I haven't written a diary in a while, but I thought I'd vent a few things just to make a position clear: FORGET SARAH PALIN. Every time I log onto Kos anymore, there are floods of Palin diaries, comments and quips. Backstories about her problems, failures, etc. To which I basically say: who gives two *(& ? Really. All of it can be 100% true, every assertion made her way, and in the end, what does it mean... it means more time debating a Vice Presidential Candidate and less time drawing people to the real issues around McCain. It LOOKS unfocused and strange to be this far into the debate and be debating the pros and cons of a VP.
Yes, I'm sure there are great articles about all of her missteps, outright falsehoods, and more. But in the end, none of it amounts to anything when the response is going to just be photos of her at some campaign event hugging some mother of another Down Syndrome child or something. The problem is, there is simply too much air being sucked out of the room discussing a vice presidential nominee as though they were a wandering rock star gone bad instead of any real discussion of any real issues.
And I'm sorry, even if it makes her look bad, or if people think it makes it look bad, every single day spent not discussing issues but discussing a VP candidate is a day OFF MESSAGE. It is a day where it's hard to highlight real differences between those two guys.. you know, the ones AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET??
I was thinking back to any time where a VP took center stage in the way that Palin has. And I can think of twice: Richard Nixon when nominated at 39 drew tons of fire.. but uh, it didn't hurt Ike (then again, it's doubtful much would). And Dan Quayle, where Dukakis spent time going after Quayle for what an idiot he was.
It didn't help Dukakis either. So, I tried to think of the times when Republicans ran into VP nominees who would give them issues. And the key example: Ferraro. Now, let's all be honest, light a candle at Grace Walsh' memorial, and remember that Dukakis was dead in the water before the conventions. (seem like anyone from this election?) And, in a move that could only be said of desperation, he went with Ferraro.
Did it throw Reagan off the message? No. The Reagan response: "She's a gimmick". And they basically never mentioned it again.
The fact is, the Palin story stays high on the press, which good or bad means McCain's ticket is racking up INCREDIBLE amounts of FREE press, time to respond, to make their case.
I'm going to stop responding, reading, or rec'ing anything about Palin and her foibles. It just isn't worth wasting a news cycle at any point encouraging anyone in any 527 or the Obama end to even discuss Palin. She's below the level of discussion.
Hackett and those earlier infuriated me with the concept of an all-out attack on Palin, because I knew that it would generate an equal/opposite counter attack that would be devestating.
The most effective attack is simple: IGNORE HER. Continuing the discussion, even when you're right, is just a monumental waste of time. People who will vote for McCain because of her are not going to be persuaded by any argument, and the more time spent debating her doesn't tell the undecideds jack about the issue they care about.. not Sarah Palin.. the question is: "What are YOU going to do, and what are YOUR plans".
So my answer from now on is: "Palin seems like a mother trying to make it. But, let's talk about how Obama's plans would help her and her children far more then McCain's..."