The Audacity of Hopelessness

This is the result of a 2 minute interview on ABC last night.

Charlie Gibson of ABC asked McCain if he could look Americans in the eye and tell them with all certainty that Sarah Palin was qualified and experienced enough to be president in the event of McCain’s death or injury.

The audacity and cavalier attitude in which he answered the question was repulsive; he answered with a sneer. Almost as if the question were to trivial to be considered

His response to her experience was that she had a great family and that she had stood up to special interests and worked hard at her job (for 2 years).

If only he were that generous with his opponent. If that is the measure of experience than Obama is most certainly ready, hell so are most of us.

I’d like to believe that Americans would like to have some degree of candor here, not just a brazen denial of obvious facts. Does that sound familiar, almost like another republican president we’ve heard of?

His repeated praise for her whistle blowing falls flat, as does his bravado of their opposition to “big oil” and the “good old boy club.” These are merely buzz words that play on the fears and emotions of the average American. You will never find McCain pointing out any of his peers as these predators though; after 22 years in the Senate he is as deeply entrenched as anyone else.

The reason for Palin’s pick is still muddy. To pull Clinton females over to McCain? That voter doesn’t simply vote for a candidate based on a va jay jay. More than likely they’d vote for a liberal, progressive, “healthcare for the masses” type of candidate. If the red team was attempting to recover some of the momentum and press energy that Obama captured at the Dem’s convention….well they certainly accomplished that, but with significant risk.

Let’s just consider the fact that, if elected, Palin will immediately become the President of the Senate of the U.S. The first months will be spent watching Mr. Bill goes to Washington, and memorizing how a bill becomes a law. Then it’s off to find out where the Senate is and who the members of congress are etc. Let’s also consider the “good old boy” network that she has no part of. A network that is vital to reaching across party lines and pushing business through.

But wait, she’s also responsible for a significant amount of foreign pandering and international relations. While I’m sure that Ice Fishing and high school basketball are great team building exercises, I’m not sure how well those skills carry over into negotiating with an antagonistic Russia.

While I am by no means a political pundit, I see this as a foolish move on McCain’s part, and potentially a pull down ticket. It underscores his main message and argument against Obama and forces him to play defensive public relations at a time when he needs to attack.

In conclusion, I’m not a registered voter and have no real political ties. This was merely an observation. Have a great day.