McCain Sticks It To Palin?

Paired with Sarah Palin's absence from Friday night's Presidential debate, this photo-op of the McCain's boarding their campaign plane that afternoon for Mississippi is phenomenally awkward.

Given that the "visual vernacular" in a photo like this tends to reference the presidential and vice-presidential couple combined with the fact John, Cindy, Sarah and First Dude have been stuck together lately like super glue, this shot of Giuliani and Judy Nathan is particularly attention grabbing.

Typically, I would caution anyone from assuming, based on a photo like this, that McCain was even thinking of throwing Palin overboard.  Considering how McCain not only trotted out Giuliani this way, but also lined him up against Biden as McCain's main post-debate spinmaster, though, it almost destines the photo to raise such speculation.

But then again, punitive acting out -- in this case, temporarily "elevating" Giuliani in order to publicly humiliate Palin for embarrassing McCain with her dismal interview with Katie Couric -- is also consistent with how McCain flies.

NBC post debate spin: Biden vs. Giuliani (video via YouTube)

(image: Brian Snyder/Reuters Pictures. Arlington, Virginia.  September 26, 2008)

Comments

[bystander]

Hoo-boy. Given that I think the GOP has effectively thrown Palin under the wheels of McCain's-must-get-elected-no-matter-what bus (assuredly, with Palin's consent), it wouldn't surprise me to discover they have no scruples about backing up over her as well. She didn't sign up for that, however. This really is a curious photo. Could Giuliani not have done post-debate spin from somewhere other than Mississippi? And, if McCain had wanted to spare Palin the embarrassment, could Giuliani not have traveled back home by some other air transport? This photo really does seem to document an intended sleight. And, there are broad smiles all around. Hoo-boy.

[rich in il]

poor sarah, i wonder if she knows she`s on the "d-list".

sadly our nation has become the laughing-stock of the world....

[Bob G]

Palin was at the debate. Fox showed her in the crowd just before the event started.

[newdealfarmgrrrlll]

interesting that McCain is not at all engaged ... everyone else is smiling at the cameras, though Cindy has a defensive posture, turned slightly away from the cameras, yet she is looking at and smiling at cameras. McCain has slight smile, but his attention is "exiting the picture."

[harrier]

Good photo. Can't read too much into the angles since random shots can catch anyone looking anywhere... but Mein Gott!... who isn't there! And "Sarah Palin has declined our request for comments"!!!

This is the worst moment for anyone's campaign I've seen since McGovern expressed himself "One thousand percent" (a rather odd number) behind his running mate Tom Eagleton just before he, as we now say, threw him under the bus.

[Paul in Boca]

Isn't Sarah hunkered down in Philly, getting ready to make a "surprise" appearance tonight on SNL?

[JayDenver]

BobG: I assume you are kidding.

"Palin sends the cringe meter off the dial"

"... the McCain campaign did not want his running-mate anywhere near Friday's presidential clash in Oxford, Mississippi. Instead, Palin watched it on TV in Philadelphia, while Senator Biden gave countless interviews in the media "spin room" outside the Obama-McCain debate."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/palin-sends-the-cringe-meter-off-the-dial-944774.html

[g]

Palin was at the debate. Fox showed her in the crowd just before the event started.

No, she was in Philadelphia at the Irish Pub for a Republican private party.

and in this photo - what is McCain looking at?

Notice how Judith is still positioning herself front-and-center of any group she's with?

[BlakeIncarnate]

McCain's demonstrated penchant for game changing. "Here's Rudy."

I think you have an epiphany here. Rudy is about the only person who would be ready, willing and able to sub for Sarah on Thursday night. After what we have seen, can you in your wildest imagination Pailin in 2 minute extemporaneous mode time and time again, on the stage with Biden? Not gonna happen.

[mudkitty]

Love will keep them together.

[HarpoSnarx]

Uh, if McSnarly dumps smirky, judgmental, Xtian pit bull for loathsome cross-dressing thrice-married Rude-ee, won’t that INFURIATE the Gooper base?

[castanea]

If Palin gets dumped, the rightwing talking points will be that she was burned by the liberal media, which will of course "excite" and "enrage" the base even more.

[castanea]

The McCain press release will go something like this:

"Governor Sarah Palin was well prepared for the job of VP. She demonstrated a great resonance with the American people and a firm grasp of both domestic and international issues. However, the incessant hounding by the liberal, elite media was too much of a burden on Governor Palin and her family. She has unfinished business back in Alaska to attend to, helping to fulfill the promises of reform that she made to her fellow Alaskans when they elected her by an overwhelming margin.

"Despite the fact that Sen. McCain thoroughly vetted Governor Palin before inviting her to be his running mate, the Obama campaign and the liberal media sent hundreds of attorneys and reporters to Alaska to try to dig up dirt on Governor Palin. They found nothing of any importance, and haven't been able to make any charges of substance. This demonstrates the elitist mentality of the liberal media, and the lazy attitudes of the angry Obama campaign.

