LJWorld.com weblogs Statehouse Briefing
Posted
by Scott Rothschild
September 9, 2008 at 1:47 p.m.
Sebelius says Palin's novelty will wear off
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that the initial excitement surrounding the nomination of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be vice president on the Republican Party ticket will soon wear off and voters will return to focusing on the issues that affect them."The bottom line is that the voters, male and female, will be looking at who is going to lead this country and what direction they're going to take us," Sebelius said when asked if she thought Palin would peel off female voters from the Democratic presidential ticket of U.S. Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden.Since Republican presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain picked Palin, his White House candidacy has been climbing in the polls.Sebelius, an outspoken supporter of Obama, who had been frequently mentioned as a possible VP running mate, said having a woman on the GOP ticket has gotten a lot of attention, but she added, "I'm also optimistic that women voters and men voters are really looking for a new direction, and I think that there is a great opportunity to contrast John McCain and Barack Obama."She said many states have yet to have a woman win a statewide office, while it has been more common in Kansas. "Kansas is sort of used to this," she said.
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Comments
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S0uPnAzi (anonymous) says…
Kind of like the novelty wearing off of having a female governer in the state of Kansas?
Ceallach (anonymous) says…
Thank you, SOuPnAzi!
Left_handed (anonymous) says…
Palin's novelty will wear off? Of course it will. Will the support for her wane? Nope. She'll continue to energize the McCain campaign all the way to the White House. As voters compare McCain and Obama they will realize just how bereft of experience Obama is. Read it and weep, democrat partisans!
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
Notice how the libs try to downplay Palin? Liberals live in a fantasy world. First Palin is just a small town mayor, even though she is a governor of the largest land mass in the US and has an 80-90% approval rating. Then she is the mother of her daughter's down syndrome child. When it turns out her daughter is pregnant, she's labeled white trash. I can feel Kathleen's pain of not being picked as Obama's VP. It must hurt when you've never been as beautiful as someone else.I don't think it's a novelty of having a more qualified person in the VP position than having a less qualified candidate for president.
BuffyloGal (anonymous) says…
Conservatives live in a fantasy world. First Obama didn't have enough experience as a US Senator, until Palin and her small town came along. Then he is a secret Muslim, until suggestions of McCain being a Manchurian candidate were flogged. Then he's not a citizen because of Hawaii not being a state when he was born, until McCain is discovered born overseas in a different US territory. When it turns out Obama's kids are normal, they attack his wife and father. McCain needs to hope that Palin will continue to recharge his campaign, but let's face it, a defibrillator can only do so much before the campaign gives it up for good.
beatrice (anonymous) says…
bp, I thought the family was off limits? Which is it? Either everyone gets to talk about "Juno" Palin and her doofus boyfriend (see his MySpace page) and their pending shotgun wedding, or none of us do. As far as Gov. Palin's approval rating goes, there was once a time when George W. Bush had a 91% approval rating. Now, the Republicans pretend he isn't from their own party and McCain is trying to brand himself as the change the Republican party needs to fix, well, the Republican party and the things the Republicans have totally messed up. The election will, once again, come down to a couple of swing states, particularly Florida. I just wonder how well the "Jews for Jesus" / Palin thing is going to play in the retirement capitol of the nation. My bet is that it probably won't play very well.And why doesn't anybody on the right care that Palin's husband was a member of a radical, American-hating successionist political party until just a few years ago?! That is light-years beyond just a poorly worded statement of being proud, yet it suddenly seems okay among the right to be anti-American -- what is up with that?
guesswho (anonymous) says…
Raisin, it is more once voters realize she has been omitting certain items....She lobbied for the 'bridge to nowhere' until it became clear that funding would not continue, then she was 'against' it, but did not return the money.A speaker at her church with Jews for Jesus said Israel was under attack because of the failure of the Jews to convert to Christianity (many held Obama accountable for what his pastor said).She intensely lobbied for earmarks for her city and state; granted, that is what mayors and governors do, but she should not be able to run on a platform of opposing them. It is easy to be popular in Alaska, the previous administration was corrupt, and Alaska is an oil-rich state - each resident received (receives?) a check for $1200. Reminds me of Jesse Ventura winning Minnesota - many voted him in as a joke, many didn't like the other candidates, then they had to be proud of how odd he was rather then admit he was rather inept.
kujayhawk (anonymous) says…
You mean just like Obama's?
