Why Palin is the Right Choice for Republican VP
Given the weak field of Republican vice presidential candidates, it was inevitable that McCain’s final decision would raise some eyebrows. The selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin did not disappoint. It did, however, add its own twist; instead of skepticism, the brows bear the mark of confusion. The befuddlement is almost palpable.
Still, no matter how unlikely it seems at first glance, further examination clarifies, and more than redeems, the choice. This is not to say that McCain’s found a gem, or that Dems rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of a Biden/Palin debate are jumping the gun. It simply means that, unsatisfied with the contestants in its tallest midget contest, McCain & Co. went out and found a taller midget.
Before I present my case for Palin as the right choice, I suggest you read Alex Thurston’s concise and crippling look at the Mav’s other options. If you already know how poor the crop was this year, continue apace.
- The Maverick and his Wing-Woman
An effective critique against McCain this election cycle has been that he is McSame, simply a continuation of the last 8 years of failed policy. It’s effective cause it’s true, but Palin as VP somewhat mitigates the force of the argument. She is a face that is ”both fresh and fierce.” In a sense (the geographical kind) she is the ultimate Washington outsider (unless, of course, Hawaii is further — I haven’t run the numbers). She gives pundits the opportunity to paint Biden’s ample DC experience as a liability, to paint him as the insider. Sure, it’s a weak counter-attack, but Republicans have effectively used weaker material in the past.
- Got Change?
Perhaps more importantly, and more obviously, Sarah Palin breaks up Obama’s monopoly on change in this election. Whichever side gets elected, we can claim a significant step forward as a nation. Also, as Ian pointed out, Palin may shore up some of those HRC supporters who lusted after a female in the White House.
- Grounding the McCain Campaign
The McCain campaign has reveled in its down-to-earth appeal, knowing the middle-class is key to any general election. It paints Obama as the out-of-touch celebrity, McCain as the humble war hero. But, with the recent attention given to McCain’s definition of rich, his ignorance of the palaces he keeps, and the transformation of his Straight-Talk Express to the No-Talk Jet, the appeal’s been tarnished. Palin’s the perfect spit-shine; She fishes. She hunts. She started her career as a sportswriter. Her eldest son Track enlisted in the army on September 11, 2007, and, in a perfect media moment, will be deployed to Iraq on September 11, 2008. Her husband is a champion snowmobile racer, and is often referred to in Alaska as First Dude. Lastly, as an added bonus for those who are worried that McCain would lose the evangelical flock, Palin is a conservative Christian who opposes abortion.
In short, for all her inexperience, Palin brings some formidable qualities to the table. Her selection is a nod to the reality of the American electorate in some key states and, once the dust clears, I think it’ll be apparent that McCain made the best of his limited options.
- Original article
- FILED UNDER: Guest Blogger
- August 29, 2008








Who's Palin? McSame would like you to take the time to find out.
Because the more time you/I/pundits/reporters are talking about and investigating Palin, the less time we are talking about and investigating the many ways in which McSame would continue four more years of Bush policies.
This pick serves as a distraction, and not much more.
We would be utterly foolish to allow ourselves to be dragged into a debate over her.
This election is about the choice between:
Four more years of the same?
OR...
Four new years of change?
Repeat, ad infinitum.
____________________
"We can bomb the world to pieces, but we can't bomb it into peace."
"Power to the peaceful..." --Franti
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By SJerseyIndyAugust 29, 2008 - 5:53pmOh knock off the bullshit!
You have been here for months doing nothing but disrupting and trying to wreak havoc in the Dem party. You got your way. Because of the way you right wingers worked the caucuses, you got the candidate that you wanted, the only candidate who will lose to McCain. At least fuckin admit it.
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By hufflarry2000August 29, 2008 - 7:15pmJersey is a rightwinger?
Is that code for triple-lefty?
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By AntillectualAugust 29, 2008 - 7:26pmBy hufflarry2000August 29, 2008 - 8:15pm
There you go again...
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By f u bush2August 29, 2008 - 8:53pmHuff,
If you don't like Obama, go vote for McSame.
Clinton lost. Get over it. One can win delegates in either primaries or caucuses (in some states like Texas, you can win them in both or either). The simple fact is Team Clinton did not have a long-haul plan; they expected to have the nomination sewn up in their favor by Super Tuesday. If she does such a poor job planning her campaign, what makes you think she'd be a better president than Obama?
