The pundits seemed to agree. The best they could say is that she allayed feared, stopped the bleeding, but they also said that her performance was not, in 2008 parlance, a “game changer.”
All week long we heard pundits suggest that the bar was set so low by the Governor that if she simply didn’t fall over herself on the stage, she would look good by comparison. Indeed that they were correct.
I am going to argue here, however, that aside from her demonstrated ability to talk on Thursday night, her answers and the substance were not altogether different from what she had displayed earlier in the week.
How confident are the Republicans in her ability after this debate performance, the performance that they tried to spin as great?
The answer is very simple: she is not scheduled to be on any of the Sunday morning talk shows this weekend nor are there plans for her to be on any for the rest of the campaign. That is a very telling fact.
The second very interesting fact came out of the FOX News interview that she did on Friday morning–the only interview that the McCain campaign allowed her to do. On Thursday it had been announced that McCain had decided to pull his operation and stop advertising in Michigan. This was announced around midday on Thursday. Palin was asked about this on Friday morning.
Palin’s response was that she had, “Read that this morning and I fired off a quick e-mail.”
She continued:
“Oh, come on. Do we have to call it there? Todd and I would happy to get to Michigan and walk through those plants where car manufacturers.
We’d be so happy to get to speak with the people there in Michigan, who are hurting because the economy is hurting. Whatever we can do and whatever Todd and I can do in realizing what their challenges in that state are, as we can relate to them and connect with them and promise them that we won’t let them down in the administration. I want to get back to Michigan and I want to try.”
The illuminating point, of course, is that she, “…read that this morning.” She was not involved in the strategy or decision making, nor was she briefed. Telling? Perhaps.
Bottom line here for me is that if Palin’s performance had inspired the confidence of the McCain campaign, neither of those two factors really show it.
My overall impression of Palin’s debate performance is that it often read as though she had strewn together soundbites. By comparison to the Couric interview it at least sounded well, but about half an hour into it, it became very clear she had no substance or depth of understanding whatsoever.
She was able to lob some attacks with catchy lines:
“Your plan is a white flag of surrender in Iraq and that is not what our troops need to hear today, that’s for sure. And it’s not what our nation needs to be able to count on. You guys opposed the surge. The surge worked. Barack Obama still can’t admit the surge works.”
However, the most telling moment was when she told the moderator she was basically not going to answer her questions.
“I may not answer the questions that either the moderator or you want to hear, but I’m going to talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record also.”
This was actually a good strategy, because it became obvious that other than energy questions, she really had no understanding of the policy issues. This way she would not look ignorant, just indignant. The idea that she would refuse to answer the debate questions, I think, needs to be seriously questioned. It has not been, and frankly there is even so much more material to look at.
In a moment we will go through some her mistakes. But I want to highlight some curious answers.
At one point they were discussing global warming.
She argued in general:
“I’m not one to attribute every man — activity of man to the changes in the climate. There is something to be said also for man’s activities, but also for the cyclical temperature changes on our planet.”
That’s the conservative position on global warming, I understand that. But she went right back into the idea that we need to utilize domestic oil supplies.
“The chant is “drill, baby, drill.” And that’s what we hear all across this country in our rallies because people are so hungry for those domestic sources of energy to be tapped into.”
Biden missed a chance here because Palin really conflated the issue of energy independence with that of global warming. Obviously, from a global warming standpoint, it makes no difference whether you are using foreign or domestic oil supplies.
The second issue is that of Afghanistan commander, General David McKiernan. Governor Palin, of course, called him General McClellan, but that’s not really the important part despite the media’s focus on the name.
Senator Biden started the exchange:
” The fact is that our commanding general in Afghanistan said today that a surge — the surge principles used in Iraq will not work– well, let me say this again now — our commanding general in Afghanistan said the surge principle in Iraq will not work in Afghanistan, not Joe Biden, our commanding general in Afghanistan.
He said we need more troops. We need government-building. We need to spend more money on the infrastructure in Afghanistan.”
Gov. Palin then responded:
“Well, first, McClellan did not say definitively the surge principles would not work in Afghanistan. Certainly, accounting for different conditions in that different country and conditions are certainly different. We have NATO allies helping us for one and even the geographic differences are huge but the counterinsurgency principles could work in Afghanistan. McClellan didn’t say anything opposite of that. The counterinsurgency strategy going into Afghanistan, clearing, holding, rebuilding, the civil society and the infrastructure can work in Afghanistan. And those leaders who are over there, who have also been advising George Bush on this have not said anything different but that.”
Here’s what General McKiernan said on Tuesday:
“First of all, please don’t think that I’m saying there’s no room for tribal engagement in Afghanistan, because I think it’s very necessary. But I think it’s much more complex environment of tribal linkages, and intertribal complexity than there is in Iraq. It’s not as simple as taking the Sunni Awakening and doing the Pashtun Awakening in Afghanistan. It’s much more complex than that.
But there are countless other differences between Iraq and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, it’s such a poor country, by any set of metrics you can imagine. A country that has very harsh geography. It’s very difficult to move around, getting back to our reliance on helicopters. It’s a country with very few natural resources, as opposed to the oil revenues that (Iraq) has. There’s very little money to be generated in terms of generated in Afghanistan. The literacy rate — you have a literate society in Iraq, you have a society that has a history of producing civil administrators, technocrats, middle class that are able to run the country in Iraq. You do not have that in Afghanistan. So there’s educational challenges, challenges of human capitol that I mentioned earlier.”
Key point that Biden referenced:
“So there are a lot of challenges. What I don’t think is needed — the word that I don’t use in Afghanistan is the word “surge.” There needs to be a sustained commitment of a variety of military and non-military resources, I believe. That’s my advice to winning in Afghanistan. It won’t be a short-term solution.”
Third point that I want to cover here, the Vice Presidential role that Palin suggests.
Gov. Palin said:
“I’m thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president’s policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are.”
She followed up:
“Well, our founding fathers were very wise there in allowing through the Constitution much flexibility there in the office of the vice president. And we will do what is best for the American people in tapping into that position and ushering in an agenda that is supportive and cooperative with the president’s agenda in that position.”
Senator Biden got in one of his better responses of the night:
“Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history. The idea he doesn’t realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that’s the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.
And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there’s a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.
The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he’s part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.”
Frankly, Senator Biden got it mostly right in terms of the powers of the Vice President in his response.
The constitution is pretty explicit about the role of the Vice President:
“The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.”
So where Governor Palin gets the idea that the Vice President has more powers, I do not know.
There are a couple of other mistakes that the Governor made.
At one point she claimed that troop levels in Iraq had returned to “pre-surge” levels. This is untrue, the levels have come down, but at the current plan calls for levels to remain higher than pre-surge numbers through at least early next year.
“Barack Obama even supported increasing taxes as late as last year for those families making only $42,000 a year.”
According to FactCheck.org, Obama did not.
“The budget bill in question called for an increase only on singles making that amount, but a family of four would not have been affected unless they made at least $90,000 a year.”
Palin on McCain’s healthcare proposal:
“He’s proposing a $5,000 tax credit for families so that they can get out there and they can purchase their own health care coverage. That’s a smart thing to do. That’s budget neutral. That doesn’t cost the government anything as opposed to Barack Obama’s plan to mandate health care coverage and have universal government run program and unless you’re pleased with the way the federal government has been running anything lately, I don’t think that it’s going to be real pleasing for Americans to consider health care being taken over by the feds. But a $5,000 health care credit through our income tax that’s budget neutral. That’s going to help.”
According to FactCheck.org:
“Independent budget experts estimate McCain’s plan would cost tens of billions each year, though details are too fuzzy to allow for exact estimates.”
Finally Palin claimed:
“But when you talk about Barack’s plan to tax increase affecting only those making $250,000 a year or more, you’re forgetting millions of small businesses that are going to fit into that category. So they’re going to be the ones paying higher taxes thus resulting in fewer jobs being created and less productivity.”
In fact, that’s again untrue, most small businesses do not make over $250,000 and would thus be unaffected by the tax increase.
Here are a few of my final thoughts on Palin. This blog has been a bit longer than I planned, but I think there are important issues that need to be analyzed.
The bottom line for me is that some people will undoubtedly like Palin’s style which tends to be more “folksy” for lack of a better adjective. I might choose vacuous. From my standpoint, I think the President and Vice President need to have some sort of demonstrated depth of policy understanding. I like to have a beer and watch football as much as the next guy–I will be planted in front of my television watching football today in fact–but I have to say that I was a bit appalled by Palin’s casual style.
But again, that’s a matter of taste. The alarming fact for me is that she has not demonstrated a policy understanding that goes beyond a brief soundbite. I listen to the other three candidates–McCain, Obama, and Biden, and I feel whether I agree or disagree, that they have an understanding of the issues and the policy process.
Someone suggested that this reflects a liberal bias in my evaluations–that government inherently is the answer. I think I have more of a mixed view of government than a lot of liberals. I would certainly like to see government run better and I would love to cut out a lot of the wasteful programs and see a tax cut for most Americans.
I do not think my criticism of Palin is merely a matter of a belief in the role of government.
A couple of the examples I have in mind have to do with issues such as the fundamentals surrounding the bailout, her understanding of foreign policy, and tax cuts.
Do we need to go back to the Couric answer on the bailout that was all over the place? For example, I do not agree with Brian Bilbray, the Congressman from Southern California, on the bailout. However, when I watch him I believe that he understands the issues around the bailout and the reasons and rationale for him to oppose it. Guess what though–Palin supports the bailout. She could not articulate it to Katie Couric and she did not put much more substance behind it on Thursday.
Her inability to understand foreign policy details–again, conservatives support this as a legitimate government power, again, I do not think the government philosophy explains my apprehension of her lack of understanding of foreign affairs during a time when we face the two wars and a global strategy against terrorism. Should she become President, would anyone be comfortable with her working knowledge of the world?
Tax cuts are a hallmark of any conservative agenda, but she could not articulate the policy details there either. She had a few soundbites, some attacks, but no demonstrated understanding. So I disagree with any defense of her in that area.
At the end of Thursday’s debate, it was clear that Sarah Palin was not going to end up being the death knell for the McCain campaign. McCain has his own problems and between them and the current state of the economy he is in trouble on his own accord. But Sarah Palin in my book did nothing to change my view of her fundamental lack of qualifications to be Vice President.
We can cite her resume as much as we want and debate over whether or not being mayor of a small town or a part-time governor of the fourth smallest state in the country is sufficient experience. We really can debate those issues. What we cannot debate, in my opinion, is that she simply, regardless of that experience, lacks the policy understanding to be President.
I am a maverick myself in a lot of ways on policy issues. I am also a populist. I do not think that there is a necessary connection between being a populist, being a maverick, disagreeing with the way this country is run or the way politics are conducting and not understanding the issues that we face. In fact, I would argue that being a maverick means that you should know the policy issues better than anyone else so that you can articulate your disagreement with the policies and develop a new course.
Sarah Palin is not a maverick, she is a know-nothing. She harbors these anti-government views, thinks she’s against things, but doesn’t really understand the policy implications of her views or why she dislikes government. For her it is an emotional reaction rather than an intellectual exercise. She is reflexively against these programs rather than intellectually against them.
