NYT suggests Palin vetting process a disaster

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

mshan

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2004
7,868
0
71
Why worry about fleeting convention bounces in questionable national polls?


Look at the state by state electoral math:
- It seems very likely Obama will carry all of the Kerry '04 states (Biden seems to have taken Pennsylvania completely out of play for McCain, and Michigan is starting to look like a long shot, too).
- Recent NY Times article said that Bush 04 states of Iowa (7) and New Mexico (5) are already comfortably in Obama's favor (252 + 7 + 5 = 264 electoral votes)
- If that ends up being the case, Colorado (9) alone, or Virginia (13) alone, could put him over 270.

And that says nothing of the toss up that is currently Ohio (20), and whether, conceivably, Biden and Palin have put Florida (27) into play for Obama.



"Mr. Obama?s aides said that they were confident of holding on to all the states Senator John Kerry won against Mr. Bush in 2004 and that they were already well positioned to pick up Iowa and New Mexico, both of which narrowly went to Mr. Bush. The Obama campaign is investing heavily to compete on more challenging terrain for Democrats, including Florida and Virginia."
 

RightIsWrong

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2005
5,649
0
0
Thread Merge

Fern
AnandTech P&N Moderator


If this is the kind of "country first" decision making that he plans to implement in the oval office, I'd prefer that he only be there was someone asking what the real president would like to order for lunch.

More here


A series of disclosures about Gov. Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain?s choice as running mate, called into question on Monday how thoroughly Mr. McCain had examined her background before putting her on the Republican presidential ticket.

On Monday morning, Ms. Palin and her husband, Todd, issued a statement saying that their 17-year-old unmarried daughter, Bristol, was five months pregnant and that she intended to marry the father.

Among other less attention-grabbing news of the day: it was learned that Ms. Palin now has a private lawyer in a legislative ethics investigation in Alaska into whether she abused her power in dismissing the state?s public safety commissioner; that she was a member for two years in the 1990s of the Alaska Independence Party, which has at times sought a vote on whether the state should secede; and that Mr. Palin was arrested 22 years ago on a drunken-driving charge.

Aides to Mr. McCain said they had a team on the ground in Alaska now to look more thoroughly into Ms. Palin?s background. A Republican with ties to the campaign said the team assigned to vet Ms. Palin in Alaska had not arrived there until Thursday, a day before Mr. McCain stunned the political world with his vice-presidential choice.

Although the McCain campaign said that Mr. McCain had known about Bristol Palin?s pregnancy before he asked her mother to join him on the ticket and that he did not consider it disqualifying, top aides were vague on Monday about how and when he had learned of the pregnancy, and from whom.

While there was no sign that her formal nomination this week was in jeopardy, the questions swirling around Ms. Palin on the first day of the Republican National Convention, already disrupted by Hurricane Gustav, brought anxiety to Republicans who worried that Democrats would use the selection of Ms. Palin to question Mr. McCain?s judgment and his ability to make crucial decisions.

At the least, Republicans close to the campaign said it was increasingly apparent that Ms. Palin had been selected as Mr. McCain?s running mate with more haste than McCain advisers initially described.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
McSame has also sent his troops, along with Palin's own lawyer, to stall the Troopergate scandal before it sinks their campaign.

They want to have a governor appointed panel oversee the governor's ethics investigation.

:laugh:
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
173
106
Originally posted by: QED
-snip-
With that said, I think this article confirms pretty much what everyone already suspects: McCain decided to take a gamble with this dark-horse selection. Whether the lack of questioning of fellow Alaskan politicians beforehand reflects a careless oversight, or a need for secrecy, or was simply deemed unnecessary we won't know for sure.

As we also know, even the most thorough vetting process doesn't guaruntee that your selection will end up being a wise one. For isntance, even Bill Clinton had to weather two embarrasing nominations for his Attorney General position before he found Janet Reno.

If this article was accurate, it sounds like McCain was stuck-- he couldn't pick the two men he really wanted to pick (Lieberman and Ridge), as half of his half-hearted supporters would mutiny. He needed someone with strong conservative credentials, without too much additional baggage. I still believe he made the right selection...

Well said.

I'm actually amazed (didn't see that coming) how dirty and low down this thing has become in the few days since Palin got the VP nod. Lot of nutty rumors and misogynistic comments that would never be tolerated (or go unchallenged) if these were said about Hillary.

I do give some credit to Obama for coming out with his statement about family members & kids quickly, but the MSM is waaay over-doing this.

