Do you think Sarah Palin as VP of the USA is a smart strategic move by John Mccain?

Question

If John Mccain wins the election and dies in office, are we ready to have a 44 year old woman to run the White House?

Answer 1

I watched that dirtbag Lindsay Graham on TV yesterday claiming this fundamentalist breeder had MORE experience than Obama...

WHAT ????

She was a mayor of a 7,000 population town in fricking Alaska and has been a governor for less than two years.

Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996

and the United States Senate in 2004.

Get real, people.

Answer 2

no. I think it is very risky.

It might be smart if his goal was to energize the evangelical base. It is stupid if he thinks this will move Hillary supporters and undecided/independents over into his camp. Already not happening.

In the end, I think it will have about the same effect as choosing Mike Huckabee. She's more like Huck than any of the others.  

Answer 3

I don't think it's a good pick. With the selection of Palin we see the evaporation of the most viable Republican criticism of Obama -- the argument that he's not experienced enough to be President is gone forever. Plus she's involved in a corruption scandal at the state level. Even if she's innocent (which is probably the case) any sort of media attention linking Palin to a charge of corruption could be devastating because she's an unknown. She's especially open to being defined by something like that.

But more importantly, this is a transparently pandering pick. McCain spoke to Palin once (maybe twice?) before she was selected. They don't know each other. They don't know how well they'll work together. She was chosen mainly to peel Clinton voters away from Obama and to compete with the "historic" nature of his campaign, not because McCain knows her intimately and truly believes she would be an effective Vice President. It's blatantly calculating, makes McCain look like he's playing catch-up with Obama, and softly implies he thinks female Clinton supporters are easily fooled (they just want to vote for a woman, they're not concerned about any real issues!). Many Clinton supporters will probably find this patronizing. And if some don't, Palin probably won't be getting their votes anyway - her policy positions and worldview are diametrically opposed to Hillary's. They're political opposites. The Obama campaign, and certainly Mrs. Clinton herself, are going to make the case that a vote for McCain / Palin does an enormous disservice to and directly contradicts Clinton's, and her supporters', vision for the country. And that will be an effective argument because it's true.

I don't think McCain is picking up many new votes with Palin on the ticket.  

Answer 4

Yes

and

Yes

John McCain has delivered "The Dream Ticket."  For Americans that are angry with the governments big spending sprees, that is about to stop.  When Palin became Governor of Alaska she left the Governor's Chef go, saying she could cook for her family.  She put the Governor's jet on ebay and chose to drive herself. Palin fought the corrupt government and won.  She favors drilling in  Alaska to make our country independent of foreign sources. In contrast to our 9 % Democratic favorability rating, Palin maintains an 80 % favorability rate, and has earned the title of the USA's most popular Governor. Plus, she has more executive experience than both Obama & Biden combined.  She is a reformer, a fresh face and comes from outside of the Washington Political arena.  This is exactly what McCain ordered and what America needs.  With Palin at McCain's side,  these two mavericks will rid Washington of wasteful spending.  

Answer 5

No but the republicans do not want to admit this but they are also disappointed in the pick because she is an empty suit who is a religious right winged nut job.

I think that if Mccain would have chosen Mickey Mouse, they would have found something good to say about him.

Answer 6

Not a smart move at all , merely another asinine move on McCain's part

Answer 7

Sarah Palin doesn't even have an opinion on foreign affairs. She is in no way ready for the job.

Those who are willing to gamble on McCain not dying in the office, do you know the statistic of how many VPs during US history had to fill in the shoes of the President? One out of each 3! So it's a 33% chance (or even more like 50/50 considering McCain is 72) that Sarah Palin will end up being the President. Are you willing to take this chance? Can you see her negotiating with foreign leaders? Or taking US out of economic mess?

You know, socialists used to say that "every cook can rule a country". Is this what McCain was thinking when he made his pick?

Answer 8

are you people dumb?!!! anybody with a brain can see the only reason he picked her is to get hillary voters. and if you go on cnn theres a article that tells you that that dint work. really im going to pick mclame because he has a female now??? puhleeze. and shes less qualified than obama! how hypocritical are they?