For me as well as many thoughtful Americans on both sides on the fence, she is scary. There was an interesting contrast on Thursday night. After the debate, one of the McCain surrogates was Linda Lingle, Governor of Hawaii. She was bright, articulate, and very effective.
Why was she not the nominee? Hard to know for sure. But she seemed a better choice than Palin in every way. Well, perhaps except for one. She is not the most attractive person physically. In response to my original Palin post, several people suggested that Palin was “hot.” That was really in a lot of ways a degrading remark to women. It suggests that it does not matter how inarticulate or unknowledgeable the governor is, at least she’s physically attractive. There was even a reference in the National Review last night that one of the editors was aroused by the Governor winking at him on the camera, that that gesture made him sit straight up in his seat. There may be something to that.
I suppose I am an elitist as some have suggested because I am not interested in how “cute” or “hot” a candidate is but rather what their policy positions are, and as important, their ability to articulate them.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
Governor Palin did very well for herself.
Joe Biden merely did well for Obama.
But I have not yet heard anyone from any side express any concern about the most dangerous possibility if Governor Palin is elected to national office.
Governor Palin did very well for herself.
Joe Biden merely did well for Obama.
But I have not yet heard anyone from any side express any concern about the most dangerous possibility if Governor Palin is elected to national office.
Governor Palin did very well for herself.
Joe Biden merely did well for Obama.
But I have not yet heard anyone from any side express any concern about the most dangerous possibility if Governor Palin is elected to national office.
Governor Palin did very well for herself.
Joe Biden merely did well for Obama.
But I have not yet heard anyone from any side express any concern about the most dangerous possibility if Governor Palin is elected to national office.
Oh golly, gee wiz there you go looking back again Davy. Can I call you Davy? You betcha I did ok because the left wing elite media set the bar just above the floor. Here’s winking at you kid.
Oh golly, gee wiz there you go looking back again Davy. Can I call you Davy? You betcha I did ok because the left wing elite media set the bar just above the floor. Here’s winking at you kid.
Oh golly, gee wiz there you go looking back again Davy. Can I call you Davy? You betcha I did ok because the left wing elite media set the bar just above the floor. Here’s winking at you kid.
Oh golly, gee wiz there you go looking back again Davy. Can I call you Davy? You betcha I did ok because the left wing elite media set the bar just above the floor. Here’s winking at you kid.
“There was even a reference in the National Review last night that one of the editors was aroused by the Governor winking at him on the camera, that that gesture made him sit straight up in his seat. There may be something to that.”
Perhaps that was John McCain’s reaction that led to his picking her?
If she doesn’t give us a lot of substance, then unfortunately some of us are left to wonder more openly, “is it her looks and charm that we’re supposed to respond to?”
“There was even a reference in the National Review last night that one of the editors was aroused by the Governor winking at him on the camera, that that gesture made him sit straight up in his seat. There may be something to that.”
Perhaps that was John McCain’s reaction that led to his picking her?
If she doesn’t give us a lot of substance, then unfortunately some of us are left to wonder more openly, “is it her looks and charm that we’re supposed to respond to?”
“There was even a reference in the National Review last night that one of the editors was aroused by the Governor winking at him on the camera, that that gesture made him sit straight up in his seat. There may be something to that.”
Perhaps that was John McCain’s reaction that led to his picking her?
If she doesn’t give us a lot of substance, then unfortunately some of us are left to wonder more openly, “is it her looks and charm that we’re supposed to respond to?”
“There was even a reference in the National Review last night that one of the editors was aroused by the Governor winking at him on the camera, that that gesture made him sit straight up in his seat. There may be something to that.”
Perhaps that was John McCain’s reaction that led to his picking her?
If she doesn’t give us a lot of substance, then unfortunately some of us are left to wonder more openly, “is it her looks and charm that we’re supposed to respond to?”
To Am I fantasizing?
No.. you are not. The moment to moment tracking of the sample of uncommitted voters revealed that the women responded negatively to Sara Palin’s style much more than the men. It was clear that women recognized the calculated manipulating seductive gestures that she was using which appeared to be more effective with the male members of the sample. Women understand that a VP Palin’s style of appealing not to men’s brains but rather to that “other special part of the male anatomy”(as those Extend commercials keep telling us) is an insult to all of them.
To Am I fantasizing?
No.. you are not. The moment to moment tracking of the sample of uncommitted voters revealed that the women responded negatively to Sara Palin’s style much more than the men. It was clear that women recognized the calculated manipulating seductive gestures that she was using which appeared to be more effective with the male members of the sample. Women understand that a VP Palin’s style of appealing not to men’s brains but rather to that “other special part of the male anatomy”(as those Extend commercials keep telling us) is an insult to all of them.
To Am I fantasizing?
No.. you are not. The moment to moment tracking of the sample of uncommitted voters revealed that the women responded negatively to Sara Palin’s style much more than the men. It was clear that women recognized the calculated manipulating seductive gestures that she was using which appeared to be more effective with the male members of the sample. Women understand that a VP Palin’s style of appealing not to men’s brains but rather to that “other special part of the male anatomy”(as those Extend commercials keep telling us) is an insult to all of them.
To Am I fantasizing?
No.. you are not. The moment to moment tracking of the sample of uncommitted voters revealed that the women responded negatively to Sara Palin’s style much more than the men. It was clear that women recognized the calculated manipulating seductive gestures that she was using which appeared to be more effective with the male members of the sample. Women understand that a VP Palin’s style of appealing not to men’s brains but rather to that “other special part of the male anatomy”(as those Extend commercials keep telling us) is an insult to all of them.
McCain’s team is well aware that the on-off switch for the male brain resides somewhere below the belt.
McCain’s team is well aware that the on-off switch for the male brain resides somewhere below the belt.
McCain’s team is well aware that the on-off switch for the male brain resides somewhere below the belt.
McCain’s team is well aware that the on-off switch for the male brain resides somewhere below the belt.
Is Tina Fey going to be doing Sarah Palin tonigiht?
She may only have a limited time to take advantage of this role!
Is Tina Fey going to be doing Sarah Palin tonigiht?
She may only have a limited time to take advantage of this role!
Is Tina Fey going to be doing Sarah Palin tonigiht?
She may only have a limited time to take advantage of this role!
Is Tina Fey going to be doing Sarah Palin tonigiht?
She may only have a limited time to take advantage of this role!
Is Sarah Palin were a man, her career as a VP nominee would have been over 5 weeks ago. Amazing that we allow such ineptitude to masquerade as a viable candidate. I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat, common sense screams out that Palin is completely not ready to assume the presidency in the event that something happens to McCain.
How can the conservative right NOT see this????
Is Sarah Palin were a man, her career as a VP nominee would have been over 5 weeks ago. Amazing that we allow such ineptitude to masquerade as a viable candidate. I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat, common sense screams out that Palin is completely not ready to assume the presidency in the event that something happens to McCain.
How can the conservative right NOT see this????
Is Sarah Palin were a man, her career as a VP nominee would have been over 5 weeks ago. Amazing that we allow such ineptitude to masquerade as a viable candidate. I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat, common sense screams out that Palin is completely not ready to assume the presidency in the event that something happens to McCain.
How can the conservative right NOT see this????
Is Sarah Palin were a man, her career as a VP nominee would have been over 5 weeks ago. Amazing that we allow such ineptitude to masquerade as a viable candidate. I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat, common sense screams out that Palin is completely not ready to assume the presidency in the event that something happens to McCain.
How can the conservative right NOT see this????
I really don’t care where she stands on anything except a fervent desire to fire as many people in DC as humanly possible.
I really don’t care where she stands on anything except a fervent desire to fire as many people in DC as humanly possible.
I really don’t care where she stands on anything except a fervent desire to fire as many people in DC as humanly possible.
I really don’t care where she stands on anything except a fervent desire to fire as many people in DC as humanly possible.
“I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat, common sense screams out that Palin is completely not ready to assume the presidency in the event that something happens to McCain.
How can the conservative right NOT see this????”
Of course these are the same folks who voted for Bush – twice – and many still follow him in blind allegiance.
As I watched the debate I thought about the effort that goes into selecting a house for purchase. Let’s say you were driving around Fairbanks and you decided to take a look at some houses in a place like North Pole – a nice community just south of town.
One way find a house would be to drive around, looking for houses on sale and those that have a clean front yard and fresh coat of paint – a nice facade.
Next step would be to take a closer look at the house. The owner might come out and try to avoid the real issue – what is beyond the facade?
She might claim that her house is a real maverick, different than the other houses. Of course you can see up and dowm the street and it is obvious that all of the houses look very much the same.
You want her to talk about the house but she spends time talking about the main street, security, greed on Wall street the sky and anything else except the house. Also there is an annoying habbit of winking and smiling while avoiding direct questions.
The bottom line is I want to understand what is beyond the facade – is there anything elsein there? It is very important to know if the house is built directly on top of the permafrost or not. If the foundation is no good the house is essentially worthless.
Many Republicans were very satisfied with Palin’s performance.
However all that really happened was the facade of the house did not completly collapse during the debate. Normally you expect the house ot remain standing as you inspct it. The fact that there was a real possibility of collapse reflects a serious problem.
I need to go look at a different house.
“I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat, common sense screams out that Palin is completely not ready to assume the presidency in the event that something happens to McCain.
How can the conservative right NOT see this????”
Of course these are the same folks who voted for Bush – twice – and many still follow him in blind allegiance.
As I watched the debate I thought about the effort that goes into selecting a house for purchase. Let’s say you were driving around Fairbanks and you decided to take a look at some houses in a place like North Pole – a nice community just south of town.
One way find a house would be to drive around, looking for houses on sale and those that have a clean front yard and fresh coat of paint – a nice facade.
Next step would be to take a closer look at the house. The owner might come out and try to avoid the real issue – what is beyond the facade?
She might claim that her house is a real maverick, different than the other houses. Of course you can see up and dowm the street and it is obvious that all of the houses look very much the same.
You want her to talk about the house but she spends time talking about the main street, security, greed on Wall street the sky and anything else except the house. Also there is an annoying habbit of winking and smiling while avoiding direct questions.
The bottom line is I want to understand what is beyond the facade – is there anything elsein there? It is very important to know if the house is built directly on top of the permafrost or not. If the foundation is no good the house is essentially worthless.
Many Republicans were very satisfied with Palin’s performance.
However all that really happened was the facade of the house did not completly collapse during the debate. Normally you expect the house ot remain standing as you inspct it. The fact that there was a real possibility of collapse reflects a serious problem.
I need to go look at a different house.
“I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat, common sense screams out that Palin is completely not ready to assume the presidency in the event that something happens to McCain.
How can the conservative right NOT see this????”
Of course these are the same folks who voted for Bush – twice – and many still follow him in blind allegiance.
As I watched the debate I thought about the effort that goes into selecting a house for purchase. Let’s say you were driving around Fairbanks and you decided to take a look at some houses in a place like North Pole – a nice community just south of town.
One way find a house would be to drive around, looking for houses on sale and those that have a clean front yard and fresh coat of paint – a nice facade.
Next step would be to take a closer look at the house. The owner might come out and try to avoid the real issue – what is beyond the facade?
She might claim that her house is a real maverick, different than the other houses. Of course you can see up and dowm the street and it is obvious that all of the houses look very much the same.
