Sunday Roundup

Picking Sarah Palin was clearly a Hail Mary pass. But the McCain campaign is tapping into an archetype that resonates deep in the human psyche. That of the unknown innocent plucked from obscurity and magnificently rising to the challenge. Hollywood has long recognized the appeal of this fantasy. Think Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, A Face in the Crowd, Dave, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. So in questioning Palin, it's not enough for Democrats to mock the smallness of Wasilla, Alaska or shout, "it's insulting," "it's ridiculous," "it's pathetic." They must make the case that given the gulf between the crises we face and her capacity to handle them, this is a truly dangerous choice. Forget Dan Quayle. Palin is more Harriet Miers -- chosen for all the wrong reasons, and glaringly not up to the task. Maybe an anxious nation can offer John McCain a do-over.

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

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Comments

[Laurabr]

Evidently McCain wanted to pick Joe Lieberman. This according to Andrea Mitchell of NBC, but the "tests" for him were terrible from the Christian Right. They would have protested and it would have been a mess. So the Christian Right essentially won by THEIR pick of Sarah Palin. I'm sure Karl Rove had a hand in this as well. After all, didn't Bush win because of the amendment to vote for or against gay marriage on many states voting agendas in 2004? In all honesty, this truly worries me. The Republican party can be so sneaky and nasty and still win. Then, after the county turns into more of a mess everyone will wonder why. Oh, and how about James Dobson telling his congregation to pray for rain during Obama's acceptance speech? Guess that one backfired a bit, huh?

[ImmanuelKant]

Yes, God provided blue sky's for Obama.

[santamonica39]

Yes, that's why Bush won in 2004 (and rigging Ohio). All the gay marriage amendments brought out the party faithful. That's why Palin is on the ticket - to energize the base. It seems to be working. They love her. Clearly McCain didn't pick her. It's really scary to realize how he is completely being controlled by the neocons. So much for strong leadership.

[matandch]

Show you that even God can get things mixed up.

[GZLives]

Hello, earth to Republican surrogates. Obama can LEAD. 40 MILLION of us SAW THAT WITH OUR OWN EYES. And you did too and that's why so many of you are finding it very difficult to keep a straight face explaining how Sarah Palin has more experience then Senator Obama.
It speaks of the desperation after seeing the event on Thursday. This is the aspect that I find personally to be an outrage. Many in the Republican hierarchy knew very well that George H.W. Bush's son George W was intellectually challenged and yet instead fo being statesmen and refusing to participate in the selling of W, went full steam ahead and sold the American public on a man who was clearly not up to the job. You'd think they would have learned their lesson, and yet here we are again with Republicans selling us on Sarah Palin who I'm sure is a very colorful character but a heartbeat away from a 72 year old President McCain? Are they kidding? It's shameful and they deserve to lose in the largest landslide in American history if only to make them see that we Americans are rerally not as stupid as they obviously think. Where are the Republican statesmen? Are there any out there who care more about country then Party or is it time to put the GOP to bed forever?

[UrbanRevolution]

To bed forever. They need to revamp and rethink who they are. they need to go back and revisit the speeches of Lincoln and think about how they've become the party of intolerance, racism, pettiness, and false Christianity. Lincoln is turning in his grave as are all of the former slaves and African Americans who voted Republican until the 1960s

[Nofuzzydreams]

Still not heard what disqualifies Palin when Obama is qualified. Both were basketball players. Ok, Obama went to Harvard. I get it - you must be an elitist even though you do not have any executive experience. You see it is not experience but judgment. Palin has it , Obama has the wrong ones!!

[robk64]

Obama has laid out a cogent set of policies, both domestic and foreign.

Palin has not. In fact, she is on record as "not having thought much about Iraq".

Obama has stated that when he left Harvard he wanted to work as a community activist, to bring about change from "the bottom up".

Palin has stated she never had any interest in running for elected office.

