McCain picks woman for VP slot

[bush_cheney2004]

What's of concern and what's relevant isn't decided by some arbitrary authority such as yourself. Each individual decides what to them is relevant and of concern. Some people think Britney Spear's custody issues are relevant. You can approve or disapprove of what people--and in the case of Sarah Palin, perhaps millions of people--concern themselves with and think relevant. What is not relevant or of concern to them is your approval or disapproval.

Whoa...are you sure you wanna go there? You are championing relevance for the American voter based on American media in an American election? Can we get something we don't already know in the way of Canadian relevance, if such a thing exists? How about Palin and the pipeline to Alberta? NAFTA? Afghanistan? ....anything but the care and feeding of her baby?

[Liam]

The Detroit Free Press conducted a focus group of Michigan voters who watched the Palin speech. 3 Dems, 2 Repubs, 5 Independents. The only positive comments came from the R's, 1 D was neutral, 2 D's and all five I's were negative on Palin's speech. I think the speech was designed to only appeal to people who weren't going to vote for Obama anyhow, which is fine if that's the approach they want to take. If this particular focus group is representative of the wider political audience, it seems that a similar approach will only end up turning off those in the middle:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...NEWS15/80904002

[Stephen Best]

Thank you...that explains a lot. If I understand the clarification, you are only parroting back that which you garner from US media? Why am I not surprised.

I'm sure the "media" is asking the same questions about Obama's children....not!

Huh? If I don't get information about the US election from US media, where do you suggest I get it from? Not you, surely?

[Stephen Best]

Whoa...are you sure you wanna go there? You are championing relevance for the American voter based on American media in an American election? Can we get something we don't already know in the way of Canadian relevance, if such a thing exists? How about Palin and the pipeline to Alberta? NAFTA? Afghanistan? ....anything but the care and feeding of her baby?

Huh II? What has this got to do with what people do or don't decide is relevant or of concern to them? Why are my posts relevant and of concern to you?

[bush_cheney2004]

Huh II? What has this got to do with what people do or don't decide is relevant or of concern to them? Why are my posts relevant and of concern to you?

I'm just picking up on BD's lead....surely your interest (at some point) will rise above diaper changes for an infant from Alaska. Even the Americans wil have to move on to something more substantive about Palin, even the adoring soccer moms.

[Stephen Best]

But there's no evidence that Palin's parenting abilities and priorities are relevant to anybody but the chattering classes who have opted to make it the focus of their attack. I gotta hand it to you, though: I've seen a lot of concern trolls in my time on the intertubes, but you take the cake.

There's no evidence? Sarah Palin's Parenting Choices Under Fire. You might also want to review some of the posts on this thread.

[bush_cheney2004]

Huh? If I don't get information about the US election from US media, where do you suggest I get it from? Not you, surely?

Of cousre not....but I can see there is nothing but bias and spin from either side of the border, myself included. So I went shopping for some media across the pond, starting with the UK's Sun and a report filed from St. Paul (about 10 minutes from where I am typing):

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/...icle1647092.ece

I guess Palin is a hit!

Edited September 4, 2008 by bush_cheney2004

[stevoh]

While I was impressed with her speaking ability and presence, I didn't hear much of substance. Hopefully McCain will deal with that tonight.

Questions like:

How are you dealing with the Morgage crisis?

On a larger scale, what are your economic plans? How are you doing to deal with the deficit?

How will the "average" american benefit from you being in office?

What are you going to do about health care costs?

We know your stance on abortion, what are you going to do (if anything) to make abortions harder to get?

What are your guidelines for "victory" in IRAQ? How much more time will the troops spend there?

While I have no doubt it cemented the republican base (everyone likes hearing how great they are and jokes about the other side) I didn't see much that would appeal to voters outside of that base.

[M.Dancer]

Whoa...are you sure you wanna go there? You are championing relevance for the American voter based on American media in an American election? Can we get something we don't already know in the way of Canadian relevance, if such a thing exists? How about Palin and the pipeline to Alberta? NAFTA? Afghanistan? ....anything but the care and feeding of her baby?

