Here is my Theory - McCain & Palin
By lvaldean
@lvaldean (1612)
United States
October 11, 2008 2:03pm CST
Ok I know I am going to make many people mad. I apologize up front if offend you. But this is my theory regarding the selection of Sarah Palin for VP.
John McCain knew in his heart he was on the long slide. He knew that even if he won the election he was a single term President and that within 4 years he would not accomplish what needed to be done to turn around the economy and what is wrong with this country. He knew that Bush / Cheney were leaving the country and the next President with a huge bill - in job loss, in economic downturns, in financial ruination the likes of which we haven't seen since the Great Depression, with debt to countries such as China and no means to pay them but to raise taxes on a already over burdened American Taxpayer, with a unwinnable war. The list goes on.
McCain knew that he would enter the Presidency with a low approval rating that would be near impossible to raise in a short four years, especially with what is certain to be a Democratic House and Senate. He knew.
So he did the next best thing. He assured himself a loss. He selected a running mate that is so under-qualified, someone who was certain ensure his loss in the election. This way he could return to his Senate seat with his pride intact. He could say - "I gave it my best shot".
He won't be a lame duck President, ever. He won't be the President following that idiot Bush into office with no chance of eight years to fix the problems. He won't look back on four wasted years and what is certain to be low approval ratings for his lack of ability to fix what is left by that idiot Bush and that ethically challenged if not criminal Cheney. Nope instead he will lose fair and square and go out with some pride.
That is my theory anyway.
What do you think of my theory?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
11 Oct 08
I completely disagree. Palin boosted his campaign big time and actually put him in the lead. It was the economic crisis that caused Obama to regain the lead. Besides, have you forgotten Dan Quayle? Nobody thought Bush was throwing the election when he chose Quayle and that man was quite the gaffe machine. Some even joked that Bush chose him as an insurance policy so no American would dare assassinate him.
1 person likes this
@lvaldean (1612)
• United States
11 Oct 08
I don't forget Quayle at all. Palin is the best thing to happen to late night TV since Quayle.
Palin did indeed give McCain a brief boost, however I don't think he ever gained the lead. Could be wrong but I don't think so. Certainly after the convention the ticket closed the gap for a bit. Now though the gap is widening. Everytime she opens her mouth it is bad. McCain is having to actually defend Obama because of the nastiness of his running mate.
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
12 Oct 08
Interesting theory but why would he bother standing at all if he knew he could not win? I suppose he might have wanted to show that he at least tried, although for a man of his age I think it is foolish of him to even try.
I would be very surprised if a republican could win the election after all those years of Bush but since you don't have compulsory voting people might just choose not to vote, especially the ones who feel that their vote would not count anyway.
@lvaldean (1612)
• United States
12 Oct 08
I don't think originally he knew he couldn't win. I think going into this he believed he could win. However, as the economy continued to erode and the American people continued to ask tough questions his confidence in his ability to turn the country around toward a more positive future in the four years he would have in office began to falter. I believe that he decided he didn't want to be a President that left office with the type of approval rating that Bush / Cheney will have upon the end of their run. Who would want that? To be known as the worst administration and the worst President.
McCain knows that if he wins he will be a lame duck, meaning that he will have only 4 years. He is to old to run for a second term. He will be battling a legislative branch that will be firmly planted against him every step of the way. There is nothing good in what he is facing were he to win.
Like I said it is just my theory.
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
11 Oct 08
I think it sucks, sorry if that offends you. First of all it is not Bush that is responsible for this mess we are in, it is the democratic congress that everyone screamed they wanted a couple years ago. Congress makes the laws and passes them, if you read up you will that the president has very little to do with it other than try to veto a bill he doesn't think is right.
It appears that the demos aren't smart enough to understand that when they say we can't afford another 4 years or 8 years of the same thing, they are talking about what the DEMOCRATIC congress has done for the last 2 years. Yes it is easier to put the blame on Bush than to look at where it is coming from.
NO I don't think McCain picked Palin so he would be a loser, McCain has fought all his life for this country. I believe he picked her because of the excellant job she has done for her state. That she is not one of Washington's cronies and isn't looking to become one. She is not afraid to take on congress and look at the wasteful spending that they are doing and ask questions.
Everyone says she has no experience, she has held several offices, and I have yet to see where other than his couple years in the senate, has Obama done anything other than take money from Ayers that he gave to all the radical schools, money that earmarked for education and he gave it to only the schools that taught radial thinking in their teaching. If that is what you want for education, then this country is in big trouble.
You should be thankful that Bush has kept you from another 911, but all people can see if Bush, Bush, he is the bad one. Look to where the bills are passed and by who, it is sure not Bush but the democratic congress, is this too much for the demos to grasp, or is it they think the american people are so stupid they won't even think about it. Obama their puppet will let them get away with what every they want as long as they let him throw in one of his bills once in a while. Sorry but this is the way I an many others believe. CONGRESS NOT BUSH GOT US INTO THIS, research and see if I am not right.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
11 Oct 08
If that was his thought process then I would be more disappointed in him than I already am. I personally think that Romney could have helped McCain turn this country's economy around but the *maverick* buckled under to the Religious Right.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
12 Oct 08
I happen to really like your theory. I am an independent and have thought since sometime over the summer that McCain was trying to throw the election. Just all of the stuff he was doing was making me think that. When he picked Palin and I started reading up on her I figured it was shooting himself in the foot. Then the whole month of September I kept asking my husband what the heck he was doing. I completely agree with you!
1 person likes this
@lvaldean (1612)
• United States
12 Oct 08
I am also an independent. I just wish one of the third parties would actually offer up a reasonable and credible candidate that could get the attention and backing necessary for a run for the office of President.
We should all acknowledge that the two party system is broken. We need a change and no one from either of the two machines is offering us anything new or different. It is just more of the same with new packaging.
@chameleonsdream (1230)
• United States
11 Oct 08
It's certainly a possible rationale. I think, though, that he picked Sarah Palin knowing full well that her main appeal would be to - well, exactly the voters who have populated her rallies, and knowing that it's the base that can be motivated to vote -against- her opponent.
1 person likes this
@lvaldean (1612)
• United States
11 Oct 08
So it is your theory that she appeals to low lifes, thugs, and the ignorant? That at the end of the day her appeal will be enough to get them out of bed on election day to vote?
What does this say about the American people?
What a sad commentary that is. I have always respected McCain, but Palin, she is a walking disaster.