Choosing Sarah Palin: Did McCain just Lose the Election?

I am (or was) a Democrat until O-no-bama got the nomination now McCain's choice had definitely made me decide to vote for him. She is just what we need!

I suppose I can agree with you, a woman with 13 years of elected Public office, who fought corruption, has a 90% approval rating in the state that She RUNS, and is running for the #2 spot instead of the #1,has no experience. As opposed to a guy who is running for the top spot who has 13 years of elected office, but no experience in an executive manner. This is an excellent pick, and I believe that it will show through the debates and should McCain get elected thorough history.

Sarah Palin was an excellent choice for John McCain. We'll never know but it could be a key factor in his November win. Why would someone say that the Governor of Alaska looks like a soccer mom or a secretary? Because she is a woman, as if that is something less than a man? Do you want to look down on the soccer moms? Obama's whole campaign is about relating to real people. Soccer moms are real people. The experience issue is not an issue. If you say that Sarah Palin does not have adequate experience to be VP, then you blow Obama right out of the water. Other than being a corrupt Chicago thug politician, he has no more experience than Sarah, as a matter of fact, he has less. Any you choose him to be President. Brilliant move by McCain. djbtol

Isn't she governer of Alaska? I know Alaska isn't very populated but to completely disregard the state as relevant is a bit extreme. I still think it counts as some experience. I mean she is running an entire state, it is a really big state too. I know the whole country is obviously bigger but you have to start somewhere. At least has some excutive experience, it is something to go on.

You know, looks can fool you. And looks have absolutely nothing to do with what is in the brain. She has experience as the governor of Alaska. She didn't mind mixing it with the republicans there (yes her party) that were corrupt. She know show to speak and I think she could hold her on with the best of them. But, I guess we will see on down the line. She might just surprise you!

I actually think it was a pretty slick move. Although I would never vote for McCain I have to give him his props. He just won over some of Hilary fans who want to see a woman in office. She does not look experienced he only did this to win over votes. But I have to give it to him, he won over some of the woman voters.

No I do NOT. You said "She looks like a soccer mom or John McCain's secretary." So what the hell is wrong with that. Soccers moms and secretaries do vote!! What a stupid and brainless reason for saying someone is not qualified.!! A true unintelligent chauvanistic remark.

I do not think McCain will lose the election because he chose Palin or even if he had chosen Romney. He will lose because so many Americans say they love children, yet they really do not, that they would rather have their girl friends or wives abort their children so they do not have to take care of them, that they believe that a woman should murder her unborn child because it is her right, that they want a child hater in the White House. So if Obama wins, it will show that most Americans are just as bad as the Canadians who knew what their former Liberal leaders were and let them in.

Gorcon, I worked for the majority of yesterday, BUT I'm going to have to agree with you on this. I was a bit surprised on his choice myself (by the way, I'm a woman and I'm not offended by what you said here). I expected a person that could enhance him, basically to help him WIN this election, but from the rumbles I'm hearing, he just handed his election over to Obama. I don't know but something just don't feel right here to me.

Actually, I think this is going to get him into the oval office, unfortunately. And, I'm THRILLED Romney wasn't chosen as the last thing I want is a Mormon in the White House (but that's a personal issue of many years' history). He is going after the supposedly disenfranchised women who are still pissed that Hillary didn't get either the nomination or the VP slot who would rather see their party crash and burn than actually try to make changes in DC politics. They're selfish and whiney and don't deserve to have a say in this, as far as I'm concerned. Hillary lost - tough t!ttie! Now, either you're a Democrat who wants a Democrat in Washington or you've never been a Democrat, just pretended to be one. We MUST REMOVE BUSH POLITICIANS!!! We are at risk of losing this country - we NEED to change the status quo. We need to get rid of all politicians who are either in league with Bush or who won't do one thing to punish the crimes committed (do you hear me, Ms. Pelosi - YOU need to GO!!) So, like it or not, his numbers have improved since choosing Ms. Palin. I think that sucks in such a big way! I despise his tactics, but I really don't think they're his tactics at all, but those of upper GOPers who, despite hating McCain, need him to win to keep their perks going. It wouldn't surprise me if Rove was behind it. You can bet someone's pulling the marionette strings - McCain doesn't have the savvy to choose her with no vetting.

I think McCain made an excellent choice. Running a state gives her much more executive and leadership experience than Obama has ever had - and he's running for President. She's strong, understands middle-income people (her husband was a union member), she's done the things that women have to do - be involved in the PTA, work and balance a home. She understands us. She also went up against big oil companies and against the good ol' boys in Washington. She REFUSED the money Congress tried to send for the bridge to nowhere (although they probably spent the money elsewhere). She even has some foreign country relations experience. Sure, it's with Canada and they're easy, but it's still foreign policy experience. And with where Alaska is situated, she probably understands about Russia more as well.

