McCain’s V.P. pick: What if…
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/01/art.jindal.jpg caption="Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal"]
David M. Reisner
AC360° Digital Producer
As Hurricane Gustav pounds Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal has stood strong, holding press conferences every day since the threat increased in the warm Gulf waters.
He is stationed at the command center in Louisiana’s capitol, Baton Rouge.
Up until a few days ago he was on the short list for a potential promotion to the nation’s capitol as Sen. McCain’s “second in command.”
Widely considered a rising star in his party, speculation on Jindal as McCain’s V.P. choice increased this summer when he was one of a handful of politicians McCain invited to his home in Arizona.
The nation’s youngest governor is a staunch social conservative who could have possibly offset any reservations Republicans had about McCain’s conservative credentials.
Jindal will spend this week protecting his citizens, and the nation will become more familiar with the face behind a name.
Although Jindal is in the hot seat, he is also in the spotlight; it’s a spotlight that was supposed to be focused on another young Republican governor.
We all now know that Alaska’s Sarah Palin was McCain’s surprise pick as a running mate. This was the week where she was to introduce herself to the nation on the convention floor in St. Paul, as the young Washington outsider ready to take on the nation's tough challenges.
But first we're seeing the governor of Louisiana lead his state through the challenge posed by Gustav.
So far we’ve seen Gov. Jindal address the nation more than the Republican presidential candidate; we have already seen him briefing President Bush, working closely with FEMA, and planning a strategy with Department of Homeland Security’s Michael Chertoff.
If Jindal succeeds it will show the nation that a Republican governor with little experience in Washington can help manage a disaster, and rally a nation.
...just the thing McCain was looking for.
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Filed under: David M. Reisner • Hurricane Gustav • Raw Politics |
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So far, I'm not very impressed with Palin. McCain's time was 8 years ago when he made the mistake of running an honorable campaign against the slimy GWB and K. Rove. He could've had several more qualified people (man or woman). I think this choice will seal his fate.
As a Mom of a handicapped Child myself, I applaud Ms. Palin choice to have give birth to her son and choose to raise him. However what is seldom mentioned is that this lady had a choice and so had her pregnant daughter. And it is this choice that she and thousand like her want to deny other women, who because of personal c
ircumstances may not be able to wachoose the y Ms .Palin did.
Pro-choice Michigan Mom
No matter who becomes the next president, I just want all Americans to close their eyes to race and look at the grave issues facing this country. Just pretend that both candidates are neither black nor white, but the same color "blue". Then weigh their agendas in getting our country back to where it needs to be both on the homefront and internationally. Now after you have done that honestly, you can make your decision. I just don't want people basing their vote on color instead of the real issues. I hear too many people bringing up all kinds of excuses not to vote for someone, but could it be because of that person's skin color? And please never start a sentence..."I am not a racist or prejudiced...but..." That alwas speaks volumes. Just be honest with yourself.
Anderson, give me a break on the sexism. Man or woman, a parent's decision to run for such a high-profile office thrusts their entire family into the national spotlight. Palin had to know that an enormous amount of attention would fall on her daughter, yet she chose to subject her daughter to that scrutiny in the name of personal ambition. If it was a man in the same situation, who was running on family values, you bet they'd get the same treatment.
Does McCain's pick of Sarah Palin remind anyone else of George Bush's pick of Harriett Myers for the Suprem Court. Yes, the motives are different. Bush's was cronyism which doesn't apply to McCain. Still, the desperate selling of inexperience has a familiar ring.
News flash for those who admire Sarah Palin for 'turning down' the $223 million for the 'Bridege to Nowhere.' She got to keep the money, even though she didn't build the bridge. Alaska just spent it on other transportation projects. So she really didn't save any money.
Sarah Palin gets no sympathetic support from me. She opened herself up for this when she accepted John McCain's offer. Now let the chips fall where they may. She is certainly no Hillary Clinton. I think it's an insult to even compare her to Hillary. McCain once again has proven that he did not thoroughly check this woman out. He only met her once! She may be a good person, but this is clearly not her season for such a position.
