"This entire Palin selection is a Rovian head fake." (thank you emlev/Plunger)

[Beam Me Up]

DU poster emlev posted this in this DU thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3902250#3902676
and on bradblog here: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6349#comment-364825 But I think it deserves a thread all its own. Whether it is nailed down exactly or not, this whole thing STINKS like a Rovian ploy. One thing is for certain, it has gotten everyone talking about the Republicans/McSame/Palin, even here at DU!

COMMENT #2
... emlev said on 9/2/2008 @ 12:11 am PT...


Commenter "Plunger" http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6341#comment-364641">had a very interesting take on this as an off-topic (OP) comment following a completely unrelated BRAD BLOG story:

...HERE’S MY TAKE:

This entire Palin selection is a Rovian head fake. It was designed by Rove to accomplish two goals. First and foremost, to take ALL of the air out of the media that the Obama camp was destined to carry into the GOP convention. It did that, in spades. The echo just simply stopped. The news cycle yesterday was absent of any analysis or follow-through on Obama's speech...itself a major coup for Rove. It’s as though the entire media machine stopped speaking of anything “Democratic,” in unison.

Secondly, the (apparent) selection of Palin throws a bone to the Puma's and to women generally…one that McCain doesn’t have to necessarily follow through with, but made for a nice (disingenuous) photo-op.

Third; they're just not that stupid not to have known about the controversy - and her familial requirements and responsibilities (Downs Syndrome newborn to care for). In short, their unbelievable choice is in fact, unbelievable..."a straw-woman."

By the time the convention occurs, news will come out that the GOP's own investigators have determined that, while no proof of wrong doing exists, the mere investigation of it is a distraction that the GOP simply cannot afford so close to the election. As such, the announcement that either Lieberman or Romney have become McCain’s choice will come as a massive relief to the GOP base, and capture the entire news cycle for weeks to come. If Rove thought it would be impossible for a McCain/Lieberman ticket to succeed without some form of trickery, he would have dreamed this up, making Lieberman look good by comparison. All of the push-back will already be out of the system.

He’s pulled these same stunts in the past – like putting Bernie Kerik’s name into nomination only to pull him and install Chertoff as Homeland Security Dictator. Remember when the name of Harriet Miers was put forward for a Supreme Court position? Remember? A fire storm of push back erupted, only to be followed by the swift and easy confirmation of Roberts, who looked like a breath of fresh air BY COMPARISON. THEY ARE GAMING YOU!

I've long suspected that McCain would not be the GOP candidate on the ticket come November. I've had various ideas about how the NeoCons might get rid of him, and I admit that this wasn't one of the scenarios I imagined. But now I do wonder if we're seeing the beginning of a chain of events that will lead to my prediction coming true.

[DarthDem]

1. 1, 2, 3 . . . .

Everything is not orchestrated by Karl Rove.

Karl Rove is not an omniscient, godlike being with the ability to predict the actions of millions of independent humans.

Sometimes an idiotic decision is just an idiotic decision.

[KansDem]

11. I agree. Rove can stuff Diebold voting machines...

...and come up with some political dirty tricks now and then (ie, stuffing the Justice Department with Bushistas), but this is way beyond the capabilities of TurdBlossom...

[Forkboy]

2. Rove is not an evil genius.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6862712&mesg_id=6862712

[cdb]

3. Entirely plausible. Time will tell.

but I still think lieberman will doom McCain

[villager]

4. Giving Rove too much credit again?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6880405

[Stop Cornyn]

5. It's the Harriet Myers strategy. Float a strawwoman, blame Democrats for pulling her down, replace

her with a complete tool who gets much praise in contrast to the strawwoman.

[tridim]

Naw, the GOP and McCain are just rock stupid.

And the Palin pick is a direct result of that stupidity.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. Palin now opens the corruption box that contains Abramoff Ted Stevens, Reed and the others

McCain is also implicated.

[EFerrari]

7. I posted the question yesterday of whether she was just put in

on a temp basis to activate the fundie base for McMore.

[lame54]

8. Except Palin won't go down quietly...

She is too damn ambitious
It has been suggested that mccain is using her but I think it is the other way around

Watch how she looks at him - she can't stand him - Here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3897595&mesg_id=3897595

[saltpoint]

10. A very public and sustained squabble between McCain and Palin

would be really tasty.

[eleny]

14. Right - And what's in it for her to go along with Karl Rove?

Her daughter's privacy and reputation is being aired out in public all over the world by now. And her own association with Stevens and the AIP make this a very messy scenario.

Palin is ambitious. So although it's an interesting theory proposed here in the OP, I think it has more to do with McCain's incompetence as a "maverick" when he finally took the reins and made his own choice. It's more plausible that he tried to break with his handlers. If it worked out and Palin was a quality individual, she would have been a feather in his cap.

[AlinPA]

26. I don't think Palin cares about anything except her chance at power.

[Lost-in-FL]

9. No, the GOP is really this stupid. nt

[wtmusic]

12. Occam triumphs again

If it looks like a dumb-ass stupid move, and it sounds like a dumb-ass stupid move, it could either be a brilliantly-orchestrated conspiracy designed to make us all THINK it's a dumb-ass stupid move, or...