My one najor concern with Obama and why I would want McCain is Nafta. Nafta is a vital Canadian interests and anyone who pledges that NAFTA is in trouble spells trouble to Canada.

Second behind that is Obama's opposition to the surge (since withdrawn). He said it was wrong and it would work. It worked. Anyone with a shred of common sense knwe there were not enough troops in Iraq to provide secuity and stability. McCain was right on this and he is right that the US should stay until Iraq is stable...whether it takes 100 years or not. If this is a peak at Obama's ability to be a CinC then again, that would be a very dangerous scenario for Canadians in combat beside American. I would prefer someone who can lead and is a proven military leader.

Whether a McCain admin is pro life or Obama is pro fetus killing is way off my radar and in the end it will be up to voters and the SCOTUS.

[Stephen Best]

I'm just picking up on BD's lead....surely your interest (at some point) will rise above diaper changes for an infant from Alaska. Even the Americans wil have to move on to something more substantive about Palin, even the adoring soccer moms.

I have wondered if McCain uses Depends, but I don't recall posting about who will change an Alaskan infant's diapers. I thought--and correct me if I'm wrong--we were discussing Sarah Palin and how her unique family situation might affect either her baby's and her pregnant teenage daughter's welfare or her ability to do the VP job. The issue at hand is how does Sarah Palin's decision in this matter inform a decision on whether or not she is the right choice to be VP. And it raises the issue about the quality of John McCain's judgment and decision making skills in picking her as a running mate when there are so many other more accomplished Republican women and men he could have chosen. Did you miss this, somehow?

[bush_cheney2004]

While I have no doubt it cemented the republican base (everyone likes hearing how great they are and jokes about the other side) I didn't see much that would appeal to voters outside of that base.

Are you female...a mom....or a working woman? She won't get all their votes, but she doesn't need them all either. Political campaigns are won and lost on the margins.

[M.Dancer]

I have wondered if McCain uses Depends, but I don't recall posting about who will change an Alaskan infant's diapers.

You perhaps might want to re-read your posts from yesterday. You made some jack ass comment assuming from photos thatbher daughter would be caring for the baby...and yes, I can extrapolate from experiance that ccaring for a baby means changing diapers.

I swear, the blatent sexism that rears its head when a woman reaches for high office....

[bush_cheney2004]

....Did you miss this, somehow?

No, we've already been over that and the consensus is that such a sexist perspective is out of place in 2008 America. Did you miss that?

Have you (or your media sources) applied equal vigor to the care and feeding of Obama's children? What if they get knocked up by Flavor Flav during an Obama eight year term? Oh my...how will they / we cope?

Edited September 4, 2008 by bush_cheney2004

[Black Dog]

There's no evidence? Sarah Palin's Parenting Choices Under Fire. You might also want to review some of the posts on this thread.

No. I said there's no evidence that Palin's parenting abilities and priorities are relevant to anybody but the chattering classes who have opted to make it the focus of their attack. Reading your link, there's a range of views represented, which is to be expected, but nothing to indicate that Palin's parenting abilities are a major issue on anybody's mind, which is the impression one gets from reading this thread, wherein that issue is regarded as important by all of one person: you.

Dancer

Second behind that is Obama's opposition to the surge (since withdrawn). He said it was wrong and it would work. It worked. Anyone with a shred of common sense knwe there were not enough troops in Iraq to provide secuity and stability. McCain was right on this and he is right that the US should stay until Iraq is stable...whether it takes 100 years or not. If this is a peak at Obama's ability to be a CinC then again, that would be a very dangerous scenario for Canadians in combat beside American.

So leaders are always right the first time? As a Canadian, Obama's promise to step up the game in Afghanistan has more relevance than McCain's parroting of the Bush line that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror. On a day when yet more Canadians have spilled blood on Afghan soil, I'd like to see the Americans help us finish what they started.

I would prefer someone who can lead and is a proven military leader.

Getting shot down makes you a proven leader?