You want her to talk about the house but she spends time talking about the main street, security, greed on Wall street the sky and anything else except the house. Also there is an annoying habbit of winking and smiling while avoiding direct questions.
The bottom line is I want to understand what is beyond the facade – is there anything elsein there? It is very important to know if the house is built directly on top of the permafrost or not. If the foundation is no good the house is essentially worthless.
Many Republicans were very satisfied with Palin’s performance.
However all that really happened was the facade of the house did not completly collapse during the debate. Normally you expect the house ot remain standing as you inspct it. The fact that there was a real possibility of collapse reflects a serious problem.
I need to go look at a different house.
“I don’t care if you are Republican or Democrat, common sense screams out that Palin is completely not ready to assume the presidency in the event that something happens to McCain.
How can the conservative right NOT see this????”
Of course these are the same folks who voted for Bush – twice – and many still follow him in blind allegiance.
As I watched the debate I thought about the effort that goes into selecting a house for purchase. Let’s say you were driving around Fairbanks and you decided to take a look at some houses in a place like North Pole – a nice community just south of town.
One way find a house would be to drive around, looking for houses on sale and those that have a clean front yard and fresh coat of paint – a nice facade.
Next step would be to take a closer look at the house. The owner might come out and try to avoid the real issue – what is beyond the facade?
She might claim that her house is a real maverick, different than the other houses. Of course you can see up and dowm the street and it is obvious that all of the houses look very much the same.
You want her to talk about the house but she spends time talking about the main street, security, greed on Wall street the sky and anything else except the house. Also there is an annoying habbit of winking and smiling while avoiding direct questions.
The bottom line is I want to understand what is beyond the facade – is there anything elsein there? It is very important to know if the house is built directly on top of the permafrost or not. If the foundation is no good the house is essentially worthless.
Many Republicans were very satisfied with Palin’s performance.
However all that really happened was the facade of the house did not completly collapse during the debate. Normally you expect the house ot remain standing as you inspct it. The fact that there was a real possibility of collapse reflects a serious problem.
I need to go look at a different house.
Over the past few weeks watching the performance of Sarah Pallin during interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric as well as during the VP debate it is clear she is not qualified to be VP, let alone president of the US.
Regardless of political ideology, there is no question that Joe Biden is qualified to be vice president and Sarah Palin is not.
The Republican defense of Sarah Palin states she is qualified because she has more executive experience than Obama, Biden or even her running mate John McCain. But that is a bogus argument as some of our greatest presidents had no prior executive experience: Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and some of our worst presidents had only executive experience: Herbert Hoover and George W. Bush.
Camp McCain and the Republicans also claim Palin is a victim of the media and “elitists.” This is an old canard employed by their spinmeisters whenever they have a less than qualified candidate. Over the years they have used it in the defense of many candidates most notably Spiro Agnew, Dan Quale, George W. Bush, and now Sarah Palin.
Over the past few weeks watching the performance of Sarah Pallin during interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric as well as during the VP debate it is clear she is not qualified to be VP, let alone president of the US.
Regardless of political ideology, there is no question that Joe Biden is qualified to be vice president and Sarah Palin is not.
The Republican defense of Sarah Palin states she is qualified because she has more executive experience than Obama, Biden or even her running mate John McCain. But that is a bogus argument as some of our greatest presidents had no prior executive experience: Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and some of our worst presidents had only executive experience: Herbert Hoover and George W. Bush.
Camp McCain and the Republicans also claim Palin is a victim of the media and “elitists.” This is an old canard employed by their spinmeisters whenever they have a less than qualified candidate. Over the years they have used it in the defense of many candidates most notably Spiro Agnew, Dan Quale, George W. Bush, and now Sarah Palin.
Over the past few weeks watching the performance of Sarah Pallin during interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric as well as during the VP debate it is clear she is not qualified to be VP, let alone president of the US.
Regardless of political ideology, there is no question that Joe Biden is qualified to be vice president and Sarah Palin is not.
The Republican defense of Sarah Palin states she is qualified because she has more executive experience than Obama, Biden or even her running mate John McCain. But that is a bogus argument as some of our greatest presidents had no prior executive experience: Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and some of our worst presidents had only executive experience: Herbert Hoover and George W. Bush.
Camp McCain and the Republicans also claim Palin is a victim of the media and “elitists.” This is an old canard employed by their spinmeisters whenever they have a less than qualified candidate. Over the years they have used it in the defense of many candidates most notably Spiro Agnew, Dan Quale, George W. Bush, and now Sarah Palin.
Over the past few weeks watching the performance of Sarah Pallin during interviews with Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric as well as during the VP debate it is clear she is not qualified to be VP, let alone president of the US.
Regardless of political ideology, there is no question that Joe Biden is qualified to be vice president and Sarah Palin is not.
The Republican defense of Sarah Palin states she is qualified because she has more executive experience than Obama, Biden or even her running mate John McCain. But that is a bogus argument as some of our greatest presidents had no prior executive experience: Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and some of our worst presidents had only executive experience: Herbert Hoover and George W. Bush.
Camp McCain and the Republicans also claim Palin is a victim of the media and “elitists.” This is an old canard employed by their spinmeisters whenever they have a less than qualified candidate. Over the years they have used it in the defense of many candidates most notably Spiro Agnew, Dan Quale, George W. Bush, and now Sarah Palin.
A follow-up thought:
One of the most memorable uses of the strategy of attacking the well educated and the brightest among us as “elitists” was employed by Republican US Senator Roman Hruska in the defense of Harrold Carswell who was nominated by Richard Nixon for a seat on the US Supreme Court as the following article notes:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 02, 2007
Channeling Roman Hruska
“In 1970, Richard Nixon nominated an undistinguished Florida judge named G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. The appointment was part of Nixon’s “Southern Strategy”: Carswell billed himself as a “strict constructionist,” code at the time for opposing civil rights and supporting tough-on-crime rulings.
The nomination quickly encountered trouble, in part because of Carswell’s earlier unabashed defenses of segregationism. But it also became increasingly clear that Carswell just wasn’t that smart.
In a bid to salvage the nomination, Nebraska senator Roman Hruska, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, informed the press, “There are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren’t they? We can’t have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos and stuff like that there.”
The damning praise from the judge’s most prominent supporter effectively killed the nomination.”
KC Johnson,
Professor of history at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, teaching classes in 20th century US political, constitutional, and diplomatic history. In 2007-8, Fulbright Distinguished Chair for the Humanities at Tel Aviv University
A follow-up thought:
One of the most memorable uses of the strategy of attacking the well educated and the brightest among us as “elitists” was employed by Republican US Senator Roman Hruska in the defense of Harrold Carswell who was nominated by Richard Nixon for a seat on the US Supreme Court as the following article notes:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 02, 2007
Channeling Roman Hruska
“In 1970, Richard Nixon nominated an undistinguished Florida judge named G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. The appointment was part of Nixon’s “Southern Strategy”: Carswell billed himself as a “strict constructionist,” code at the time for opposing civil rights and supporting tough-on-crime rulings.
The nomination quickly encountered trouble, in part because of Carswell’s earlier unabashed defenses of segregationism. But it also became increasingly clear that Carswell just wasn’t that smart.
In a bid to salvage the nomination, Nebraska senator Roman Hruska, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, informed the press, “There are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren’t they? We can’t have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos and stuff like that there.”
The damning praise from the judge’s most prominent supporter effectively killed the nomination.”
KC Johnson,
Professor of history at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, teaching classes in 20th century US political, constitutional, and diplomatic history. In 2007-8, Fulbright Distinguished Chair for the Humanities at Tel Aviv University
A follow-up thought:
One of the most memorable uses of the strategy of attacking the well educated and the brightest among us as “elitists” was employed by Republican US Senator Roman Hruska in the defense of Harrold Carswell who was nominated by Richard Nixon for a seat on the US Supreme Court as the following article notes:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 02, 2007
Channeling Roman Hruska
“In 1970, Richard Nixon nominated an undistinguished Florida judge named G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. The appointment was part of Nixon’s “Southern Strategy”: Carswell billed himself as a “strict constructionist,” code at the time for opposing civil rights and supporting tough-on-crime rulings.
The nomination quickly encountered trouble, in part because of Carswell’s earlier unabashed defenses of segregationism. But it also became increasingly clear that Carswell just wasn’t that smart.
In a bid to salvage the nomination, Nebraska senator Roman Hruska, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, informed the press, “There are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren’t they? We can’t have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos and stuff like that there.”
The damning praise from the judge’s most prominent supporter effectively killed the nomination.”
KC Johnson,
Professor of history at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, teaching classes in 20th century US political, constitutional, and diplomatic history. In 2007-8, Fulbright Distinguished Chair for the Humanities at Tel Aviv University
A follow-up thought:
One of the most memorable uses of the strategy of attacking the well educated and the brightest among us as “elitists” was employed by Republican US Senator Roman Hruska in the defense of Harrold Carswell who was nominated by Richard Nixon for a seat on the US Supreme Court as the following article notes:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 02, 2007
Channeling Roman Hruska
“In 1970, Richard Nixon nominated an undistinguished Florida judge named G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. The appointment was part of Nixon’s “Southern Strategy”: Carswell billed himself as a “strict constructionist,” code at the time for opposing civil rights and supporting tough-on-crime rulings.
The nomination quickly encountered trouble, in part because of Carswell’s earlier unabashed defenses of segregationism. But it also became increasingly clear that Carswell just wasn’t that smart.
In a bid to salvage the nomination, Nebraska senator Roman Hruska, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, informed the press, “There are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren’t they? We can’t have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos and stuff like that there.”
The damning praise from the judge’s most prominent supporter effectively killed the nomination.”
KC Johnson,
Professor of history at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, teaching classes in 20th century US political, constitutional, and diplomatic history. In 2007-8, Fulbright Distinguished Chair for the Humanities at Tel Aviv University
Camp McCain and the Republicans also claim Palin is a victim of the media and “elitists.”
Umm, the NY times refused to print MC-Cain’s rebuttal to Obamas letter in their paper, which is smoking-gun proof of their Bias.
Take Barbara Walters also. Her idea of a Hardball interview with Obama was to call him “sexy” and practically jump in his pants,
while she gets very nasty with MCCain.
Camp McCain and the Republicans also claim Palin is a victim of the media and “elitists.”
Umm, the NY times refused to print MC-Cain’s rebuttal to Obamas letter in their paper, which is smoking-gun proof of their Bias.
Take Barbara Walters also. Her idea of a Hardball interview with Obama was to call him “sexy” and practically jump in his pants,
while she gets very nasty with MCCain.
Camp McCain and the Republicans also claim Palin is a victim of the media and “elitists.”
Umm, the NY times refused to print MC-Cain’s rebuttal to Obamas letter in their paper, which is smoking-gun proof of their Bias.
Take Barbara Walters also. Her idea of a Hardball interview with Obama was to call him “sexy” and practically jump in his pants,
while she gets very nasty with MCCain.
Camp McCain and the Republicans also claim Palin is a victim of the media and “elitists.”
Umm, the NY times refused to print MC-Cain’s rebuttal to Obamas letter in their paper, which is smoking-gun proof of their Bias.
