Excited About McCain/Palin Ticket
Posted by: Joseph Turner | 08/30/2008 4:01 PM
I have to warn you in advance as the following post is more of an emotional outpouring.
I had an obligation and was unable to watch Palin give her acceptance speech. Instead, I listened to her on the radio.
It was a strange feeling. I became overcome with excitement and really got pumped up as I listened to the talk show hosts describe her background and then I listened to her speak. As an unabashed nationalist, I think it was the sense of pride in her country that really touched me. You could just feel it.
I dunno. It was an intoxicating experience.
I can honestly say that I was most likely not going to vote for McCain in 2008. Anyone who has followed this blog knows that I do not like McCain, primarily due to his immigration stance. So, this isn't one of those typical spins where someone feigns their disgust for the candidate, but was really in their camp all along.
I was going to sit this one out. Just wasn't excited. And I am still not excited about McCain. But, Palin excites me and I am still trying to figure out why.
I think, at the end of the day, Palin reminded me of some of the things I felt and believed when I first began to identify myself as a Republican. I am tired of all the GOP spin doctors and political whores who pretend to hold our principles dear. I don't expect to agree with every GOPer on every issue and I have no problem even disagreeing on a big issue here in there. But, I believe Palin when she communicates her principles and values and not only that...she lives it.
Anyway...this is probably the least logical Red County post of mine ever, but I thought I would share a perspective from a vehement critic of John McCain.
At this point in time, I think I am there with respect to voting for McCain.
I had an obligation and was unable to watch Palin give her acceptance speech. Instead, I listened to her on the radio.
It was a strange feeling. I became overcome with excitement and really got pumped up as I listened to the talk show hosts describe her background and then I listened to her speak. As an unabashed nationalist, I think it was the sense of pride in her country that really touched me. You could just feel it.
I dunno. It was an intoxicating experience.
I can honestly say that I was most likely not going to vote for McCain in 2008. Anyone who has followed this blog knows that I do not like McCain, primarily due to his immigration stance. So, this isn't one of those typical spins where someone feigns their disgust for the candidate, but was really in their camp all along.
I was going to sit this one out. Just wasn't excited. And I am still not excited about McCain. But, Palin excites me and I am still trying to figure out why.
I think, at the end of the day, Palin reminded me of some of the things I felt and believed when I first began to identify myself as a Republican. I am tired of all the GOP spin doctors and political whores who pretend to hold our principles dear. I don't expect to agree with every GOPer on every issue and I have no problem even disagreeing on a big issue here in there. But, I believe Palin when she communicates her principles and values and not only that...she lives it.
Anyway...this is probably the least logical Red County post of mine ever, but I thought I would share a perspective from a vehement critic of John McCain.
At this point in time, I think I am there with respect to voting for McCain.
This is why many sports ban the use of performance enhancing drugs. Another form of doping is blood...
I could not agree with you more Joseph. I promised myself that I would force myself to vote for McCain if it appeared he had any hope of taking California only because I consider Obama to be dangerous. However, I fully expected to be voting third party.
Although the fact that she is a woman doesn't matter to me one way or another, I think it is a plus in this situation. What is more important to me is that she is a woman who believes in the conservative values that made the Republican party so great--values that seem to have fallen by the wayside in recent years and have been leading to the gradual downfall of the Republican party.
Is it just me or is there just a little Reagan-esque feel about her? Unlike many of her Democrat counterparts, she seems to be someone who could become role model for future generations of young girls who only have Brittany and Paris to look up to now.
After finding out that Governor Palin was named as McCain’s VP, I just find the ticket demoralizing. Basically the social conservatives own the party, if you are not socially conservative the party is not for you. Even though you may agree with the Republican Party’s views on Iraq, Russia and energy exploration. If you are not socially conservative, there is nothing to be enthusiastic for this ticket. Since there has not been many ban-abortion, ban same sex marriage initiatives on the ballot, McCain had to do something to get the base to vote for him.
Palin has views that are outside the mainstream like banning all forms of birth control and condoms even for married and straight couples.
I would not expect McCain to support Ridge or Lieberman, but this choice does not inspire me due to her inexperience and social views.
