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Post Mortem I for McCain- Palin

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:39:47 PM EST
Tags: John McCain, Sarah Palin (all tags)
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I don't want to interrupt the Obama celebration tonight with talk about McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin, so I'm starting this post early.

I'm so glad she will be going back to Alaska and I won't have to write about her any more.

Here are my reasons why McCain/Palin lost -- in no partiuclar order: [More...]

  • President Bush (the McCain=Bush III argument)
  • The Economy
  • Sarah Palin
  • McCain's bad judgment in picking Palin
  • McCain's age, lack of leadership qualities, and temperment problems.
  • No one bought his change or maverick arguments and everyone hated his negative attack ads.

Why do you think he lost?

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    Post Mortem I for McCain- Palin | 35 comments (35 topical)

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    He lost because he is a Republican in a (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by Teresa on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:43:29 PM EST
    Democratic year and environment. He could have picked Jesus as VP and he still would have lost.

    His stupid gamble for PA is unreal (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by andgarden on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:44:47 PM EST
    This state is dead for Republicans now.

    Republican mismanagement of the country (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by ruffian on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:45:11 PM EST
    became impossible to ignore with this latest economic downturn.

    And I like to think that some Americans have not forgotten about the war in Iraq.

    The economy... (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by kdog on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:49:33 PM EST
    was the nail in the coffin.

    Age, lack of charisma, pro-war image, and definitely the R after his name.  Brand Republican is a hurtin' unit.

    Constantly changing campaign message (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by byteb on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:53:43 PM EST
    experience matters, no being a maverick matters, the economy is strong, no the economy is in trouble and I'm canceling my campaign, no the campaign is back on,  but now being a real American matters, socialism, paling around with terrorists, etc,

    There seemed to be a new message every few days.

    Good point... (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by kdog on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:59:23 PM EST
    ya forgot Joe the Plumber:)

    Parent
    When Joe the Plumber (none / 0) (#32)
    by Fabian on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:19:32 AM EST
    and Palin had more star power than McCain, that was a very, very bad sign.

    Parent
    He lost because (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by shoulin4 on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:59:42 PM EST
    he fooled himself into thinking that the majority of this country is Palin's base, especially after the economic collapse made that perfectly clear.

    UPDATE: Obama wins Virginia (per CNN)!!!!!!

    it's the economy, stupid! (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by cpinva on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:26:05 PM EST
    as it was in '92, so it is now. clinton had the intellectual chops to both recognize it and do something about it. mccain/palin never did figure it out. even if they had, neither had the intellectual heft to figure out what to do.

    frankly, i am now, and have been, underwhelmed by obama/biden's response. the difference is that they at least recognized there is a problem, and  aren't of the party that helped create it.

    it now remains to be seen if they can undo at least some of the damage wrought by the republicans, in the past 8 years.

    I'm not sure (none / 0) (#31)
    by lentinel on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:43:00 AM EST
    that they "aren't of the party that helped create it".

    I believe that the disasters that have unfolded during the last 8 years were a product of both parties. More often than not it was the Republicans leading and Democrats going along, sometimes passively and sometimes aggressively. It is the story of both Obama and Biden. I have been consistently underwhelmed as have you by each of their responses to the crises that have confronted us.

    Unless I have misread things, the vote is 51% to 49% - pretty damn close.

    Who knows what might have happened had things not collapsed a few weeks before the election? Maybe the Bill Ayres thing might have meant something to people if they hadn't just had their home taken away or their savings threatened.

    So - we're left with the "hope" thing.
    And I do hope that things will improve.
    I am not especially hopeful, however.

    Parent

    Senator McCain and Sarah Palin (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by S on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:14:16 PM EST
    I have got this to say...I hope that in winning we, as Democrats, can be gracious in winning...because there have been many times during this whole election season, starting with the primaries, when I did not even recognize my party and the meaness and snark and yes, extreme sexism...I have been stunned by the attacks and mean spirited comments I have seen about the Clintons and others even after they left the race and did what they could to ensure a Democratic victory...

    ...so I hope with all this power our party has now achieved that will show that we are truly humane and compassionate and show some grace...and leave the smugness and snark behind...and lead in a way we can be proud of...

    ...this is the challenge for Democrats and the left...and finally, it we support women, we support all women, not just the ones we pick and choose...if we support AA, we support all AA, if we support the working class, we support all of the working class...

    ...now that the Dems have all the power...we need to take a good look at ourselves...an honest look at ourselves...

    ...do we talk the talk and walk the walk...or are we a bunch of hypocrites...

    ...now we have no excuse and we should be held accountable...

    I hope I see the best of the Democrats emerge...

    I second this. n/t (none / 0) (#33)
    by Fabian on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:20:30 AM EST


    Parent
    Sigh (none / 0) (#1)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:42:21 PM EST
    I guess you buy into this being a Center-Right country.

    I will have to refute you again tomorrow.

    Off topic (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:50:19 PM EST
    My predictions are looking solid. Once the West Coast comes in, Obama will probably lead by 6.5, Obama will flip Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Iowa. Dems win 8 Senate seats.

    I missed on Trauner in Wyoming by a whisker though.

