Political Punch

Then how do you feel about Obama's zero foreign policy experience? At least Palin was in control of the National Guard in AK which is more than Obama has

Politics before Country. I want to be elected at any cost to this great nation.

I've always thought that the person you pick as Veep should be able to step in as Commander-in Chief if anyting should happen to the President. what can Palin do??

McBush, I can now confirm that you are indeed too old; too senile and too stupid for this race

Everyone knows McCain is a NUT job. His selection of Palin seals the deal.

Mary Anne: This is all about McCain and his abysmal judgment. It has nothing to do with Sarah Palin. Sarah has only being a governor for less than two years and worst of McCain has only only met her once. We are talking about the Vice President of the United States who stands in for the president incase anything goes wrong. The vice president is someone who can stand up to world leaders around the globe; I don’t think Ms. Palin can. Comparing Sarah to Obama is a blatant insult to Obama. McCain could have chosen a more qualified and experienced woman vested in national and international affairs. Sarah has to learn and learn fast or else it will be a disaster. McCain has not served the American people well with this selection. For crying out loud, all she has is a degree in journalism. You can’t compare that to a Harvard law graduate (Magna cum Laudae), a law professor, a senate senator and a U.S. senator. It is sure the biggest gamble in modern American politics. More than 85,000 people filled up the stadium in Denver to listen to Obama and over 35,000,000 tuned in to listen to him. They sure think he has experience to cram in and tune to listen.

McCain does not believe in equal pay for women, abortion rights or alternatives to fossil fuel. He said that Palin stands for everything he does. Palin is not Hillary Clinton who supports rights for women. I am insulted that she would liken herself to Hillary. I am soooooo looking forward to 2040. It is obvious that poor judgement is a Republican thing.

Big deal! Everyone expected a bounce after the convention for Obama. It should be bigger than that if he is so hot! And, it isn't! I don't feel that McCain's choice sabotaged the Republicans at all for the election. I think it strengthens the Republican party. The Dems are trying to get younger blood in there and I think it is great that the Republicans are too. You make this sound like a disaster. She is only the VP. Look at the huge blunder the Dems made picking Obama an inexperienced, black man to run as President. Now that's something to be terrified about! And, Biden is as old as MCCain so if something happens to Obama we still get an old guy. It is the same on both tickets. An older person and a younger person and the difference is that the Dems are putting us at greater risk because they are backing such a green candidate. At least the Republicans have the sense to go with experience and than a younger person in the second slot! I think it's great and every Republican should be encouraged by this news. We thought we would be buried in November. This is our chance to still win this election! So we must unite and stand behind the party and get McCain elected. Amen!

Okay, let me get this right. You are saying that McCain it too old to lead and than Palin is too inexperienced and young to take over if McCain becomes ill? Correct? So how is this different from the young, inexperienced black man running for President now for the Democrats? At least palin is V.P. and they are not trying to run her for President. And, if something happened to Obama, than Biden would be President and he is very close to Mccain's age. Talk about double standards! Every time there is a woman involved all of you antiquated people come out of the woodwork! You are such a pitiful joke! And, some have said that Palin has a downs syndrome child and she should want to be with the child. So, let me get this right. If a child is ill or afflicted than no one should go to work and just stay home with the child. Oh no, that's right, you mean only if the person happens to be a woman! You are living in the dark ages! Why you don't you get with it! Why can't she serve as vice-president and still be a mother? I am thrilled with her choice and I hope that they stomp Obama into the ground in November!! Did any of you ever think of giving her a chance to prove what she is made of before making judgements against her? Good grief! Why do we always have to fight for the right to defend ourselves! I am really beginning to dislike men bigtime!!

On McCain's birthday he should admit that he is having min-strokes. His public statement of health indicates high blood pressure, dizzyness, and fainting, all of which are indications consistent with having mini-strokes.

"She has actually been running the state gov of Alaska SUCCESSFULLY for two years"

She was sworn in on Dec 4th 2006.