She's fine with me as long as she helps him lose the election

Wow, what a great point! I think that McCain will lose because he is not socially advanced enough as Obama. I think we should have the choice (prochoice) and rights to run our own lives. Why should someone have to pay for the mistake of getting pregnant and even having a baby when they later decide they should have had an abortion? I think that our country is progressing to the prochoice point in eliminating this problem, and Obama is helping to lead it! That is why I am voting for Obama and going door to door for him! We, as productive members of society, need the right to end any unwanted life whether young or old!! If these thoughts resonate with you, as they do with so many other Obama supporters, vote Obama 2008! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZCXcTwZPY&feature=related This link makes me proud to support Obama!!

I don't know if it is a mistake. I'm wanting to shoot my friend because now that he chose her, she's actually thinking of voting for him!!!! I can't believe it! But she's actually been watching this woman he's picked and she has a lot of the same stances that she does. Actually she seems more libertarian than republican, so because of her McCain may just garner votes from people who are by no means republican.

I have yet to read through all the responses to this discussion but I'm sure you got a lot of flak for saying, "She looks like a soccer mom or John McCain's secretary." I've already read some discussions here regarding sexism when it comes to Palin so I've been very careful, even though I am a woman and have been called a "radical feminist" at that, to not say anything that can be in any construed as being sexist in nature. Therefore, I think if she instead "looked like a Little League coach" or McCain's "assistant" as opposed to "secretary" she would still be a very unwise choice. In the four days since you started this thread there has been quite a few things come to light about this woman and about McCain's "vetting process" which was virtually non-existent. However, I think you're right, McCain along with whoever advised him on tis did decide they had to pick a young woman and she had to be anti-choice which eliminated some GOP women who would have been better choices as far as experience and even having been vetted by the public and the press already. Condie rice is one who comes to mind here. I actually feel a bit badly for Sarah Palin, although I could never possibly vote for her or McCain, because she was made this incredible offer which had to have been like a dream for her and just thrown out there. Now comes the revelation of her 17 year old daughter's pregnancy coupled with the fact that Palin has support abstinence only education in public schools, and while I agree with Barack Obama that this should be off-limits politically because it's a private matter it still WILL be discussed, there's not possible way of avoiding that. This teenager who is about to become a wife and mother at a very tender age doesn't need or deserve the kind of scrutiny HER life is now going to receive. Senator McCain, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Annie

I personally think it was a ridiculous that he picked someone so inexperienced. She has very little government experience. How could she be president? Plus she has five kids. Nothing like that getting in the way of her performing her presidential duties. I think she needs to perhaps raise her kids she considers doing somthing else. Wasnt being governor and having five kids a big enough challenge for her??

Well I have listened to what this lady is made up of and I have to say I like what I hear. She seems like a strong woman, Like myself. I like that she is with the NRA and a family lady. Kudos to John McCain!!!!!

From what I looked up on Obama,on his background, he practiced as a civil rights attorney prior to being a State Senator from 1997 to 2004 and taught constitutional law prior to being a United States Senator from November 2005 through now, which since February of this year has been campaigning for President more than the Senate. Palin may look like a Soccer Mom to you or a Secretary, but she has been a Mayor and is a Governor with a 90 percent approval rating. She has more practical experience working in Government than Obama for the job as far as qualifications go. Maybe McCain decided to go with someone that doesn't do politics as usual and can get things done. Romney ran for Presidency, he didn't get enough votes to win the nomination and neither did anyone else. Obama's qualifications is, he is a Civil Rights lawyer and a Senator, so does that make him more qualified to be President? If it does, then just about anyone in Congress is eligible next go around. I am waiting to hear the other side, they haven't had their turn yet before I make up my mind. Since no one I would have voted for ended up on a ticket, I am voting for the best person left of the two candidates. But before I vote, I will continue to check out the facts and hear what the other half has to say.

Choosing Sarah Palin brough life back into the McCain. Whether or not he wins or not, the election would go down as one of the most historic in our country. Palin is a strong person and a strong candidate. Through all of this, I admire her strength and character. Whether or not McCain loses will be his own fault, but not for choosing Palin.

McCain lost the election because of Bush. Bush has put such a bad taste in everyone's mouths about how Republicans act that the people would have rather elected Charles Manson into office than another republican.