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Personally, I think that this race is over.

Obama has a large national lead, and is winning in every swing state.  Additionally, Obama has pulled some red states within reach, but McCain doesn't have the money to defend in all areas.  Think of it like a war.  He's losing on too many fronts, with too few resources to battle.

Short of a major change, like a terrorist attack or something, I don't see a way for McCain to catch up.  So, for the purpose of this poll, I'm assuming that Palin doesn't get to be V.P.

In the debate, Palin held her own, and didn't embarrass herself, which stopped the negative press about her, but I don't think it will help McCain get elected.  ...probably a good night for Palin the politician, but not for McCain's chance at election.

Which makes me wonder -- what's going to happen to Palin after this?

She could be run for Senate or Congress, but I don't see that as even approaching a White House bid, so your categories could use a huge tweak.

I don't think there's any way she's seen in presidential politics again, but anything where she'd only have to rely on votes from Alaska, sure.

One "push" at the debate doesn't erase something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokTjEdaUGg

Well she is still Governor of Alaska - so she'll go back when the elections have ended and run out the clock there until the new Governor takes over. Then, I think, she probably does something with the Republican Party, but nothing anywhere near to the level of running as a VP of the country. Probably some low-to-mid level type of thing (speeches, author [..."how i ran for Vice-President" or something like that], TV analyst even).

Do remember that only a few months ago it was said to be over for McCain as well in the Rep primaries..

  While I'm not jumping for joy for either player here.  Obama scares the living crap out of me.  This fairness BS they spend on tax is pure markism.   The fact its proven that raises taxes on the wealthy only reduces the revenue of the Gov is lost on him because its fair..

Since when do people in the United States not have the right to be poor?  It appears the US is going to lets determine how much money you need, then what we decide you do not need we will take ( Biden's word ) & give to someone who we deem worthy.

I think that any of the selections are a possibility.

I think she'll end up staying in Alaska as governor, but being a larger part of the party.  She'll speak at conventions and fundraisers, appear in ads, endorse people, etc.  ...and she probably did a lot of that before, but it will be high profile now.  I imagine that she'll be similar to the GOP what Lieberman is.  She'll be around a lot, speak on behalf of those she supports, etc.

How about another option-
After losing the Presidential Election, McCain admits that he shoudlv'e picked a better running mate, like Tom Ridge. Distraught over McCains words, she returns to Alaska, and goes on a drinking binge. She leaves her husband and turns to darker vices, becoming a crack whore. Shortly after, her husband freezes her assets, so she can no longer buy any crack. All strung out, she agrees to do a Playboy photo shoot, much to the pleasure of Rush Limbaugh and all the other people who thought she was a breathe of fresh air in the Republican Party.

Heh...

If they have donkey shows in Mexico, surely there are some Moose shows in Alaska...

Yes.  I was one of those people, and I think that I was right.

McCain had to do a desperation move to stay in the race, by picking Palin.  But I knew that it wouldn't have a lasting effect.  McCain was able to pull even (and even ahead, nationally) for a brief time, but in terms of electability, in the swing states that matter, Palin wasn't going to be the difference-maker.

Once her newness wore off, her favorability dropped hugely.  She helped with the conservative base, but that is a shrinking group.  The middle was ultimately turned off by her, and I saw that coming.

The selection of Palin was a gimmick move, and to his credit, it kept him in the race for a few more weeks.  But now we're back to issues and he doesn't have any gadget plays left in his playbook.

How come Biden gets a free pass on this?

"When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the princes of greed," Biden told Couric. "He said, 'Look, here's what happened.'"

 Jesse Walker footnotes about Biden's gaffe: "And if you owned an experimental TV set in 1929, you would have seen him. And you would have said to yourself, 'Who is that guy? What happened to President Hoover?'"
 

I'm curious ... How is this better than her appearance?

Biden didn't get a free pass.  I saw this covered on CNN, MSNBC, FOX, and the Daily Show.

But it's different, because what Biden did was a gaffe.  He started bullshiting and said something dumb.

Palin (at least I think) didn't understand the question, and gave that answer because she doesn't understand the issue.

One was a political-slip, the other is a fundamental misunderstanding of what's going on.

You are referring to something completely different. McCain was written off from even winning the Republican nomination, but made a huge comeback. That is what Dphins was referring to and that was a long time before Palin was in the spotlight.

Ok.  I thought you were talking about how he was written off when he was down before the debates.

I was not one of the ones who wrote him off during the GOP nomination, so I can't say.  I liked McCain much more than most of the other GOP candidates, and much, much, much more than any of the other viable GOP candidates.

