In some ways, the Palin selection has probably generated more criticisms of McCain from the Left (at least) than any of his other choices would have. The known alternatives — Romney, Lieberman, etc. — were known values, and the criticisms against them already heard, their weaknesses already dissected, and none of it likely to change anyone’s mind.
But by choosing a relative unknown — and one with so many new points to attack (not least of which is McCain’s judgment in choosing her), there’s tons to talk about. Indeed, given the looming disaster on the Gulf Coast, the only silver lining in Hurricane Gustav for the GOP is that it will distract the news cycle away from Palin in a way that the convention simply could not.
So here’s a collection of bits that were just too numerous to fit into a regular Potpourri here (and which you can skip if you are so inclined).
- “That will not work.” | Unscrewing The Inscrutable – Network conservative pundits pooh-poohing the idea, pre-selection, that Palin would be suited for the job.
- Palin: “If Pledge Of Allegiance Was Good Enough For… – I will be charitable and interpret this as her meaning that “Under God” was good enough for the Founding Fathers, not the Pledge of Allegiance itself (which is not only much younger than that, but has had “Under God” in it for fewer than 50 years). Of course, the Founders don’t manage to have put “Under God” into either the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence, so I’m still not sure what she’s going on about.
- Greg Mitchell: Cindy McCain on ABC Today: Palin Has… – Yes, that makes two GOP spokesfolk claiming that Alaska being across the Bering Straits from Russia means that Palin has plenty of foreign policy experience. As soon as they start showing the conferences she’s attended (or arrnaged), the negotiations involved, etc., it might actually be believable. Though, remember, if you repeat a lie often enough, people wll “feel” it’s proof.
- Does Palin Have A Connection To The AIP? – Guilt by association is always dubious, but it’s worth asking the candidate herself. Plus … how much vetting of the candidate did the McCain camp actually do before the selection?
- Eric Schmeltzer: For America, McCain Must Dump Hack… – For having so few years in elected office, she certainly seems to have gathered a nice set of abuse-of-power scandals.
- McCain picks post-denominational Palin – What is Palin’s Christianity. After all the discussion about Obama’s churchgoing and theology, Palin’s record is non-denominational and (policy statements aside) vague. Is that a plus for her?
- Palin’s 17-Year-Old Daughter Is Pregnant – The Caucus Blog – NYTimes.com – On the one hand, a family matter, and one that it sounds like they are handling just fine. On the other hand, wait until the next time someone raises “family values” and “chastity vows” on the evangelical conservative side of things (presumably the whole “women working” thing is finally off the table). Of course, that dichotomy between social policy and political candidate realities hasn’t affected how the party has dealt with gays, despite the current VP having a lesbian daughter.
- Final Palin Post – Warning — this is absolutely a cheap shot, albeit a darkly humorous one.
- Op-Ed Columnist – McCain’s Baked Alaska – Op-Ed -… – McCain has always denegrated “identity politics.” But Palin sure seems to have been chosen primarily for what she is (female, socially conservative) vs what she’s done (um … not much?).
On the other hand: David Rees: Palin: It Wasn’t a Tactical Decision. – If we take McCain at his word, that he didn’t rely on identity politics or elaborate plans — then he simply believes Palin is the best-qualified candidate for VP in the GOP today. That’s … scary on so many levels.