Vice Presidential Debate

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

A Feminist For Palin

This was posted on RealClearPolitics by Tammy Bruce:

"In the shadow of the blatant and truly stunning sexism launched against the Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign, and as a pro-choice feminist, I wasn't the only one thrilled to hear Republican John McCain announce Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. For the GOP, she bridges for conservatives and independents what I term "the enthusiasm gap" for the ticket. For Democrats, she offers something even more compelling - a chance to vote for a someone who is her own woman, and who represents a party that, while we don't agree on all the issues, at least respects women enough to take them seriously."

"Whether we have a D, R or an "i for independent" after our names, women share a different life experience from men, and we bring that difference to the choices we make and the decisions we come to. Having a woman in the White House, and not as The Spouse, is a change whose time has come, despite the fact that some Democratic Party leaders have decided otherwise. But with the Palin nomination, maybe they'll realize it's not up to them any longer."...

"The rank bullying of the Clinton candidacy during the primary season has the distinction of simply being the first revelation of how misogynistic the party has become. The media led the assault, then the Obama campaign continued it. Trailblazer Geraldine Ferraro, who was the first Democratic vice presidential candidate, was so taken aback by the attacks that she publicly decried nominee Barack Obama as "terribly sexist" and openly criticized party chairman Howard Dean for his remarkable silence on the obvious sexism."

Bruce continued:

"Virtually moments after the GOP announcement of Palin for vice president, pundits on both sides of the aisle began to wonder if Clinton supporters - pro-choice women and gays to be specific - would be attracted to the McCain-Palin ticket. The answer is, of course. There is a point where all of our issues, including abortion rights, are made safer not only if the people we vote for agree with us - but when those people and our society embrace a respect for women and promote policies that increase our personal wealth, power and political influence."

"Make no mistake - the Democratic Party and its nominee have created the powerhouse that is Sarah Palin, and the party's increased attacks on her (and even on her daughter) reflect that panic."

She went on to state:

"Yes, both McCain and Palin identify as anti-abortion, but neither has led a political life with that belief, or their other religious principles, as their signature issue. Politicians act on their passions - the passion of McCain and Palin is reform. In her time in office, Palin's focus has not been to kick the gays and make abortion illegal; it has been to kick the corrupt and make wasteful spending illegal. The Republicans are now making direct appeals to Clinton supporters, knowingly crafting a political base that would include pro-choice voters."

"On the day McCain announced her selection as his running mate, Palin thanked Clinton and Ferraro for blazing her trail. A day later, Ferraro noted her shock at Palin's comment. You see, none of her peers, no one, had ever publicly thanked her in the 24 years since her historic run for the White House. Ferraro has since refused to divulge for whom she's voting. Many more now are realizing that it does indeed take a woman - who happens to be a Republican named Sarah Palin."

Full article.

McCain-Palin '08

John McCain has picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Though I was hoping he would pick Joe Lieberman, I have to say i am excited about Palin.

Lieberman For VP

I completely agree with William Kristol's op-ed piece in which he made the argument that McCain would be wise to pick Joe Lieberman as his running mate. This would be an exciting pick and an excellent one for the country. Unlike Barack Obama, who has been preaching a change to a new politics, but decided to resort to old Democratic politics, this would really demonstrate a politics of change. It would also be a move toward a politics of unity, which Obama would just not be able to bring about. Hopefully McCain will pick Lieberman, but i fear he will pick a safer running mate like Mitt Romney or Tim Pawlenty.

Here's some excertps from Kristol's op-ed:

"So what’s to be done? McCain could well decide the obstacles to Pawlenty and Romney aren’t insuperable, and pick one of them. He could choose a different Republican governor or ex-governor, senator or congressman. Or he could decide that Obama’s conventional pick of Biden allows him to seize the moment by making a bold choice. He could select the person he would really like to have by his side in the White House — but whose selection would cause palpitations among many of his staffers and supporters: the independent Democratic senator from Connecticut, Joe Lieberman."

"Lieberman could hold his own against Biden in a debate. He would reinforce McCain’s overall message of foreign policy experience and hawkishness. He’s a strong and disciplined candidate."...

