Since I was born in Alaska (before it was a state, even) I suppose I should be thrilled that a fellow citizen of my native state would become president if John McCain dies in office--which the actuarial tables say he probably will. But will my voice be entirely lost in the blogosphere if I say that this is one of the cheapest political stunts that this cheap bunch of political dead-enders has visited on the American people? After banging on about Obama's alleged lack of "experience," McCain taps for his VP someone who can't claim any relevant experience at all--even if she has taken some good stands on ethics violations in her own state.So, picking Sarah Palin is nothing more than a sop to women voters, especially those who are still nursing their pain over Hillary's loss. But much as I despise Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin is not her--and I have enough faith that American voters, especially women voters, will see the difference.
Update: Ooh, the Sarah Palin hit pieces are flying already. This one from Chris Kelly at the Huffington Post. And a nice analysis from John Nichols at The Nation. And a typically acid post from Marc Cooper.
More Update: It may be my imagination, but as I watch a live broadcast of Sarah Palin speaking to the rally in Dayton, Ohio, is the fidgeting John McCain standing beside her already wondering if he has made a big mistake?
Palin punditry: All together now, how do we describe McCain's VP choice? "Bold, but risky." Those words are echoed more or less literally in the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Providence Journal, CBC News, and even in media outlets in the U.K. and China (forgive me for not taking the time to provide the links.) A few even say that it reflects the "maverick" John McCain we've heard so much about. So the McCain campaign has succeeded in getting the media to see this as a bold move rather than a stupid, cynical, callous one that plays with the lives and futures of not only Americans but all those around the world who are affected by what America does--all for the sake of getting elected and maintaining today's economic and political status quo, which is what the McCain campaign is really all about. Seven houses for them, no houses for us. As for risky, let's hope so.
11 Comments
The possibility that McCain may not make it through the next 4 years does exist, and for an Alaskan PTA president to be in the office as the first women president in American history with little or no effort on her part is just upsetting. I really hope people can see through this...
When the two main democrat candidates came down to a black man and a woman I said the democrats were bent on losing the election. I hope I'm wrong again.
Perhaps the USA is ready to vote in a black president. I have my doubts. But with McCain's VP selection the republicans may be bent on losing the election.
I can't, somehow, make myself say this woman is a complete idiot in quite the same way.
Which is the kind of latent pseudo-sexism that McCain must be relying on.
But this woman is already under investigation for sacking the guy who wouldn't sack her brother-in-law.
Messalina, your sort is back in fashion!
I trust it will have the same effect on more than a few Republicans.
Her oldest son joined the US Army on 11 September last year and and is to deploy to Iraq on the same date next month.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7588542.stm
Ominous.
I wonder how she'll feel then?
I suspect that Iraqi 'insurgents' who probably read the same internet that you and I do, will try and do a special job on him.
What would be her answer, as back-up president?
Nookyulate Iraq, or talk sensibly?
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/08/29/2008-08-29_john_mccains_dangerous_gamble_on_sarah_p.html
OTOH, Paul Begala on CNN said rather clearly that, while he was happy about the pick as a Democrat, as an American it scares him. The Dems need to hammer on how thoroughly this pick of someone who would be completely out of her depth as President of the U.S. puts the lie to McCain's "country before politics" crap.
That seems to have changed; see
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/30/12216/4556/493/580232
and from the comments there:
NY Times:
Governor Palin’s lack of experience, especially in national security and foreign affairs, raises immediate questions about how prepared she is to potentially succeed to the presidency. That really is the only criterion for judging a candidate for vice president.
WaPo:
But the most important question Mr. McCain should have asked himself about Ms. Palin was not whether she could help him win the presidency. It was whether she is qualified and prepared to serve as president should anything prevent him from doing so. This would have been true for any presidential nominee, and it was especially crucial that Mr. McCain -- who turns 72 today -- get this choice right. If he is elected, he will be the oldest man ever to serve a first term in the White House. In this regard, count us among the puzzled and the skeptical.
— Sarah Palin travelled to Germany and Kuwait last year to visit Alaska National Guard troops
— She reportedly had to apply for a passport especially for the trip
— Mrs Palin has been to Canada, and engaged in negotiations about building a natural gas pipeline from Alaska through Canada
— Until recently US citizens did not need a passport to go to Canada
— Mrs Palin has also visited Ireland
— Cindy McCain said in a television interview that Mrs Palin had knowledge about Russia because: “Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4647965.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2
http://www.americablog.com/2008/08/comatose-looking-mccain-faces-his-first.html