I've Heard A Lot of Theories About Why McCain Picked Palin...

[Plaid Adder]

...but there's one theory that, interestingly, nobody ever seems to advance.

So far the conventional wisdom seems to be that this is McCain's attempt to woo Hillary voters. I would imagine the average Hillary voter's response will be, "Hey. Asshole. HOW DUMB DO YOU THINK I AM?"

Seeing as protecting the right to choose is an issue that was kind of, uh, important to most of Hillary Clinton's supporters, picking an anti-choice evangelical is not the best way to court them. It's possible that McCain's people are too stupid, arrogant, or sexist to figure this out, and genuinely believe that Hillary's supporters will be too busy celebrating the fact that Palin has a uterus to wonder what a Palin presidency would mean about their right to control their own bodies. But my theory is that picking Palin was really a sop to the evangelicals, who are notoriously unenthusiastic about McCain despite all his other pandering, and that as far as disaffected Clinton voters go it's basically the political equivalent of a Hail Mary: it's a gamble that probably won't pay off, but what the hell, you've got nothing to lose.

However, I've now encountered several far more complicated theories about the strategy behind this choice--all still based on the assumption that McCain's handlers are somehow playing the gender card. I've heard the theory that McCain picked Palin figuring that the savaging she will shortly receive in the media, who as we know treat politically powerful women like crap, and from both the left and the right will stoke the simmering feminist outrage of Clinton's disappointed backers and inspire them to rally around their put-upon Republican sister. I've heard the theory that McCain picked Palin in order to make it impossible for Joe Biden to really take the gloves off during the VP debate; should he shred her the way he undoubtedly can, it'll only make him look like a big meanie for beating up on the poor woman. I've heard this theory, and I've heard that theory, but here's one theory I've not heard yet from anyone on the left OR on the right:

The theory that McCain picked Palin because he thought that, should she be called upon to do so, she'd make a good president.

*Nobody* who's talking about this pick is even paying lip service to the idea that McCain picked her because he thought she'd be good at the job. She's so unknown, so inexperienced, that her selection can *only* be explained in terms of political positioning. Someone here on the boards referred to her as "the Harriet Myers of VP picks," and I think that pretty much sums it up.

And it tells you something about this party that this is how they approached that selection. Sure, the VP pick is always partly about the electoral college and partly about attracting people to the ticket. But at least since Clinton, Democratic candidates have usually chosen someone who had actually been a viable candidate in his own right, thus taking seriously the possibility that something terrible might happen and that person might actually have to run the country. Democrats feel better knowing that they've got someone in that spot who wouldn't do the country too much damage if they had to step up.

Republicans apparently don't worry about that when they pick a VP. But they don't really worry about it when they pick a president either, so I guess it's to be expected.

Well, I'll give McCain this: his VP pick has strengthened marriage. Well, at least it's strengthened one marriage. My partner's sister is married to a Republican, and of course there's a certain amount of domestic disagreement as a result. But her husband's a fiscal Republican, not a Christian; and he apparently declared that he would not vote McCain if he put an evangelical on the ticket. So as of this morning, apparently, they're both Obama supporters. Thanks, McCain!

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[rzemanfl]

1. It is simple, she is the only one stupid enough to accept. The

convention starts Monday, he had to have someone....

[gateley]

2. You NAILED it!

Not ONE person has said he picked her because she'd make a good president!

:headbang:

[glowing]

3. That's something I just don't get.. Reagan.. as much as I disliked him

was not some religious nut zealot.. the man was a Hollywood actor, with his second wife...

[MichiganVote]

4. He didn;t put her on this ticket. This is a * move if there ever was one.

[Cha]

5. Thanks Plaid..there's a lot of Republicans out there

who are not fundies.

[Bucky]

6. If you look at her record, she's also a right wing maverick like him.

She got elected governor by taking on the Stevens-Murkowski machine. She's no damn good at running a government, but her bio alone would seem to appeal to McCain. She's very much like a younger version of himself, except for the seriel infidelity part.

Of course it's hard to argue that he thinks she could be president if he only met her in person once before making this selection.

Oh, and congratulations to your partner's sister. Hope is alive!

[mwb970]

15. She's a right-wing extremist.

Palin has an SNL-parody-like list of views, each representing some right-wing idea taken to the absolute maximum extreme.

She's not just anti-choice, she wants no abortions, even after rape or incest, and also no birth control, even for married people. (She obviously doesn't use it herself.) She's not just a creationist, she's a young-earth creationist, and also she wants creationism taught in public schools!

She is this way about everything. She has extreme, far-out views consonant with the extreme, far-out nature of Alaska itself. But this is America, Gidget. You're in the wrong place.