Take Barbara Walters also. Her idea of a Hardball interview with Obama was to call him “sexy” and practically jump in his pants,
while she gets very nasty with MCCain.
Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history. The idea he doesn’t realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that’s the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.
And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there’s a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.
The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he’s part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.”
You are impressed with this? Dick Cheney is not the VP or P candidate here. So Biden addresses Palin and MC-Cain by attacking Cheney. What does MC-Cain/Palin have to do with Cheney?
this is Biden using Cheney as a distraction.
Secondly, the fact that the VP breaks a tie in the senate shows their is some role for him there. The VP is listening in on the senate every Tuesday.
Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history. The idea he doesn’t realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that’s the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.
And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there’s a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.
The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he’s part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.”
You are impressed with this? Dick Cheney is not the VP or P candidate here. So Biden addresses Palin and MC-Cain by attacking Cheney. What does MC-Cain/Palin have to do with Cheney?
this is Biden using Cheney as a distraction.
Secondly, the fact that the VP breaks a tie in the senate shows their is some role for him there. The VP is listening in on the senate every Tuesday.
Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history. The idea he doesn’t realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that’s the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.
And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there’s a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.
The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he’s part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.”
You are impressed with this? Dick Cheney is not the VP or P candidate here. So Biden addresses Palin and MC-Cain by attacking Cheney. What does MC-Cain/Palin have to do with Cheney?
this is Biden using Cheney as a distraction.
Secondly, the fact that the VP breaks a tie in the senate shows their is some role for him there. The VP is listening in on the senate every Tuesday.
Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history. The idea he doesn’t realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that’s the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.
And the primary role of the vice president of the United States of America is to support the president of the United States of America, give that president his or her best judgment when sought, and as vice president, to preside over the Senate, only in a time when in fact there’s a tie vote. The Constitution is explicit.
The only authority the vice president has from the legislative standpoint is the vote, only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea he’s part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us. It has been very dangerous.”
You are impressed with this? Dick Cheney is not the VP or P candidate here. So Biden addresses Palin and MC-Cain by attacking Cheney. What does MC-Cain/Palin have to do with Cheney?
this is Biden using Cheney as a distraction.
Secondly, the fact that the VP breaks a tie in the senate shows their is some role for him there. The VP is listening in on the senate every Tuesday.
Responding to:
What? said…. @ 10/4/08 1:10 PM:
“Dick Cheney is not the VP or P candidate here. So Biden addresses Palin and MC-Cain by attacking Cheney. What does MC-Cain/Palin have to do with Cheney?”
What? You can’t be serious.
McCain/Palin enthusiastically supported George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for president and vice-president in 2000 and 2004. They have enthusiastically supported the Bush/Cheney administration on every major policy decision made to date during the past eight years, foreign or domestic. They have not separated themselves from Bush/Cheney.
As Joe Biden said in the debate “facts matter” and the current Bush/Cheney administration’s actions are the “prologue” to what McCain/Palin are offering, which is a third term for the policies of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.
Bottom line: if you like what has occurred during the past 8 years vote for McCain/Palin. If you want authentic change which will improve our lives at home and repair our relationships abroad, vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Responding to:
What? said…. @ 10/4/08 1:10 PM:
“Dick Cheney is not the VP or P candidate here. So Biden addresses Palin and MC-Cain by attacking Cheney. What does MC-Cain/Palin have to do with Cheney?”
What? You can’t be serious.
McCain/Palin enthusiastically supported George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for president and vice-president in 2000 and 2004. They have enthusiastically supported the Bush/Cheney administration on every major policy decision made to date during the past eight years, foreign or domestic. They have not separated themselves from Bush/Cheney.
As Joe Biden said in the debate “facts matter” and the current Bush/Cheney administration’s actions are the “prologue” to what McCain/Palin are offering, which is a third term for the policies of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.
Bottom line: if you like what has occurred during the past 8 years vote for McCain/Palin. If you want authentic change which will improve our lives at home and repair our relationships abroad, vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Responding to:
What? said…. @ 10/4/08 1:10 PM:
“Dick Cheney is not the VP or P candidate here. So Biden addresses Palin and MC-Cain by attacking Cheney. What does MC-Cain/Palin have to do with Cheney?”
What? You can’t be serious.
McCain/Palin enthusiastically supported George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for president and vice-president in 2000 and 2004. They have enthusiastically supported the Bush/Cheney administration on every major policy decision made to date during the past eight years, foreign or domestic. They have not separated themselves from Bush/Cheney.
As Joe Biden said in the debate “facts matter” and the current Bush/Cheney administration’s actions are the “prologue” to what McCain/Palin are offering, which is a third term for the policies of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.
Bottom line: if you like what has occurred during the past 8 years vote for McCain/Palin. If you want authentic change which will improve our lives at home and repair our relationships abroad, vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Responding to:
What? said…. @ 10/4/08 1:10 PM:
“Dick Cheney is not the VP or P candidate here. So Biden addresses Palin and MC-Cain by attacking Cheney. What does MC-Cain/Palin have to do with Cheney?”
What? You can’t be serious.
McCain/Palin enthusiastically supported George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for president and vice-president in 2000 and 2004. They have enthusiastically supported the Bush/Cheney administration on every major policy decision made to date during the past eight years, foreign or domestic. They have not separated themselves from Bush/Cheney.
As Joe Biden said in the debate “facts matter” and the current Bush/Cheney administration’s actions are the “prologue” to what McCain/Palin are offering, which is a third term for the policies of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.
Bottom line: if you like what has occurred during the past 8 years vote for McCain/Palin. If you want authentic change which will improve our lives at home and repair our relationships abroad, vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Responding to:
Excuse me? said…. @ 10/4/08 12:59:
“Umm, the NY times refused to print MC-Cain’s rebuttal to Obamas letter in their paper, which is smoking-gun proof of their Bias.
Take Barbara Walters also. Her idea of a Hardball interview with Obama was to call him “sexy” and practically jump in his pants, while she gets very nasty with MCCain.”
Excuse me? Are you kidding me?
You need to get back to watching Fox (Faux) News and listening to Rush Limbaugh and friends spew forth their nonsense.
The rest of us will continue to read one respected conservative columnist or opinion leader after another state they have had enough with the mediocrity of the McCain/Palin candidacies.
Recently columnist George Will has stated: “Sarah Palin is ‘obviously not qualified to be President,’ he remarked, describing her interview on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric as a ‘disaster.’ Will has already been critical of the other half of the Republican ticket, calling McCain’s handling of the financial crisis ‘un-presidential’ just one week ago. And in offering his take on Palin, the longtime Washington scribe becomes the latest in a list of respected conservative figures who have now soured on the Palin pick.”
“Last week, Kathleen Parker of the National Review penned a column calling on the Alaska Governor to be dropped from the ticket. New York Time’s columnist David Brooks and former Bush speechwriter David Frum have also expressed their doubts about Palin’s capacity for the vice presidential post.”
“Will, who had also been previously critical of McCain’s choice of Palin, writing a week after it was announced: ‘The man who would be the oldest to embark on a first presidential term has chosen as his possible successor a person of negligible experience.'”
“One week ago, meanwhile, Will penned a blistering op-ed about McCain, accusing him of practicing ‘fact-free slander,’ holding a ‘Manichaean worldview,’ and ‘characteristically substituting vehemence for coherence.'”
Even Charles Krauthammer said a few days ago: “Obama has got both a first-class intellect and a first-class temperament. That will likely be enough to make him president.”
Responding to:
Excuse me? said…. @ 10/4/08 12:59:
“Umm, the NY times refused to print MC-Cain’s rebuttal to Obamas letter in their paper, which is smoking-gun proof of their Bias.
Take Barbara Walters also. Her idea of a Hardball interview with Obama was to call him “sexy” and practically jump in his pants, while she gets very nasty with MCCain.”
Excuse me? Are you kidding me?
You need to get back to watching Fox (Faux) News and listening to Rush Limbaugh and friends spew forth their nonsense.
The rest of us will continue to read one respected conservative columnist or opinion leader after another state they have had enough with the mediocrity of the McCain/Palin candidacies.
Recently columnist George Will has stated: “Sarah Palin is ‘obviously not qualified to be President,’ he remarked, describing her interview on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric as a ‘disaster.’ Will has already been critical of the other half of the Republican ticket, calling McCain’s handling of the financial crisis ‘un-presidential’ just one week ago. And in offering his take on Palin, the longtime Washington scribe becomes the latest in a list of respected conservative figures who have now soured on the Palin pick.”
“Last week, Kathleen Parker of the National Review penned a column calling on the Alaska Governor to be dropped from the ticket. New York Time’s columnist David Brooks and former Bush speechwriter David Frum have also expressed their doubts about Palin’s capacity for the vice presidential post.”
“Will, who had also been previously critical of McCain’s choice of Palin, writing a week after it was announced: ‘The man who would be the oldest to embark on a first presidential term has chosen as his possible successor a person of negligible experience.'”
“One week ago, meanwhile, Will penned a blistering op-ed about McCain, accusing him of practicing ‘fact-free slander,’ holding a ‘Manichaean worldview,’ and ‘characteristically substituting vehemence for coherence.'”
Even Charles Krauthammer said a few days ago: “Obama has got both a first-class intellect and a first-class temperament. That will likely be enough to make him president.”
Responding to:
Excuse me? said…. @ 10/4/08 12:59:
“Umm, the NY times refused to print MC-Cain’s rebuttal to Obamas letter in their paper, which is smoking-gun proof of their Bias.
Take Barbara Walters also. Her idea of a Hardball interview with Obama was to call him “sexy” and practically jump in his pants, while she gets very nasty with MCCain.”
Excuse me? Are you kidding me?
You need to get back to watching Fox (Faux) News and listening to Rush Limbaugh and friends spew forth their nonsense.
The rest of us will continue to read one respected conservative columnist or opinion leader after another state they have had enough with the mediocrity of the McCain/Palin candidacies.
Recently columnist George Will has stated: “Sarah Palin is ‘obviously not qualified to be President,’ he remarked, describing her interview on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric as a ‘disaster.’ Will has already been critical of the other half of the Republican ticket, calling McCain’s handling of the financial crisis ‘un-presidential’ just one week ago. And in offering his take on Palin, the longtime Washington scribe becomes the latest in a list of respected conservative figures who have now soured on the Palin pick.”
“Last week, Kathleen Parker of the National Review penned a column calling on the Alaska Governor to be dropped from the ticket. New York Time’s columnist David Brooks and former Bush speechwriter David Frum have also expressed their doubts about Palin’s capacity for the vice presidential post.”
“Will, who had also been previously critical of McCain’s choice of Palin, writing a week after it was announced: ‘The man who would be the oldest to embark on a first presidential term has chosen as his possible successor a person of negligible experience.'”
“One week ago, meanwhile, Will penned a blistering op-ed about McCain, accusing him of practicing ‘fact-free slander,’ holding a ‘Manichaean worldview,’ and ‘characteristically substituting vehemence for coherence.'”
Even Charles Krauthammer said a few days ago: “Obama has got both a first-class intellect and a first-class temperament. That will likely be enough to make him president.”
Responding to:
Excuse me? said…. @ 10/4/08 12:59:
“Umm, the NY times refused to print MC-Cain’s rebuttal to Obamas letter in their paper, which is smoking-gun proof of their Bias.
Take Barbara Walters also. Her idea of a Hardball interview with Obama was to call him “sexy” and practically jump in his pants, while she gets very nasty with MCCain.”
Excuse me? Are you kidding me?
You need to get back to watching Fox (Faux) News and listening to Rush Limbaugh and friends spew forth their nonsense.
The rest of us will continue to read one respected conservative columnist or opinion leader after another state they have had enough with the mediocrity of the McCain/Palin candidacies.
Recently columnist George Will has stated: “Sarah Palin is ‘obviously not qualified to be President,’ he remarked, describing her interview on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric as a ‘disaster.’ Will has already been critical of the other half of the Republican ticket, calling McCain’s handling of the financial crisis ‘un-presidential’ just one week ago. And in offering his take on Palin, the longtime Washington scribe becomes the latest in a list of respected conservative figures who have now soured on the Palin pick.”
“Last week, Kathleen Parker of the National Review penned a column calling on the Alaska Governor to be dropped from the ticket. New York Time’s columnist David Brooks and former Bush speechwriter David Frum have also expressed their doubts about Palin’s capacity for the vice presidential post.”
“Will, who had also been previously critical of McCain’s choice of Palin, writing a week after it was announced: ‘The man who would be the oldest to embark on a first presidential term has chosen as his possible successor a person of negligible experience.'”
“One week ago, meanwhile, Will penned a blistering op-ed about McCain, accusing him of practicing ‘fact-free slander,’ holding a ‘Manichaean worldview,’ and ‘characteristically substituting vehemence for coherence.'”
Even Charles Krauthammer said a few days ago: “Obama has got both a first-class intellect and a first-class temperament. That will likely be enough to make him president.”
If she doesn’t give us a lot of substance, then unfortunately some of us are left to wonder more openly, “is it her looks and charm that we’re supposed to respond to?”
Gee, now where has that ever happened before? Umm, sounds kind of familiar!
How about the man who happens to be running for president on the Democratic ticket right now?
someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer” and “Ive been in the senate for less than 200 days”
but he says “hope” and change!!!
but he has a nice smile!!!
he looks like MLK!!!!!
and Barbara Walters thinks he’s sexy!!!!!!!
well then, he’s got my vote!!
NOOOTTTT!!!!!
excuse me, but you liberals are the most hollow people I know.
If she doesn’t give us a lot of substance, then unfortunately some of us are left to wonder more openly, “is it her looks and charm that we’re supposed to respond to?”
Gee, now where has that ever happened before? Umm, sounds kind of familiar!
How about the man who happens to be running for president on the Democratic ticket right now?
someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer” and “Ive been in the senate for less than 200 days”
but he says “hope” and change!!!
but he has a nice smile!!!
he looks like MLK!!!!!
and Barbara Walters thinks he’s sexy!!!!!!!
well then, he’s got my vote!!
NOOOTTTT!!!!!
excuse me, but you liberals are the most hollow people I know.
If she doesn’t give us a lot of substance, then unfortunately some of us are left to wonder more openly, “is it her looks and charm that we’re supposed to respond to?”
Gee, now where has that ever happened before? Umm, sounds kind of familiar!
How about the man who happens to be running for president on the Democratic ticket right now?
someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer” and “Ive been in the senate for less than 200 days”
but he says “hope” and change!!!
but he has a nice smile!!!
he looks like MLK!!!!!
and Barbara Walters thinks he’s sexy!!!!!!!
well then, he’s got my vote!!
NOOOTTTT!!!!!
excuse me, but you liberals are the most hollow people I know.
If she doesn’t give us a lot of substance, then unfortunately some of us are left to wonder more openly, “is it her looks and charm that we’re supposed to respond to?”
Gee, now where has that ever happened before? Umm, sounds kind of familiar!
How about the man who happens to be running for president on the Democratic ticket right now?
someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer” and “Ive been in the senate for less than 200 days”
but he says “hope” and change!!!
but he has a nice smile!!!
he looks like MLK!!!!!
and Barbara Walters thinks he’s sexy!!!!!!!
well then, he’s got my vote!!
NOOOTTTT!!!!!
excuse me, but you liberals are the most hollow people I know.
sound familiar?
Nope. Obama, Biden, and McCain could all answer the question, what specific magazines or newspapers do you read to stay up on current events?
She could have even memorized that answer and most people would have been happy.
Obama, Biden, and McCain could all answer an equivalent question, what Supreme court cases besides Roe v. Wade do you have a problem with?
Gee, now where has that ever happened before? Umm, sounds kind of familiar!
How about the man who happens to be running for president on the Democratic ticket right now?
Not at all.
sound familiar?
Nope. Obama, Biden, and McCain could all answer the question, what specific magazines or newspapers do you read to stay up on current events?
She could have even memorized that answer and most people would have been happy.
Obama, Biden, and McCain could all answer an equivalent question, what Supreme court cases besides Roe v. Wade do you have a problem with?
Gee, now where has that ever happened before? Umm, sounds kind of familiar!
How about the man who happens to be running for president on the Democratic ticket right now?
Not at all.
sound familiar?
Nope. Obama, Biden, and McCain could all answer the question, what specific magazines or newspapers do you read to stay up on current events?
She could have even memorized that answer and most people would have been happy.
Obama, Biden, and McCain could all answer an equivalent question, what Supreme court cases besides Roe v. Wade do you have a problem with?
Gee, now where has that ever happened before? Umm, sounds kind of familiar!
How about the man who happens to be running for president on the Democratic ticket right now?
Not at all.
sound familiar?
Nope. Obama, Biden, and McCain could all answer the question, what specific magazines or newspapers do you read to stay up on current events?
She could have even memorized that answer and most people would have been happy.
Obama, Biden, and McCain could all answer an equivalent question, what Supreme court cases besides Roe v. Wade do you have a problem with?
Gee, now where has that ever happened before? Umm, sounds kind of familiar!
How about the man who happens to be running for president on the Democratic ticket right now?
Not at all.
We’re just seeing another Republican celebration of ignorance.
I want my candidate to be smarter than I am foreign and domestic affairs. Just like I want my brain surgeon to be smarter than I am about brain surgery.
I want my plumber to be smarter than I am about plumbing.
What’s wrong with that? I don’t see it as elitist. It’s just common sense!
We’re just seeing another Republican celebration of ignorance.
I want my candidate to be smarter than I am foreign and domestic affairs. Just like I want my brain surgeon to be smarter than I am about brain surgery.
I want my plumber to be smarter than I am about plumbing.
What’s wrong with that? I don’t see it as elitist. It’s just common sense!
We’re just seeing another Republican celebration of ignorance.
I want my candidate to be smarter than I am foreign and domestic affairs. Just like I want my brain surgeon to be smarter than I am about brain surgery.
I want my plumber to be smarter than I am about plumbing.
What’s wrong with that? I don’t see it as elitist. It’s just common sense!
We’re just seeing another Republican celebration of ignorance.
I want my candidate to be smarter than I am foreign and domestic affairs. Just like I want my brain surgeon to be smarter than I am about brain surgery.
I want my plumber to be smarter than I am about plumbing.
What’s wrong with that? I don’t see it as elitist. It’s just common sense!
“If Sarah Palin were a man, her career as a VP nominee would have been over 5 weeks ago. Amazing that we allow such ineptitude to masquerade as a viable candidate.”
I don’t think male or female makes the difference in her treatment. Ultimately, when it became clear that Dan Quayle was a dunce, he was dismissed. I don’t know if Palin is a dunce, but she has not demonstrated to my satisfaction an ability to smartly articulate her positions and think on her feet. As someone who voted for McCain in the 2000 primary, his choice of Palin disappoints me.
“If Sarah Palin were a man, her career as a VP nominee would have been over 5 weeks ago. Amazing that we allow such ineptitude to masquerade as a viable candidate.”
I don’t think male or female makes the difference in her treatment. Ultimately, when it became clear that Dan Quayle was a dunce, he was dismissed. I don’t know if Palin is a dunce, but she has not demonstrated to my satisfaction an ability to smartly articulate her positions and think on her feet. As someone who voted for McCain in the 2000 primary, his choice of Palin disappoints me.
“If Sarah Palin were a man, her career as a VP nominee would have been over 5 weeks ago. Amazing that we allow such ineptitude to masquerade as a viable candidate.”
I don’t think male or female makes the difference in her treatment. Ultimately, when it became clear that Dan Quayle was a dunce, he was dismissed. I don’t know if Palin is a dunce, but she has not demonstrated to my satisfaction an ability to smartly articulate her positions and think on her feet. As someone who voted for McCain in the 2000 primary, his choice of Palin disappoints me.
“If Sarah Palin were a man, her career as a VP nominee would have been over 5 weeks ago. Amazing that we allow such ineptitude to masquerade as a viable candidate.”
I don’t think male or female makes the difference in her treatment. Ultimately, when it became clear that Dan Quayle was a dunce, he was dismissed. I don’t know if Palin is a dunce, but she has not demonstrated to my satisfaction an ability to smartly articulate her positions and think on her feet. As someone who voted for McCain in the 2000 primary, his choice of Palin disappoints me.
“Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history.”
I will assume for the moment that you are unaware of the activities of Thomas Jefferson when he was VP, as TJ was objectively the “most dangerous” VP.* That said, while the positions and activities of Dick Cheney as VP can roundly be criticized — I think history will judge him very harshly, but that is still a long ways off — is the power Mr. Cheney has exercised the fault of anyone other than GW Bush? I don’t think so.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think Cheney has acted in a way that President Bush either did not agree with or did not authorize him to do so. Cheney’s actions have been in support of the policies desired by the man he works for. Even if Cheney’s counsel has been terribly unwise, it is the counsel that the president wanted from his VP.
In other words, don’t blame Cheney for Bush giving the vice president a lot of power: blame Bush (and by extension, those of us who voted for the idiot).
Vice President Gore had a lot of authority granted to him by President Clinton. Because Gore’s decisions were in line with the president’s goals and because Gore’s decisions did not (as far as I know) result in any disasters — the same cannot be said for Cheney — Gore’s great degree of power as VP is seen as non-controversial.
My take is that as long as we have a smart president who is capable of handling all of his advisors and using them to advance his agenda (and not their agendas), it doesn’t matter if the president grants great powers to the VP (or his wife, as Bill Clinton also did). What matters is the capacity of the president to lead.
Based on his 7.5 years in the White House, I am terribly unconvinced that the village idiot from Texas has that capacity.
—
If McCain is elected, my guess is that he will not give Palin much authority, and hence she will be the typical “weak power” VP. Heaven help us if old man McCain dies in office.
* I recommend you read David McCullough’s book — which is not a balanced account but lays out the facts well — called “John Adams,” to understand the mischieviousness of Jefferson when he was Adams’s VP. Also, to get a fair idea of Jefferson’s character, I recommend reading “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow, which is a fairer treatment of Thomas Jefferson.
“Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history.”
I will assume for the moment that you are unaware of the activities of Thomas Jefferson when he was VP, as TJ was objectively the “most dangerous” VP.* That said, while the positions and activities of Dick Cheney as VP can roundly be criticized — I think history will judge him very harshly, but that is still a long ways off — is the power Mr. Cheney has exercised the fault of anyone other than GW Bush? I don’t think so.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think Cheney has acted in a way that President Bush either did not agree with or did not authorize him to do so. Cheney’s actions have been in support of the policies desired by the man he works for. Even if Cheney’s counsel has been terribly unwise, it is the counsel that the president wanted from his VP.
In other words, don’t blame Cheney for Bush giving the vice president a lot of power: blame Bush (and by extension, those of us who voted for the idiot).
Vice President Gore had a lot of authority granted to him by President Clinton. Because Gore’s decisions were in line with the president’s goals and because Gore’s decisions did not (as far as I know) result in any disasters — the same cannot be said for Cheney — Gore’s great degree of power as VP is seen as non-controversial.
My take is that as long as we have a smart president who is capable of handling all of his advisors and using them to advance his agenda (and not their agendas), it doesn’t matter if the president grants great powers to the VP (or his wife, as Bill Clinton also did). What matters is the capacity of the president to lead.
Based on his 7.5 years in the White House, I am terribly unconvinced that the village idiot from Texas has that capacity.
—
If McCain is elected, my guess is that he will not give Palin much authority, and hence she will be the typical “weak power” VP. Heaven help us if old man McCain dies in office.
* I recommend you read David McCullough’s book — which is not a balanced account but lays out the facts well — called “John Adams,” to understand the mischieviousness of Jefferson when he was Adams’s VP. Also, to get a fair idea of Jefferson’s character, I recommend reading “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow, which is a fairer treatment of Thomas Jefferson.
“Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history.”
I will assume for the moment that you are unaware of the activities of Thomas Jefferson when he was VP, as TJ was objectively the “most dangerous” VP.* That said, while the positions and activities of Dick Cheney as VP can roundly be criticized — I think history will judge him very harshly, but that is still a long ways off — is the power Mr. Cheney has exercised the fault of anyone other than GW Bush? I don’t think so.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think Cheney has acted in a way that President Bush either did not agree with or did not authorize him to do so. Cheney’s actions have been in support of the policies desired by the man he works for. Even if Cheney’s counsel has been terribly unwise, it is the counsel that the president wanted from his VP.
In other words, don’t blame Cheney for Bush giving the vice president a lot of power: blame Bush (and by extension, those of us who voted for the idiot).
Vice President Gore had a lot of authority granted to him by President Clinton. Because Gore’s decisions were in line with the president’s goals and because Gore’s decisions did not (as far as I know) result in any disasters — the same cannot be said for Cheney — Gore’s great degree of power as VP is seen as non-controversial.
My take is that as long as we have a smart president who is capable of handling all of his advisors and using them to advance his agenda (and not their agendas), it doesn’t matter if the president grants great powers to the VP (or his wife, as Bill Clinton also did). What matters is the capacity of the president to lead.
Based on his 7.5 years in the White House, I am terribly unconvinced that the village idiot from Texas has that capacity.
—
If McCain is elected, my guess is that he will not give Palin much authority, and hence she will be the typical “weak power” VP. Heaven help us if old man McCain dies in office.
* I recommend you read David McCullough’s book — which is not a balanced account but lays out the facts well — called “John Adams,” to understand the mischieviousness of Jefferson when he was Adams’s VP. Also, to get a fair idea of Jefferson’s character, I recommend reading “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow, which is a fairer treatment of Thomas Jefferson.
“Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history.”
I will assume for the moment that you are unaware of the activities of Thomas Jefferson when he was VP, as TJ was objectively the “most dangerous” VP.* That said, while the positions and activities of Dick Cheney as VP can roundly be criticized — I think history will judge him very harshly, but that is still a long ways off — is the power Mr. Cheney has exercised the fault of anyone other than GW Bush? I don’t think so.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think Cheney has acted in a way that President Bush either did not agree with or did not authorize him to do so. Cheney’s actions have been in support of the policies desired by the man he works for. Even if Cheney’s counsel has been terribly unwise, it is the counsel that the president wanted from his VP.
In other words, don’t blame Cheney for Bush giving the vice president a lot of power: blame Bush (and by extension, those of us who voted for the idiot).
Vice President Gore had a lot of authority granted to him by President Clinton. Because Gore’s decisions were in line with the president’s goals and because Gore’s decisions did not (as far as I know) result in any disasters — the same cannot be said for Cheney — Gore’s great degree of power as VP is seen as non-controversial.
My take is that as long as we have a smart president who is capable of handling all of his advisors and using them to advance his agenda (and not their agendas), it doesn’t matter if the president grants great powers to the VP (or his wife, as Bill Clinton also did). What matters is the capacity of the president to lead.
Based on his 7.5 years in the White House, I am terribly unconvinced that the village idiot from Texas has that capacity.
—
If McCain is elected, my guess is that he will not give Palin much authority, and hence she will be the typical “weak power” VP. Heaven help us if old man McCain dies in office.
* I recommend you read David McCullough’s book — which is not a balanced account but lays out the facts well — called “John Adams,” to understand the mischieviousness of Jefferson when he was Adams’s VP. Also, to get a fair idea of Jefferson’s character, I recommend reading “Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow, which is a fairer treatment of Thomas Jefferson.
According to pure actuarial statistics, there is a 1 in 5 chance, that McCain will not live out his first term and that Palin will be President of the USA. If you include disabling medical problems for a 73+ male, the liklihood increases significantly. Incumbents usually win a second term and the likelihood that VP Palin will be President increases dramatically as a result of McCain’s death or incapacitation(he’ll be pushing 80 in his second term).
According to pure actuarial statistics, there is a 1 in 5 chance, that McCain will not live out his first term and that Palin will be President of the USA. If you include disabling medical problems for a 73+ male, the liklihood increases significantly. Incumbents usually win a second term and the likelihood that VP Palin will be President increases dramatically as a result of McCain’s death or incapacitation(he’ll be pushing 80 in his second term).
According to pure actuarial statistics, there is a 1 in 5 chance, that McCain will not live out his first term and that Palin will be President of the USA. If you include disabling medical problems for a 73+ male, the liklihood increases significantly. Incumbents usually win a second term and the likelihood that VP Palin will be President increases dramatically as a result of McCain’s death or incapacitation(he’ll be pushing 80 in his second term).
According to pure actuarial statistics, there is a 1 in 5 chance, that McCain will not live out his first term and that Palin will be President of the USA. If you include disabling medical problems for a 73+ male, the liklihood increases significantly. Incumbents usually win a second term and the likelihood that VP Palin will be President increases dramatically as a result of McCain’s death or incapacitation(he’ll be pushing 80 in his second term).
You Democrats wouldn’t scrutinize Palin if she were a male. How much experience did the other Governors that McCain was considering have? Palin and Biden both did well. Just admit it.
You Democrats wouldn’t scrutinize Palin if she were a male. How much experience did the other Governors that McCain was considering have? Palin and Biden both did well. Just admit it.
You Democrats wouldn’t scrutinize Palin if she were a male. How much experience did the other Governors that McCain was considering have? Palin and Biden both did well. Just admit it.
You Democrats wouldn’t scrutinize Palin if she were a male. How much experience did the other Governors that McCain was considering have? Palin and Biden both did well. Just admit it.
“According to pure actuarial statistics, there is a 1 in 5 chance, that McCain will not live out his first term and that Palin will be President of the USA.”
Out of curiousity, does that factor into account the longevity of McCain’s mother, who is still kicking (and appears to be mentally sharp) at age 96.5? I suppose it should also consider the death of McCain’s father at 70. Yet the senator’s father was a drunk, an affliction his son did not inherit, and that I am sure led to Sen. McCain’s dad’s early death.
“According to pure actuarial statistics, there is a 1 in 5 chance, that McCain will not live out his first term and that Palin will be President of the USA.”
Out of curiousity, does that factor into account the longevity of McCain’s mother, who is still kicking (and appears to be mentally sharp) at age 96.5? I suppose it should also consider the death of McCain’s father at 70. Yet the senator’s father was a drunk, an affliction his son did not inherit, and that I am sure led to Sen. McCain’s dad’s early death.
“According to pure actuarial statistics, there is a 1 in 5 chance, that McCain will not live out his first term and that Palin will be President of the USA.”
Out of curiousity, does that factor into account the longevity of McCain’s mother, who is still kicking (and appears to be mentally sharp) at age 96.5? I suppose it should also consider the death of McCain’s father at 70. Yet the senator’s father was a drunk, an affliction his son did not inherit, and that I am sure led to Sen. McCain’s dad’s early death.
“According to pure actuarial statistics, there is a 1 in 5 chance, that McCain will not live out his first term and that Palin will be President of the USA.”
Out of curiousity, does that factor into account the longevity of McCain’s mother, who is still kicking (and appears to be mentally sharp) at age 96.5? I suppose it should also consider the death of McCain’s father at 70. Yet the senator’s father was a drunk, an affliction his son did not inherit, and that I am sure led to Sen. McCain’s dad’s early death.
“You Democrats wouldn’t scrutinize Palin if she were a male. How much experience did the other Governors that McCain was considering have? Palin and Biden both did well. Just admit it.”
Dan Quayle got plenty of similar scrutiny. As far as I know, he was male.
“You Democrats wouldn’t scrutinize Palin if she were a male. How much experience did the other Governors that McCain was considering have? Palin and Biden both did well. Just admit it.”
Dan Quayle got plenty of similar scrutiny. As far as I know, he was male.
“You Democrats wouldn’t scrutinize Palin if she were a male. How much experience did the other Governors that McCain was considering have? Palin and Biden both did well. Just admit it.”
Dan Quayle got plenty of similar scrutiny. As far as I know, he was male.
“You Democrats wouldn’t scrutinize Palin if she were a male. How much experience did the other Governors that McCain was considering have? Palin and Biden both did well. Just admit it.”
Dan Quayle got plenty of similar scrutiny. As far as I know, he was male.
Sarah Palin has no substance DPD. Thank you for pointing this out. Anyone who is paying attention can clearly see that there is absolutely no comparison between Palin and Obama, or Palin and Biden.
Excuse me Sound Familiar at 2:18, but what planet are you on?
You said that, “someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer” and “Ive been in the senate for less than 200 days” but he says “hope” and change!!!
Remember, Obama’s community service as a “community organizer” was approximately 20 years ago when he graduated from Harvard Law School as the Law Review Editor. He was also in the legislature.
You then go on to say, “he looks like MLK!!!!!”
Are you saying that all Black people look alike? He looks nothing like MLK other than the fact that he is Black and MLK was a darker shade of Black.
That’s about crazy as saying that Sarah Palin looks like the former Diana Princess of Wales!
Thank you for showing us that you pay attention to “detail.”
Sarah Palin has no substance DPD. Thank you for pointing this out. Anyone who is paying attention can clearly see that there is absolutely no comparison between Palin and Obama, or Palin and Biden.
Excuse me Sound Familiar at 2:18, but what planet are you on?
You said that, “someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer” and “Ive been in the senate for less than 200 days” but he says “hope” and change!!!
Remember, Obama’s community service as a “community organizer” was approximately 20 years ago when he graduated from Harvard Law School as the Law Review Editor. He was also in the legislature.
You then go on to say, “he looks like MLK!!!!!”