Two years = 24 months.

Time elapsed since Dec 2006 (including Dec) = 21 months.

21 months on the job.

McCain has been running for President in this election longer than that.

Temagami: Do you actually believe that Palin can step in and be President if anything happens to McCain?

Palin certainly has a much more impressive record that Obama. She has actually been running the state gov of Alaska SUCCESSFULLY for two years. OBAMA HAS NEVER RUN ANYTHING EXCEPT HIS MOUTH.

We need to be honest with ourselves.

The Palin pick is more than just a veep nominee. People are using it to read into McCain's judgement too just as they did with Obama.

Palin will not reassure anybody beyond the evangelical church.

I ALWAYS HAD AN EERIE FEELING ABOUT MCCAIN'S PRIMARY VICTORY NOW I JUST HAVE A DARK FEELING. I haven't been able to function today. This really is the end for Repubs.

BUT!!! MCCAIN COULD STILL CHANGE HIS MIND BEFORE THE CONVENTION.

Funny but McCain is younger than the territory of Alaska (purchased in the 1860s) and the territory of Hawaii. Biden is older than both States is that a drawback to libs supporting him? But what does that comparison mean? Kennedy was older than the states of Alaska and Hawaii and probably Oklahoma as well. Was that a drawback to you liberals?
How is the pick of someone with more than a decade of executive experience as VP more risky than putting someone with no experience of any note, but for the color of his skin, on the top of the dem ticket.
Palin is a true reformer, while the Obamanation is a faux reformer. The contrast of experience between these two, could not be more stark.

I hope we didn't lose Romney, Huckabee, and Pawlenty as surrogates as a result of this pick. Romney has been a strong surrogate and Pawlenty was proving himself to be tough over this last week. If we lose these voices, then I think the campaign will be worse off.

Luckily, she only really has to perform on 2 occasions: the convention (which means reading off a teleprompter), and the debate. She seemed to do well today off the teleprompter. That means just the debate. If she does a halfway decent job, she could bring in a huge portion of the ex-Hillary voters. Still, I don't see her swaying voters' minds on the campaign trail.

Mona: What is more laughable is the selection of Palin. It is an abysmal selection. This is someone who is neophyte to the national scene. News report has it that McCain even barely knows her. I think McCain was looking for a puppet to parade around and woo women voters. It will not work. The more troubling aspect of this news is that she has an infant child with special needs that deserves her attention at all times. Alaska is the boondocks. Alaska is no Chicago or New York

Tim the veep pick IS IMPORTANT IN MCCAIN'S CASE.

Polls show a considerable number of Republicans are worried about his age and health.

THIS CHOICE IS SIMPLY TOO RISKY FOR INDEPENDENTS WHO WE NEED TO WIN THE ELECTION.

I am upset beyond words!!!!

Obama is a celebrity. Palin is an unknown. I'm not sure which is more politically damaging.

I guess VP pick isn't that important...never has been, historically. Still, will the novelty of a woman bring in voters in the same way that the comfort and strength of a contender like Romney or even Huckabee.

WHY, WHY, WHY ON EARTH DIDN'T HE ASK CONDI RICE? We also have plenty of polished Repub women out there.

I was pulling for Romney but would have felt less awful with Rice.

THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY DO NOTHING FOR THE INDEPENDENTS.

This surely is the beginning of the end.

I am sick to my stomach!!! We had a shortlist like no other: Crist, Romney, Pawlenty...

Now McCain has just gone ahead and handed Obama the 2008 election.

Obama won the nomination, period. He even won my state missouri, which we all thought Hilary was going to carry.
McCain could have selected a more formidable woman.

"Obama was not appointed? He most certainly was. Did you miss the entire train-wreck?"

The problem with right winger (and something they count on) is all the time you waste refuting their lies.

Obama won more primaries, won more delegates and won more votes than Hillary.

