update-one step closer to palin quitting.

[kenfrequed]

Now that CNN is running with the news story with Palin’s hometown being the only one in Alaska that was forcing women to pay for their own rape-tests we are one step closer to my prediction of her inevitable drop out.

Many of us, who have been scrutinizing more important issues than her family, have known about this for over a week. Her counter argument will be that either she was unaware of it or that she has no control over the police chief’s office. Or she will lie and say that she tried to do something about it.

Juxtapose this cost saving device with the fact that she allocated public tax payer dollars to redecorate her office without so much as a vote and you have the end pf Palin.

This IS the sort of thing that will devastate the attraction of the women voters that McCain was hoping to court. Of course it would have been enough to keep them at home, but this will go a bit too far.

If he does not cut her loose by the end of the first full week of October, then 50.9% of the U.S. population (estimated from 2000 census) will swing back towards voting democrat.

Now who will the GOP put in as replacement VP?

[rurallib]

1. Cheney - he has the experience.

[Retrograde]

37. Plus, McCain won't have to dig him out of his bunker (n/t)

[MercutioATC]

2. They can't cut her loose...as bad as her numbers get, they're higher than McCain's.

Unless they can dig up and reanimate Reagan, I think McCain's stuck with Palin.

[pipi_k]

41. They don't even have to dig him up...

just do a computer-generated Reagan and they'll think it's a miracle...


"Look!!! Reagan's not dead anymore!!!"



:7

[FatDave]

49. Heh. Ron Headrest.

Doonesbury, circa 1986.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Headrest

[gateley]

3. I would have discounted this option not too long ago --

but now with the reports of the networks getting fed up with the lack of access to Palin, maybe this might become a reality.

Regardless of who they chose, it would have to shake up the party. They'd have to wonder at the wisdom of the decision in picking her to begin with. Or, highly likely, they would blame US for forcing her out, and rally around their 'wronged' party.

Personally, I think Palin's exit from the ticket would be very, very positive for us.

[kenfrequed]

10. Personally...

I am still of the opiniont that his is by design.

You throw red meat out to the convention and pull back the christian conservative base which was considering staying home.

You make a cheap jab at getting the Clinton voters.

You play the media and the phoney populism.

She provides you a 'faux-fresh' smalltown bump.

When her past catches up with you she drops out for the 'good of the country and John McCain is too important a candidate' yadda yadda yadda.

She gets media sympathy with her drop out.

McCain's party gets another visability bump with a new candidate and they intensify the fight again.

If they play it right, they can ride the bumps into an election day that is 'too close to call' (ie. close enough to steal)

[yardwork]

59. It would enrage the fundies and they wouldn't vote. McCain won't drop her

unless something new comes out that is so bad there is simply no choice. Frankly, she's already unimaginably bad and apparently that's still not enough for the fundies to pull their support, so I predict that she stays.

I'm always wrong, though.

[kenfrequed]

66. Well

If it would alientate the Fundies that they have managed to attract with her, then you are probably right.

[JuniperLea]

19. In my wildest imagination... and trust me, it's wild...

I cannot fathom one reason her departure from the GOP ticket might in any way prove a positive for us.

[gateley]

26. I'm thinking that if she were replaced by Romney, many of the evangelicals

would throw up their hands in disgust. Same with Lieberman (although they'll never let them hav him.)

But that's just my opining/sense of it, and I am frequently way off base.

[FatDave]

50. Because McCain looks weak for dumping her...

...and reckless for choosing her. And unless the replacement is JHC Himself, the fundies will probably be pissed.

To dump her is a losing proposition.

[kenfrequed]

53. It is only a losing proposition

If he dumps her. If she jumps ship with John McCain publically calling stating that he begged her to stay then he comes out ahead.

And oh by the way his pleading with her or an account of his having pled with her constitutes another domination of a tw day new cycle.

[dansolo]

82. No, it still looks bad

McCain cannot replace his VP this late in the game, whatever the reason. He is stuck with her. Her leaving would only highlight the lack of planning in his choosing her in the first place. And without her, he loses the fundy base of his party, who are only enthused because they expect him to kick the bucket and leave her in charge.

[dchill]

62. "very positive for us."

That's why it won't happen.

[napi21]

4. There's no way they will cut her loose. 1st, no Pub ever admits a

mistake! 2nd, if it weren't for the Barracuda, NOBODY would attend any Pub rallies!

