With the choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Veep candidate, McCain has certainly shaken up the race.
Here are some early thoughts on the possible pluses and minuses of the pick:
STEALING THE THUNDER GRADE: A+
The announcement, coming only half a day after Barack Obama’s night at the Dem’s convention, grabbed the headlines and the political chatter away from what most commentators are calling a brilliant speech.
A SECRET OR A SWITCH? GRADE: Incomplete
Was Gov. Palin McCain’s choice all along (or at least all week) or did he make a last minute switch in reaction to Obama’s performance? The answer is sure to emerge within the next few weeks.
If it was the choice all along, McCain gets A+ for keeping secrets.
If it was a switch, McCain gets an F for allowing the Dem’s to scare him into making what will be seen as a desperation play.
VETTED? GRADE: Incomplete
If Gov. Palin was a late choice, was she fully vetted?
The purpose for vetting process is to find out any possible embarrassments in the candidates past – did he duck the draft, did she write an outrageous book, what about drugs, drunk driving, membership in the Communist Party?
If she was vetted (or not vetted, but squeaky clean), no problem. If not, rut roh.
POSITIONS GRADE: Mixed
Governor Palin’s conservative positions on abortion and other social issues and her NRA membership will help McCain with his base (and probably won’t have much effect on moderates).
Her support for a Windfall Profits Tax on oil companies may give McCain a bit of agita.
Her environmental record is somewhat mixed - pro-drilling in protected areas, anti-polar bear protection, but on most other environmental issues (and as an out-doors-woman and hunter) has a green record.
IMAGE GRADE: A+ (but final grade isn’t in)
Reformer, young, attractive, son headed for Iraq. May have an ethics problem back in Juneau, but could prove minor.
ONE HEART BEAT FACTOR GRADE: F
Mayor of a small town, less than two years as Governor – this throws the “Obama is inexperienced argument” out the window. No national or foreign affairs bona fides.
Vice-Presidential inexperience is not usually a giant factor, but McCain’s age and health make the “one heart beat away from the Presidency” factor extremely important.
If she survives the debate with Biden (even if she loses on points) this will be a victory. If she gets blown out of the water the pain will come.
THE GENDER FACTOR GRADE B
McCain will get points for the novelty of the choice. Some female independents (and perhaps some number of unhappy Hillary Dem’s) will be won over. However, if the choice ends up being framed as a desperation move or as pandering, it will hurt. Pandering is the heart of politics, but you’re not allowed to be seen doing it.
McCain may lose some anti-female Neanderthals to Bob Barr or “None-of-the-above.”
OVERVIEW
The choice was a definite short term gain, but may be a negative in the long term. What we learn over the next few weeks will decide. Was she a last-minute switch, will it be seen as a fresh idea or a desperation move, did the vetting miss any land mines, is she ready to have every part of her life scrutinized, can she present herself as ready to take over the Presidency?
Anybody think this election isn’t interesting?
Here are some early thoughts on the possible pluses and minuses of the pick:
STEALING THE THUNDER GRADE: A+
The announcement, coming only half a day after Barack Obama’s night at the Dem’s convention, grabbed the headlines and the political chatter away from what most commentators are calling a brilliant speech.
A SECRET OR A SWITCH? GRADE: Incomplete
Was Gov. Palin McCain’s choice all along (or at least all week) or did he make a last minute switch in reaction to Obama’s performance? The answer is sure to emerge within the next few weeks.
If it was the choice all along, McCain gets A+ for keeping secrets.
If it was a switch, McCain gets an F for allowing the Dem’s to scare him into making what will be seen as a desperation play.
VETTED? GRADE: Incomplete
If Gov. Palin was a late choice, was she fully vetted?
The purpose for vetting process is to find out any possible embarrassments in the candidates past – did he duck the draft, did she write an outrageous book, what about drugs, drunk driving, membership in the Communist Party?
If she was vetted (or not vetted, but squeaky clean), no problem. If not, rut roh.
POSITIONS GRADE: Mixed
Governor Palin’s conservative positions on abortion and other social issues and her NRA membership will help McCain with his base (and probably won’t have much effect on moderates).
Her support for a Windfall Profits Tax on oil companies may give McCain a bit of agita.
Her environmental record is somewhat mixed - pro-drilling in protected areas, anti-polar bear protection, but on most other environmental issues (and as an out-doors-woman and hunter) has a green record.
IMAGE GRADE: A+ (but final grade isn’t in)
Reformer, young, attractive, son headed for Iraq. May have an ethics problem back in Juneau, but could prove minor.
ONE HEART BEAT FACTOR GRADE: F
Mayor of a small town, less than two years as Governor – this throws the “Obama is inexperienced argument” out the window. No national or foreign affairs bona fides.
Vice-Presidential inexperience is not usually a giant factor, but McCain’s age and health make the “one heart beat away from the Presidency” factor extremely important.
If she survives the debate with Biden (even if she loses on points) this will be a victory. If she gets blown out of the water the pain will come.
THE GENDER FACTOR GRADE B
McCain will get points for the novelty of the choice. Some female independents (and perhaps some number of unhappy Hillary Dem’s) will be won over. However, if the choice ends up being framed as a desperation move or as pandering, it will hurt. Pandering is the heart of politics, but you’re not allowed to be seen doing it.
McCain may lose some anti-female Neanderthals to Bob Barr or “None-of-the-above.”
