McCain picks Palin!

It’s official! Fox News’ Carl Cameron is reporting that a senior source in the McCain campaign has confirmed it’s Gov. Sarah Palin.

Oh.My.Gosh! No.He.Didn’t!

Watch as the conservasphere goes wild.

Update 1: Is this the official website?

Update 2 – 11:48 AM: 12 minutes away from McCain and Palin taking the stage.

Update 3 – 12:10 PM: Team Obama is already on the attack:

“Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same” said Bill Burton, Obama Campaign Spokesman.

Keep it up, Team Obama. Belittling this woman’s experience. I love it.

More Dem criticism via Politico:

Jim Jordan, a veteran Democratic strategist, told Politico, “After his attacks on Obama’s readiness for the job, it’ll be amusing to hear a 71-year-old with a history of health problems justify this decision.”

“She’s a talent, but that’s the end of the experience message from John McCain.”

Still waiting on McCain and Palin to take the stage.

Update 4 – 12:18 PM: McCain’s getting ready to speak. There’s some major energy in that crowd The crowd is singing happy birthday to McCain.

Update 5 – 12:53 PM: Sorry – the site’s having issues and went down as I was trying to update.Â And of course my hosting service hasn’t responded to my request forÂ help.Â

Great, down to earth speech by Palin.Â The sourpusses for Team Obama have got to be stewing today.Â

The mediots sexism has already started – MM has the story.

And Team McCain responds back to the inexperience charge. McCain aide Jill Hazelbaker says:

It is pretty audacious for the Obama campaign to say that Governor Palin is not qualified to be Vice President. She has a record of accomplishment that Senator Obama simply cannot match. Governor Palin has spent her time in office shaking up government in Alaska and actually achieving results — whether it’s taking on corruption, passing ethics reform or stopping wasteful spending and the â€˜bridge to nowhere.’ Senator Obama has spent his time in office running for President.

Zing …

Ed Morrissey lays out the case for Palin here.Â Advantage: McCain.

Sidenote: I have to admit it’s hilarious hearing all this talk from the Obama campaign about Palin’s “lack of experience” – ummm, who is the Dem nominee again?

Flashback:

7/29/08: Alaska Governor Sarah “Barracuda” Palin

22 Responses to "McCain picks Palin!"

Leslie says:

August 29, 2008 at 10:47 am

Yay! Wahoo! Is it really true?

That’s the way to snatch back the headlines after Obama’s masterpiece. (Whoa! Even Ollie the Cat got excited and pressed the F1 key and I was tossed into help mode there for a moment.)

Way to go, John McCain.

Looks to me like he’s going to do things his way, which is when he’s at his best.
Lorica says:

August 29, 2008 at 10:51 am

This is very good news indeed!!! – Lorica
Lorica says:

August 29, 2008 at 10:52 am

Honestly I am almost more excited to see what kind of President she will make!!! – Lorica
alchemist says:

August 29, 2008 at 10:53 am

Seems like a strong pick (based on my incredibly short google search). Good ethics record, pro-Life, high standards on cleaning-up politics, especially her own party (which is a plus to independents). Seems like she’ll be difficult to stick mud too.

I was thinking McCain might want someone more economics driven (really, I thought both candidates did). Still, having someone with a relatively short (but squeaky clean) record will actually bring out McCain’s “Maverick/Clean-UP Washington” card.
Great White Rat says:

August 29, 2008 at 11:03 am

Yep. CNN is saying the same thing:

Thursday night’s arrival of a private jet from Alaska at the Middleton, Ohio, airport raised speculation that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would be McCain’s pick. Middleton is 25 miles from Dayton.

Rich Bevis, an airport manager at the Middleton airport, said that a woman, two men and two teenagers were onboard.

“This is the most secretive flight we’ve ever had,” Bevis said.

1. Tactically, it’s a good pick. There’s been a lot of talk about the “enthusiasm gap” between the campaigns. Palin should energize the conservative base in a way McCain can’t. Conservative voters who might otherwise skip the presidential line on election day can see this as a reason to pull the McCain lever. Meanwhile, he can continue to work for the moderate-left to middle voters.

