60 Days To Judge a Commander in Chief?

I'm going to be very blunt, here. I wish Senator McCain a very long and happy life. But, at age 72 with a history of cancer, John McCain may not live through his first term, if elected. That would make Sarah Palin our Commander in Chief. I, and other vets and troops, have about 60 days to determine if she'll grow to be ready.

She's not ready now -- not based on the complete blank resume on global strategic issues and veterans issues. To be fair, Barack Obama wasn't ready to be Commander in Chief when he became Senator in 2005.

But, over the course of the last few years, and the last year-and-a-half in particular, I've been able to soundly judge Senator Obama, and watch him grow into a readied potential Commander in Chief. In the Senate, serving on the Foreign Affairs committee, he's tackled some of the major issues of our time, asking probing and highly informed questions of military leaders and diplomatic leaders.

I've been able to watch his thought process in action, and have seen him been proven right on Iraq, right on Afghanistan, right on talking to Iran, and right on the war on terror. He's shown an incredible ability to think in much larger strategic terms than this president, to the point that I'm supremely confident he is ready to lead our Armed Forces.

Sarah Palin? God only knows.

I've never heard her even address any of those issues, or the veterans issues like the GI Bill, VA Funding, and care for those vets with PTSD, or those who are homeless. Senator Obama has shown an acute understanding of and deep record on each of those issues - cosponsoring the GI Bill, always supporting greater VA funding, backing the Webb-Hagel Dwell Time Amendment (unlike McCain) and writing the Homes for Our Heroes Act, which would take on veterans homelessness.

I have to assume with no real history of judgment of her own on war, Palin will back John McCain's dismal judgment on military and veterans matters - endless war in Iraq, inability or unwillingness to get Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, opposing education benefits and greater VA funding, continued overextension of our military, and a shoot-first/think-later mentality.

Maybe Palin could one day be someone who has the judgment and experience that would make me feel comfortable with her leading our Armed Forces. But not now. Not after just 60 days thinking about those issues, and even then, just toting the party line. What's this say about McCain's judgment - to put political PR above sound judgment when it comes to naming a potential, if not very possible, Commander in Chief? What's it say about his judgment vs. Barack Obama, who faced with the same question, answered, "Joe Biden."

In times like these, with the stakes so high, and the decent chance that McCain might not live long into his first term, I can think of no scarier thought as a proud war veteran than someone with such an empty resume holding in her hands the lives of my buddies still in the service.

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

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Comments

[Whatashame]

This is a disgrace.

[mosh]

Disgrace is a good word to describe it. Cynical to the core, also fits.

[SeriousBlack]

Well said, Mr. Soltz. Well said.

[truesoccermom]

I agree. Obama is smart and intelligent and has studied and written extensively on
foreign affairs and economic issues. I don't care about "experience," I
care about intelligence and knowledge (Dick Cheny had more experience than
anyone and look how that turned out). As I woman, I am upset and offended
that this is the best female candidate he could come up with. (There was
talk of his nominating a woman who was CEO of ebay, I would not have a
problem with that -- at least I would know she is smart) However, I have
no doubt in my mind that I know much more about foreign policy than this
woman does (I at least studied it in college). While I really am not terrified
of what will happen if McCain is President -- I truly am afraid of this
woman running our country.

[Pquilson]

I feel the same way about Mr. Obama running our country. He has no foreign policy experience, no military experience, no real economic experience, but he does read a good speech. He is definitely charismatic, but so have been numerous other political leaders.
Frankly, I am not enthusiastic about the nominees of either party. However, I will be watching and learning for the next couple months. I hope that many others will be lending a critical ear and mind to what happens in the next 60 days or so.

[mosh]

Fair enough. And putting aside your dislike for Obama, what do you think about Palin? I mean, doesn't this choice raise questions for you about McCain's judgement?

McCain had an opportunity to pick a well vetted, experienced running mate and he chose Sarah Palin. Besides political expediency it is hard to see why he did so. Hence, doesn't this call into question his judgement? And isn't judgement the issue you raise in your comment - that Obama does not have the experience to be president. But, if you think about it for a moment, Obama showed a lot more judgement and wisdom in his choice for vp whether you agree with his politics or not than John McCain did. I think this needs to be factored into all our decision making going forward.

[Hookie101]

I completely agree. Another gimmick from the Mccain campaign. What does it say when the "warrior candidate" chooses a second in line with no foreign policy experience whatsoever, or for that matter even national experience? One would think he would see it as his duty to put someone a little more trustworthy to succeed him. But yet this is what they've been reduced to, a sideshow act designed purely to scrape up votes wherever possible. "Look jaded Hillary supporters! We've got one with a similar reproductive system and who's pretty to boot!" I only pray our nation is capable of seeing thru such antics. I'm not so sure.

[deminmo]

This move makes sense in a weird way. If McCain had chosen
Leiberman, he would have alienated a lot of Republicans. If
he had chosen Romney he would have alienated Conservative
Christians. So, even though he knocks Obama for experience
and foreign policy, he chose a woman with no foreign policy
experience. Key word-Woman, as VP. Now the voter is on the
hot seat. Hoards of disgruntled Hillary supporters too.

[StevieRae]

Jon-Your thoughtful and careful reaction to Palin's VP nomination is very appropriate.

My immediate sense is while Palin appears to be a nice enough person, mother of five children and a 18-mo governor, she will not be able to convince you or me of her readiness. As you have shown care in your reaction to her nomination, similarly, the Obama campaign will have to avoid criticism or face the peril of an emotional voter reaction.

My sense is that Palin will not be able to prove herself ready in the next 68 days to occupy the VP position, and, she will not require any assistance in that effort.

[JesustheLiberal]

I now truly believe the republic party wants to lose this election so then in 2012 they can blame all the failures of the middle east on the Democratic Party.

[mosh]

Let's hope you're right!

[berkeleygirl1962]

Palin's 19 year old son is about to be deployed to Iraq. She's certainly a standout in a crowd of GOP hypocrites--draft-dodging chickenhawks and pro-lifers who'd never make the choice to proceed with a Downs Syndrome pregnancy--but how hard it is to look good against that backdrop, especially if you're as easy on the eyes as Gov. Palin? She might be a good choice for a minor cabinet post, but to be a heartbeat away from the presidency in an administration headed by a 72 year old with chronic health problems...shows optimism, or hubris, or daring, but definitely not confidence-inspiring judgement on McCain's part.

[mosh]

Precisely. And I hope some republicans out there can put aside there 'democrat' animus and take a moment to reflect on what you just said. What does it say about McCain's judgement that he chose a thoroughly inexperienced person for his running mate? And McCain is the one who accused Obama early on about being politically expedient in his stance on pulling troops out of Iraq - well, in order to win an election McCain is willing to put this country in the hands of a person who has absolutely no foreign policy experience. Hypocrisy doesn't get any purer than this.

[ProudNeoCon]

Go away - you are noting by Dems lap dog. There are a lot of veterans whose opinion I will listed to even if I disagree with them 100%, but you are nothing more than political operative....

[mosh]

Luckily this is still a free country so the only person you have to listen to is yourself. Scary thought but true. Good luck.