Just talked to my bigoted Republican sister in a deep South state about Palin.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

She does not understand McCain's decision to choose Palin, citing McCain's age and Palin's lack of qualifications to step into the Presidency. She is not considering voting for Obama (he's black, you know), but says she may write in Ron Paul. (BTW, she hates Hillary.) At least it takes away a McCain vote - sadly not in a State that is in play. However, if there are many other Republican women like her in swing states, her example may provide anecdotal evidence that McCain's selection of Palin will backfire for lots of people who would have otherwise voted for him.

[dkf]

1. We need to get Bob Barr on the ballot pronto.

[ladywnch]

40. Barr is the ballot in 48 states so far. I forget which two he isn't......yet...on

he was on Colbert Report the other day.....they are trying to get money to get on the other two. I think oneof them was AK.....can't be sure tho.

[vaberella]

2. Yup, that's actually what I'm noticing.

The Palin pick is backfiring against him by both the Left and Moderates/Independents(who were undecided) and the Right. The Right will either go Bob Barr, Ron Paul, or no one. While the Left is going Obama or not voting. While the Moderates/Independents are leaning Obama/Ron Paul or no vote.

In the end the Republicans are on the losing end because they've turned the second highest post in the nation into a joke.

[mwb970]

35. For the second time in a row. /nt

[Fridays Child]

3. Here's hoping that wing nut women across the country feel the same way!

Sorry about your sister, though. :(

[Left Is Write]

13. Wing nut women probably don't, but those with moderate views

or libertarian views are not likely to support Palin.

[Wapsie B]

4. I'm wondering if there aren't many more like her out there in swing states.

It could put some of those states in play. People who can't vote for a black man but will not vote for a Barbie doll either could really make things interesting.

[vaberella]

7. There are, I'm hearing more and more stories like this from all walks. n/t

[grannie4peace]

5. i was really scared at first until

i read your sister's reaction. thank God. my family is like that too:patriot: :patriot:

[LonelyLRLiberal]

11. LOL - yeah, how did I turn out liberal?

Guess I got an education and got the hell out of there! Even Arkansas is more progressive than AL or MS. My sister and brother never got out of the racist environment. We've had some knock-down, drag-outs about racist attitudes and language. When they act like I am a nut for backing Obama and Hillary, I just tell them their votes don't count anyway because of where they live.

[Frances]

16. I am from AL and sympathize with you

However I am in a red spot in a blue area of a blue state (CA) so you can find yourself isolated politically wherever you live.

There is an Assembly of God "university" in my small town, so there are many fundamentalists here. I saw lots of Bush bumper stickers in 2004, but haven't seen any McCain stickers. It will be interesting to see if the Assembly of God people put McCain/Palin stickers on their cars.

[JeanGrey]

23. Well I wish I could say the same - I got into a furious fight with

my family, my sisters (all three) are voting for McCain because of Palin. And two of my dem friends - none of them wanted Hillary and they keep telling me this is woman they can vote for (oh god :puke::puke::puke:

[Zynx]

27. How would they have voted otherwise?

[JeanGrey]

Two of them were for Hillary. The rest were "leaning"

Obama. Now they're going for Palin.

[Zynx]

32. Is all that matters to them is that she doesn't have a penis?

[JeanGrey]

45. Actually, they admire her. The hunting, fishing, mother of five,

keeping a downs baby (practicing what you preach). They think she came up from nothing and has done a wonderful job as Governor. This is what I heard. And yes, also that she is a woman. One of them said she is likeable, where Hillary was not. (I know)

[mwb970]

36. How can they know Palin is their gal so soon?

The info about her is just beginning to come out.

[JeanGrey]

46. I read about Sarah last year. Info about her has been

around. So I guess they figure they know enough. Two said they weren't going to vote at all and now are. Sigh. I'm working on them!