The MSM is jumping on stuff like Palin's child is actually that of her daughter? And we got the whole "OMGZ her daughter is preggo" stuff? WTH?

Now, we're hearing about husband's DUI from like 20 yrs ago?

What the heck is going on? I forsee new claims about media bias.

As regards your comment concerning the vetting of VPs, just wait, now we're gonna hear dirt and innuendo about Biden's family.

I predict some really nasty stuff in the weeks ahead. Looks to me like the MSM and lefty blogger types have made this an *anything goes* campaign.

Oh, btw I don't think any polls on Palin are worth the paper they're written on (or the electrons they waste here); we need to see her give interviews, speeches and debate before people can/will draw conclusions. IMO, wherever she's at in any poll ATM is subject to substantial change based on her performance over the next 2 months.

I don't usually care to watch speeches, but I'm looking forward to seeing her's at the RNC later this week.

Fern
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
Originally posted by: Fern
Originally posted by: QED
-snip-
With that said, I think this article confirms pretty much what everyone already suspects: McCain decided to take a gamble with this dark-horse selection. Whether the lack of questioning of fellow Alaskan politicians beforehand reflects a careless oversight, or a need for secrecy, or was simply deemed unnecessary we won't know for sure.

As we also know, even the most thorough vetting process doesn't guaruntee that your selection will end up being a wise one. For isntance, even Bill Clinton had to weather two embarrasing nominations for his Attorney General position before he found Janet Reno.

If this article was accurate, it sounds like McCain was stuck-- he couldn't pick the two men he really wanted to pick (Lieberman and Ridge), as half of his half-hearted supporters would mutiny. He needed someone with strong conservative credentials, without too much additional baggage. I still believe he made the right selection...

Well said.

I'm actually amazed (didn't see that coming) how dirty and low down this thing has become in the few days since Palin got the VP nod. Lot of nutty rumors and misogynistic comments that would never be tolerated (or go unchallenged) if these were said about Hillary.

I do give some credit to Obama for coming out with his statement about family members & kids quickly, but the MSM is waaay over-doing this.

The MSM is jumping on stuff like Palin's child is actually that of her daughter? And we got the whole "OMGZ her daughter is preggo" stuff? WTH?

Now, we're hearing about husband's DUI from like 20 yrs ago?

What the heck is going on? I forsee new claims about media bias.

As regards your comment concerning the vetting of VPs, just wait, now we're gonna hear dirt and innuendo about Biden's family.

I predict some really nasty stuff in the weeks ahead. Looks to me like the MSM and lefty blogger types have made this an *anything goes* campaign.

Oh, btw I don't think any polls on Palin are worth the paper they're written on (or the electrons they waste here); we need to see her give interviews, speeches and debate before people can/will draw conclusions. IMO, wherever she's at in any poll ATM is subject to substantial change based on her performance over the next 2 months.

I don't usually care to watch speeches, but I'm looking forward to seeing her's at the RNC later this week.

Fern

Which is just about the biggest mistake they can make. They don't need to undermine Palin's credibility as a person or dig up bullshit about her personal life, all they need to do is remind voters that just because she's female, she isn't HRC. Instead, all of these attacks will be perceived as sexist and it will drive more women to vote for Palin / McCain.
 

jonks

Lifer
Feb 7, 2005
13,918
20
81
Originally posted by: BeauJangles
Originally posted by: Fern
Originally posted by: QED
-snip-
With that said, I think this article confirms pretty much what everyone already suspects: McCain decided to take a gamble with this dark-horse selection. Whether the lack of questioning of fellow Alaskan politicians beforehand reflects a careless oversight, or a need for secrecy, or was simply deemed unnecessary we won't know for sure.

As we also know, even the most thorough vetting process doesn't guaruntee that your selection will end up being a wise one. For isntance, even Bill Clinton had to weather two embarrasing nominations for his Attorney General position before he found Janet Reno.

If this article was accurate, it sounds like McCain was stuck-- he couldn't pick the two men he really wanted to pick (Lieberman and Ridge), as half of his half-hearted supporters would mutiny. He needed someone with strong conservative credentials, without too much additional baggage. I still believe he made the right selection...

Well said.

I'm actually amazed (didn't see that coming) how dirty and low down this thing has become in the few days since Palin got the VP nod. Lot of nutty rumors and misogynistic comments that would never be tolerated (or go unchallenged) if these were said about Hillary.

I do give some credit to Obama for coming out with his statement about family members & kids quickly, but the MSM is waaay over-doing this.