2. For one night, at least, it will force Joe Biden to be civil. He’s on the ticket to be the attack dog, while Obama keeps his nose in the air and spouts his platitudes. If he goes on the attack against Palin in their debate, it will backfire. Fair or not, voters do not like to see women on the receiving end of harsh rhetoric. When Rick Lazio went after Hillary during debates in her first Senate run, the backlash was huge.

3. There might be some attraction for the PUMAs, but I’m not sure how much. I’m sure Obama’s brain trust already has plans for bringing them back into the fold before November.

4. The GOP does lose some, but not all, of the experience advantage. The counter is that two years of running a state gives her more executive experience than the entire Democrat ticket put together.
Severian says:

August 29, 2008 at 11:04 am

This might also be a plus in attracting all those PUMA Democrats upset over how Hillary was treated. (As much as I despise Hillary, they do have a valid point.)

People are already starting the “she’s inexperienced” meme, well, the VP will have some time to gain some experience quickly right there where it counts, being mentored by the President. Even though McCain is 71, I suspect he’s got more than a year or two left in him, which is all she’d need. After all, Truman was pretty inexperienced when he became VP, and he did alright.
Lorica says:

August 29, 2008 at 11:43 am

The counter is that two years of running a state gives her more executive experience

Which means she has been in higher office longer than the top of the Dem ticket. Experience is a discussion that the left really should avoid. Sev’s post proves the the inmates are running the asylum, and the adults have gone on vacation. – Lorica
Great White Rat says:

August 29, 2008 at 11:51 am

By the way…didn’t some guy give a speech or something in Denver last night?

The timing of the Palin announcement was brilliant. Knocked what’s-his-name off the headlines on the very day he expected to dominate them. I’m beginning to really like McCain’s campaign strategists.
Lorica says:

August 29, 2008 at 12:57 pm

GREAT SPEECH!! Gov. Palin is very impressive. Biden is going to have one heck of a time debating her. – Lorica
Teri Pittman says:

August 29, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Man, I can’t believe it! What a great choice and it should shut up that talk about how “historic” the Democratic ticket is. I think she’s a great choice and I think you will see many of the PUMAs take a long hard look at McCain. I think this will really energize the Repubs campaign.
Anthony (Los Angeles) says:

August 29, 2008 at 1:02 pm

Good choice, great choice.

And I can’t believe that the Prophet Barack’s people are actually playing the experience card. Talk about brain-dead.
Great White Rat says:

August 29, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Watched her speech, and it accomplished its goal. This wasn’t planned to be a major policy address – it was more along the lines of an introduction: here’s my family, here’s what I’ve done, and here are my plans.

The biggest reaction from the crowd was when she mentioned her son, who is in the Army and shipping out to Iraq in a few days, and her pride in him and all those who serve in the military. Something you won’t hear at a Democrat rally – not said seriously.

She’s definitely trying to appeal to the PUMAs…throwing bouquets at Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary. The line about Hillary creating “18 million cracks in the glass ceiling” for women was a good one.

What remains is to amplify the message from today. We who visit ST’s blog already know about her independence and anti-corruption record, and her compassion and love for her child with Down’s. That message of character needs to be communicated loudly to the rest of America. I think the bitter people clinging to their guns and religion in middle America will love what they see.

Heck, I might even open the wallet and donate to the campaign now.
Great White Rat says:

August 29, 2008 at 1:28 pm

Checked some of the initial reactions over at the Hillary Clinton forum. If this reaction spreads, it’s probably lights-out for He Whose Middle Name Must Not Be Mentioned.

A sampling:

HOPE ITS PALIN, I WOULD VOTE TWICE JUST TO STICK IT TO OBAMA

…

They brushed off the women base like dirt. and the GOP pick them up. Go McCain.

…

Buuuuurn Obama Buuuurn! What a slap in the face.

If it’s Palin, I will put blood and sweat into campaigning for that team.

…

If this is true, this moves me from staying at home to voting McCain.