I should add my opinion in since I forgot to do that while reading the thread. I am not so sure McCain/Palin will lose although I am hopeful. The GOP always seems to be discounted, remember how none of us thought GWB had a shot in hell at re-election? Does anyone know if Palin resigned her position as Govenor? If not she will go back to that and probably serve as long as she can. After that she can run for US Senator, but I do not see her in the national spotlight again (TV, another bid at the White House, etc).

What does this have to do with that total bomb of a 1:30 segment on YouTube with Sarah Palin? I'm not talking about Joe Biden - I don't really care about Joe Biden, FDR, Jesse Walker, or anyone else. You brought that up - can you at least post an equivalent YouTube clip, so I can play along?

Joe Biden could have bitch-slapped an old lady in the audience for all I care - Palin has as much chance as becoming our country's VP than John Beck does at starting another NFL game.

She's still "hot-looking". I think that she goes back to Alaska and becomes a political consultant in the years to come. I would have loved to see what she could do as VP.

Where is the choice for #1 spot in the GILF issue of Penthouse or Playboy? 

I admit........it doesn't look good for the McCain. Even the racists get worried when you Hit their 401k fund. Bush's Ghost is just gonna be too hard to shake.

If this is stupid, I know that I will get blasted for it but I think what also hurt her was her dragging her family everywhere.

I think that angle was overplayed TOO much. I would have like to see Palin sometimes by herself with maybe an advisor or two. Just her and potential staff instead of Amber, Trig and the husband.

I don't care what kind of job or office that you are running for, when you have to deal with family, it makes it extremely hard. She should have introduced the family and right after the first week, shipped them back to Alaska...roll up her sleeves and ACT like she is the Vice-President.

Oh, man.  This would be great.  There is something about that woman that does it for me, I don't know why.  Of course I am also on my third rum and coke and waiting for the Sox game to start (at this pace I won't make first pitch)...but Palin, naked?  Sign me the freak up, yee haw.

My point being politicians say and do stupid things all the time.  They are quickly forgotten. 

So many things about Obama have been very quickly forgotten.

His racist America hating mentor in reverend Wright that even admitted that the only reason Obama cut ties was for the election.

His other mentor and good friend the unrepentantl American terrorist Bill Ayers. September 11, 2001, of all days, Ayers is quoted as saying, "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough." And we're talking about bombing New York City police headquarters, the Capitol, the Pentagon. Ayers' words: "Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home. Kill your parents. That's where it's really at."

These things were dropped really fast by the media so you have to understand why I find it hard to understand all the fuss about 1 silly interview with a person who has only been in the race for a few weeks. Her other performances have went pretty well.

The things you're bringing up in regards to Obama are 1) something that OTHER PEOPLE said and 2) aren't related to policy.

I am not on here busting on every little McCain gaffe and nitpicking him.  That's not what I do.  I understand that politicians are under a microscope and so much of what they say is taken out of context and twisted and sometimes they say stupid crap on the fly.

But with Palin, her mistakes are different.  She's not mis-speaking or ranting.  She doesn't understand the basic issues.  Economy and foreign policy...she can't answer the questions because she doesn't understand what's going on.

Where's the Option in the poll Don't give a shit?  :D

This is kind of silly considering the option of being the next vice president isn't even included. Elections aren't run by Dave's opinion not one vote has been casted yet. I find this to be slanted  and rather bias to do by the guy who runs this site.
I have seen this stuff before the election is over Kerry has won the election and then he loses. Why not include become the next Vice President Dave ?

Because it's his thread, simeon and called an "opinion."  I'm sure you understand that as you express your own severely tilted one all the time.  Is Dave suppose to do something you don't do (look objectively at all sides) because he owns the web site?  If you want "fair and balanced" (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little) flip on over to foxnews.com.

Wah! Cry me a river.... It's a hypothetical...Assuming she's not the V.P. ...Otherwise the Question wouldn't make alot of sense ...

Seriously Simeon, Dave's whole point is IF the Republicans don't win the election, what do you think will happen in Palin's future.

My money's still on the Moose show...

Seems pretty clear to me...

Am I the only one who thinks she's not hot?  Its like the lone girl in an office full of guys who gets hit on by every one.  Its not that she's hot, it that she's hotter than the other 70 year old men we typically see in politics?

No..Brian,I don't think she's all that either,and I like older women.....Maybe it's because she scares me.... ???

I bet she's an animal in bed.  Like a moose or something.

I think she's average. My neighborhood has lots of women - with children - that look like her or better.

