Following Every Unsane Leader

by Molly Ivors

Thers and I are at odds over how weird Sarah Palin will be as a VP candidate. He will share with you his main sense of weirdness later today, I'm sure. But for me, the choice boils down to one thing:

They believed the PUMA press.

Thanks, news media, for whipping up a fake frenzy over a few people who are having some trouble letting go of their candidate. As I noted below, I think most people supported Clinton for reasons of policy rather than personality, and by that standard, supporting McCain and his nutty wingnutty running mate because she happens to have a vagina is more insane than jumping at the sound of jingling keys.

But the McCain people fell right into the trap. Thanks!

(Extra bonus points: When he makes a Mondale-like showing, they can blame her! Maybe she should change her name to "Eve.")

Comments

[actor212]

I have no doubt that Palin was chosen in part because of her appeal to PUMAs. And the fact she has a nice rack.

But in truth, Molly, I had heard rumours way back when McCain wrapped up the nomination that he would choose a woman governor (possibly to offset a Hillary candidacy). My problem with that was the only woman governor Republican I knew was Jodi Rell of CT and I thought, no way he's picking pro-choice.

Hell, I didn;t even KNOW Palin existed until yesterday!

[trifecta]

I believe it is a bit more subtle than that based on some experience that I had yesterday.

I have a co-worker who really doesn't want to vote for Obama but she has no good economic reason to do so.

She was thrilled about Palin because it gave her an excuse to be a bigot without admitting that she couldn't vote for a black guy.

She is voting for a woman. This group is not huge, but the type of people who voted not for Hillary, but against Obama will love Palin as an excuse (other than their actual racism) to vote against their own financial interest.

[KLA]

I agree. It will give a lot of evangelicals and uneasy white people who don't see themselves as racist an excuse to avoid the Obama ticket. Still, she is pretty extreme so maybe that will deter some people.

[KLA]

Seems a bit of a slap in the face to people like Hutchinson (sp?) and Dole, though. I would have respected his choice if he had picked a Republican woman with an adequate resume....

[Molly Ivors]

It's Dan Quayle redux.

[nick]

Your entire post is indicative of why you're going to lose and you don't even know it.

[Molly Ivors]

'Sokay, nick. You keep telling yourself that there's no problem with a dumbass fundie gov being the only person who wants to be on this ticket. There, there.

[Rhymes With Right]

Interesting, isn't it, that you folks are willing to define any white person unwilling to vote for Obama as "racist".

What is the word for the 90+ percent of blacks unwilling to even consider a vote for John McCain because Obama is black?

I ask because a great many black voters are clearly engaging in race-based voting (and openly admit it), while the white voters in question are able to point to other reasons (even if they don't meet YOUR criteria for being a good reason) for voting for McCain.

But you guys go ahead and keep screaming "racist" at McCain voters -- but recognize that in doing so you will degrade and devalue the term to the point that using it against REAL racists engaged in REAL acts of racism will not have any impact because of the way in which you have debased its actual meaning in pursuit of Obama's election.

[Anna Granfors]

RWR:
Perhaps I make too much of too little here, but:

But you guys go ahead and keep screaming "impeach" at the Bush administration -- but recognize that in doing so you will degrade and devalue the term to the point that using it against REAL criminals engaged in REAL acts of crime will not have any impact because of the way in which you have debased its actual meaning in pursuit of Bush Derangement.

What the hell is the matter with you people? I mean, really?

[DrDick]

What is the word for the 90+ percent of blacks unwilling to even consider a vote for John McCain
Gee, could that possibly be because he advocates policies that would harm blacks? Maybe because he supports trying to prevent blacks from voting? Or perhaps because he has engaged in active (if slightly coded) race-baiting?

As to allegations that some McCain voters are motivated by racism, that is based on the fact that many have openly said that they would not vote for a black man. Nothing racist in that at all, now is there? Nobody ever said all McCain supporters are racists. Some are just brain damaged.

[DrDick]

Sorry about the italics. Stoopit html codes.

[Righteous Bubba]

What is the word for the 90+ percent of blacks unwilling to even consider a vote for John McCain because Obama is black?

Note that Obama is a Democrat.

[TomMil]

For some reason, I won't be holding my breath waiting for a reporter to ask her how she would respond if the President called her, "a cunt."

You think that would be the first question to a female Obama running mate if there was ever a similar allegation?

[TomMil]

fixed?

[TomMil]

now?

[Davis]

Getting back to the subject at hand, I think you've nailed it. Call yourself a PUMA and get on TV. I wonder how many are closet Republicans.

[theperilouspea]

That is just like a liberal to confuse an argument with logic , infuriating AAAHHHH !
Simultaneously entering a party designation in a racist issue . If the debate wanted the knowledge of which is party is an exclusive one , while bein' fearful , considering how ascairt the tight fit the eye of the needle might be , the debate would follow that . Can I make that any plainer ! ? (The invisible Han anyone ?)
Sigh ...
But Nooo someone always has to point out Stupid Stupid Stupid facts . Facts which if you paid ANY attention the realisation would dawn, Hullo ! , that facts are constitutionally unable to change !
So if you want change , STOP ! pandering to facts . That and party designations , then vote for the people who have for the last twenty years successfully brought up down !
Details on my website , < why pie is so tasty . com >

[Me]

What is the word for the 90+ percent of blacks unwilling to even consider a vote for John McCain because Obama is black?