[JuniperLea]

20. Your #1 nails it... no need to go beyond that!

Show me one time any Pub ever admitted a mistake. Even Bush II with his erroneous WMD reports... he came clean, sort of, with layers and layers of white wash.

Nope. Not going to happen. Wouldn't be prudent;)

[kenfrequed]

28. It won't be like that.

Palin will announce that she is quitting for 'the good fo the party, of John McCain, and for the good of America. It will be a fake appeal to small town humility or some such nonsense.

[JuniperLea]

32. It's too late in the race

The GOP would never allow this.

[central scrutinizer]

40. ballots are already printed in many states

way too late

[JuniperLea]

45. Some have already voted even!

This early voting deal is just another way to lose count of votes, imho.

[TlalocW]

5. I disagree but...

I disagree. Palin is Bush squared or even better, the quintessential Fox News viewer - stupid, vacuous, wholly ignorant of the world around her, etc. but thinks she's more knowledgeable than anyone else. Add to that she apparently is incapable of feeling ashamed - because, after all, with Jesus on your side, you're never wrong - mixed in with being power hungry, and there's no way in hell she's going to drop out by herself.

And if McCain tries to boot her, she's going to go running to the religious right power players that got her put on the ticket in the first place, and McCain will likely back down.

That said, I think she'll be viewed as toxic by the majority of voters, and she will push people to our side.

TlalocW

[blondeatlast]

6. Not gonna happen but they are gonna have to leash her up but good... nt

[Boz]

7. Palin isnt going any where, McCain would, and it would be Jeb Bush as her VP

If the ticket buy some act of god one, McCain would step down at or around Easter 2009 for health issues and ride off into the sunset as Gerald Ford 2. President Plain(bleh) would name a vp Jeb Bush (whom has picked up the reform mantle the last 2 weeks, even slamming his brothers administration) and it would happen while congress was in recess so there would be no confirmation, and once placed he would be Cheney 3.0 and exist in that untouchable world between Legislative and Executive so he would not be able to be removed easily once placed, thanks to Cheney already setting the precedent.

[iamjoy]

8. She's Not Quitting

In the end, women won't know or care about this. I don't think this will change anyone's mind. Her supporters will find a way to justify it.

* First of all, it is not just men who blame rape victims for their situation, many women do too.
* Second of all, many figure it's really the insurance companies who pay. They would believe so few people are without insurance and the situation is so rare, that it affected few (if any) women.
* Third, some may think it's okay anyway because the woman is getting a physical exam, too - and why should the government pay for that? If we use the analogy that when your house is robbed you don't get charged for the fingerprint kit, they could also say the police don't clean up your house, either.

SO - the women either deserved it, didn't really have to pay (insurance) or got something out of it. Please don't call me insensitive - I personally think it is an outrage, but there are actually people out there who think like this.

Some will say Palin didn't know about it and that's perfectly okay. Were women raped in her town during her tenure as mayor? Did any of them complain about this? If it was never an issue during any of her prior campaigns, raising it now will be accused of partisanship. People will raise the issue of how much Palin did for women.

This is another outrage to people who already don't like Palin. It may give pause to some undecideds, but I don't think it will have a big affect.

Of course, I could be wrong. I think if we are going to use this, we must highlight Joe Biden's accomplishments helping women - the Violence Against Women Act.

[Kalyke]

9. She won't drop out. Republicans don't know how to admit they're wrong.

They just keep heading in the wrong direction, taking us all with them, unfortunately, until we all run hard into a brick wall.

[neomonkey]

11. Sounds like you underestimate the complacency of the American people

I think we're out of revelations.
It will take something truly major to bring anyone down at this point in the race.

Maybe something like "Sarah Palin humped a moose"....that kind of Nat'l Enq headline could do it. I wouldn't hold my breath. We know what a turd she is, but we are the choir.

[progressoid]

12. Not gonna happen - - the GOP is not known for admitting it's mistakes and fixing them

They'd rather keep on with the disaster and pretend it was a great idea.

[kenfrequed]

13. Really?

Unless the use of Palin is not a mistake.

What if they put in this Disney movie funadmentalist hockey mom as a media ploy. What if her resignation will be another sympathy ploy?

[Bucky]

75. I don't think you understand Republican psychology.

They admire stubborn more than clever. (e.g. "In what sense, Charlie?")

[kenfrequed]

90. The appearance..

Of stubborn and being set in their ways IS their cleverness. But you make a great mistake in assuming they aren't capable of guile or cleverness in tactics.

Underestimating the opposition is a mistake, but then again I suppose letting fear of failure paralyzing democrats into inaction is worse, as Rove used to cause among some of us.

[grantcart]

14. If she resigns it will be Romney

[Midlodemocrat]

15. Dupe. Damn computer.

[Midlodemocrat]

16. She's not going anywhere.

Except straight to Hell when she dies.

[knixphan]

17. !

http://www.236.com/video/2008/get_your_war_on_sarah_palin_an_9028.php

[JuniperLea]

18. I doubt she's going anywhere...

And that is to our great advantage. They might bring someone in with an actual working brain.

[kenfrequed]

24. That is the give away.

It is impossible for me to accept that they would have picked a candidate so ill prepared and so poorly vetted without some kind of plan.

And the crying sob story about "America being too important" and "Leave my family alone" fits that mold.

[JuniperLea]

31. The Sacrificial GOP Ticket

That is what we are seeing. I firmly believe this. They knew that statistically there was no way they were going to win this election. The world is blaming, and rightfully so, most of our financial woes on the Republican party. The current Republican president has a lower rating than Nixon did during Watergate... that is telling.

Damn them for putting this old man through the mill. Shame on them and their houses!

[kenfrequed]

38. We shall see.

I suppose you may be right. I originally rated it at a 40% chance that she would drop. Now I would say it is 45%. Still I could easily be wrong as well.

[Highway61]

89. Damn, I love your rabbit!

:rofl:

[scheming daemons]

21. Palin is not quitting.... they'll limp to the finish line with her....

They're setting up for 2012.


They've given up on 2008.

[Orsino]

33. I think you're right.

They can lose, and play the victim for four years of Obama, or they can admit right now to the ludicrous failure she represents, and thereby lose no matter who replaces her. I think they'll put off facing reality for as long as possible.

In 2012, they can moan about how that nice Sarah Palin was pilloried by the liberal press, and the low information will dimly recall events that way.

[WI_DEM]

22. She's not going to drop out and neither is Biden.

The base the fundies love her and so they will keep her.

[Occam Bandage]

23. Um, in case you missed it, their fundraising, media presence, base support, volunteer lists,

and red-state support have skyrocketed since the Palin pick. She ain't dropping.

[TheKentuckian]

25. Palin is going nowhere she's the draw

and they probably know the ticket is going nowhere either. If anyone drops it'll be McShame, he's damaged goods, clearly not capable of doing the job. Palin very, very likely cannot be made ready either but that has not been fully demonstrated because she doesn't actually deal with anything or anyone.

[WeDidIt]

27. Never. Gonna. Happen.

Sorry, no way does she drop off the ticket.

It'll never happen in a million years.

[davsand]

29. She'll never drop off the ticket.

Having said that, however, I will also say that I would not want to fly on any planes with her if her numbers get to be too low. I wish no harm to any person, but you have to know I trust some of those guys about as far as I can throw them.



Laura

[sofa king]

30. The end of the first week in October sounds right.

The VP debate is set for the 2nd. If Biden wrecks her entirely, she'll be out within 72 hours after that.

She's already served her purpose, which was to make McCain look interesting. She has no actual qualifications beyond that, so if it becomes expedient for them to dump her, they will.

The primary pressure to keep her will come from the bible thumpers and the bought cattle in the press, who have already invested a lot of reputation in supporting her. The Republicans don't give a damn about those folks, either.

[kenfrequed]

69. That was how I saw it anyhow.

However, if they dump her too quickly after the debates they will really have to ratchet up the stories about her family, both favorable and unfavorable. Fox will run a news special about how embattled her family is.

Hell they might run that news special even if she stays in the race.

[nsd]

34. Charging women for rape kits as a "cost-saving" measure?

How many rapes happen in Wasilla, Alaska, anyway?

[kenfrequed]

57. Well now...

I was employing a twisted sort of sarchasm. I probably should have marked it as such since I am not Swift, when it comes to these things.

As to rape, Alaska reports that it occurs at a rate that is 2.5 times the national average.

[KansasVoter]

35. You are a fool, with all due respect! I'll bet you $100 you are WRONG!!!!

[kenfrequed]

63. Well that is excessive

Calling me a fool and what.

I might have almost taken that bet too. I mean I must be a fool to throw away a 45% chance (by my own guess) at making $100.

