David Lat, the popular, idysocrantic former federal prosecutor who blogs at Above The Law, has started a Facebook group for former supporters of Hillary Clinton who now support the McCain-Palin ticket because Gov. Sarah Palin.
Via Instant Messenger this afternoon, Lat and I had a conversation about his conversion.
marc ambinder (2:59:31 PM): So -- David Lat -- why Palin?
DavidLatIM (3:00:22 PM): I was just floored by
her performance at the convention.
DavidLatIM (3:00:35 PM): I was a bit skeptical
about her selection at first.
DavidLatIM (3:00:44 PM): But when I saw her
speak, I had the reaction that so many others did.
DavidLatIM (3:00:46 PM): A star is born.
marc ambinder (3:00:51 PM): She's a star. Is she a
VP?
DavidLatIM (3:00:53 PM): This is my Obama - 2004
convention moment.
DavidLatIM (3:01:20 PM): Well, some of my reasons
for supporting Palin are a bit idiosyncratic, and independent of the minutiae
of policy platforms
DavidLatIM (3:01:26 PM): or her record on various
issues.
DavidLatIM (3:01:50 PM): But I do think she would
be a very capable leader.
DavidLatIM (3:02:02 PM): But it's like being in
love -- reason flies out the window!
DavidLatIM (3:02:17 PM): You just have a visceral
reaction to someone, and you're off to the races.
marc ambinder (3:02:26 PM): What were your doubts
about Obama?
marc ambinder (3:02:34 PM): Or -- what ARE your doubts about Obama?
[OFF THE RECORD INTERLUDE]
DavidLatIM (3:05:22 PM): I think, again, my
issues with Obama are idiosyncratic and somewhat personal.
DavidLatIM (3:05:30 PM): I enjoy being wickedly
cynical about politics.
DavidLatIM (3:05:46 PM): So I find his whole
super-earnest worldview rather offputting.
DavidLatIM (3:05:51 PM): What I like about Palin
DavidLatIM (3:05:57 PM): is that she has his
glibness, his surface appeal,
DavidLatIM (3:06:04 PM): but you can't help
thinking that behind those librarian glasses,
DavidLatIM (3:06:09 PM): she knows she is playing
a role
DavidLatIM (3:06:16 PM): -- and playing it
beautifully.
marc ambinder (3:06:19 PM): Who was that woman from
"The Weakest Link?"
DavidLatIM (3:06:26 PM): Oh, Anne something....
DavidLatIM (3:06:28 PM): [Googling]
marc ambinder (3:06:33 PM): Reminds me of her a
little.
DavidLatIM (3:06:38 PM): Robinson
DavidLatIM (3:06:40 PM): totally!
DavidLatIM (3:06:51 PM): "Joe Biden, you are
the weakest link."
DavidLatIM (3:06:53 PM): Good-bye.
[OFF THE RECORD INTERLUDE]
marc ambinder (3:09:14 PM): Do you worry about
McCain's age / temperament / judgment?
DavidLatIM (3:11:03 PM): I have confidence in
McCain's fitness to be president. But to be totally honest, I wasn't
super-excited,
DavidLatIM (3:11:40 PM): until he picked Palin.
DavidLatIM (3:11:42 PM): One big reason, I must
confess, is that I think it is time for us to have a woman as our president or
vice president.
DavidLatIM (3:11:46 PM): It was a big attraction
of Hillary Clinton's candidacy for me.
DavidLatIM (3:12:33 PM): And even though Palin
and Clinton are obviously miles apart on policy issues,
DavidLatIM (3:12:46 PM): I think that they share
many attributes in common.
marc ambinder (3:12:48 PM): And HRC is going to
campaign against Palin...
DavidLatIM (3:12:56 PM): I know! So
interesting...
marc ambinder (3:13:04 PM): Now -- you are a
sophisticated analyst of culture.
marc ambinder (3:13:08 PM): Talk to me about Bristol
and Levi.
DavidLatIM (3:13:09 PM): If only Obama had picked
her as his veep....
DavidLatIM (3:13:32 PM): Oh my goodness, they
have been endlessly scrutinized, as much as Britney's love handles at last
year's VMAs.
DavidLatIM (3:13:37 PM): Not sure how much more I
can add!
DavidLatIM (3:13:53 PM): Oh but a friend had
something funny
DavidLatIM (3:14:01 PM): She speculated that Levi
was a week away from dumping Bristol
DavidLatIM (3:14:04 PM): but then, bam!
marc ambinder (3:14:06 PM): Ok, but is the campaign
both exploiting sympathy for the family and declaring them off-limits???
DavidLatIM (3:14:08 PM): And he got kidnapped
DavidLatIM (3:14:18 PM): and McCain tattooed
Bristol's name on his fingers
marc ambinder (3:14:24 PM): well -- this blog is a
speculation free zone! I have a reputation to uphold.
DavidLatIM (3:14:25 PM): and now Levi has to move
to Washington.
DavidLatIM (3:14:57 PM): I'm not sure that it is
hypocritical.
DavidLatIM (3:15:07 PM): I think that they are
trying to declare them off limits,
DavidLatIM (3:15:14 PM): but if those limits are
violated,
DavidLatIM (3:15:16 PM): then they will complain.
DavidLatIM (3:15:24 PM): As for their appearance
at the convention,
DavidLatIM (3:15:30 PM): that is par for the
course as you know.
DavidLatIM (3:15:37 PM): It would have looked
like they were hiding them
DavidLatIM (3:15:39 PM): if they hadnt put in an
appearance
DavidLatIM (3:15:49 PM): like at the event where
Bristol was on the bus.
DavidLatIM (3:16:00 PM): And everyone was like,
oh, they didn't want her pregnant self on the stage with mom.
DavidLatIM (3:16:09 PM): Damned if they do,
damned if they don't.
DavidLatIM (3:16:20 PM): So they decided to just
bite the bullet and let it all hang out.
DavidLatIM (3:16:22 PM): Good for them.
marc ambinder (3:16:30 PM): David Lat, it's been a
pleasure.
DavidLatIM (3:16:45 PM): thanks for dropping me a
line; great catching up!
marc ambinder (3:17:32 PM): Isn't there some conflict
of interest thing we have to get out of the way?
marc ambinder (3:17:39 PM): Like your boss is the
president of my magazine?
DavidLatIM (3:17:42 PM): ha
DavidLatIM (3:17:56 PM): I guess that's right,
although he keeps them fairly separate.
DavidLatIM (3:18:10 PM): But I guess Justin Smith
is one of the principal investors in Breaking Media,
DavidLatIM (3:18:16 PM): which owns Above the Law
DavidLatIM (3:18:29 PM): and he is president of
Atlantic Consumer Media (I think is his title? you would know better than I)
marc ambinder (3:18:34 PM): Yes. That is his title.
marc ambinder (3:18:44 PM): Well, there we go.
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