I must give Hillary credit however. Her speech to the convention was an out-of-the-park home run (as was Obama's), and she earned back some of my respect for her donning of the team colors. I almost forgive her for her statements that claimed that McSame was qualified to be president and Obama wasn't. Since 74 is the new 60, I guess Hillary will have a good chance to succeed Obama in 2016.
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By blogbobAugust 29, 2008 - 10:36pmYou need professional help.
Seek it out yourself before you're involuntarily committed.
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error. ~~~John Kenneth Galbraith
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By nonexistent manAugust 30, 2008 - 1:35amBy SJerseyIndyAugust 29, 2008 - 6:53pm
"This pick serves as a distraction, and not much more."
I suspect she is more. Personally, I think she is an embarrassment akin the Harriet Miers. But I am an anti-neo-con and I am extremely biased. Apparently (and I stress apparently) she is firing up the base. So says Rush et al.
Regardless, I would say that she will provide those who maintain the courage to say it, ample opportunity to say ENOUGH.
I was not there but ENOUGH had supreme resonance.
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By Dr_BillionaireAugust 30, 2008 - 11:27amBingo... another bulls-eye, Doc.
Harriet Meirs all over again.
The nomination is a fucking insult.
An insult to the office, an insult to our founders, AN INSULT TO WOMEN...
A pistol packin', beauty-queen, media-kitten, religious zealot flat-earther... Excuse me while I vomit.
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By A GAugust 30, 2008 - 3:11pmVery good point
they do like the "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain" game. Like "magicians" waving that one hand around so that you miss the other one going into your pockets.
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By justintymeAugust 29, 2008 - 6:09pmPalin as Veep
I agree with Sen. McCain's choice. I think Gov. Palin is a perfect running mate for him. Give the guy a break! After all, he spent 5 years in a prisoner of war camp. I cannot wait for the debate between the candidates! Sincerely, Grace DeLorenzo-Vyborny, aka Lady in Prague
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By VybornaAugust 29, 2008 - 6:54pmWhyizzit
that 5 years in a POW camp is always quoted to expunge the Repugnican candidate of any need to act in a responsible manner?
Case in point: McCain chased his current wife around the hors d'ouerve table at a party (by her own admission on the "Tonight Show") while he was still inconveniently married to the woman who bore him kids and waited for 5 years for him while he was a POW. The first Mrs. McCain was in a horrible car accident and infirm at the time. John Edwards got excoriated for acting in a similar fashion just a few weeks ago. But McCain? Cut him a break! He was a POW for 5 years! Who cares that he committed the sam sin for which Bill Clinton was persecuted by the Whacko Right? Remember: the Mantra of the Repugnican Party is: "Do as we say, not as we do!"
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By blogbobAugust 31, 2008 - 10:56pmNew Role for Janeane Garafolo!!!
Put Katherine Harris on the shelf of memories and
please consider a new imitation!
I want to hear Janeane do the most amazing Sarah Palin imitation: hockey mom; condom distribution; teenage pregnancy; virgin birth; the polar bears; global warming; drill, drill, drill, Pappy McCain....
Yes, she can.
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By smartcookienycAugust 29, 2008 - 7:00pmDoes anyone else
think at some point during the VP debates that Palin will yank off her glasses, rip off her clothes and look something like this?
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/original/Lynda-Carter---Wonder-Wom...
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By AntillectualAugust 29, 2008 - 7:22pmSigh.... Men. "Every gun
Sigh....
Men.
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." Dwight Eisenhower
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By MichtouAugust 29, 2008 - 8:38pmhey michtou...
...watch McCain's eyes at the vp announcement see how they wonder up and down!
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By wmt62August 30, 2008 - 10:43amHe's right (wmt)
I saw that too! I still believe he thought that he was picking his 3rd wife
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By justintymeAugust 30, 2008 - 11:14amBy AntillectualAugust 29, 2008 - 8:22pm
LOL!
She'd better make sure that she doesn't accidentally wrap herself in her "truth lasso" beforehand.
Support the Troops.
End the Occupation.
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By Guy FawkesAugust 29, 2008 - 9:35pmWonder Woman
Nah. She's part of the Whacko Far Right. She probalby will appear in the Repugnican version of a Bhurka every chance she gets. You know, like the women at the Texas compound...?
