Now, I happen to agree with Sen. President Murray that insofar as the Palin choice is an appeal to disaffected female Hillary Clinton supporters, it's damned insulting.
But, but, but … [smell of sulphur arises, dim lowlight of fire and brimstone] we all know that demographics are part of the VP selection, don't we? Be it gender, race, region, religion … identity and affinity are all part of the game. It's not a perfect world, my friends …
So, let's look at another possibility: Jodi Rell, Governor of Connecticut since 2004, having assumed the office for the disgraced Gov. John Rowland. She's fantastically popular: 65% approval rating. She claims high ethical standards. And, it could be argued that she'd put Connecticut on the map for the GOP, which would be particularly valuable since New England is dumping Republicans like last month's takeout leftovers.
Why not this capable, trusted, experienced executive? you might well ask. Well …
- She's pro-choice.
- She's pro-stem cell.
- She's pro-civil-union.
- She's not reflexively, foamingly pro-gun.
And on and on. Ontheissues.org describes her as a “moderate liberal populist” — AAAAAACK! The Limbaugh dittoheads would just stay at home. “Get us a fanatical repressive plutocrat, damn you!”
And that's really the problem. That wing of the party got really used to having it their way when Bush, Cheney, and Tom DeLay were riding high … Or perhaps more accurately, they decided “their way” was whatever those guys wanted at the moment. The GOP primary, and McCain's campaign, were so thoroughly bent and warped by the gravitational pull of that wing, that it made choosing popular politicians and popular positions impossible. No stem cells! Stay in Iraq! Pave the planet! The rich shall inherit the earth!
And so, one has to lower one's standards on traditional measures of experience and competence in order to check off the boxes of a rock-headed conservative orthodoxy. The low-hanging fruit of VP possibilities are passed over for the sour green ones farther up the tree. Which is where we leave our Republican nominee …
sabutai says
The list of prominent Republican women is short, but full of people more qualified to be vice president. Senators Liddy Dole and Susan Collins. Governors Linda Lingle and Jodi Rell. Former Governors Christine Todd Whitman or Jane Hull. Carly Fiorina.
<
p>The choice set is small when restricted to successful public servants in line with the Bush/McCain agenda…but when limited further to women, it’s downright tiny.
realitybased says
That is exactly what we were talking about at lunch today. There are probably 10 women on the GOP bench, each of which having at least 10 times the public service experience of Palin. Mark this choice up as one win and 99 losses for Mac.
sco says
See if you can figure out why these Republican woman, all with more experience than Palin were passed over:
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), 15 years in the Senate
Olympia Snowe (R-ME), 13+ years in the Senate
Susan Collins (R-ME), 11+ years in the Senate
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), 5+ years in the Senate
Linda Lingle (R-HI), ~6 years as HI Governor
Jodi Rell (R-CT), 4 years as CT Governor
<
p>Give up? They’re all pro-choice to varying degrees, and all against overturning Roe v. Wade near as I can tell. They’re also all on the Wish List.
<
p>In fact, my brief research turns up only Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) as the only currently serving female anti-choice Republican Senator or governor besides Palin, and while she has loads of experience, she’s also a few months older than McCain, which probably disqualified her.
realitybased says
I think Christie Todd Whitman also deserves a look. An anti-choice litmus test sure doesn’t sound like a very maverick process when choosing a VP nominee.
sabutai says
When your crazy “supporters” insist that you pick a VP who shares abortion beliefs with less than 1/5 of the population, your chances of finding someone qualified are slim.
demolisher says
<
p>you sound nearly as rational as Bob!
<
p>Was the Dem primary anything but?
<
p>All this talk of interchangeable women is empty and you know it.
<
p>
cannoneo says
The few independent voices remaining on the right are telling this like it is. NRO’s Rick Brookhiser, for example. Leaving out some insulting stuff about Obama, he writes:
<
p>”Either McCain thinks the war on terror isn’t serious, or he thinks the vice-presidency isn’t.”
…
“Conservatives love Palin because she has a Downs baby and an M-16. For both sides, that is all on earth ye know and all ye need to know. You might call it mystical and childish.”
<
p>Mystical and childish pretty well describes the rightwing base, which was all this pick was about. Most of the rest of the National Review crowd, e.g., are crowing about all the rave reviews in their “inboxes,”, ie the echo chamber.
<
p> Sullivan links to some new poll #s on how unimpressed undecideds are by Palin.
pablo says
Source: NY Daily News
lasthorseman says
When marketing efforts replace the democratic process we cease to be a nation of the “free”.
When media wants you to have an opinion they will give it to you!
http://www.projectcensored.org/
lightiris says
I wonder why so many here are having trouble? lol
<
p>Sarah Palin’s mother-in-law uncertain about how she’ll vote
<
p>
<
p>Yikes.