You know I would much prefer it if people would just stick to discussing things rather than calling names.

[Hamlette]

36. actually, Biden is trading at twice as likely to be withdrawn at intrade

Biden is up 3 points today to 8 something, Palin is down .07 today at 4 something.

[kenfrequed]

39. There is no reason

There is no reason for Biden to drop save possibly to coddle the idiocy of the PUMA crowd who have managed to make this entire race personal. I have yet to find one that can articulate why she was better on the issues or, more importantly, how voting for McCain is better.

[The Backlash Cometh]

42. Never-look-back Palin, finally was forced to come to terms with her past

decisions. That's called justice.

[unblock]

43. her job is fundraiser, and she's doing it very well.

so well, in fact, that even obama is raking in more money because of her :rofl:

[smoogatz]

44. Pffffffft.

Republicans obviously don't give a good god damn about this kind of thing. If the pregnant underage daughter and the Enquirer affair story didn't do it, she's in for the duration.

[hamsterjill]

46. Don't think it would ever happen.

I think Palin has had a taste of national politics and she's not going to give it up quietly. Her ego likes being fed way too much.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

47. Knowing the Bushes threw fund raisers for Mitt Romney...

...maybe they were planning on Mittens all along.

My tinfoil hat theory is that "they" went to Palin and said, 'You know that $26b Alaskan gas pipeline that has been staled for three decades? -You approve it this month and we'll make you McCain's running mate'.

She says, 'Okey dokey'

Maybe their plan was to use her as a distraction, dump her, and then bring in Mittens.

...Then it would be too late for people to realize how Mitt made his money.

[samuraiguppy]

48. if we could get her to drop out--

I would be soooo happy.

[spinbaby]

52. Be careful what you wish for

I can imagine worse things on the ticket.

[kenfrequed]

54. You shouldn't be

The republicans will use it. They use everything. Unless the Democrats somehow manage to suddenly mutate and aquire the ability to spin it will hurt them.

[Terran]

51. She's not going to quit

Sorry, but the pubbies, and I think McCain especially, can never admit they made a mistake that big. And at this point it may be better for us if she stays and keeps being a big lipsticky ball of scandal.

[Rabrrrrrr]

55. The deal is that they picked her with the intention of dumping her last minute

So that McCain could quickly, and at the last minute, bring in a real stooge that the media won't have any time to vet at all.

[renie408]

65. What? The plan was to LOSE from the beginning? That doesn't make sense. n/t

[kenfrequed]

68. I'm uncertain about that

I am more of the mind that the plan is to wring every drop of fake pathos and fake sympathy they can out of her.

Additionally they get as many bounces and jumps in the polls with controlling the news cycle that they can convince us that the election they will lose is close enough to steal.

[demokatgurrl]

56. SHE. IS. NOT. QUITTING.

Neither candidate is going to dump their VP choice at this point. It is not going to happen. Period. Stop it.

[SuperTrouper]

58. It's not gonna happen but if it did we'll have a new ticket since the GOP will throw McSame

overboard: Cheney/Jeb 2008 :rofl:

[Blue_In_AK]

60. She won't be quitting.

The McCain/Bush operatives are investing too much into her to give up at this point. Rumor is, however, that her attorney general, Talis Colberg, may be resigning, as well he should since he could get disbarred for telling state employees to ignore subpoenas.

[iamthebandfanman]

61. why would they changed VPs with only a lil over a month left?

thatd FOR SURE be political suicide...

theyll ride this out regardless... as someone else said above.. ur assuming republicans admit they make mistakes... lol


this palin stepping down crap thats comes up atleast 2-3 times a week around here since shes been picked is just silly

[renie408]

64. They won't dump her as long as she remains POPULAR, Yeah, I said it...

She is popular among their base. McCain might as well concede as dump Palin.

[cosmodem]

67. Has there been any evidence

that Sarah Palin, as mayor at that time, wanted or agreed to pass the cost onto the women?
Please, I am just asking. I have read some related posted here on DU but can not locate any.



http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-10-rape-exams_N.htm


Palin's town used to bill victims for rape kits
Updated 9/11/2008 10:25 AM

By Ken Dilanian and Matt Kelley, USA TODAY
WASILLA, Alaska — In 2000, Alaska lawmakers learned that rural police agencies had been billing rape victims or their insurance companies $500 to $1,200 for the costs of the forensic medical examinations used to gather evidence. They quickly passed a law prohibiting the practice.