Does anyone else find it interesting that Obama is NOT qualified because of his inexpereince, yet Governor Palin IS qualified, for the same reason? I guess it's becuase:
1. She favors drilling in ANWR;
2. She is in the pocket of the oil companies;
3. She favors drilling in ANWR;
4. She is pro-life (at least until one challenges the constitutionality of private gun ownership)
5. She favors drilling in ANWR;
6. She's not BLACK
7. She favors drilling in ANWR;
8. She's opposed to all social programs...except those that benefit her;
9. She favors drilling in ANWR;
10. She's not a Democrat;
11. She favors drilling in ANWR;
12. She knows that the world was created by divine act at high noon on a given day about 4004 BC;
13. She favors drilling in ANWR;
14. She knows that men are not descended from simian primates;
15. She favors drilling in ANWR.
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By blogbobAugust 29, 2008 - 10:48pmblogbob
1. Thats in her favor.
2. Oil is a large source of income and jobs in her state. That does not mean she is "in the oil companies pocket.
3. See one.
4. Another point in her favor. And how you jump from being against the mass slaughter of unborn children to gun control is totally absurd.
5. See one
6. So, your a racist. You judge people by the color of their skin, rather than the content of their minds and character.
7. See one
8. She is not against social programs. She against federaly mandated social programs.
9. See one.
10. See one
11. See one
12.She reads the same bible and holds the same religeous beliefs as Obama.
13. See one
14.See 12.
15. See one
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By naacprepAugust 30, 2008 - 9:26pmSo, your saying that if Palin is qualified, than so is Obama?
So, your saying that if Palin is not qualified, than Obama is not qualified?
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By naacprepAugust 30, 2008 - 9:42pmBy naacprepAugust 30, 2008 - 10:42pm
No we are saying you're a dummy.
hatey is a mental midget.
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By f u bush2August 30, 2008 - 9:56pmBy naacrap August 30, 2008 - 10:42pm
Hi Again, Dummy!
hatey, you're an idiot... no matter which sock puppet you inhabit!
Bye, Dummy!
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By othelloAugust 30, 2008 - 10:08pmBy naacprepAugust 30, 2008 - 10:42pm
No, I'm saying if it is a false dilemma, than it must be true.
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By Dr_BillionaireAugust 30, 2008 - 11:06pmBUSTED!!!!!!!
Apparently SOMEONE started changing Gov Palins Wikipedia page @ 24 hrs BEFORE she was announced as VEEP. And it was in her favor!! Go figure
Thanks for the WW anti!!!!!
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By justintymeAugust 29, 2008 - 8:16pmBusted, Indeed, Justin!
Palin's Wikipedia Entry Gets Overhaul
by Yuki Noguchi
All Things Considered, August 29, 2008 ·
If you happened to check Sarah Palin's Wikipedia entry Thursday, you might have had a good tip about today's announcement. Someone — and apparently it was just one person — felt like the existing biography wasn't appropriate for a vice-presidential candidate.
Follow the link and you can listen to the whole story ( 3:28 ):
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94118849
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By othelloAugust 29, 2008 - 9:16pmBiden's was changed also. Matter of fact, a whole year vanished.
blogrunner.com/
clipmarks.com
newsbusters.org
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By momofukuAugust 30, 2008 - 2:13pmBy momofukuAugust 30, 2008 - 3:13pm
Yep and it's the same guy behind both. He's the author of McCain's Georgian policy.
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By Dr_BillionaireAugust 30, 2008 - 3:05pmI don't think so, Dr.
You can back up your statement I suppose?
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By naacprepAugust 30, 2008 - 9:28pmYou can back up your statement I suppose?
I had posted the proof on Wikipedia. But that same dude took it down.
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By Dr_BillionaireAugust 30, 2008 - 11:01pmAll that's necessary
...is to look at the editing history of the page in question. Anyone can change the content of a page, but it takes someone with administrative access to delete the revision history.
Do a comparison of the revision histories between McCain, Palin, Obama and Biden. The results could prove enlightening.
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error. ~~~John Kenneth Galbraith
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By nonexistent manAugust 31, 2008 - 4:16amBy nonexistent
Nice....There are still little tidbits to glean from the manicured histories left us.
For example, Palin's marrying her husband 7 years after "going steady", and the discrepancy between their marriage date and the birth date of their firstborn.
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By dewbie dubaiAugust 31, 2008 - 7:19amBy momodouchebag August 30, 2008 - 3:13pm
Hi Again, Dummy!
hatey, you really are an idiot... and your stupid links don't work. Now, please fuck off and die!
