Cali and BatGirl find an unlikely friend.

[BarbaraGordon]

Actually, if I can be serious for once, Kraut has the right idea but the wrong specific. He suggests that in selecting someone who's shiny and pretty and inexperienced, McCain "gratuitously forfeited his most powerful argument against Obama." But that's not exactly true. After all, no one cares quite so much about the nonsubstance or the inexperience of the VP. Choosing a real maverick, a young maverick, a here-and-now maverick -- that's the strength of this pick. I don't think that's a gamble at all.

So where's the risk? Well, consider what made McCain such a surprising and formidable pick for the GOP - it was his moderate-ness, his crossparty appeal, his unalienatingness. And it is that strength, not his claim to experience, that he's jeopardizing with this VP.

McCain has been in Washington for so long that his record is all over the middle 2/3s of the spectrum. He can portray himself as anything he needs to; and, indeed, he has. But with Palin, McCain is forfeiting an awful lot of that freedom. There's no gray with Palin, and her only flip is in her hairdo. There's no getting around that she's a hard-core right-wing social conservative.

McCain was clearly hoping this choice would energize the faction of the GOP base still disgruntled that Huck didn't garner the nomination. And certainly it has. But perhaps more important is whether this pick will alienate those moderates and crossparty voters so critical to McCain's potential success.

Among her positions that may alienate moderates: she is pure pro-life, supporting the prohibition of abortion with almost no exception; she supported the Alaskan amendment banning gay marriage; she is an advocate and even provides incentives for aerial hunting, among the most gruesome forms of the sport (if at that extreme it qualifies as such); and she's among an evangelical sect that New England Americans find absolutely alien in its practices. Though the socially conservative right will be thrilled with her beliefs, the swing voters - those who will in large measure determine this election - will not be as impressed. Whereas before these middle voters were choosing between an extreme liberal ticket and a right-moderate ticket, now they're left choosing between two extremes.

It's a dichotomy McCain himself set up, but honestly I don't know if it's a dichotomy that benefits McCain in the long run.

[MikeWaters]

With the selection of Palin, suddenly McCain - Palin is an "extreme" right-wing ticket?

Going back to the point of Republican elitism ala Krauthammer....we see that typified on our board with the likes of SU. Who is surprised to find out that most people on the board don't have their evening meal prepared by a chef everyday. Who frets endlessly over which private elementary school his child will be accepted into, and is upset that minorities might have an advantage, etc.

These are the Billy Kristols and the George Wills and the Robert Novaks. These are people who if placed in the Republican convention hall will have a tough time sitting next to about 90% of the swarthy noveau delegates.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

Among her positions that may alienate moderates: she is pure pro-life, supporting the prohibition of abortion with almost no exception; she supported the Alaskan amendment banning gay marriage; she is an advocate and even provides incentives for aerial hunting, among the most gruesome forms of the sport (if at that extreme it qualifies as such); and she's among an evangelical sect that New England Americans find absolutely alien in its practices. Though the socially conservative right will be thrilled with her beliefs, the swing voters - those who will in large measure determine this election - will not be as impressed. Whereas before these middle voters were choosing between an extreme liberal ticket and a right-moderate ticket, now they're left choosing between two extremes.

On abortion, he had to pick a pro-life running mate. She's more pro-life than most, but it was inevitable.

On gay marriage, she vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits for the partners of homosexual state employees. Her position is virtually identical to that of Obama's, except for her support of a state amendment.

On aerial hunting...lol!!!!

On her religion, unless she's Mormon, it won't be an issue.

Despite your efforts, I think she'll be fine.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by YOhio

On abortion, he had to pick a pro-life running mate. She's more pro-life than most, but it was inevitable.

On gay marriage, she vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits for the partners of homosexual state employees. Her position is virtually identical to that of Obama's, except for her support of a state amendment.

On aerial hunting...lol!!!!

On her religion, unless she's Mormon, it won't be an issue.

Despite your efforts, I think she'll be fine.

She may well be fine, and she certainly benefits from having a short record on these issues. Because of her brief tenure as governor, her tendency toward the extremes is indicated more by quotes and anecdotes than by votes and vetoes. I was just pointing out that I think this is a bigger risk for McCain than the inexperience issue.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

People are attracted to her "ideas?" Which ones are those? Maybe someday people will be, but for now it seems pretty clear people are attracted to her personalityand religious beliefs.

The ideas we know about: pro-energy, pro-gun, pro-life, and her record of taking on spending and corruption.

Just because she hasn't held a press conference on Iraq doesn't mean she's completely opaque.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

Iraq? Don't forget to include any other issue, like health care, social security, poverty, crime, Georgia, Darfur, AIDS, the Bush Doctrine, education, climate, etc.

Yes, yes. The point is people love her for the issues as much as for the persona.

If only we could say the same about the One.

[Tex]

By the way, the AP is now reporting that with PBS included, 40 million people watched Sarah Palin's speech.

And she's just the VP. Remarkable.

Either we are vastly underestimating Palinomania, or this is a bubble that is about to have a very large pop. It's going to be a fascinating ride.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Tex

By the way, the AP is now reporting that with PBS included, 40 million people watched Sarah Palin's speech.

And she's just the VP. Remarkable.

Either we are vastly underestimating Palinomania, or this is a bubble that is about to have a very large pop. It's going to be a fascinating ride.

part of it is rubber-necking.

Dems did a great job of building the anticipation for her.

[SeattleUte]

I'm not a big fan of Krauthamer. Here's where he's wrong in this column: "The problem is the inherent oddity of the incumbent party running on change." I think this sleight of hand by the McCain campaign is positively brilliant. Krauthamer is a Bush toady and he overestimates McCain's strength pre-Palin and the American people's fondness for George W. Bush.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

...and the American people's fondness for George W. Bush.

???

As evidenced by his overwhelming approval ratings, I suppose.