McCain and other Republicans have defended Palin's qualifications, citing Alaska's proximity to Russia. Palin told ABC News, "They're our next-door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska." Hagel took issue with that. "I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense about, 'I look out my window and I see Russia and so therefore I know something about Russia,'" he said. "That kind of thing is insulting to the American people."
I could not agree with Hagel more on this issue of Palin's qualifications. We republicans pride ourselves on being realistic and sober in our thinking. When it comes to Palin, some of that mental discipline is clearly in order.
Lets get real folks. Palin is articulate and intelligent and possesses some political skills. That being said, she is not ready for prime time. She is not ready to play at this level. Thats not just the conclusion of her critics, but clearly its the McCain campaigns belief as well. How else can you explain their insistence on changing the format of the upcoming vice presidential debate for example?
At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.
This nominee is supposed to be able to step into the Oval Office at a moment's notice, but must be protected from a debate setup that would require her to speak for too long? Its absurd.
Consider that with less than 45 days to election day, Ms. Palin thus far has given 2 media interviews, with a third scheduled with Katie Couric shortly. Her second interview was with Sean Hannity, a total partisan and so that doesn't really count anyway. So two major media interviews. Why does the vice presidential nominee require this much stage management? There is a problem when the campaign can't let the number two operate without script. Its indicative of the fact that Palin is a lightweight.
Lastly, any semi-conscious republican who is the least bit thoughtful and believes that Palin is ready to be President of the United States if McCain drops dead the day after inauguration is simply stupid or telling a bold face lie. Its that simple. A comparison I find helpful is simply to hold Palin up against the current occupant of the office, Dick Cheney. Like him or not, there is not anybody thats going to say Cheney is not effective, or lacks gravitas, or is not totally capable of running the country, in fact there are plenty who think he's running it now. I, nor any thinking republican, can seriously advance the argument that Palin brings a skill set to the ticket remotely comparable to Cheney, arguably the most effective and powerful VP in history.
Palin is a lightweight. She was selected for purely political reasons and she was not throughly vetted. McCain gambled with her pick and I think its a losing gamble. She's a base intensifier, but I don't see that she can bring him moderates and independents in any great numbers. She can't really campaign without McCain either, both because she has become the draw on the trail and because she can't do a town hall meeting or any type of event that requires her to speak unscripted at length.
Intelligent republicans, if they are being honest, will say that Palin does not meet the essential VP test, which is readiness to be president if the President is unable to serve. Period.
You might want to try the whole answer, which ABC decided not to show:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.brutallyhonest.org/brutally_honest/2008/09/the-un-edited-g.html
GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?
PALIN: They’re our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.
[This is immediately following and edited out]
GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they’re doing in Georgia?
PALIN: Well, I’m giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia. We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it’s in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.
We cannot repeat the Cold War. We are thankful that, under Reagan, we won the Cold War, without a shot fired, also. We’ve learned lessons from that in our relationship with Russia, previously the Soviet Union.
We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it’s in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.
Hi A & A,
ReplyDeletePalin is so light she's politically anorexic. She's just a puppet; that the GOP and msn are working so hard to pretend otherwise is a mockery of what's left of our system. Not much, apparently...
Phelps, thanks for the additional quote, it certainly strengthens her answer, but it does not change the fundamental issue a bit.
ReplyDeleteReadiness to lead is a function of qualifications, skillset, experience and a judgment by the people.
She is not ready for prime time and the way she is being handled by the McCain campaign makes that very clear. Do you seriously disagree with my fundamental premise here, which is that she is lacking in the gravitas and demonstrated leadership that should be requisite for a VP pick that must be ready to assume the presidency if required?
She does not measure up to Cheney, the campaign is afraid to subject her to media, but she's expected to be ready for Achmedimwad?
If its about experience, there is plenty in the record to question her about with regard to her management of Wasilla. Her record as Governor is simply not long enough to be of real probative value and what there is is a mixed bag.
I'm not unreasonable. Palin is intelligent, articulate and possesses political skills. But she was primarily picked for biography, not political leadership. She simply is not ready.
Are you seriously going to tell me that you believe her to be capable of leading the United States of America today? Thats the VP test. Is she ready today? I think any republican who answers that question yes is being intellectually dishonest.