Matador

One more detail on the Hillary comparison front: She is an ex-beauty pageant contestant. That emphasizes the very obvious point that she is much younger and VERY MUCH more attractive than Hillary. While good looks probably would have worked to Romney's advantage, and certainly figures to help Palin among most of the electorate, in a perverse way that night not play very well with the over 40 feminist crowd.

That is a very good and subtle point......

1 - staunch conservative is a good connotation for conservatives... the opposite of mccain

Yes, but conservatives would vote for him no matter what. It has a negative connotation for most of the swing constituencies in swing states.

2 - if they want to talk about her investigation, i'm sure someone can find more evidence of Biden's plagarism out there. non issue...if it was, mccain wouldnt have picked her

If plagiarism is the best they can attack Biden with after 30 years in the Senate, that's pretty weak. Hell, they had Obama red-handed on plagiarism and the country yawned. Allegations of official malfeasance are a much thornier problem.

3 - what experience is more valuable, junior senator or state governor?

Again, this is where finesse comes in. At worst, it hampers McCain's ability to hammer Obama on the issue. It becomes an issue that cuts both ways.

"Matador has no friends at this time."

It makes me sad every time I read that........

GAM, my man! That is no problem. I will post it. Anybody else that has reason to contact me through email, feel free. I suspect very soon that will be the only way for Covers posters that don't read or post at "other" forums.

Again, apologies as this thread rightfully belongs in the Politics forum, but it is posted here by necessity and through no fault of my own. Some of the political regulars do peruse the PB from time to time. If they do so today, they will be amply rewarded with yet another of Matador's lucid and perspicacious bolts of wisdom.

First of all, I'd like to express my admiration for the McCain campaign's shrewdness both in the genius of the selection, and in the particulars of the build up. They certainly figure to attain their objective of squelching Obama's bounce, which could have gotten out of control by Monday without effective counter programming. The timing and staging are spot on, and while there may be long term issues with the Palin selection, a Pawlenty selection would have been met with a collective yawn at a crisis point when a strong pushback is desperately needed.

At any rate, here are three basic strategies:

1. Stress Palin's staunch conservatism. "Staunch" is the key buzzword here; it carries very strong negative connotations.

2. Ethics. Palin faces investigation in her own state. Without expressing a judgment about actual guilt or innocence, connect her with Ted Stevens, and extend the connection to Republican corruption in general, particularly financial scandals involving other staunch Republicans, like Tom Delay for instance.

3. Contrast her with Hillary Clinton. Paint her as an obvious political choice cynically aimed at stripping away Hillary voters. This is an angle to attack her inexperience indirectly. The inexperience angle needs to be finessed since of course Obama faces a similar challenge in regard to how he is perceived, but taking the "I know Hillary Clinton, and Governor, you're no Hillary Clinton" tact is an end run around the problem.

There is more, but this is a just a discussion starter.

Interestingly, just as I finish up typing, I am watching MSNBC and Rep. Wasserman Schultz is making exactly these arguments (number two and three at least). She even used the exact words: "You're no Hillary Clinton." So the campaign agrees with me. Sounds like they're on the ball and in good hands.......

Finally, a sign of intelligent life on Covers.

........could you at least take these fucking cuffs off?

Who am I, freaking Hannibal Lecter?

I listened to Amy Klobuchar (MN Senator) and she said that no one has done more for Obama then Hillary has (and she's an Obama backer).  I suppose she could be toeing the party line, but she's a pretty straight shooter and I didn't get the impression she wasn't happy with how things were going.

Of course she's toeing the party line. They're all on the same page. If you saw Olberman and Madcow come on right after Hill's speech and practically orgasm in front of the TV cameras, you should understand that they've read the script as well.

So what are all of those secret Clinton bloggers doing to do now that it's over and Obama is the nominee? 

This.

Opened 64 pound. Early bird gets the worm. Giving away 5 1/2 free points is a one way ticket to the poor house.

What's up Hutch? I almost started a thread in here yesterday just to get your take. You can elaborate, but I take from the tone of your question that you are holding your ground.

For myself, I'll say I was surprised by Bill. He was a lot more gracious and supportive than I thought he'd be, particularly in light of all the behind the scenes wrangling that was going on.

But my opinion of Hillary has only hardened, if anything. She could not have been more obvious if she were holding a giant "Hillary '12" sign. The part that irks me is how complicit the press and Obama's people have been. Upshot of the whole thing? Consensus among taking heads (and they are right) that Hillary did a lot to catapult her 2012 campaign.

She has manipulated the whole thing perfectly, to the point that she is lauded by both sides, Obama's because they are afraid of her, and McCain's because they share the same immediate objective. The press goes along 100% because let's face it, there is hardly any neutral and objective press left to speak of. If both campaigns are falling all over themselves to outdo the other side in their Hillary-worship, what is left for the press to say without breaking ranks with the side they are promoting?

You missed the first part of that Hound. She was asking for it. She was all over him. A man is going to react -- that's just nature.....

<-------- Cuckold Joe

Excellent info. More worthwhile than 99% of what you will read in the CFB forum. So why exactly are you confined to the box? Oh, wait a minute, I think I answered my own question......

For the state of the art in statistical poll analysis, here's a great site. Since I was unaware of it until recently, I figure maybe I'm not the only one in the dark.

And yes, this thread belongs in the politics forum, but that is out of my hands......

Pompous Ass? Unapologetic? Apologetic for what? Disagreeing with you? Talk about pompous -- A telltale sign of a committed leftist, the conviction that anyone that doesn't hold exactly your political views must be flawed personally. Well, I'm a centrist independent, Jack, and the TRUTH is my guide, not ideology. Get used to it.

While I'm here --

What's the holdup KOAJ? Is this like a county jail deal where they don't actually let you walk out until after midnight?

Clerical error, no doubt.

Bustin' --

There's rumors. We'll see what the Governor has to say. Either way, I'll be reading your stuff over there in CFB.

Thanks Pinnacle. I see you've still got that same avatar that gives me a headache.

Yeah, no good to be excluded forever, but I doubt I'll end up contributing as much as in the past. I'll likely be posting the serious handicapping elsewhere. Kind of like Garfather and others that have given a lot here but moved on, I'll be around but more in the shadows, contributing to others' threads instead of my own.

Pucks --

Nice to see you're still around. Hope all is well.

Don't blame weezy for his limited intellectual prowess. Let's not forget he's in the (clueless) majority.