Anyone Can Become President

When my five-year-old kept talking about what he would do when he became president I always ended the conversation saying, "all you have to do is study hard and if you want it, anyone can become president." Of course I never believed that. I knew a week later he would want to be an actor or a scientist so I thought that was the easiest way to go on to another conversation. But Sarah Palin proved me wrong. ANYONE can now be president.

I like Sarah Palin's public speaking ability. I think she is fun to look at, certainly the hottest vice presidential candidate in history. But I looked up some facts. The United States has 10,000 nuclear weapons, 100 aircraft carriers, 3,000,000 people in the armed forces, and ten trillion dollars of debt.

I am now hearing from the Karl Roves of the world that having a 17-year-old daughter pregnant out of wedlock will make Palin sympathetic to millions of Americans who know the pain of that situation. But my question is WHERE WAS THE ADVICE? Do we want a president who cannot communicate to their own child that possibly having a baby a year after you get your driver's license is not the smartest thing to do? Is this the new way for women to break the glass ceiling? To have their daughters throw their babies at it? I want my president to control their children, then they can tell the Navy what to do.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

Comments

[cheerleaderBush]

GREAT POST Mr. Brooks! Americans need to look in the mirror. Our government is a reflection of our society (as a whole), and when it comes to our elected officials, unfortunately we get what we deserve... so one should not be surprised by the narrow-minded, arrogant, shallow, self-serving, materialistic ego maniacs that litter our ballots every two years.

Dumb people elect dumb leaders.

[xilishx]

What i really really want to know is what is meant by **support** for the daughter.

Is it hand holding?..­.or bill paying?

I dont know many 17 year olds that can financially afford a baby.

How many teens end up on welfare?

Can someone answer what **support** Palin style means?

ilish

[gage]

I'm pretty sure Palin, unlike you, knows we don't have 100 aircraft carriers.

Are you seriously using the bad mother excuse? What about the Kennedy and Gore kids who wound up on drugs and in other trouble? Oh, but that's ok, because those were MALE politicians, so the quality of their parenting is irrelevant to running for office.

Obama supporters are sexist.

[citizenmike]

That is sort of a generalization isn't it? There were plenty of Republicans who made Hillary's life hell for years and years. Palin has been in the national spotlight under a month and you're crying? Or is that different because she's Hillary?

[Fingerbo]

"Obama supporters are sexist."

Talk about blanket statements.

[Mekarri]

Personally, I don't care about the daughter's pregnancy. Why should I? It isn't any of my business. We all know that palin and mccain are not QUALIFIED to run this country and it absolutely doesn't take a college graduate to figure that out. It is all about prejudice and ignorance. Everyone is focusing on her daughter pregnancy as if that is going to affect any of our lives. This baby will have a better financial life (probably not a better upbringing) than most of our children, so what does it mater? That's life. Meanwhile, no one is asking the important questions that should be ask of a Vice President. The media say she won't do interviews. AND????????? I say get off your butt and do THE JOB!!! Investigate her and talk about the things you find and then she would have to do interviews to answer the questions. But the truth of the matter is the media is in the pocket of the republicans or either they control the republicans, I can't tell. But either way the MSM is controlling the information! I don't make important decisions that will affect my life and the lives of my children and grandchildren base of superficial fluff. ENOUGH with the baby talk! We need to make this woman explain her positions on the things that will effect our lives. People are dying and no one seem to notice. What a terrible thing this say about us, as a people.

[chitown8]

RNC supportes are racist!


Coming from a minority woman.

Mccain should have picked Condi!

[StanfordGable]

McCain will lose in November. I don't know how but I'm sure it will happen.

Why?


I kept thinking that something was really strange about the RNC and all of the constant media discoveries about Palin. The republicans were leaking information so that they could use it to their advantage later on and the media played right into their hands. Now the media is forced to leave poor Sarah alone and the new tabloid headlines have completely dried up. Today there was word leaked that the McCain cabinet would be bi-partisan.