(and no FL & MI do not count, and election with no campaigning is a straw poll)

He was nominated, accepted and is now the nominee for the Democratic party for President of the United States.

Condi Rice is too much associated with the Bush Administration (and whom I fear is probably an Obama supporter and would have told McCain no, anyway).

Kay Bailey Hutchison is from Texas, which would remind too many people of the current President whom they are all trying to disown. Besides that, she's pro-choice, which would not sit well with the Party base.

Elizabeth Dole is probably older than McCain.

I'm sure whoever was on McCain's V.P. vetting committee probably found many more reasons to support his choice of Palin than we outsiders happen to know just now.

Why not compromise and go with Romney (my choice all along)?

Mine also

Romney has all of Palin's advantages (executive experience, younger) with none of the negatives (inexperience, unknown).

I guess if Romney was Martha Romney instead of Mitt Romney, he would be the pick!

Still, I gotta trust McCain's judgment. Maybe Palin will give this campaign a SURGE of votes to carry us over to top.

Obama was not appointed? He most certainly was. Did you miss the entire train-wreck?

T: Read through the posts following, you will observe that the vast majority of bloggers on here echo my views. The woman has no experience on national and international issues. McCain should have chosen a more formidable woman. The choice is problematic. Biden stared down on Milosevic and called him a war criminal. I don’t think Sarah Palin can. The bridge to no where was a national outcry, its no big surprise that she dropped it. Obama is a Harvard law graduate. You don’t get into Harvard law school by chance. He was an Illinois senator for over 10 years, he has being in the United States senate for four years. We have seen him in tons of debates. We have also observed him interact with world leaders. There is no comparison. Above all, Obama was not appointed to the democratic ticket, he took down the Clinton machine

"'she was Mayor for 8 years so yes, she has 10 years EXECUTIVE experience.'

"Oh that's right, a podunk little town that has less people then my high school did. By your calculations, any president of the student council is qualified to become president."

No, just more qualified than either Obama or Biden.

It seems pretty clear that McCain wanted Lieberman (which would have pissed off the base) and that Rick Davis or some other campaign people wanted Palin (to pick off some ex-Hillary votes). Why not compromise and go with Romney (my choice all along)?

"podunk little town"

Nice.

I am a broken glass Republican and have never ever liked McCain. Yet I was so un-inspire, I was considering sitting this one out. Not now. I think he has made a wise pick ...

she was Mayor for 8 years so yes, she has 10 years EXECUTIVE experience.

Oh that's right, a podunk little town that has less people then my high school did. By your calculations, any president of the student council is qualified to become president.

He passed over Crist and Romney for what? This?!!! So experience doesn't matter after all?

GIVE A MAVERICK YOUR PARTY AND HE BLOODY SINKS IT!!!

Albert: she actually has done something, unlike your messiah. like a $26-billion-dollar pipeline to ship natural gas from the North Slope to the Lower 48, through Canada. she dropped the 'bridge to nowhere', so she has the guts to take on special interests, and even crooked members of her own party.

whats obama done again? except oppose the born-alive infant protection act? he couldn't even have a meeting of the subcommittee he is the head of .

biden wanted to partition iraq, his 'expertise' is a joke.

I think that they should assign Cheney to some upper level post. That way we get the ex-Hillary votes (thanks, Sarah), yet still have an expert on foreign policy.

Tim,

I just wrote to the McCain campaign. I doubt they'll read my message but she's not official yet. If McCain wants to win he better apologize to Palin and take Romney instead. I doubt Biden will take her on softly. These Dems have no respect.

Ouch! Liberal at their best! (sarc)

Not a smart move on McCain's part IMO. I can't support this Palin lady with no experience, running with a 72 yr old, plus a scandal hanging over her head. Why not Kay Bailey Hutchinson McCain? She's no beauty queen but she does have tons of experience and is creditable. If McCain died in office I sure as heck would not want this Palin woman to step up as President.

