Why It's a Decent Pick
Forgive me if I'm not gleefully giggling right
now. This makes a lot of sense for McCain:
(1) It won't undercut his critique of Obama as inexperienced. If the punditry takes this line of attack - which it will - it has a real potential of backfiring, as it will only reinforce the whole theme that two years of national experience does not prepare you to be Commander-in-Chief. That's not a theme Obama wants to emphasize. In picking Biden, Obama has already picked a VP that (at least superficially) embodies many of his main critiques of his opponent. This weakens his ability to play the card on McCain.
(2) McCain is making a major play for undecided women (which is the ONLY way he can pull off an upset here), and this is a smart gamble. If nothing else, it will mean two more months of hearing about Obama's "women problem" and PUMAs, whether that has any relation to reality or not. Again, not the best narrative for Obama.
(3) Placates the base without the (well-hashed over) liabilities of the other major VP contenders. Of course she brings here own - corruption scandals, the prospect of a disasterous debate with Biden, etc. - but at least in the short-run it seems good.
(4) McCain now has the sexy-librarian-fetishists on lock. Key demographic.
(1) It won't undercut his critique of Obama as inexperienced. If the punditry takes this line of attack - which it will - it has a real potential of backfiring, as it will only reinforce the whole theme that two years of national experience does not prepare you to be Commander-in-Chief. That's not a theme Obama wants to emphasize. In picking Biden, Obama has already picked a VP that (at least superficially) embodies many of his main critiques of his opponent. This weakens his ability to play the card on McCain.
(2) McCain is making a major play for undecided women (which is the ONLY way he can pull off an upset here), and this is a smart gamble. If nothing else, it will mean two more months of hearing about Obama's "women problem" and PUMAs, whether that has any relation to reality or not. Again, not the best narrative for Obama.
(3) Placates the base without the (well-hashed over) liabilities of the other major VP contenders. Of course she brings here own - corruption scandals, the prospect of a disasterous debate with Biden, etc. - but at least in the short-run it seems good.
(4) McCain now has the sexy-librarian-fetishists on lock. Key demographic.
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1) Pander of the first order.
2)Very vocal Pro-Life. The women that were going to vote for McCain are already here. The undecided I would venture are not.
2) I disagree it weakens the experience meme. Hard to talk about Obama's lack of when the person yoou bring in to be a hart beat away has absolutely none. Especially when age and health are questions.
3) Hillary can really go after her.
4) The VP debates are going to be interesting.
August 29, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
This would be another oil lobbyist in the White House. She's a big advocate of drilling in ANWR. It's not surprising that her husband works for BP in the North Slope--that's ANWR.
That kind of relationship with the oil industry is the last thing this country needs.
August 29, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please remember Dan Quayle!!
If we make fun of her it just makes her and McCain sympathetic.
And as far as debates go - I'm afraid Joe Biden can't win. If he pounds hers he might turn off women and if he's nice he could come off as being in a debate that was a tie.
We got to be careful!
August 29, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's hard for me to believe that she was vetted properly. I mean, it's not like the scandal she's in is over.
I'd say wait until the convention is over (so that he's committed to the choice), and then we'll see what (if anything) can be dug up about her. This just sounds like another McCain impulse-buy to me.
August 29, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
You mean McSame chose Big Oil as his running-mate?
That can be milked -- er, drilled and drilled and drilled, over and over and over again, with huge payoff for the Democrats ten or more years before off-shore drilling finds a drop of petrochemical.
Which means: from today until McSame concedes.
August 29, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is an insane, desperate choice.
I am not worried. Biden will be fair... he has a great history with women.
I agree though that we shouldn't make fun of her 'too much'. Let them hang themselves.
I think McCain is very afraid and this move proves it.
I think this choice just helped Obama/Biden.
However, I am taking nothing for granted... if we all do our part and keep our eyes on the goal, we will get our country back.
August 29, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink