Palin Selection Surprised Her Staff, Too

[Life Long Dem]

Palin Selection Surprised Her Staff, Too

By Michael D. Shear


Reporters weren't the only ones surprised by Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential nominee.

Her press secretary was just as clueless.

Bill McAllster, a veteran political reporter who recently became her spokesman, said his home phone in Alaska starting ringing long before dawn after reporters gave up on his Blackberry, which he had turned off.

"I found out at about 5:20 this morning. I thought maybe they got it wrong," he said. "But as the messages piled up it looked like it was more serious."

McAllister said Palin had given some documents to GOP convention officials since she was scheduled to speak at the RNC. But he said he had no idea there was any serious conversations between his boss and McCain.

Palin first met McCain in March, McAllister said, when she was in Washington and requested a meeting with McCain about oil drilling in Alaska. McAllister said Palin later talked to McCain for five minutes by phone last Sunday, while she was at the Alaska state fair.

"She made no mention of the vice presidency at the time," McAllister said.

Posted at 2:09 PM ET on Aug 29, 2008 | Category: Sarah Palin

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/29/palin_selection_surprised_her.html

[Kerrytravelers]

1. I think this speaks volumes about the amount of time and care McCain took.

Clearly, this is a move to win disaffected Hillary voters. It is also a slap in the face to all Hillary has accomplished and her passions. And I think that Hillary supporters will see this and be insulted by this.

Randi Rhodes also made a good point. ANWAR. She is sitting on ANWAR and her husband is in Big Oil. And there was another point made: perhaps this is a distraction. That she will back out on her own and then McCain will go with the safer choice. But he can always say he "gave a woman the VP offer." This is calculated and devious.

However, it also shows the stark contrast between McCain and Obama. Obama took the decision seriously and made the choice that best suited him. Biden will disagree, be passionate, be a fighter and question Obama's decisions in a way that is healthy and necessary when taking on the monumental position that Obama is willing to take. McCain is using this as a game, and the people will see that, if they don't already.

In the end, it is a sad day. This is not the nonsense the Founding Fathers had in mind when building the backbone of this country. I am ashamed of McCain and of Palin for invoking Hillary's name and being a part of this charade, masquerading as a female agent of change.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

4. It means that she wasn't vetted...

Given the potential for scandal already brewing in Alaska, the fack that McCain picked Palin with talking to those who work most closely with her means that it was a blind pick. He chose her based on her resume (which shows pretty poor judgment to begin with) and for her demographics.

When the media spotlight hits her, it'll be a disaster.

[JBoy]

2. It surprised them... because they know her.

[KittyWampus]

3. what an astute and concise statement. BRAVO! well done

[Number23]

5. Damn

"I found out at about 5:20 this morning. I thought maybe they got it wrong

From one of her own STAFF MEMBERS.

Just... damn!

[Thrill]

6. Desperation Pick