I think you are absolutely right. Everyone should read Jay Rosen's piece: The Palin Convention and the Culture War Option. Democrats, especially well-educated ones, always underestimate the potential of built-up cultural resentment. Identity politics all over again, but instead of female identity politics, it's identifying with a woman who is small-town, regular folk put down by the media and "elitists." It doesn't matter if it's fiction. Palin is obviously an opportunistic politician through and through and will know just how to play it. She may even be a true believer and buy into it herself. Might as well save my breath, though, on this site. Obama will not underestimate her, so I still have hope.

Posted at September 4, 2008 8:26 AM in response to What Palin Offers -- and What It Would Cost

Wow. Sorry I presented a view not in keeping with everyone else. I guess that's because I'm not a political person. Just reading blogs because I'm interested in this election. I work with people who don't read anything but People or whatever else is in the doctor's office and what is recommended on Sunday. I hope you all are right. I hope the average voter will see through Palin. I have to say I'm pretty offended to be dismissed as a concern troll. Gave 500 plus to Obama myself and I work for $9/hr. There are a lot of women out there who are not stupid but who vote based on the wedge issues. This election hasn't changed that, but more of them are concerned about economics and I hope that will sway them. Meanwhile you will be happy to know that I won't be back because you all are really rude. I used to like this blog because people were interested in discussion and there was less of the blogger attack and destroy dissenting opinions. oh well. No doubt you will assume I'm a Republican plant. Hope you all can say I told you so over and over, but the past 20 years have taught me to be less hopeful.

Posted at September 3, 2008 7:07 AM in response to Thompson: McCain Isn't A Showboating Celeb

And I don't think Obama campaign should do anything but what they are doing. It's the surrogates who seem to be all over the place.

Posted at September 3, 2008 1:14 AM in response to Palin Dragging Feet on Probe

Actually I'm a huge Obama supporter, not a troll. I'm just not a political blogger enthusiast. Mostly I find political blogs self-absorbed and echo chambers. But I work with a lot of fundamentalist, right wing nutters and they are EXCITED. I hope the moderate Republicans are appalled, and I am wrong. Dem bloggers crowing over Bristol Palin gets real boring for me. But the press does seem to be turning on Palin and McCain so maybe I'm wrong. I hope so. Dems have a history of assuming everything is going to go well until it doesn't. And they after 8 years of supporting Bush, many Americans don't seem to have much of a record of concern for accountability.

Posted at September 3, 2008 1:12 AM in response to Palin Dragging Feet on Probe

I think you all are underestimating the Republican base. Read Orr's Case against the Case. Palin has always been underestimated and she uses it. I hope the centrists will reject her. But the race will still be tight with the base all revved up and getting out the vote.

Posted at September 2, 2008 9:15 PM in response to Is This The Real Reason That John McCain Picked Sarah Palin?

I don't understand why you all are all so bullish on Palin imploding. I think the Orr piece The Case against the Case is exactly right. Palin is dangerous. She is galvanizing his base and all this negative press will slide right by them. Maybe the swing voters will come over to Obama and he will be able to beat that Republican majority, but it's going to be a close race now. I don't understand why everyone thinks he will dump her. I think dumping her would be admitting defeat and what's the point in that? The evangelicals would revolt and the swing vote might not counter that. Tell me why I'm wrong. I am really worried about Palin. If she's spun as lightweight by the Dems, they may just sail into the election with a huge underground advantage. After all the average voter DID vote in Bush 2 terms, despite all his incredible lack of foreign policy smarts and the war.

Posted at September 2, 2008 8:52 PM in response to Thompson: McCain Isn't A Showboating Celeb

I think most of you all are so locked into your political bubble that you are delusional. The average voter isn't paying any attention to the actual political record of Palin. They are focused on her hair and her teen baby. I don't believe McCain will dump her. He will lose the evangelicals if he does and he's too stubborn. She may be the reason for Obama moving to 50% but I can't believe that the Republican spin machine won't be just as effective as ever. And so far, the Dems haven't provided a united, effective attack on her at all. Now maybe it's better to wait a while. But if they don't start derailing the Scarborough spin soon, all those vote-like-my-pastor says voters (and god knows there are a hell of a lot of them judging by 8 years of Bush) are going to sail into polls on November and make it another 2004 race. It was always going to be a tight race, but with the evangelicals galvanized it's going to be really tough. Convince me I'm wrong.

Posted at September 2, 2008 8:32 PM in response to Palin Dragging Feet on Probe

The Speaker email address is currently rejecting emails as undeliverable (http://www.speaker.gov/contact).

Her other email (Web Site: www.house.gov/pelosi E-mail: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov) will only accept comments from constituents.

Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4965
Fax: 202-225-8259

Send a fax or letter or better yet, phone.

Posted at March 26, 2008 6:30 PM in response to Obama Camp Hammers Letter To Pelosi As "Inappropriate" -- Demands Hillary Reject It

"On a personal note I would like to add that this is the first election that I have donated to a political candidate. If you can not already tell I am a Barrack Obama supporter. To be honest, my enthusiasm for this election has taken me a bit by surprise. It snuck up on me, and before I knew it I was donating, following online political discussions, and now even writing to the Speaker of the House." KenM1

Just sent a letter to Pelosi and DCCC with donation. If enough of us express disgust, it may get a response.

Posted at March 26, 2008 5:06 PM in response to In Letter, Top Clinton Donors Chastise Pelosi For Statements About Super-Delegates

The problem with Sen. Clinton is that she IS a conventional candidate. Just witness the last 4 weeks of her campaign tactics. Read about her cosying up to right wingers at a Sunday brunch in DC. She is just another politically ambitious, conventional approach candidate, just happens to be female. Her ONLY plus is that she is female, which as a female I do not find to be enough reason to vote for her.

Posted at March 19, 2008 5:44 PM in response to Obama: Odds Of Me Getting Elected Lower Than For "Conventional" Candidates Like Hillary