Need everybody to google Alaskan Independence Party, which Palin was an active member of before and during her Mayoral term in Wasilla. AIP advocates secession from the US, taking back all federal lands, and keeping their oil and gas for their sovereign nation. Seems they thought the "Occupying troops" got to vote on whether or not Alaska became a state, so they think it was not legal.
She was no Hockey Mom, joining the PTA and then becoming political, she was political first in the AIP. after googling the AIP, find all of the youtube videos of Palin addressing the native american population groups, the Calgary meetings, the AIP secessionists meetings. You'll find out what Palin really is.
In my opinion, this was a terrible choice for McCain. This election should be more than just about winning especially with the country in the turmoil that it is in. McCain selection was about picking a "pretty young woman" that will sway Senator's Clinton's supporters to jump on his bandwagon. I was a supporter of McCain's but you can not tell me that Governor Palin could step in immediately as President of this country should something happen to him. Was this really the best qualified candidate he could have chosen? I don't think so.
This was supposed to be a dialogue about Gov. Jindal handling Gustav. He was professional in handling a rather run-of-the-mill hurricane. For all the talk of "storm of the century" from a press hoping for a Republican embarrassment, Gustav hardly measures up to Katrina or Hugo, much less Andrew. I fail to see how Gustav and Jindal have anything to do with Palin other than someone trying to make a story out of nothing.
Even though I am strong Clinton Supporter, I would have voted for John McCain. However with the pick of Palin I just don't see that happening now. I would really like to see a break down of this Republican ticket so a new VP candidate could be selected. I don't think that Palin was a good selection.
One unexpected thing out of the Palin situation–I have to say something positive about G W Bush–he was more qualified when elected than she is.
God bless her courage and her integrity. Boy, our country can sure use these qualities in leadership. May Sarah Palin and her family withstand all the negative comments about them. I pray the McCain/Palin ticket is successful.
Biden seems more qualified than Palin, but all the candidates seem more qualified than obama, and at the end of the day he is the guy on the top of the democratic ticket....
I am amazed at how many women are attacking this woman (Palin) for taking on her job and not staying home with her children. As a stay- at-home dad, I thought we had put these idea to bed. What about her husband? Doesn't he have any responsibility to help care for the children? Why can't he care for the new baby? And as someone who has at least on teenager in my extended family get pregnant, trust me – it happens all the time.
This whole election is terrifying. There are no good choices, whatsoever. I personally think the country should split up, soon. The parties will never live in peace, and it will only get worse with time. I cannot sit in the same room as my ultra-liberal brother-in-law at family events. We have split the family into two seperate groups, and we have our own holiday parties, based on who we want there. I see this in the workplace, as well. The days of unity in this country are forever over, and it is time to face it. Other countries have been formed\split over a lot less.
I tell you what, Gov Jindal is definitely making himself look good...
I'm amazed by the few comments from women who seem to be happy to just see a woman on the ticket – no matter how bad the choice. Maybe they would have been happy even if Eva Braun was alive to be a choice (for those who actually know anything about politics and don't just vote based on the color of someone's skin, their gender, whether they're cute, or what religion they practice – you'll know that was Hitler's wife). It is people like that which make me think a Democracy doesn't work unless the majority of people are intelligent. Sadly, with the last two elections, and the fact that people would even consider 4 more years of incompetence because they naively buy the Republican scare tactics and bible thumping, I'm questioning whether the majority of Americans are smart enough to be given this responsibility. I have spent my life working to help communities and trying to help others. For the first time, I'm beginning to wonder why. Maybe I should have just sold my soul to the devil while praising God, and bought more houses than I could remember I owned. I could really have lived high off the hog by then picking a hypocrite as my business partner, and manipulating the weak-minded masses to give me more wealth and power. Alas, I can't – and I just pray to God that he forgives our foolishness and people will come around before we become yet another "once glorious" country that is weakened to the point that we have lost any real clout on the world stage.
I love McCain pick! As a former independent turned republican, small female business owner – I say again, I just love it. Palin – YOU GO GIRL!!!! Palin style is like mine – I'm 44 too! As a side perk sometimes your unawareness of everything you step into make you FEARLESS and she's FEARLESS. I heard want she ACCOMPLISHED in the short period of time and I love it!!!