Sandy: She has a child with down-syndrome, hello. The office of the vice president demands a lot of stress and globe throttling. If McCain needed a woman, there are very many more qualified women out there that could have fit in very well. Kay Bailey Hutchinson again comes to mind. This goes a long way to show that McCain makes crass decisions. He is definitely the big risk. I am not sexist at all, he choose the wrong woman, with a very thin resume, academic credentials and what have you.

If McCain wanted a woman so badly, he ought to have gone for one with Condi Rice's stature.

This is a joke!!!!!!!!!! What happened? Lindsay Lohan told him no?

I thought for sure it would be Romney or Pawlenty. Kudos to the McCain campaign to keep this under wraps! Now let's just hope that they made the right pick.

She was Mayor for 8 years so yes, she has 10 years EXECUTIVE experience.

Obama ZERO, BIDEN ZERO, McCain ZERO.

Happy Birthday, Senator McCain. May you live, love and laugh until you are a 102 as my great uncle did. And stomp the LLL out of that socialist Obama in the election.

I can't believe the sexist posters on here already making the comments about when will SHE find the time to take care of HER five children???

She has a husband, who probably (unlike the moronic,sexist posters on here) does his share of diaper duty and nurturing his children.

And if she has managed her gubernatorial duties while tending to five children, I'm sure she'll be able to accomplish the same as V.P.

"He managed to win 30+ primaries from voters equipped with "low information."

SandyB,

Poll after poll showed Obama doing his best among people who followed the election the closest and felt they knew the candidates the best.

He also did very well among college graduate and post grad.

Hillary did her best when it was pure name recognition.

And that's largely how McCain won the GOP primary. People simply know who he is.

T, She has only being a governor for less than two years. Zero foreign policy experience. Has mediocre degree in journalism… This is unbelievable. How in the world can you compare this woman to Obama and Biden? McCain blew it big time

The McCain/Palin ticket is an excellent one compared to Obama/Biden ticket. Obama has no real experience and is a socialist with a ole Washington partner.
McCain is a true hero and has given years of service to our country. Palin has more real experience than Obama.
The Obama Kool Ade drinkers are out smearing again because their candidate can not compete on credibility, judgment and experience. SAME OLE SAME OLE type of dishonesty by Obama people.
NO WAY, NO HOW, NO OBAMA, NOT NOW, NOT EVER.

she has more executive experience than biden and obama combined. she negotiated the largest construction project in the history of north america with canada.

she's also not a plagiarist, doesn't have a mentor who is a terrorist, and didn't come out of the democratic political machine in chicago which had decades of close cooperation with the chicago outfit (the mafia)

Argh! I'm so conflicted about this pick! I just read that she has 3 houses, which may keep the houses issue in the news.

Luckily, we have Rove. He'll come up with something to smack down the Obamacrats!

When will Sarah Pallin have time to take care of her five children, including the one with down syndrome? I am still in shock. We are talking about the Vice President of the United States. McCain is crazy in the head. Why Sarah Palin? There are very many formidable women in the Republican Party that could fill that spot, if McCain wanted to choose a woman, Kay Bailey Hutchinson comes to mind. This is the dumbest move so far by senator McCain. To make matters worst, she only has a degree in journalism... Talk about a thin resume and a thin academic credential. Game over

Ryan C:

Well, Obama's supporters should certainly know about "low information."

After all, that's about all they had to go on when they went into the start of the primary season supporting him.

He managed to win 30+ primaries from voters equipped with "low information."

McCain's talk about eliminating $100 billion a year in earmarks is largely fantasy. His advisers are now promoting a more realistic plan of eliminating $100 billion in overall spending. But it is difficult to take even that promise very seriously given the fact that the senator refuses to identify exactly which projects he will be cut. To use a phrase coined by George H.W. Bush, this is "voodoo economics," based more on wishful thinking than on hard data or carefully considered policy proposals

McCaind pick will become known as" THE GREAT PALIN PANDER!!"

