Sarah Palin is a game changer
Sarah Palin is a game changer, is there any doubt after this weekend? She has simultaneously energized the conservative base AND independents. I am truly shocked by how well this pick has been received.
Conservatives have been waiting for McCain to stick his finger in their eye once again. With this pick, he has shocked them by delivering an authentic conservative. He raised $3 million overnight and has re-energized his base in a way few thought possible.
I am surprised that independents have been as impressed,
64% of unaffiliated voters now give positive reviews to McCain, up ten points since naming his running mate.
I really thought this was a risky choice. I, like Richard Brookhiser of National Review, took a decidedly negative view initially. I tried to make these points tonight, but the callers for the most part, were having none of it. Here’s Brookhiser,
The Palin pick shows a low opinion of the vice presidency, and it shows conservatives in a bad light.
Why is this so? Because for months experience has been the issue. McCain has undercut his two main campaign themes, Barack is NOT READY TO LEAD and COUNTRY FIRST. Can you really make the argument that McCain put country first with this pick? Instead, it is the GOP embracing the identity politics it claims to detest. Palin tickles all the right interest groups, women (check), guns (check), God (check), pro life (check).
All that said, Repubicans don’t seem to care. They love the Palin pick and for good reason. She is what Barack Obama claims to be. She’s a reformer with a record instead of speeches. She’s bipartisan in action rather than in words. Unlike Obama, she has fought the politics of old within her own party. In short, she is the anti-Obama.
Gary Gross from Let Freedom Ring called in from MN to weigh in with his perpective on Palin. He disagrees with my initial reaction to the selection and makes a strong case for Palin here.
Liberals are besides themselves. They are not simply pointing out the experience issue, they are openly mocking her. Some, like the loathsome Andrew Sullivan, are quite happy to pass along ugly smears against the Palin family. All I can say about this is, keep it, please, keep it up.
The enthusiasm gap has been obliterated overnight. No matter what happens from here, one thing is clear, Sarah Palin is a game changer.
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Obama, Politics, Radio, Sarah Palin | Kevin | 
September 1, 2008 7:27 am
You know, something that most people don’t realize is that being the mayor of a small town is a heck of a lot more in-your-face difficult than being the mayor of a large city. You don’t have all the staff, you don’t have a thousand layers of people between you and your constituents, and your constituents not only know where you live they run into you in the grocery store and will be more than happy to tell you what they really think…..
Every single decision you make is critiqued by all and so you have to carefully do your job, thoughtfully, correctly, and above all…fairly. It couldn’t be better training for Washington if we really want Washington to change.Talk about accountability!
It’s not as easy as tools like little andi sullivan want people to think. But then, what do we small town folk know? We are so busy clinging to our guns and bibles we can hardly think…snark.
Mayor of a Big City, Mayor of a Small Town, both mean a hell of a lot more than a Community Activist. Former Mayor Rudy Guliani said it best tonight, “On day one of her job as mayor she, Sarah Palin, had more executive experience than Obama. On day two, she had twice the experience.” Has Sarah Palin used cocaine or pot or had her political campaign launched by a domestic insurgent? Where the fletch is the MSM on this? Obama is as light as a popcorn fart. How very sad for the DNC.
[...] excited by the Palin pick as well, but I’ve tried to remain honest about her strengths (which are considerable) and her weaknesses (ditto). I’m not saying that I am perfect in this [...]
i admire Sarah Palin because she had done a lot in the area of politics. she has also a good track record when she was still the governor of Alaska.
actually i like Sarah Palin very much. she is a very good role model for all women. i believe that she is a great politician and did something very well in Alaska.