I hate Obama sense of reality – I wasn't exited about McCain before, but now I am! I hear she be a great fund raiser via thru support of the oil and gas industry too! So she can bring it to the table!
If Jindal were on the ticket, Democrats wouldn't be acting like Christmas came early. They'd be nervous. As it stands, everyone's worrying about 72-year old, 4-time cancer survivor McCain might kick the bucket and leave Sarah Palin to watch over the big red button. As much as Tucker Bonds might (hilariously) try to equate being Gov. of Alaska for less than a term to experience running a military, the people of the US are not stupid. They will vote for Obama whether they like him or not – it's just irresponsible to leave open the very real possibility that Sarah Palin could be president.
Sorry, but when your name enters the political arena at this level, you are subject, unfortunately or not, to intense scrutiny of yourself, your family, your associations, your beliefs, and your past. This is probably why a lot of qualified people would never consider running for president or VP, which is sad. Do I think it should be this way, no, but that is the way it has become. Were we to apply the present standards, most likely most of our past presidents would never have qualified. Palin has presented herself as a champion of the far right and espoused evangelical views, so I think when cracks in the facade are discovered, as they invariably would and will be, it is now fair game.
Palin was active in the Alaskan Independence Party, an organization that advocates Alaska's seceding from the Union! The group is trying to infiltrate major political parties (hence Palin's entry into the Republican party).
HOW CAN PALIN be Vice-President if she doesn't want to be an American?
I admire John McCain for picking a woman, although his candidate was a disastrous pick. I am not so much concerned about Palin's private life. Her inexperience is frightening. But her AIP involvement is unforgivable. I think anyone who is vice-president, and hence a heartbeat from the Presidency, must at least love the country.
I'm a centrist. For the first time, I like both candidates (and I would have been happy with Hillary too). Had McCain picked Lieberman, I might have voted for him. I'm sure Palin is a capable person but I can't get over the fact that her limited experience is in state government in one of the most remote and least populated states. Bush's experience was limited to state government and look where that got us.
When a woman who has an unwanted pregnancy decides to keep a child I can understand why many believe this was a positive choice for the child's sake. But when that same woman, in this case a 17 year old child herself, chooses to keep that child and pretend to be at all prepared to create a home for that child to live and grow in, this is not pro-life AT ALL. This decision is a terrible assault on an unborn baby's life. Every child deserves a home where they are wanted, where the people who will be parenting them are prepared for this enormous task in many different ways... ways that no 17 year old can ever step up to. So let's be clear, there is little to celebrate when a woman chooses to selflessly keep the baby of an unwanted pregnancy only to turn around and choose the next worst possible thing for the child by refusing to give that child a complete, loving home which the adoption option offers any child born into that circumstance. Sarah Palin appears proud of her daughter's choices regarding the unwanted child. This reveals a person who really doesn't understand or care about what really is best for children. She may be anti-abortion but she IS NOT PRO-LIFE. To be truly PRO-LIFE, one must give children the best possible options for life.
Why is it that there are about a dozen comments on here that sounding EXACTLY like the comments on a number of other message boards about Sarah Palin? Are people constantly cruising these message boards using fake names and fake email addresses but repeating the same thing?
As far as I have been able to tell, most of the messages from people supporting Obama sound unique. The messages supporting Palin sound repeated. There are a few unique sounding Palin messages and I can respect your arguments even though I disagree with them.
I do not believe being mayor of a town pop. 6,000 has any merit. I was a member of student government at my univeristy which had about 20,000 students....3 times that amount of Wassalia. As soon as Palin becomes Governor of Alaska (smaller than Chicago!) she's involved in a scandal. Also you have to honestly take in to consideration she has a 13 week old child and will have a baby grandchild who her daughter who is not even an adult herself will be asking for assistance. Thats a recipe for disaster and am not willing to take that risk.
Obama has experience working within the community of Chicago, pop. 7,000,000 dealing with issues with the steel plants and more. He has been overseas and is well respected among Americans, our allies, and our enemies.