Bye, Dummy!
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By othelloAugust 30, 2008 - 8:22pmThe hypocrisy and Cynicism of McCain
McCain blew it, which is fine by me, and what I expected. The analysis is really very simple when you think about it, and the pluses he's grasping for fall far short of the negatives that are obvious:
1. he's pandering to a few categories:
* "disaffected Hillary voters." first, there aren't as many around as he thinks. Second, a small percentage are gonna fall for an idiotic pander that tells them, well, you can't vote for a woman who shares your core beliefs relative to women's issues and other things, so come vote for our very 'new' and 'exciting' and 'fresh' woman who VICIOUSLY disagrees with your core beliefs to the point of supporting an assault on them. To whit, fundamentally: a woman's right to choose. I predict most of them will find this offensive and his goal of luring them will fall short. IF he wanted a woman AND he wanted experience, there were options in his party, like Kay Baily Hutchinson, Elizabeth Dole, and others. So obviously, he had no intention of picking the best qualified woman in his party, and that is an insult to Hillary supporters, whose candidate WAS highly qualified.
*Evangelicals. This is a gift to them--one who shares their out of the mainstream views and is fanatical about them. this will make the hardcore sorts happy, but her lack of foreign policy gravitas will fail to bring them out in the Bushian numbers needed to give him any shot at winning the election.
*"The West" --some folks might be familiar with her and it might help here or there. but, let's face it, most of the west, unlike Alaska, is so hugely Latino, minority, and economically stressed that the dream of pulling them all over based on this obscure woman so that McCain doesn't lose Nevada, Colorado, or New Mexico is unlikely. He'll lose 1-3 of those states for sure, no matter who his running mate is.
2. he's wholly ceded his 'experience' argument, as has been well documented. Not only that, this man firmly declared that 'the war on terror is the fundamental and overriding issue of our time,' and today, he declared that if something happens to him, he wants this obscure hockey mom with NO foreign policy experience, who doesn't even know HIS policies, to take charge of it. This is so obviously hypocrisy and pander that even many of his lukewarm supporters are gonna be sick and, I predict, sit this one out.
3. instead, he's made this choice in a rather feeble move to overtake Obama on the "change" issue. but it IS feeble. All Obama's team has to do is illustrate clearly her positions: ULTRA right wing/ULTRA Evangelical on social issues, and NEOCON and INEXPERIENCED on foreign policy, with poor judgment. this is now the TICKET they are presenting as an option to Obama/Biden. That's what we already have, and thus, does not represent any kind of change. Quite the opposite.
So, to sum up: he fails the change test compared to his opponent who is endorsing actual positions that fundamentally shift from where we are today; he cedes his only card--the experience card; and he glaringly panders to groups who can largely see through it in most cases.
Oh, and he doesn't even know the woman--obviously a heartfelt choice, and I use the term loosely. Mccain, as Obama said, does NOT have particularly good judgment, either politically or in terms of what's best for our country. Obama WILL be our President, thankfully.
MG
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By thegmanAugust 29, 2008 - 8:59pmwell said
I think the election is over, and Obama won by a landslide.
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By blogbobAugust 29, 2008 - 10:53pmExhibit A: A Classic Case of Leftist Ideological Blindness
In your ideological blindness, you conveniently forget how McCain and those who support him have rightfully pointed how how ULTRA LEFT Obama is and, in fact, is the most left-leaning Senator, who's even further left than Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont (who's a socialist), according to National Journal and the Americans for Democratic Action. You also forget to mention how conservatives have rightfully pointed out how Obama spent 20 years in a church run by an acerbic and hatefilled bigot, masquerading as a minister, had close financial dealings with a convicted felon, and started his career in the house of two unrepetent terrorists, who would be in prison now - had it not been for a legal technicality, and whose book (written by the unrepentent male terrorist, Bill Ayers of Weatherman Underground infamy) Obama promoted.
And, oh - by the way - that hockey mom your blathering and slobbering all over yourself about - she has more experience running large organizations, like a um, ah, a STATE than the articulate, yet empty suit you want as President, who, in comparison to Palin, has never managed more than a few dozen people - at the most - comprising his State and then U.S. Senate staffs!
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By SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 2:48amNothing wrong with the ultra- left.
But Obama isn't a leftist.
Trust me, even Rupert Murdoch likes the guy.
As for the rest of your post, it sounds like this... blah, blah, blah, talking point, talking point, projection, projection.