"Sen. McCain welcomes Mayor Giuliani as his running mate. With Sen. McCain's years of experience in foreign policy, including the years he spent as a prisoner of war, and with Mayor Giuliani's ability to manage crises, including his rapid response to terrorists when America was attacked on September the 11th, the Republican ticket offers the American people a clear choice for the future of our country."

***

Or something like that.

[g]

Uh, if McSnarly dumps smirky, judgmental, Xtian pit bull for loathsome cross-dressing thrice-married Rude-ee, won’t that INFURIATE the Gooper base?

Probably not. They don't really care about the running mate's qualifications or moral character, they just want a winning quarterback to score a touchdown in the big game.

[GH]

Castanea, this is literary genius!!!!!!! That's exactly what the f*** they're going to release, too. You should work for the freakin' Onion.

*******

The McCain press release will go something like this:

"Governor Sarah Palin was well prepared for the job of VP. She demonstrated a great resonance with the American people and a firm grasp of both domestic and international issues. However, the incessant hounding by the liberal, elite media was too much of a burden on Governor Palin and her family. She has unfinished business back in Alaska to attend to, helping to fulfill the promises of reform that she made to her fellow Alaskans when they elected her by an overwhelming margin.

"Despite the fact that Sen. McCain thoroughly vetted Governor Palin before inviting her to be his running mate, the Obama campaign and the liberal media sent hundreds of attorneys and reporters to Alaska to try to dig up dirt on Governor Palin. They found nothing of any importance, and haven't been able to make any charges of substance. This demonstrates the elitist mentality of the liberal media, and the lazy attitudes of the angry Obama campaign.

"Sen. McCain welcomes Mayor Giuliani as his running mate. With Sen. McCain's years of experience in foreign policy, including the years he spent as a prisoner of war, and with Mayor Giuliani's ability to manage crises, including his rapid response to terrorists when America was attacked on September the 11th, the Republican ticket offers the American people a clear choice for the future of our country."

***

Or something like that.

[Mr. X]

Unless Palin is caught with a "smoking gun" (no pun intended) there is no way she will get dumped from the ticket, no matter how poorly she performs. The religious and social conservatives went all in when she was selected, and they would not tolerate such a betrayal. No matter the spin the campaign might try to come up with to blame the "liberal media", the religious right would view it as McCain cutting and running at the first sign of adversity; proof positive he could not be trusted. And to replace her with Giuliani? Insult to injury. They would pull their volunteers for GOTV, and then what is McCain supposed to do... work the phone banks himself?

[Dennis]

Actually if McCain tryed to dump Palin I believe she would just refused to be dumped, and there would be nothing McCain could do about(she was nominated by the GOP convention), and McCain doesn't have the actual authority to dump her. McCain doesn't have the authority to dump her until AFTER he is President, and then the Senate would get to choose his VP.

[spencer]

Here’s a crazy notion for another version of the October Surprise…

McCain gets Palin to take herself out of the race at the last minute, (spend more time with her family and all that) so he can bring in another, better choice for VP. Let’s face it. Anyone will look better. The new candidate will be inserted into the race mere weeks before the election, leaving little, if any, time to be vetted by the media even to the degree that Palin has been. It will reanimate the election for the conservatives and make McCain look like a maverick once again. This fresh dog and pony show will again capture the attention of the pundits and the people, taking the media’s attention away from substantive issues. Shock and awe.

It could happen. Could it happen?

[FACINGREALITY]

McCain is STUCK with Palin, who is the FIRST woman on a republican ticket. To dump her would not only upset the conservative base but the women who still admire her courage. They will blame McCain for not preparing her and for keeping her hidden from the media so long. Also, believe it not he would be faced with having to select another woman for a male candidate would be seen as him being sexist.

McCain has lost the Independent vote and many republicans who will perceive him as not fit to command, given his inability to select a qualified candidate at the onset and not vetting her.

Even if he selected a better qualifed candidate, they will reject his humiliation of the party and some will see it as him using Palin to get his way because they all know he wanted Ridge or Lieberman.

[Jay Severin Has A Small Pen1s]

Rudy's ability to deal with a crisis...

Yup. Another smoking crater in downtown Manhatten.

[BRD]

There's no way Palin's going away. They might try to spike the debate, but now the expectations are so low, that if she appears smarter than a potted plant they can spin it as a huge win.

Another funny thing here is that it's the "great reformer" with the basically corrupt mayor and his former mistress with all their previous misappropriation of NYC funds.

[Richard D.]

Dump Palin an you lose 60/40. Keep her and you lose 52/48. Your choice John.

[Ontario Emperor]

I wouldn't read too much into McCain and Palin not being together. In fact, it's better if they're separately campaigning, covering as much ground as possible. Palin being with McCain on a short leash would be more damaging to perception.