The Alaskan Rose and the Debate

[Vermouth]

McCain will be judged for his VP choice based not so much on Palin's pros and cons, but the manner in which McCain selected her and how this reflects on his decision-making process.

No one had any suspicion that she would be selected. McCain met her once and decided the day before announcing his pick. We all thought she was a huge risk with a potentially high reward.

McCain's an unpredictable guy who makes brash decisions. Had this decision turned out to be a good one, undecided voters may have embraced his impulsive leadership style.

As it stands, undecided voters have doubts ... they may turn to the careful, boring decision-making style of Obama. Obama's equivocating, consensus-building style is not exactly leadership, but no one has come forth to win the confidence of the public during this economic crisis.

[The Bare Knuckled Pundit]

McCain will be judged for his VP choice based not so much on Palin's pros and cons, but the manner in which McCain selected her and how this reflects on his decision-making process.

No one had any suspicion that she would be selected. McCain met her once and decided the day before announcing his pick. We all thought she was a huge risk with a potentially high reward.

McCain's an unpredictable guy who makes brash decisions. Had this decision turned out to be a good one, undecided voters may have embraced his impulsive leadership style.

As it stands, undecided voters have doubts ... they may turn to the careful, boring decision-making style of Obama. Obama's equivocating, consensus-building style is not exactly leadership, but no one has come forth to win the confidence of the public during this economic crisis.

Well said and highly insightful, Vermouth! Good show!

[Peter1469]

Palin is in an unfortunate position: she is number 2 on the ticket.  That means that all of her handlers preparing her for the debate are drumming into her McCain's positions to various questions and issues.  Friends, that is a tough spot to be in when many of the positions are not hers.  Steam cells is one such example.

Palin is said to be a good debater- the guy she ran against for governor said she did a good job against him.  Of course, she was answering what she felt about questions, rather that what her boss's answers are. 

[pittypat65]

if she forms complete sentences, she wins. the expectations are nil. i predict a GOP victory.

Conley, why is it that Biden says he was  shot at and turned to be untrue but they gave Hillary holy old hell about her sniper fire? Can you explain that? Is that not strange?

[Peter1469]

I think that Palin was McCain's best pick.  Whether it works out or not remains to be seen.  I think that any other names that were floated, if selected would see today with a much larger Obama spread. 

Palin is a good pick simply because she is an outsider and somewhat of a maverick.  It is all McCain has considering the mess that the current administration has left. 

[conley]

if she forms complete sentences, she wins. the expectations are nil. i predict a GOP victory.

Conley, why is it that Biden says he was  shot at and turned to be untrue but they gave Hillary holy old hell about her sniper fire? Can you explain that? Is that not strange?

It is strange, but I believe it is because the media is biased...CNN and MSNBC, the NYT...they all supported Obama v. Hillary and now even more so against McCain. I am not defending the media or saying they don't have a liberal bias, because they do.

[conley]

I think that Palin was McCain's best pick.  Whether it works out or not remains to be seen.  I think that any other names that were floated, if selected would see today with a much larger Obama spread. 

Palin is a good pick simply because she is an outsider and somewhat of a maverick.  It is all McCain has considering the mess that the current administration has left. 

You're probably right...though I still think a McCain/Hillary ticket would have been quite interesting (improbable I know).

Palin was a HUGE gamble, and at first it looked like it would pay off nicely. Now it looks like it is blowing up in his face. We'll see how it plays out after tonight -- the truth is probably somewhere in between. Still, it was quite a bold move.

[conley]

I think a McCain + Huckabee ticket, a McCain + Romney ticket, or even a McCain + Paul (hell would have to freeze over first) would have better numbers at this point. Maybe I am underestimating the economy and overweighing the Palin-Couric interviews. If you combine McCain and Huck's numbers though you would have a powerful force and one that would lock up the Bush states that are currently toss ups/leaning obama (like VA, NC, FL, all the south really, and a lot of the MW)

[pittypat65]

I think a McCain + Huckabee ticket, a McCain + Romney ticket, or even a McCain + Paul (hell would have to freeze over first) would have better numbers at this point. Maybe I am underestimating the economy and overweighing the Palin-Couric interviews. If you combine McCain and Huck's numbers though you would have a powerful force and one that would lock up the Bush states that are currently toss ups/leaning obama (like VA, NC, FL, all the south really, and a lot of the MW)

Well the last votes I made were for the losers. Maybe I just won't vote this time. Voted for Gore, he lost, voted for Kerry, he lost, voted for Hillary, she lost, now if I vote for McCain he might lose. I can't vote for obama no matter what.