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By thaelmann37August 30, 2008 - 9:30amHow does Murdoch liking Obama equate to Obama
not being a ultra leftist? Obama's record is very far left, politically. And I'm sure he is a nice person. I don't see what one has to do with the other. Its absurd to think, say or believe that just because someone on the right likes someone on the left, that means the lefty is not a lefty.
And talking points are just that. Things to be talked about. It's called discussion. I guess you feel that only you can decide which talking points are worthy of discussion. That sounds mighty elitist.
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By momofukuAugust 30, 2008 - 2:24pmBy momofukuAugust 30, 2008 - 3:24pm
Hi dummy
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By f u bush2August 30, 2008 - 2:28pmBy f u bush2August 30, 2008 - 3:28pm
*clinks your chardonay*
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By Dr_BillionaireAugust 30, 2008 - 3:00pmby momofuckyou
Obama is not far left, he is mainstream. It is you who is so far right that you think Hitler is a liberal. Stop posting lies. Obama's positions are accepted by the vast majority of Americans. That makes him mainstream.
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By hufflarry2000August 30, 2008 - 2:31pmtalking points are not conversational aids
they are spin. Nothing more nothing less. They are generated by the party insiders and distributed to their minions in the supposedly liberal media and through viral emails for the purpose of shaping the discussion.
Obama is only a leftist from your extreme right wing perspective where anyone who thinks government has a role in anything but defense and serving their masters in the multinational corporate world is considered a leftist.
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By gt6August 30, 2008 - 3:48pmObama is not a leftist from a extreme left wing perspective
where anyone thinks the government has a role in every aspect of an individuals life. I would think that you would have read the constitution, wherein it spells out the function of the Federal Governments role in our society.
I have a question for you. Do you consider Obama right of center, center, or left of center, based on his voting record?
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By momofukuAugust 30, 2008 - 4:03pmBy momofukuAugust 30, 2008 - 5:03pm
Nice try dummy.
"every aspect of an individual life..." ----Talking point #26 of stupid republicans
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By f u bush2August 30, 2008 - 4:07pmObama is definately in the center
The constitution says govt should provide for the GENERAL WELFARE of the people.
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By hufflarry2000August 30, 2008 - 4:28pmagainst it , before i was for it
Karl was against it , before he was for it
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/29/vp-picks-karl-rove-swings-and-m...
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/29/rove-plain-ready/
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By getmad54August 30, 2008 - 11:11amBy getmad54August 30, 2008 - 12:11pm
That Rove video is simply classic.
So I don't suppose any one in Congress is thinking next week would be a good time to arrest Karl?
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By Dr_BillionaireAugust 30, 2008 - 1:23pmcitizens arrest
I bet Karl is having second thoughts, about walking the streets again, after at least 4 citizens had the right idea, of attempting a citizens arrest of Karl. And it was within the law. I would of loved to have seen a video of that.Karl kicking and crying like a little baby.
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By getmad54August 30, 2008 - 2:55pmObama spent 20 years in a church run by an acerbic and hatefille
Hmmm...
McCain's spent over 20 years in an ascerbic, racist, and hate-filled institution...the Repugnican Party!
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By blogbobAugust 31, 2008 - 11:02pmShe's a good girl, loves her mom and jesus...
They had to go out in the sticks to find a sweet innocent....give me a break.
She's BIG OIL hiding behind sweet polly pure bread.
Wait until this "Maam of La Manche" little snowpile town Alaska fairytale crusader hits the big city DC.
McShame and the oil companys are going to destroy this small town family for some political fodder.
QUIT PULLING AMERICA'S CHAIN, YOU SICK RIGHTWING MAGGOTS!!
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By dewbie dubaiAugust 29, 2008 - 9:45pmthe only problem
The only problem i see, and that is ,if history is used, it has always been a white women, before a minority, some examples are the supreme court, astronauts, and positions in public office, and McCain must of thought of these things.That even goes for Hollywood , it was a white man ,kissing a minority women, before a minority kissed a white women. Hopefully when obama was nominated , and not Hillary, and the majority of attitudes seeing Americans as Americans , the mold has a good chance of being broken.
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By getmad54August 29, 2008 - 9:59pmNow the Bubbas
will have to choose betweeen voting against a black man by whom they're threatened (he's smarter than them, and all black men are after white women), and voting against a white woman who threatens them (she's smarter than they are, and she doesn't have a penis).
I predict most Bubbas will stay home and drink their Bud Light on election day.
