Palin steps down as governor

[1001001]

And I certainly don't see how Palin helped McCain. In fact, I think he shot himself in the foot by picking her.

Nope. He lost because he, HIMSELF, did not provide a complete contrast to Obama. He failed to attack Obama on pefectly legitamite issues until long into the race. His campaign was muddled and at times erratic. He failed to channel the anger of the American People. He accepted the liberal premises on global warming and illegal immigration. And the worst part: He supported the first bailout.

Palin helped him. If you doubt me, recall the poll numbers from the time he chose Palin, up to the point of the market collapse. McCain actually started to lead in the polls because Palin provided the drive, energy, and message that the campaign was sorely lacking in.

McCain behaved like he didn't really know what he was doing, as far as the crisis was concerned.

That the other boys from his campaign are now dissing Sarah is simply their refusal to admit their mistakes.

Hmm.

That's not how it looked to me.

McCain is actually a reasonable, honorable man who is not an idealogue or religious zealot.

Then he picked Governor Church Lady and after a quick bump, they rocketed down the polls. That didn't correspond to the economy so much as it corresponded to her opening her mouth for the first time.

 

[Teelie]

And yet when Bush won by less in '04 it was somehow a "mandate."

As I recall...Bush set a popular-vote record in '04--he got more votes than any president before him.

That means nothing. It just means that there was a record turn out that year for the election which means nothing. Try again.

He sank us deep into a war too. Wartime presidential re-elections are easy. Any fool (as we know) can win re-election during wartime conditions.

 

[IndyJones]

And yet when Bush won by less in '04 it was somehow a "mandate."

As I recall...Bush set a popular-vote record in '04--he got more votes than any president before him.

That means nothing. It just means that there was a record turn out that year for the election which means nothing. Try again.

Here are the election results:

2004 -
Bush 62.04 million votes, 284 votes in the Electoral College
Kerry 59.03 million votes, 251 votes in the Electoral College

2008 -
Obama 69.46 million votes, 365 votes in the Electoral College
McCain 59.93 million votes, 173 votes in the Electoral College


Someone wanna explain to me how Bush's victory in 2004 eclipses Obama's in 2008?

If you doubt me, recall the poll numbers from the time he chose Palin, up to the point of the market collapse.

McCain got a bounce from his convention, which everyone expected him to. How are you able to parse which part came from Palin and which was the normal convention bounce? Would you attribute Obama's bounce during his convention to Biden?

 

[Roger Wilco]

As I recall...Bush set a popular-vote record in '04--he got more votes than any president before him.

I also seem to recall that after the '00 election, the Dems were moaning about how unfair it was that we have an electoral college--"We should let the PEOPLE decide!"

After the '04 election, the Dems were all, "Oh, if ONLY we had gotted JUST A BIT more out of the electoral college...."

Thus, it changes from "We should use the popular vote" to " the popular vote--we just need to get the college!"

Ok, but Obama got still 7 million more votes than Bush in 2004...

 

[Rush Limborg]

Wait, I'm sorry - Are big crowds bad again? You guys need to get together on this meme 'cause it's hard to keep track, i.e. It's good when Palin gets big crowds within weeks of people learning her name; it's bad when Obama gets big crowds after years of campaigning.

On the contrary--check your premises, Indy.

Obama's crowds had nothing to do with substace--it had everything to do with his incredible speaking skills and soaring rhetoric. Observe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI

Palin's crowds were due to her conservative message, as well as their incredible relief at the fact that at long last, an articulate conservative who appeals to them as "one of us" has arrived on the scene.

One thing that we can be sure of is that you're mistaken.

Palin is a thin-skinned narcissist who couldn't take the heat. She's done.

And when she returns--I will savour your reaction, Mr. Dennis.

 

[Marc]

One thing we can be sure of is if she was president right now instead of the fool who is there we'd be much better off.

Was she running for President? How's Alaska's economy now that Oil prices are down?

I think we've just seen how delusion some of these people really are. Maybe somebody should point out the McCain's name was first on the ticket because he was the presidential candidate.

Guess they think it was it was cos M comes before P in the alphabet.

 

[sidious618]

That means nothing. It just means that there was a record turn out that year for the election which means nothing.

Except that THAT was the accepted reason for why Obama won so much--in the primaries AND in the general election.

Yes, I know. So I take it that this is your admission that Bush's win was NOT a mandate and that therefore you are being hypocritical?

 

[IndyJones]

Palin's crowds were due to her conservative message, as well as their incredible relief at the fact that at long last, an articulate conservative who appeals to them as "one of us" has arrived on the scene.

And also, doncha know, you betcha. <Shouts of 'Terrorist' and 'Kill him' from the crowd>


And also, it's too bad all those inarticulate Republicans had been rearing their heads. And also --<Rest of post drowned out by birds>

 

[Rush Limborg]

McCain is actually a reasonable, honorable man who is not an idealogue or religious zealot.

Yes, he IS honorable--but he was too "nice" for his own good. He constantly failed to put a "tough" face on it., and criticize Obama on valid concerns, until it was too late.

Would you attribute Obama's bounce during his convention to Biden?

I would attribute Obama's bounce to his speaking skills--and the fact that he sounded like a fiscal conservative, with his talking like so:

"95% of Working Americans will get a tax cut" (which he later changed to "tax credit"), and

"If you make less than 250-grand a year, you will not see your taxes go up", and

"I will go line-by-line and trim the budget", and

"I will not sign any bill with earmarks", and

"I will not have lobbyists in my adminitration".

These are all promises that sound conservative--much like Clinton's campaign as a "New Democrat". That was how Bill won, and that was how ol' Barry won.

And like Clinton before him, he went back on his word.