[conley]

I think a McCain + Huckabee ticket, a McCain + Romney ticket, or even a McCain + Paul (hell would have to freeze over first) would have better numbers at this point. Maybe I am underestimating the economy and overweighing the Palin-Couric interviews. If you combine McCain and Huck's numbers though you would have a powerful force and one that would lock up the Bush states that are currently toss ups/leaning obama (like VA, NC, FL, all the south really, and a lot of the MW)

Well the last votes I made were for the losers. Maybe I just won't vote this time. Voted for Gore, he lost, voted for Kerry, he lost, voted for Hillary, she lost, now if I vote for McCain he might lose. I can't vote for obama no matter what.

McCain needs your vote...Nevada is a swing state. You have supported him through thick and thin you should definitely vote for McCain!

[Peter1469]

I think a McCain + Huckabee ticket, a McCain + Romney ticket, or even a McCain + Paul (hell would have to freeze over first) would have better numbers at this point. Maybe I am underestimating the economy and overweighing the Palin-Couric interviews. If you combine McCain and Huck's numbers though you would have a powerful force and one that would lock up the Bush states that are currently toss ups/leaning obama (like VA, NC, FL, all the south really, and a lot of the MW)

Huckabee perhaps- he is somewhat of an outsider.  Romney - no way.  He is an insider and unfortunately a Mormon is not going to gain many votes- he would be a liability.  Ron Paul- I don't think he would take it, McCain could never convince him that he would take Paul's economic ideas seriously. 

[pittypat65]

I think a McCain + Huckabee ticket, a McCain + Romney ticket, or even a McCain + Paul (hell would have to freeze over first) would have better numbers at this point. Maybe I am underestimating the economy and overweighing the Palin-Couric interviews. If you combine McCain and Huck's numbers though you would have a powerful force and one that would lock up the Bush states that are currently toss ups/leaning obama (like VA, NC, FL, all the south really, and a lot of the MW)

Well the last votes I made were for the losers. Maybe I just won't vote this time. Voted for Gore, he lost, voted for Kerry, he lost, voted for Hillary, she lost, now if I vote for McCain he might lose. I can't vote for obama no matter what.

I doubt if my vote will mean that much. 

McCain needs your vote...Nevada is a swing state. You have supported him through thick and thin you should definitely vote for McCain!

[conley]

I think a McCain + Huckabee ticket, a McCain + Romney ticket, or even a McCain + Paul (hell would have to freeze over first) would have better numbers at this point. Maybe I am underestimating the economy and overweighing the Palin-Couric interviews. If you combine McCain and Huck's numbers though you would have a powerful force and one that would lock up the Bush states that are currently toss ups/leaning obama (like VA, NC, FL, all the south really, and a lot of the MW)

Huckabee perhaps- he is somewhat of an outsider.  Romney - no way.  He is an insider and unfortunately a Mormon is not going to gain many votes- he would be a liability.  Ron Paul- I don't think he would take it, McCain could never convince him that he would take Paul's economic ideas seriously. 

I think Romney could point to his business background as knowing how to handle the current economic crisis. I also think for McCain his lack of economic knowledge -- as he himself has stated -- has been a liability. Romney polled well before McCain started being really nasty in the campaign, and I think right or wrong he is perceived as a great businessman and governed over Massachusetts during some good economic years. The Mormon thing might not hurt him as much as you think. Obama does not seem to have been too hurt by the funny name, the allegations of being a Muslim, even the Wright stuff.

[they call me MR. GRUMPY god damn it!]

i think at the end of the evening they should take a poll and crown the winner as the "MASTERDEBATER"

[conley]

i think at the end of the evening they should take a poll and crown the winner as the "MASTERDEBATER"