Last night, I helped cover the election with BBC. During the evening, I got into a sharp argument with the editor of Human Events magazine about Sarah Palin. I noted that her selection may have been one of the biggest political blunders of a campaign in my lifetime. Now, exit polls indicate that, if anything, her negative impact on the ticket was underestimated. McCain aides appear to be now lining up to dump on Palin – disclosing more damaging information about everything from her shopping sprees to shocking lack of basic world knowledge.
Over sixty percent of voters said that she was manifestly unqualified — that obviously includes many Republicans. Other polls have shown Palin was the most cited reason for voting against McCain by voters. While she clearly did bring out the hardcore faithful, she also clearly scared off the independents and moderates are that were essential for a win. Click here. Not only did McCain pick someone viewed as an extremist, but he succeeded in highlighting the age factor since many people were not willing to risk that Palin could be president given McCain’s advanced years.
Vice presidents seldom do much to help a candidate, but Palin is an example of how they can hurt a candidate. McCain spent much of the campaign after the convention answering questions about his vice president rather than the issues. With all of the negative issues already pulling down the campaign, it took real effort to find the one candidate who would top those issues as a negative for voters. In key swing states, the margin given away with Palin might have made the difference for McCain.
My disagreement last night on BBC shows that only the most extreme element of the GOP was “energized” by Palin — and McCain’s pandering to that element was a significant reason for his defeat. The Republicans now have a choice of returning to Rockefeller Republican values or stay with the religious right and social conservatives. The latter have a clear standard bearer in Palin. The question is who will lead the traditional republicans.
For the full story, click here.
rafflaw:
“I want to be the first to nominate Professor Turley as Attorney General!!”
Personally, I think Turley would be better suited for the upper echelons of juristic analysis; e.g. the Supreme Court.
THE BIG QUESTION (in any confirmation hearing, for any justice for that matter) would be:
“Professor Turley, which areas of law do you find the least interesting and/or would prefer to know the least about?”
Mespo:
“Proust was my idea!”
Paraphrasing an old commercial for rye bread:
“Coming from a solipsist; that’s a rave!”
Mojo:
“I’m not saying it would be a good idea, just speculating on what may be.”
Due to the recent endorsement by Powell, I’m sure. Granted. However, Powell’s credibility is now as low as a piano player in a bordello who says “I don’t know what goes on in here; I just play the piano.”
Otherwise, Obama should be focusing on a Secretary of Defense that will devote most of the next four years to rebuilding and restructuring the military decimated and demoralized by Bush.
Welcome back Bob,Esq.
It is so refreshing to see that America will be spared the nonsense that a Palin VP would have provided. Prof. Turley was exactly correct that Palin was the wrong pick and today we are hearing that she spent alot more than $150,000 on clothes. We also learned that she was buying clothes for the First Dude and the family on the RNC dime! We should hear some crazy numbers in the next few days. I am not sure that I could live with Hagel as Sec. of Defense because I am tired of Republicans having to handle the defense post. Hagel would be probably would be good, I just think we need one of our own at that important position. I want to be the first to nominate Professor Turley as Attorney General!!
Bob you’re right. Proust was my idea! Hope all is well now.
Bob –
“That’s certainly one way of chipping away at Obama’s credibility”
Ha-ha … I’m not saying it would be a good idea, just speculating on what may be.
Mespo:
“Where’ve you been lately? All manner of creature has descended upon us and not one of us could remember any Kant, or even any Proust. I do remember that Proust said of kindred spirits, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Seems to apply here.”
Mespo,
Certain circumstances, family health related, constrained me to acquire the attention span of a gnat for self-preservation reasons. However, to paraphrase Daffy Duck, I’ve been ‘lurking about’ pretty much daily out of ‘sheer honesty’ and habit.
BTW, I’ve never quoted Proust. That must be your imagination; “a blind but indispensable function of the soul, without which we should have no knowledge whatsoever, but of which we are scarcely ever conscious.”