The MSM is jumping on stuff like Palin's child is actually that of her daughter? And we got the whole "OMGZ her daughter is preggo" stuff? WTH?

Now, we're hearing about husband's DUI from like 20 yrs ago?

What the heck is going on? I forsee new claims about media bias.

As regards your comment concerning the vetting of VPs, just wait, now we're gonna hear dirt and innuendo about Biden's family.

I predict some really nasty stuff in the weeks ahead. Looks to me like the MSM and lefty blogger types have made this an *anything goes* campaign.

Oh, btw I don't think any polls on Palin are worth the paper they're written on (or the electrons they waste here); we need to see her give interviews, speeches and debate before people can/will draw conclusions. IMO, wherever she's at in any poll ATM is subject to substantial change based on her performance over the next 2 months.

I don't usually care to watch speeches, but I'm looking forward to seeing her's at the RNC later this week.

Fern

Which is just about the biggest mistake they can make. They don't need to undermine Palin's credibility as a person or dig up bullshit about her personal life, all they need to do is remind voters that just because she's female, she isn't HRC. Instead, all of these attacks will be perceived as sexist and it will drive more women to vote for Palin / McCain.

Not the women in my office. They think she's a white trash hick. I thought they were a little harsh on her, but I think they were insulted that people think they would vote for McCain just because of a woman on his ticket.
 

RightIsWrong

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2005
5,649
0
0
Originally posted by: jonks
Originally posted by: BeauJangles
Originally posted by: Fern
Originally posted by: QED
-snip-
With that said, I think this article confirms pretty much what everyone already suspects: McCain decided to take a gamble with this dark-horse selection. Whether the lack of questioning of fellow Alaskan politicians beforehand reflects a careless oversight, or a need for secrecy, or was simply deemed unnecessary we won't know for sure.

As we also know, even the most thorough vetting process doesn't guaruntee that your selection will end up being a wise one. For isntance, even Bill Clinton had to weather two embarrasing nominations for his Attorney General position before he found Janet Reno.

If this article was accurate, it sounds like McCain was stuck-- he couldn't pick the two men he really wanted to pick (Lieberman and Ridge), as half of his half-hearted supporters would mutiny. He needed someone with strong conservative credentials, without too much additional baggage. I still believe he made the right selection...

Well said.

I'm actually amazed (didn't see that coming) how dirty and low down this thing has become in the few days since Palin got the VP nod. Lot of nutty rumors and misogynistic comments that would never be tolerated (or go unchallenged) if these were said about Hillary.

I do give some credit to Obama for coming out with his statement about family members & kids quickly, but the MSM is waaay over-doing this.

The MSM is jumping on stuff like Palin's child is actually that of her daughter? And we got the whole "OMGZ her daughter is preggo" stuff? WTH?

Now, we're hearing about husband's DUI from like 20 yrs ago?

What the heck is going on? I forsee new claims about media bias.

As regards your comment concerning the vetting of VPs, just wait, now we're gonna hear dirt and innuendo about Biden's family.

I predict some really nasty stuff in the weeks ahead. Looks to me like the MSM and lefty blogger types have made this an *anything goes* campaign.

Oh, btw I don't think any polls on Palin are worth the paper they're written on (or the electrons they waste here); we need to see her give interviews, speeches and debate before people can/will draw conclusions. IMO, wherever she's at in any poll ATM is subject to substantial change based on her performance over the next 2 months.

I don't usually care to watch speeches, but I'm looking forward to seeing her's at the RNC later this week.

Fern

Which is just about the biggest mistake they can make. They don't need to undermine Palin's credibility as a person or dig up bullshit about her personal life, all they need to do is remind voters that just because she's female, she isn't HRC. Instead, all of these attacks will be perceived as sexist and it will drive more women to vote for Palin / McCain.

Not the women in my office. They think she's a white trash hick. I thought they were a little harsh on her, but I think they were insulted that people think they would vote for McCain just because of a woman on his ticket.

My wife who, God have mercy on her soul, voted for W...>TWICE!!!...thinks that McCain is an idiot for choosing her. That she is barely qualified for the position that she was holding and that she's a total VP Barbie wannabe.

She has said that she is setting the women's movement back not forward by accepting this invite to run.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Originally posted by: jonks
Not the women in my office. They think she's a white trash hick. I thought they were a little harsh on her, but I think they were insulted that people think they would vote for McCain just because of a woman on his ticket.

