McCain: Gambling With America

God doesn't play dice with the universe, said Einstein. But John McCain is playing dice with America.

In a move that startled even his fellow Republicans, he has picked a running mate who couldn't be less prepared to be vice president of the United States -- much less, president.

Is John McCain slipping into senility? Selecting Sarah Palin was a cynical and irresponsible thing to do.

Cynical -- because the underlying motive was probably to woo the disaffected women who have been supporting Hillary Clinton....as if any one female can simply replace any other. But Palin, with her anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage principles could not be further from Clintonian ideals.

Irresponsible -- because Palin has lived her entire life, except for four years in college, thousands of miles away from continental America. Has she ever stepped foot in New York, in Miami, in Los Angeles, in Chicago? She may know a lot about salmon fishing and oil drilling, but has she any knowledge of mainland America? -- The vast farmlands, the inner cities, the industrial towns, the transportation hubs, the financial infrastructure, the cultural centers.

Let us hope she's been to Washington, at least as a tourist; she has never for a minute held a seat in Congress. Her underwhelming experience has been simply to serve as mayor of a small town (pop. 8,000) followed by less than two years as governor of Alaska.

McCain has met this woman only once. Love at first sight? Or was it a shotgun marriage? (Palin is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.) Does he know that she favors the teaching of "intelligent design" along with evolution; that she advocates drilling for oil and running pipelines through Alaskan wildlife reserves; that she has even opposed listing polar bears as an endangered species because that might hamper Alaska's oil industry? Palin seems only vaguely aware that in her part of the world -- the Arctic Circle -- an ecological disaster is happening. Or she simply doesn't care.

And here is a woman who has deliberately given birth to a fifth child knowing full well it would be seriously handicapped and impaired all its life. Is that responsible parenthood?

Up until now, I have given McCain the benefit of a doubt. I have tended to shrug off the arguments about his age and his medical history. But these questions suddenly come into high relief when I see who his replacement could be: a young woman with the most minimal experience in government, with extremely limited knowledge of our country (not to mention of the world), and with a fundamentalist mindset that could undermine this nation for another eight years.

McCain the politician has shown an incredible lack of judgment. Probably, if he were president during a national emergency, he would call in the Rockettes instead of the National Guard.

For now, McCain the gambler has chosen his partner and dealt this crazy hand. It's up to America to make sure he folds.

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

Comments

[lwfky]

While I agree with a lot of your comment, her decision to bear a child with Down's syndrome was a private decision and one that thousands of pro-choice individuals would also make. Please stop using decisions about family matters as an argument against this woman. We don't want her meddling in our decisions, so let's give her the same courtesy.
Now, get back to pointing out that she has no real experience in a time when our country is desparate for experience and intelligence. Eight years is long enough to be led by an ill-informed, unprepared idiot.

[yeslovelife]

McCain is playing on the American "Soap Opera" mentality to try to win this election on gossip and foul play. McCains military experience, and how he articulates it, is not necessarily the right kind of experience to lead the nation in times like these. Senate experience is not necessarily "executive experience" to lead the nation. We need a leader who had demonstrated ability to bring diverse people togehter, can communicate with people who do not always agree with us, understands that too much is at stack to be in a mud slinging contest, selects a team of experienced, proven leaders and yes, can inspire when we need to be inspired. I think that Senator Obama has learned a lot more than people realize in Mid-West/Illinois politics and tough Illinois/Chicago politics. Contrast that to a 18 month governor of Alaska who also has 4 years as the mayor of a town of 8,000? It does not add up. Who does the McCain people think they are fooling? Do they think that the American people are stupid? Obama demontrates his good judgement in the decisions that he has made so far. He could not have risen in that kind of environment with the help of a Supreme being, like God!

In the end, I pray that God's men (and women) will win this election and get America heading back on the heavenly track.
God help us all!

[JimR]

"And here is a woman who has deliberately given birth to a fifth child knowing full well it would be seriously handicapped and impaired all its life. Is that responsible parenthood?"

I think that's a deeply personal decision that is none of your business.

[JohnFromColorado]

Picking Palin without vetting her shows how cynical John McCain is.

It makes me realize how close McCain and Bush are in temperment. Both do rash things without realizing the consequences.

The video clip of Sarah Palin in July is so revealing. She obviously doesn't think she would be picked. I like her, but clearly she is not qualified or interested in world affairs. I think she would have been better off to turn down the offer.

[yeslovelife]

I don't know Sarah Palin well enough to have anything bad to say about her. But, sometimes your ego (Governor Palin's) won't allow you to say no!

[tel8034]

IS THIS THE WOMAN THAT THE PUMAS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR, SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THE EXCUSE FOR NOT VOTING FOR OBAMA?....................

IS PALIN THEIR IDEAL FEMALE CANDIDATE?

If Palin is an acceptable choice for the PUMAs, then they would have insulted Hillary and everything she stands for ..................... The same issues which the PUMAs were supposedly passionate about.

[elderly]

As soon as I heard about the Pallin choice on Friday, my first question is where is Hillary Clinton? She is the only democrat who could properly criticize this pick without risking being labeled anti-feminist. This woman opposes everything that Hillary claims to have spent her entire life fighting for. WHERE IS SHE?

[orangepetal]

I feel the DNC selection of Obama was cynical and irresponsible.

