The Audacity of Hopelessness

Mandingo

Shared on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 08:52

 

 

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.

Comments

Azuredreams's picture
Submitted by Azuredreams on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 17:14
Palin is more qualified than the entire Obama ticket. Obama has led nothing and noone, he's nothing more than hype. The man is all talk and as November approaches this will become all the more previlant.
Azuredreams's picture
Submitted by Azuredreams on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 17:15
Also, if you don't vote you have absolutely no right what so ever to bitch about our government.
JeepChick's picture
Submitted by JeepChick on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 09:04
McCain is a politician. I believe that Sarah Palin is not. Or at least not the traditional politician that we have come to expect. It's refreshing, she's almost independant in her thinking and actions. It's disappointing that you don't vote.
supergg2k's picture
Submitted by supergg2k on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 20:28
If you're able to register to vote, register and vote.
Automan21k's picture
Submitted by Automan21k on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 09:35
I agree with Jeepy. All anyone had to do is listen to Palin's speech.
LilGideon's picture
Submitted by LilGideon on Thu, 10/23/2008 - 11:17
Palin people... take a step back for a second. If the VP was nominated like the President is, and Palin was running for the VP slot on the republican ticket, would she have won that job? Does anyone think she would have won? Would a majority of her own party have elected her to that position over all the other VP candidates out there, Romney, Huckabee, etc.? If you admit no, then you have no case to complain against what Mandingo said. Just stating the obvious. Palin is in national life right now for one reason: a welfare hand-out from McCain. She is the weakest national candidate in recent memory (Dan Quayle) by all accounts you can measure by... experience, temperament, knowledge of how government works, background (guilty of abuse in office/troopergate only 20 months into her governorship). If Palin is an inspiration to you, that's cool. The problem is, a VP or President has to be more than an inspiration. You accept too little to send messages to the country by supporting someone so inadequate for the task at hand. Until I hear a voice that says, "This is my Daughter whom I love, listen to her," then I'm going to continue to use reasoning skills to judge the merit of candidates for this nation's highest office. She doesn't pass the test.
th3midnighter's picture
Submitted by th3midnighter on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 09:36
Very independent in her thinking indeed. Anti-gay and anti-abortion ideals are not shared by the rest of the Republican party at all.
Mandingo's picture
Submitted by Mandingo on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 15:17
I've been away, sorry for the delay. The more I read the more scared shitless I become. I think that I may end up getting registered. Azure: Screw you too AND.......Palin "led" a town of 6,000 people. Not only that she DIDNT lead, she hired a city administrator who did the day to day. Mike James for president is starting to look like a viable ticket.
NormalGuy's picture
Submitted by NormalGuy on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 10:15
I agree 100% that it is refreshing to see someone "new" to the political scene. Personally, I think it is absurd that you have to be in politics for 20 years to run for any office. But, the GOP has been up Obama's ass for exactly the same reason. And if "all anyone had to do is listen to Palin's speech" then we should definitely be electing Obama because he "speaks" her under the table. His nomination speech was much better than hers.
Gatsu's picture
Submitted by Gatsu on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 15:52
Obama knows how to read from a teleprompter really well at least. ;)
JeepChick's picture
Submitted by JeepChick on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 11:12
@mid - PM'd ya biatch ;)
JerryAtric's picture
Submitted by JerryAtric on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 17:45
allow me to interject an idea here... i think we as americans have become so desensitized by the way our politics have been handled, that we have placed undue emphasis on what "qualifies" a person for this job. these days it's years in the senate, a lifetime running in DC circles, military service, being a good speaker, having a protracted education, running a state or major corporation, etc. But what about honesty, integrity, humility, courage, respectability, trustworthiness? as a biblical reference (take it how you will - historical or anecdotal), israel's first king was chosen by the people; he was tall, strong, healthy, a warrior, wealthy, charismatic, experienced, educated. he was everything we call for in our elected officials. but he was also ego-driven, proud, dishonest, sneaky, power hungry - things we overlook in our politicians in exchange for the aforementioned characteristics. ultimately he ended up being a disaster for the fledgling nation. i think what Palin (although not ideal, she's the closest we've seen) awakens in people is that she is a glimmer of what we havent seen in american politics in years: honesty, integrity, humility, respectability, etc. and i think americans (as they look back at washington, jefferson, lincoln) believe an inexperienced person with those attributes make for a better leader than someone with a great resume that lacks them.
Mandingo's picture
Submitted by Mandingo on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 11:17
Normal - I can understand where you're coming from, but this isn't "ANY" office. Its the vice freaking presidency. Sarah Palin is not a politician YET. How could she be, with only 2 years of gubernatorial experience??? Giver her time to get into the system. Hire any joe schmoe off the street if you want that refreshing new politician smell. I'll agree with midnighter. She was brought on because she's turned a few people in and can talk about things that she might do. Yet at the same time, she believes all the same conservative guidlines so they don't have to worry about her running rogue or free thinking too much.
JeepChick's picture
Submitted by JeepChick on Thu, 09/04/2008 - 12:12
You are missing the point of her entirely. Grooming to run against Hillary in 4 to 8 years. :)

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