At this point it seems pretty clear that the Novak story was a ploy to draw some attention to the McCain campaign while Obama is overseas. As I wrote yesterday, it just doesn’t make much sense for McCain to pick right now. Novak himself is going on Fox News and suggesting he might have been “used.” I would keep that in mind for the rest of this week and disregard any signals the McCain campaign is allegedly sending about his VP selection (this includes the news reported by CNN that McCain praised Pawlenty “out of the blue”). Any hints dropped by the McCain campaign are probably just shiny objects designed to distract the press corps.
That being said, there is some real VP news this week. McCain has lost the person who I think would have been his best selection: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Apparently Palin has become embroiled in a major scandal. This one appears to be a career ender. At the very least, it will put the brakes on her already long-shot VP prospects. Too bad for McCain, I think Palin would have really changed the dynamic of the race.
One final note (and I know this is ignoring my advice above, but I can’t resist). First Read reports that McCain’s shortlist is Romney, Pawlenty and Jindal. I hope they’re right, because none of those people scare me and two of them (Romney and Jindal) would be disasters. Romney would throw McCain under the bus and start preparing for 2012 the moment McCain’s poll numbers turned south and Jindal would spotlight McCain’s age and would undermine his claim that Obama is too inexperienced.
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Too bad Estelle Getty died she would have made the perfect VP for McCain, somewhat using your criteria. She at least wouldn’t have made McCain look like he is older than dirt… like anybody south of 70 does.
Gov Palin’s office has published a point by point refutation of the accusations made against the governor by Monegan and Halcro. The link is below:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1313
Zack, please publish an acknowledgement of Gov Palin’s response and the how the implosion of the accusations may affect her possibility as a candidate for the Vice Presidency.
Are your aware that the allegations against Sarah Palin are imploding as we speak? Information released by the Governor’s office yesterday proves the allegations to be totally and utterly flase. (http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1313). This “scandal” was cooked up by a disgruntled former gubernatorial candidate (Andrew Halcro), a disgruntled former cabbinet member (Walt Monegan), and Gov. Palin’s abusive former brother-in-law (Mike Wooten)…none of whom have any credibility whatsoever at this point (Monegan seemed to have some credibility, but th info released yesterday shows him to be a liar, the other two had none to begin with).
Sarah Palin issn’t going anywhere, exce[t maybe the VP mansion.
Sorry about the typos…I was excited. :-)
Governor Molnau …
I just threw up a little in my mouth
Lt. Governor Metzen, that would be an interesting staff meeting.
@ PALINFORVP
Oops.
Though I have always believed Palin would be McCains best choice.
Not. Gonna. Happen.
Hey, you’re behind the curve on this. Palin has emerged “smelling lika a rose.” See this, for example, from palinforvp:
“Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Pipeline passes State House as Monegan allegations implode!
This is a great night for Gov. Palin, the State of Alaska, and our movement! Gov. Palin’s plan to build a natural gas pipeline was approved tonight by the State’s House of Representatives, sending the plan to the Senate for final approval. If passed, the licensing of the TransCanada corporation to construct this pipeline will be the crowning achievement of the Palin administration.
Meanwhile, Gov. Palin has put out a press release containing information that devastates the allegations made by former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. For instance, did you know that Todd Palin was ordered to discuss Trooper Mike Wooten with Monegan by the head of the Governor’s security detail? How about the fact that schedules disprove Monegan’s claim that he only met with Palin four times in seventeen months? It turns out that they had over two-dozen meetings during that time, including several visits by Monegan to the Governor’s home and joint trips to remote parts of Alaska. The circus looks to be drawing to a close, with Palin coming out squeaky clean!”
Novak drew attention to himself today when he hit a pedestrian on K Street. He drove away in his black Corvette, but was stopped a block later by a bicyclist who witnessed the accident, who happens to be a lawyer. Read all about it: http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2008/07/novak_hits_pede.html
Ted-
Regardless, and as one who thought that Palin was the only one, among an unlikely cast of characters, who could have helped McCain….Not gonna happen.
Jindal reportedly turned him down to…which is probably good for McCain.
Who else? Ron Paul, of course!
Michelle Bachmann for VP, please
My God, have any of the Palin supporters done more than taken a superficial look at her?!? Please, track down a video of her giving a speech; the woman, bluntly, is one of the single worst public speakers I’ve ever seen. And while her approval ratings are quite impressive, Pawlenty’s would be off the charts, too, if every other political figure in the state was under investigation! This whole abrupt love affair some conservatives seem to be having with the McCain/Palin concept is just entirely beyond me.
Plus, two years as the Governor of a state with fewer people than the west metro, and before that a term as mayor of a town the size of Prior Lake? How well will the “Obama doesn’t have enough experience” argument hold up?
My liberal side really hopes McCain picks her; my political junkie side, as expressed above, is wondering what on earth some people are smoking…
Actually, I do (kinda) see the concept of putting a strong woman up to draw off some disgruntled Clinton backers. And that, at the moment is a dry well for the GOP. Hutchinson is out; another Texas Republican? Those ads write themselves. Elizabeth Dole is in a real brawl to keep her Senate seat; a last minute replacement would hand the seat to Kay Hagan. So I suppose that leaves Palin as the last one standing, unless I’m overlooking someone.
I hope to God he picks Romney. His great-great grandfather had twelve wives and he is still a high-ranking church official. I’m sure evangelicals will love that! What else is lurking in his Mormon past?
I hope it’s Mittens too. 40% of Americans polled won’t vote for a mormon….and that’s not the democrats I’m talking about. ;)
EPDem - -
This Episcopalian raised girl is offended by your Mormon bashing. There are lot’s of valid reasons to not vote for or even like Rommney but bashing his faith and long dead ancesters is disgusting.
The Mormon Church disavowed plural marriage a long time ago.