  While she is not the lead singer of the Pussycat dolls.  She is not bad for a 40+ year old woman.

I like the person she projects.   Not sure about all her politics, but I do not expect to agree 100% with anyone politics. 

  I'd like to be a single man in your neighborhood then.  All the women her age in mine are overweight & not very attractive if they weren't.  I guess I know why now, they all live in your neighborhood. 

Someone suggested Palin could be a political consultant.  I don't see how.  She doesn't have the depth of knowledge to work as a consultant and develop strategy.  Who would want her to consult for them?  Her skills help her in front of the camera, not behind.  The exposure Palin has received on the national stage has been very damaging to Palin's position as the next great conservative.

Short term, Palin's future is in Alaska state politics.  Alaska has a 2 term limit for governors.  Palin could run for Congress after that, and likely win easily.  I feel Palin has ZERO future as a national republican leader.   She may pop up in Republican ads, or campaign for others, but not more than that.

Longer term, I think Palin's options in the media are limited.  She looks good enough for TV, but what's she going to do?  Read a teleprompter?  Maybe a pundit, but I think she lacks the content knowledge and can't rely on style alone.

I think her best bet is to work as a high paid lobbyist.  Her name recognition will give her access, and she can sell that.  I could see her working for the oil industry.


off topic - why I feel Palin failed to prove she understands the key issues

I guess I wasn't as impressed as many others with her performance.  It wasn't horrible, especially compared to the 2 interviews she gave; but by any regular standard of a VP debate, I thought she did poorly.  

Some of this is just me.  I don't like the winking, cuteness and "you betcha's".  I think this is serious business and I want a serious candidate, not a sitcom character.  I know her political persona resonates with many people as being "real", but it seems staged to me.  Maybe, she just went to it too often.  Personally, I find that stuff goofy.

Despite the rave reviews Palin gets from Fox, Pat Buchanan and the John McCain team; I thought she continued to show that she doesn't have the basic knowledge of the issues.

I was bothered that she didn't answer most of the questions.  This allowed her to give a speech instead of have a debate.   Even  her mini speeches were just strings  of talking points and buzz words.  Given how poorly she had demonstrated her grasp of the issues in previous interviews, I wanted to see some substance and I didn't.  I know that all politicians do this, but they provide details in other venues.  Palin has failed to do that.

Another factor in my assessment of Palin's competency comes from how she responded to Biden.   She would accuse Biden/Obama of something.  Biden would say it's not true and provide a rebuttal, often pointing out McCain's record on the same issue.  Palin didn't have the ability to counter any of Biden's statements, other than to say "there you go again, pointing to the past".  No substance.

I see positions that seem to take both sides of an issue.  More regulations, but we need to get government out of the way.  We need to balance the budget, but we have to stay in Iraq and cut taxes.  We are all about diplomacy first, but we won't sit down with our enemies.  I don't find it credible.

Finally, it speaks volumes that there are no plans to put Palin on any of the Sunday press programs.  Her ability to explain these points or provide implementation details has been beyond feeble.  The campaign sees her as a risk and will continue to hide her.

  The thing is.  You are a Dem so you are not going to think she proved she understood.   That is like RTW saying Biden failed to prove stuff.  You are going to find what you can & make your points on it. 

Not trying to be insulting, its just the way things are.

If Biden simply stood out there saying " We Rock "  all night a majority would think he answered the questions great & vice verse.

I promise you no one person has a clear understanding of all the issues.  Its simply impossible.   Most only know what their handlers have told them.  Do you think Obama came up with an economic plan all by himself or had his economics expert do it?

This is why I believe debates are basically a waste of time.  It changes no one votes, plus its why 8 percent of the country controls who is in the white house.

Not true what so ever.  I'm still undecided and conflicted and these debates speak to me in large ways.  There were things about Palin and Biden that I liked and disliked and both are helping to decide my vote.  Maine is starting to emerge as a swing state in this election and we, as a state, have a tendency to not follow the most well beaten path.  We gave Perot a state, for God's sake.  I think a lot of Mainers are undecided in reality versus as "something to say."

Oh she's a hottie alright.  It starts with those glasses. When they come off you can bet she is an animal. Kind of like those chicks on all the Do it yourself shows on Cable.........not Model hot , but realistically just very sexy.  Sexy is more then just skin deep. It involves the whole package. Gov. Palin is oozing with it.

I've never had coffee shoot out of my nose before. Thanks Stroke.

