GOP strategist: McCain ‘put the country at risk’ by picking Palin.
By on Oct 14th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
GOP strategist: McCain ‘put the country at risk’ by picking Palin.
Ari Melber and Sam Stein both report that at today’s TimeWarner media summit, GOP strategist Matthew Dowd sharply criticized Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) pick of Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) as his running mate:
“They didn’t allow John McCain to pick the person he wanted for Vice President,” Dowd said, referring to Sen. Joe Lieberman, which undercut his experience argument and tethered McCain to the GOP base.
“He knows in his gut he put somebody unqualified on the ballot,” Dowd stressed, “and put the country at risk.”
Dowd joins a growing list of conservatives critical of Palin.
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GOP strategist: McCain ‘put the country at risk’ by picking Palin.
– - Gee, ya think?
October 14th, 2008 at 1:48 pmGOP strategist: McCain ‘put the country at risk’ by picking Palin.
– - Yeah, but McCain has absolutely euthanized his campaign with her pick.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:49 pmBut — but — but what about all her executive experience as a part-time mayor of a town of 7,000 and her 86 days on the job as governor, keeping an eye out for Pooty-poot’s planes?
October 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pmHe only puts the country at risk if he wins. I see a simple solution.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pmSo Dowd joins the rest of the rats jumping off the good ship McSinkin’Fast.
Where were these neocon jagoffs when it mattered — before he picked Bambi McAirhead? Not that it would have mattered, since McSame himself is unqualified, but for weeks we had to endure the reality-challenged punditocracy like Dowd crow about what a “mavericky” pick she was, etc. I guess now that they’re about to witness a historic butt-whoopin of their ticket on November 4, they’re positioning themselves to be able to say “I told you so” on November 5?
October 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pmMcCain didn’t give a damn about putting the country at risk. He was only concerned about putting his campaign at risk by putting a more qualified, but less Fundie Friendly, person on the ticket.
It’s all about McCain, all the time. Luckily, he’ll have plenty of time to focus on himself starting on November 5th.
PEACE
October 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pmJames Dobson chose SP and JM caved on the choice. Jm has no principles. Say anything to get elected.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pmThis has been the most incompetent campaign I have withnessed in my lifetime. It should scare the hell out of anyone pondering what his presidency would be like.
But, but….it’s supposed to be only liberals who are critical of Palin!
October 14th, 2008 at 1:54 pmHmmmm. Let’s see here.
McNumbNuts is saying that “it’ll be Obama’s fault” if he has to bring up Ayers in tomorrow’s debate.
Dowd says “it’s the RNC’s fault” that McNumbNuts wasn’t able to select a VP candidate of his own choice.
So, in other words, McNumbNuts is a “victim of circumstances” and nothing is his fault. Okay. That sure doesn’t sound like leadership I can believe in.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:54 pmjust the latest in a long line of things mccain and bush have done to put our country at risk. Actually it is past risk, we are in trouble in many area’s because of them.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:55 pmIf JM were honest, his sign above him at his speeches should be “F country, me first”.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:56 pmWe will never know the dynamics of this election if McCain had picked Pawlenty but I would feel much better if he had because Pawlenty is intelligent. If we lose this election for whatever reason God help us all. I want to believe that any intelligent Republican (not Neo-con) realizes what a travesty Palin would be for this country.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:58 pmNew McBane campaign slogan: Ambition First!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pmJust look at the domestic terrorists Sarah Palin pals around with:
October 14th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
lippy Says:
If we lose this election then many more people will question whether we really have a democracy.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:02 pmSorry – forgot the link: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/13/max_blumenthal_on_sarah_palins_radical
October 14th, 2008 at 2:02 pmMatthew Dowd said:
Proof McCain isn’t in charge or control of his campaign.
Q U E S T I O N:
Should McPalin get (S)elected, who would be in charge…
… McPalin?
.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:03 pmWhy is it always newsworthy when some Republican stops lying to himself and admits what everyone already knows?
October 14th, 2008 at 2:04 pmThe only thing that surprises me is that there are still McCain/Palin signs in people’s yards.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:04 pmJames Dobson and Paul Weyrich forced McCain to pick Palin in return for the support of the Christo-fascist zombies they lead. Here is what John McCain had to say 4 years ago about the man to whom he sold his political soul.
“Weyrich possesses the attributes of a Dickensian villain,” he wrote in his 2002 book, Worth the Fighting For. “Corpulent and dyspeptic, his mouth set in a perpetual sneer as if life in general were an unpleasant experience, he is the embodiment of the caricature often used to unfairly malign all religious conservatives.” McCain added: “I like to think I know a pompous, self-serving son of a b!tch when I see one.”