According to the sponsor, Democrat Eric Croft, the law was aimed in part at Wasilla, where now-Gov. Sarah Palin was mayor. When it was signed, Wasilla's police chief expressed displeasure.

WASILLA LIBRARY: Palin did not ban books as mayor

"In the past, we've charged the cost of exams to the victims' insurance company when possible," then-chief Charlie Fannon told the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, the local newspaper. "I just don't want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer.".......

[kenfrequed]

70. Lets see

State wide legislation that is enacted specifically because her small town does this. Palin does not speak out about this during her entire time in office. This police Chief ends up being the most proactive force against the bill. Palin does not call for the police chief's resignation at all. And seems not to have noticed a thing about it.

I suppose she was too busy trying to get librarians fired and redecorate her office.

[cosmodem]

73. Thanks.

[kenfrequed]

76. Honestly

Proof that she was against it should have taken the form of her actually standing up against it. If she wasn't for it, she should have, as mayor, probably friggin said something.

Since I can find no evidence of her having an opinion on it I have to assume she either didn't care, didn't mind, or was a passive supporter of it.

[kenfrequed]

78. Or

She was incompetant

[cosmodem]

85. all of those are possibilities. But

articles i have read said there were very few rape cases in her town --so the issue may not have been raised to the level where it registered as a problem.

[kenfrequed]

86. which articles?

Ok, but that is nonsense.

That suggests that the rate was low enough that it shouldn't have been an economic burden at all. Ergo this is a violation of the victim for no damned reason.

Also...what are these mysterious sources?

[kenfrequed]

87. So ...?

Is it Fox news questioning or response technique then? "People are saying" "It has been said" "The word on the street is..." "Reports have been made..."

nothing?

[DangerDave921]

71. She will not drop out

any more than Biden will drop out. Do you see the crowds she is generating? I know you hate her, but you need to take a step back.

She is not going to drop out. That would be political suicide for McCain.

[totodeinhere]

72. There is too much useless speculation around here.

This thread talks about Palin dropping and another thread on this same message board says there is a rumor that Biden will drop out.

Come on people, get a grip. Neither one of them will drop out.

[Bucky]

74. Your theory is based on the belief that the GOP (1) can recognize a mistake (2) will want to fix it

When do they ever back down from a fuck up? These are the same people who rode the Clinton impeachment bandwagon right past Bubba's 70% approval rating and straight into hell. They will not back down from the Palin nomination--the fundies would never forgive them. They'd have to catch her in bed live moose or a dead POW before they back down from this nomination. They certainly won't be turned off just because a few mere reporters can't get access.

Hell, they want the press sniping at them. That's part of their self-image.

[cap]

79. this info is fodder for the undecideds and not hte hard core Republicans

it digs into the softer support from women. A lot of women don't like Palin.

[RagAss]

77. It was a town of 7,000 people....How many fucking Rape kits did they need?

The Horror......The Horror....

[kenfrequed]

80. Well

If it was very few then the obsession with the cost of it has little to do with the actual cost of the rape kit and more to do with an ideology of blaming the woman.

Of course there is the more horrible possibility...

[liam_laddie]

81. AK has the highest

per capita rape rate in the country as well as the highest child-abuse rate. Nice place.
The rape kits include the medicine to induce a chemical D&C, I think. She objected to this
being used. Whatta freak. Did ya know the world just had its 6,000th anniversary? Oh, and
Wasilla or the Mat-Su valley had forty-some meth labs shut down in the last year or so.
Like I said, nice place.

[RagAss]

84. Can she be a bigger piece of shit ??????

[Donald Ian Rankin]

83. Not a chance.

Palin isn't just not a weakness, she's the Republican's greatest asset. Her quitting would hand the Democrats the election on a plate, and barring her being hit by a car it's not going to happen.

[saltpoint]

88. She's so bad she should never have been chosen but since it

is Republicans we're dealing with, there she is.

The sum of her profile has wounded McCain's standing as an "honorable" guy. She gave the fundie nutbags a couple weeks' celebration but all that's old news now that the bailout story has shot to the top of the charts.

I keep watching Palin's husband and am hard-pressed to find many more flat-affect place-holders. Another DUer called him "charmless," and I think that's a perfect word for Todd.

In the same mindset where Harriet Miers is qualified to sit on the Supreme Court, Sarah Palin is qualified to lead the nation (should McCain fall ill or become incapacitated).