Yes, I usually vote democratic and I have my biases, but I'm not blindly faithful.  I won't vote for someone who I don't feel is competent.  I voted for Gore, but didn't vote for Kerry.  If I'm only saying this because I'm a democrat, then why are there no posts where I've said negative things about McCain? 

I honestly like what I hear and see from Obama.  I think he's a good choice , so I don't view this as the lesser of 2 evils.  I've liked McCain in the past, and while I'm not happy that he has abandoned some of the positions we used to agree on, I think he is competent to hold the office of the President.  If McCain were running against Pelosi or Reid, I'd vote for McCain.  I'd vote for Colin Powell over most democrates. 

Back to Palin.  I tried to give concrete examples instead of "she scares me" or "she's stupid".  I don't think she's stupid, I think she's in way over her head.  Worse, she lacks a vision on where she would take this country.  Of course I have biases, but I don't feel my evaluation of her readiness is based on whether she has a "D" or "R" next to her name.  She doesn't have the qualities to lead this nation, and McCain should have chosen someone else.

Is there a post where you have said another positive about McCain?   Not saying there isn't, but I'm not sure I've read or can remember every post here.

  So you like the fact he believes in taking money from one group of citizens because they have more money than he deems they need in order to give it to others who he thinks needs it while ignoring that the citizens he is taking the money from have worked hard to earn their status in society?

Sorry, but that is just flat out wrong & I would benefit from that happening.    Theft via Gov. taxation is still theft.  All this is a trying to buy votes from poor people who think they are going to get some free money. 

Raising taxes on the wealthier of Americans will only do more harm to the already weak economy.  I thought the Dems. should have learned that lesson with the Yacht industry under Clinton.

Two, you like the fact of socialized medicine?   You like the fact of having to go to the Gov to get your health care?   There is even a higher taxes to pay for it.

What happened to America being where people make their own way?  Get rewarded for their good decision & punished for their bad ones?  Why should a man who invest his own money & time & took all the risk in starting up a company now pay more taxes to support someone who never tried to make more of himself?

This is ideology from the Dem side of the table, that I never have gotten.  The message they are sending is don't work hard, don't try to make something of yourself, because we will only take the money you have worked hard for because we now deem you do not need it, which is markism.

How does this look good?  I know to people who are not there like this thought process, but that is only because they are lazy & not willing to get their themselves, so they want the Gov. to steal for them & its how the Gov is slowly taking us away from our own freedom under the pretense of "Fairness"  What the F is fair about this?

Plus the fact we as Americans never take the power we have as a mass group & force these people to do what we want them to do.

   That is good to know.

  How can Palin scare you, but Obama not?  Both have no track record of being able to handle something as big as this.  Just because Obama is more well spoken ( He is a great speaker ), does not mean he is any more aware of things. 

From where I sit, people that want Obama want him for the same reason Rep like Palin.   She comes off very well for what they want.   

She is not going to take the country anywhere, she is the VP if elected.  The country only goes where Congress allows it.   IMO the Pres is more of a figure head.  Its Congress's choice to choose to blindly follow or not. 

I thought I was clear about that in the original post.  If she wins the VP nomination, there's not much point of speculating about her career.

I'll start a new post for you to debate whether or not she will win.

That's a fair question.

Obama campaigned his way through the primaries on a national stage, answering questions at press conferences, participating in debates, and giving interviews to reporters.  In doing so, he garnered enough respect to earn over 18 million votes.

In contrast, Palin was arbitrarily snatched out of a pile of potential VP candidates, with no accountability required.  She didn't go through the same vetting by the national public that Obama did.

It's completely reasonable to think of both of them as potentially unqualified, but Obama has taken the steps to (attempt to) prove that he understands the issues.  In contrast, the McCain campaign has enforced an airtight media shield around Palin from the day of her selection.  When the knock on your candidate is that they don't grasp the issues, insulating them from questions is not the solution.  The Gibson and Couric interviews confirmed what people suspected: Palin is being protected because she's clueless.  Inexperience can be trumped by good judgment, but cluelessness is a dealbreaker.

As to why Biden's gaffe on FDR has gone virtually unnoticed: it's simply irrelevant.  Even if Biden is ignorant as to early 20th century timelines, it's pretty much unquestioned that he does understand foreign policy today (due to his 30+ years in the Senate).  BTW, McCain enjoys the same advantage; even as he repeatedly confuses Sunni and Shia (e.g. the interview where Lieberman had to remind him that Iran is not Sunni), the press just gives him a pass because it's given that he understands the important details.

Obama would get torched for the same mistake, and Palin doubly so.  McCain and Biden get some leeway because of their decades of congressional service.