People watch tightrope walkers because they might fall and splatter on the ground, and when they reach the end of the line safely, there is a great release of tension.
So it is with tonight’s prime-time acceptance speech by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, picked by Republican presidential candidate John McCain to be his running mate.
One of the most anticipated political speeches in memory will begin to answer whether McCain’s gamble on the unknown chief executive of a sparsely populated and remote state was wise.
Palin, 44, was chosen in part for her demographic pedigree - working mother of five; evangelical Christian, NRA member, hunter – but also for her toughness. “She’s a chick with a Y chromosome,” a prominent GOP strategist said. Palin was bitterly opposed by her party’s leaders when she ran for governor, mostly on the theme that they were slime balls. McCain, it is said, was reminded of his own maverick side when he met Palin and, not incidentally, wanted to revive that image after spending the last eight years kissing up to the GOP establishment to win the nomination.
She takes the stage tonight amid a series of embarrassing revelations and questions about her background. Yesterday, the McCain campaign had to produce voter-registration documents in an attempt to prove that Palin was not, as reported by some outlets, a member of the separatist Alaskan Independence Party. It also appears that she flip-flopped on the infamous $400 million “Bridge to Nowhere.” Palin takes credit for opposing that pork now, but supported the project when she ran for governor.
And then, of course, the news that Palin’s 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant. She and her husband had to release that news bulletin because liberal bloggers had widely speculated that her infant son, Trig, was really her grandson. Bristol is marrying the teen father and keeping the baby, her family said.
Stay tuned.
So it is with tonight’s prime-time acceptance speech by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, picked by Republican presidential candidate John McCain to be his running mate.
One of the most anticipated political speeches in memory will begin to answer whether McCain’s gamble on the unknown chief executive of a sparsely populated and remote state was wise.
Palin, 44, was chosen in part for her demographic pedigree - working mother of five; evangelical Christian, NRA member, hunter – but also for her toughness. “She’s a chick with a Y chromosome,” a prominent GOP strategist said. Palin was bitterly opposed by her party’s leaders when she ran for governor, mostly on the theme that they were slime balls. McCain, it is said, was reminded of his own maverick side when he met Palin and, not incidentally, wanted to revive that image after spending the last eight years kissing up to the GOP establishment to win the nomination.
She takes the stage tonight amid a series of embarrassing revelations and questions about her background. Yesterday, the McCain campaign had to produce voter-registration documents in an attempt to prove that Palin was not, as reported by some outlets, a member of the separatist Alaskan Independence Party. It also appears that she flip-flopped on the infamous $400 million “Bridge to Nowhere.” Palin takes credit for opposing that pork now, but supported the project when she ran for governor.
And then, of course, the news that Palin’s 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, was pregnant. She and her husband had to release that news bulletin because liberal bloggers had widely speculated that her infant son, Trig, was really her grandson. Bristol is marrying the teen father and keeping the baby, her family said.
Stay tuned.
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It's amazing how much we've read about Palin's supposed "issues" at philly.com, yet very little about Biden's history of plagarism and racism. I'll assume for now that this is a hometown thing since Biden's from Delaware as the Inquirer and Daily News cannot possibly be biased politically.— hairball- Comment removed.
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- I don't get the point of this article. Obama is a pretty big gamble as well. The liberal media and the democrats are too blinded by ideology to see the truth. Most of Obama's experience comes from running a Presidential campaign. Palin has actually served as a Governor, and please spare me the population of Alaska quotes...Bill Clinton served as Governor of Arkansas, and Arkansas has a state population that is roughly the size of Philadelphia PA and surrounding suburbs.— sixsigma
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- It should be noted that the Republican's number 2 has more executive experience than the Democrat's number 1. So why is Palin's experience level an issue to the Dems? People in glass houses...— hairball
- longshanks, Plagarism and racism will get you FIRED from your workplace. Check any code of legal compliance. That is why it is relevant. Biden has served 36 years without a minute of experience leading people. You obviously have no idea what a governor does vs. a senator in terms of management. Biden would be far more credible to me if he served even briefly as governor of Delaware.— hairball
- I love these comments where after you make a point, people say, "then go read something else!" You notice these intellectually bankrupt arguments are just blanket emotional responses (like calling someone racist or sexist) without any real rebuttal. I take from these messages that the poster obviously agrees that the two papers are biased and can offer no substantive response other than name calling.— hairball
- The selection of Sarah Palin was a politcal gimmick.— Mr. Black
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- I think Levi did the Bristol stomp! And yes, it is rape, I agree with Gibba Mang.— scars73
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About Inquirer political writers
The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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