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By blogbobAugust 29, 2008 - 10:57pmCould not
have said it better.
And getmad I believe that you're giving Sen. McCain WAY to much credit w/that whole being aware of history and thinking thing.
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By justintymeAugust 29, 2008 - 11:33pmThis only reinforces the contempt the G0P has for all citizens.
Especially women.
The whole thing makes ones skin crawl.
As the seed is planted so grows the tree
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By DemiAugust 29, 2008 - 11:30pmPalin as V.P. Choice Has More Exp. Than Obama as Pres. Choice!
Unlike Barak Obama, Sarah Palin has actually managed and run organizations, and, therefore, has MORE experience than Obama. The first was a small town of about 6,000 to 9,000 people. Now, she runs a State with a few thousand employees and about 635,000 residents. For probably less or about the same time that Sarah Pallin's had these jobs, Obama's been an Illinois State Senator and then a U.S. Senator with each job involving the management of no more than a few dozen people - at most. Yet with LESS job experience than Sarah Palin, Obamalamadingdong is the lib's choice as President. In comparison, with MORE experience than Obamaramabanana, Sarah Palin is the conservative choice as Vice President.
So you see the hypocrisy here? The left criticizes Sarah Palin (our choice as V.P.) for being inexperienced, even though she has more job-appropriate experience than Obamalamayomama (the lib choice for President). I swear, the left is so utterly blinded by its own rigid, unthinking, and lock-step ideology, it's utterly oblivious to its own hypocrisy. That's why it's so easy to be a leftist: you're never bothered by a conscious, since you obviously lack one.
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By SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 2:32amNice spam, sophist.
You posted it elsewhere, but didn't get enough of a response, huh?
Three words: Harvard Law Review. 'Nuff said.
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error. ~~~John Kenneth Galbraith
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By nonexistent manAugust 30, 2008 - 3:05amBy nonexistent manAugust 30, 2008 - 4:05am
As a member of the extreme right, shedd is prone to lies and distortions. He is also capable of ignoring what is right in front of him. Deep down he has more respect for politicians on the right because of their friendship with people at Liberty University than he does for anything Obama did himself at Harvard.
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By f u bush2August 30, 2008 - 9:13amIt's a great accomplishment!
Graduating summa cum laude (if I remember correctly) from Harvard Law School and being editor of Harvard Law Review are amazing accomplishments, which proves that Obama has a top-rate intellect. Having such an intellect indicates that he's probably a quick study, who would learn what it takes to be a good President - if he had an open mind and appreciated the lessons of history.
But like many smart people before him, he has neither attribute. Instead, he's a close-minded leftist, who has THE most liberal voting record in the Senate (more left than Bernie Sanders, the socialist Senator from Vermont), which shows he's never reached across the isle and brought people with differing views together, as he claims he'll do as President; he'll return to the big government spending programs of the 1960's, which failed at diminishing poverty and became, instead, wasteful and bureaucratic drags on the economy, and, therefore, had to be slowly dismantled, starting in the 1980's; he'll return to the policing/diplomatic emphasis of the 1990's to control terrorism, which resulted in 1993 WTC attack, the 1996 Khobar Towers attack, the 1998 African embassies bombings, the 1999 U.S.S. Cole bombing, and the 2001 WTC attack (since that time, using all means, including the military one, we've had no such attacks in the same almost 8 year period); discarding the lessons of WWII, when the allies appeased Hitler, a decision that spurred a war, in which 50,000,000 died, Obama would emphasize "talking" to such people, which only use such "talks" as a delaying action and method of war to gain what they want, if said talks aren't supported by the credible threat of military force. Had we used this approach with Saddam, he'd still be in power now with the sanctions gone, his WMD stockpiles back, his interaction and training of terrorists (including Al Qaeda) ongoing, and Saddam's prestige among the Arabs high - for having defied and beaten the west.
On the domestic front, he's a staunch supporter of abortion "rights," even though science is irrefutable in that what's being killed is human, based on DNA and the developmental continuum, which is common to all human beings, no matter how young; he voted against the "Born Alive Act," which prevents survivors of botched abortions from being killed, even if they're outside the womb and are clearly born (an extremely monstrous, savage, and uncivilized practice similar to the sort of barbarity practiced by the Nazis); and, of course, his support for gay marriage (given his opposition to ballot measures outlawing it and his stated intent of getting rid of DOMA), despite irrefutable medical and psychological evidence, proving how this behavior is as unhealthy as smoking.
