politics
I’m back I think
So I took a little vacation during most of August, had some projects I wanted to get done and honestly wasn’t feeling it for McCain, as most of you know. I just couldn’t stomach supporting a guy who has stabbed us in the back (and the front) so many times. So I did my part for AOL and let the rest go figuring after labor day I would again take up the local pen here.
But I’m all fired up now. Lefties don’t get it yet, but the Palin pick is only about 5% an outreach to the Hillary voter. This is what she brings to the table.
-Social conservatives like her.
-Economic conservatives like her.
-The NRA folks love her.
-I don’t know if there is any part of the traditional GOP coalition who is not ecstatic about this pick.
-The enthusiasm gap? That’s over now. You’re going to see a fired up GOP at a fired up convention.
-Reticence toward John McCain? That’s over as well. With one pick he signalled that the future of the GOP is solid conservatism in the Reagan mold.
-She also brings to the table an anti-corruption narrative that works very well with McCain’s major messages and emphasis.
-Then there’s her common cause with working suburban moms, let alone “hockey moms”.
-And then her husbands common cause with working blue collar men, plus guys who like “tougher in Alaska” and “ice road truckers.”
So ya see that thing with getting Hillary voters? That’s just icing on the cake. If McCain doesn’t get a single one of them, it’s still a brilliant pick for all the reasons above, but the major one is the enthusiasm gap. Fixed.
And for all this McCain only had to give up one thing; The experience argument. Yes he can no longer use that against Barack Obama, at least not nearly as effectively. Given how well that argument worked for Hillary, and the reasons above, I’d say that’s more than a fair trade.
I have no problems on the experience front, first of all she’ll have plenty of time to get up to speed. And second of all, Obama’s been telling us for months now that judgement and character matters, not experience. And Governor Palin has excellent judgement and excellent character.
Amazingly, the left appears to have every intention to “go there” on the experience argument. That ought to be fun. But for all intents and purposes, experience is off the table.
Hmmm… I said a lot just off the top and not even near done yet, but brevity is everything in blogging so I’ll stop there, for now.
I will rely on
Writes Like She Talks to keep me honest.
For the record, I’ve witnessed three instances since 10am in which I believe sexism has played a role in reporting on John McCain’s VP choice. One from the right, one from the left and one from the MSM.I am begging, begging, begging anyone who writes about this election, refuse the easy sexist references and impulses. Say no to the bad juju. Do not do it. Nothing good will come from it. And if you do it, I can only interpret it as misogyny - because after what was done to Hillary Clinton before everyone, we know. We know now, we’ve seen it now. It’s been called out. If you want examples, just type in “sexism clinton.” Then argue with those videos. I’m not here to teach you if you don’t recognize it.
Hmmm, wonder who she’s talking about? You stay classy and please, please keep it up. That gender gap might disappear.
Tags: palin mccain veep Discussion
4 comments for “I’m back I think”
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Good to have you back here, Dave.
I agree w. most of what you said, mostly the enthusiasm gap.
Ha - thanks, Dave. That’s #4. I hadn’t even seen that one.
And I want to commend you on not doing too badly on this account - I would only say that the hockey mom thing? She’s not ordinary - maybe for AK? But not for the rest of the country. I’ve got many reasons why she’s a deal-breaker for anyone who might have been interested in voting GOP this year, but one sincere question for you, because I don’t know how right or wrong I am on this instinct:
Evangelicals. I read that she was raised Catholic but is now an Evangelical. Now - parts of the Evangelical church, they don’t let women hold the highest positions of clergy, is that true? And so I wonder, how could they allow a woman to be in line to be CIC when they won’t let a woman lead a congregation?
As I said - I may have that wrong - how wrong might be the question.
Thanks.
Good question Jill. I doubt it will be a serious problem for any but the most conservative evangelicals. In very conservative churches it is true that women cannot serve as an elder or senior pastor, but even for most of those churches, outside of the church, they don’t care much. And even in those churches women do serve in positions of leadership all over the place.
But I expect that would be true in very conservative Jewish synagogues as well, no?
Anyway, that’s not a problem in the religious right, considering who McCain might have picked.
Ah yes - true re: in Judaism - but still, they make up a minute proportion of an already small minority so…I would think the numbers in the Evangelical wing would be far greater. But yes - in the Orthodox movement, women cannot be rabbis - not sure about cantors.
Also, Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist branches that prioritize egalitarian approaches are growing while the Conservative branch - which is what my congregation is - is declining in membership.
Thanks - interesting.