Answer 9

Initially I was shocked and a bit taken back... but the more I analyze it the more sense it makes:

1A)  McCain was almost certain to lose if he chose a conventional running mate... while the Palin selection could back-fire and cost him some votes, it seems like a decent gamble (basically risking a bigger margin of loosing vs. gaining a slim chance of winning... where before he had almost no chance of winning anyhow).

1B)  Obviously this is an attempt to seduce millions of fanatic, embittered, Hillary supporters who just may take the bait and vote for ANY woman (not to mention many of them are still upset with the Obama smear campaign that was so brilliantly ran in the primaries).

2)  Her inexperience could be welcome by those seeking change, and ANY discussion of experience will be welcome by the McCain folks.

3)  This pick may energize the conservative base (Palin is a true conservative, McCain is barely right of center).

4)  She is the governor of our most significant state as it relates to energy... and we're all looking for answers in this area.  

Answer 10

I'd prefer HER as a backup vs. Obama as a primary choice!

Answer 11

LOL. Just when I thought Republicans can't get any more stupid....

McCain pulls this move... LOVE IT! Palin is so fun to watch, she's like a headless chicken.

Answer 12

Agism and sexism in the same question.  Great job Obama fan. Keep it up and McCain will win for sure!

Answer 13

Brilliant choice.  

Americans are fed up with business as usual in Washington.  Lost in all the criticism of Bush is that he enjoys an approval rating three times that of congress. Most of whom are the biggest pack of buffoons.

Obama really tapped into this and then turns around and selects the ultimate insider as his running mate.  Some candidate of change.

McCain was going to lose this election.  It was Obama's for the taking.  The Evangelicals were deserting the Republican party and the ones who understood anything about government were leaving for the Libertarians.  

Palin totally changed the game.  All the news on Friday was about her.  The well staged Democratic convention might well have never happened.

The conservative base is absolutely fired up over her.  Barring some major scandal coming to light, I think she is good for 10 million votes.  

Answer 14

Absolutely the perfect pick.I'm just as ready to see a 44 year old woman as president than a black racist,inexperienced nobody.

Answer 15

At least she has some Executive experience, B.O. has none, neither does Biden for that matter. Senators are negotiators, not Executives.

Biden has far more Political experience than B.O., but he's only running for V.P.! It seems odd to me that a person who was not wanted by his Party in the Primaries, is somehow worthy of the #2 seat on the ticket, he wasn't even the #4 candidate. Yet HE is actually more qualified than B.O.!

As for Sarah Palin, she brings youth to the GOP ticket. Sure, McCain is old, and some are uncomfortable with it. She is far more Conservative than McCain, attracting the GOP's base voters. She is young, but tough on "good old boys". Her record of accomplishments, make Obama look like an intern!

After McCain is through, she will have the experience to confidently, and competently, lead OUR Country!

Hillary has been left again, for another woman. Except Sarah isn't one of Bill's "heffers"!

Answer 16

Yes I think it is a smart move , I also think better to chance the VP as less experienced than the President as inexperienced( Obama). Also McCain has no more chance than Obama of dying in office. This is getting redundant. McCain is in good health just as Obama is.  

Answer 17

Absolutely.  It immediately drew attention to Obama's inexperience.  

People who make comments like yours think that a 45-year-old (she would be 45 within a month of inauguration day) being second in line to the Presidency is somehow worse than a 47-year-old being first in line to the Presidency.

Obama doesn't have the luxury of "If Biden wins the election and dies in office..."  The blind leading the man who can see makes sense in only one situation: both men are in the dark.

It also  forces Obama to demonstrate his change, rather than just talk about it.  He completely dropped the ball on his change message with his choice of running mate.

Just for fun, let's compare Palin's (VP candidate, with time to learn) and Obama's (P candidate, with no time to learn) executive experience:

Palin was the mayor of a town with, by the most conservative figures, 5,000.  She is the governor of a state with a population of 600,000.

Obama was president of the Harvard Law Review, which had 80 members.

