John McCain Is Not George Bush, Sarah Palin Is

I thought McCain was the next Bush. I said so, like countless others, on this blog. More war. More debt while keeping taxes low and mocking the Democrats who want to pay down that debt. No vision regarding the energy issue. Or education. Or health care. More fear. Less solutions. No call for sacrifice where it really counts in terms of America's consumption. More favored treatment for American corporations. More foxes called to guard the henhouse in terms of our government's regulatory stewardship. And on and on. The Bush Nightmare, chapter three.

But McCain is not Bush. No matter what you think of McCain, you can't pin that on him. Now Palin? Palin is Bush. What helped propel Bush into the White House was not only some effective electoral nullification. It was his lack of a record in public office. The governorship of Texas is one of the more ceremonial of all the governorships in this country. The state legislature calls the shots. Bush came into power with less foreign policy experience than Barack Obama has now. And was "elected" to two terms. Bush had no foreign policy record to examine. He had only his father's rich friends and their stranglehold on the Republican National Committee to call upon. It proved to be more than enough.

Bush was elected and, of course, allowed a cast of neocon savages to take over from there. We knew next to nothing about Bush and even less about how Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, Ashcroft, Gonzalez, Addington, Bolton, et al would manage the world post 9/11.

We know nothing about Sarah Palin. Nothing. Which is not anywhere near enough information to elevate her to the position whereby she would succeed McCain if he died in office or suffered a catastrophic illness. At 72 years of age and in questionable health, McCain's fitness to coach a high school football team would be in doubt, let alone the grueling reality of the presidency of this country.

John McCain is, statistically, more likely to die or suffer some catastrophic illness during his first term than any other man that has sought the office. Who would succeed him? George Bush would succeed him. Someone with no record. No experience. Only question marks. Everywhere. Forget about the fact that Palin looks a lot like a really attractive TV star I know. Underneath all the Tina, she's George.

PS: My apologies to the cast and crews of My Name Is Earl and Scrubs. In my frustration with NBC's reprehensible promotion of 30 Rock, I took an unfortunate swipe at both of those shows and that was not cool.

But, for Earl's creator, Greg Garcia, who referred to me as a "psychotic", I have only one question. Why are you Scientologists always rendering these medical opinions you aren't qualified to give?

Comments

[celested9]

So what? You didn't like my comment.

[celested9]

This is the truest thing you have said. McCain is NOT George W. And that is why I am voting for him

Please provide the EVIDENCE that McCain is more likely to die in office.

Have YOU tried running for President of the U.S.?

Most people half his age couldn't keep up with him, mentally or physically.

So, you are for the black guy who is sadly a most flawed and deficient vessel for all that hope and change we all want. (You know he would NEVER had been nominated had he been white.)

Fine, but you don't have to be FOR Obama and be a sexist, ageist foil as well.

[wiredbadger]

You Know Alex, I think of America, how it sponsors the need to pursue a future. I think of the great selling points we offer to those whose idea of a future is pragmatic media ensconced in shrines of media 'lent' through airwaves. One such media inspiration is star trek.now, star trek shows a earth united. a happy multi class multi union dedicated for the future exploration of our dream. incredible technology is made believable , so much so that many of the fiction is not only referred as a realistic thing (wormholes for one) that we are inspired by this fictioin to create these technology.(female voice as a computer ). I ask myself though, is this mutually aspired wish , given by this shows popularity possible with a political figure that wants to take a subject already judged in supreme court as invalid in practice, intelligent design to be taught along side evolution? i mean something that cant be falsified and has to be accepted ala Kantian, versus a science that simply describes the process of life, not its creation? don't you find that scary? isnt that like a huge red light? or is it just me?

[Cowboylove]

Alec, I disagree. Sarah Palin makes Bush look like a liberal intellectual.

I agree McCain is not Bush. He is Faust descending into hell.

[JAMES GORMAN]

I ALWAYS LIKED ALEC BALDWIN FOR MOVIES AND ACTING--NOT SURE WHY, BUT WHO KNOWS
WHY SOME ONE TALEN GRABS YOUR MIND AND EMOTION--HE DOES!!! AND I LIKE MORE AND MORE WHAT HE WRITES ON THIS BLOG SPECTACLE---IF IN FACT IT IS HIS.
SARAH P. AS ALEC WRITES IS INDEED BUSH. MC CAIN IS REALLY A HOLLOW MAN AND IS
NO BODY--HE IS ANY WHIM OF THE MOMENT, OR ANY ANGRY RUSH FROM BOMBING IRAN
TO FIRING A GOVERNMENT CHIEF TO PRETENDING TO FIRE HIS CHOICE FINANCE MAN THAT C CALLS US ALL WHINERS FOR NOT HAVE 7 HOUSES.
WHAT A MESS---GOP MUST MEAN GRAND OLD PIGS----JAMES GORMAN

[kpostero]

Alec, you are certainly correct about Palin. However, if the pundits and talk-radio celebrities have their way, the reality of blind party loyalty, especially where the Religious Right is concerned, will be the nail in the Democrats coffin. And, just who are Republicans? I know many and am stimied as to how they can think and truly believe the way they do. Frank Schaeffer's recent piece here in HP is fabulous! If only the good Republicans could read this and do some soul searching, I think this race would quickly become one of sense rather than nonsense.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/an-open-letter-to-all-rep_b_127709.html#postComment

[user6008]

My response to the question of oil reserves is, America, you have no idea.

