I'm not underestimating the stupidity of the American people

[Auggie]

Regarding Palin:

Enough people could fall for that "Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington" image to make the election close enough to steal again or win outright. It won't matter when Biden smokes her in the debates -- people vote emotionally. Republicans have been effective at crafting candidates with homespun appeal and creating importance out of issues revolving around family values and faith. It's a scary possibility and needs to be taken seriously.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Yep, she is a gal I'd like to go hiking, hunting and fishing with

and that is the kind of candidate that they know has certain cache in flyover country...

I don't underestimate this at all

And for the record, I don't haunt, or fish, though would not mind the hike. The Tsongas National Forest is a wonderful place to go hike at

[ailsagirl]

15. I'm glad you don't haunt...

:)

I think of the GOP (at least, Rove's type) of considering women as second class citizens. Aren't they worried that if they back mclame that they'll essentially be voting in a slutty librarian for eventual president???

This is a nightmare scenario.

:nuke:

[BlueInNewJeruse]

2. how could they?

people vote emotionally

I don't understand why people would vote emotionally when they could instead vote for hope and change?

[onethatcares]

10. because they want to keep all their money, all of it,

except for what they spend on killing things. Hope and change scares the hell out of some people, they like it just the way they are, even though they aren't doing that well.

[BlueInNewJeruse]

12. Keep /their/ money? That seems pretty greedy. n/t

[riverdeep]

14. How would you propose government function?

The poster was saying these people don't want ANY of their money going to anything other than perpetual war. Oh, and maybe bail-outs for former financial giants (free market, yay!)

Incidentally, unless you're extremely wealthy, you lose more of your money under the McCain plan. Just like the middle class overall has shrunk since the Bush administration took office.

[BlueInNewJeruse]

20. I agree; it is looney

It is nucking futts how much money we spend on the military. It must be something like 70% of our budget or something.

How does our spending on guns and stuff compare to other like-sized countries?

edited for typo

[Wetzelbill]

3. you're right

But that works well when issues are easy to deflect. This is a big Dem year, just like 2006, when the GOP had so much going against it. And McCain made this decision hoping to get women voters, it's a shameless ploy, not likely to work. But if it does work on some, you have to acknowledge that there is a segment of the Republican party who thinks that women aren't good for much more than breeding, cooking and cleaning. So even if she does bring some women in, how many troglodytes will stay home? I'd say more than enough to offset anything she brings to the table.

In the end, people will vote for the Presidential candidate. And seeing McCain has made this choice makes people question his judgment. I was looking at different blogs and reactions and lots of women and others who were considering McCain had "WTF is he thinking?" type reactions. In the end, this election isn't about her or Biden, it's going to be about the young dynamic guy who sounds like he gets it and the older guy who doesn't get it at all, but has a good POW story to tell everybody.

Remember, Dems have dwarfed Republicans in turnout all year. And in new registered voters. If they even come out a little bit, McCain is in huge trouble. Polls don't contemplate turnout in big Dem districts or reveal how many people will come out and vote. It's a sampling. 1000 people polled from all walks of life doesn't tell you if a movement is underfoot, it tells you what random people think.

[Auggie]

6. Electoral voting could make it a one or two-state race.

Ohio is a head-case (I know -- I grew up there). I'm not taking anything for granted.

[booley]

4. You answered your own question... People vote with their emotions

And this is not a gender thing. It' s both men and women. It's not even a Liberal/Conservative thing.

This is the way we are wired as a species. Emotion always plays a part in our decision making. Not the only part but a big part. And it it may not be over riding for al people but it is for many even most people.

And if it's one thing republicans know to do, it's manipulate people's emotions: xenophobia, envy, insecurity, denial, wishful thinking, patriotism... even compassion and fairness (which form a core of Liberal values)

It's not that every decision based on emotion is a bad one. But Republicans know how to get people to make bad decisions using people's emotions.

I should also point out that this is a common GOP ploy.. deflect charges of prejudice by getting a token to cover for them while they place thier prejudices into law.

Think back to Clarance Thomas, who was chosen becuase he was a BLACK Conservative. Anybody who opposed him on his position or lack of experience was decried as a racist. And when he got in the SCOTUS, he helped diminish protections for minorities.

Expect a lot of Cons to accuse Democrats and Liberals of secretly being mysogynists.

[riverdeep]

19. They're already doing it.

On Larry King I saw the Republican bobble-head accusing James Carville of 'dismissing women and women are sick of it', because Carville pointed out she is extremely inexperienced. Carville hesitated.

She was pretty, blonde, and smiling while she said it. A lot of people are plenty gullible.



Myself, I would have gone in for the kill, regardless:

Republican bobble-head: There you go dismissing women and women are sick of it.

riverdeep: Actually, Larry, if you want to cut through BS, a real easy test is to put the shoe on the other foot. If the Democrats had selected someone like Palin as VP, the Republicans would be, rightly, pointing out how in the world someone who not only doesn't even know foreign policy, but is on the record as being uncurious about foreign policy, could possibly be anything but an enormous stumble. Actually, it's insulting. They think so little about the national security of the United States that they would put an individual like this in the position of potentially having their finger on the button, all for a gimmick, a momentary upward tick in the polls.

Larry: Poughkeepsie, New York, hello...



Any talking heads are free to borrow at will.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. The American people have an unrivalled capacity for stupidity.

As evidence: Ronnie "the Drool" Reagan and George "Mr. Newkyewler" Bush. Elected to the presidency not once, but twice.

[MasonJar]

7. Do you know how many people will be turned off when they find out

that she killed baby wolf pups in their den? I find that not only unfeeling but proof of emotional disturbance...it is tantamount to murder in my book. Obviously it is only human babies that are sacrasanct. This needs to be out there (if true) big time.

[Cleita]

8. This is why we have to keep the MSM honest.

We can't let them propagandize this.

[BlueInNewJeruse]

13. exactly. I cannot believe they spend all day talking about the repukes, stealing BO's thunder n/t

[bdamomma]

16. oh, the media is going to a big problem, they are going to

talking about this non stop. Sickening, they are and have not served in our best interests.

[JCMach1]

9. Never 'misunderestimate' the stupidity of the American

electorate

[bdamomma]

17. I wish they would just

WAKE UP.

[lonestarnot]

11. Heh lookie

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3870281&mesg_id=3870281

[Faygo Kid]

18. It's "misunderestimating." How could you get that wrong?

As Sarah Palin would say, it makes me go nookular that you made that mistake.