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DEL.ICIO.USBlogwatch: ‘Dan Quayle was more qualified’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Amy Morton, the Democratic blogger from Macon, just called from Denver, where she’s still kicking around.
Morton said she polled Democratic women in the lobby as they were checking out about Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s choice of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate.
Morton said McCain’s mistaken if he thinks he can lure Hillary Clinton supporters and satisfy his Christian conservative base with a single choice.
The title of her post : “Dan Quayle was more qualified.”
With this choice, McCain stuck a pacifier in the mouth of his party’s most radical factions and demonstrated a profound misunderstanding of what female voters value.
Women I have spoken to in Denver, many who were Clintonites, have said McCain’s choice is flatly insulting to women. It’s the first thing out of their mouth.
The second thing they say is what poor judgment McCain has shown with this pick. In her speech, Palin was giving her resume, highlighting her run for city council and Mayor of a city of 8,500. So, that’s like Gray or Forsyth.
That said, another prominent Georgia Democrat called close on the heels of Morton. Republicans, he noted, go for unusual vice presidential picks every generation or so.
Twenty years ago it was Quayle. Twenty years before that it was Spiro Agnew.
And while one became the butt of jokes and the other barely escaped prison, they do have one thing in common, he noted. Both Quayle and Agnew were on winning tickets.
Here’s one other thought. You know that Republicans in the Senate are nervous about their prospects, and there’s genuine worry that Democrats could reach the critical 60-senator threshold.
One of the races where Republicans are in trouble is right there in Alaska. U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, who is under indictment for failing to report some sizeable gifts, easily won his primary this week, but faces a tough November in the form of Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich.
Now, as governor, Palin has proven to be no friend of Stevens. She killed the famous “Bridge to Nowhere,” which the senator backed, and has urged him to come clean about his conflicts of interest.
That said, Palin on the ticket could goose GOP turnout in Alaska, and possibly pull Stevens’ chestnuts out of the fire. And the much-feared, anti-GOP avalanche would be one senator lighter.
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Comments
By FlaLady
August 29, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
Gosh, a relatively inexperienced, passionate, charming, articulate, good-looking minority on the ticket. Sound familiar? But as the VP, not the top of the ticket. How in the world can you rationalize this as a riskier move? And, FYI, I am a female who supported Hillary Clinton. I do not align with every item described by the Democrats as a ‘female issue’ and I am not a sheep to fall in line for the party. I look forward to voting McCain/Palin in November.
By Nick
August 29, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
FlaLady: There is no comparison of the two. Obama was elected to the Senate from a relatively large, and Mrs. Palin has been elected from one of the smallest states in the union. Not to mention the fact that three years ago she was the mayor of a town with 6000 people while Obama was in the United States Senate. There is absolutely no comparison between the two. Just call her Geraldine Quayle.
By Churchill
August 29, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
Dan Quayle did have more executive experience than Obama, that is true. Palin has more experience than Obama. The libs are upset. They should be. Biden needs to be careful, Palin fact checks. Peace.
By Christopher Estep
August 29, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
She fares very favorably next to Obama or Biden. First of all, neither Obama nor Biden have any executive experience. Regardless of whether it’s 2 years or 2 weeks, that’s still more than Obama or Biden.
Second, in that time, she has had specific achievements that have made a genuine difference in the lives of her constituents. Obama? Biden?
Third, Palin and McCain both have a history of being able to successfully work with people from the other party. Obama has never done that and neither has Biden.
Obama’s senatorial experience has no bearing on his qualifications for president because that was already being planned while he was beating Alan Keyes. I know this first-hand because I lived in IL at the time.
As for an “insult to Hillary supporters,” they need to get over themselves. It’s not always about Hillary Clinton. And I’m sorry, she was never “qualified” to even being in the senate in the first place unless you want to say Laura Bush is qualified, too. Hint: she’s not. Sarah Palin is a maverick in the McCain model and is a perfect complement to him.
Experience and qualifications aren’t everything. Clinton (Bill) had no foreign policy experience and he managed. But then, Carter didn’t either and he was awful. Bush (the first) had the most experience of any candidate in the last 50 years except for Al Gore and Bush was awful too.