I live in the great state of North Dakota, which is as we speak, experiencing the greatest oil boom in American history. New Millionaires are being minted everyday. Landowners who are all allowing new oil rigs to drill are getting filthy rich.

Go Google these three words: Bakken oil formation.

[rsaillant1]

Your post sure blows up the offshore drilling argument...Thanks.

[ckomeshian]

Have we as a nation become so socially insecure that we prefer candidates who lack experience and intelligence (and integrity)? It seems so! Alec thanks for being smart, savvy and unafraid to voice your opinion.

[Zeroes]

Let's keep Palin in the news.

[bellindaba]

BRAVO! Alec

Well said and the truth.

SARAH PALIN is a female "W" and everytime she does another Alaska "aw shucks & jive" I just feel as if I'm going to throw up!

Not only has she pronounced 'Nuclear' like "W" but she hardly ever puts a "G" on the end of her words!!!! Now, that's okay at WAL-MART but, dammit, she's been around enough to know better so I can only surmise that it is as much of her 'act' as the carefully crafted 'sexy librarian' look which she has admitted to but, of course, indicating that it was meant to deter sexual advances. Puh-leez!!!!

I wish I could say that America's not stupid enough to vote in a SARAH PALIN as Vice President but there's been a 'dumbing down' of America going on for quite sometime now and with the near elimination of the middle class it's going to get worse.

PALIN's body language is also something that gives her away and did so in the interview with Charlie Gibson. When he asked if she was being truthful about "Trooper-Gate," PALIN said, "YES," but shook her head back and forth in a "NO" gesture. Anyone disagreeing needs to watch the video over again. I kept rewinding and it was amazing. It was when they are standing overlooking the basketball court.

PALIN and McCAIN keep lying about so many things especially on whether or not she is the great REFORMER on the "BRIDGE TO NOWHERE!" Lies!!!

[Wilberforce1]

I have just watched Charlie Gibson (ABC News) Interview Sarah Palin. It is very clear why she is so appealing to women voters democrats included. She looks like a buyer for Pottery Barn who shops at Wal-mart for the family. Now she will do her job very well at Pottery Barn, and get the honorable mention by default at the Christmas Party. She will do no more and no less. Now all those voters out there that are on the fence are going to make decisions based on that limited appeal? They are completely unaware of her views but will decide their vote based on what?
Is it the "One of us" thing? She has the same look and feel as your friend that you run into at the Wal-Mart she can relate right? These things might be all very nice. This country needs more than that we need a leader. She is not a leader its so clear she has been coached and has no grasp of the issues. Could you imagine her at a roundtable discussion on Sunday politics? I think she could just barely hold her own. I don"t believe she would have anything of substance to offer. This does not mean she is not smart just ignorant about many a thing.
Like the undecided¦get the facts and look at the bigger picture please.

[Lycaeus]

Let's say I broke my leg playing with the dog. I can"t walk.

Would I choose a doctor based on gender and how many kids the individual had? Or how colorful the person was or if that person reminded me of myself? Or would I be interested in the doctor"s expertise and experience?

Suppose a tree hit my townhouse and I needed a contractor. Who would I place at the top of the list, a person who had only done small jobs on country cottages for 5 or 6 years or one who had many decades of excellent townhouse repair?

What if, God forbid, a relative passed away and I inherited millions? I need advice. Would I choose someone unfamiliar with Wall Street but who could deliver a snappy pitch (and used prayer as a divining rod) or a reliable investment advisor with a proven track record?

Suppose we upped the ante? What if the president died? Who would you want in the Oval Office making monumental decisions? Jay Leno, Oprah Winfrey, Charles Barkley, your mother or twin brother or someone less entertaining and familiar but one with the experience, wisdom and temperament required to be president?

The presidency of the USA is not high school. Placing someone without proper qualifications one heartbeat away from the most important office in our land just to win the election defines the mentality, judgment, character and true patriotism of that person.

Not realizing this could turn out to be very unpleasant.

[miceal2]

She's really a Pit BUSH with lipstick!

[Dolphin]

Speaking about the Palin-Fey lookalikeness. Has anybody noticed the resemblance between John McCain and the medium aged Charlie Chaplin?

After having seen and heard McCain chatting with Jay Leno recently, I do have to admit he also has some kind of good humour. The days of wonder are not yet gone.

Who would have thought that of a Republican?

[Zeroes]

Alec, I agree, my first wife likes Sarah, and you know how that goes. She has brainwashed my children too.