Are you saying that all Black people look alike? He looks nothing like MLK other than the fact that he is Black and MLK was a darker shade of Black.
That’s about crazy as saying that Sarah Palin looks like the former Diana Princess of Wales!
Thank you for showing us that you pay attention to “detail.”
Sarah Palin has no substance DPD. Thank you for pointing this out. Anyone who is paying attention can clearly see that there is absolutely no comparison between Palin and Obama, or Palin and Biden.
Excuse me Sound Familiar at 2:18, but what planet are you on?
You said that, “someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer” and “Ive been in the senate for less than 200 days” but he says “hope” and change!!!
Remember, Obama’s community service as a “community organizer” was approximately 20 years ago when he graduated from Harvard Law School as the Law Review Editor. He was also in the legislature.
You then go on to say, “he looks like MLK!!!!!”
Are you saying that all Black people look alike? He looks nothing like MLK other than the fact that he is Black and MLK was a darker shade of Black.
That’s about crazy as saying that Sarah Palin looks like the former Diana Princess of Wales!
Thank you for showing us that you pay attention to “detail.”
Sarah Palin has no substance DPD. Thank you for pointing this out. Anyone who is paying attention can clearly see that there is absolutely no comparison between Palin and Obama, or Palin and Biden.
Excuse me Sound Familiar at 2:18, but what planet are you on?
You said that, “someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer” and “Ive been in the senate for less than 200 days” but he says “hope” and change!!!
Remember, Obama’s community service as a “community organizer” was approximately 20 years ago when he graduated from Harvard Law School as the Law Review Editor. He was also in the legislature.
You then go on to say, “he looks like MLK!!!!!”
Are you saying that all Black people look alike? He looks nothing like MLK other than the fact that he is Black and MLK was a darker shade of Black.
That’s about crazy as saying that Sarah Palin looks like the former Diana Princess of Wales!
Thank you for showing us that you pay attention to “detail.”
“Out of curiousity, does that factor into account the longevity of McCain’s mother, who is still kicking (and appears to be mentally sharp) at age 96.5?”
I believe that the 20% chance that McCain will not live out his first term is based upon his age and gender.
As for his mother’s “sharpness” at 96, this is highly unlikely if measured by the ability to process new information. This is what is
invariably lost as we age while the ability to speak coherently about things that we know very well is the last to go,hence the proverbial saying,”you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.
It is clear that McCain has lost a mental “step or two” since we last saw him on the presidential campaign trail 8 yrs. ago when he was 64.
“Out of curiousity, does that factor into account the longevity of McCain’s mother, who is still kicking (and appears to be mentally sharp) at age 96.5?”
I believe that the 20% chance that McCain will not live out his first term is based upon his age and gender.
As for his mother’s “sharpness” at 96, this is highly unlikely if measured by the ability to process new information. This is what is
invariably lost as we age while the ability to speak coherently about things that we know very well is the last to go,hence the proverbial saying,”you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.
It is clear that McCain has lost a mental “step or two” since we last saw him on the presidential campaign trail 8 yrs. ago when he was 64.
“Out of curiousity, does that factor into account the longevity of McCain’s mother, who is still kicking (and appears to be mentally sharp) at age 96.5?”
I believe that the 20% chance that McCain will not live out his first term is based upon his age and gender.
As for his mother’s “sharpness” at 96, this is highly unlikely if measured by the ability to process new information. This is what is
invariably lost as we age while the ability to speak coherently about things that we know very well is the last to go,hence the proverbial saying,”you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.
It is clear that McCain has lost a mental “step or two” since we last saw him on the presidential campaign trail 8 yrs. ago when he was 64.
“Out of curiousity, does that factor into account the longevity of McCain’s mother, who is still kicking (and appears to be mentally sharp) at age 96.5?”
I believe that the 20% chance that McCain will not live out his first term is based upon his age and gender.
As for his mother’s “sharpness” at 96, this is highly unlikely if measured by the ability to process new information. This is what is
invariably lost as we age while the ability to speak coherently about things that we know very well is the last to go,hence the proverbial saying,”you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.
It is clear that McCain has lost a mental “step or two” since we last saw him on the presidential campaign trail 8 yrs. ago when he was 64.
“someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer”
I saw this bumber sticker in Davis a week ago. It’s clever.
“someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer”
I saw this bumber sticker in Davis a week ago. It’s clever.
“someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer”
I saw this bumber sticker in Davis a week ago. It’s clever.
“someone who’s job qualifications are “community organizer”
I saw this bumber sticker in Davis a week ago. It’s clever.
“It is clear that McCain has lost a mental “step or two” since we last saw him on the presidential campaign trail 8 yrs. ago when he was 64.”
What is most important in this inexorable loss of cerebral power that we will all experience as we age(if lucky enough to be still “kicking”) is one’s mental “starting point”. McCain graduated at the very bottom of his class at the Naval Academy when his brain function was physiologically at its best.
“It is clear that McCain has lost a mental “step or two” since we last saw him on the presidential campaign trail 8 yrs. ago when he was 64.”
What is most important in this inexorable loss of cerebral power that we will all experience as we age(if lucky enough to be still “kicking”) is one’s mental “starting point”. McCain graduated at the very bottom of his class at the Naval Academy when his brain function was physiologically at its best.
“It is clear that McCain has lost a mental “step or two” since we last saw him on the presidential campaign trail 8 yrs. ago when he was 64.”
What is most important in this inexorable loss of cerebral power that we will all experience as we age(if lucky enough to be still “kicking”) is one’s mental “starting point”. McCain graduated at the very bottom of his class at the Naval Academy when his brain function was physiologically at its best.
“It is clear that McCain has lost a mental “step or two” since we last saw him on the presidential campaign trail 8 yrs. ago when he was 64.”
What is most important in this inexorable loss of cerebral power that we will all experience as we age(if lucky enough to be still “kicking”) is one’s mental “starting point”. McCain graduated at the very bottom of his class at the Naval Academy when his brain function was physiologically at its best.
“Ultimately, when it became clear that Dan Quayle was a dunce, he was dismissed.”
Dismissed by the voters, you mean, in the 1992 election when his running mate lost to Bill Clinton.
GHWB never dismissed him.
“Ultimately, when it became clear that Dan Quayle was a dunce, he was dismissed.”
Dismissed by the voters, you mean, in the 1992 election when his running mate lost to Bill Clinton.
GHWB never dismissed him.
“Ultimately, when it became clear that Dan Quayle was a dunce, he was dismissed.”
Dismissed by the voters, you mean, in the 1992 election when his running mate lost to Bill Clinton.
GHWB never dismissed him.
“Ultimately, when it became clear that Dan Quayle was a dunce, he was dismissed.”
Dismissed by the voters, you mean, in the 1992 election when his running mate lost to Bill Clinton.
GHWB never dismissed him.
David Greenwald said Sarah Palin has no substance? Now heres a guy that does’nt even use his real name in his own blog. David greenwald should not be pointing to the splinter in someone’s eye and ignoring the log in his own eye.
David greenwald is a giant hypocrite and loser compared to anyone he criticises under a phony name.
David Greenwald said Sarah Palin has no substance? Now heres a guy that does’nt even use his real name in his own blog. David greenwald should not be pointing to the splinter in someone’s eye and ignoring the log in his own eye.
David greenwald is a giant hypocrite and loser compared to anyone he criticises under a phony name.
David Greenwald said Sarah Palin has no substance? Now heres a guy that does’nt even use his real name in his own blog. David greenwald should not be pointing to the splinter in someone’s eye and ignoring the log in his own eye.
David greenwald is a giant hypocrite and loser compared to anyone he criticises under a phony name.
David Greenwald said Sarah Palin has no substance? Now heres a guy that does’nt even use his real name in his own blog. David greenwald should not be pointing to the splinter in someone’s eye and ignoring the log in his own eye.
David greenwald is a giant hypocrite and loser compared to anyone he criticises under a phony name.
“David Greenwald said Sarah Palin has no substance? Now heres a guy that does’nt even use his real name in his own blog. David greenwald should not be pointing to the splinter in someone’s eye and ignoring the log in his own eye.
David greenwald is a giant hypocrite and loser compared to anyone he criticises under a phony name.”
Terrific! You’ve revealed the true identity of DPD! Finally that’s out of the way. I always thought Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were aweful books because the author didn’t use his real name.
Now what is there about Sarah Palin that makes her the best possible choice McCain could have made for VP?
Good looks? charm?
If he wanted a woman on the ticket, there were certainly better candidates with substance — Olympia Snow, Linda Lingle, Kay Hutchison are three that up immediately. But they don’t quite have Palin’s good looks.
You seem to have some insight. Please enlighten us. Because as a Republican, I think McCain has pretty much wasted this election with that choice.
“David Greenwald said Sarah Palin has no substance? Now heres a guy that does’nt even use his real name in his own blog. David greenwald should not be pointing to the splinter in someone’s eye and ignoring the log in his own eye.
David greenwald is a giant hypocrite and loser compared to anyone he criticises under a phony name.”
Terrific! You’ve revealed the true identity of DPD! Finally that’s out of the way. I always thought Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were aweful books because the author didn’t use his real name.
Now what is there about Sarah Palin that makes her the best possible choice McCain could have made for VP?
Good looks? charm?
If he wanted a woman on the ticket, there were certainly better candidates with substance — Olympia Snow, Linda Lingle, Kay Hutchison are three that up immediately. But they don’t quite have Palin’s good looks.
You seem to have some insight. Please enlighten us. Because as a Republican, I think McCain has pretty much wasted this election with that choice.
“David Greenwald said Sarah Palin has no substance? Now heres a guy that does’nt even use his real name in his own blog. David greenwald should not be pointing to the splinter in someone’s eye and ignoring the log in his own eye.
David greenwald is a giant hypocrite and loser compared to anyone he criticises under a phony name.”
Terrific! You’ve revealed the true identity of DPD! Finally that’s out of the way. I always thought Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were aweful books because the author didn’t use his real name.
Now what is there about Sarah Palin that makes her the best possible choice McCain could have made for VP?
Good looks? charm?
If he wanted a woman on the ticket, there were certainly better candidates with substance — Olympia Snow, Linda Lingle, Kay Hutchison are three that up immediately. But they don’t quite have Palin’s good looks.
You seem to have some insight. Please enlighten us. Because as a Republican, I think McCain has pretty much wasted this election with that choice.
“David Greenwald said Sarah Palin has no substance? Now heres a guy that does’nt even use his real name in his own blog. David greenwald should not be pointing to the splinter in someone’s eye and ignoring the log in his own eye.
David greenwald is a giant hypocrite and loser compared to anyone he criticises under a phony name.”
Terrific! You’ve revealed the true identity of DPD! Finally that’s out of the way. I always thought Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were aweful books because the author didn’t use his real name.
Now what is there about Sarah Palin that makes her the best possible choice McCain could have made for VP?
Good looks? charm?
If he wanted a woman on the ticket, there were certainly better candidates with substance — Olympia Snow, Linda Lingle, Kay Hutchison are three that up immediately. But they don’t quite have Palin’s good looks.
You seem to have some insight. Please enlighten us. Because as a Republican, I think McCain has pretty much wasted this election with that choice.
