Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Sarah Palin: Would She, Could She, Should She?

A dynamite woman who could conceivably become John McCain's VP running mate is discussed here in the Washington Times.

I like Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, very much. And I'm still cogitating on this. Don't yet know what my opinion is, though I find it a truly fascinating idea.

Meanwhile, Sarah is a woman after my own heart......wonder if she caught this on a dry?

See also: Say Anything
Peggy Noonan in the WSJ

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Of course she would. She's said so -- very recently too. (She has a very supportive family-caring husband.)

Here's an important piece of advice: If it looks like it's going to be McCain/Palin anyway (and that should be a "no brainer" for Team McCain), McCain should announce NOW or VERY SOON, rather than later towards the convention. There's currently a growing chorus for Obama/Hillary (as VP) ticket (in fact the Dems are likely aware of the Palin phenomenon). If the GOP waits while movement for Hillary as VP grows -- even worse until after it is solidified that Hillary will/could be VP pick -- selecting Palin will be portrayed by Dems/liberal media more as a reaction by GOP selecting its own female (overshawdoing Palin's own remarkable assets), rather than McCain taking the lead on this. Selecting Palin now or early (contrary to the punditocracy) will mean McCain will be seen as driving the course of this campaign overwhelmingly, and the DEMS will be seen as merely reacting. And, there's absoultely no down-side to this because even if Hillary is a no-go as VP for Obama, the GOP gains by acting early. McCain the maverick. Palin the maverick. Do it now!

There's no reason, and actually substantial negative, in McCain waiting to see what the Dems do first insofar as his picking Palin as VP, because, no matter who Obama picks, Palin is by far (and I mean far) the best pick for McCain and the GOP, especially in this time of GOP woes. The GOP can be seen as the party of real 'change' (albeit I hate that mantra, change, change, bla bla), while not really having to change from GOP core conservative values, which Palin more than represents.

In light of the current oil/energy situation, as well as the disaffected female Hillary voters situation, and growing focus on McCain's age and health, Palin is more than perfect -- now.

(Perhaps Team McCain is already on to this.)

Anonymous said...

Some very compelling ideas, Ted.
She's sounding better and better. And I like her stand on ANWR.

Marie said...

I don't like the idea of a female VP with young kids at home.

There, I said it.

I wouldn't mind if her kids were grown. I just have a high view of the importance of motherhood, and I think she would be a crummy mother were she putting any time into being VP.

Wasilla Resident said...

I notice you state that you're a "conservative woman".

I wonder then if you aware of the fact that Sarah Palin-Chavez proposed and pushed through the largest socialistic tax increase in the history of the world? It’s a 400% increase on the state’s #1 taxpayer that funds roughly 90% of the state’s budget. (See ACES)

Speaking of budgets… do you know that she increased the fy09 operating budget by 23%?

And what do you think of her left-wing socialist energy rebate debit card for $100.00 and utility reductions for every Alaskan resident? And people wonder why she has high approval ratings… ha! If you can’t figure that out, you’ve never been to Alaska were people love free money from the government!!!

Wasilla Resident said...

You wrote that you're a conservative, so I'm curious what you think about Palin proposing and pushing through the largest socialistic tax increase in the history of the world? It’s a 400% increase on the state’s #1 taxpayer that funds roughly 90% of the state’s budget. (See ACES)

Speaking of budgets… do you know that she increased the fy09 operating budget by 23%?

And what do you think of her left-wing socialist energy rebate debit card for $100.00 and utility reductions for every Alaskan resident? And people wonder why she has high approval ratings… ha! If you can’t figure that out, you’ve never been to Alaska were people love free money from the government!!!

Anonymous said...

There’s been noted buzz of late on rising GOP star Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal as a McCain prospective Veep. Certainly Jindal is more than very good, However, I believe there’s some “strategerie” going on here. The “real” beneficiary of the Jindal talk is the other rising GOP star, Alaska Gov Sarah Palin. Palin’s got everything that Jindal has (new/exciting, wildly popular, ethics and spending reformer, core conservative etc.) and more — mother of 5 w/remarkable bio, she’s 8 yrs older than Jindal, Alaska energy issue, and set to garner the disenfranchised female Hillary voter (I don’t believe Dem leaders can dump Obama).