"Nonexistent".

If you know any actual blacks, you might ask them some time how they feel about Clarence Thomas.

[Me]

Italics not mine.

[actor212]

http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/11374.html

Oops! Looks like she'll be OFF the ticket faster than she got ON the ticket!

[Jemand von Niemand]

Even here in The San Francisco, our local ABC [read: Disney] affiliate continued keeping the PUMA myth alive, showing clips of Palin in her acceptance speech (specifically, praising Hillary, then saying "The women of America aren't finished yet").

This segued into an interview with a woman who the segment identified as a supporter of Clinton during the Primaries. She said Obama "just didn't do it" for her, and that she would consider voting for McCain because of Palin.

The clear suggestion was that she represented the obvious hordes of angry, angry women the Village media keeps saying are an election wild card.

The interview apparently took place in the woman's living room, and beyond showing her name, ABC gave no reason for speaking with her. If she had been a Bay Area organizer for Clinton, there might have provided some context for her appearance -- but so far as I know, she could have been picked at random on the street.

This is a nonstory, not even a head-fake; but I suspect we'll hear Cokie and MoDo and BoBo and Tommy and Broder and Klein and Kristol and Limbaugh and Weiner and Rich and Dan Gibson, and all the usual Faux suspects continue to bring it up, right until the day before the election.

Even after they've had their asses handed to them, they'll keep saying it.

[masculine_monica_nyc]

They believed the PUMA press.

Sure, but Obama's campaign also believed the National Security press in picking Biden.

I see both the parties' veep picks as cynical political plays that will work with certain constituencies and seem ridiculous to others. McPOW is trying to solidify his base; Obama is trying to reassure the media that foreign policy will remain status quo. Not to say that Biden and Palin are ridiculous for the same reasons or to the same extent.

[aimai]

I'm sorry, who thinks that Biden is a "cynical political play...ridiculous to others?" I haven't heard *anyone* argue that. Biden is widely acknowledged to be a well respected elder statesman, foreign policy expert, fully vetted financially and socially, and ready to take office day one. Palin is a part term governor of a small population state, unvetted (McCain's people just went up to alaska to find out about her current corruption situation), unversed in national or international politics. She was an affirmative action female and christian choice. She *stands for* and "embodies" a christian,right wing identity because of her personal history as a mother of a downs syndrome baby. She has never had any religious or other professional role. Has no particularly stellar role in pushing policy issues. And she hasn't done anything--including keeping her downs syndrome child--that literally thousands of other pro choice, lesbian, and gay families haven't done withotu asking to be rewarded with the vice presidential slot. *I've* had two babies and didn't consider abortion--why didn't mccain pick me?

aimai

[masculine_monica_nyc]

I'm sorry, who thinks that Biden is a "cynical political play...ridiculous to others?" I haven't heard *anyone* argue that.

Okay. It's just me then. I think Biden is a ridiculous choice. But, who cares, really? It's not like it's going to make me vote for McPOW.

[flory]

Absolutely. I've been saying since the pick was announced that McBush got punk'd but good.

He made this choice based on:
1)drinking the PUMA koolaid
2)trying to blunt the Obama convention bounce and win the news cycle.

There were no more serious considerations.

She is voting for a woman. This group is not huge, but the type of people who voted not for Hillary, but against Obama will love Palin as an excuse (other than their actual racism) to vote against their own financial interest.

Those people were always going to vote for McBush anyway -- regardless of what they tell the pollsters. The secret bigot is no less a bigot than the out and proud bigot.

So if that was McBush's rationale, he pretty much wasted his pick.

[SamFromUtah]

There were no more serious considerations.

I think there was one - the Jesus-with-a-dinosaur-saddle crowd seems to like Palin.

[Tehanu]

What is the word for the 90+ percent of blacks unwilling to even consider a vote for John McCain because Obama is black?

Clearsighted? Democrats? or (in more than one word) people who can tell when a candidate works against their interests?

I wonder how many of those black voters DIDN'T vote for John Kerry just because he was white? oh wait...

[va]

To me Sarah Palin is a lunatic's idea of a daring move.

[pseudonymous in nc]

1. She's shorter than McAnus.

2. Lorne Michaels' $2300 donation was in return for Tina Fey guest SNL spots.

3. $100m buys you a lot of meth.

[pseudonymous in nc]

I'm a pale motherfucker, but if I were black, I'd consider voting for McCain and his party of race-baiting fuckheads for approximately a femtosecond.

Self-interest, motherfuckers. Isn't that something Republicans approve of?

[rea]

drinking the PUMA koolaid

The odd thing is, this PUMA thing is largely a Republican propaganda operation. Now they're acting like they beleive their own propaganda.

Of course, that's how this crowd got us into a war in Iraq, too . . .