Puggy (anonymous) says…
Women governors in Kansas are not a novelty.
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
I don't think it's a novelty of having a more qualified person in the VP position than having a less qualified candidate for president.Sebelius says Palin's novelty (good looks and qualifications?) will wear off. Maybe when she's old and gray like Sebelius.
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…
She should know, I'm tired of her tired old act.
calvin (anonymous) says…
Sorry Kathy, when McCain and Palin win you will still be stuck here in KS with all of us and that cabinet position that you are busitng your butt to get will never be.
a_flock_of_jayhawks (anonymous) says…
McCain and Co. are protecting Palin right now, but that won't last long and she will face the brutal scrutiny that anyone seeking that high office would. She also has a number of other things working against her, especially her past and the fact that several of the senior GOP members don't want her. At the moment, they are pleased that she has made a campaign that was going nowhere suddenly have new life and who could blame them. But, the surprises have been coming and are going to continue to come and weigh in the voter's minds. It is a little late for the campaign to re-invent themselves as they have done here and ultimately win. History reflects that fact.Wait until she has to step outside of the parroted convention speech. Then, the real issues will become apparent and I think she's going to make major gaffes and start looking plain silly.I don't hate Palin, as many conservatives have claimed people do. I think that the fun with her hasn't even started...but it most certainly will soon. I think Sebelius is absolutely correct in what she has said here.
a_flock_of_jayhawks (anonymous) says…
Tom says,"Funny thing is, Obama's novelty has worn off already:..Mr. Rothschild, will you write about that please. "How so? He's been in the national spotlight for many months. Her, less than one. She's the hot topic right now, just as planned by the McCain campaign, so the press will naturally focus attention on her.Attack the messenger, eh Tom?
Lynn731 (anonymous) says…
Oh, you mean like your's has? Thank you, Lynn
calvin (anonymous) says…
Well notnowdear, since Brownback has already said he is not running again for Senate and Kathy cannot run for a third time as governor (Thank God) I don't see her challenging him.
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
I've seen Palin debate and she is GREAT! The little mayor who could became a governor by soundly defeating her opponents. So, dream on a flock of jayhawks. She's already been run through the wringer.I cannot wait for her debate with Old Joe Biden. It will be great entertainment.
Bossa_Nova (anonymous) says…
i think its funny that the news media spends more time on the two candidates with the least amount of experience and history (obama and palin) than the two guys who are going to be making all the real decisions when elected. wouldnt it make more sense to see a mccain/biden debate and a obama/palin debate than vice versa?
unclebiff (anonymous) says…
is Sebelius speaking from experience?
Bobby1 (anonymous) says…
Sebelius is keeping her fingers crossed .... for her appointment in the Obama White House.
JohnBLZ (anonymous) says…
If this article isn't proof that any idiot can own a computer I don't know what is. Regardless of ANY other issue, why would any of you think that McCain is the man to lead us out of this economic funk we're in? Why would ANY of you think that a McCain/Palin ticket is going to lead us off our foreign energy dependence. Those are the two things that are most important right now as everything else correlates to those. For one, I'm tired of rubber stamping the same old Politicians in Washington. I don't think Biden was the right choice, but I still think Obama is a valid risk to take. Stop laying down and stop being a single issue voter. Educate yourself, you obviously know how to use a computer. Put it to use.
a_flock_of_jayhawks (anonymous) says…
BigPrune says,"It will be great entertainment."It sure will, but not in the way you envision. Joe has sliced and diced much more formidable opponents, and then has the ability to make them think he was complimenting them. Bring her on!
Rosanne (anonymous) says…
I have voted Democrat in 11 presidential cycles. In all my years I have never seen such a concerted effort of conjecture against a candidate. I am sending a $1,000 check to the McCain campaign. He'll also get my vote.
