Could He Pick Sarah? I Sure as Heck Hope So!
By Jimmie on May 31, 2008 in Featured, Johnny Mac, Sarah Palin
Both Hot Air and The Weekly Standard noted the tip received by Kevin Aylward that a high honcho in the McCain campaign had made a very quiet trip to Alaska. They both conjecture that this means Johnny Mac is seriously looking at Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as a VP candidate.
I’ll tell you this. If he does pick Palin, he’ll get my vote. As this profile from last year shows, Palin is an unapologetic conservative who has been willing to take on entrenched and powerful organizations to advance her conservative principles. Unlike McCain, Palin has put her political future on the line to root out corruption within the Republican Party. Unlike McCain, Palin has risked quite a bit of political capital to take a stand on shrinking the size of government in her state. Unlike McCain, Palin knows how to split the difference between using the energy resources we have available to us and not letting the oil companies run roughshod over her state. Unlike McCain, the combative stands she has taken have been in the service of conservative principles, not her own political career or the cause du jour.
She’s proven herself an impressive politician and a principled leader. She is immensely popular in her state and has the sort of demeanor that wins over fans of both parties.
She’d be a heck of a choice and perhaps the only choice that I can see right now that would earn my vote. I imagine there are quite a few conservative out there who feel much the same way. McCain ought to pay attention to that.
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Stumble it!
Sarah Palin: Hot, Hot, HOT!!!!!! If McCain does the right thing and picks her, PALIN–not Hillary–could well be our first woman president.
Even better, Palin has a son in the Army (I’m a proud Army dad too!). Given that McCain’s got a son serving in Iraq right now, between them they’d blow the “chickenhawk” talking point out of the water.
Palin as a VP nominee would also mean a ticket nigh well be unbeatable on Iraq and the GWOT (yeah, that’s still going on regardless of what the State Department thinks). Both McCain and Palin have very personal stakes in ensuring victory…and they’ll cordially remind Prince Charming of that fact every chance they get.
MarkJ | May 31, 2008 | Reply
There’s been noted buzz of late on rising GOP star Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal as a McCain prospective Veep. Certainly Jindal is more than very good, However, I believe there’s some “strategerie” going on here. The “real” beneficiary of the Jindal talk is the other rising GOP star, Alaska Gov Sarah Palin. Palin’s got everything that Jindal has (new/exciting, wildly popular, ethics and spending reformer, core conservative etc.) and more — mother of 5 w/remarkable bio, she’s 8 yrs older than Jindal, Alaska energy issue, and set to garner the disenfranchised female Hillary voter (I don’t believe Dem leaders can dump Obama).
Getting Jindal’s name out first — at Team McCain’s BBQ for instance — sets the stage for the obvious choice, Palin. For example, albeit Rush Limbaugh introduced Palin’s name, and later Jindal’s as good Veep choices, of late Rush has been praising the name of Jindal while on his very same shows discussing at great length the frustrated female Hillary voter and the global warming hysteria/need for energy development, without mentioning Palin’s name as the obvious beneficiary of those two issues. Rush walks a fine line, introducing Palin, yet can’t, at least yet, reiterate much, knowing that his praises may be counter-productive to many a swing, moderate and/or formerly Dem voter (who’s against Obama and switching to McCain). Moreover, while I feel that Palin has more real accomplishment, experience and qualification than Obama (and Hillary combined, albeit w/Obama the bar is pretty low), the only potential argument against Palin is she’s a newbie to the national scene. By having Jindal out there first as a VP prospect “passing” the “experience” and “new to the national scene” test, implicitly passes Palin as well. (For that matter Palin’s got as much if not more experience and accomplishment than Florida Gov Crist who’s only been Gov for 2 yrs — and the media has been touting Crist as a VP prospect.)
That’s my thinking at least.
Ted | Jun 1, 2008 | Reply
And, here’s an important piece of advice for McCain: If it looks like it’s going to be McCain/Palin anyway (and that should be a “no brainer” for Team McCain), McCain should announce NOW or VERY SOON, rather than later towards the convention. There’s currently a growing chorus for Obama/Hillary (as VP) ticket (in fact the Dems are likely aware of the Palin phenomenon). If the GOP waits while movement for Hillary as VP grows — even worse until after it is solidified that Hillary will/could be VP pick — selecting Palin will be portrayed by Dems/liberal media more as a reaction by GOP selecting its own female (overshawdoing Palin’s own remarkable assets), rather than McCain taking the lead on this. Selecting Palin now or early (contrary to the punditocracy) will mean McCain will be seen as driving the course of this campaign overwhelmingly, and the DEMS will be seen as merely reacting. And, there’s absoultely no down-side to this because even if Hillary is a no-go as VP for Obama, the GOP gains by acting early. McCain the maverick. Palin the maverick. Do it now!
There’s no reason, and actually substantial negative, in McCain waiting to see what the Dems do first insofar as his picking Palin as VP, because, no matter who Obama picks, Palin is by far (and I mean far) the best pick for McCain and the GOP, especially in this time of GOP woes. The GOP can be seen as the party of real ‘change’ (albeit I hate that mantra, change, change, bla bla), while not really having to change from GOP core conservative values, which Palin more than represents.
In light of the current oil/energy situation, as well as the disaffected female Hillary voters situation, and growing focus on McCain’s age and health, Palin is more than perfect — now.
(Perhaps Team McCain is already on to this.)
Ted | Jun 1, 2008 | Reply
I’m in love with her.
John, don’t take her away from me. You have my vote already. What else do you want?
Why can’t you stay away from my beautiful Queen? Leave her alone John. She’s mine. Oops..
I forgot. It’s a VP steak. Okey…
Common John, what are you waiting for? My mom is giggling for the first time since December when she learned about the Governor (good + MSM negatives).
Gov. Palin is your chance to get my community’s votes who are still enthralled with Hillary.
seeker | Jul 16, 2008 | Reply
You called it! The news was just announced. I ran across your blog today in my search to learn more about this inspiring lady.
Terrace Crawford | Aug 29, 2008 | Reply