Didn't See That Coming

A Follow Up to "Why Your Vote Will Count In 08"

They call him the Maverick, from both sides of the aisle. Someone who doesn't quite play by the rules that have been set out before him, but then, this is no ordinary game.

 

Just when you think you have got the hang of this "political hot mess",  BAM here comes the twist and it has got all the squawk box gurus up in arms.

 

John McCain has announced his running mate. Not Mitt Romney and his LDS voters. Not Joe Lieberman, another maverick of sorts, or Tim Pawlenty of the heavily entrenched democratic state of Minnesota. No, he selected Sarah Palin. 

 

"Who?"

 

My thoughts exactly. He selected a virtual unknown for the "gladiator event" of his political life and a woman to boot.  Didn't see that coming.

 

 

 

So why is all of this so significant?

 

Sarah Palin, is the youngest elected governor of a state that has been at the center of the gas crisis argument of do we drill or not drill. She also is a self described "hockey mom" and appeals to women of color, something the Republicans have never had, but more glaring is the fact that her son is serving in Iraq.

 

Well by now, if you are keeping tabs, the whole too young/too old thing is off the table.

 

Obama, age 44, picked Bien, age 71, who appeals to the whole, "he's got no experience" crowd gathered at what my daughter calls "The Grandpa’s Table" at the doughnut shop. His strength is in foreign policy and has "working-class" roots.

 

McCain. age 72, picked Pavin, age 44, who squelches the "old guard" theory with her youth and "soccer mom" image. (She was the cover model on Vogue.)

 

Some other interesting things to note:

 

Obama needed a way to get to white voters, particularly, middle aged white voters. Biden brings him stability and the much needed "clout" of experience, especially with foreign policy. 

McCain needed a way to get to younger voters and especially women, who want and demand a new way of thinking about how this nation is going to be governed. (McCain's ads have primarily featured his time in Viet Nam.)

 

So Where does that leave the fence sitters?

 

Well, if you were a Hillary fan, you just might vote McCain.

 

And, if you were a Lieberman fan, you may end up voting Obama.

 

However you vote, your vote will count, it will be vote for change, no matter how you slice it.

Some more observations for you to ponder:

 

 

If you haven't noticed, pre Biden ads for Obama RARELY featured African Americans.

 

McCain’s ad's primarily feature his footage in Viet Nam, a war that is constantly being compared to what is happening today.

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Believe it or not, I wrote this on the back of a grocery receipt, while I was waiting at the dr.'s today. They had the breaking news.

Reviews

[Wildecat]

I should get me a grocery receipt, this definitely makes a person thing no matter which side your on. Nice write.

[bob, small b. aka invs]

at first i thought mccain was using palin to soften his campaign, so that if the republican ticket was attacked it might look like the dems were picking on a poor woman. as it turns out, the 'poor woman' turns out to be a rattlesnake and seems to be going out of her way to paint a target on herself. revving crowds up to a fever pitch with cries from the crowd calling out for blood. refusing to answer questions in the debate if she chose not to. the lady is no lady. she, like george bush, does as she pleases and does not feel accountable. i've had enough of that.

[Pax Analog]

Well, Obama's 47; Biden 65. Ya got the other two right tho', as far as I know. Quite apart from political philosophy, the "game" of politics presents this: Yeah, hands-off the candidates' kids, re Palin's pregnant 17-yr.-old kid feeling obliged to marry with conservative anti-abortion parents. But this is an embarrassment for the McCain campaign, no matter how they paint it. The REAL issue with it is that McCain did not "vett" Palin, as they say, conduct a rigorous background check, meaning he went off half-cocked (just like Gorge War Bosh), without doing his homework -- and THAT'S a poor recommendation for leadership.

Maverick, schmaverick. Republicans are wrong-war train-wreck incompetents; put 'em on a reservation, and let Indians replace them. Then you have potential (Dems) and real Americans (Indians). Enough with the flag-waving pseudos -- if American were founded on so-called conservatism, there wouldn't be an America. King George ring a bell? That murderous usurpational clown of the last 8 years look familiar now?

Ha, I wasn't going to get viscerally slanted on this, but I guess I couldn't help myself. Kudos for bringing up politics -- gets the blood boiling. Blood sport, indeed. I'm a Crazy Horse Jeffersonian myself. Add the neglected "holy trinity" of the 19th century to the dialogue: Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman.

What other incendiary material do you have written on the back of a grocery receipt? ;-)

[BrightEyes]

well - you can ask Cowboy - I called this over a month ago. Knew that if Obama snubbed Hillary for VP McCain would pick a woman - and Palin had been out heavily in the political venues talking up McCain. Oddly, we had this same conversation about how each candidate's VP pick rather killed their earlier talking points. McCain's on the experience bit; and Obama's on the age bit. No matter where you sit - it certainly is shaping up to be a historical election year :-)

P.S. fantastic way to spend the waiting time at the grocery store!!!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

I know what you mean I was shocked by his decision no doubt but then I am democrat so it makes no difference to me... now my lady called this selection last week... vert interesting choice to say the least.