[Bluzmann57]

7. Palin may well make a good president

in republican world, which is the same as bizarro world. But I just can't understand how being a small town mayor and then a Governor for LESS THAN TWO YEARS could make her ready to answer an emergency. What if Al-Qaida decides to attack again? Will she then bomb the entire world because she can? And as far as being some kind of "energy expert", just because she lives in Alaska doesn't make her an expert on the oil industry. Hell, I live in Iowa so does that make me some type of expert on agriculture? Counter culture maybe, but the only thing I know about farming is that I like to eat.
No, the only logical reason (such as it is) that McCain picked Mrs. Palin is that they want Hillary voters. Surely McCain isn't stupid enough to believe that she'd make a good President now? Is he? Oh wait...never mind.

[Mme. Defarge]

14. In the Republican world,

elected officials are merely puppets who are simply in place to repeat the talking points they have been handed for the day, and perpetuate the illusion of democracy. From this standpoint, the question of whether or not a candidate is qualified is moot; they are qualified as long as they say and do as instructed by the shadow government puppet masters.

[Sugarcoated]

20. She's even more "qualified" to them

then McFudd - she'd be putty in their hands. Hell, maybe they really are punking him! Maybe he better watch his back if he gets elected . . . but he won't. Be elected, that is.

[akangel2008]

22. LOL that was good!

And excellent questions! I have heard the repubs talking about her "experience" lately too; as PTA president for 6 years and former school board president for 2 I have more executive experience than her!
They are also really hitting on Obama's "lack" of experience to be President as Palin is only running for Vice President. Have they not been hearing a word the man has to say? Fools.

[PATRICK]

8. The real creds

In the pocket of big oil. Dependent on Cheney/Rove to an absolute degree overcoming the "Huckabee" true believer risk- in their minds at least. Ruthless with a heartless core not consonant with her family image. Disposable with multi pretexts. A de facto puppet should she become president and the panic begins. A huge number of colorful issues for the smoke and mirrors dynamics. Charming bubba, and following the Hillary use of the single feminist issue over ANY other issue even those connected with what most women believe in. Not dull even if she is dull. She is no Dan Quayle.

[mopinko]

9. i have a different view. it is like the whole gay marriage ballot measures-

it's there to explain away the fraud. when people woke up the day after the '04 election and said :wtf:, all the pundits were ready with the "values voter" bullshit.
it's about the cover story. period.

[KittyWampus]

11. yes, that too. Primarily, it's to pump up Fundies who've been on sidelines. But it does

also present a narrative to help cover the theft.

[mopinko]

12. you aren't cynical enough.

it is hard for us lefties to by cynical. but we must think like them or we will lose.
i don't think they give 2 shits about the fundie vote. they care about stealing votes, not earning them.

[KittyWampus]

10. you're wrong. This was to shore up the Fundie vote in down ticket races where McCain is failing

to win over the extremists.

[Misskittycat]

13. Another viable theory is that if/when McCain dies, Palin will fall into

the role of puppet of Rove, Cheney et al. She may be Sarah Barracuda in Alaska, but she's no match for the GOP power players.

[kimmerspixelated]

23. I think you're right!

[mwb970]

16. Where is Laura Roslin when we need her?

She'd be better than Gidget or the Geezer.

[Pete2069]

17. McCain also believe that if you attacked her

on her lack of experience , it would reinforce his statements
of Obama lack of experience.  So Rove is attacking it on the
women's front , the religious front and on his statements
about Obama's lack of experience front.  

At the same time not as most republicans,, Palin has not been
in office long enough to have multiple criminal or corruption
charges against her like many of the others.....

[Malidictus Maximus]

24. "Experience"?

Experience got us Nixon and Bush the First.
Truman had precious little experience and he kicked ass. Kennedy, on paper had nowhere nearly the cred that Nixon did, but who thinks Nixon would have gotten us through the Cuban missile crisis? Bill Clinton had no NATIONAL experience and he may well have been the best president of our lifetimes. I just don't see 'experience', or lack thereof as that big of a factor.
Now, the fact that she is a ditz, is another matter:-)

[biggerfishsmallpond]

18. fundie vote, women's vote are spin-offs. It is about oil

2008 will be the first post Peak Oil election. Consumers will will be struggling with post hurricane season $5 a gallon gas, scared about the winter and looking for answers from their leaders.

Obama will be portrayed as Jimmy Carter II, inflate your tires, drive less, throw on a sweater and conserve. McCain will be the drill, drill, drill, get all that American oil in Alaska and everything will go back to the way things were. Who better to allay concerns about the environment, polar bears and the actual amount of oil than the Gov herself.

This will be the first election where the Repubs Want high gas prices.

The Canadian Prime Miniter is doing the same thing. Basing an election campaign on Arctic sovereignty. He just announced a $100 million study to map the trillions in untapped resources, just out of reach and sight.

Don't worry everyone, the Republicans are the party that will ensure the American way of life is indeed non negotiable. They don't negotiate with terrorists and don't negotiate with reality.

[Maineman]

19. Palin is the perfect Republican.

Look at her positions.

I suggest she is on the ticket to inspire the right wing religicos to donate to the campaign. They will pour money in totally because of her anti-abortion stance, etc.

[McCamy Taylor]

21. McCain wanted another beauty queen in his harem. That is why he picked her.

The man is pathological when it comes to women.