Also, who can forget how Obama, despite his intelligence, is a notoriously poor judge of people, which is disastrous, if you want to be POTUS. As examples we have the acerbic, hateful, and bigoted, Jeremiah Wright; the convicted felon, Tony Rezko; and the unreptentent terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn.
So yes, Obama's a very smart man, but he's definitely not a wise man. To be POTUS, you have to have both attributes. In this regard, Obama's most definitely two pancakes short of a full stack.
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By SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 11:39amAs usual EVERYTHING you wrote is a lie
The Great Society programs cut poverty in half in 4 years, talking is not appeasement, the biggest terrorist attack ever occured under Republican watch, Saddam never had any WMD's, Obama never voted against the born alive act,and Ayers is not a terrorist. You have been debunked you fucking liar. Do you not think that educated liberals can see thru your anti american bullshit?
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By hufflarry2000August 30, 2008 - 1:08pmBy SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 12:39pm
And yet Obama was wise enough to point out that invading Iraq was a bad idea. And he was right!
No wmd
No wmd program
No meaningful connection to Al Qaeda.
OBL sitting in Afghanistan - not Iraq
...
And all the right can offer is a bunch of weak arguments that could be applied to any number of situations around the world. Yet we do not invade under the pretense of such arguments because war is a last resort.
Bush wanted this war. He pushed for this war. And he outed a CIA officer to make sure he got this war.
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By f u bush2August 30, 2008 - 1:24pmMore 1/2 Truths from f u bush2
No WMD (that we could find): true
No wmd program: Mostly untrue, in that Saddam was rebuilding his WMD program and was designing and building missiles that far exceeded U.N. mandates with which to carry the WMD
No meaningful connection to Al Qaeda: False, as I've proven several times before
OBL sitting in Afghanistan - not Iraq: true. However, OBL sent elements of Al Qaeda into Iraq (with Saddam's blessing) before the invasion, and most definitely after it with the openly stated intent of turning Iraq into Islamist theocracy, like the Taliban had in Afghanistan. Had we left precipitously as the left wanted us to do, then this is indeed what would've happened.
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By SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 5:37pmBy SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 6:37pm
LOL
What a schmuck. Your lies have been proven to be lies. You ignore the evidence shown you and then demand evidence. You're insane.
I see you're back to the missile canard. "Far exceeded"... He had a handful of missiles that went 50 miles to far in range. He handed them over THEN Bush invaded you dumb ass. Next you will revisit the rusty missiles with the traces of chemical weapons provided by Rumsfeld in the 80's.
Which is why you are a republican.
No wmd program
No wmd
No OBL caught or killed.
Bush is a failure and he lied us into a war.
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By f u bush2August 30, 2008 - 5:44pmI've read everyone of your
I've read everyone of your posts, and acknowledged the few times you've been right (See More 1/2 Truths from f u bush2 on this message string) but I've neither read nor seen anything in your posts that has any facts to refute me.
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By SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 6:34pmBy SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 7:34pm
Correction for shedd. Shedd is the one claiming there was just cause to invade Iraq. I have yet to see any reasonable argument with conclusive evidence to indicate he is right. So far shedd has proven nothing. Recently he has even been reduced to the old talking point of missiles that go to far. These missiles went 50 miles too far. Saddam handed them over. Then Bush invaded. The handing over of the missiles was proof the pressure and inspectors were working.
Furthermore shedd has told us the criteria fro invading Iraq was unique. He has skirted around the issue when it comes to other nations. Syria, unlike Iraq, has had clear and definitive relations with terrorist organizations. Shedd has on one occasion offered the argument that Iraq's wmd's went to Syria. This is complete and utter fabrication but assuming he were correct that gives us a nation with wmd and relations with terrorists. Syria also poses a threat to Israel as did Iraq. So shedd should be advocating invasion of Syria for the same exact reasoning we invded Iraq.
Shedd is a sycophant. He has nothing but half truths as he calls it when it comes to Iraq.
Shedd stop telling us we need to prove you wrong. You are telling us Iraq was a justified war on the part of the US. So far you have not backed up your claims.
Here comes a repeat of shedd's verbose posts offering nothing of substance...
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By f u bush2August 31, 2008 - 11:06pmBy f u bush2September 1, 2008 - 12:06am
My thinking is this:
The just war argument is debatable. I have my thoughts to the contrary but I think a rationally consistent and intellectually honest argument could be made for invasion.
