Palin is horribly dangerous to her own child in the Guard. The Pentagon is bothered that someone violated OPSEC regarding Track's deployment. Either Palin herself or someone in the McCain campaign endangered her kid for a bit of political theatre, making the woman dangerous to her own child and those who deploy with him. That's damn scary.
Posted by phidipides at September 4, 2008 10:19 AMWe can safely say now that the Eagleton moment won't happen. It was always a small chance. Although a Democrat would likely not have survived all the scandals that have been uncovered (remember Clinton's first two AG nominations having to be withdrawn due to "nannygate"?) the Flat Earth faction will forgive literally anything if you are one of them.
And at this point, even if the Republican leaders believe Palin is the kiss of death for the campaign (as per the Noonan tape), they won't upset the base. Better to lose with the base energized than to lose the base.
Now comes the media manipulation game for the next 2 months. Greenwald thinks the Democrats are falling into the same trap as '00 and '04 -- being too nice. Obama's team seems to feel that a focus on economy and tying McCain/Palin to Bush will cut through the Republiganda and lead to victory.
Taking the long view I think Obama's team is probably right. The electorate has never been so cynical about politics or the media as they are now, and that combined with high unemployment, inflation and wrong track numbers is a strong indication of the electoral results. However, watching the day-to-day blows of the campaign I can certainly understand Greenwald's frustration.
Posted by Anonny at September 4, 2008 10:22 AMOf course Palin could read from a TelePrompTer, she was a sportscaster. But some of the CNN talking lips made a big deal that she so effectivley had figured out the TPT, which, they noted, isn't easy at first. Yeah, because it wasn't her first time by a long shot. And it doesn't hurt your poise or confidence when people cheer whatever you say.
As for being too nice, Anonny: Some people are confusing not engaging in Swiftboating with being campaign wimps. A tough campaign can be run without resorting to lies and deception or invasions of sexual privacy. The idea that we can dip down into the gutter until November 5, then shower off the stench, is the same kind of thinking that led to torturing 15-year-olds in the "war on terror,' the anything goes approach because we're the good guys.
Neocon Jeane Kirkpatrick had a name for this: she called it "moral equivalency." When the CIA overthrew a government or supported slaughter, it wasn't morally equivalent to when the KGB did so. Pure motives and all. Balderdash. And perilous to your principles.
Posted by Meteor Blades at September 4, 2008 10:50 AMWhat's the upside in attacking Palin? Any time spent doing so is less time spent giving people a reason to vote for Obama. And experience is not Barack's strong suit, either. The Republicans would love to talk about community organizing 24-7. Why help them do it?
Posted by cygnus at September 4, 2008 11:14 AMcygnus,
because the palin selection tells us a lot about mccain. rash and reckless is not what we need in the oval office.
and i agree, mb- people's personal lives are their own. period. and we can leave the lying to the republicans and their media enablers. and actual verifiable facts tend to be on our side, anyway...
Posted by Turkana at September 4, 2008 11:24 AMLoved Palin's strong statement that voters can rest assured that special needs children would have an advocate in the White House if she and McCain get elected.
Ya know, she cares about government looking out for special needs children.
Now that HER family includes one.
I thought it was quite touching.
Posted by snark at September 4, 2008 11:26 AMI'm with you meteorblades. In case I wasn't clear I'm expressing support for the road the campaign is taking. If this were Gore or Kerry I wouldn't be so sure, but Obama is running a much tougher and smarter campaign.
Posted by Anonny at September 4, 2008 11:34 AMThis year's purple heart bandaid: Alligator bait.
Posted by iamcoyote at September 4, 2008 11:36 AMI'm seeing things more clearly by the minute...the country is now being asked to vote for Sarah Palin, not John McCain. The GOP, seeing their hopes go out the window of a football field in Denver, basically replaced Mc72 at the top of the ticket with Palin (a female George W. Bush). That is how weak the John McPOW candidacy is/was. The GOPers who couldn't stomach him as president can now take a tums and vote for Palin. That, I believe, is the sum of it. I still wonder if Johnny is on board with this?
Posted by T2 at September 4, 2008 11:39 AMrash and reckless is not what we need in the oval office.
rash and reckless = Maverick
It is time for us to do the redefining.
Posted by Anjha at September 4, 2008 12:06 PMBTW Turkana, you've got a typo in your post heading.
You misspelled "Divisive".
Posted by snark at September 4, 2008 12:10 PMAnd where is the Tier Two campaign to hammer this redefinition and messaging?
Posted by Steve Soto at September 4, 2008 12:10 PMHere's a quiz.
Steve Biegun
Matt Scully
Mark Wallace
Nicolle Wallace
Tucker Eskew
Q: What do all these people have in common?
A:They all previously worked for Republican George W. Bush's administration and are now advising Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
I think you can officially forget the Tier Two operation, steve.
I like the idea of the presidency as a game show prize. But McCain's idea here was to award the VP slot sort of like it would be done on a "reality" TV show like Big Brother or Survivor---and the winner is: a hilarious wingnut family from the backwoods of Alaska!! Congratulations, Sarah P---the joke's on the US!
Next week, the Palins and the McCains will participate in that reality FOX mega-hit "Trading Spouses"! The super-sexy (but kinda backwoodsy) Sarah shows up at the sprawling McCain compounds and starts directing the servants on fish guttin' and moose stew, to the guffaws of Johnny Mac, who eagerly anticipates some "private time" with the lovely Sarah, when he can regale her with some Hanoi Hilton stories.
Meanwhile, intrepid Cindy Lou is flown by dreamboat Todd into the Alaska "bush" for a little bushwacking, with hilarious consequences for the teens! Cindy has no difficulty handling the (somewhat embarrassing) small number of houses owned by the Palins (only three?!), but with NO servants, can you beat that? Todd quickly gets a few fisherman/BP managers for Cindy to order around the laundry, kitchen and private airstrip(s), to everyone's relief.
To the delight of Idiot Nation, both families amazingly conclude they are all soulmates, who'da thunk it? What a country!
Posted by euzoius at September 4, 2008 12:39 PMPalin might be from Alaska, but her brain is from the Bush White House.
Posted by T2 at September 4, 2008 01:07 PMrash and reckless = Maverick
and irratic
Posted by Judith at September 4, 2008 01:58 PMeuzoius, now that was truly clever and funny, and I needed a laugh right now. Thanks.
Posted by Judith at September 4, 2008 02:02 PMWell, once again if the Tier II is out, then nothing has been learned.
Posted by Judith at September 4, 2008 06:16 PMUp here in Boston, we are frequently exposed to "Flash in the Pans". Until proven otherwise, I have a feeling Gov. Palin will have a career like that of Clay Bucholz.
Clay threw a no hitter in his first outing and its been downhill (he's now in AA) since then.
Couldn't happen to a nicer anti-progressive wingnut.
Posted by goalkeeper at September 5, 2008 09:39 AM