They obviously think women are stupid

As the country watched a mile-long parade of progressives this week in the mile-high city give thoughtful, hope-inspiring speeches that melted this cynic's icy heart and convinced me that Dems know that there's serious class division in this country and that oil is the past and renewables are the future, the Repugnicans were hatching their scathingly brilliant plan: Find a woman to run as VP so snubbed Hillary supporters could be fooled into voting for McCain.

This was just posted in the Washington Post:

McCain Chooses Alaska Governor Palin as Running Mate

Palin Will Be the First Woman Nominated to the Ticket by the Republican Party

The Fix: The Palin Stunner

Analysis | Campaign believes rift caused by Democratic primary gives them an opportunity to pick up votes from disgruntled women.

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The problem with this plan, of course, is that the so-called disgruntled women were for Hillary because of her progressive stance on social and bread-and-butter issues. And because she is the first woman in a position to be taken seriously as a presidential contender -- not for the second slot on the ticket. I believe that Hillary probably was considered as a VP choice for Obama, but that she emphatically turned it down because she wouldn't want to be seen as second to a man in the highest position. That's the point of her candidacy, that women CAN RUN the world, not serve as an assistant to the GUY who RUNS the world. Of course, she could never admit that because she would look like a brat.

Much as I love Joe Biden, and to the extent that I wanted him as president but am contented that he will be the VP instead, it would have been great if Obama had chosen a woman to compliment his ticket. But how would that have looked? He can't very well say, "we want a woman on the team but we don't want Hillary."

So now McCain is twirling his invisible mustache, thinking he's just moved to check and mate. HA! I suppose he's banking on the fact that no one knows who she is and won't find out until it's too late. Her website says she is a "conservative Republican" who believes firmly in free market capitalism, as well as a "lifetime member of the NRA" with a strong commitment to gun rights. She also said she opposes abortion and believes that "marriage should only be between a man and a woman."

And this is from Americans Unite for Change:

At Americans United for Change, we've already done a little digging, and it turns out Sarah Palin fits in perfectly with John McCain's backwards energy policy, disregard for the environment, and cozy relationship with Big Oil.

Palin has argued again and again in favor of oil-drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite clear dangers to surrounding wildlife.

This year, Palin sued the federal government for adding polar bears to the endangered species list, arguing the move would interfere with oil and gas drilling efforts.

Palin's close relationship with Big Oil fits right in with John McCain's reckless energy plan: take millions in campaign donations from oil companies, and in return give them massive tax breaks and free reign to drill in environmentally sensitive areas.

And this, from Defenders of Wildlife:

“Senator McCain’s choice for a running mate is beyond belief. By choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has clearly made a decision to continue the Bush legacy of destructive environmental policies.

“Sarah Palin, whose husband works for BP (formerly British Petroleum), has repeatedly put special interests first when it comes to the environment. In her scant two years as governor, she has lobbied aggressively to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, pushed for more drilling off of Alaska’s coasts, and put special interests above science. Ms. Palin has made it clear through her actions that she is unwilling to do even as much as the Bush administration to address the impacts of global warming. Her most recent effort has been to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list, putting Big Oil before sound science. As unbelievable as this may sound, this actually puts her to the right of the Bush administration.

“This is Senator McCain’s first significant choice in building his executive team and it’s a bad one. It has to raise serious doubts in the minds of voters about John McCain’s commitment to conservation, to addressing the impacts of global warming and to ensuring our country ends its dependency on oil.”

Does that sound like an acceptable alternative to Hillary Clinton?