McCain Meant Lack Of Experience Was A Good Thing
It's 11:00 am EST on Friday August 29th, and both CNN and the BBC are reporting that John McCain has chosen first term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his VP running mate.
Basking in the glow of Senator Barack Obama's historic and captivating acceptance speech last night, I can say in no uncertain terms that this announcement has propelled me from a state of serene pride, into a state of stunned disbelief.
Throughout this presidential campaign, one of the most pernicious and constant critiques emanating from the GOP strategists has been the idea that Barack Obama, by virtue of his public service record, is simply too inexperienced to legitimately be expected to be capable of holding the highest elected office in the nation.
That point has been hammered home relentlessly by John McCain, his surrogates and subordinates, and by the Republican party at large, and has been a key element in a broader tactic to suggest to the American people that McCain's experience and tenure as a long standing US Senator will play a more important role in determining his readiness to lead the country, than his political judgment or his policy record.
Are you freaking kidding me?
This is just the latest example of the GOP's seemingly inexhaustible ability to first castigate and then embrace the Democratic Party's assessment on a host of issues affecting the United States, the blatant hypocrisy of which could not be more obvious.
For nearly 5 years now, the Left has been imploring the Bush administration to offer a clear and measured timeframe for US combat troops to responsibly end their deployment in Iraq, a policy that has been doggedly rejected by Bush/Co. as being tantamount to allowing terrorists to take up residence in American households.
'Cowards cut and run; Marines never do!' Anyone remember that infamous utterance?
Now that such a timetable has been demanded by the Iraqi government, and despite all their best efforts to paint this as a success, it is clear that even President Bush has finally come to understand that the vast US troop presence in Iraq is unsustainable. He will never acknowledge that it has NEVER been viable, but at least some light of reason is finally penetrating his Fortress of Solitude, albeit nearly 6 years too late.
When it was proffered by the Left of course, it was all about political gain; McCain went to so far as to suggest that 'I would rather lose an election than lose a war,' as though he wasn't perfectly capable of doing both.
Now as the Bush administration finally admits the inevitable, that US combat forces CANNOT stay in Iraq indefinitely, they are merely following the sage advice from Commanders on the ground, as though the concept had only been introduced to them on the eve of the Democratic National Convention.
What you talkin' 'bout Willis?
Senator Obama has consistently maintained that American diplomacy should extend not only to America's allies, but to those states and leaders that are opposed to its principles and policies, including Syria, Iran and North Korea, the so called 'Axis of Evil.'
&n bsp; The Bush administration had consistently and fervently maintained that such a policy of engagement would play right into the hands of America's 'enemies,' and weaken its ability to exert its formidable power.
That of course, was before the DNC gathering in Denver.
Now we learn that Syria, Iran and North Korea have been participating in diplomatic discussions with the US for months, if not years!
When it was suggested by Democrats, the idea was synonymous with treason; when the Republicans reluctantly admit they have been secretly pursuing the very same policy for some time, it's due to their 'visionary' recognition that the US cannot effectively bring their considerable weight to bear solely on the strength of their military interventions.
I wonder what could have brought about such an altruistic change of heart.
Oh right, the little Democracy that could called Iraq.
And now comes the penultimate hypocrisy; after nearly 2 years of repeatedly and falsely claiming Senator Obama was too inexperienced and too untested to be considered as a viable Commander in Chief, John McCain and the Republican Party have announced Governor Sarah Palin as their best possible choice for the Vice Presidential candidacy.
What?
I will in no way disparage the character, public service record, or policy initiatives of Governor Palin for two simple reasons; I have no idea who she is, nor what they consist of.
I cannot be the only one who heard this announcement and was thunderstruck; not with elation, hope and pride as I was last night listening to Barack Obama, but with a sense of total bewilderment at the abject unctuousness of it all.
After all of this time and effort attempting to portray Senator Obama as a political ingénue among veterans, we have the GOP trotting out an admittedly accomplished candidate, with even less 'experience,' and virtually no national or international credence.
This is a flip flop of near Biblical proportions
Based on the MSM coverage I'm seeing today, the gushing over Governor Palin has begun in earnest, while the questions regarding her viability will likely remain unasked.
I don't say that Governor Palin wouldn't make a decent VP, especially considering that her boss might be closer to tendering the position than he might think, I simply acknowledge that I know virtually nothing about her; and I think the US at large feels much the same way as of this morning.
I'll say this about the GOP, it's nothing if not surprising, in the realm of throwing a surprise birthday party and not inviting the birthday boy or girl.
On that note; Happy 72nd birthday Senator McCain; at least now you have someone to help you blow out the candles.
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kARL is such a genius WOW
I think this is a very good post. McCain should be ( but of course won't be) taken apart for the hypocrisy of this pick. This really is an example of someone putting political expediency ( as he sees it) over the good of the country. What a buffoon that man is. On an initial read, sadly but predictably, the MSM appears to be giving him a pass on this and instead focusing on the strategy behind the decision and bio trivia about Palin ( beauty pageants etc.).
Unless I am totally missing something, you could have written this exact headline about Obama when he chose Biden... Obama has said "Washington has been talking about our oil addiction for the last 30 years, and John McCain has been there for 26 of them." Well Joe Biden has been there for 30 of those last 30 years... It looks to me like this is the same contradiction. I like to be as completely free from programmed thought as I can be, and normally I don't comment on articles because no one ever changes their mind about anything but this author looks to me like he is so fixated on criticizing the other side the he challenges nothing that comes from his.