I wonder if Jeb is already working on his speeches.

[StanfordGable]

McCain will lose in November. I don't know how but I'm sure it will happen.

Why?



Reason 4 - John McCain. This is the best reason of all. The Republicans in Washington HATE McCain. Sure they will hold up a banner for him but that's about it. The most prominent political speaker at his convention was Lieberman. Think about it, Lieberman. Bush spoke via sattelite and there is a reason he had that grin on his face for the entire speech. Do you really think Bush likes McCain? Dick was out of the country and Bush couldn't make it. how convienant. Another prominant politician that spoke was Lindsy Graham. If you saw his speech you can understand why people might not like him either. What an a-hole and he's being talked about for a McCain cabinet post. LOL




It's late and I'm tired so I hope this makes sense to both sides of the aisle. If it does then we are all just being screwed because, if I'm right, then those in power are are not part of either party.

[thinkworklivelove]

Here, Here! America STILL has a Constitution. I want a President that knows it backwards and forwards. Many Americans voted for Bush because he was relatable. How many people had that beer with him? How many people can still afford a beer after 7 years of his Republican Admininstration? If American is going to remain a Super Power, we need someone like Barack Obama. The Republicans are only offering political gimmicks (get some relatable, who cares if they are knowledgeable) AND Name-calling politics to keep the power of the Whitehouse. It's disgusting and outrageous. EIGHT IS ENOUGH!! ENOUGH!

[lisakaz2]

Good question. But I wanted to note something different and don't see an applicable story yet, except this. It does seem "anyone" can be elected president, in terms of experience, intelligence and personal characteristics BUT chances are that these ppl and their counselors will be very well off.

Mc-Same seems to have claimed that his rich advisors (how rich?) will get only $1 salaries. Well, how did they get rich, if we're talking Gramm and the like? They've dined off the public in ways other than salary. Still, if this $1 idea returns it will place out of service ANYONE who is not independently wealthy, like you must be an aristocrat of something. It smacks of the days before public officials were paid and a rigid class system kept anyone besides the top 5% or so from "public" service.

It represents a big step back, since no working class person could run for office. Sure that has become a reality of late with big money campaigns. This just furthers the trend, but the trend is regressive. We not only are slipping into some weird elective monarchy/d­ictatorshi­p we are drifting into a pre-1776 rigid oligarchy. People should think carefully about what Mc-Same's apparently clever idea actually means: anyone can serve if they're wealthy.

[auntiecairo]

Thanks Albert for a great post - another issue that bothers - both Palin and McCain have large families - both by virtue of working for the government - either state or Federal - more than likely have their insurance paid by taxpayers - yet both are against universal healthcare and instead will help others find "affordable" healthcare. What I'd love to see happy is elected officials have to choose a side - if you're for universal healtcare - assuming you work to get paid healthcare for everyone - if you're against it - then you drop it and opt into the program you are promoting. And I would also bet Palin cut programs to help families with special needs children as well. . . (it's already been established she cut funding to help unwed mothers). .

[shela88]

Sarah Palin is against birth control and choice, even in cases of rape and incest, though her seventeen year old daughter is unmarried and pregnant. She is against stem cell research though she has an infant with Down Syndrome who might benefit from it. With her blessing, her oldest son is off to Iraq while his friends are off to college. It is no surprise that her speeches are all about insulting her opponents because she has failed at what should be her crowning achievements and her children are suffering because of it. Has anyone ever seen a loving, nurturing attack dog?

[ProudNeoCon]

Actually she is pro-birth control..

[macwin1956]

??????????????????? what method id that again hows that abstinence thing working for ya?

[BitterInPA]

The MSM must stop allowing this women to be shown reading a script full of snide talking points until she is interviewed by the press (Fox not included in the offer).

McCain/Palin are coming to my town this Tuesday and instead of being open to the masses (like Obama this past week with 15,000), they are only handing out tickets to fellow Republicans. McCain/Palin can't take on hecklers shouting out questions during their carefully crafted "town hall meetings", but they can take on terrorist, lobbyists, corruption and Putin? Please.