What it boils down to is that Democrats never like governors for VP picks. The last person a Democrat selected for VP who wasn’t in congress was Earl Warren in 1948. Even former Maine governor Ed Muskie (68) was a senator at the time.
By Mr. Disbelief
August 29, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
It was shocking to see Sen. McCain pick such an obviously unqualified individual as his running mate as a sad pander to the voters who supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. McCain is 72 years old and has twice battled cancer, but wants to potentially place this nation in the hands of someone who is more ill prepared to be President than any single person I can think of who has been a major party nominee for Vice-President.
Watching Sen. Kay Bailey-Hutchinson interviewed after the news broke of this decision was awkward, at best. Sen. Hutchinson had been vetted (sick of that word) and had to answer questions as to the qualifications of this unfortunate soul who is in way, way over her head. How could a Christy Todd Whitman, Hutchinson, and countless other experienced Republican women be passed over for this truly remarkably unqualified candidate? Governor Palin’s position on abortion is absolutely stone age…no exceptions for rape or incest?!?! Is she nuts? I appreciate that she seems to have what has been called ‘moxie’ and has tried to be an agent of reform in her very sparcely populated state. That being said, I absolutely don’t buy this explanation about her knowing nothing about the improper interference with a state employee in an attemtp to assist her sister in a nasty divorce…plausible deniability anyone??? Truly stunning choice by McCain and absolutely dangerous for this nation if it has come to this!
By Churchill
August 29, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
The libs are neverous. Good. Peace.
By J. Love
August 29, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this
Christopher Estep: great post. I truly appreciate articulate and well-written posts such as yours.
I am a moderate and I haven’t decided on who I would vote for because I am in the middle of researching and waiting. But in the meantime, I appreciate people who write their opinions with flair and verve unlike most posts I see are “Republicans are idiots!” or “Democrats suck!”
By Mike
August 30, 2008 12:54 AM | Link to this
Palin a mother of 5, values country, family, and education. She is a middle class American who looked at a town and did not like how the taxpayers money was being wasted. She saw the same things in her state, and has fought unethical democrats and republicans. She has held the highest approval rating of any US governor. She leads not by political pressure, but by conviction. She strives to do what is right. She may lack the political experience of Mccain, Obama, and Biden. However it would be great to have a real person representing the real people here in America. I admire Mccains choice.
By Joe
August 30, 2008 1:26 AM | Link to this
Not to worry - one cable station said she learns fast and will be ready by Jan.
By allan
August 30, 2008 1:56 AM | Link to this
No worries my Republican friends. McCain was never expected to win…just the fall guy for this election cycle. No need to sullie the resumes of the party elites this go-round. His VP choice is as irrelavent as his candidacy. Obama by landslide.
By BONANNOQBANO
August 30, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
I still don’t understand out off all the Republican women with years in the office and some form of throwing things to the Democratic side pick Mrs. Palin. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, she is currently the most senior Republican woman in the United States Congress. Ros-Lehtinen is the Ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee for the 110th Congress. I can give you a list of Republican Females who could have been pick with knowledge HELLO MS> RICE too. Oh well his choice and it’s okay.
By DaninMacon
August 30, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Palin has more experience than Obama.
By BarnesvilleBetty
August 30, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Mc-oldfart has more experience then George Burns
By Harriet Myers
August 30, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
Something tells me GW had a hand in this, only he could choose so poorly, Dick must have been out shooting his friends again, as for the neanderthal from the frozen tundra she would force rape victims to give birth to the rapist’s baby who thinks the government should make that choice- puleeazze
By Will Jones
August 30, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
As Emeritus Professor David Ray Griffin’s “The New Pearl Harbor” proves to an absolute moral certainty that Bush and Cheney committed 9/11, who then lied us into false war based on “September 11th” and fabricated documents: the war to wage by all patriots is here in America against overt and proven treason…rather than join with thugs and morons chanting “U.S.A.”
“Sarah Barracuda,” who believes a victim of rape or incest should be forbidden an abortion, has now been delivered of a Downs Syndrome child and cited “September 11th” twice in speaking of her unenlightened eldest’s lack of awareness in joining the Army to continue this abomination on behalf of Bush/Cheney’s fascist faction. Perhaps he’s merely a psychopath with a desire to kill more innocents…or perhaps he didn’t enlist in the Army, as Palin stated, but is ensconced in an Alaska Army National Guard unit where his mother the governor will ensure he be shielded from any risk of harm.