Obama took an unpopular stance against the war in Iraq, displaying what some would consider sound judgement.

Palin has been Alaska's governor for 20 months and is already under investigation for alleged abuse of power in attempting to have her ex-brother-in-law fired, demonstrating what some might consider a stunning lack of judgement.

Need I go on?

[bgrp]

Senator Obama was voted into his current position by millions of democrats, republicans and independents. Palin was Chosen by one man to be the ONE.

[sink]

You're kidding right?

[Mysticalsister]

You appear to be one of those who has not made an effort to find out who this woman really is. Please check the links above and find out.

[4wehttam]

This is from a post I read re: a Reuters article, this should suffice:

In the US Senate, Barack Obama has served on the FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE, VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOUR & PENSION COMMITTEE.
- Before getting to the US Senate Obama served 11 years in the Illinois State Senate.
- Barack Obama is a graduate TOP of his class at Harvard Law School. Barack Obama also has a degree in Political science specializing in International Relations.
- Barack Obama worked in Chicago, Illinois as a community organizer, Obama, as the director of the Developing Communities Project in Chicago, helped set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants’ rights organization in Altgeld Gardens.
- Barack Obama also worked as a consultant and instructor for a community organizing institute.
- Barack Obama worked as a Civil Rights lawyer for 9 years.
- Barack Obama was also a University of Chicago Constutitional Law Professor for 12 years.
- In the U.S Senate Obama has served on the FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE, VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR & PENSION COMMITTEE.
– In the US Senate Obama has written 890 pieces of legislation, and co-sponsored 1096 pieces of legislation.

[zell]

Ariana, I agree with StevieRae.­........I too believe that Palin was picked for the male or the "Joe Sixpack" vote. McCain wants the male voter to look at Palin and vote for him based on her looks.

[GSMRaleigh]

We need to make sure the Republican thugs do not steal the election again. We must never forget what happened in 2000. We must never forget that Al Gore won the eleciton and with the help of Katherine Harris, James Baker, the right wing Supreme Court the presidency was gifted to Bush.

We need to consider the state of this country and the world had Al Gore been allowed to assume the office he won.

We cannot let them do it again.

[judithk]

The Republicans had their asses handed to them last week. They saw any hopes of anything greater than fifth rate dribble down the drain.

Each Republican perceived shortcoming of Obama were so deftly deflected that the Republicans had nothing left to say.

So they changed the subject and picked a vice presidential candidate that allows them to switch their strategy from inexperience to that old chestnut of guns, god, abortion and gay marriage. Big mistake that they were stuck with. Until the miracle of Gustav

Now they had a good reason NOT to have bush and cheney speak at the convention. Note that in this technologically advanced age, no one has suggested a remote set-up or a video speech to the delegates and the nation.

It took a few days for the Republicans to think of the idea of making their convention a fundraiser for potential victims of the storm. Obama had already used his email list to gather donations and prepare people to help out after the storm. He already called a very popular New Orleans radio station to urge people to evacuate and to give them local resources to get them help in evacuating.

Cynical me thinks that helping ordinary people is so far out of the Republican mind set that it took awhile to think of the idea to make the convention a fundraiser and thereby not have to compete with the academy award winning Democratic Convention

[vew]

The last 3 Republican administrations and the republican majority in Congress have proved the FRAUD of GOP "conservatism" . Building deficits, Ignoring the middle class, all for big oil, big business, and big war profiteers. Ike Eisenhower warned the country against the military industrial complex. The Republicans WORK for the military industrial complex, and big oil, and big business. The middle class are on their own.

[LafnBacstage]

As an Obama supporter, I’m thrilled with McSame’s choice for VP.

This is a true Hail Mary plan pulled from the play book of a desperate underdog.

