The Age of Palin Draws to a Close
ST. PAUL—It seems hard to believe that Sarah Palin week is finally drawing to a close. One almost wonders why, since she gave her acceptance speech last night, the Republicans are having another night of convention. Oh yeah: She's not running for president.
This is not merely snark, there's a larger point here. The Palin boomlet has been fascinating, but it too shall pass: People vote for presidential candidates, not presidential tickets.
Ultimately this comes down to Barack Obama and John McCain.
It's been a truly strange week here in Minnesota, with the Republican Party suddenly the bulwark of aggressive feminism and defender of teenage pregnancy. The cynicism with which they have pursued their "Sarah Palin is being hounded by the sexist media, just like Hillary Clinton" story-line has been breathtaking.
But political conventions are fantasy echo chambers only sometimes connected to the real world (though of course sometimes the real world intrudes as when Monday night was essentially canceled due to Gulf Coast weather). After McCain speaks tonight the playground gets packed away for four more years.
And in a week Sarah Palin is no longer the dominant news story unless another small town scandal pops or until it's the Killa From Wasilla versus the Joey the Mouth in St. Louis in early October.
The dominant news story will be Obama versus McCain and who gets to claim the mantel of change agent. Palin and Biden become what all vice presidential candidates are—supporting actors, not leads.
For a case in point on the effect vice presidential candidates (even energetic, historic ones) have on the election consider a couple of focus groups conducted during her speech. Palin's favorability rose 10 points; but McCain's standing vis a vis Obama moved not an inch.
Tags: presidential election 2008 | Republicans | speeches | Barack Obama | John McCain | Republican National Convention | Sarah Palin
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Reader Comments
Brian of MI
After a little fact-checking of my own...you were indeed correct about the timeline of the Iran-Contra affair. Hezbollah had the six hostages Reagan wanted released by the summer of 1985, making Reagan 74 at the time. Brian, you were correct. Unfortunately, we won't know anything more on that topic since the operation documents were shredded by high government officials.
Your man McCain, ( expert on the Iraq war) had to be bailed out by the CBS editing room back in July of this year....quoting the McCain statement, "Colonel McFarland was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge, we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others and it began the "Anbar Awakening." I mean, that's just a matter of history."
Too bad the Sunni Awakening happened in August 2006, and our surge was announced by the President in January of 2007. The sheik McCain refered to was killed in December of 2007.
In response to the "decisive" talk aimed at Russia, your man may be going a bit overboard. Without the the full cooperation of NATO and all of Europe, we simply do not have the resources to deal with a police action against Russia. We have over 100,000 troops overseas. We are 10 trillion dollars in debt and growing.
We may not see eye to eye on politics, but I respect the fact that we both want what's best for our nation.
Regards,
Larry
Guess you should have waited...
Up anywhere from +10 to even.. not moving.. perhaps you might reconsider your statement on her effect. Politics is changing right before your eyes and you are blind to it.
McCain the NEXT US president...
My beloved american citizens, just a simple question to all...
Do you want a community organizer as our next President? Or do you want a REAL American HERO?
-One who risks his life for his country
-One who is a straight talker
-One who has the experience needed
-One who always being PROUD of being an American or
do you want someone that has a wife giving a speech I quote saying, " I have never being proud of this country until now" that my sweet husband is running for the presidency!!!
Ultimately, is YOUR choice! Both candidates are good candidates with different priorities, but only one has the experience to make the correct changes in America.
VOTE right.
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