"Obama and Biden will try to frame the presidential race as a normal Democratic-Republican choice. If they can do that, they should win. That would be far more difficult against a McCain-Lieberman ticket. The charge that McCain would merely mean a third Bush term would also tend to fall flat. And an unorthodox “country first” Lieberman selection would reinforce what has been attractive about McCain, and what has allowed him to run ahead of — though not yet enough ahead of — the generic Republican ballot."

Full op-ed.

More on Biden

This is from Jennifer Rubin of Pajamas Media:

"What a difference a summer makes. Barack Obama began the summer as he began the campaign: the Agent of Change. With the summer drawing to an end, he has chosen a running mate who is as old school as they come and as familiar as a worn-out shoe."

"Joe Biden was born during World War II, was the fifth youngest man ever elected to the Senate (back in 1972), and has run for president twice. He is not known for discretion or staying on message, his questioning of Supreme Court appointees is the stuff of political satire, and he became infamous for his misbegotten plan to partition Iraq. But he is a grown-up, an experienced Washington insider, and one not known for political extremism. The image from this pick is: safe, comfortable, and knowledgeable."

"The pick raises several questions: Will it help? What does it say about the state of the race? And will it impact John McCain’s choice?"

"As to whether it will help, it is a truism that voters don’t vote for the VP; they vote for the top of the ticket. While it might be reassuring to have a steadier hand close to the Oval Office the fact remains that the presidency, despite the Clintons’ “two for the price of one” slogan, is a one-man job. We either trust the commander-in-chief or we don’t. A slightly more experienced number two on the ticket may offer some comfort, but it is Obama himself who must clear the hurdle of presidential believability. (There are also small matters such as Biden’s vote in favor of the Iraq war, but certainly an abject confession of error by him can cure that problem.)"

"Moreover, the selection of Biden as VP seems to cast doubt on the entire premise of the Obama campaign which is that experience doesn’t matter. If we are back to including that criteria why not select the more experienced candidate for the top spot? It won’t take very long for the McCain camp to point out that Obama’s own underwhelming record compares unfavorably to his own VP. (We will also be treated to a good share of “His VP is smarter than he” clips, highlighting the areas of disagreement such as the initial Iraq war vote.) And Biden is not exactly a “safe” pick. If a secret ballot were taken among pundits and politicial office holders asking, “Which politician is most likely to make a jaw dropping, news cycle-stopping gaffe?” Biden would like be the unanimous winner. For a presidential candidate with a gaffe problem of his own, Biden might magnify this unwelcome attribute. Late night comics and pundits are already tabulating their top ten list of favorite gaffes, but it is no laughing matter for Obama who is struggling to get back on message and convince the voters he is ready for primetime."

Full article.

Obama Picks Biden

Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be his running mate, which came after months of speculation. Already the 24-hour news media has labelled Biden the smartest VP choice in American political history. Biden is a good choice, but he is also a choice that could come back to haunt Obama.

Earlier in the week, Jim Geraghty wrote about Biden's uncontrollable and many times embarrassing words. Geraghty wrote:

"The fun thing about an Obama-Biden ticket is that the McCain campaign can point to a new awkward comment by Joe Biden — either on the importance of experience, in praise of McCain, or in support of invading Iraq — that contradicts the stands and qualities of the Democratic nominee for every day from now until Election Day."...

"ON OBAMA:"

"Reacting to an Obama speech on counterterrorism, August 1, 2007: “‘Look, the truth is the four major things he called for, well, hell that’s what I called for,’ Biden said today on MSNBC’s Hardball, echoing comments he made earlier in the day at an event promoting his book at the National Press Club. Biden added, ‘I’m glad he’s talking about these things.’”"

"Also that day, the Biden campaign issued a release that began, “The Biden for President Campaign today congratulated Sen. Barack Obama for arriving at a number of Sen. Biden’s long-held views on combating al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” That release mocked Obama for asking about the “stunning level of mercury in fish” and asked about a proposal for the U.S. adopt a ban on mercury sales abroad at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing."

"Assessing Obama’s Iraq plan on September 13, 2007: “My impression is [Obama] thinks that if we leave, somehow the Iraqis are going to have an epiphany” of peaceful coexistence among warring sects. “I’ve seen zero evidence of that.”"

"Speaking to the New York Observer: Biden was equally skeptical — albeit in a slightly more backhanded way — about Mr. Obama. “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”"

Full article.