MyDD :: Drill Here and Drill Now: Ignore palin

Drill Here and Drill Now: Ignore palin

by MMR2, Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 07:56:37 PM EST

Every minute we spend debating palin's misstatements at the RNC and her missteps in Alaska is one minute we don't spend whacking John McCain on his own plethora of misstatements at the RNC and missteps everywhere.

Here is a simple sentence we all need to drill here, and drill now, deep into our brains: We are running against John McCain, not sarah palin.

We are running against John McCain, not sarah palin.

What is absolutely unacceptable is our utter loss of focus in the last week, since McCain's announcement of his #2 pick. That's right: I'm no longer going to name her. She is John McCain's #2 pick; meaning, this is about John McCain. Get it?

As often as I disagreed with Arianna Huffington throughout the primary season, we certainly agree about the issue of John McCain's #2 pick:

Forget worrying about the economy or health care or the housing crisis -- think about how many people live in Wasilla, whether Bristol and Levi will live happily ever after, and if Sarah and her "First Dude" really want Alaska to secede from the union.

This is why the McCain campaign wants Palin front and center -- did you notice how much time McCain spent during the speech praising Palin and how quickly the celebratory post-speech music shifted from "Raisin' McCain" to "Barracuda"?

And it's why Democrats need to ignore Palin, and keep the focus on reminding voters about the stark contrast between an Obama and a McCain administration. It's tempting to prime the Palin attack pump. But Obama and the Democrats do so at their own peril.

Furthermore, as I have said before, any debate about the lack of experience of McCain's #2 pick will inevitably bring the focus to the lack of experience of our #1 pick. As unprecedented as the inexperience of McCain's #2 pick is, that is not what we need to drill.

Instead, Drill here and drill now: We are running against John McCain, not McCain's #2 pick.

This is our election to lose...and our choice to run against McCain's #2 pick is one way to do it.

Tags: John McCain, Sarah Palin (all tags)

Permalink :: 12 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Drill Here and Drill Now: Ignore Palin (none / 0)

Well, I think the press and the blogosphere are making it Palin vs Obama.

The Evangelicals certainly are?

I think Obama/Biden are focused on the electorate.

Good idea that.

On Nov 4th, we elected "the smart guy" and the world celebrated!

by WashStateBlue on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:00:18 PM EST

Re: Drill Here and Drill Now: Ignore Palin (none / 0)

It seems a losing strategy to make their presidential candidate secondary to the VP. But maybe they've decided McCain is so lame they're going to lose anyway.

by Alobama on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:34:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

too late. (2.00 / 1)

but the irony of arianna's post is laughable - its palin all day all the time there.... didnt they start the eagleson timer? haha.

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:04:38 PM EST

Re: too late. (none / 0)

hey canadian gal...remember your comment on my diary a month ago about your sneaking suspicion?

My sneaking suspicion is...you were right.

by MMR2 on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:08:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

yeah. (none / 0)

and its really too bad. the problem with democrats is that they continually underestimate the GOP. you know - my message to party can be encapsulated in the following image:

you're doing it wrong.

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:27:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yeah. (none / 0)

Okay. So between me and you (any kind of worry/concern is seen as anathema and trollery on this site and most), where do you think our odds stand right now?

Intrade has had Obama at a 60% chance of winning, McCain 40%. Especially since the Palin pick, I have the same prediction--reversed. I do think that Democrats have underestimated our opponent's (more hidden) strengths and overestimated our nominee's weaknesses all along; and thats precisely why I supported Hillary.

At the very least, I think it is very hard to argue against our prospects being no better than a coin flip right now. And that is a very, very depressing thing.

by MMR2 on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 09:36:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

well ANYTHING can happen... (none / 0)

in the next 60 days... but i think that your prediction is pretty good. BE made an interesting point - that if the GOP bounce is higher than the Dems - historically that is an indication that they will win. but this cycle has definitely not adhered to historic precedent - so who knows.

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 10:05:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yeah. (none / 0)

correction: i meant underestimated on both fronts. and you're right, anything can happen. it's just that this is the sort of election we shouldn't even have to cross our fingers for.

by MMR2 on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 10:22:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Drill Here and Drill Now (none / 0)

Actually, I've seen some indications on some of the web sites of disaffected Hillary supporters that Palin may be making a difference to some Democrats who could delude themselves that McCain is a harmless choice, but when faced with bare naked fundamentalism in the form of Governor Palin, may make the choice to hold their noses and vote the Democratic ticket.

So, I think it's both; McCain is a terrible choice and Palin reinforces that tenfold. Both storylines have their effects.

by mady on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:27:31 PM EST

Re: Drill Here and Drill Now: Ignore palin (2.00 / 1)

I liked those bozos at the convention with that printed on their hardhats. I took it as a personal challenge.

I might be crazy... but are you seeing what I'm seeing?

by mydailydrunk on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 08:36:56 PM EST

Re: Drill Here and Drill Now: Ignore palin (none / 0)

Isn't it some kind of political truism that the VP is not supposed to outshine the person at the top of the ticket? Clearly that's the case here. Does anyone else here think John McCain's campaign is about to become completely subsumed by the cult of Sarah Palin? How long before she's calling all of the shots, or at least challenging McCain's strategies? There's no way they can keep someone as ruthlessly ambitious as Palin under wraps for very long.

When's the last time you heard of a presidential candidate riding his VP's coattails to victory? Seriously, has that ever happened?

by Will Graham on Fri Sep 05, 2008 at 11:41:19 PM EST

Re: Drill Here and Drill Now: Ignore palin (none / 0)

I think Palin needs to be destroyed. But using facts. Forget the experience crap. I have been one of the few who thought she wasnt a crazy choice. But I am also one of those saying that we need to destroy this woman. But not at the cost of ignoring McCain.

Palin has made enough misstatements that Obama's campaign can take a cue from the Daily Show and make a series of ads portraying Palin's dishonest statements.

As far as the oil issue, I beieve the obama people fucked it up early on. How about this? Sure, we can explore drilling as long as it meets criteria where the benefits of output exceeds the environmental harm. That option is on the table. Hey, if Obama is going to sell out on the middle east(saw his lame performance on O Reilly regarding the surge question), I wont have a problem with saying he doesnt have a problem with driling.

by Pravin on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 03:21:57 AM EST

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