I don't think that one can be intellectually honest and deny that the Bush administration willfully misrepresented the threat posed by Iraq. Personally, I believe the Bush administration did this because without that kind of threat the American people wouldn't have found the just war argument sufficiently compelling. Especially, if the risks of invasion were discussed honestly.
I also believe it is hard to deny that the Bush Administration absolutely failed in its planning, thoughtful planning is a moral obligation if you are planning such an invasion, the Bush Administration enriched political allies via war profiteering and suppressed negative information concerning the Iraqi occupation.
Misc. corrections
a couple "s"s a "your" for a "for" and why not an "a" just in case. Oh god, I almost forgot "d" and "ed"
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By Dr_BillionaireSeptember 1, 2008 - 10:39amBy SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 6:37pm
Hey dummy
I can find half a dozen countries with evil leaders and dangerous contacts with terrorists; contacts more meaningful than that fanciful contact between Saddam and Al Qaeda you have fooled yourself into believing. I expect you to get behind a movement to invade each and every one of them.
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By f u bush2August 30, 2008 - 5:57pmYou're On
...OK, so name those half-a-dozen countries, whose governments are OPENLY and DIRECTLY supporting, training, and hosting terrorist organizations, like Al Qaeda and including it, whose stated goal is to attack the U.S. and kill as many Americans, as possible. If everything is to be equal, you'll have to include those countries with suspected WMD programs, which has violated 18 U.N. Mandates to disarm, has tried to conquer neighboring countries several times in the recent past, still lays claim to a neighboring country it invaded before being kicked out, refused to repay reparations to that country, was skimming money from a food program, and using it to rebuild his WMD systems and smuggle in WMD-related items banned by the U.N.
...So, I'm waiting. Tick...tock...tick...tock...
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By SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 6:09pmBy SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 7:09pm
tick tick tick...
dumb ass
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By f u bush2August 30, 2008 - 6:25pmA Classic Example of Running Up the White Flag
You know you've won the argument, when leftists resort to name calling. It's code for I have no facts with which to refute you or, to be more succint, it means "You (as in Shedd) Win." BWAAAH...HA...HA...HA...BWAAAAAAH...HA....HA...HA...HA!
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By SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 6:40pmThat doesn't apply to you
That doesn't apply to you Shedd, because you've proved yourself to be so blind to the truth and facts that you claim victory no matter how badly you've lost. So people poke fun at you because discussion is pointless. Trying to hold a discussion with you is like talking to a wall.
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed." Dwight Eisenhower
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By MichtouAugust 30, 2008 - 6:55pmActually
...the wall provides more cogent and relevant answers.
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error. ~~~John Kenneth Galbraith
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By nonexistent manAugust 30, 2008 - 8:24pmDear Michtou:
After posting on a message string (and even if I don't post), I read all the responses, including yours, f u bush2's, LiberalIconoclast's, Guy Fawkes, A G, and the whole rogue's gallery of lock-step leftists. Not once, has any of them done anything more than
1) Post propaganda from shrill and dishonest, left wing websites, like Moron.org;
2) Post 1/2 truths, as A G did, when he/she/it/all of the above posted the newspaper articles, which mischaraterized the findings of the original government report (which I linked in this post), documenting translations of 600,000 Iraqi documents, proving that Saddam and Al Qaeda were working together but (based on the 600,000 translated out of the 20,000,000 captured) weren't directing one another (a); and/or
3) spew out insults befitting a toddler throwing a temper tantrum instead of a rational and balanced adult.
So, if you or your fellow leftists ever post facts (the whole set of facts) from reputable sources proving that the facts I've presented are wrong or forged, then I'll acknowledge it and admit that I'm wrong. But to date, you've never done this. It's always been insults, unsupported assertions, or 1/2 truths - none of which stand up to even casual scrutiny or questioning. It's as if you've all created your own secular fundamentalist religion, since you're not persuaded by facts obtained and interpreted by mortals.
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By SheddAugust 30, 2008 - 8:37pmTranslation
The sophist dribbled "I can't back up anything I've ever posted with FACTS, since FACTS are anathema to me, so I'll throw out some half-assed insults that look like psychobabble and hope no one calls me out on it."
I'm going to start a pool. Which of you will finally admit defeat first...you or huffer?
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error. ~~~John Kenneth Galbraith
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By nonexistent manAugust 30, 2008 - 9:53pm