Blumenthal: Why Palin? McCain v. Rove (best explanation of the selection I've seen yet)

[kristopher]

Why did John McCain select Sarah Palin as his running mate? The real reason is that he made an impulsive decision to prove his independence in reaction to pressure from Karl Rove, who was lobbying for Mitt Romney...according to sources close to the McCain campaign:

On Palin: My information is that Karl Rove wanted Romney and pushed him. McCain pushed back. He really wanted Lieberman. That was completely out of the question. Palin is the result. One element of the Palin nomination is McCain establishing himself apart from the Bush/Rove political operation, even as his campaign manager, Steve Schmidt, is one of their creatures. From the outside, it's often hard to figure out how vicious and divided the Republicans can be with each other.

I further explain that McCain rationalized his hasty choice as an appeal to the Republican base:

On McCain and the GOP base: Conventions are real tests of party unity, as we've just seen with the Democrats. McCain still has to pass the test through his own convention. Palin, among other things, enables him to bring along the social conservatives, or it ought to do so. Once McCain receives the nomination he is freer to move to the center. He is already campaigning more as a "maverick" and behind the scenes he is in some conflict with both Bush and Rove on policy and politics. If we had a sensate political press corps they might report on these abrasions.

McCain's emergence ...

more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sidney-blumenthal/why-palin-mccain-v-rove_b_122841.html

[seemslikeadream]

1. Palin was forced down McNasty's throat by Dobson

take that to the bank

[Vincardog]

2. I prefer the theory that Palin is McSame's FU to the party for 2000

[kristopher]

4. I don't think so.

McCain has eaten too much shit to get this far for that to be the case. However, an impulsive FU to Rove with what he (with his characteristically poor judgment) thought would be a good pick to free him for an appeal to the center. The idea that it plays to the Dobson crowd is on target and part of the larger picture that Sidney lays out, IMO.

[yardwork]

3. It's certain that bushco wanted Romney. I was sure it would be Romney.

Romney is on board with the Bushes and expected to be Bush Phase III. Romney would run the show while McCain wandered around in his grumpy fog - an older but no less demented chimpy in the White House.

McCain fought back. Unfortunately for him, he fought poorly.

[madrchsod]

5. john watched these guys shove bush down reagan`s throat.

maybe it was a big fuck you to these guys but it backfired....

[Demeter]

6. Watch the GOP Try to Dump McCain

bring popcorn.

The new sitcom season has begun!