Report: McCain Aides Complain That Palin Is "Clueless"

Radio talk show host Ed Schultz reports:

Capitol Hill sources are telling me that senior McCain people are more than concerned about Palin. The campaign has held a mock debate and a mock press conference; both are being described as "disastrous." One senior McCain aide was quoted as saying, "What are we going to do?" The McCain people want to move this first debate to some later, undetermined date, possibly never. People on the inside are saying the Alaska Governor is "clueless."

On Friday, conservative columnist Kathleen Parker said that after seeing Palin in interviews, she thinks the vice presidential nominee should drop out.

Comments

[bk151001]

From The Commission on Presidential Debates - Ground rules set for VP debate

"Under the plan agreed to Saturday, Palin and Biden will have less time than McCain and Obama to reply to moderators’ questions and discuss each other’s answers. And there will be no guidelines given to Gwen Ifill of PBS, moderator of the vice presidential debate, as to subject matter, allowing her to mix in questions about foreign and domestic matters, the sources said."

"In the negotiations, Republicans wanted to limit the amount of time available for their neophyte candidate, Palin, to be questioned on a single topic. Democrats, meanwhile, wanted to be sure Biden and Palin spoke from lecterns rather than sitting at a table the way Vice President Dick Cheney and his rivals in 2000 (Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut) and 2004 (Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina) did. Both sides got what they wanted. Palin and Biden will each have 90 seconds to respond to questions, with a two-minute period for discussion between the candidates to follow."

Based on this, doesn't appear they get the questions ahead of time. I don't know if they check to make sure neither nominee is wearing a wireless receiver but.the way the McCain campaign has been conducted so far, it would be a really good idea.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

Did you write Gwen on PBS?

[Ofactor]

I think we would be able to tell if she was hesitant on answering the questions...I think that even with the wireless receiver it would be obviouse that she is being fed something. If she comes out saying all the right things then we will know that she has someone talking in her ear

[tstrimling]

I only hope that Hillary Clinton's supporters have been paying attention...if they can consider voting for McCain/Palin after her rambling answers and non-sequitors, then they never liked Senator Clinton for reasons of substance. Issues aside, intelligence, a comprehensive understanding of our country's relationships around the world, and the ability to carefully consider complex matters will be necessary for our next leader. Because of Senator McCain's age and his past health crises, his choice of Palin must be taken very seriously. And as we have seen the last eight years, the position of Vice President is no longer that of ceremonial seat filler.

[KC1]

I couldn't agree more with your comment. Palin is a slap-in-the-face to Hillary voters. The McCain camp should be ashamed of themselves for selecting her and thinking that this will entice the Hillary voters to vote for McCain. I have always been an Obama supporter but I can tell you this, the first woman in the White House should be Hillary Clinton. Sarah Palin can't carry Hillary's bra!

[timberdoodle]

Don't under estimate the lack of intelligence some voters have. Remember they not only elected George Bush once but relected him and that in itself is laughable.

Just maybe the American electorate is anti intelligence as the record seems to indicate. George Bush is generally considered the biggest buffoon to ever lead a nation and he isn't a lot smarter than Sara.

[MadeinAmericaProud]

I still ask how in the world can the non-educated voters all live in the electoral only?

[k1k2lee]

CAREFUL, CAREFUL. This might also be a way for the McCain camp to lower expectations SO low that if Palin manages to get through the debate - even if she struggles and looks dim - she will appear to have proven everyone wrong & the story the next day will be that she somehow actually won the debate because she simply made it to the finish line. That is what the strategy was with George & it worked.

[SheriChardonnay]

exactly...this might be put out by the rethugs to distract...they think they are so smart!

[bobhobard]

I think the worrisome thing for McCain has to be the turning tide of Republicans. Intelligent Republicans (no, that is not an oxymoron) are having more and more trouble hitching their wagons to Palin. There is only so far out on a limb you can go for a candidate before you fall out of the tree. I think with Palin's last interview with Couric, who was gentle with her, that it's clear that the emperor has no clothes. She's no Maverick-she's a shmendrick, and anybody with half of a brain can see that.
It's time to cut loose and either demand that McCain pick a new running mate or call it quits. She is an insult to anyone's intelligence and she shouldn't be tolerated.