I think that one positive of this pick is that Joe Biden will have a tough job of being harsh on her at the debates for fear coming across as sexist. This will open the door for her to come across as a strong voice.

Of course, if she comes across as weak, like Sebelius did, I think it will be a nightmare.

Maybe Obama deserves to win if this is the sort of risk McCain is willing to take.
I'm out of my mind right now. This goes against everything McCain has been saying about Obama. Why would he pick someone worse.

Gallup is attributing part of the Obama bounce to conservative Democrats jumping from 63% support to 77%.

Also he has pulled even with McCain among men and extended his lead among women!

McCain is going down!

Ooops, I take that back. Obama is actually two years younger than Hawaii. But my question still stands: So?

"I have a feeling the Republicans will make sure that all of the questions regarding Palin's positions on various issues will be answered during their Convention.

Personally, I think it will be quite interesting learning more about her, and maybe we should all hold back on the premature negative comments until we do find out more."

Yes let's allow the McCain campaign to tell us what to think.

No need for that pesky research of our own time.

The low information voter....John McCain's best friend.

I have a feeling the Republicans will make sure that all of the questions regarding Palin's positions on various issues will be answered during their Convention.

Personally, I think it will be quite interesting learning more about her, and maybe we should all hold back on the premature negative comments until we do find out more.

Hopefully, her story won't be full of the same kind of "unknown" baggage Obama had lugging around.

"Hello, can someone stop the spin and give me a comparison that makes sense here?"

I'll try Southern Baptist.

It looks like the McCain campaign panicked and went for a hail mary pick to attract women voters and possibly as a wedge towards Hillary.

The only thing that makes sense about the pick is her hard core conservative views which would appeal to the base.

But she's a complete unknown nationally, has zero foreign policy experience and does not have all that much experience to begin with.

Unfortunately her being an attractive woman could work against her in terms of being taken seriously.

I don't envy her for the crash course in national politics that she is about to begin!

We'll see if she is up to the task (I hope!). Especially so soon to the convention! I guess that she will be able to have a speech prepared for her and will only need to read it. But, will she be able to join John McCain at townhall meetings and speak to the American people with authority on issues that she may not have all that much background on.

I would feel much more confident with Romney right now!

And Obama is older than the state of Hawaii. So?

McCain hasn't taken any earmarks.
Palin said "Thanks, but no Thanks" to the Bridge to No Where.

vs.

Obama funneling millions in pork to the hospital his wife works at and grants to his church.
Biden funneling millions in pork to companies represented by his lobbyist son.

Change you can see, not 'Just Words'!
McCain/Palin 08

Tim,

I fear McCain made a mistake too. I don't understand why he would take such a risk with this women. The conservatives would've voted for him regardless. He's losing the middle with this choice. I don't know what McCain and his advisors were thinking.
She's no match for Biden. McCain should have chosen Romney. He served a full term as Govenor of a large state. He owns a successful business. And he has roots in Michigan. If we took Michigan it would be impossible for the Dems to win.

McCain just gave Obama the presidency on a plate.

JoeMama,

I;ll go list for list of corrupt Democrats vs corrupt Republicans any day of the week.

11 Republicans in the Abramhoff scandal alone.

Then you have Duke Cunningham and Tom Delay.

We have Scooter Libby pardoned for a treason offense.

I guess we can add Mark Foley and Larry Craig for the ick factor.

Oh and how could I ever forget Senators Ted Stevens and Don Young from Alaska!

What does this woman believe re: foreign policty. She supported Pat Buchanan in the 90's -- does this mean she's an isolationist? If so, how is she going to work with the neocon McCain? This makes less and less sense the more you know. Reckless choice.

don't forget Biden too involved in Keating scandal!

Yeah... remember, Obama has hip problem at mid 40,..... and can't remember how many states the US has.