Stay in your own movie,
Bob
Bob, Esq:
Where’ve you been lately? All manner of creature has descended upon us and not one of us could remember any Kant, or even any Proust. I do remember that Proust said of kindred spirits, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Seems to apply here.
“Powell – Invited back as in as Sect’y of Defense?”
That’s certainly one way of chipping away at Obama’s credibility.
“Over sixty percent of voters said that she was manifestly unqualified — that obviously includes many Republicans.”
Is it too late for Peggy Noonan to retract her apology?
Hagel is one of those rational Republicans I was talking about, although I don’t recall if he came out in support of Obama, he has certainly come out in opposition to many of the Republican policies of this last administration, most notably the incompetently run Iraq war.
Hagel – Sect’y of Defense?
Any takes on other top postings?
Corzine – Treasury Sect’y
Powell – Invited back as in as Sect’y of Defense?
Would Senator Jim Webb be offered/interested in any postings?
The speculation begins …
I think this same dynamic was at work in Elizabeth Dole’s loss. Many people decided to vote against her after her outrageous remark about her opponent.
rcampbell and mespo,
I agree, Chuch Hagel would be a real asset to this country.
rcampbell:
“I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Sen. Hagel in a top position in Obama’s administration.”
**************
See, great minds think alike.
It means a great deal that Americans as a whole, rejected the ugly values espoused by sara palin. I did hear people who had been on the fence say they were scared of palin’s beliefs and that fear finalized their decision for obama. I’m glad the theocrats got pushed back, at least in some ways, by this election. Theocracies are the WORST form of govt. They have no place in a democracy or our Constitution.
rcambell –
“Bush cost McCain the Presidency TWICE.” A great point.
This morning felt like Christmas. Palin was the gift that kept on giving for the Democrats. In a very real way, Palin energized the Democrats, too, and caused a lot of rational members of the Republican party to support Obama because she scared them too much.
Hearing pundits talking about how Palin is a ‘force to be reckoned with’, and that she isn’t going anywhere and will be back in 2012 is, frankly, encouraging. I hope they’re right, because she has done so much for the Democratic party these last months.
mespo727272
I nominate Chuck Hegel.
Mespo
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Sen. Hagel in a top position in Obama’s administration.
Professor
Your assessment about the lines of division within the GOP seems to me quite accurate. This will make for an interesting spectator sport for the Democrats for the next several years. I predict the Palin wing will lose the internal battle and become a fringe party of little influence.
I agree that Palin was a terrible selection, but I’m not so certain that any VP pick by MCain would have been the difference between him and Obama this year. I think the stars were really aligned for McCain in 2000.
I believe that regardless of the GOP candidate in 2000, the result for Gore would have been the same primarily because of Bill Clinton’s involvement with Monica Lewinsky. Bush cost McCain the Presidency TWICE. First by the savage treatment of Karl Rove’s smear machine ultimately denying him a nomination that would have trounced Gore instead of leading to the GOP winning(?) in a squeaker. Then the country’s weariness with the past eight years of Bush’s failures cost McCain again.
I think the Gnomes of Munich, from Taylor Caldwell’s book “Captains and Kings”, had intended McCain in 2000 and Hillary in 2008. Bill Clinton cost Gore and Hillary an opportunity and GWBush took McCain’s slot.
Had McCain been elected in 2000, I don’t think we’d be in the financial or geo-political mess we’re in now. After his two terms Clinton would have had a very real shot at it. But things are what they are.
Congratulations President-elect Obama!!!! My eight year bad mood is done. Happiness reigns in my heart.
“The Republicans now have a choice of returning to Rockefeller Republican values or stay with the religious right and social conservatives. The latter have a clear standard bearer in Palin. The question is who will lead the traditional republicans.”
**************
I nominate Chuck Hegel.
I saw the BBC coverage. I thought Sabato hit the nail on the head more than the CNN, MSNBC crowd too. Bravo.
Hmmm . . . in an argument with someone still supportive of the choice of Sarah Palin’s as VP candidate? Consider yourself rational.