To achieve her current position, Palin defeated her own party's incumbent.  To achieve his current position, Biden defeated an incumbent from a different party, who had to be talked out of retiring so that he could run for another term.  To achieve his position, Obama had to beat Alan Keyes in a liberal state, with Keyes having had 3 months to campaign.

Answer 18

You only have to be 35 years or older to run for or be the President.

Answer 19

I think so.  It stole steam away from Obama's campaign.  Most importantly, Sarah has injected interests into the Republicans Campaign.  Energy that Mccain lacks....

Answer 20

Yes !

Alaska Govermor Sarah Palin has MORE TOTAL political experience than Obama.

KimS

Answer 21

Alaska is losing the best governor we ever had.  Don't under estimate Sarah.  Many, many people have.

Governor Sarah Palin has facilitated a gas pipeline that pissed off the oil companies.  It will generate $112billion of income for the state over 20 years and create 12,000 new jobs.  On September 12th every man, woman and child in Alaska will get a check for about $3300.  This is an annual event.  Can your governor do this?

Answer 22

I think it was a great decision and Sarah Palin would be way better than  if Obama would be president. She actually had executive experience and all Obama did was vote present or not vote at all. Look up his voting record look ill give you the link!

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category...

NV means present....

Answer 23

McCain hit a homerun when he selected Palin.  The polls are proving it.  

Answer 24

Everyone sure has McCain dying in office. I think she would do a lot better than Bush but that isnt saying much

Answer 25

I like it because everything Obama says that's negative about McCain no longer applies to him, pretty much. If Obama complains about her lack of experience, he has to examine his own lack of experience.

Answer 26

Yes and I believe Ms. Palin will do a fine job.  I was upset before and chanaged my mind because she is a strong young lady and has proven herself as a great American and I will vote McCain/Palin!

Answer 27

In terms of smart strategic moves, let's look carefully at the VP selections of John McCain and Barack Obama.

Sarah Palin---former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, who has served half a term as governor of Alaska

Joe Biden---six consecutive terms as US senator. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Just to be sure, let's take one last look at their experience.

Sarah Palin---former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, who has served half a term as governor of Alaska.

Joe Biden---six consecutive terms as US senator. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Golly, I would have to say McCain made an excellent strategic move.

Now, it will be easier than ever for Americans to vote for

Barack Obama.

Answer 28

I think he stands a better chance of getting elected with her(assuming we don't find out she's an ax-murderer or something) than he would have with Romney or other white male politicians. The strategy is to get elected is it not? What would be the point of running for office if he didn't want to win?

Answer 29

No, I think he just guaranteed that Barack Obama will be the next President.  Could McCain have been more obvious about trying to win over unhappy Hillary supporters?  Rather than appeasing and attracting them, he has alienated and insulted them.  I don't know a woman alive who can't tell the difference between a Republican conservative and a Democratic moderate.  Palin stands for everything Hillary has been against her whole life.  Does he really think women are that pliable and that stupid?  If he wanted to win this election, he should have chosen Lieberman.  He could have garnered a lot of Hillary women and a ton of Independents with that selection and he probably would have beat Obama.  Not now.  

It doesn't have anything to do with the fact that she's 44 or a woman. It has to do with the fact that she's clueless about D.C. and foreign/national issues.  And can you imagine McCain becoming unable to perform his duties, and a 21 month Governor from a state that hates to even be reminded it's part of the United States having to deal with two war fronts and a deep recession, when she couldn't find her way around Washington D.C. with a map?  I'm not one to make fun of McCain's age, but after this idiotic move on his part I'm beginning to wonder if he is really getting a bit senile.

Answer 30

It's a gamble with a high possibility of backfiring after the shock appeal of the choice wears off.  I do not believe she is ready to be president, especially not in times of war.

She was a perfect fit to get votes: votes of the women who don't care about issues (only getting a fellow woman into power); and the men who will look at her and think "now, that's how a woman should be."

The gamble is if those votes will stick through what's sure to be her life under a microscope in the coming weeks.

Answer 31

What makes you so sure he will die in office?? Geez.  

Yes, she's ready to lead.  Has more executive experience than Obama.