It seems to me the author has simply turned the tables on the game the Republicans have been running since Obama announced his candidacy; and apparently they can't admit the old do as I say and not as I do tactic.
At least you're civil about it.
yes you are missing the point alltogether could you please go ahead and read again all the postings what we shoudl look at is at the hypocrisy of republicans and I am the first to admit that I am perhaps not so free of preprogrammed thoughts but after 8 years of ineptitude and lies
I have had enough
Q. E. D. brother.
For our GOP friends, that's "Quod erat demonstrandum,' (which was to be demonstrated).
Exeunt.
Ok -- This pick will PROVE the racism the underscores so many people's sentiments about Obama. People always say "I just don't know who he is." Well, now we have a white, conservative GOP that no one can credibly say knows who she is, except maybe her oil-drilling husband. Yet, we'll see if the fact that they don't know her matters at all to conservative leaning voters. i bet not - they know enough to know she'll vote pro-life and likes guns. They know she's white. They don't need to know anything further. W/ Obama -- he can write two autobiographies, and tell his lifestory again and again for 18 months - and people still say they don't know who he is. It disgusts me.
Talk about blatant pandering; first Obama isn't experienced, and now someone with EVEN less experience is perfect for the job, solely on the strength of her gender; WTF?
For all those espousing Palin's eminent credentials, please tell us what the Hell makes her MORE credible than Obama?
crickets..
Yikes.
Another chilling thought: who would be advising her if she ended up as president? She is likely to become an ineffective figurehead while old school Republicans run the show. Yikes!
I feel sick.
You should.
We are in very dangerous times....o
I want to be hopeful but have to admit I have a bad feeling about where we are heading as a nation I am so worry about the danger that corporate media posit to our country and our well being theya re trully the problem... Perhaps I am underestimating american voters...
In regard to inexperience there a glaring difference between Obama's situation and Palin's.
We as voters CHOSE Obama as our candidate in spite of his inexperience. We were given the opportunity to weigh the inexperience against his positive points and make a choice. If Obama goes to the White House it will have been the voters' chosing.
With Palin, no such opportunity was given the voters. How would she have fared as a presidential candidate in this race? Would voters have chosen her as their nominee based on what she has to offer?
Obama selected the VP candidate, not the voters, but he selected someone with the necessary qualifications to step into the President's shoes in an emergency situation.
Can this woman do the same? There's a real chance that Mccain could fall victim to a serious medical condition or even die in office. How does it make us feel, the prospect of having a totally unknown rookie, a young woman, not selected by anyone's vote, in charge of the country.
To me that's insanity. And as dangerous as it gets.
I like that you included the word pernicious in your essay.
Next time you contribute something please use it again.
"Lack of experience" is a ridiculous phrase. Both parties have had very experienced politicians
turn into bumbling fools when they climbed the ladder while younger folks have shined and vice versa.
One must be evaluated by their character today.
As far as bumbling fools go, look no further than the current administration, and that's exactly the point; no one wants that dog and pony show rolling into office again.
As for experience, I agree that people should be judged on their merits, however Sarah Palin could now LITERALLY be a heartbeat away from the big chair, and it's growing ever more obvious that very few people had even heard of her, much less had been impressed with the strength of her character.
As to pernicious; that's very perspicacious of you.....
Sarah Palin is more experienced than Barak Obama. She has been a mayor and a governor, positions that demand a knowledge of the function of governemnt and balancing budgets. Obama was a community organizer and junior senator in Washington. She leads by example and with her actions not her words. McCain/Palin 2008
LOL!! Well, I have to hand it to you - you typed that out with a straight face, I bet.
Yes, the Republican "strategists" were telling us all day that Palin is really "more experienced" than Sen. Obama because she has "executive experience" in being mayor of a town of 7,000 people, then a year as governor of a state of 700,000, which is over THREE TIMES THE SIZE of Sen. Obama's 13th Illinois Senate District from 1996 to 2004.
The real reason this is such a great pick is that John McCain also has no "executive experience". So Palin fills this gap in John's resumé. He can lean on her for advice about the economy and managing the executive branch and stuff. Of course her experience in management gained in oil-rich Alaska, where the state is rolling in dough and gives out oil checks to all its citizenry, doesn't precisely map on to the White House skill set, but I'm sure she's a quick study.
LOL
Yeah a village and a part time job sure she leads by example check out the blogs in Alaska and please stop resurgitating FOX GOP talking points THINK THINK THINK for yourself
I saw Gingrich try to use those same talking points this morening on the Today show. He was barely able to keep a straight face while he said them.
Just say no to McSame/Plain in 2008.
Up with Hope! Obama/Biden '08
Excellent post! I really enjoyed this one. M.
John McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin is a SOLID one for REAL Conservatives, and announcing the pick today is a strategic masterpiece, knocking out Barack Obama/Joe Biden’s after convention euphoria!.
Did I mention that I loved EVERYTHING she said after being introduced by John McCain?
EVERYTHING!!
Wow, how's the Palin flavored Kool-Aid today KYJD?
Yeah, nothing like doing the equivalent of getting drunk at the office party and stripping to steal the spotlight.
Point out your age, take away your experience argument, and put someone within a heartbeat of the White House who has limited experience. yeah...tha
Whoa dude, my sentiments exactly. I can't wait to see how the Repubs and their media spin cycle attempt to portray the good Governor as more capable than Obama.
Karl Rove must be a whirling dervish at this very moment....
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