[M.Dancer]

As of now, it seems she's handed caring for Trig, her new special needs baby, over to her pregnant teenager Bristol. Is this how you'd raise your children?

The jack ass statement in question.

[M.Dancer]

Getting shot down makes you a proven leader?

And not getting shot down the other couple of dozen times....as well as exemplary conduct as a POW and after his repatriation.

[M.Dancer]

So leaders are always right the first time?

Obama isn't a leader, and he isn't right the second time either. He held fast against the surge right to the point when it appeared it would be a campaign liability. He is a liability.

[bush_cheney2004]

So leaders are always right the first time? As a Canadian, Obama's promise to step up the game in Afghanistan has more relevance than McCain's parroting of the Bush line that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror. On a day when yet more Canadians have spilled blood on Afghan soil, I'd like to see the Americans help us finish what they started.

Yep...no American "blood" has been spilled in Afghanistan. They are no help at all.

Getting shot down makes you a proven leader?

Yes, much more than shooting up.

[White Doors]

I have wondered if McCain uses Depends, but I don't recall posting about who will change an Alaskan infant's diapers. I thought--and correct me if I'm wrong--we were discussing Sarah Palin and how her unique family situation might affect either her baby's and her pregnant teenage daughter's welfare or her ability to do the VP job. The issue at hand is how does Sarah Palin's decision in this matter inform a decision on whether or not she is the right choice to be VP. And it raises the issue about the quality of John McCain's judgment and decision making skills in picking her as a running mate when there are so many other more accomplished Republican women and men he could have chosen. Did you miss this, somehow?

People who think at such a book cover level are the real reason that there is such a partisan divide between the parties in the USA and Canada. People with your thought processes are the reason that politics has become so divisive in recent years. Your not interested in problem solving and making society better, you are interested only in the thought you of being a moral elitist and are desperately looking for your ideaology to triumph for that reason and that reason alone.

You think you are better than others and are looking to politics to prove that right.

Your ego drives your politics and you will do anything, bend ANY way to 'prove' you are right - to yourself.

[Stephen Best]

....as well as exemplary conduct as a POW and after his repatriation.

Not everyone agrees that McCain's POW conduct was exemplary: Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain.

[Stephen Best]

People who think at such a book cover level are the real reason that there is such a partisan divide between the parties in the USA and Canada. People with your thought processes are the reason that politics has become so divisive in recent years. Your not interested in problem solving and making society better, you are interested only in the thought you of being a moral elitist and are desperately looking for your ideaology to triumph for that reason and that reason alone.

You think you are better than others and are looking to politics to prove that right.

Your ego drives your politics and you will do anything, bend ANY way to 'prove' you are right - to yourself.

Will you be sending me an invoice for your psychological assessment?

[August1991]

You found it compelling? I found it a tired retread of old hard-right-wing Republican rhetoric and phony populasm. She loves her country? What a surprise. She loves her family? Shocker! Probably loves apple pie too, though that wasn't mentioned.

I don't disagree that she delivered a carefully crafted but standard political speech. Boilerplate? Not really but cliched in an original way.

What struck me is the simple fact that she did it. I don't know what experience you have had with public speaking but to do what she did requires a tremendous ego. To do it under the pressure she faced requires aplomb. And to do it in a way that transmits some humanity requires genuine talent.

I'll leave for later her talents to make smart decisions. She seems to be on the right side of most equations and she certainly is not afraid to do things her own way. She's an independent, individualist and that's often a good thing in a human being.

[Stephen Best]

Of cousre not....but I can see there is nothing but bias and spin from either side of the border, myself included. So I went shopping for some media across the pond, starting with the UK's Sun and a report filed from St. Paul (about 10 minutes from where I am typing):

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/...icle1647092.ece

I guess Palin is a hit!

Certainly with Fergus Shanahan, it would seem.

[M.Dancer]

Not everyone agrees that McCain's POW conduct was exemplary: Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain.

Whoopeee!

[White Doors]

Will you be sending me an invoice for your psychological assessment?

I am glad that you found it helpful.