My wife who, God have mercy on her soul, voted for W...>TWICE!!!...thinks that McCain is an idiot for choosing her. That she is barely qualified for the position that she was holding and that she's a total VP Barbie wannabe.

She has said that she is setting the women's movement back not forward by accepting this invite to run.
This is what new polls have shown; Obama increased his favorable gap with women voters after the Palin announcement.

I mean, how more obvious could McCain make it? The second she opened her mouth during her VP announcement speech and mentioned/quoted Hillary, the ploy had been fully uncovered by anyone with an IQ over 70.
 

Bwatkins

Junior Member
Sep 2, 2008
9
0
0
McCain didn't pick Palin because she is a woman or because he is pandering to former Hillary supporters. John McCain isn't like the current republican administration, he is a known maverick on many issues and calls it like he sees it. Same thing goes for Sarah Palin, she is an independent free-thinking conservative that will help our nation achieve even more freedom than ever before :)
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Originally posted by: jonks
Not the women in my office. They think she's a white trash hick. I thought they were a little harsh on her, but I think they were insulted that people think they would vote for McCain just because of a woman on his ticket.

My wife who, God have mercy on her soul, voted for W...>TWICE!!!...thinks that McCain is an idiot for choosing her. That she is barely qualified for the position that she was holding and that she's a total VP Barbie wannabe.

She has said that she is setting the women's movement back not forward by accepting this invite to run.
This is what new polls have shown; Obama increased his favorable gap with women voters after the Palin announcement.

I mean, how more obvious could McCain make it? The second she opened her mouth during her VP announcement speech and mentioned/quoted Hillary, the ploy had been fully uncovered by anyone with an IQ over 70.

check back again next week... doesn't seem like a completely level comparison when you're talking about Obama still in the midst of his convention bounce versus McCain before the GOP convention has even begun.

not that I'm saying your base premise is wrong, just that polls are still meaningless for another week or two.
 
Jun 26, 2007
11,925
2
0
Well, i'd like to meet her, i bet i could make her say "OH YES SWEET JESUS" higher than ever before.

I'd go public with the tape afterwards because her politics are retarded.
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
It's funny when a Brit criticizes the US. If there's one western nation more fucked up than the US right now, it's the UK.
 

GroundedSailor

Platinum Member
Feb 18, 2001
2,502
0
76
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Originally posted by: Fern

Now, we're hearing about her husband's DUI

Fern


OMG she's married to a drunk?? :shocked:



;)

Yes, maybe, but the important thing she believes in the family value of marriage and she stuck by him. There's your spin. The Palins can do no wrong now.


BTW did you know something about McCain? That he was a POW?

 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,750
2,525
126
Originally posted by: mshan
Karl Rove's analysis of the electoral map: http://www.newsweek.com/id/156494

I looked at this map for twenty seconds before I determined it was total BS. I mean, he has Milwaukee, WI as GOP. Back when I lived there they literally did not even have a local GOP party. And he has CT more or less pale blue-EVERY local poll I've seen here shows Obama up by 20% or more.
 
Jun 26, 2007
11,925
2
0
Originally posted by: BoberFett
It's funny when a Brit criticizes the US. If there's one western nation more fucked up than the US right now, it's the UK.

I critisised the US?

Ah, you believe the Government (to be, maybe) IS the people.

Sorry, us liberal chaps in the UK have a forum for the people even, maybe something a libertian could wish for. ;)
 

IGBT

Lifer
Jul 16, 2001
17,960
140
106
..and the street agitator with 140+ days of experience would be better??
 

mshan

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2004
7,868
0
71
I looked at the Rove electoral map more closely and realized it doesn't say much about the state of this race.

It kind of says where either candidate has to mobilize it's vote, but not much else.

 

EndGame

Golden Member
Dec 28, 2002
1,276
0
0
Do you really want this "maverick" running the country

Sure do! Compared to the rest of the idiots running in this election she's a breath of fresh air!
 
Jun 26, 2007
11,925
2
0
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Originally posted by: IGBT
..and the street agitator with 140+ days of experience would be better??
Did you know that John McCain was a POW?

*I* know that he was a POW who acted bravely in the hands of the enemy.

To *ME* that is worth something and says something about his character.

However, i don't think he's even close to the man he once was, now Wesley Clark, if he had gotten the nomination... Well, things might have been different then.

No use crying over spilled milk, but Obama isn't the answer, sure, vote him in for four years, him or McCain, doesn't really matter, same shit from where i'm standing.

If someone like Wesley comes along again though and you pass that opportunity up... i'll TRY to invade you singlehandedly!

;)