Thoughts on the Palin Selection
In a way, McCain’s selection of the Alaska Governor makes perfect sense.
First of all, remember that none of the old thinking about VP picks matters anymore. VP choices don’t nail down states or regions. They almost never really put anything new in play as far as the electoral math.
With that in his mind, McCain looks at Governor Palin and sees a younger, female version of himself — a reformer, a maverick. Someone who has taken on the establishment. In particular, I suspect her war against Senator Ted Stevens and his party machine made quite an impression. The fact that she’s female is interesting. And the fact that she is very conservative on social issues means she will play well with the base — where McCain recognizes his own weakness.
Bottom line: McCain looked at Palin and saw a protege, and I think that was the strongest motivator of all.
September 1st, 2008 at September 1, 2008 - 2:37 pm
Marshall, I thinks it’s not only McCain that sees himself in Sarah Palin, but probably many other conservatives do, too. You can’t help but cheer for her, she’s an American dream. I read a story yesterday where Eleanor Clift said that people who worked in newsrooms actually laughed out loud when they heard about McCain’s pick. Well, in all due respect to your esteemed coblogger, that journalists in general will belittle her, just makes me more energized.
I gotta say, to see this military mom turning politics on its ear gives me more than a little hope.
September 9th, 2008 at September 9, 2008 - 10:57 am
Sice McCain is responsible for that attack on the First Amendment known as the Incumbent Protection Act (MicCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform), and has made an ad for “closing the gunshow loophole” that ran in some movie theaters, I hope Saracuda isgoing to be a much more conservative influence on McCain. I don’t want a McCain clone in a dress.
September 9th, 2008 at September 9, 2008 - 10:58 am
Er, *ahem*.. that’s “Since”. (”n” key not working properly.)