I can see it now: McBushnics vs Obamanaters; the ball is snapped, Palin veers right and goes deep, McBush looks for an opening, the center is blocked. He fakes right then dodges left, but is blocked by a massive wall of Obama voters. McBush is forced to lateral the ball to Rove who spits on it and hides it under his jersey. Rove mingles with the rushing line of Obamanaters, sees his opening and hands off the ball to McBush who sees Palin open down field. Just then, Biden rushes and McBush is forced to throw a long high, slightly wobbly pass to Palin who is in the end zone. Time seems to slow as everyone watches with baited breath. Something seems to be distracting Palin, perhaps its foreign policy, or lack of experience. What ever it is, Palin looks up as the ball smacks her helmet and gets wedged in her faceguard. Hillary swings in from the left and knocks Palin to the ground forcing the ball lose on the one yard line. Obama comes down the center and scoops up the fumble and runs it back 99 yards for a touch down. America goes wild!

Perhaps Palin will attract some of those disenchanted Operation Chaos voters back into the Republican fold.

[loveamerica4real]

McCain didn't vet her http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/palins-trouble.html what was he thinking

[StateofTaxes]

TY for sharing this article; WOW, What was McCain thinking, or not??, Is a wonder the present administration did't latch right on to Ms. Palin...sh­e has all the qualifications they so admire and have depended on for nearly 8 years....

[robk64]

Palin is an incredibly reckless choice for VP.

Even if you bury your head in the sand and disregard actuarial data on McCain's life expectancy, 9 US presidencies have ended prematurely.

That's 21%. That's 1 in 5 folks!

Are you willing to take that kind of gamble? McCain is. Do you think someone with such poor judgement should be president?!

[MarkInEugene]

It's nice to see there are a few intelligent American's out there.

[Bonsage]

Very few, as you would define them; that's why Dems consistently lose the election.

[diogeron]

Here's my question. We all know Palin is the least experienced candidate in recent memory to be picked by a major party as VP. My question is who was the last VP selection with LESS formal education than Sarah Palin? Frankly, I'm 63 and I cannot think of anyone with less formal education in my adult lifetime.

[MamaBird62]

Good point, I can't think of anyone less educated on a ticket either. Also bothering me is her lack of curiosity about the country and the world. She's barely been out of Alaska in her adult life prior to becoming Governor, a job which required her to do some travel. She obviously cares about issues in her home state, but on the national level? I see no evidence of interest or concern on her part.

[VegasBabe]

"LESS formal education?­"....does she even possess an Associate's degree? Let's not even discuss foreign relations experience. Look, I am an Obama supporter, and I remain committed to a woman POTUS in our future, but can't we select someone with a little more than this woman offers. What were they thinking?

[DesertDivine]

You are right, as usual, Arianna. But we cannot be complacent about this selection. I have already heard some ignorant women saying they will vote for McCain now that a woman is on the ticket. They are apparently equating this x-beauty queen to Hilary which is patently ridiculous. I have two words for all women out there to bring you back to reality: Supreme Court.

[Arleang]

For eight years we have been living through a tragedy in which all of us have been bit players.

Now the Republican candidate has tried to plunge us into a melodrama via Sarah Palin with the 5-month-old Down's syndrome child, a son about to join the military and an NRA card. This desperate Hail Mary/Sarah pass tells me all I need to know about John McCain. He would sacrifice the country in an attempt to win this election.

At least his latest misjudgement should have a happy ending . . . for Barack Obama.

[UrbanRevolution]

Didn't he say it was BHO who would sacrifice America to win

[virto]

Pat Buchanan may have summed it up best: Obama's convention speech was the best he'd ever heard. And it was delivered by an African-American on the anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech at a convention that attracted 38 million viewers -- more than the final installment of American Idol and the opening ceremonies at the Olympics.

So why did it rate only a passing reference on all the Sunday political talk shows? Because Sarah Palin was far more "newsworth­y." And after all, it takes time to rationalize Palin as someone who could be president if cancer (or old age) gets McCain.