[k1k2lee]

But her pulling out then makes McCain's judgment look shaky. Even if she says she is dropping out for her kids - that does 2 things: 1) it's a MAJOR setback for women, because it says they can't handle important jobs if they have a family and 2) it still makes McCain look like he didn't really think the choice through. That goes to judgment and temperament - 2 things he's struggling with.

[meltingpot101]

I must confess, I actually thought she was more inteligent than McCain. I think I was wrong. But then again McCain did choose her.

[Ivygreen]

Dear moderator,
why are you deleting all of my comments? I don't feel that they violate any of huffpos policies, what gives?

[tweedy54]

They seem to do the same to me sometimes..
There is absolutely NO reason why some of my comments are deleted.. Don't bother to email them..you will be IGNORED!

[SMP]

Every time I find myself feeling sorry for Palin...I remind myself..Palin allowed herself to be USED as a Political Gimmick by McCain. NO integrity, no showing of self worth............seems her hubby runs her and now is sharing that control with McCain.....gives us INDEPENDENT women a very degrading example of how women can be equal.

[thirteen13]

Yea, but she is a pit bull with lipstick. Come to think about it, pit bulls are a controlled spices in most places.

[Murph1964]

I'm convinced that she is utterly clueless. I'm not convinced the M/P campaign isn't just trying to lower the bar for her so that she looks better in the debate.

[bostonbuilder]

hallelujah and pass the gravy!!!! this is the first thing the mccain camp is not lying about! gan the whole thing get more surreal.

[veggiequeenmo]

they are just now noticing she's clueless? i thought she was thoroughly vetted. october surpise on the way - that would be the debate! HA! can't wait. biden will chew her up and spit her out and not even attack her. it will be wonderful to watch.

[TerenceCooper]

Overheard in preparation for the VP debate:

Aide: "Sarah, for the umptennth time, you cannot tell them that you are qualified to handle the economy because you can see a bank from your office window."

[wallygator]

Thats rich coming from these clowns running his campaign. I'm not sure "aides" is the right word.
Seems like they know he can't win but they are more than willing to take his money. Fiorina says McCain couldn't run a corporation and Bounds getting slapped around by Brown and Melber.
Maverick? HA! Looking more and more like my old Pinto.

[amoment]

I meant to say, Has anyone noticed that sarah palin doesn't look self-assured anymore. She really looks frightened, nervous.

[Lefty08]

Take a look at this:

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=195195-1

This is the debate for Alaska governor......this is not the same Palin I saw being interviewed by Couric.
(Not sure how to link this directly....sorry. Is worth the effort to copy & paste).

Hope this Palin doesn't show up at the debate with Biden.

[veggiequeenmo]

she won't be there - i understood they were given the questions at that debate beforehand - she was looking at notes - she memorized her answers. any other time she was speaking in alaska - impromptu - she was just like she is now - clueless! i don't know if biden and palin will be given questions in advance or not...

[Passenger57]

That's because she's more and more on her own,and not reading snark written for her by someone else.They threw her out of the nest,she can't fly,and it's a looooong way down.
I don't feel bad for her at all.
Next week : Joe Biden vs. The Hindenburg.

[bobhobard]

Read Judith Warner's column in the Times the other day. It was all about just that.

[gnomic]

She is probably starting to realize how stupid she looks and that this is how her career is going to end. And that she is going to get thrown under the "straight talk" express and be blamed for McCain's likely loss. And that she is contributing to it. And that the lies and deceptions and cover ups are going to come out in the future and she may be serving time and missing her grandkid.

Yeah, she should be nervous.

[amoment]

Has anyone noticed that doesn't look self-assured anymore. She really looks frightened, nervous.