    Parent

    This hasn't been a center right country (none / 0) (#4)
    by ThatOneVoter on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:44:07 PM EST
    since the 40 hour work week.
    Unfortunately, too many Americans are too ignorant to understand this.

    Parent
    Never gave it a thought (none / 0) (#13)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:54:21 PM EST
    I don't think in those terms. I'm not a centrist and that whole concept is irrelevant to me. I think in terms of like vs hate and good vs bad and acceptable vs unacceptable.

    I hated McCain/Palin, they were terrible, dangerous and unacceptable.

    Parent

    I forgot (none / 0) (#14)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:55:03 PM EST
    right vs wrong and they were wrong on issues and for the country.

    Parent
    Because he wasn't his own man. (none / 0) (#2)
    by ThatOneVoter on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:43:12 PM EST
    He was opposed to the original Bush tax cuts, and yet he campaigned as a total Reagan/W Republican. Who would buy that? The choice of Palin merely underscored his lack of independence.

    OK, the CNN hologram is just spooky (none / 0) (#7)
    by ruffian on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:47:26 PM EST


    The bells and whistles... (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:53:18 PM EST
    on all the cable news is totally out of hand...I hear that.

    Parent
    Hologram is pathetic, beyond goofy... (none / 0) (#11)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:53:38 PM EST
    Especially when I'm looking at Will I am, who found a fail-proof way to raise his profile after Fergie bailed on the Black Eyed Peas.

    Now he's ascended to the ranks of CNN political pundit.

    Parent

    Wolf Blitzer actually just said (none / 0) (#15)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:56:00 PM EST
    they're rootin' for Barack Obama in Kenya as well.

    Now I've heard it all.

    They were though (none / 0) (#27)
    by ruffian on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 11:09:23 PM EST
    He was looking at video of cheering crowds in Kenya

    Parent
    True enough. But now that the (none / 0) (#30)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 01:55:17 AM EST
    campaign's over, news anchors (like Blitzer) and politicians (like all of them) should cut out the patronizing folksy talk and put the letter "g" back into public discourse.

    I'm glad that crowds in Kenya were rooting (vs. rootin') for Obama.

    Parent

    One idea: (none / 0) (#16)
    by coigue on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 09:58:17 PM EST
    Republicans need something to win:

    enough conservative credibility with the base to lie to the country about being center (like Bush did). If he had that credibility, he would have had the base working for him and giving money from day one instead of only after picking Palin...and could speak to the independents.

    McCain does not have that conservative credibility (not because he isn''t conservative, but because he isn't lock-step in a party that is intolerant of dissent)

    Yes Virginia (none / 0) (#19)
    by coigue on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:00:00 PM EST
    there is a Santa Claus...er a new Dem president-elect!!!!!!

    Yes Virginia (none / 0) (#20)
    by coigue on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:00:01 PM EST
    there is a Santa Claus...er a new Dem president-elect!!!!!!

    THe GOP didn't want it this time... (none / 0) (#21)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:02:50 PM EST
    I think McCain was nominated, and lost, because the GOP didn't want to keep holding the bag.

    RIGHT NOW: it's been announced, Obama is holding the bag.

    Had the Republicans not screwed up the economy (none / 0) (#22)
    by Manuel on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:06:31 PM EST
    and Iraq, we'd be looking at a different much closer election.  As it was, the electorate had nothing to lose by going for change.  I am reading this as a mandate for competence.  The Democrats may be able to sneak in some progressive change and build a lasting majority but it isn't a given and there is a danger of overreaching.  If the economy and security are handled competently, the wedge issues won't matter as much.

    The Economy (none / 0) (#23)
    by chrisvee on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:08:05 PM EST
    Exit polls indicate that it was the issue.  The race was still close before the crash of the financial markets. McCain might have overcome the damage that Bush did to the Republican brand but once everyone saw their life savings and jobs evaporating in front of their eyes, McCain was doomed.

    Big close-up, Jesse Jackson Sr. (none / 0) (#24)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:19:11 PM EST
    is crying, quite copiously.

    Saw that (none / 0) (#34)
    by chrisvee on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 07:16:13 AM EST
    I found that to be a very moving moment.

    Parent
    Decision-Making (none / 0) (#26)
    by baltimoron on Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 10:44:47 PM EST
    His decision to "postpone" campaigning to bully the Congress into passing the Paulson bailout bill

    Daniel Gross (none / 0) (#29)
    by Manuel on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 01:14:36 AM EST
    gets it exactly right.

    In the last six weeks of the campaign, McCain looked incapable of dealing with the economic crisis. That switched the 3% or so he would have needed to grab a narrow victory.  Sure there may have been some other way he could have gotten a 3% switch but the economy was the big chance he had and he flubbed it.  I;ll said this for him.  He lived up to his reputation as a gambler.  Had that crazy rescue plan stunt worked, the outcome may well have been different.

    Palin as a pop icon (none / 0) (#35)
    by chelseabites on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 10:44:32 AM EST
    I'm amazed by the incredible amount of public interest in Sarah Palin. Good or bad, she's become somewhat of a pop icon. People are dressing like her to be and/or mock her all at the same time.

    For instance, I found this video on dressing like Palin:

    http://www.mindbites.com/lesson/668-how-to-dress-like-sarah-palin

    Post Mortem I for McCain- Palin | 35 comments (35 topical)

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