Palin's Troubles Mount For McCain: Reuters

Reuters reports that Palin's "troubles" are mounting for John McCain. The GOP nominee now spends much of his time being asked to defend Palin's judgment and experience, even among conservatives.

Mocked by comedians, derided by prominent conservatives and reeling from flustered interviews with national media, Sarah Palin is proving a risky gamble in Republican John McCain's quest for the White House.

"Palin is Ready? Please" a headline in Newsweek said this week of the moose-hunting Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate, capping a turbulent week in which Palin's fitness for the job came under growing scrutiny.

"Sarah Palin is utterly unqualified to be vice president," Newsweek International Editor Fareed Zakaria wrote.

"She is a feisty, charismatic politician who has done some good things in Alaska. But she has never spent a day thinking about any important national or international issue, and this is a hell of a time to start," he said.

Indeed, in recent days, McCain has:

-- Gotten testy with the Des Moines Register editorial board, describing Republicans who question Palin as "Georgetown cocktail party" people
-- Insisted to NPR that he has actually consulted Palin for foreign policy advice "many times"
-- Claimed that quoting Palin's public remarks on Pakisan was "gotcha journalism"
-- Lost much of his campaign staff to Palin debate prep

Comments

[CalifKate]

If anyone asked me want magazines or newspwpers I read, even if they woke me form a deep sleep I could answer !!!!! WHY can't we make her answer a straight question ??? She is not very sm,art or very bright and the six pac thing ??? I'd rather drink a six pac !!!!

[yallkiddn]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/30/palins-news/

[Ofactor]

She is a journalist that graduated from 6 differnet colleges

[jnah]

a journalist who doesnt read newspapers

[TizzyP]

No No No, she did not GRADUATE from six different colleges, she attended 5 different colleges in 6 years to get 1 degree. Not the same.

[sunnyjane]

McCain has done this country (and the world) a great service by selecting Sarah Palin as his running mate. We citizens can now see through the political haze of rhetoric to understand how little McCain actually cares about America that he would choose a person so ill-qualified in a lame attempt to bolster his pitiful "Country First" campaign on the "Straight Talk Express."

The hypocrisy of this move is an insult. What will it take for the neocons to finally admit that this person would be a disaster to our nation in a time of crisis? Such a pity.

[rasputin999]

BY PICKING SARAH PALIN AS HIS RUNNING MATE, OL' MAN McCAIN PROVED THAT HE HAS INDEED LOST HIS MARBLES AND SHOULD BE IN A HOME>

[MarciL]

Which one? He doesn't even know how many he has!!

[pjburns11]

Wow, The McCain/Palin airplane is going to be a mighty lonely place after they bar all those critical journalists. Maybe O'Reilly and that Savage quack will keep them company.

Either way, McCain is not going to be pleased. This could take years off his life. Good thing the Palindrome is waiting in the wings... uh oh.

http://thetruthburns.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/mccains-maverick-left-eye-a-history-of-presidential-infirmity/

[stayinsouth1981]

According to REALAGE.CO­M, McCain is about 74.5 years old. That did not take into consideration melanomas. Hmmmmmmmmmm And I was not able to CLICK on any stressors equal to running for el presidente.

[fignozzle]

mccain is a gambler.

i hope WE THE PEOPLE are not the losers.

[piggybackmom]

McCain says he is a maverick.

The definition of a maverick taken from Webster's dictionary is an independent individual who does NOT go along with a group or party.

This is what scares me about him. He says he is bipartisan, but how can he be a maverick and work with congress to make a change.
There have been many mavericks in history some were famous and other infamous. Which one is McCain?

[Sammy00400]

The 'gotcha journalism' phrase is one I havent heard of before. A question is either a valid one or it isnt. So what if its a 'gotcha'. If the question is valid then I expect the candidate to answer it... that is... if that candidate wants my vote.

[MeiLing]

Basically they are trying to make you believe that it wasn't a valid question because they didn't have time to prepare their answer beforehand.

[Kuroneko]

I think dealing with Palin's gonna be McC's fulltime job. Doesn't he have better things to do? Like defending some used-to-be "toss-up" states he's losing to Obama?

[armason]

But the icing on the cake is when the TROOPERGATE Investigation rules that she abused her power. That will be an ouch moment.

