Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: i-node who wrote (413888)	9/5/2008 12:35:08 AM
From: tejek	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1578054

time-blog.com The Swooning Over Sarah... Posted by Mike Murphy September 4, 2008 7:34 About the loneliest precinct in the GOP these days is the one reserved for troublesome Republicans who think Gov. Sarah Palin was a poor VP choice, even after The Speech. Well, here I am. Hello? Anybody else? Wow, there is a big echo in here… In my postings here and my appearances on NBC I’ve made the case that as far as helping John McCain win the election is concerned, the choice of Gov. Sarah Palin is a mixed bag. McCain get's a fellow reformer, but also pays the very heavy price of making a pick I think will only play well among the Republican base he already has. (In an private conversation fragment that landed on the Internet due to a open MSNBC microphone, I made my grouchy feelings about the base centered strategy Palin represents clear in a blunt manner. Sorry Sarah, it's nothing personal. It’s the just the politics of the choice that I don’t like.) Today, after Gov. Palin’s much applauded speech, my doubts remain. Again, it’s not that I don’t find her appealing. I like what I see in her fine family. I like that Gov. Palin fought corruption in Alaska. I like her Mom Goes to Juneau bio (except for the stuff about newly elected Mayor Palin muscling the local librarian a bit to consider banning some books). I think I would have probably voted for her to be my Governor if I had some enemies to escape and had suddenly fled to Alaska. I’ll even say that as a red blooded and politically incorrect American male, I really like the idea that Palin could, if she felt like it, set a world wide pay per view box office record by stripping down to a wolf-fur bikini, running outside in the snow and effortlessly killing a caribou – or Joe Biden -- with her bare hands. (Save the howling protest emails about sexism; it’s just a JOKE. Write the Wasilla librarian if you want it banned.) What I don’t like is the effect I think Palin will ultimately have on the ticket. With all her charm, she is still a pick aimed squarely at the Republican base. In a high turnout Presidential year, I am not worried about turning out the base. I’m worried about everybody else we need to win and I fear that among those voters, Sarah Palin will be a dud. I know, I know, she’s a “hockey mom” and through the magic of identity politics she is going to make female voters swarm across party lines in numbers that Gerry Ferraro never dreamed of since this identity politics hokum is only a good idea that is certain to work when, um, we Republicans try to do it. Instead, I think she’ll ultimately be a polarizer. After last night’s smash, Republicans are in deep love. Nothing thrills ‘em like a good “us vs. them” speech. But I’d guess that most Democrats had the opposite reaction. In a year where the Democrat generic numbers are 10+ points better than the Republican, I don’t like the math of a strategy that just polarized the election along party base lines. Among the vital sliver of voters in the middle, I think Palin’s rock solid social conservatism will be a turn off. And while voters may value vision over experience, Palin’s inexperience is a weakness, denying McCain an argument that has been helping him against Obama. It's not a real poll and therefore should be taken with an Alaska sized boulder of salt, but the Detroit Free Press asked a few swing voters to watch Gov. Palin's speech and then opine. You can read their reactions here So that’s my concern with Sarah Palin. Interesting person, bad strategic choice to win the election. I’ve sure been wrong before and perhaps I’m wrong this time. Some smart pols I respect think she’ll be a real help. We’ll know when we count the votes.

To: i-node who wrote (413888)	9/5/2008 12:37:13 AM
From: tejek	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1578054

Free Press voter panel reacts to Palin's speech September 3, 2008 “Originally, I was a not too happy about McCain’s choice for a running mate, Sarah Palin … However, after her speech tonight I am beginning to see her in a different light. She seems like a real fighter, someone who would stick it to the lobbyist and special-interest groups that have run ramped in Washington. Her perspective between Obama and McCain was brilliant. … Palin hit it on the nail, the Democratic Party is about big government and high taxes. McCain has walked the walk on change while Obama has to date only talked the talk about change. -- Walter E. Capers, 41, Highland Republican “Palin is a far better orator than McCain. But the tone of her speech is sarcastic, mean-spirited and divisive. Apparently, her role is to look good and throw out red meat for the base. … “Palin has repeated her lie about ‘saying no’ to the bridge from nowhere. Has she no shame?” -- James Melton, 45, Detroit Democrat “Sarah Palin came out strong, confident, articulate, and she connected well. This was her introduction, and it went well. I am looking foward to the VP debate where she can continue to demonstrate how ready she is. She is going to give Biden a run for his money.” -- Jacki Shipley, 42, Plymouth Republican “Palin delivered a good speech but I am not convinced she has the experience to carry her through tough debates with Biden or to be vice president. It was a well crafted and well written speech but given it was her big debut, I would not expect anything less from Republican speech writers. I believe the real test will come when she begins to answer tough questions and debates with Joe Biden.” -- Aurora Torres, 27, Democrat “Sarah Palin came across as the small town girl who made good. I knew that I disagreed with her on some issues before this evening. After listening to her speech … it appears that once she makes up her mind, that is the end of it. We live in a gray world, not every answer is black and white.” -- Diane Murphy, 42, Sterling Heights independent “Watching Sarah Palin's speech tonight put a smile on my face. She was humorous when appropriate and cleared up some misconceptions that I had made of her. She does seem to have the knowledge of America's problems today, but I think she needed to put more emphasis on the issues of the present rather than what has already been accomplished. ... Overall, she is for sure going to make this election more interesting and I look forward to what the next couple months bring.” -- Nicole Perry, 34, Wyandotte Democrat “I was completely underwhelmed. She was a Republican novelty act with a sophomoric script. It was not even a speech I would expect for a someone running for the local PTA, much less for vice president.” -- George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent “Who is Sarah Palin? I'm sorry but I still don't know anymore about this young lady tonight than I did last night ... The way it looks to me, she's the Republican vice presidential nominee for one reason: because Hillary wasn't selected.” -- Mike Kosh, 38, West Bloomfield independent "Sarah Palin is a self-described ‘pitbull with lipstick.’ She spent little time helping Americans learn who she is. She is a cool, poised speaker, but her speech contained few statements about policy or the party platform. … I am not convinced that Palin's experience as a mayor or governor in Alaska meet the qualifications to be vice president much less one stroke or heart attack away from being commander in chief.” -- Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent “Nothing worked for me. I found her barrage of snide remarksand distortions to be a major turn off. She is not a class act. The most important point she made is that she will be an effective attack dog.” -- Jan Wheelock, 58, Royal Oak independent “Sarah got as much applause as Hillary did, and had a friendly, appealing appearance. Her delivery style reminded me of a high school valedictorian who also might have been a cheerleader. I thought she would appear more professional, more stateswomanly. She's no match for Joe Biden.” -- Joellen Gilchrist, 64, Beverly Hills independent freep.com