The first rule of holes
Regarding McCain and his choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate:
At times like these it would be good to remember the first rule of holes: When you’re in one, stop digging.
I’m guessing she’ll quit within the next 24 hours, saying she realizes it would be best for her family (and honestly, could you argue with that?). Any other guesses?
{I take no credit for the first-rule-of-holes reference. Heard it elsewhere.}
[UPDATED TO ADD/CONFESS:] And why do I even care about this? It’s embarrassing how much time I spent on the Internet today, reading all sorts of news blogs–and why? Does it really make any difference to my life if the baby is really the daughter’s and the mom is covering it up? WHO CARES? And why is my fascination with it any different than other people’s fascination with Britney Spears’s antics? Blech. Going to stop it right now.
I almost deleted this post, but I might as well own up to my rubber-necking behavior. Sorry to involve you guys–although I was really into having a juicy conversation about it earlier today. Whatev. Must be the weather.
But I still liked reading what you had to say.
Okay, stopping now.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:11 am
My previous comment…the one in which I said I feel sorry for Palin because of the misogyny she’ll face? Now I feel sorry for ALL WOMEN and the misogyny we will face for McCain’s disastrous, ill-considered choice. This is an embarrassment*. When is the next time a woman will be on a national ticket now? What has this nomination (I blame McCain mostly) done to Hillary Clinton’s historic campaign? I am angry.
* Bristol is pregnant. Okay, things happen. What should not happen, however, is that your own mother will disclose your pregnancy to the nation to quell rumors. That is not okay. I find it abusive.
Moving on from the pregnancy, ’cause it’s not really any of my business, I couldn’t care less if the girl is pregnant. She’s not my daughter.
Palin is abusive. Moreover, she is/was a seccessionist. Add this all to the complete lack of experience and it’s a nightmare for women.
Aargh!! Even the NYT has debate going on “working mothers” on the first page.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 am
Kelly, I’m with you: I feel REALLY sorry for the daughter. This whole situation is one big gossip fest–something I’ve tried to stop participating in in my personal life, and yet because this is politics, I can’t seem to look away.
Part of it is that it gives such insight into McCain’s judgment and impulsive decision-making. He only met Palin the day–really, the hour–before he offered her the job? How is that fair to her, her family, his party, the country, etc.?
I really hope Palin has the sense to bow out, and soon. Just a few days in the public spotlight should show her this isn’t the best situation for her family at this time.
But I don’t really feel it’s a setback for women–which kind of surprises me. I understand what you’re saying, but I think in this case I see it as the problems of one particular woman, not women in politics in general. Hillary is the model, not this woman.
I see the bigger issue as being the man’s (McCain’s) judgment in selecting someone he didn’t know, merely because she fit some checklist of things he needed for the ticket. Booo to that.
Anyway, it just seems to get worse and worse. Hope she does the right thing and fades away soon.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
I completely agree. Ever since McCain announced Palin as his running mate, it has been a tabloid frenzy. It resembles more of a Britney Spears feel than a Presidential Election feel. I find so much information about Palin on sites like US Magazine.com or People.com that I don’t even need to go to New York Times or CNN. Personally, I don’t like McCain and if he dies in office, I don’t want this “conservative” lady taking his place. She is hiding a lot more skeletons in her closet and this is just the beginning.
If McCain did this to get the “woman vote”, getting a woman who has a pregnant teenage daughter to run with him is NOT the right person for the job. I mean, come on!
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
We’ve had eight years a president who proudly proclaimed that he trusted his gut more then his brain. A president who never did his homework.
The choice of Palin seems to be the product of the same sort of thinking.
We can not afford four more years of that kind of leadership.
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Shai, I second your “I mean, come on!” As for the rest of what you said, Word.
Herb, I agree 100%.
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I try to avoid political talk online like the plague,but since the dialog here has been rather civil,here’s my two cents on Palin:
I don’t agree with the lady’s politics but this whole thing with her daughter is not something that I believe she meant to make public,IMO. That revelation was due to some nasty rumors floating around the blogosphere about Palin’s new baby boy(who was born with Down’s Syndrome)not really being hers and that she was covering up for her daughter’s “secret” pregnancy.
As a person who has been taken as the mother of her younger sister(there’s a large gap in our ages)by strangers in public and even challenged on that,I can have some sympathy for the situation. Whether or not the daughter really wants to get married,have the baby,etc-that’s not an issue that I care to deal with. Those are private concerns and none of my beeswax.
What does concern me is the investigation into Palin’s possible abuse of her authority in trying to have her ex-brother-in-law fired and then firing someone else when that didn’t work out. I don’t want any person of any background as VP or President who has no qualms about using their position of power for some personal vendetta.
