tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115375869553591839.post2719935959882756223..comments2023-10-09T11:23:08.602-05:00Comments on Taking Place: Pulse: First Swings at PalinRagothhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02032216046972764021noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6115375869553591839.post-37987488579472407912008-09-03T16:09:00.000-05:002008-09-03T16:09:00.000-05:00I had heard snippets about both "Troopergate" and ...I had heard snippets about both "Troopergate" and the "Bridge to Nowhere," so first of all thanks for clarifying a lot of that information, and providing links.<BR/><BR/>While like you I am not eager to jump to any real conclusions about Palin just yet, and willing to wait a few weeks for some more information to come to the front, I will say that I think choosing her is a huge shot in the foot by McCain. Unlike Obama, who by choosing Biden has shored up numerous supposed weaknesses (experience, international diplomacy, etc.), McCain hasn't really strengthened himself all that much with his VP choice. In fact, it may have even weakened him.<BR/><BR/>My first thought when I saw that Palin was the chosen running mate was that McCain was trying to pull the disenfranchised Hillary supporters to the Republican side, and he may very well snag a few. However, from what I understand, there was no real need to do this since they were Republican prior to Hillary's campaign, and would probably go back to their original loyalties. Not much of a gain.<BR/><BR/>McCain further ostracizes himself from the feminists due to Palin's anti-abortion and anti-sex education stances, and may negate any Log House Republican votes due to her opposition to gay marriage. If nothing else, she is more conservative than McCain, and I don't see that really helping an already very conservative candidate.<BR/><BR/>Any claims of Obama being "inexperienced" are now pretty much null and void, what with Palin's whole 20-month career as a governor. Her lack of any experience and links to possible corruption may even turn away some Republican voters, as they note that McCain is a 72 year old cancer survivor, and may very well have one foot in the grave already.<BR/><BR/>The only positive McCain has in choosing her that I can tell is it may pull some more right-wing Christian voters back from Bob Barr. Does anyone else have any solid ideas as to why he chose her?DirtyGaijinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06728440883556576866noreply@blogger.com