Also judgment is more important than experience and Obama has shown over and over again his judgment is far superior to McCain and/or Palin.
We cant risk havin Palin as CoC when McCain suffers a fatal health issue.
I have decided not to vote at all. I am fifty years old and have come to the conclusion that human beings have no business governing themselves. I guess I will let those who think otherwise choose. I will feel less guilt by staying out of it.
well...here we go again. the party that insisted on bringing you a moron president that you "could have a beer with". is now insisting that having a vp with a degree in journalism, who loves running around the woods with an ak47 and is the model of the modern women with family values (even though her own daughter apparently didn't buy her abstinence garbage) is the way to go this time around.
little rebecca of sunnybrook farm should take her dysfunctional family and go back to alaska
The suggestion in your commentary that because a Louisina Governor is managing Gustav that perhaps Palin isn't far off the mark and can indeed, be a good choice for VP is simply ridiculous. Palin is not even halfway through her first term as Governor and although it is reported that she has a 80% favorable rating, I managed to find the opposite – straight from the mouths of Alaskans that her approval rating dropped to 68% AND that the only reason she won the governsgip in Alaska is because the man before her was abhorred by nearly the entire Alaskan population and she was the only one running against him. Naturally, she won. Alaska is 1/30th the size of many congressional districts in other states when you look at the population. In fact, in state stats there is 1.1 person per mile in Alaska. Come on! Get a brainwave.
I could not agree with Sabina anymore. I was planning on voting for McCain, and I think I'll vote for Obama at this point.
The pick of Palin illustrates the lack of judgment on McCain's part. PTA experience is not executive experience that prepares you to be the VP. Having a law degree from Harvard is a little more applicable.
Seriously. Sarah Palin has no place as VP (let alone President).
It's funny to see how people are so sure of things. How people are so "sure" Palin was picked as a blatant attempt to pander to women. How people are so "sure" of her inexperience. How people are so "sure" Palin can't manage her home life. I'm not saying she was a wise pick, but it's funny how there are so many experts all of a sudden. It's easier to listen to network "analysts" than take the extra time to dig a little deeper.
As for the arguements about McCain's judgement and her daughter's pregnancy, it's funny how Bill Clinton's judgement in the Monica Lewinsky was somehow "okay". Wasn't that a personal matter, like a lot of people cried at the time?
Anyway... it all makes for a great international reality show the rest of the world can tune into.
im sorry but i have to say this. Any women who is voting for McCain because he choose a woman as VP should move out of the country or not vote at all. I can can understand if you support McCain on the issues but wanting to him to be president because he picked a female is so stupid. i guess you all wouldve voted for someone like tyra banks if she had ran just becasue she was a women. for the love of god before you go spouting off stupid stuff about how its a womens turn to be in office (and i agree i was for hillary) look at the facts. she is a female version of john. allowing yourselves to be swayed because McCain picked Pallin is absolute stupidity on so many levels that it kind of makes me want to kill myself knowing that some one can change their mind because something they want instead of something thats good for all of us.
I for one, like Governer Palin's politics, but get one thing straight; The Republican spin machine is working full time on this one.
More executive experience than Obama? Perhaps...but 18 months as Governer of an oil rich state during an oil boom, who wouldn't have a high approval rating. It is easy to reduce taxes and increase services when the state coffers are filled with oil tax revenue.
Her previous experience? Running the town of Wasilla, AK. Here are some of the Wasilla facts; Population 6,700. Staff 117. Budget $12.7MM. This makes her qualified to lead the largest economy in the world and become commander in chief of the world's largest armed forces? Sorry I don't think it does.
This reads like a bad Hollywood script, where some average Joe/Jane is taken off the streets and invited to join a presidential ticket. I am sure that Governer Palin is a capable woman, but this does not make her ready to lead and puts great doubt in the decision making capabilities of Senator McCain.
He had my vote before last week, but should Governer Palin become president in her first term as VP, we will have no idea who will be leading this country.
Hear me out....Obama was voted in.....Palin was not, she was picked for the obvious reasons, not because she is quailfied, only because it makes McCann look good. That is typical B.S. politics.