I don’t see either Palin or Hillary as role models for women in politics-the lady that comes to my mind first is Ann Richards,who talked tough and brooked no fools in the bargain.
That being said,I must confess that Ms. Palin does remind me a little of a character in Donnie Darko(I’m a bad person for this,I know):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouFnQTq6gNQ
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I promise to take more interest in Britney Spears when she is able to affect the troops in Iraq, our energy policy and the scientific process of ‘WOW, that was cool and complicated. In fact, too complicated for mere mortals to comprehend.’
To be fair to McCain, reports are that he wanted Lieberman or Ridge. I think they would have been better for his campaign if he was aiming for the middle, but see, Money, uh, I mean, party politics get involved….
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:10 pm
We would not be having this conversation if she were a man.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Oh, Lady T, Ann Richards! Loved her! Now there was a great political woman. Boy, don’t we miss her. And that Donnie Darko clip is funny!
Patrick, all that is true, and that’s what I told myself when I started down my Palin journey, but somewhere along the line I started taking just a little too much pleasure in all the chaos surrounding the choice. I’m not saying looking hard at the candidates isn’t appropriate–I would hope we all want to be fully informed–I’m just saying that my motives have become less than pure. It’s becoming more of a chocolate binge than good citizenship.
Heather, you’re probably right. Sigh. Although I still think if it were her husband up for the job (if he were governor instead of her), a lot of these issues would still seem pretty juicy. Hard for me to tell right now in my binge state.
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Sure we would, Heather. I’d be greatly entertained by anyone selected who is on record saying “I’m not even sure what the VP does everyday.”
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Patrick, you’re not helping me. I’m trying not to care. And yet when you say things like that–AARRGG!! Can you believe she said that about the VP job? Help! Please! This is insane! Are those people serious? Are they really going to continue down this road?
And there’s a video I want to post so badly, but I will resist.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I’m chiming in to say that I agree with Heather on the following: We wouldn’t be discussing whether or not it is right for Sarah Palin to be away from her newborn child or whether or not it is right for her to work as a Vice President if she were a man. That is true. That is why I am trying to stay away from those issues.
To be clear, in the caucusses, my first choice was Edwards (sigh! But, really, poverty is my #1 issue!), 2nd Obama, 3rd Clinton. But Clinton really impressed me over the course of her campaign and I grew to respect her as a person and politician.
However, as far as the personal and the political and men and women, just let me say this:
If Palin were a man, we’d still be discussing:
1. Trooper gate, or whatever we’re calling it
2. Secession. I mean, really.
3. Guns. Creationism. Abstinence.
4. No knowledge of the world. Period. She’s qualified ’cause she’s close to Russia? Um, I don’t think so.
Remember Dan Quayle? He was crucified for reasons much like 1-4.
Now on to the personal:
Who was absent from the Democratic Convention? John Edwards. Because he made horribly ill-advised personal decisions. He was a real candidate for VP, but the rumors were out there on the “liberal blogs” for at least a year. Obama was right to steer clear.
That being said…his message was very important. So, no, it doesn’t only happen to women. Attacks on personal issues happen to hypocrites.
(That being said: Palin should never be questioned for wanting to work and should never be questioned regarding her “success” as a mother. Men would never get that, it’s true.)
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Kelly, let’s add that she seems to stretch the truth (international travel? Her trip to Ireland turned out to be a brief aircraft refueling on the way to someplace else. Why lie about stupid stuff?). I know we’re all cynical and have come to expect lies from politicians, but I still keep hoping to find a few who tell the truth.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:02 am
For me, 1-4 is more than enough to discuss about her.
The rest is just funny/absurd.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:36 am
(That being said: Palin should never be questioned for wanting to work and should never be questioned regarding her “success” as a mother. Men would never get that, it’s true.)
And I have to say, that’s not true. There has been a pretty big hubbub in the NFL over the past few years in Philly, with some suggesting the coach should step down, due to his teenage children having legal/drug problems, people thought he should to spend more time parenting rather than coaching.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:51 am
I have no problem with investigation or discussion in regard to choices or comments made by Palin as a public servant. Yes, this would be standard if she were a man. But I do believe the degree of venom attached to her attacks is more so because she is a woman. And especially because she is a conservative woman.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Re Palin’s gender and the media reaction to it, one has to remember that all Mainstream Media is owned by men. And they ARE spinning sexism on purpose, to make her appear embattled and to make women fall for the myth that a vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for all women. We’re being manipulated. Again.