I'm still not seeing how "just your average hockey mom" was better than the qualified republicans that were available.

Mike Huckabee
Mitt Romney
Fred Thompson
Rudy Giuliani
Duncan Hunter

Hello, can someone stop the spin and give me a comparison that makes sense here?

He made it thru one more! Good job mclame hopfuly you get a free hoveround scooter! LMAO!!

And Charles Keating, Charles Keating, Charles Keating doesn't look very good either for elderly Sen. McSame!

She was Mayor for 8 years so yes, she has 10 years EXECUTIVE experience.

Obama ZERO, BIDEN ZERO, McCain ZERO.

Republicans WIN.

"Not quite, but thanks for really proving your intellectual dishonesty."

Yes because claiming an illegal 501C operating as a political committee funded almost entirely by one person is being censored by the DOJ is just telling the truth....yeah right.

So c'mon Paddy? If you actually have Irish blood in you like I do, you'll fight for your reasoning demonstrating why this illegal group should not face sanctions for their activities (ironically under McCain Feingold)?

Tell me why copywright laws don't apply to them?

Please give me some of your intellectual honesty.

Team Obama can hardly attack Palin for a lack of foreign-policy experience. Obama has none at all, and neither Obama or Biden have any executive experience

I like the Palin pick, but I have several questions about her. Does she have a wealth of knowledge about national issues that a candidate needs to come across as a serious leader? Is she a strong campaigner who can stick to the talking points? Will she be a gaffe machine (like Biden)?

I gotta say, I'd be more comfortable right now if it was Romney! But, I'll give her a chance!

The year the drive-by MSM died, 2008 was a very good year!

What she did immediately was knock Obama right off the header at Drudge.

Heck of a start….

Why would John McCain pick someone who would make him look even older?!!! His judgement led him to overlook Romney, Pawlenty and other highly qualified men who could have a substantive and meaningful debate with Biden. His terrible judgement, compared with that of Palin is frightening.

"Please Dem's, continue to find fault in firing a Trooper who tazed an 11 year old girl and was caught drunk driving in his state vehicle."

She didn't fire the trooper. She fired someone for not firing the trooper.

She wanted to do so based on a private investigation her family had conducted into her brother in law.

If this wasn't her brother in law, nothing would have happened.

Must be nice to wield the power of the governor like that.

@RyanC

I guess Democrats like Kanjorski don't abuse their position?:

In the documentary, Yudichak recounts his conversation with Kanjorski:

“He said, ‘You’re telling me I can’t take care of my family?’ He said, ‘Well, I’m telling you, it’s gonna be done. And it’s gonna be done with you or without you.’ And he said, ‘I’ll bury you. I’ll destroy you.’”

Joe Biden is older than the state of Alaska, and Hawaii, too.

"Would that put some froth on it for ya?"

Not quite, but thanks for really proving your intellectual dishonesty.

I hope McCain didn't just make a huge mistake!

Alaska earned statehood on January 3, 1959. Chances are, most Americans are older than that - most suredly, most voters are older.

"Perhaps you could aim some of that frothy outrage at your own candidate for trying to use the DOJ against people that are running truthful ads about his relationship with William Ayers?"

Sure I think its reprehensible that Republicans so willfully ignore campaign finances laws thinking they do not apply to themselves.

Was that frothy enough for you?

Or should I mention the Texas billionaire behind the group

Or perhaps the group's close connection to the McCain campaign?

Would that put some froth on it for ya?

I'm not gonna jump into the age and experience debate...Palin appears to balance the ticket as Biden does in those respects

From what I gather of her stances on the issues, she's just another conservative Republican...more of McSame

Obama/Biden...because 8 has been waaay too much

Oh Yeah shes got a resume that is so much more impressive than Mitt Romneys. This is so ridiculous.

Please Dem's, continue to find fault in firing a Trooper who tazed an 11 year old girl and was caught drunk driving in his state vehicle.