[Beam Me Up]

15. Why do "stupid moves" by the Republicans always seem to make them rich?

We've seen it over and over and over again in the last eight years. THEY make "stupid moves" and THEY and their cronies make LOTS of money.

Not to mention getting away with abuses of power and war crimes.

Go figure.

[Orsino]

20. The stupid moves that the MSM agree to prop up are profitable.

The others cost the Bushies.

[wtmusic]

30. They profit in spite of stupid moves

by sheer political will and firepower (money).

An overwhelming majority of Americans think Iraq was a bad idea, but somehow McCain's candidacy is in play. A minority of Americans with a lot of capital are making it happen.

[ComplimentarySwine]

13. I don't think that it will work

If he replaces someone that the Christian fundamentalists view as one of their own, with someone that doesn't hold those same beliefs, I figure he'll have even worse problems that he may have right now.

[Beam Me Up]

16. And now: "Sarah Palin cancels convention appearances"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3904920

[The Stranger]

17. Not this time.

The U.S. voting public is not as easy to manipulate as the U.S. Senate. (I know, hard to believe.)

If this was the work of Karl Rove, then this is his Waterloo.

[radfringe]

18. assuming they do replace mccain at last minute

is their "pick" organized enough and funded enough to run what will appear to be a last minute campaign? and at what cost to their political support?

yes, replacing mccain with ______... will garner the media attention for a couple of days - then what?

[Orsino]

19. Certainly not. This is a colossal blunder.

I'm sure that Rove, if he has actually been consulted, is advising them to dump her before the damage is too great.

He sure as hell wasn't consulted prior to the selection of Palin. No, Palin is the work of some idealistic, but naive, consultants desperate for a pretty face to put on Campaign Fail.

[onenote]

21. no. not even close

And the idea that the repubs have a plan to replace Palin with Lieberman may be the single stupidest thing I've seen. The base, all energized and excited by Palin, would absolutely go ballistic if she was ousted and replaced by Lieberman, who has a basically pro-choice record.

[seemslikeadream]

22. This one was Dobson's baby

[KillCapitalism]

23. Rove? Nah, this would be too stupid for him to orchestrate.

If McCain dumped Palin it would be a disaster because he would look very indecisive. If he sticks with her it will look like he has poor judgement.

He is screwed either way, but I think he'll stick with her.

[wileedog]

24. Nope, supposedly Rove was pissed at the selection

In fact I think it is a big "F you" from McCain to Rove because he couldn't have Joe.

If this is planned, its beyond stupid. McCain is now in a scenario where if he pulls Palin he loses the Zealots who are so in love with this pick. He can't possible take their new Champion of Unborn Babies away from them and give them Mitt Romney (or worse Holy Joe), they will desert in droves.

But if he keeps her, he will lose those independents and moderates he has been wooing from the very start, the area of the political spectrum where he has always had the most strength and where his true chances of winning are.

If it was a head fake, it was a real dumb one.

[notadmblnd]

25. If it's true.. I don't see it helping the repigs

first he can be the nominee, then he can't? Then they'll replace him with who? Romney or one of the others who've already dropped out because of their lack of popularity? The neocons may end up getting the nominee they want, but they're still going to lose the election. They're out of tricks, they have no one that has enough respect or popularity to be President. How does this hoax help? To me it only demonstrates their desperation and the total disarray/collapse of their party.:shrug:

[KillCapitalism]

27. .dupe n/t

[King Coal]

28. We will find out, won't we.

[DS1]

29. Nah, I really do think they are that stupid

I suspect Karl was one-upped by McCain who wanted to demonstrate that Karl will not be McCain's brain as he is Bush's

[dixiegrrrrl]

31. I see different scenarios:

Actually, 3:

1. Bu$h and Co. have ruined Repub. chances of winning an election, so
picking Dumb and Dumber is a throwaway move.
No sane Repub. candidate could be found for this lost election cycle.

or

2. There will be an "event" that provides excuse to cancel elections.

Either way, McCain is expendable.

or

3. By some miracle or "accident" Repubs win election and nothing changes,
2 hand puppets are placed in WH to replace Bush puppet.

[Beam Me Up]

32. Your #2 and #3 are what have me worried. n/t

[quiet.american]

33. I must admit, DU was the first to shove Obama/Biden aside for 24/7 Palin.

Guess it does work every time.

[Beam Me Up]

34. Stunning, isn't it? n/t

[quiet.american]

36. Yes, and disheartening, too. nt

[glitch]

35. Only if their ultimate intention is to lose the election, take the loot and skip country

while everyone's distracted. Still a possibility, IMO.

[Telly Savalas]

37. The "head fake" metaphor only works if you call

dribbling the ball of your foot and throwing yourself to the floor a "head fake".

[katty]

38. agree it is a rover play all the way

[autorank]

39. One & Two, no. Third, maybe

One - this wasn't the week to take the press away from Obama. That was a given. If Rove was behind this, then he ruined the chance for McCain to get the benefits of fawning media attention. Why head fake and end up with a total loser. He's got nohting but negatives.

Two - sorry, there are no PUMAs, they're an urban legend, they don't exist. No bones for imaginary creatures.

Third - how could they be this stupid. It argues that Rove wasn't involved at all. He'd never do this. So, correct, Rove can't be that stupid but that presumes he did this. I suu that the McCain people think that they're in charge and they are very sloppy people.