[Arugula Latte]

44. Are they pro-choice? Do they know Palin is against BIRTH CONTROL?

Jesus, I can't understand the mindset of people like this. Fuck! :banghead:

[JeanGrey]

47. I know.

[helderheid]

6. Bob Barr.

[vaberella]

9. Bob Barr will do a Perot on people and destroy the Republican Party. n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. I think we could get enough to vote for Paul or Barr

even the red states could be in play.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

14. That would be such fun!

It's pretty bad when hard-core Republican voters are questioning him.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

24. I finally saw a pro-McCain sign today

It was on a sign that said "Arkansas Honey for Sale" and was home made. Meanwhile, there are still HUGE Ron Paul signs on major highways in the area.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

26. I think I may have seen one McCain bumper sticker or sign in LR.

Quite a few Obama, though. Arkansas may surprise people. I hope so.

[CoffeeCat]

10. I think it has thrown the Republican party...

...into complete disarray.

Of course, the 20 percent of wingnut Republicans--who listen to hate radio--are
loving the fact that a Creationist, radical, anti-choice candidate who believes
that rape and incest victims should be forced to remain pregnant and have those babies--
is McCain's running mate. They can't see beyond the end of their own noses.

The rest of civilization is completely boggled.

I've talked with many Republicans, and my husband said everyone was discussing this at work. I
haven't heard of one Republican who is happy about Palin and my husband said all of the
Republicans were shaking their heads and some of them were ticked off about this very bizarre
pick.

There are plenty of right-wingnut candidate who actually have experience out there. Doesn't
John McCain get how outlandish and foolish he looks? He looks completely off of his rocker!

Although I don't agree philosophically with Romeny, Hutchinson, Huckabee or Pawlenty--those choices
at least would have made sense.

I really don't think she'll last until October. I think this is going to blow up in McCain's face.

What an awful, awful decision. Republicans tout experience and they hit us with all of this FEAR bullshit.
We're supposed to vote for McCain because he can keep us safe from the terrorists. But he picks a
running mate who has NO foreign policy experience and no national security credentials?

This is so completely twisted.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

12. I think this choice is proof McCain is mentally incapacitated. eom

[mwb970]

39. Just what I was thinking.

It's clear that McCain is the riskier candidate by far. Obama looks very solid in comparison to this old flake.

[roseBudd]

15. Publicize this....

I just posted this on am MSM blog in swing state Ohio. I call that stategery.

OMG it gets worse.

"In fact, as Palin's cultural views become better known -- she oppose abortion in all cases and opposes the use of birth control pills and condoms even among married couples -- she will undoubtedly scare the hell out of the soccer moms "

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/08/30/worst_pick_ever.html

I have a feeling there is a big squishy middle that thinks if the aminocetresis test comes back with really bad news the government needs to mind their own business.

And birth control? Over 90% of American women have used some form of birth control and no I am not counting abstinence.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

19. Yes, and no doubt there are a bunch of "right-to-lifers" who make exceptions for themselves.

Opposition to birth control, coupled with an anti-abortion position, is just NUTS!

[vaberella]

33. Send this to KO and the Obama camp. Distribute quick and fast. n/t

[vaberella]

34. By the way that's utterly disturbing. n/t

[DesertFlower]

17. well at least you're sister has a brain.

i have a gay republican friend who thinks this is just great. Her SO, who was a democrat is delighted with palin. her words when it was announced "oooowee". she's voting for McCain. BTW. this woman is a psychologist. go figure.

[ObamaKerryDem]

18. "Gay Republican"=Oxymoron of the Century

Nothing like voting against your own best interests...*shakes head* I'll never be able to understand those so called "Log Cabin" Republicans..


Back to the original post..that's great! My Republican aunt is pretty much the same way (though it's not about Obama's race, it's the choice issue). She's voting for Barr (which..sshh..is pretty much a vote for Obama ;)), but it's in California, a state he's going to win anyway...but hey, it's the thought that counts! LOL..

[DesertFlower]

21. my granddaughter is a born again christian

and a democrat. she's voting for obama. even though she's against abortion she feels that the government should not have the right to tell a woman what to do. says if it becomes illegal women will still have abortions that may harm them. her husband likes obama, but is worried about the choice thing and civil unions for gays. even though my granddaughter is religious i guess she's got my genes.

as far as my gay friend i can't understand it.

on edit: my granddaughter lives in florida.

[Franks Wild Years]

22. Yeah, it's one of those strange things..

..I mean, they'll vote that way but still complain about discrimination! Fucking imbeciles, you can't have it both ways - You accept you're not even close to being equal and shut the fuck up or you simply don't vote that way.

