I'm going to address this point by point, then bring up a few things that have developed today.
Well, that's the first I'VE ever heard anyone say anything about "if you don't like Obama, you're racist." I strongly disagree with the mentality of not being with Obama makes you a racist. That's like saying if you were against Hillary, you were automatically sexist and/or a misogynist.
As far as Obama being the product of American society and opportunity, where do you think that opportunity came from? Perhaps a certain speech 45 years ago helped his opportunity along? Just as Hillary Clinton spoke on the 88th anniversary of women getting the right to vote, she is in some small way a product of that movement.
Which brings me to what I've been busting at the seams to ask since this came about around 10am this morning: how fucking awesome are women! We totally fucking rock! So McCain chose a woman. What a wild card. You KNOW the only reason he did that was to appease and attract the rest of the Hillary supporters (read: mostly women). To me, I think the choice just shows how important women are going to be for this election. That being said, I am really dumbfounded at the same time. Talk about a wild card! I sort of saw it coming, but never really thought he'd go through with it. To me, it reads that he really wants to appease women voters.
I also think it makes both tickets balanced in a bizarre way. While Obama's pick of Biden helps balance his lack of foreign policy experience, I'm not sure McCain's choice is necessarily a good balance. Yes, he's trying to get women voters, but I'm just really surprised he chose her. It almost brings the experience thing off the table. It COMPLETELY undercuts his argument that Obama is not experienced enough to run this country. HOw long has he been saying that a one-term senator can't run this country? But then he turns around and picks a veep how has even LESS experience than Obama?!?! I don't think he can talk about Obama's lack of experience any more. And while you may argue that it's McCain who's running for president, and we'll only have to worry about Palin should he croak, there is a very real possibility that he could during his term. And I'm not the only one to say this.
I had to do this in two parts, cause apparently my comment exceeded the limit. Anyways....
There was actually a fascinating Op-Ed in yesterday's Wall Street Journal (read: conservative repulican newspaper) that talked about why republicans should be very mindful of who McCain picks as Veep, for there is a very real possibility, given his age, that the Veep will have to step up. The Op-Ed actually focused on why McCain shouldn't pick Liberman, and compared it to the disaster of Abraham Lincoln choosing Andrew Johnson as his VP in the 1864 election. Johnson was a democrat, and chosen solely for the purpose of the need to win a very unpopular war. Johnson was a Dem from Tennessee, the only Southern Senator to stay with the union. Johnson was chosen across party lines to bring a very balanced ticket (to try and win southerners who were on the fence about coming back to the union). Well, by the election, and by 1865, the war turned in favor of the union, and the war was over. Lincoln was also shot, leaving Johnson in the ashes of the war. History shows this was not the smartest strategy; Johnson was eventually impeached. And Johnson wasn't the only case of a bad VP choice. John Tyler became president because William Henry Harrison spoke too long at his inauguration, and caught pneumonia because of the speech in the rain, and died 30 days into office. Tyler was NOT popular among the party, but was chosen to be a balanced ticket.
Now, if Obama were to die in office, I don't think anyone would doubt Biden's ability to take over. But what about Gov. Palin? Do republicans really believe in her? No one's even HEARD of her! Hell, Fox news kept calling her SUSAN Palin this morning!
And while McCain picking her shows his desperate need to appease women, I am at the same time sort of offended he chose her. She's not very progressive, as most Hillary supporters are, and it almost is a pat on the head to women saying "Here! I picked one of you. Now vote for me." So on one hand, it's awesome that women are such a factor in this election, but is his choice offensive? I can't decide.
So if I don't support Palin, does that make me sexist? Does it make me a bad feminist? Will people call her a bitch the same way people called Hillary? The way I see her is the same way you view Obama: you love the historical aspect of it, and appreciate the significance of his candidacy, but don't support his issues. I am the same way. I would LOVE to see a woman at the #2 spot, I just don't necessarily want to see her based on her conservative issues.
I'd love to see what she has to say. And what you have to say about her as well.