 

[Rush Limborg]

<Shouts of 'Terrorist' and 'Kill him' from the crowd>

No one said "Kill him". The reporter made it up. None of the other reporters at that rally remamber hearing anyone shout, "Kill him".

"Terrosist" was a reference to Bill Ayers. McCain goes, "Who is Barack Obama?" and the guy responded with, "Friends with a TERRORIST!!!", or words to that effect. The last line was shouted. It's an easy thing to misunderstand, though.

BTW, remember the Obama ad that made fun of McCain's inability to use a computer--never mind that McCain can't use a computer because of war injuries. "I'm Barack Obama--and I approve this message."

Yeah. Good call, Barry.

 

[Marc]

oops

deleted - forgot which forum I was in.

 

[Roger Wilco]

BTW, remember the Obama ad that made fun of McCain's inability to use a computer--never mind that McCain can't use a computer because of war injuries. "I'm Barack Obama--and I approve this message."

Yeah. Good call, Barry.

I wasn't aware that McCain received such extensive brain injuries in Vietnam, but that explains a lot.

 

[Teelie]

It does beg the question of a man so incapacitated he can't use a computer being the leader of the country. While I doubt anything critical would hinge on operating a computer by itself, a man whose injuries are such he can't even do as much doesn't sound like a person I'd want running the country anyways. Not that I'm against people with handicaps (FDR did pretty well considering), but you don't hand the keys to the modern free world to a man unable to use a computer IMO.

 

[JonathonWally]

<Shouts of 'Terrorist' and 'Kill him' from the crowd>

No one said "Kill him". The reporter made it up. None of the other reporters at that rally remamber hearing anyone shout, "Kill him".

"Terrosist" was a reference to Bill Ayers. McCain goes, "Who is Barack Obama?" and the guy responded with, "Friends with a TERRORIST!!!", or words to that effect. The last line was shouted. It's an easy thing to misunderstand, though.

O'Rly?

Get the stop watch out between McCain says "Obama" and the other guy says "Terrorist"

But keep making up that he said a full sentence in there, ya, hmm

BTW, remember the Obama ad that made fun of McCain's inability to use a computer--never mind that McCain can't use a computer because of war injuries. "I'm Barack Obama--and I approve this message."

Yeah. Good call, Barry.

In reference to McCain saying how he doesn't know how to operate a computer, not his inability to lift his arms above his shoulders.

And yes, in 2008/09 it is a valid concern if someone running for the most powerful job in the world can't understand modern technology.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

If the Righties want to refight the 2008 election over and over here, I'm all for that - since the end result remains the same every single time.

 

[Squiggy]

BTW, remember the Obama ad that made fun of McCain's inability to use a computer--never mind that McCain can't use a computer because of war injuries. "I'm Barack Obama--and I approve this message."

Yeah. Good call, Barry.

He uses a computer all the time.

 

[IndyJones]

Would you attribute Obama's bounce during his convention to Biden?

I would attribute Obama's bounce to his speaking skills--and the fact that he sounded like a fiscal conservative, with his talking like so:...

Other people have covered the rest of your post quite well, so I'll address only this point.

You're actually arguing that Obama's success at his convention was due to his sounding like a conservative in a year where the Republicans were soundly trounced nation wide? Um, sure.

But even that still ignores the fact that people always get bumps after their conventions.

You argue that McCain's bump was due to Palin, and that Obama's was due to sounding conservative. Got any proof to back any of that up, or are we just supposed to take it on faith that you're correct (even though some of your other points in this very post have already been shown to be false)?

 

[Marc]

BTW, remember the Obama ad that made fun of McCain's inability to use a computer--never mind that McCain can't use a computer because of war injuries. "I'm Barack Obama--and I approve this message."

Yeah. Good call, Barry.

He uses a computer all the time.

not to mentiont that use of a computer generally doesn't require the ability raise your arms above the head.

I'm just wonder why certain people need to resort to these lies.

 

[Squiggy]

Only if his computer is above his head...and if it is he's doing it wrong.

On the contrary--check your premises, Indy.

Obama's crowds had nothing to do with substace--it had everything to do with his incredible speaking skills and soaring rhetoric. Observe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI

Palin's crowds were due to her conservative message, as well as their incredible relief at the fact that at long last, an articulate conservative who appeals to them as "one of us" has arrived on the scene.

This is the most smug and politically retarded comments I think I've ever heard. No wonder the GOP is wandering around the woods.

 

[Caligula]

Had it not been for Palin, Obama WOULD have gotten his landslide. He did not...because of the crowds she drew.

Palin draws the crowds who would come to NASCAR races to see the crashes. Granted, you've got a few in there that just wanna see the race, but most are itching to witness a big car wreck. Obama draws Woodstock-sized crowds. The election WAS a landslide. You're wrong.

No one said "Kill him". The reporter made it up. None of the other reporters at that rally remamber hearing anyone shout, "Kill him".

You do watch the news, right? Not only did this happen at the one McCain rally you reference; it happened at several. We have video evidence of people saying "kill him," "off with his head," "terrorist" and "Arab" on more than one occasion. Again, you're wrong.

On the contrary--check your premises, Indy.

Obama's crowds had nothing to do with substace--it had everything to do with his incredible speaking skills and soaring rhetoric.

Palin's crowds were due to her conservative message, as well as their incredible relief at the fact that at long last, an articulate conservative who appeals to them as "one of us" has arrived on the scene.

So.... Obama had larger crowds because his speeches spell out an agenda that the majority of the population could relate to? I agree.

But, Palin an "articulate" conservative? Don't make me laugh! Did you see that infamous Katie Couric interview? Miss South Carolina made more sense... like, such as. What about her resignation speech? Even members of the right wing conservative branch of the Republican Party are scratching their heads after listening to that! You betcha!