[londonrainbow]

Obama has more legislative experience than Clinton. 8 years as an Illinois senator (millions of people), 3 years US (national senator) whole of America. Worked as a community activist and civil rights lawyer. Co-sponsored many bills into law.

Palin - 4 years mayor (village of 8000)
1.5 years governor (850,000)

[Law35]

He wasn't "selected" we voted him in. Quit talking if you have nothing to lend to the conversation. Geez! You trolls are hilarious! Don't get mad at us because your candidate tanked you chances for more of the same.

[JimR]

The voters in the primaries chose Obama.

[rkfdred]

Even the republicans are having a hard time with this choice. They may outwardly say she is a good choice but just watch them when they try to defend the pick. They can't do it and they look ridiculous trying. But being the good republicans they are they are giving it their best shot. I watched three different repubs trying today and none of them did a good job of it. Trying a bluff may work in poker but not in politics. I'm sure everyone is just rushing to McCain thanking him for his great pick - not.

[utd]

Well lucky for us John McCain isn't God, he wouldn't even pass the intellectual muster for being Einstein's cabana boy. He is just a guy who had a career doing stuff and is going to lose an election, that's it.

[fran-pan]

i would like to say that ms. palin's family seems to need her.. she has a child with special needs that
needs amother's love and care.. that child needs her more than the nation does.. mr. mc cain went
for shock value rather than carefully considering what was best for his country and his administration.
i'm afraid it doesn't say much for his judgement..

[beaupritchard]

Republicans don't mind rolling the dice with their own money ... the stock markets are proof of that. But I don't see them letting someone else roll the dice with their money.

The puzzlement of this election is republicans not rushing to embrace Obama. It seems on the face of it Forbes magazine would have Obama on its cover. Who else has in the space of two years made almost a 100 million dollars ... completely routed a brand name competitor(Clinton) ... out organized and out performed more experienced rivals and shown the potential to rebrand america so that others globally can do the same. Fiscal republicans CEO's and businessmen everywhere should be bowing at his feet in praise for having boot strapped his way to victory.

In the days of the republic when an enemy fought against over whelming odds and won .. centurions coming across them would stand aside and pound their shields in respect ... Obama has won the right to be respected by the money crowd. They should stand aside and let him pass.

[JimR]

Obama's net worth is closer to $2 or $3 million... not sure where you are getting your information.

[arthur2008]

Let's be honest about this: John McCain is a 72-year-old with mutiple cancers in his medical history; beyond that, there have been reasonable questions raised by thoughtful people about the nature of his forgetfulness and apparent confusion from time to time. Yet he would take a purely tactical short-term gamble, with no regard for the effect his ridiculous decision may have on his country. His disregard for our nation's long-term welfare is inexcusable.

[indygal]

If anyone reading HuffPo is undecided or an Independent, please consider how and why the two candidates selected their running mates. Their choices give us a preview of their judgment.

Mr. Obama deliberated carefully as to who could fill the president's role at a moment's notice. Mr. Biden is well respected, knowledgeable about world affairs, and quite capable of taking the reins should circumstances warrant. Obama thoughtfully chose a VIP with the future of our nation in mind.

Mr. McCain, for whatever reasons, -- and I've heard no convincing argument that it was anything but political -- chooses someone with no idea what the job entails. She seems very bright, but he made his decision after one meeting with her? How does this show good judgment? This is how he plans to put "Country First?"

And what does this tell us about Mrs. Palin's judgment? I"m an educated woman in my late 40s, and even if I had served in local and state government for the last 10 years, I know I would not have what it takes to be vice president. Good judgment would lead me to say, "Thank you, I'm flattered to be asked. However, I believe the current difficulties our country faces requires someone with more experience -- both at home and abroad -- than I can bring to the table."

Now, consider which candidate is really putting "Country First," and vote your conscience.

[lisad]

Let me give you my take as a healthcare professional on John McCain's health. This man has recurrent malignant melanoma. Malignant melanoma is an aggressive and frequently fatal cancer, responsible for 1-2% of cancer deaths in the US annually. Since his initial diagnosis he has had 3 relapses. The size of his facial scar and the obvious swelling and edema on that side clearly indicates an aggressive area of resection and removal of local lymph nodes. This was almost certainly not a superficial Stage 1 tumour, which can be treated by local excision. His risk for recurrence is more than high, it is close to a certainty. Prognosis for individuals with multiply recurrent melanoma, most likely a stage II tumour (or higher) over the age of 65, is not good. Knowing this, how could he have chosen someone as inexperienced as Sarah Palin to be one heartbeat from the presidency? It's mind boggling and grossly irresponsible.

[Odr]

I remember a couple weeks ago he had a "routine" skin biopsy taken from the right side of his face. Did the results come back and I missed it?

[MissDaphne]

He can't run a competent campaign.
How can we trust him to run the country?
mavicky maverick, bleah.

[jeanrenoir]

Cynical and irresponsible to the max, but what else is new? The question is: Will it WORK? And there's a terrifying possibility that it will not only work, but destroy Hillary Clinton in '12, when Palin, the REAL Annie Oakley, mops up the floor in MI, OH, PA, KY, and WVA, not to mention NH, with the Wellesley wannabe gunslinger. Palin was obviously chosen by a Satanic genius not just to help take out Obama, but to be the female Reagan. If Palin breaks the glass ceiling this year, she will destroy feminism when she becomes President. Yeah, I know, life's not just ironic, it turns out to be Kafkaesque, as advertised. Be careful of what you wish for.