Saturday, August 30, 2008

Dispatch from Schroon Lake

I'm writing from a combination cybercafe-coffee shop-antique store in the idyllic little village of Schroon Lake, New York. DH is accusing me of internet-addiction and of course it's true. I have been feeling bereft without being able to read blogs discussing the Democratic Convention and the choice of Governor Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate. I sat and watched Washington Week in Review last night to at least get a feel for the response to both.

We arrived Thursday night just in time to see Barack Obama's speech in full (except for about 5 minutes when I had to go walk Diva who was barking loudly and distractingly).

The speech was rousing, it addressed all the issues he needed to talk about, it was strong, and it was fantastic. All of the pundits agreed he did exactly what he needed to do and the convention was a great success.

So it was with dismay that I got up the next morning and turned on the television to hear that McCain had announced a surprise running mate of Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska. I knew he planned to announce his running mate right after the Democratic convention in order to step on Obama's "bump" in the polls. But I was expecting Mitt Romney or someone equally dull. McCain did pull off a surprise announcement, one cynically calculated to try to make his campaign look like "change" and perhaps steal away some of the disgruntled Hillary supporters.

To me, it was exactly the same thing that the first President Bush pulled by nominating Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court to replace Thurgood Marshall.

Although Ms. Palin is a woman, her resemblance to Hillary Clinton stops there. She can talk all she wants about the 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, but if any woman who supported Hillary truly believed in the stands that Hillary has taken, there is no way she will support Palin. Governor Palin is a conservative right wing idealogue who is on the opposite side of the political spectrum from Hillary on almost every issue.

McCain's choice was hailed as "Maverick Picks a Stunner" on the front page of the local newspaper. But it was not an action of a maverick at all - he chose a conservative who would thrill the religious right, who had not been all that excited about McCain himself. Palin is enthuasiastically in favor of drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. She is also pro-NRA and is not supportive of gay and lesbian rights. Her positions are totally in line with the right wing. But because she's a woman,McCain is hailed as being brave for picking her.

Let's hope no moderate Independent or undecided Democrat will fall for this cynical ploy by the McCain campaign.

10 comments:

Randal Graves said...

Palin can only add votes to Johnny McFossil's total, especially once the talking hairpieces ignore all of her wingnut views and corruption to talk about how purty she is with mom duties, one kid in the army and another with Down's syndrome. Plus it effectively muzzles Biden. The second he sounds like himself in that debate, here come the vapors.

America is dumb until proven otherwise in a November election.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

It displays such cynicism on the part of McCain's camp, which shouldn't surprise me. It's all about the election, not about who would be a good person to have a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Comrade Kevin said...

Instead of pandering to the middle, McCain has now pandered to the base. Stodgy old Republicans don't seem to me to be the kind of people who will be moved one way or another by a woman candidate.

Fran said...

Schroon Lake... lovely!!! That is all I have to say!

Distributorcap said...

the palin story continues to unwind and it gets weirder by the minute

Mariamariacuchita said...

you must be in a beautiful place, and of course, we are all internet addicts.

Sarah Plain is a commie liberal...many questions surface regarding her suitability, which are all addressed over at Maria's.

libhom said...

I wonder how much mention will be made in the corporate media about how Palin is under investigation in Alaska.

Christopher said...

McCandy is a riddle wrapped inside an enigma.

I thought there was only one immaculate conception but apparently, there was another.

I hope McCain's VP choice causes his campaign to implode but, I'm not so sure. He seems to be strengthening and the duo is attracting many demographics. Not a good sign.

Dorothy said...

Politics makes strange bedfellows, and life is stranger then fiction.. However, I'm not sure who I'll vote for yet.....

I'm so sick of career politicians and yet there are no options. And the dinners which are paid for by the lobbyist. ...make me sick. I wish I thought any one of these candidates would really make us a government by the people for the people...however, I just don't believe it will...keep on giving us info it's helpful

Dorothy from grammology
grammology.ocm

Mauigirl said...

Randal, I agree - no matter how stupid a choice she may be, it might pay off for McCain. And to your point, I never underestimate the stupidity of the American public.

Ruth, agree - a totally political, cynical choice.

Kevin, agree - the main reason to pick her was her rightwing credentials. I think Tom Ridge would have appealed more to moderates and independents, including the women who are still angry about the Hillary loss.

Fran, Schroon Lake is just wonderful. If we were looking for another home in a town, I'd pick that one for sure. But the good thing is, our isolated little woodsy cabin is only about 40 minutes away from Schroon Lake so it's an easy drive.

DCap, you are right - every day a new revelation. You have to wonder about McCain for picking this woman without even checking in to her family and past properly.

Maria, I came over and enjoyed your post! Will read more and comment more later!

Libhom, I think the MSM has been documenting the various things Palin has been involved in. Certainly the NY Times has and I think I've seen headlines in other places addressing these issues as well.

Christopher, fingers crossed that this backfires for him. She may even back out. Time will tell.

Dorothy, I hope you'll be thinking about your grandchildren and remember the Democrats are more likely to be helping secure their future than the GOP. I think in time it will be clear that there are differences, even though, as you say, they are both career politicians. Keep your ears open when they finally have some debates! Doesn't it seem as if this election year is going on FOREVER?