Getting Jindal’s name out first — at Team McCain’s BBQ for instance — sets the stage for the obvious choice, Palin. For example, albeit Rush Limbaugh introduced Palin’s name, and later Jindal’s as good Veep choices, of late Rush has been praising the name of Jindal while on his very same shows discussing at great length the frustrated female Hillary voter and the global warming hysteria/need for energy development, without mentioning Palin’s name as the obvious beneficiary of those two issues. Rush walks a fine line, introducing Palin, yet can’t, at least yet, reiterate much, knowing that his praises may be counter-productive to many a swing, moderate and/or formerly Dem voter (who’s against Obama and switching to McCain). Moreover, while I feel that Palin has more real accomplishment, experience and qualification than Obama (and Hillary combined, albeit w/Obama the bar is pretty low), the only potential argument against Palin is she’s a newbie to the national scene. By having Jindal out there first as a VP prospect “passing” the “experience” and “new to the national scene” test, implicitly passes Palin as well. (For that matter Palin’s got as much if not more experience and accomplishment than Florida Gov Crist who’s only been Gov for 2 yrs — and the media has been touting Crist as a VP prospect.)

That’s my thinking at least.

Anonymous said...

I hope she does become our next VP.

According to Wikipedia, over the 230 years of our nation, only 29 women have held the office of state governor. But 8 of those women currently serve in those positions. To me, that's progress.

Yesterday I pointed out to our human resources department that, 35 years ago, the government and corporate leaders of our nation were selected from just about 30 percent of the U.S. adult population - the males of Eurpean descent. Today we've expanded that pool of candidates for key decision-making roles by a factor of three. I am convinced that the productivity gains of the nation since the 1970's - and the enormous gains in our standard of living - are due in part to the empowering of all those female and minority intelligences.

Anonymous said...

great comments....I need to read up on Sarah Palin and her tax increases etc. and form my own opinons...obviously I did not know all this.

Also, as a woman, I'm with Marie. She and her husband have a downs child and I deep down wonder if the time is really right for her to become a VP candidate with all the child rearing responsibilities she has right now, even with a very supportive family....that's job one, it seems.

jj said...

The tax increase came after a huge corruption scandal in Alaska. The VECO corporation (associated with oil execs.) bribed a bunch of legislators to give them very generous terms. A few actually went to jail.

Oil does pay for everything in Alaska, which is why if the tax terms aren't performing, the state could see huge deficits. Once oil is gone, the state pretty much has no income. (There is no income tax in Alaska) The tax was put in place because the old tax system, bought and paid for through the scandal, wasn't performing.

The democrats in Congress want to tax the oil companies just for the sake of taxing. In Alaska though, taxing does actually serve a purpose since the people own the resource.

Anonymous said...

fascinating, jj....

I don't think Alaska will run out of oil anytime soon.

Wasilla Resident said...

http://www.newsweek.com/id/139335/page/1

"Ever the populist, Palin has asked the legislature to pass a bill that would give every resident $1,200 to help pay for gasoline. This proposal isn't a slam-dunk either, but no doubt Hugo Chavez would be proud."

Anonymous said...

This is rather shocking, ca, and frankly makes me wonder if she's really a true conservative...the nanny state marches on. Want to write more on her soon at the top of my scroll. Thank you for this information.....

jj said...

I'll go on the defensive again, lol (There's a lot of Repubs in AK that still support the old corrupt Republican leaders.) The constitution of AK says that the people own the resources. That's why people get a Permanent Fund check. The Governor argued that since the state is bringing in so much money from high gas prices, the government should return some of the profit to the people. Now, personally, I'd rather spend the money then have the government spend it on crap. Also, it's better than waiting on DC to do something. I consider it a tax rebate. But I can see how some may diagree. No politician is perfect (ie. Mitt and his socialized healthcare in MI)

Also @ the oil, with the dems and enviros trying to turn AK into a national park, it's getting harder and harder to drill. I'm guessing the revenue will fall if BO gets elected. McCain too, for that matter.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps, but we are going to try not to let that happen,jj. After all drilling in ANWR entails several thousand acres out of something like 19 million. This is utterly, utterly ridiculous.
Thanks for the good info.

Anonymous said...

Bottom line, with Palin as VP, McCain WINS.

Without Palin, McCain likely does not win.

Case closed.

Anonymous said...

Q&A How can McCain SIMULTANEOUSLY attract both Hillary AND Bob Barr voters? Answer: PALIN Veep!

El Duderino said...

This is going to be great.