Why don’t we focus on issues aside from the cultural issues. Like a balanced budget, energy exploration, reforming the health care system.
I just can not support Obama, he’s dangerous just like President Carter who helped increase Islamic radicalism. It seems third party will be the way it will be for me.
Joe: What do you think about this story? It looks like Palin was a director of Senator Steven's (the first U.S. senator to face criminal charges in 15 years) 527 group? Not to mention that the Senator was instrumetnal in getting her elected Governor.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/01/palin_was_a_director_of_embatt.html
Hmmmmm....good choice for McCain? Let's count the ways....
#10. Cluelessgate. She sounds totally clueless talking about Iraq or foreign policy.
#9. Censorgate. She asked her town librarian if the library "could live with censorship of library books.”
#8. Bridge-to-Nowheregate. She was for it before she was against it.
#7. Buchanangate. She was a big supporter of Pat Buchanan's 1996 rather hard-right, somewhat anti-semitic run for office. That ought to win over voters in Florida. (Update: this fact is now being denied by the McCain campaign. Until there's evidence one way or another we should probably remove this from the list in favor of Porkgate at #2 - see below.)
#6. Whinergate. She called Hillary Clinton a whiner. THIS is the candidate who's supposed to win over disgruntled Clinton supporters? Can we say "Phil Graham"?
#5. Kidgate. Not only is she staunchly anti-choice, she recently had a Down's Syndrome child. While making a choice to give birth to and raise such a child is certainly courageous - and will be at least as appealing as Biden's personal backstory - many women will wonder how she can decide to leave such a child while campaigning for the White House. And you have to wonder at her judgement to get pregnant in her mid-forties, after already having four children, knowing the risk of having a child with such a disease (or was this an example of what happens when right-to-lifers don't use contraception?) Won't all this, along with her membership in a notorious anti-choice organization called "Feminists for Life," seem like she's exploiting a baby for ideology, and turn most women off?
#4. Superstitiongate. Not only is Palin anti-science, she wants to teach Creationism in schools.
#3. Sexual Scandalgate. She appointed a known sexual-harassment offender to office then had to fire him.
#2. Oilgate. She's vetoed legislation for wind and solar energy and is securely in the pockets of big oil (her husband works for British Petroleum). She's even willing to let polar bears die for oil.
#1. Troopergate. She fired her public safety commissioner because he refused to fire a state trooper who was the ex-husband of her sister and engaged in a bitter custody battle. Can we say "Bush Administration"?
Troopergate, you say? Just you wait: Want more on the deliciously "Northern Exposure Meets Nixon"-esque intricacies of the abuse-of-power scandal rocking sleepy Alaska? Read about it here.
Porkgate - Palin lobbied Washington for frivolous funds. (I'd say this should take over spot #2 - it's a pretty big tar on McCain's reformer image).
Dairygate - Apparently she mismanaged a failing state-run dairy. This one seems a little bit obscure and hard to fact-check to me. Let's leave it off unless more comes of it.
Secessiongate - Palin belonged to an anti-American organization promoting that Alaska seceed from the union. This one is still being debated, so I wouldn't put in up on the top ten...yet.
Iron-Fistgate - Palin ruled her small town Wasilla with an iron fist. Can we say "female Dick Cheney"? Let's put this up at number 10, since Cheney Bush is not what McCain should be reminding people of. Even conservative commentator David Brooks of the NY Times concedes that Palin does little to reassure voters about their biggest concern about McCain: that he just doesn't have the temperment to be President.
I was in the Xcel center when she gave her speech. It was an historic moment. I believe Sarah Palin will be our next VP and someday our first female President. I have been a McCain supporter since 2000. His choice of Sarah Palin has served to strengthen my belief that he will be an exceptional President.
During her speech I found myself thinking about my own family and particularly about my eleven year old daughter. Sarah Palin is a remarkable woman. Her speech will be talked about years from now as a clarion call for conservative values and a turning point in this election. Young conservative women around America have found their voice.
Now we have to get out there and do the work that wins campaigns. I have returned from the convention fired up about my candidates and ready to work. Every four years we get to decide the future of our nation. McCain/ Palin have made it clear who and what they are fighting for and now we have to help them win. If you need a yard sign just e-mail me at Tbrin@aol.com