« Further Convention Comments | Main | Sarah's Night »
September 01, 2008
Palin
When John McCain selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate on Friday, many hailed it as a bold pick. Others characterized it as high risk. That characterization so far is looking like an understatement.
What is already abundantly clear is that the McCain folks did not seriously vet Palin. One only need note the deafening silence from the McCain campaign, as more and more problems are unearthed, to realize they are learning about many of these issues for the first time like everyone else. Is putting an inexperienced, unqualified, possibly deceitful person a heartbeat away from the presidency what McCain calls putting country first?
Anybody want odds on how long Palin lasts? We give her a week.
Posted by houtopia at September 1, 2008 03:02 PM
Comments
Your comment suggesting Palin will be forced out soon is interesting. I'm curious - has it ever happened before?
Seriously, how can you bang away at Obama regarding his level of experience then celebrate a small town mayor? It might not be a huge deal otherwise, but if elected McCain will be the oldest president to be inaugurated. Their ticket makes the issue more relevant. Puzzling choice. Besides, Palin is not Hillary. And frankly, her abortion stance represents the fringe of society - a small percentage indeed.
Posted by: DL at September 1, 2008 04:39 PM
The obvious historical precedent is Thomas Eagleton, who Democratic nominee George McGovern selected in 1972. Like Palin, Eagleton was chosen with little to no vetting.
It then came to light that Eagleton had been hospitalized, more than once, for psychiatric care, and was given shock treatment.
Eagleton withdrew (at McGovern's request) just 18 days after being named, and was replaced by Sarge Shriver.
Posted by: houtopia at September 1, 2008 05:09 PM
Three things about the selection of Governor Palin occurred to me:
1)Senator McCain and his peeps didn't think they
were going to win in November, and needed to
do something to energize what has become a
listless campaign...this is the political
equivalent of the Flutie-to-Phelan "Hail Mary"
pass.
2)This gives us a window into the Senator's
decision-making process...he obviously isn't
above shooting from the hip (or rolling the
dice, or whatever risk-taking cliche you care
to invoke), and
3)The "Country First" mantra is just a bunch of
crap...McCain wants to win at all costs, even
if it makes him look like he didn't do his
homework and properly vet his runnig mate.
Posted by: Kellybee at September 1, 2008 05:18 PM