Did anyone notice that Cindy McCain thinks Creationism should be taught in schools? So does Palin.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/03/eveningnews/main4413606.shtml
September 5th, 2008 at 8:22 am
I don’t know, BJ. I think the whole gender thing is just a diversion. The fact is Palin has some radical ideas and has been pretty aggressive in her short time as mayor and then governor, and that stuff would be fair game whether she’s a woman or a man. It’s easy to cry “You’re picking on me because I’m a girl!” and try to keep people from looking at your record.
As for the creationism thing, we don’t need more enemies of science when there’s so much to be done in this world. Politicians aren’t the only ones who believe in God–it might shock them to learn that scientists do, too.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Perhaps I’m a fool rushing in where angels fear to tread, but I don’t find Palin that radical. I am a conservative, and I find her willingness to buck the status quo in Washington DC (and both parties are guilty in the status quo) refreshing.
Perhaps I’m misunderstanding, but the impression I’ve gotten with some of the comments I read here is that anyone who thinks this woman is a good choice is stupid. I disagree with Senator Obama’s ideas that involve an increase in a federal government that has already taken on far more than the Constitution says they should be doing, but I don’t think anyone who thinks differently is ignorant or evil. Why can’t conservatives be given the same benefit of the doubt?
September 5th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Hi, Laura. So nice to see you on the blog!
I was just having this conversation this morning with a friend who was saying he hates how people tend to demonize the other side, rather than admit good points when they’re made. So I understand your frustration.
And for the record, I thought Sarah Palin’s speech the other night was expertly-written and very well-delivered–she definitely got the job done. But I don’t think she’s in any way qualified to be President of the United States. I do think Hillary would have been, and I can think of some other women, both Republican and Democrat, that would be, but Sarah Palin doesn’t meet that standard in my eyes.
But if you think she does, I’m not going to say you’re stupid. I’m just going to say I disagree. And I don’t think anyone else on the blog is going to call you stupid, either. We’re all fond of our opinions, but we’re also fond of each other, and you can certainly be included in that group.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Thanks, Robin. I know you respect our differences, we’ve gone ’round together before. If I’d had doubts about you I would’ve resisted the temptation to toss in my two cents.
As far as qualifications, a lot of that is opinion driven. The only qualifications the Constitution gives for a president is that he/she is a natural born US citizen and at least 35 years old.
Of course, that means *I’m* qualified to be President.
You may all panic now.
September 5th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I’ve never understood the push to teach creationism in a Science class. It is a parent’s responsibility, not the state’s, to offer religious education. I don’t see that as an arguement that can be won for the political right.
And I would have absolutely no friends if I only conversed with people who thought exactly like me. Most, if not all, of my friends are liberal. But they accept me as the political issues mutt that I am and I heart them dearly for it.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
My only problem with Palin is policy based - creationism and anti-abortion - though if Obama is as pro-abortion as I have read, I’m not really with him on it either…
Other than that, I think it’s pretty cool she’s on the ticket and I think she’s got spunk. But then again, people thought GeeDub had spunk going for him. I suspect she’d probably tack in the direction he’s been going…
I’m not a big fan of that direction…
And my problem with creationism isn’t that there isn’t a God, Science is how did God do it, not just declaring that he did.
I’m just saying if “It’s an act of God” is a valid scientific thesis, my insurance won’t cover me from very much…
For the record, I just became Presidential material! No, you may not write me in.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Heather, I completely agree that teaching religion is the business of parents (and churches), not schools. I am a huge fan of the separation of church and state. Kids already have enough reasons to feel isolated and excluded without adding to the list any pressure to believe in the teacher’s God.
Patrick and Laura, I’m really sorry, but I’m not voting for you. Hope we can still be friends.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
And I know this is going to irk some of you, but I still can’t let go of the evidence that that baby is the daughter’s, not Sarah’s. Check out the Vanity Fair timeline: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/politics/2008/09/the-authoritative-trig-palin-conspiracy-time-line.html#entry-more
And read that second comment. Very interesting.
Why do I care so much? Because there are a lot of things you can get away with, that you can’t get away with lying about. And I am really, really tired of big, fat public lies.
If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. But I’m unbelievably interested in this whole situation.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Well, if it is her daughter’s, kudos to her for going for two so quickly!!!
And are we talking about the VP candidate or the Desperate Housewives story line?
Please stop distracting me from moving.
September 7th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Robin, PLEASE don’t vote for me - I’m much better at writing and making fun of politics than being a politician. Besides, there’s this whole writing career I’m working on and running a country would be a pretty big life roll.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Ok, I’m mostly done moving and ready to get on the campaign trail, Laura and Patrick in 08. I’ll take the VP spot. I’m used to being second in command.