[beauwulff]

From Slate. Part of Palin's reply to Charles Gibson's question about her understanding of the 'Bush Doctrine"

"I know that John McCain will do that and I, as his vice president, families we are blessed with that vote of the American people and are elected to serve and are sworn in on January 20, that will be
our top priority is to defend the American people".

[SteveDenver]

WHY have I read her response four times trying to figure out what she meant to say? What she meant to say is, "Charlie, you're a stupid A-hole, why do I have to be here?"

[repubsrbad]

Anyone remember this from our esteemed Prez Bush: "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream." Yay Joe Six Pack!!!! Someone stop the madness please. Obama/Biden '08

[Grannysue]

Here's a good one, tonight my fifteen year old grandson was over, yes he's an A student, all my grandkids are, not bragging they are just bright kids, anyway, I had Keith Olberman on, he was showing the clip of Palin being asked about the Supreme Court decisions by Katie Couric, before the question was even finished my grandson said, Brown VS Board of Education, Roe V Wade and then said who was that guy that steered the boat in Alaska Grandma, remember the Valdez that caused all the damage and the guy was drunk, well the Supreme court recently made a decision about that case, it was Exxon Vs ?. I couldn't remember the guys name, but goes to show you, this woman is the Gov of Alaska and didn't know the answer and she wants to be VP and probably Prez and my fifteen year old grandson knows more then her, now that's dam scary!

[eden4barack08]

You grandson for VP!

[stayinsouth1981]

Was it The case is Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker, 07-219.

This was a recent decision, wasn't it? It had a HUGE impact on Alaskan citizens. You would think that one would come to mind. Wouldn't you?

[MeiLing]

Yes, it was and the irony of it is that when the decision was rendered Palin gave a statement to a newspaper of her opinion of the decision.

[Boadicea]

On what level, in what context, in which universe could it be true that Palin has advised McCain on foreign policy ... many times???

On the other hand, it would explain a lot.

[eden4barack08]

Aren't you familiar with that parallel universe where McPalin operates?

[Innisfail]

Someone on another site said he felt as if this was all some kind of satirical performance art thing that's going on, and he hadn't been let in on the joke. I thought that captured things perfectly.

[tm68]

I have my morning alarm set to NPR- imagine WAKING UP to that interview as I did. It was the best wake up I've had in a long time because I am so not a morning person. But that morning, I awoke with a big hearty laugh!

[Bad Daddy]

It shows how truly scary J Mac really is...... If he isn't a lieing sack of Dung!!

[Janel]

Why can't McCain who insists he has always been 100 percent honest admit that he chose Palin because she would energize his campaign at the expense of the American people?

[eden4barack08]

Because it's a LIE?

[SteveDenver]

He thought she would energize him. I don't think Republicans are counting on McCain making it through his first term, which means SARAH PARROT would move into the Oval Office: she's learning the answers as fast as she can. I hope she tanks tomorrow.

[Jules1]

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6455

Voting problems please check this blog

[lornejl]

It is an outrage that a black woman wrote about black people in politics. Only white people should write about black people in politics.

[Jules1]

http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2008/10/video-lgbt-alas.html
Palin's LBGT problems in Alaska,video

[SteveDenver]

It's just one of her christian thought patterns. She's a robot for Jesus mythology, which as of late includes hating gays and punishing women for having sex. But she has a gay friend (sure couldn't tell by that hairdo).

[seanseamour]

We have heard and seen the erstwhile unthinkable during this campaign, we have heard and caught McCain in his constant web of lies, we are beginning to see just how vindictive he can be to those that voice an opinion that may rustle a feather, but now, to claim his dependency upon Palin for foreign policy advice braves a whole new paradigm : is McCain fit for the job versus Palin?
Forget the fact that he had only spoken to her once prior to putting her on the ticket, that contradiction is just another facet of the web of lies, by now we all know she is totally ignorant of foreign policy issues and positions (although she may know the difference between Sunni and Shia muslims whereas he did not).
To all the Republicans out there, surely you cannot aspire to let this ticket reach the White House, it would be cause for reckless endangerment of your fellow citizens to facilitate such an outcome. Surely those who are proud of the values and traditions of this badly Bush/Cheney battered party cannot further discredit their heritage with the spectacle offered.
It is sad the campaign has focused to theatrics versus content, it is McCain's choreography, our nation needs to be governed by a strong center with a responsible left and right, Obama set the stage for a true debate on societal values that would have enabled our political process to evolve after so many polarized years.