Centerville (anonymous) says…
I think she knows she dodged a bullet. Can you imagine her up against Palin? It would be pitiable.
beatrice (anonymous) says…
Rosanne: "I have never seen such a concerted effort of conjecture against a candidate."You can't be serious. After months and months of "Anybody but Hillary" attacks, followed by the attacks and lies that continue of Obama being a Muslim, of his being sworn into office with a Koran, that he hates America, that his wife hates America and there is a secret tape of her saying something to someone somewhere that will destroy to whole campaign, that he is a Socialist, that the self-made man is an elitist, etc, etc, the last two weeks of people trying to figure out who the heck Palin is, whether her husband really does want Alaska to break from America, whether or not she will be found guilty of abuse of power, whether or not she was for the bridge before she was against it, whether or not she did raise taxes in her small town to build a hockey rink then left the town in $20 million in debt, etc. etc, is the breaking point? Please. I'm not buying it. Centerville, no I can't imagine a debate against Palin, because I have barely heard anything actually from her, although she does read a might pretty speech.
situveux1 (anonymous) says…
Sebelius needs to let this Palin thing go. Her jealousy is really showing.
a_flock_of_jayhawks (anonymous) says…
Rosanne (Anonymous) says:"conjecture""I am sending a $1,000 check to the McCain campaign. He'll also get my vote."A fool and their money?
a_flock_of_jayhawks (anonymous) says…
parkay (Anonymous) says:"Palin is the most popular governor in the USofA"Alaska, maybe. USA? Not quite.
KS (anonymous) says…
Palin just didn't energize the "religious right". She has energized America. That "O" guy just doesn't understand that and now he is in a self destruct mode. Go Sarah!
Sparko (anonymous) says…
Conservatives are anti-change. Hence the term. Palin lies reflexively. She is a sociopath. There are always brown-shirts willing to follow such people. A few post here. Okay maybe one and a sock-puppet. How have those last eight years of Republican catastrophe played in Kansas? Unemployment way up. Job Growth way down. So they talk personality instead. The GOP is sick--let's bury them this election. Maybe the reformed Whigs will care about the country. And turn off Fox news and other propaganda outlets.
jamoca (anonymous) says…
Face it liberals...you're really scared!
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…
Evidently, a running typo has obscured Sarah's true last name...not Palin... Plain!Sarah Plain, not tall.
Jackson (anonymous) says…
One thing for sure - the Sebilus novelty has worn off...
Godot (anonymous) says…
I can understand why Sebelius would see nothing positive about a strong female governor who made her state a big player in energy independence, who increased state revenues and distributed the excess to the citizens, who did not revel in excess, who turned down percs of the governor's office, who works across party lines to accomplish good things for her state, who is vivacious, energetic, charismatic, strong, and a fantastic public speaker. She just cannot relate.
bartstop (anonymous) says…
Those of you that voted for Bush, are you proud of your President? Are you happy with the direction he has taken us? Have you noticed that giving huge tax breaks to the wealthy have driven up the deficit but didn't stimulate the economy? This is the second time Bushonomics has failed. The promise was that tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations would encourage investment and create jobs. Is it that hard to see that if there is no demand for products and services, any jobs that were created would soon be shed? This isn't rocket science. If there is little demand, why would a company hire more people? Don't you think that creating demand would be the first step to economic recovery? So why would we drive up the deficit even further with tax breaks that have proven to not stimulate the economy in any significant way? It doesn't make sense. Why would you vote for McCain if his tax/economic policy is almost identical to what we have now?
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
To quote Barack Obama regarding Sarah Palin and apply his quote to Governor Sebelius, "You can put lipstick on a pig, and it's still a pig."
a_flock_of_jayhawks (anonymous) says…
BigPrune (Anonymous) says:"To quote Barack Obama regarding Sarah Palin"Your quote was actually regarding the GOP presidential ticket's attempt to re-invent themselves into something they are not (namely, change). The latest NBC/WSJ poll shows that the American people are not buying it. Get your facts straight.