines that unlike Thomas, he was not insane. However, that Scalia shows "derision" towards people because they are black, particularly if they are poor, is easily found.

    But first I suggest you read some sort of civics textbook, the chapter on the Supreme Court--I think the one I had was from about first grade.

    Posted by onthehelm at 08/30/2008 @ 02:50am

45. If there was a lot of other republican women with a lot better qualifications than Palin-- then why did McPOWhowmanyMANSIONS pick her?

    Uhhmmmm, it may not be such a big surprise then that hurricane Goostep is marching determinedly towards the new con repub convection.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/30/2008 @ 03:38am

46. You people need to come out of your mothers' basements and see the sunlight. The Palin pick is a mirror image. Obama needed Bidne because he has experience in nothing and McCain needed to deaden the media orgasm over the Obama speech (McCain 1, Obama 0). I heard a CNN commentator say Obama needed Biden to make up for his lack of experience in Foreign and Domestic affairs. What else is there? You might as well run Biden. In the end, people will vote for President, not Vice-president and Obama's non-experience must help McCain. Biden adds nothing.

    Posted by wredner at 08/30/2008 @ 08:42am

47. Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/29/2008 @ 5:02pm

    Care to document for us exactly where Justice Thomas has failed to perform as a SC Justice? where his opinions was challenged and overturned? Or, is your derision based on nothing more than he's black?

    Let's see. He graduated from Yale Law School in 1974. He then worked as Assistant Attorney General for 3 years. Worked as a corporate attorney for Monsanto for 2 years. He then worked as a legislative assistant for 2 years. For 2 years, he worked at the U.S. Department of Education and then 8 years at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He then worked for one year as a judge for the United State Court of Appeals.

    So he had exactly 1 year experience acting as a judge, and if you wanted to be generous, he had 6 years experience as an attorney. I don't exactly call that qualified for a Supreme Court position.

    However, he was black, and he was replacing Thurgood Marshall. Maybe that had something to do with it. But, I still can't figure out why the couldn't find another black man who actually spent some time as a judge and was "conservative".

    As to what specific points of law, I think most people's derision comes both from his lack of experience and his novel way of interpreting the law - not because of the color of his skin.

    For example, over the years it has become apparant that either he doesn't believe in stare decisis or that he believes as a Supreme Courth Justice it is less binding upon him.

    He was the only justice that agreed with all of the Bush adminstrations arguments in Hamdi vs. Rumsfield. He generally is on the side of police, irrespective of brutality or illegal procedures. He advocates the reversal of Rowe vs. Wade.

    He is an "activist judge" in every sense of the term.

    Posted by srjenkins at 08/30/2008 @ 08:55am

48. Posted by susa at 08/29/2008 @ 8:49pm

    In what way does Palin undercut Barr? She may be "libertarian", but no one who would vote for Barr can ignore McCain's foreign policy positions, both of their anti-abortion positions, etc.

    Look at McCain's website - practically every issue screams big, federal government: national security, federal law enforcement, federal government funded technology, etc.

    So, she may help shore up his "base" but that "base" isn't the right-libertarian wing of the Republican party or of the Libertarian party. It's the religious right. She also brings a little youth and attractiveness to his campaign. He had to do something because he has zero charisma himself.

    Posted by srjenkins at 08/30/2008 @ 09:12am

49. I cannot believe that John McCain really thought this was his best pick. I so wish that John McCain's mental health records, all of them, should be released! This should be a requirement. I have been working in the mental health field for years, and although I am not a psychiatrist, this was very impulsive behavior for Senator McCain. HE DOES NOT KNOW THIS WOMAN!!! I keep hearing the Republicans justify this choice when they don't even know her. God forbid if this Anne Oakley of Alaska had this baby for political reasons. I mean seriously, there are already speculations that she abused her power to get into a Jerry Springer moment with her family. I grew up in a small town in Alabama and I know that in small places Jerry Springer gets richer with the drama! Her foreign policy experience consist of speaking moose or polar bear language? Plus if she does speak their language she is doing so to kill them. She goes well with John McCain in that sense...Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iraq, Iran, Russia.... or anybody because I have to get my sociopathic tendencies relieved... This man is crazy! As a woman, I am very offended that he picked this person thinking that because she has a vagina, women would flock to her. He is an idiot and truly insane McCain. Another big thing that I take issue with McCain, WHERE IS HIS DARK SKIN DAUGHTER WHEN THE PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE PHOTOGRAPHING HIS FAMILY?????? WAS SHE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO THIS MIXTURE FOR PEOPLE MAGAZINE OR WOULD SHE HAVE BROUGHT TOO MUCH COLOR?

    Posted by cajen42 at 08/30/2008 @ 11:50am

50. Wonder if I should tell her even as Texas' population infringes more and more on nature,

    Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/29/2008 @ 8:10pm

    don't you understand?

    we are nature, too.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/30/2008 @ 12:28pm

51. Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/30/2008 @ 12:54pm

    Happy, you are the poster boy for blissful ignorance. Every woman's voice in politics is important because for millenia the boys have held the floor. That doesn't mean we women all have to vote for someone just because they are the same gender.

    Come on Happy, she was a two term mayor/manager(whatever that is) and has been governor for a couple of years. I'm not big on over educated fools, but exactly what does a BA in Communications/Journalism prepare you for?

    There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of Republican women who were much more qualified-though not nearly as photogenic. Please! If they are going to pander at least they could have a little respect for the women they are pandering too.

    I'm sure she is very nice and I see from her bio she kills fish not fetuses and has a lot of kids, but in your heart of hearts I know damn well you don't want her taking that 3 am phone call either.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 1:06pm

52. Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 08/29/2008 @ 5:01pm

    Actually we dismissed former Governor Bush even faster. Molly Ivins-may she be laughing her beautiful head off in Heaven-warned us about the Shrub a loooonnnggg time before he was even considered for a presidential run. And Ronald Reagan, Lord, the first time I heard he was running I thought it was the punchline of a bad joke. Was, as it turned out, just not the one I anticipated.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 1:13pm

53. Palin just replaced Mrs. McCain in the broad public's mind as a possible First Lady....

    Posted by Zero at 08/29/2008 @ 5:12pm | warn this person

    And unlike Cindy McCain Palin is an innocent, not a woman who had an affair with a married man.

    She has both McCains beat in the morals department, something so very dear to the right wings heart.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/30/2008 @ 1:46pm

54. wredner,

    Pleeeeeze do not us McCain and orgasm in the same sentence EVER AGAIN. Even us bloggers have some sense of dignity.

    Posted by PrairieDeb at 08/31/2008 @ 03:35am

55. The Republicans are the party of double standards; the party of hypocrisy. Our successful two term president was harassed relentlessly for lying about a personal indiscretion.

    Republicans then lie us into a war.

    Republicans rail about Obama's lack of experience.

    Then select somebody with NO FOREIGN AFFAIRS EXPERIENCE AT ALL.

    Republicans infer that Democrats are baby killers.

    Then they bomb a country to obliteration, destabilizing their security and treasures (except the oil fields) and inciting civil violence that makes going to the market for food a life risking proposition.

    Words of Diversity drip off of their lips like honey from a bear's claw, and then they ruin Powel and Rice with tasks that discredit them throughout generations.

    They claim to be inclusive of women, and then hire utterly unprepared and under qualified women when capable women are abundant.

    They are hypocrites and disingenuous power mongers, and are bewildered by the fact that the American people are educated enough and wise enough to see through their lies.

    The Audacity of Truth Rises

    Obama/Biden '08

    Posted by PrairieDeb at 08/31/2008 @ 03:40am