October 14th, 2008 at 2:05 pm“Country at Risk”
McCain joined Wall Street and big insurers with his move. Investment banks had their meltdown. Sarah Palin had her media implosion. I guess insurance companies are next…
October 14th, 2008 at 2:06 pmLook, just because she’s ignorant, narrow minded, bigoted, religously fanatical, truth-impaired and reality challenged, she’s perky and a maverick. Why should the world of reality stop McWorse from choosing a VP candidate with those characteristics, plus a nice a**? Seriously, this is just another example of McWorse crashing and burning, yet again. At least this freak show will fold up its tents and slip away on November 5th, God willing.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:08 pmImpeach Pelosi, Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
I really hope that Obama goes on the offense during tomorrow night’s debate, especially since McCain plans on bringing up Bill Ayers. I’m sure Obama is ready for that, but I don’t want him to be on the defense all night. McCain/Palin have a few skeletons in their closets as well, and I don’t know why the Obama camp isn’t exploiting them the way the McCain camp is exploiting Ayers.
11/4 can’t come soon enough. The longer we have until Election Day, the more chances McCain has to close the gap, especially with such fickle, temperamental voters out there.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pmSince when does any GOP strategist care if the country is put at risk?
They did not seem to care when “Red Ink” Ronnie Reagan sold arms to Iran to fund terrorism in Central America.
They did not seem to care when “Red Ink” Ronnie Reagan ran up a huge debt back in the 1980’s.
And they sure as hell did not care when they picked Smirk W. Chimp to be preznit — and we see how well that turned out.
All these guys care about is getting power and holding on to it. If the country goes to hell in a handbasket, they could not care less. All they’ll do is blame everything on “libruls” and/or minorities and keep on doing their dead level best to drive this country straight into the ground.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:10 pmAnd why is it only republicans that become reformed and deny thier lifes work?
Death bed conversions are for people like Lee Atwater
It is funny to note that you never hear of a deathbed conversion or renouncement of life activities from progressives. It only comes from the right who know they are doing wrong and do it anyway. See George Wallace also.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:12 pmPalin – “the joyful marriage of confidence and ignorance”
Sam Harris, NewsWeek Magazine, September 12, 2008
October 14th, 2008 at 2:12 pm“They didn’t allow John McCain to pick the person he wanted for Vice President,” Dowd said, referring to Sen. Joe Lieberman, which undercut his experience argument and tethered McCain to the GOP base.
I’m curious, who is they exactly? If McCain couldn’t be counted on to make the “right” pick, who is pulling his strings? And will they be running the country should he be elected?
Forget it, asked and answered. How Mavericky of John.
PEACE
October 14th, 2008 at 2:13 pmNice to see another Dowd telling the truth.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:16 pmspencers mom — @ October 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Luckily, he’ll have plenty of time to focus on himself starting on November 5th.
Unfortunately for some of us, he will still be our state Senator. I doubt that he will be very effectual for his last few years of his upcoming term however, his other Republicans will blame him for losing the election and he will sulk and be cranky and drop the f-bomb.
At least he and Joe Lieberman ( and Lindsay Graham ) will be able to sit together at lunch.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:16 pmceltic cynic Says:
Palin – “the joyful marriage of confidence and ignorance”
Sam Harris, NewsWeek Magazine, September 12, 2008
——- Republicans don’t like anyone to use the word “marriage” as anything other than being between a man and a woman… Mr. Harris is going to be in trouble…..
October 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pmwhoops – wrong date in post #28 – should be September 29, 2008
October 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pmHe may have saved the country by picking her, therefore ending the Republican party’s grip on power.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:23 pmNick307 Says:
Why is it always newsworthy
when some Republican stops
lying to himself and admits
what everyone already knows?
Because it happens so seldom
October 14th, 2008 at 2:23 pm“They” wouldn’t let him? Meaning exactly WHOM? Rove/Cheney? The usual suspects?
How do they see this as a line of defense for McCain’s integrity? How does it show strength or leadership? Who is John McCain?
Honestly, the republicans will say anything at this point. It really won’t make a whit of a difference.
<ajor Fail.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:23 pmWATCH US EXPLODE said:”McCain/Palin have a few skeletons in their closets”
I’d say more than a few.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:24 pmDwH Says:
——————————————————————————–
“They” wouldn’t let him? Meaning exactly WHOM? Rove/Cheney? The usual suspects?