OVERVIEW
The choice was a definite short term gain, but may be a negative in the long term. What we learn over the next few weeks will decide. Was she a last-minute switch, will it be seen as a fresh idea or a desperation move, did the vetting miss any land mines, is she ready to have every part of her life scrutinized, can she present herself as ready to take over the Presidency?
Anybody think this election isn’t interesting?
32 comments:
Did she encourage one of her staffers to apply pressure on a state trooper to get him fired, a trooper who was divorcing her sister...hmmn?
It is horrible that we do not have any great candidates on either side of the aisle, as far as I am concerned they all are nothing to rave about.
Uncle
Where is your make the grade piece on Biden?
Biden is quite well known and his pluses and minuses have been discussed for years.
We all had the chance to hear him answer hundreds of questions at that endless series of Dem debates.
Palin is very much an unknown quantity.
Obama/ Biden are sounding more & more like the better choice.
Also, Do you think ,Hannah will reach us?
Who the heck is Hannah?
Hannah Barbera?
Looks like Hanna will. I heard that in honor of its coming, Woodbury Day has been cancelled. More tax dollars down the drain.
What tax dollars? Do you even know how Woodbury Day is funded?
What does Sarah Palin have to do with Woodbury Day? See, dear Uncle, you cannot have intelligent blogging on subjects other than Woodbury on this site!
You can't have intelligent blogging on this site at all.
It seems that the uncle is failin'
when it comes to Palin,
To see what she can do.
The dems see her at most,
as merely McCain's ghost,
Too bad she's red not blue!
OH, please! She used to belong to a group that wanted Alaska to separate from the US, and now she wants to be the VP? That's a bit strange and another strange thing, what is with her kids names?
One is named HANNAH
See, the circle is complete.
u people r f@#king idiots
Yeah, but we're funny. Not like you boring old nanies. You have been whining the same crap for years. Face it, Woodbury is not the town/village it once was.It's gone. Other towns look at you and say "Let this NOT happen to us."
I hate to say it, but every town has it narrow minded old farts! Woodbury does seem to have more than their fair share however.
OK, the discussion was supposed to be about a female, but since we're resisting politics on the national level, how about the state level. So here we have this "race" between Nancy Calhoun and that jackass from Cornwall, Dick Randazzo (appropriate first name). He has the nerve to campaign in Woodbury after backing at least two lawsuits against us hardworking taxpayers in Woodbury!! Nancy Calhoun has stood up to KJ,helped to reinforce home rule and has always been their to help Woodbury and its citizens, while Dick on the other hand (much like his Republican pal Caruso) offers that slick smile and handshake while firmly planting the knife in your back. He likes to tell you everything that's wrong with the system but offers NO substantial resolution. Now he sends out this bullcrap flyer saying that Nancy is "the millionaires' champion"...what nonsense. She has worked tirelessly for ALL, regardless of where their income level falls. And here's a newsflash Dick- we here in Woodbury happen to think that HOME RULE is a GOOD thing, and we LIKE politicians who HELP OUR TOWN/VILLAGE- NOT those who file frivolous lawsuits against us, steal even MORE tax dollars from our pockets and then without a hint of shame ask us for our vote! Go back to Cornwall, DICK!
Well said!!! Ferret face Randazzo is only out to help himself and will say what he thinks the people, no, the bullies want to hear!
Here is a prime example of how NANCY CALHOUN is willing to stand up and fight! You go girl!!
Audit requested for Kiryas Joel’s $10.5M center
By Chris Mckenna
September 11, 2008
BLOOMING GROVE — Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun announced Wednesday that she has asked the state comptroller and attorney general to investigate a Kiryas Joel building project that has gotten $10.5 million in state and federal grants.
The Blooming Grove Republican wants the two Democratic officials to audit the project to see if the funds were properly spent. She released copies of her identical letters to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, both dated Aug. 25. Her request follows a Times Herald-Record story July 20 that reported on the project that got no-strings-attached state grants. Village officials estimated the project would cost $3.5 million and be finished by 2004 when they applied for their first state grant in 2001. The cost has since ballooned to $11.4 million, paid for largely with discretionary grants from then-Gov. Pataki and other allies.
cmckenna@th-record.com
Nancy is one of the few elected officials that actually looks out for Woodbury!
Back to Palin- anyone catch her joke of an interview with Gibson? She proved why she should NOT be one heartbeat away from the presidency. Maybe McCain just wants her there for CPR?
It seems that McCain wants Palin,
for a campaign he thought might be failin'
So he wanted to revive,
and seem more alive,
Even though many, against her, are railin'!!!!!
She likes to hunt the great critter,
she definitely won't wear glitter,
but she is not the one,
to hold up to the sun,
as a liberated woman's transmitter.
Your poems SUCK. Don't quit your day job.
Brodsky paid the Town's share of the first Article 78, not the taxpayers. I wonder why?
As for hotness, she's Grade A
You think he has a job ?????
while some may not appreciate,
words that borders on great,
the truth hits hard,
so play the criticism card,
and just be left to your unimaginative fate!
And don't quit YOUR day job hahahahaha!!!!!!!
Can anyone tell me Who Is Uncle Betty? And Why this HE/SHE knows it all?
I am Uncle Betty
No, I am Uncle Betty!
VOTE DEMOCRAT!!!
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