[last_texas_dem]

20. There will certainly be a small number of conservatives, both men and women,

likely to go third party or sit this election out. They will be unwilling to vote for a ticket that permits the possibility of a woman becoming "Commander-in-Chief" (they generally care far more about someone becoming "Commander-in-Chief" than President), but would certainly not cast a vote for a "socialist," "Muslim", half-black person like Obama- even though he's at least a man. Maybe they'll go to Barr, write in Ron Paul, or just sit the presidential race out...

[CitizenPatriot]

25. I'm in the south, too and hearing similar things

Good news: we aren't just racist, you know. We're bigots, too. (SARCASM)

No one here wants a woman vp, though they won't say that -- and they (not me) think she should be home with her baby.

Me, I hate her stance on the issues and am scared to death of the Xer fundies taking over the entire country. they already have the DoJ. All they need is the executive branch and we are no different than the "terrorists".

Do whatever it takes to stop the patriarchal, misogynistic party to triumph over us....if that happens, we will all lose our rights, what FEW we fucking have left.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

28. It is very scary to anyone paying attention and using a brain cell or two.

[CitizenPatriot]

29. I feel it; the failure of the 3 arms of government

the way our OCC, DoJ, etc have been taken over and not just for this administration -- but lifetime jobs have been filled with funy Xers -- this is scary shite.

As Dennis said, WAKE UP AMERICA! WAKE UP!!!

Of course, here on DU, that's preaching to choir. Our wonderful system of government has been destroyed.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

30. Obama needs to do as much house-cleaning as possible on this issue.

Not much he can do about the RW federal judges, though. To make things more difficult, he would not do the religious or political tests that the Bush crime empire did when filling DoJ jobs. We need an extremely strong Democratic legislature, but I have been disgusted with the total lack of backbone of most of the Dems in Congress - no principles and only looking to the next election.

[CitizenPatriot]

37. well, I agree with you on every issue - but my thoughts re our congress

are a bit different. they don't have the power we assume they have; they don't have majority senate, and they have been cut off at the knees by bush's signing statements and the admin refusal to respond to congressional inquiries. I am quite certain many of them are being blackmailed/threatened by our dirtied DoJ attorneys/ie, rove/cheney/bush.

very frustrated with the situation, I am. And I would crawl on my hands and knees to washington DC to see *II impeached.

but I think the saddest thing of all is how little power our legislative branch has anymore.

that's the real shame. we no longer have checks and balances, 3 arms of govt.

shame on *.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

41. The only way Congress MIGHT balance things is if we get a big Dem majority.

But even then, they are still subject to threats, blackmail and fears about reelection.

[CitizenPatriot]

42. there it is...you said it! Here's to 08 being the year! nt

[LonelyLRLiberal]

43. I'll drink to that, for sure. eom

[last_texas_dem]

31. Yeah

What makes McCain's pick of the unqualified Palin even more cynical is when you think of the calculation the campaign likely had to make. The sexist and bigoted and generally backwards fundamentalist types who make up a substantial minority of the Repug Presidential vote don't think anyone who isn't white or male should be on the Presidential ticket, so, despite having a lot in common with Palin on social issues, would be upset with McCain's choice of a woman. However, you figure the McCain people had to look at it along the lines of, "Well, sure, they think a woman isn't capable of taking on the responsibilities of the Presidency- but would they really be upset enough to vote for their only other real option- a black Democrat?"

[CitizenPatriot]

38. nailed it.

and yet, they are selling themselves as 'country first'?!

Liars always.

[progressivebydesign]

48. The choice of Palin will only play for those who'd vote GOP anyway..

no advantage for McCain on this one. The peeps that would vote for a ticket with a religious EXTREMIST like her, an animal hater liker her, a gun enthusiast, Pat Buchanan ENDORSER, anti-choice, anti-birth control, you name it, would NEVER vote for Obama to begin with. They made a HUGE mistake with her... instead of getting a female that would woo Obama females and middle class soccer moms, they got a polarizing extremist that is only thrilling the other extremists. They're scaring away more than their getting with her... stupidest move in politics.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

49. I hope so - makes sense to me.

I now have talked to my religious RW sister and she thinks Palin is just great - already repeating the "executive experience" meme.