See #22.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pmJohn McCain, Prisoner of War Profiteers. That would be the “They”.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pmraynman Says:
“The only thing that surprises me is that there are still McCain/Palin signs in people’s yards.”
I hear ya.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:26 pmIt’s unbelievable!
For some people, ignorance is their most prized possession.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:28 pmMcCain doesn’t care about the country, only his own ambition.
Blatant plug for my new jazz band, Obama supporters, all:
October 14th, 2008 at 2:29 pm(yes that is me on the piano)
How sexist and elitist of Dowd. I’m SURE that all the disaffected Hillary supporters will still vote McSame/Failin’.
Niiiiice strategy, Grampy.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:29 pmWATCH US EXPLODE Says
October 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
11/4 can’t come soon enough. The longer we have until Election Day, the more chances McCain has to close the gap, especially with such fickle, temperamental voters out there.
___________________________________________________________
It’s true there are some fickle, temperamental voters out there, but they seem to be fewer in number than originally thought.
McCain realizes that he can’t talk about the economy, because every time he does, he loses support. He’s beginning to realize that his relentless attacks on Obama’s character are backfiring as well. He knows that people are tired of hearing about his POW experiences. He’s running out of ammo, and he can’t even get much more life out of “Obama will raise your taxes.”
The gap between Obama’s and McCain’s poll numbers continues to widen. People are hurting. They care about their jobs, their mortgages, their health care, and their loved ones fighting overseas MUCH more than they care about whether their president or vice president is somebody they would like to have a beer with.
Yes, there will be a number of people who will only vote for a Republican, no matter what. And there are a number of people who will never vote for a black man, no matter what. But I suspect these people made up their minds long ago, and aren’t included in the current group of undecided voters.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:29 pmstewarjt Says:
New McBane campaign slogan: Ambition First!
I personally think that McCain knows he is going to die soon and his lifelong ambition was to have “John McCain, President of the United States” on his tombstone. That is all he cares about. And that is blind ambition, which he sold his soul in pursuit of.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:32 pmRantingTommy Says:
For some people, ignorance is their most prized possession.
I thought it went F350 PU Truck, Doggonr hounddog, then ignorance. But hey what do I know.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:32 pmJust believing the world is only 6000 years old was
October 14th, 2008 at 2:35 pmenough to disqualify her.
LibertyLover Says
October 14th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Unfortunately for some of us, he will still be our state Senator. I doubt that he will be very effectual for his last few years of his upcoming term however, his other Republicans will blame him for losing the election and he will sulk and be cranky and drop the f-bomb.
__________________________________________________________
I believe his current Senate term is up in 2010. I wonder if he will run for re-election or hang it up? He’ll be 74, but age hasn’t stopped Ted Stevens…
October 14th, 2008 at 2:36 pmmisshusseinmolly
He still has a ton of support here in AZ. And He may just want to run again just to put a thorn in the side of President Obama.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:39 pmshoeless Says:
“James Dobson and Paul Weyrich forced McCain to pick Palin in return for the support of the Christo-fascist zombies they lead. Here is what John McCain had to say 4 years ago about the man to whom he sold his political soul.
“Weyrich possesses the attributes of a Dickensian villain,” he wrote in his 2002 book, Worth the Fighting For. “Corpulent and dyspeptic, his mouth set in a perpetual sneer as if life in general were an unpleasant experience, he is the embodiment of the caricature often used to unfairly malign all religious conservatives.” McCain added: “I like to think I know a pompous, self-serving son of a b!tch when I see one.””
That’s interesting!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pmIf McBraindead loses the election, and I hope the hell he does, it will also be interesting to hear what he’ll have to say about some of his so-called campaign “advisors”. He’s gonna be one angry, bitter SOB. Much worse than his baseline.
shoeless Says
October 14th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
James Dobson and Paul Weyrich forced McCain to pick Palin in return for the support of the Christo-fascist zombies they lead.
_________________________________________________________
I don’t think McCain got the better end of this deal. I don’t think he realized that Christo-fascist zombieism isn’t as popular as it once was, because he probably expected to get enough of them for a decisive lead.
Methinks McCain would have done a great deal better if he had actually kept his “maverick” positions (instead of morphing them to match Bush), and chosen the vice president HE wanted. If he had presented himself to the American people with “Here’s who I am, here’s my record, and here’s what I stand for” without flip-flopping or absurd spin, at least he would have kept his dignity and credibility.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:42 pmmisshusseinmolly: Anyone who is “undecided” at this point
October 14th, 2008 at 2:44 pmhasn’t been paying attention. Every time I see one of these
yahoo’s being interviewed I wonder if they aren’t just
saying it to get attention.