Palin has a wonderful family, three young children that will need her to be a mother. She has a great job in Alaska that affords her to be a mother, wife, and still have a career. The fact that she accepted this Veep job makes me wonder if she makes rational decisions.
What next????
Just thinking out loud ..... Whats wrong with America and what have you done to change it?
Palin is his choice. Make the best of it. I already see the anchors ripping the RNC reps apart trying to get an answer about her foreign experience. I would say it is looking pretty bad.
If he does decided to go with another VP, it is political suicide.
Here is what I see, If the phone rings at 3 AM, will the president say, ......"Let me think"....OK, "unilateral negotiations"........ah "UNICEF"....ah....".hold on"..."er"....."no wait"....."send cruise missles"....."no no"....." lets mobilize the national guard on the border of Iraq/Pakistan". There is a hurricane where?
I am not being sarcastic here. There is some serious SH** this guy can get us into and God foirbid if anything happens to him, can Palin run with the ball.
McCain lost my vote for 1 simply reason....he lied. He picked Sarah Palin to win...not what was in the best interest of the country. I saw an interview where he said something like....I will pick a VP that can step in day 1. How can someone ex-Military who really knows what we face domestically and internationally feel this way?
Sad news is I am a Republican but simply can't take the lies any longer. You were wrong about Iraq and won't admit it. You were wrong to pick Sarah Palin and won't admit it. If you think I am an idiot you won't be getting my vote.
I think there are millions of people like me (life long republicans) who have simply had enough.
Earlier, a poster named Bonnie said, "I see serious issues with Sarah Palin – mostly, how is she going to be able to focus and spend the time on the vital issues of this nation as is required of a vice president while dealing with all the emotional issues of her daughter’s situation as well as her own of having a Down’s Syndrome child not yet even a year old? "
Why, Bonnie? What if were Obama's daughter that was pregnant & Obama also had a small baby of his own? Would you be saying the same? Somehow, I think not. Obama does have two little children of his own. ALL families go thru emotional times, including Obama, Biden, McCain & Palin. Don't single her out in this.
Some of these comments are simply amazing!
Palin has a 17-year old ,unmarried daughter who is pregnant, and people are gloating about her. Is she the role model for our country? Where are the family values that the Republicans are flouting.
Some of you actually like the fact that she graduated from University of Bah Humbug instead of an Ivy league school ... that's ... didn't we already have 8 years of not-so-smart Pres and VP... do you really feel comfortable only if you have a President with a low IQ ... may be this idea of giving everyone the right to vote may not be a good things after all ...
As much as I respect Senator McCain’s service to the U.S. – and I mean that, having grown up during Vietnam – this candidacy is a sad legacy for him. Palin isn’t a “Hail Mary” pass. It’s a desperate and clumsy attempt by an old man to prove he gets it (i.e., women have the same smarts as men). Choose anyone – qualified and vetted or not – as long as it’s a woman. Oops.
This Republican ticket absolutely personifies the Republican values we've come to love: Grossly out of touch with reality and, like so many self-proclaimed "Christian" leaders... "Do as I say, not as I do."
In particular, a woman who puts her political ambitions ahead of family says volumes for the party of family values. She virtually abandoned – within days – a Down's Syndrome baby who needs her attention. And, as any Psych 101 student could tell you, a daughter who, consciously or not, becomes pregnant to finally get Mom's attention.
The Palin family off limits? A nice sentiment I wish could be true for Bristol’s sake. But under the circumstances it's not going to happen. And, all the Gov. Palin had to say was, "No thank you. I have more pressing family obligations." What we're likely to see instead is a highly-choreographed dance of classic (and pitiful) denial…and a shotgun wedding.
This is a family and mother who need some serious intervention and counseling. Republicans want to put someone with this kind of very questionable judgment and priorities a heartbeat away from the presidency? And when will she finally succumb to a meltdown?
Has anyone ever declined the nominsation for VP?