She clearly is the “man” of the Palin family and a bit of a psychopath herself.
Married-to-the-Mob McCain is in “good company.” Wonder how many who survived his failed attempt to sink the Forrestal will be casting votes on his behalf?
By Sam1234
August 30, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
At least the is not a sleeper Muslim like Barack Hussein Obama. Everyone know the man is hiding something.
By Sam4321
August 30, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
Forgive my brother (Sam1234)he is a closet Christian, that’s where he drinks, fornicates, sins, and judges.
By lisa
August 30, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
Republicans say “Americans are stupid”.
By lisa
August 30, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
Republicans say “Americans are stupid”.
By Churchill
August 30, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this
The Democrat Party is the party that thinks Americans are stupid. They will say and have said that those who do not support Obama are stupid. Obama also called the conservative leaning working class voters “Bitter/ Clingers.” Nice try Lisa, you lib hack. Peace.
By Churchill
August 30, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this
NaNa booboo what ever you say say liberal person bounces of me and sticks to you. Peace
By John "I respect women" McCain
August 30, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
“At least I don’t plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c—t.”
By Bitter EX democrackkk
August 31, 2008 6:24 AM | Link to this
Everyone knows what a FOOL Amy Morton is!
PLENTY of former Hitlary female supporters are liking Sarah Palin, which Im sure REALLY p*sses off Morton and Morons, Inc. ROFLMAO!
STRIVE to be SMARTER than a democrackkk!
By A reader
August 31, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
One of the funnier e-mails that I have received this season comes from Bill Simon of Cobb County. He puts out a small e-newsletter(called the political vine) that is read by a few junkies in Cobb and a few other places. Not really sure why I looked at this time, but am glad I did. In his e-mail alert he claims to have insider information that McCain is going to pick Romney as his running mate. He bases this on information that an order to a printer has been put in for 10,000 bumber stickers from one of his friends’ companies. In a later e-blast he claims that he was duped and would never talk about any of his clients (???) to others. Below is the text of what he sent after he announced he was in the inside loop of national politics. Get yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy a nice laugh..
“Here’s the scoop: Yesterday morning, an order was placed for 10,000 “McCain-Romney” bumper stickers with a competitor of mine in Georgia. That competitor was known, apparently, by the McCain folks as one likely to not be able to keep a secret (NOTE: I never talk about who my clients are to anyone, would not have leaked the information about such an order, and wouldn’t talk about it to anyone unless released to do so by any client).
SO, word spread around yesterday morning that this order was placed, and thus my reason for yesterday’s e-mail.”
By Deborah LEVY
September 3, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this
As a career professional, from a small town and a big town…with a family with real problems and real needs, I found Sarah Palin far more refreshing, strong, and capable. Her son is in the military, she has a special needs child, her daughter has had to face a life choice, her husband has his own business and he is a union worker. She is a real deal. I think she will not only meet the expectations, but she will exceed them. She is a great compliment to McCain who understands our world from a totally different level. All the “talking heads” will put their criticism and spins on the real deal…but at the end of the day, I am voting for the real deal… and its about time we had some fresh blood in Washington.
By Deborah LEVY
September 4, 2008 12:00 AM | Link to this
As a career professional, from a small town and a big town…with a family with real problems and real needs, I found Sarah Palin far more refreshing, strong, and capable. Her son is in the military, she has a special needs child, her daughter has had to face a life choice, her husband has his own business and he is a union worker. She is a real deal. I think she will not only meet the expectations, but she will exceed them. She is a great compliment to McCain who understands our world from a totally different level. All the “talking heads” will put their criticism and spins on the real deal…but at the end of the day, I am voting for the real deal… and its about time we had some fresh blood in Washington.
By Frax
September 14, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
Bicker from both sides, but what’s the point, Neither Obama nor McCain will receive the same power congress appointed to Bush.
By Bob Bill
October 3, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
Yahoo!!!!!
Palin showed up, and didn’t faint.
She’s the “Winner”
Is America that stupid?
God help us