My favorite argument is the one that was offered several times without challenge: That Palin is MORE qualified than Obama to be president. Of course she is. After all, Palin was involved in the PTA before becoming a mayor of a town of less than 9,000 people, which was before she became governor of a state whose total population is less than the population of Austin, Texas.

Next best was Bartaromo's glowing description of Palin's "energy expertise," which is demonstrated by her argument that big oil should drill in the Alaska Wilderness Preserve -- which even McCain opposes (at least for now) -- while denying that global warming is man-made, and failing to explain how it will reduce the price of gasoline.

I pray they keep it up. Unless we have yet another election rigged and stolen, Obama's going to win in a landslide.

[DesertDivine]

I watched all the MSM shows this morning too and I was appalled when they DID mention Obama's speech. What a pandering job to their big corporate bosses. And Bartoromo too gushing about Palin? George Will I knew would trash Obama's speech. Cokie is a given and while Sam got in a few good ones, he generally was dismissed and talked over. Have you ever noticed this constant ploy by all the R. pundits? 'Talking over' is their favorite thing.

[GhiaccioPronto]

I watched Bartoromo's deathly boring pre-nomination interview with Palin, a hopeless provincialist, one must realize that all Alaskans get paid for every barrel of oil extracted, (as compensation for living there I guess). Ask a question about any issue facing America, terrorism, Iraq, Iran, Russia, energy, the budget, creationism, abortion, and you will eventually get the same answer, drill more holes in Alaska

[tuffymama]

It's easy to laugh at this pick, but I actually find it rather disturbing.

I was just reading the new TIME magazine with McCain on the cover, and the article (obviously written before he picked Palin) stresses some points over and over again: how McCain is obsessed with the idea of honor; how his biggest political regrets are times he chose political expediency over his principles; how "country first" is not just a political slogan but his core belief.

So how can we reconcile his choice of Palin with this? It's obviously a pick made to ignite the conservative Christian base of the party, certainly not one that puts the welfare of America first. Is he that panicked at the prospect of losing that he would toss his core princple out the window? Is he letting the Rove wing of the part influence him that much? It's quite scary, actually.

[DesertDivine]

Yes, it is scary. But I wonder....­..Remember how the party disliked McCain because he didn't march in lock step prior to 2000??? (The old 'maverick' saw.) Just maybe the RNC is dictating who he goes with to at last be done with him. Usually, it seems, those not elected to the presidency are pretty much out of the picture, or at least powerless. Supposedly, he really wanted Lieberman but the party bigwigs said no. HUMMMMMMM.­..........­..I wonder....­....!

[roylofquist]

Dear Friends,

I am on the other side. I would like to offer some friendly advice. Viewing Palin as Harriet Meyers is going to lead you astray. You'd be better off viewing her as John Wayne. That's her image on the other side.

Regards,
Roy

[rubyrubyruby]

cheers Roy...

[DesertDivine]

PERFECT!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!

[OBXartist]

Roy could not be more right. She is the Dream Girl of every male redneck, low information voter in America...­and an inspirational figure for his female counterpart. These Republican voting knuckle-draggers can't separate reality from the cartoonish John Wayne-like fantasy of America promoted by John McCain. They don't understand that their lives keep getting worse due to their own Republican voting decisions, so blame their predicament on everyone else while remaining oblivious to all the evidence that they have actually been cutting their own throats economically and diminishing their own future and the future of their children. They can't be bothered to go to any credible source for their political or economic information but, instead, rely on Rush Limbaugh, anonymous fear-mongering chain e-mails, or their preacher and his Bible for directions on how to vote. The have the intellectual fortitude and attention span of small children. They like simple answers. They prefer to be sold simple solutions even when they know they are wrong. They prefer cartoonishly decisive leaders, like good ol' John Wayne, even when those leaders prove themselves decisively wrong over and over again.

Dems, do not underestimate Sarah Palin's appeal. And do not overestimate the power of reason on the part of the American voter.