Given that Jindal was a runner up but not the THE BEST pick for VP, shows the star power of Sarah Palin. Democrats are simply doing all they can to lambast Palin because she's GOP and dems don't have a woman on the ticket. Plenty of room for both Jindal and Palin and others in the McCain Whitehouse!
I love sitting here and watching all of you CARVILLE clones who think Biden over Palin is a win. Joe Biden was very vocal about Sadaam and his quest for WMD's long before George Bush invaded Iraq. So was Clinton, Reid, Pelosi, and a bunch of other Democrats who are now totally burying it. But its all available in archives of Meet The Press. Carville, on Meet The Press this morning, as much as said that Palin had no experience but Obama had plenty. Excuse me, but Palin has been a Mayor and a Governor while Obama has been a candidate. Obama has never done anything. First he savaged his fellow Democrats and now they are going after a woman. Yep, nothing more moronic than a DEMOCRAT. Hope you all enjoy the tax hikes if those losers should happen to win.
Has anyone ever declined the nomination for VP? Now would be a good time.
McCain switching to Jindel now would look ridiculous. If he had done it earlier, he would be looking good right now. But by switching, he would look indecisive and also people would be mad at how he treated poor Sarah. They may switch to someone else, but they are in a jam now no matter what. Wednesday will be the roll call, so we will find out then for sure. The republicans have made this bed for themselves, I say let them sleep in it.
Palin should decline the nomination for the good of the United States of America. She's a joke and is only making America look more ridiculous with each passing day.
This is insane!!! How do you people not see through this ridiculous choice! The GOP is soooo lucky this hurricane came along so they dont have to deal with the fact that they chose an extreme right wing, gun-toting, anti environmentalist, who denies global warming whose only significant experience in 18 months is attempting to bring a 30 billion dollar pipeline to alaska that wont be ready for almost a decade. I know the American people are mostly stupid because McCain believes that there's enough stupid women out there who will vote for him because his running mate is a woman. Shame on you!!! Shame on you single-issue Evangelicals who put all your eggs in the Pro-Life basket am ashamed of all these women and ignorant-tunnel-visioned Evangelicals who only see the "Pro-Life" issue and only see "life" in terms of abortion; nevermind the war, death from poverty, or lack of adequate healthcare. You've got your pro-life candidate but if your life is at stake some day because of a tough birth, Palin would rather you die over your baby. Shame on all you stupid "abstinence-only" eduction proponents. See what it did for her 17 year old daughter. This is a clear hail mary pass by a desperate candidate. And many of you will fall for it. Well, if you get your candidate, guess what? Your taxes will go up and I will get a nice fat refund! Hope you enjoy my rich behind making even more money. It's sad that I care more than you to vote for Obama so all you middle and poor class can give your money to me. Do you people not realize this? Maybe I should to Republican and make even more moola!
Palin so blatantly unqualified. I'm a woman, have worked for over 40 years and feel more qualified than her to run and no one ever considered me for VP. There are so many more qualified women than her. McCain is obviously slipping into senility at his age and she will take over as President. Scariest thing since the bombing of Pearl Harbour. Palin is like a soap opera; just has one crisis after another.
Good for Obama though. Cindy no match for Michelle. She looks good though on Johnny's arm so guess that's why he has Palin–more drama!!
As an independant voter, but an avid Bush (both) supporter, I was disappointed with McCain as the GOP choice. Remember, President Lincoln freed the slaves as a Republican. Admittedly, I had some leftover angst over McCain's reluctance to support Bush and the GOP in his Senate voting history. Then came the FORUM, and I am solid in my McCain support. Then, after building an anxiety over his impending choice of VP candidate, I noticed CNN's hint and keyed in Sarah's name on Google to find an overwhelming support for her selection. She is everything I hoped for, but didn't dare expect. The more I see her in action, the more I approve of her choice. For you young Democrats,there's a lesson to be learned in how that junior Senator from Missouri (VP Harry Truman) rose to the occasion when he assumed the Presidency after the death of our beloved FDR, and became a GREAT President.. If you love your country enough to feel a sense of responsibility for all those who lack our good fortune and freedoms, do yourself a favor and study the qualifications of all candidates before showing your ignorence by bashing those who deserve better.