United States Presidential Election 2008 - Official Discussion Thread

Originally posted by xmarksthespot
I'm aware Joe Biden has the lowest net worth among the US Senators and that he rides the train home, geography of his constituency obviously been beneficial in this regard. I'm aware that he comes from a working class family etc etc.

That doesn't change that having the the #2 on the ticket as a Senator of 35 years, and a failed presidential candidate twice over himself, blunts "the message of change." In choosing Biden, Obama clearly went for someone who would bring the benefit of experience, particularly in foreign policy, in the face of polling showing voters were wary of his lack thereof. This coming at the cost of diluting the "change" part of "hope and change."

For example, in watching Obama's acceptance speech I recall one part about energy policy. "Washington's been talking about our oil addiction for the last thirty years, and John McCain has been there for twenty-six of them." and this seemed to ring hollow when Biden has been there for all thirty of them.

Saying Biden doesn't blunt the Obama campaign's "change" or "Washington outsider" attacks is as silly as saying choosing Palin doesn't blunt the McCain campaign's "experience" attacks.
That being said a big difference is that Biden brings more tangible benefits to his ticket long-term, despite Palin being more newsworthy in terms of impact.

Can someone name a reason for Palin being picked other than being a woman?

She's a pro-life conservative who will energize the base and the evangelicals to come out for McCain.

That alone will make this a close election.

Minority womens groups are solidly behind Obama, be they married or single.

Married white women are behind McCain (majority anyway), but a large group is split evenly: single white women.

If Palin can get some of them, then she's a huge asset to McCain.

Also, I like that she's young, smart, well spoken, and conservative. It breaks this idea that conservative people are backwoods bible thumpers out of touch with modern America.

That said, I wonder if her lack of experience will doom her.

However, if she's another Obama (able to speak well and argue that it's judgement, not experience that matters) and is a younger untested person with good ideas and can speak well then she may offset those concerns.

The RNC and VP debate will be very telling as to what will happen this fall.

If she does well, the evangelicals/conservatives and moderate republicans will come out for her and McCain and the race will be close.

Originally posted by chithappens
Can someone name a reason for Palin being picked other than being a woman?

The Rep/Cons are touting that she has more executive experience than Obama, Biden and even McCain since she was Mayor and is a Governor. I.E. "She's made executive calls." (Which is true) You have to ask, why her then, certainly there were other candidates with greater "executive experience"?

IMO, being a woman was the the first priority and some other female choices like Hutchinson were either pro-life or just not hot enough.

Another thing of note that kicks McCain right in the balls, he has previously said that choosing a VP who could step right into the role of President should he be unable too (since he's old) was a (if not the) main priority, he's telling us Palin is the best he could do considering that?

Originally posted by sithsaber408

If she does well, the evangelicals/conservatives and moderate republicans will come out for her and McCain and the race will be close.

Where else would they go if not McCain, it's not like they're going to vote Obama. Do you really think that many are just going to stay home because they're upset at McCain's choice?

Originally posted by sithsaber408
She's a pro-life conservative who will energize the base and the evangelicals to come out for McCain.

That alone will make this a close election.

Originally posted by sithsaber408
Minority womens groups are solidly behind Obama, be they married or single.

Married white women are behind McCain (majority anyway), but a large group is split evenly: single white women.

If Palin can get some of them, then she's a huge asset to McCain.

Originally posted by sithsaber408
Also, I like that she's young, smart, well spoken, and conservative. It breaks this idea that conservative people are backwoods bible thumpers out of touch with modern America.

Originally posted by sithsaber408
That said, I wonder if her lack of experience will doom her.

Originally posted by sithsaber408
However, if she's another Obama (able to speak well and argue that it's judgement, not experience that matters) and is a younger untested person with good ideas and can speak well then she may offset those concerns.

The RNC and VP debate will be very telling as to what will happen this fall.

If she does well, the evangelicals/conservatives and moderate republicans will come out for her and McCain and the race will be close.

WHat the hell? Lessen McCain's ability to pull Alaska? That's hilarious. Alaska's a red state period

One of the few upsides with her is that she has incredibly low expectations in regards to her debate with Biden. So if she does simply okay people will be impressed.

As one commentator said, people will be impressed with her if she simply is able to stand up.

Originally posted by SelinaAndBruce
WHat the hell? Lessen McCain's ability to pull Alaska? That's hilarious. Alaska's a red state period

It's amazing how McInsane ran on experience and judgement, yet he selects a running mate whom he met ONCE to run the counntry if God forbid something should happen to him. I lost respect for him

McInsane
Politics First!

Originally posted by lord xyz
no, every one thinks it's a bad decision.

That doesn't make it a poor electioneering decision; the jury's still out on that.

The way in which she was rolled-out was a smart political move though as it shoved Obama's speech from the top of the news; and apparently since her selection has helped McCain in the fundraising stakes to the tune of between $5-7 million. (Although I'm not sure if that's a typical situation following a VP selection)

Gonna depend on how many women vote with their boobs instead of their brains.

Originally posted by BackFire
Gonna depend on how many women vote with their boobs instead of their brains.

It was politically a somewhat smart pick, potentially.

But I think that will come out as a net negative when the point starts being made (and it will) more frequently that McCain, the guy who claims to put country first, obviously put country second behind politics when choosing his VP.

mcain is another bush just waiting to start another war
and all obama is gonna do is make this country more ghetto

Originally posted by spidey-dude
mcain is another bush just waiting to start another war
and all obama is gonna do is make this country more ghetto

Originally posted by sithsaber408
She's a pro-life conservative who will energize the base and the evangelicals to come out for McCain.

That alone will make this a close election.

So the inclusion of a pro-life conservative running mate is going to energize evangelicals to vote for the pro-life conservative candidate who they were going to vote for anyway?

Originally posted by RocasAtoll
That's a very intelligent analysis. How did you come to those conclusions?

Originally posted by spidey-dude
they're history

So you're a time traveler from a retarded version of our future?

Originally posted by BackFire
It was politically a somewhat smart pick, potentially.

But I think that will come out as a net negative when the point starts being made (and it will) more frequently that McCain, the guy who claims to put country first, obviously put country second behind politics when choosing his VP.

But, she is a radical and a bit of a maverick who can always say she put the interests of her state before those of the Republican Party...

Also, how can the Dems attack her on the experience charge?