My GOP-voting-since-Nixon, 61 year old father's take on Palin:

[RadicalTexan]

I finally got to talk to my dad tonight re: Palin.

My Dad has proudly stated that he's voted Republican in every presidential election since 68. He's retired law enforcement, retired Army Reserves, nominally Baptist, a hunter, white, and a Southerner.

"So - and I'm not trying to start an argument, I really want to hear your opinion - how did you feel about the Sarah Palin pick for VP?"

"I was pissed! When they first announced it, I was really angry. I don't think she's qualified at all - did you see Carville on Larry King holding up that picture of the city hall? Ha! Ha! He said it looked like a bait-and-tackle! What bothers me is, if McCain is all right, then I am fine with her learning on the job or whatever - if she seems pretty bright - she must be to have become the governor - but what if McCain drops dead two days after the inauguration? Then we're screwed? She's just totally unqualified. Also, I liked Obama'a statement today, when he said it was out of bounds to discuss their families, and certainly their children. If Cindy McCain or Michelle Obama come out and start talking about policy, then they're fair game, but I like that he said that - and children are always off limits. He seemed really angry about it - and said that if ANYONE in his campaign was involved in all that mess, they'd be FIRED. I liked that a lot. I guess I feel about this like they were saying about Obama during the primaries - like they have sixty days to show they're competent. She has to show she's highly, highly comptent and capable. If she makes any stupid comments, anything at all, I'm not voting for McCain."


:)

[mwb970]

1. Well, that's it, then.

Assuming that the lie about saying no to the bridge counts as a "stupid comment".

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Ha! Good for your dad!

Had a similar conversation with my 89-year-old dad yesterday. He's also a lifelong Republican, though more of the old-school, non-fundy, non-neocon type. He asked whether I thought Palin would get more women's votes and I said no, most women are insulted, and she's an extreme fundamentalist who doesn't believe in evolution and wants creationism taught in the public schools. He just shook his head and said McCain wasn't gonna make it.

I don't know whether that means he won't vote for him -- it's hard for me to imagine my dad voting for a Democrat -- but he sure seemed unenthusiastic.

[Motown_Johnny]

3. Did you point out her statements on the "bridge to nowhere" and her disclosing the date her son

will be deployed... twice!!!!

IMO she has already said a number of really dumb things

[stanwyck]

4. Stupid comments? Folks, we're only into day 3

the stupid comments will be rolling through for the next two months. This woman won't be able to help herself. She's not stupid. But her very background and current situation is ludicrous. And she'll be forced to defend herself. We're only scraping the surface. We know sex sells. The McCain ticket has just been hijacked by Britney Spears. This won't go away. It's reality TV. We've got the Republican MILF, her C+W Toby Keith lookalike husband, the horny teenaged kids, plus the adorable little tots. Forget The Hills. We've got the Palins.