A month ago, I would have flunked a social studies pop quiz that included the question: Who is the governor of Alaska?
Frankly, I had no idea and probably would have scribbled something stupid.
Now, of course, there are many correct answers to this question. Here are a few:
n Sarah Palin.
n The woman whom John McCain, in a shameless gesture to entice Hillary supporters, picked to be his vice-presidential running mate on the Republican ticket.
n The hot chick standing beside a swimming pool wearing a red, white and blue bikini and holding a high-powered rifle.
I'm sure that some of these pictures are fake, created by liberal Photoshop wizards. But it didn't take long for photos of Gov. Palin to start popping up in e-mail inboxes all over the world. If Al Gore did indeed invent the Internet, he must be pleased that Democrats are using it to such lengths.
The first one I received was obviously a party photo. There's the governor of Alaska standing in a kitchen with a glass of wine on the counter, showing plenty of cleavage in her light blue blouse and plenty of leg in her short, tight black skirt. Oh, and she's wearing black, spiked high heels to complete the outfit.
I realize it's the latest trend now for politicians to appear on Leno and Letterman. However, it might be more appropriate for Gov. Palin to schedule her first television appearance with Stacy and Clinton on "What Not to Wear."
Another image of Gov. Palin is actually a T-shirt. The front of the shirt has two pictures: one showing Ms. Palin sighting down the scope of what looks like an M-16 rifle, and the other - a more candid, relaxed moment - showing her leaning up against a full-dresser Harley-Davidson.
The caption underneath the two photos reads, "Machine guns and motorcycles: Hell, Yeah!"
If you think I'm making fun of John McCain's vice-presidential choice, you're right. But I also think it was a brilliant move by a guy who needed a political lift. In fact, I don't think Sen. McCain could have chosen a better running mate.
Face it, Democrats can secretly distribute all the embarrassing pictures of Sarah Palin they want, but they can't publicly make fun of her. She has an unmarried, pregnant daughter, but they can't question her parenting skills. If the Democrats breathe one word of criticism about her character, it will backfire. If the media ask tough questions, they will be seen as bullies.
In one fell swoop, Sen. McCain has put Democratic candidates Barack Obama and : er : oh, you know, that guy who's his running mate : Joe something or other : on the defensive.
Anyway, millions of women voters are disappointed that Hillary Clinton didn't gain the Democratic nomination. The Republicans offered them a viable alternative.
Gov. Palin may not have the political pedigree of Mrs. Clinton, but neither does she carry Hillary's political baggage, which includes a former president of a husband who so lusts for another crack at occupying the White House that he seemed determined to shove his wife down our throats.
It remains to be seen whether Gov. Palin's presence on the ticket is enough to sway huge chunks of voters to the Republican camp. But at least for now, everybody's buzzing about Sen. McCain's candidacy.
Just a month ago, he was in danger of being an afterthought and an also-ran.
Steve Booher's column runs on Monday.
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momswisher says...
This states that "millions of women voters are disappointed that Hillary Clinton didn't gain the Democratic nomination".??? Well just as many of us ,women, are NOT disappointed at all. Thrilled might be a better word.
September 8, 2008 at 12:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
and you perhaps preferred the mannish pantsuits worn by sen clinton? i do not like the igloo trash look any more than the cover-up- my-cankles effort. thank goodness the clothes don't make the woman. just please someone hide palin's teasing comb.............
September 8, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dsbsh says...
I like how you slipped in the "Al Gore claimed he invented the internet" comment. Because of media repetition without bothering to check the facts, that whopper has become folklore, and today candidates like Gov. Palin feel free to make lies the centerpiece of their political strategy. She says she told Congress "thanks but no thanks to the Bridge to Nowhere." That's a lie, period, but it's central to the myth of 'Palin the Reformer.' Democrats should definitely drop the infantile photoshopping and focus on stuff like this, but perhaps the media might actually look at the facts too. Focusing on the sideshow is a poor excuse for not doing your job.
September 8, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
comment says...
I have been through many of these election circuses and as usual get pretty burned out the last couple months as I'm sure others do. This is the first time I'm actually excited about the political three ring circus. I'm stocking up on popcorn and beer cause the fun is just starting. Let the mud start flying!
September 8, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
The former president wanted to shove WHAT down WHOSE throat?
September 8, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
heritage_sarahhochschwender says...
grimjack, amend that comment to " not many ....women will think"....... not only democrats are capable of making this judgement. as for sen clinton, i am not a fan of hers, but at least she is POST menopausal. nothing more frightening than the image of a menopausal woman in the throes of a big ole hot flash . just what this country needs....... mood swings.