When Sarah makes her sarcastic joke about not knowing what community organizers do, I wish I could be there to shout out "I DON"T KNOW, ASK JESUS!". Since Jesus was kind of a community organizer and also lacked "executive experience". Why is Palin making fun of Jesus?

[trytha1]

I couldn't agree with you more!!!! Excellent point!....­.........d­on't we want our youngsters to go out and volunteer and give something of themselves in our communities????

How horribly selfish and mean spirited the RNC was in general! Did you see all of the sour pusses/

Volunteering - random acts of kindness - all make for a much better place to live and a much happier person - and people in general. The repugs can't/won't see that... they are too afraid someone will get something that they won't..... wonder what that is....

[clevelandchick]

Albert, I've always loved your work, brilliant comedy with a salient point. I laughed so hard I nearly snarfed coffee through my nose when I read:

"Is this the new way for women to break the glass ceiling? To have their daughters throw their babies at it?"

Most Americans, male and female, don't want their daughters to get knocked up and hitched before they're old enough to vote. So Palin's position against sex education and the context of her daughter's situation are relevant. Was her only advice to her daughter 'Jesus Says Don't Do It'? Is that what she wants for the rest of us?

[schatsie]

Yes, Abstinence Works.... If you live in the state with highest Rape Rates and highest Incest Rates, why would you want them to have choice???? why would you not want them to have choice???

[gage]

Palin is not against sex-ed, so your comment is based on a false premise.

[Fingerbo]

Yes, she is. She only wants abstinence taught. That isn't effective education. Do some research before you snap into action.

[clevelandchick]

Palin only supports 'abstinence only' sex education. Here's your proof.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/09/palins_earmarks_spark_question.html?hpid=topnews

I'll take that apology you were going to give for calling me a liar now.

[ConserveLiberally]

I think the most telling fact to date is that Sarah hasn't accepted, or rather, been allowed! to be on the Sunday talk/interview shows. Paraphrasing the McCain camp's response, they 'saw no need for her to go on'. This just shows (blatantly, as I see it) that she is merely a campaign ploy, a pawn, shown no respect by her own campaign! We deserve the right to be able to hear our potential next president be asked questions and have to answer on her own, even if it is with prep and talking points to parrot.

As for parenting, I agree that she holds some responsibility for her daughter's actions, but remember what teenagerhood is all about. I think the shortcoming here was the lack of a trusting relationship between mother and daughter that encouraged communication and sharing of feelings, good and bad. Her daughter knows how her mom feels about sex and marriage. Without the trust that her mom would listen, she must have felt hopeless to try..

[plooger]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing earlier this week. But come on, this is setting the bar awfully low, isn't it?

[helbent]

I'm from Arizona. Our late great senator Mo Udall once famoulsy declared that Arizona is the only state where mothers don't tell their children that someday you might grow up to become president. He's been right so far. The trail of bodies goes from Barry Goldwater, to Mo Udall, Bruce Babbitt and now, sadly, John McCain. Like a lot of my fellow AZ Dems, I would have voted for John eight years ago. But he has bought into everything I so despise in the Republican party. And the really sad thing is, it doesn't fit him well. He looks awkward doing and saying the things he does now. I don't think he even believes some of things he says today.

[BenjitheWolfdog]

In defense of Geraldine Ferraro, she was a pretty attractive VP candidate in 1984 so I'm not willing to concede that to Palin, besides Palin's voice grates on my nerves big time. Anyway, if the Democrats nominated a candidate who was so obviously and completely unqualified to be next in line behind a 72 year old four time cancer survivor to be president the Republicans, and rightfully so, would be on a nonstop attack about that persons qualifications, lack of any record or accomplishments, family and any other thing they could dig up. Can anyone who has a brain, which would exclude the 25%ers, want this novice to have her finger on the button? I only hope the media does what it claims it has the duty to do and expose her for what she really is, a hugh mistake.