This is going to be such a fascinating election! I could say a lot more, but am going to stop.
Well, that's the first I'VE ever heard anyone say anything about "if you don't like Obama, you're racist." I strongly disagree with the mentality of not being with Obama makes you a racist. That's like saying if you were against Hillary, you were automatically sexist and/or a misogynist.
As far as Obama being the product of American society and opportunity, where do you think that opportunity came from? Perhaps a certain speech 45 years ago helped his opportunity along? Just as Hillary Clinton spoke on the 88th anniversary of women getting the right to vote, she is in some small way a product of that movement.
Which brings me to what I've been busting at the seams to ask since this came about around 10am this morning: how fucking awesome are women! We totally fucking rock! So McCain chose a woman. What a wild card. You KNOW the only reason he did that was to appease and attract the rest of the Hillary supporters (read: mostly women). To me, I think the choice just shows how important women are going to be for this election. That being said, I am really dumbfounded at the same time. Talk about a wild card! I sort of saw it coming, but never really thought he'd go through with it. To me, it reads that he really wants to appease women voters.
I also think it makes both tickets balanced in a bizarre way. While Obama's pick of Biden helps balance his lack of foreign policy experience, I'm not sure McCain's choice is necessarily a good balance. Yes, he's trying to get women voters, but I'm just really surprised he chose her. It almost brings the experience thing off the table. It COMPLETELY undercuts his argument that Obama is not experienced enough to run this country. HOw long has he been saying that a one-term senator can't run this country? But then he turns around and picks a veep how has even LESS experience than Obama?!?! I don't think he can talk about Obama's lack of experience any more. And while you may argue that it's McCain who's running for president, and we'll only have to worry about Palin should he croak, there is a very real possibility that he could during his term. And I'm not the only one to say this.
Reply
There was actually a fascinating Op-Ed in yesterday's Wall Street Journal (read: conservative repulican newspaper) that talked about why republicans should be very mindful of who McCain picks as Veep, for there is a very real possibility, given his age, that the Veep will have to step up. The Op-Ed actually focused on why McCain shouldn't pick Liberman, and compared it to the disaster of Abraham Lincoln choosing Andrew Johnson as his VP in the 1864 election. Johnson was a democrat, and chosen solely for the purpose of the need to win a very unpopular war. Johnson was a Dem from Tennessee, the only Southern Senator to stay with the union. Johnson was chosen across party lines to bring a very balanced ticket (to try and win southerners who were on the fence about coming back to the union). Well, by the election, and by 1865, the war turned in favor of the union, and the war was over. Lincoln was also shot, leaving Johnson in the ashes of the war. History shows this was not the smartest strategy; Johnson was eventually impeached. And Johnson wasn't the only case of a bad VP choice. John Tyler became president because William Henry Harrison spoke too long at his inauguration, and caught pneumonia because of the speech in the rain, and died 30 days into office. Tyler was NOT popular among the party, but was chosen to be a balanced ticket.
Now, if Obama were to die in office, I don't think anyone would doubt Biden's ability to take over. But what about Gov. Palin? Do republicans really believe in her? No one's even HEARD of her! Hell, Fox news kept calling her SUSAN Palin this morning!
And while McCain picking her shows his desperate need to appease women, I am at the same time sort of offended he chose her. She's not very progressive, as most Hillary supporters are, and it almost is a pat on the head to women saying "Here! I picked one of you. Now vote for me." So on one hand, it's awesome that women are such a factor in this election, but is his choice offensive? I can't decide.
So if I don't support Palin, does that make me sexist? Does it make me a bad feminist? Will people call her a bitch the same way people called Hillary? The way I see her is the same way you view Obama: you love the historical aspect of it, and appreciate the significance of his candidacy, but don't support his issues. I am the same way. I would LOVE to see a woman at the #2 spot, I just don't necessarily want to see her based on her conservative issues.
I'd love to see what she has to say. And what you have to say about her as well.
This is going to be such a fascinating election! I could say a lot more, but am going to stop.
Reply
Leave a comment