…

I am THRILLED! AS for the Dums whining that she doens’t have experience running things–SHE HAS FIVE KIDS!! TRUST ME! SHE KNOWS HOW TO RUN THINGS!

…

That’s it for me. I will be voting McCain/Palin, a Republican team, for the very first time in my life. YEOW, how my life has changed this year.

…

This pick will help cure the heartache of HRC supporters. I know that it lifted my heart already. I’m in so much joy.

…

This will certainly lure across more than a few Hillary supporters who are OUTRAGED at how SEXIST the DNC is and how disgracefully they treated an extraordinary presidential candidate. Note: this one was from the site administrator!

This could be really fun to watch for the next nine weeks…
Ryan says:

August 29, 2008 at 3:28 pm

And she’s a hockey mom.. I think I also read somewhere she plays hockey. Nice. Works for me
NC Cop says:

August 29, 2008 at 3:49 pm

Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Ok, seriously, this statement was a joke, right? They weren’t seriously criticizing McCain’s VP choice for having zero experience in foreign policy, were they?
Somebody tell me that was a joke.

Pot, meet kettle.
CZ says:

August 29, 2008 at 4:05 pm

I have to tell you, you know, it’s part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Sarah Palin’s speech.

My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don’t have that too often.
Mwalimu Daudi says:

August 29, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Ok, seriously, this statement was a joke, right? They weren’t seriously criticizing McCain’s VP choice for having zero experience in foreign policy, were they?

That is the line the MSM has taken all day. No – they are not joking.

Remember how the MSM attacked Dan Quayle’s military record in 1988 while giving William Jefferson Clinton a pass in 1992? Same principle here, only this time it is in the exact same election year. This will be harder for our moral betters in the MSM to pull off.

I predict that within two weeks the MSM will be quoting unamed “Republican insiders” saying she is a terrible pick. Bank on it.
Tango says:

August 29, 2008 at 6:16 pm

Somewhere, probably in some hotel room or private jet, Hillary is suddenly feeling very, very, old…
Palin A-Palooza « Thespis Journal says:

August 29, 2008 at 7:56 pm

[…] Classless Obama, The Best Kept Secret, Ed Morrissey, Bizzy Blog, Sister Toldjah, AJ Strata, More from the Strata-Sphere, Michelle […]
Trish says:

August 29, 2008 at 10:09 pm

I’m surprised at the reaction from Hillary supporters. I guess they’re madder than I thought (good news for conservatives).
Howard says:

August 31, 2008 at 11:44 am

JUST SAY NOBAMA !!!
Oh stop whining Democrats … for the past year, you’ve been trying every trick in the book to shove an inexperienced, empty suit, Barack Hussein Obama, down the throats of Americans. Sure, maybe you sweetened the bad taste by adding pretty speeches, big swooning crowds, and fireworks … but, you still tried to shove him down our throats, at every opportunity. Democrats, it was a lot easier to highjack the primary election than it’s going to be with the general election. Looks like America is going to elect McCain/Palin for President and V.P.. And, that means: No Wright, no Farrakahn, no Ayers, no Rezko, no mean Michelle, and, NOBAMA !!!
Benjamin says:

August 31, 2008 at 9:59 pm

John McCain not only made a great pick for VP he put a gigantic mirror in the face of the democratic ticket. Just like Clint Eastwood, John McCain is now asking them to “make his day” by saying something stupid like she has “no experience”. She’s the VP pick, not the Presidential pick and she has more executive experience than the community organizer!!Way to go McCain! This is a great day for women if they will really look at it in terms of opportunity, exposure and a voice that a worldwide audience will hear. What does picking a senator who’s been in Washington since Richard Nixon really say about Obama and CHANGE? What about 18 million voters he’s saying he doesn’t need? Thanks, but NO thanks! His agenda is really run by the hating radicals that run his campaign, women are not part of the real agenda, maybe we are now seeing the deeper core values. Who else in the world thinks that women should not be seen, not heard, disrespected, dismissed with no need for education? Wake and smell the real coffee in this campaign.

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