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Some observations about the VP picks.

Feel free to disregard. No, really. I don't mind in the slightest.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  September 8th, 2008 at 07:49 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Let us examine several data points, which I freely admit are merely put out there to mess with various heads. There’s no valid reason to take any of these seriously.

No, really. Not at all. I’m just doing it to be cruel.

Anyway:

First. Senator Barack Obama never had any intention of picking Senator Clinton for his running mate; no vetting process ever took place.

Second. Governor Sarah Palin has been on Senator John McCain’s radar for a Vice Presidential pick since February of this year: right wing pundits and activists in general have been talking about her for a couple of years now. (Via Hot Air, and watch those videos to see why.)

Third. I see Ed Rollins’ point. If Senator Clinton was going to be the VP nominee, Senator McCain would have problems picking Governor Palin as his running mate. (I also agree that Senator Obama made a drastic mistake here by not picking Senator Clinton, but never mind that now.)

Fourth. Senator McCain’s determination (as per the WaPo) to keep Governor Palin in the running for the Republican VP slot must be examined in this light; up until quite recently, the illusion that Senator Clinton’s name was in consideration for the Democratic VP slot was quite real, as it was easily the most sensible choice from both an internal and external viewpoint.

Fifth. To recap: Obama and Clinton knew all along that Clinton would not be considered for VP; McCain’s growing determination to have Palin for VP is thus a bit of a risk, given that he never had the chance to look at the Democrats’ cards…

Sixth. Senator Clinton and Senator McCain are actually close personal friends.

Enjoy your night.

Moe Lane

PS: Oh, yes. Seventh. Senator Clinton is apparently uninterested in going after Governor Palin on Senator Obama’s behalf. (Via Jules Crittenden)

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COMMENTS

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  • Mary_Contrary

    The NYT article in the “in going after Governor Palin” link repeatedly states Mrs. Clinton and Ms. Palin.

    Are not they both Mrs.?

  • walter_hanson

    Moe:

    While I think you gave a great piece of thinking I think you missed some important points that played a role here:

    One, part of the job of being President is to read foreign leaders and think what they will or won’t do. I think Mccain correctly read something that we thought was going to happen. There was no way that Obama was going to pick Hillary. Given that Mccain was confident he could pick Palin.

    Two, we got some luck. Part of the trip to Europe that Obama made was to show he was presidential. Even though they bragged it was a great trip it was a disaster. This forced the Obama campaign to look for the foreign policy experience they thought they need. Driving the pick to Biden and away from Clinton let alone a couple of other ladies the Democrats could use.

    Three, did the Mccain campaign fake out the Obama team while Obama still had a chance to pick? Look at the history. While Obama was deciding there was lots of talk it was going to be Liberman, Ridge, Rommey, etc. Somehow the name Pallin wasn’t being talked about except in web sites like RedState where I begged for it to be Pallin along with others.

    Four, Mccain had to gamble and let the Democrats go first. If he picked a woman just to try to make a historic difference Obama would’ve automatically picked a woman.

    Given these four point that you missed I think this just adds to how brilliant the move was since Mccain correctly figured he was going to be able to do it, but he faked the Democrats out so Obama wouldn’t do it.

    What do you think Moe?

    Walter Hanson
    Minneapolis, MN

  • Flagstaff

    “Senator Clinton and Senator McCain are actually” long-separated brother and sister.

    Not only did he not vet her, I think she made it clear that if vetting were necessary, she didn’t want the job.

    Obama did the right thing in not choosing Hillary. She might have made him a successful candidate, but he would have been stark raving mad by he time he left office. Imagine him walking into the oval office in the middle of the night to find Bill Clinton there, feet up on the desk, smoking a cigar and watching something completely different on the HD TV.

  • Moe_Lane

    NT

  • itrytobenice

    I agree completely. McCain outmaneuvered Obamunist in a big way. One of these two guys would be good at war.

  • septembergurl

    white women in the past weeK (WAPO, 9/8/8 – it was Obama 50/McC 42 before the R conv, now McC 53/O 41)

    …Click….Beep….Hey, hi, uh Hillary..this is Barack again…yeah, again, ha-ha…hey, pick up if you’re there, Hillary…I’ve left a couple of messages but I’m not sure you’re getting them, so….pick up, Hillary, I know you’re there…uh, I need to talk to you so…call me….please….ok, bye…