Oooh – he put the country at risk. Therefore he is a terrorist ?
But on the experienced side, she managed to get herself into an ethics debate in only 86 days in office. That’s gotta count for something.
At the same time, Palin can’t be worse than LIEberman. She at least could attract some women (even ex-Clinton supporters). She isn’t hated by the dems for her two-facedness like Lieberman.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pmLividLib Says
October 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
If McBraindead loses the election, and I hope the hell he does, it will also be interesting to hear what he’ll have to say about some of his so-called campaign “advisors”. He’s gonna be one angry, bitter SOB. Much worse than his baseline.
_____________________________________________________________
Someday, he’ll write a book (they all do). And this one might be interesting reading if he decides to give us the real story.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pmlurker Says:
misshusseinmolly: Anyone who is “undecided” at this point
hasn’t been paying attention. Every time I see one of these
yahoo’s being interviewed I wonder if they aren’t just
saying it to get attention.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
______
Believe it or not, attention-seekers are only a small percentage of the undecided vote. As John Oliver reported last week, this election will really come down to The Stupid Vote.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:50 pmRantingTommy Says:
——————————————————————————–
McCain doesn’t care about the country, only his own ambition.
Blatant plug for my new jazz band, Obama supporters, all:
(yes that is me on the piano)
Sounds good RantingTommy.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:54 pmMcCain/Palin:
the willfully blind/the willfully ignorant
October 14th, 2008 at 2:54 pmPalin makes Dan Quayle look like a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:56 pmLibertyLover Says:
misshusseinmolly
He still has a ton of support here in AZ. And He may just want to run again just to put a thorn in the side of President Obama.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
True. I live in Flagstaff. People still like the guy I just cant figure out why
October 14th, 2008 at 3:04 pmEugeneDebs
October 14th, 2008 at 3:16 pmI live in Phoenix, but I have only seen two mccain car
stickers and one yard sign. At least 10 Obama car stickers
but no yard signs. Still see numerous “W” car stickers. UGH!
Misshusseinmolly–think Strom Thurman and I believe you will see the point McDepends thinks he has for longevity–no one likes to see their own mortality or faults, especially THAT ONE
October 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pmLieberman stings again.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pmLieberman ended hopes of Al Gore, and now he is ending hopes of his buddy McLost..
How far do the Palin-nuts fall from the Palin-nut-tree? Not far, my friend, not far at all…
Thanks to constant deregulation by Bush, McCain and Gramm, thanks to Bush for zero oversight and zero regulation in the last eight years and thanks to the unlimited corporate greed of the stupid Wall Street pigs, we have a world-wide depression staring us in the face. Heck of job, morons.
These fascist American clowns and criminals are a hundred times more destructive to America than al-queda and the so-called terrorists. Actually, Bush is the biggest terrorist in the 21st century: he has terrorized over one million Iraqis into their graves. And McCain terrorized the Vietnamese by dropping napalm fire bombs on them.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:43 pmThis was pointed out from the start — McCain bowed to Frnaklin Graham and the religious rightwing of the party’s base when he selected Palin. He was probably not going to get their full endorsement of him if he did not make this Faustian bagain with them.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:13 pmThey want their social agenda put forward (the American Taliban) — they don’t care two whits about McCain; they want the malleable and programmable Palin in line to succeed him.
Now the GOP is finding itself in a terrible predicament — they have alienated the middle of the road of the party and pandered to the extremists, to the detriment of the entire GOP.
ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF INCITEMENT AND REP. LEWIS’S WARNING
Rep. Lewis’s statement is clear about what he wanted to accomplish–that McCain’s campaign rallies not continue to incite the crowd to hatred with a prospect of creating social unrest and schism. That is a noble intervention and it is timely, McCain’s self-righteous indignation notwithstanding. Lewis simply stated the truth which many in the McCain camp (and some in the media) may not want to hear; but it is a statement of wisdom. He said: “George Wallace never threw a bomb. He never fired a gun, but he created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights.” Lewis’s concern was about “creating an atmosphere of hatred.” He was not saying that McCain was doing many of the nasty things that Wallace did in his life. No objective observer would dispute the fact that hatred was being stirred at McCain-Palin rallies by words—words by some supporters and by the candidates themselves. In Western European democratic systems, McCain and Palin and Co. open themselves up for a charge of incitement to hatred. What would they say for their defense should any danger or harm result from the way they have been conducting this campaign? That is why Lewis warned that McCain and Palin and handlers are playing with fire! If harm should result it likely will lead toin unmentionable social rupture. No responsible citizen wants that!
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