Sarah Palin's life performance has far more substance than do the lives of many of those attempting to invalidate her and her life. Don't let the current negative media blitz succeed in inflaming your mysogyny and ideology to the point that it trumps your common sense. When you get real, you will recognize that Sarah Palin is real! Steve & Pegi Hayes
Sarah Palin's life performance has far more substance than do the lives of many of those attempting to invalidate her and her life. Don't let the current negative media blitz succeed in inflaming your mysogyny and ideology to the point that it trumps your common sense. When you get real, you will recognize that Sarah Palin is real! Steve & Pegi Hayes
Sarah Palin's life performance has far more substance than do the lives of many of those attempting to invalidate her and her life. Don't let the current negative media blitz succeed in inflaming your mysogyny and ideology to the point that it trumps your common sense. When you get real, you will recognize that Sarah Palin is real! Steve & Pegi Hayes
Sarah Palin's life performance has far more substance than do the lives of many of those attempting to invalidate her and her life. Don't let the current negative media blitz succeed in inflaming your mysogyny and ideology to the point that it trumps your common sense. When you get real, you will recognize that Sarah Palin is real! Steve & Pegi Hayes
I’m all ears as to how her response had substance.
I’m also all about the irony that a person posting under anonymous is attacking DPD for using a pseudonym to post under his blog.
Good point about Mark Twain, let me know if you discredit the Federalist Papers because they were published under “Publius”
I’m all ears as to how her response had substance.
I’m also all about the irony that a person posting under anonymous is attacking DPD for using a pseudonym to post under his blog.
Good point about Mark Twain, let me know if you discredit the Federalist Papers because they were published under “Publius”
I’m all ears as to how her response had substance.
I’m also all about the irony that a person posting under anonymous is attacking DPD for using a pseudonym to post under his blog.
Good point about Mark Twain, let me know if you discredit the Federalist Papers because they were published under “Publius”
I’m all ears as to how her response had substance.
I’m also all about the irony that a person posting under anonymous is attacking DPD for using a pseudonym to post under his blog.
Good point about Mark Twain, let me know if you discredit the Federalist Papers because they were published under “Publius”
“Dismissed by the voters, you mean, in the 1992 election when his running mate lost to Bill Clinton. GHWB never dismissed him.”
What I meant was that Quayle was dismissed in terms of being presidential timber. He did attempt to run for the Republican nomination in 1996 and then again in 2000, but as far as I remember, DQ never made it as far as the Iowa caucuses. He tried to run on the idea that he was experienced. But because he was also stupid*, no one cared about his experience. Fortunately for GHWB in 1988, voters didn’t really care who the VP candidate was — if they had, we might have had President Dukakis.
* Stupid is probably unfair. I actually met Quayle once (in La Jolla), and he struck me as slow, not exactly stupid.
“Dismissed by the voters, you mean, in the 1992 election when his running mate lost to Bill Clinton. GHWB never dismissed him.”
What I meant was that Quayle was dismissed in terms of being presidential timber. He did attempt to run for the Republican nomination in 1996 and then again in 2000, but as far as I remember, DQ never made it as far as the Iowa caucuses. He tried to run on the idea that he was experienced. But because he was also stupid*, no one cared about his experience. Fortunately for GHWB in 1988, voters didn’t really care who the VP candidate was — if they had, we might have had President Dukakis.
* Stupid is probably unfair. I actually met Quayle once (in La Jolla), and he struck me as slow, not exactly stupid.
“Dismissed by the voters, you mean, in the 1992 election when his running mate lost to Bill Clinton. GHWB never dismissed him.”
What I meant was that Quayle was dismissed in terms of being presidential timber. He did attempt to run for the Republican nomination in 1996 and then again in 2000, but as far as I remember, DQ never made it as far as the Iowa caucuses. He tried to run on the idea that he was experienced. But because he was also stupid*, no one cared about his experience. Fortunately for GHWB in 1988, voters didn’t really care who the VP candidate was — if they had, we might have had President Dukakis.
* Stupid is probably unfair. I actually met Quayle once (in La Jolla), and he struck me as slow, not exactly stupid.
“Dismissed by the voters, you mean, in the 1992 election when his running mate lost to Bill Clinton. GHWB never dismissed him.”
What I meant was that Quayle was dismissed in terms of being presidential timber. He did attempt to run for the Republican nomination in 1996 and then again in 2000, but as far as I remember, DQ never made it as far as the Iowa caucuses. He tried to run on the idea that he was experienced. But because he was also stupid*, no one cared about his experience. Fortunately for GHWB in 1988, voters didn’t really care who the VP candidate was — if they had, we might have had President Dukakis.
* Stupid is probably unfair. I actually met Quayle once (in La Jolla), and he struck me as slow, not exactly stupid.
Some of Quayle’s genius:
I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have was that I didn’t study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people.
Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.
Space is almost infinite.
May our nation continue to be the beakon of hope to the world. — the Quayles’ 1989 Christmas card
I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.
[It’s] time for the human race to enter the solar system.
What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.
Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.
Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts.
The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation’s history. I mean in this century’s history. But we all lived in this century. I didn’t live in this century.
I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy – but that could change.
One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is “to be prepared.”
I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.
We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.
It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.
If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure.
A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.
We’re going to have the best-educated American people in the world.
People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history.
I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made.
The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make.
Some of Quayle’s genius:
I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have was that I didn’t study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people.
Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.
Space is almost infinite.
May our nation continue to be the beakon of hope to the world. — the Quayles’ 1989 Christmas card
I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.
[It’s] time for the human race to enter the solar system.
What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.
Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.
Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts.
The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation’s history. I mean in this century’s history. But we all lived in this century. I didn’t live in this century.
I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy – but that could change.
One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is “to be prepared.”
I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.
We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.
It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.
If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure.
A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.
We’re going to have the best-educated American people in the world.
People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history.
I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made.
The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make.
Some of Quayle’s genius:
I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have was that I didn’t study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people.
Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.
Space is almost infinite.
May our nation continue to be the beakon of hope to the world. — the Quayles’ 1989 Christmas card
I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.
[It’s] time for the human race to enter the solar system.
What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.
Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.
Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts.
The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation’s history. I mean in this century’s history. But we all lived in this century. I didn’t live in this century.
I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy – but that could change.
One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is “to be prepared.”
I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.
We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.
It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.
If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure.
A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.
We’re going to have the best-educated American people in the world.
People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history.
I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made.
The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make.
Some of Quayle’s genius:
I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have was that I didn’t study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people.
Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.
Space is almost infinite.
May our nation continue to be the beakon of hope to the world. — the Quayles’ 1989 Christmas card
I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.
[It’s] time for the human race to enter the solar system.
What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.
Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.
Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts.
The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation’s history. I mean in this century’s history. But we all lived in this century. I didn’t live in this century.
I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy – but that could change.
One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is “to be prepared.”
I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.
We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.
It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.
If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure.
A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.
We’re going to have the best-educated American people in the world.
People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history.
I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made.
The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make.
I love how people blast Palin for spinning a fact or two yet make their own mistakes…
“Truman” said Truman had no executive experience, which is downright false – he held various executive-type positions prior to being elected to the Senate and then as a VP. C’mon…be real.
I love how people blast Palin for spinning a fact or two yet make their own mistakes…
“Truman” said Truman had no executive experience, which is downright false – he held various executive-type positions prior to being elected to the Senate and then as a VP. C’mon…be real.
I love how people blast Palin for spinning a fact or two yet make their own mistakes…
“Truman” said Truman had no executive experience, which is downright false – he held various executive-type positions prior to being elected to the Senate and then as a VP. C’mon…be real.
I love how people blast Palin for spinning a fact or two yet make their own mistakes…
“Truman” said Truman had no executive experience, which is downright false – he held various executive-type positions prior to being elected to the Senate and then as a VP. C’mon…be real.
“he held various executive-type positions prior to being elected to the Senate and then as a VP. C’mon…be real.”
I’m a big Harry Truman fan. So much so that I named my dog Truman. However, it is the case that HST only had one job (prior to being VP) for a very short time where he was in the executive branch of any government.
For about a year he was nominally the director of a program in Missouri which was a part of the Civil Works Administration. He got that position as a payoff to his patron, Tom Pendergast, who used Truman to hand out CWA jobs to Pendergast cronies.
Truman’s main work experience prior to being elected to the US Senate was as a railroad worker, a farmer, a Captain in WWI (where he was elected to his position by his fellow troops), the co-owner of a haberdashery (men’s wear store), and as a county judge (which is equivalent to what we would call a county supervisor).
However, when he was a county judge and especially when he was a US Senator, he made his name as an overseer, making sure that public exectives, public agencies and private contractors fulfilled their duties to the public trust.
“he held various executive-type positions prior to being elected to the Senate and then as a VP. C’mon…be real.”
I’m a big Harry Truman fan. So much so that I named my dog Truman. However, it is the case that HST only had one job (prior to being VP) for a very short time where he was in the executive branch of any government.
For about a year he was nominally the director of a program in Missouri which was a part of the Civil Works Administration. He got that position as a payoff to his patron, Tom Pendergast, who used Truman to hand out CWA jobs to Pendergast cronies.
Truman’s main work experience prior to being elected to the US Senate was as a railroad worker, a farmer, a Captain in WWI (where he was elected to his position by his fellow troops), the co-owner of a haberdashery (men’s wear store), and as a county judge (which is equivalent to what we would call a county supervisor).
However, when he was a county judge and especially when he was a US Senator, he made his name as an overseer, making sure that public exectives, public agencies and private contractors fulfilled their duties to the public trust.
“he held various executive-type positions prior to being elected to the Senate and then as a VP. C’mon…be real.”
I’m a big Harry Truman fan. So much so that I named my dog Truman. However, it is the case that HST only had one job (prior to being VP) for a very short time where he was in the executive branch of any government.
For about a year he was nominally the director of a program in Missouri which was a part of the Civil Works Administration. He got that position as a payoff to his patron, Tom Pendergast, who used Truman to hand out CWA jobs to Pendergast cronies.
Truman’s main work experience prior to being elected to the US Senate was as a railroad worker, a farmer, a Captain in WWI (where he was elected to his position by his fellow troops), the co-owner of a haberdashery (men’s wear store), and as a county judge (which is equivalent to what we would call a county supervisor).
However, when he was a county judge and especially when he was a US Senator, he made his name as an overseer, making sure that public exectives, public agencies and private contractors fulfilled their duties to the public trust.
“he held various executive-type positions prior to being elected to the Senate and then as a VP. C’mon…be real.”
I’m a big Harry Truman fan. So much so that I named my dog Truman. However, it is the case that HST only had one job (prior to being VP) for a very short time where he was in the executive branch of any government.
For about a year he was nominally the director of a program in Missouri which was a part of the Civil Works Administration. He got that position as a payoff to his patron, Tom Pendergast, who used Truman to hand out CWA jobs to Pendergast cronies.
Truman’s main work experience prior to being elected to the US Senate was as a railroad worker, a farmer, a Captain in WWI (where he was elected to his position by his fellow troops), the co-owner of a haberdashery (men’s wear store), and as a county judge (which is equivalent to what we would call a county supervisor).
However, when he was a county judge and especially when he was a US Senator, he made his name as an overseer, making sure that public exectives, public agencies and private contractors fulfilled their duties to the public trust.