September 8, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suzyQ says...
Just wanted to point out in case anyone are gallup poll watchers, McCain took a 4 pt lead over Obama today. Looks like picking Palin DID help and may be a little underestimated. Well anyways that is that, I can't say that I am a poll watcher, because noone ever polled me...where do they get there numbers anyways?
How I wish I could be in Lees Summit today for some campaigning. :)
September 8, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suzyQ says...
Good one grim...:-) We could wave at each other-but only in a nice way, LOL.
I would definitely have to stop at Macaroni Grill or something before leaving!!
September 8, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suzyQ says...
Looks like it is anybody's game with the toss up electoral votes. Where is Fl leaning? Usually whoever gets Fl gets the big white casa.
September 8, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
suzyQ .. some nice photos from the O'Fallon rally at:
http://entertainment.webshots.com/alb...
September 8, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RH says...
Well, suzyQ, yes, I was watching as McCain went up 4 points...of course this would happen, the RNC just had their convention. Same thing happened the week after the DNC had their convention...Obama went ahead in the polls. I agree with comment, this is going to be something to watch this year. But for any of you who are political novices, don't get to hung up on polls. The ups and downs, back and forths of percentages will go until the last vote is counted. Besides, all of these polls have a +/- 5% error built in....
September 8, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KAS says...
Don't put too much faith in the post-convention polls. For the first week or two after a convention ends, there is always a spike in the polls. Obama took a much larger lead after the Democratic convention was over. Wait until the end of the month after the post-convention bliss ends for both parties and the polls may be a bit more accurate.
I don't know how you are so lucky to not get polled. We get calls all the time. Maybe it is because we are registered Independents so we are more likely to be supporting a candidate we feel strong about than a registered member of a certain party who may be more inclined to vote on party lines instead of issues.
(grimjack-are you saying that it is a good thing that the US is lucky that Alaska doesn't carry a lot of weight in elections?)
September 8, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
Alaska and Delaware both have three electoral college votes so it is a tie as to which VP candidate's state carries the most weight.
September 8, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
Can't do without Alaska. Where would we get Eskimo Pies?
September 8, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suzyQ says...
Yeah I know that the convention usually causes a spike, I was mainly pointing it out because alot of people were saying Palin was going to ruin McCain's race, and so far...knock on wood...it is off to a good start. I also think that this just might be a first time McCain actually took the lead albeit mostly in a dead heat and like you said with a margin error...who knows.
I'm not registered for Dem or Repub either. I really hate in the primaries you have to pick, because I have people on both sides of the fence I want to vote for (here locally that is). Don't worry I don't put too much faith in the polls, I was just mentioning.
Revoke Alaska's statehood? I think it looks like an interesting place to visit. Much more so than Delaware. I just added that to my "someday" list! LOL.
Oh I get prerecorded calls, ignore them or hangup. If I get too irritated I might just vote the opposite just because they kept bugging me. No one calling and polling though. Sigh.
Wrightwinger thanks for the pics, I plan to look at them again and pretend I was there :). I guess I just miss the boat on finding out when they come because I really would have tried to go today if I had known.
September 8, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suzyQ says...
Ninja - I was just about to ask where you were today? Where is your cohort spy? Come out come out whereever you are :)
"the state of alaska is one big conspiracy... we all better watch out."
Do you THINK this or do you KNOW this? wink wink secret ninja spy stuff.
I want to go on an Alaskan Cruise!
September 8, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
working_Mom says...
I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise!
September 8, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
Best Alaska movie was 'Edge' where the big Kodiak bear tears Alec Baldwin into bite-sized pieces. Couldn't happen to a nicer Hollywood lib.
September 8, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
Baldwin also advocated stoning Congressman Henry Hyde to death and going to the homes of Republicans and killing their wives and children. He is nutty enough to only fit into the lib label.
September 8, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
I didn't call Baldwin a dem, I called him a lib. I even have a few friends that are dems, but they aren't like Alec Baldwin and I don't consider them libs, just a little misguided. And yes, there are a few like David Duke that the media tries to identify with our side, but we don't claim them as conservatives.
September 8, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Wright_Winger says...
You missed the nuance. There can be a difference between some reps and conservatives just as there is between some libs and dems. And ninja is wrong, duke was an Albanian spy.
September 8, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )