John McCain threw a big curveball into the campaign with his selection of Sarah Palin as his VP running mate. Obviously its gotten a lot of media attention, which is just what he needed after Barack and Co brought the house down in Denver. Thing about curveballs is that they can work both ways. A good breaking pitch can freeze a hitter, buckle his knees, change his eye level and generally shift the advantage to the pitcher. A bad one, however, can hang up as the fattest possible hitters pitch and be promptly deposited in the bleachers. What kind of curveball McCain has thrown is yet to be seen.
First, the woman herself. Sarah Palin seems like a fine All-American lady. She's governor of a state, albeit one with less people than 16 American cities, and one where oil revenues keep things pretty simple budget wise. Still, she's obviously liked by the People of Alaska, which is a good endorsement. What remains to be seen is just how the media vetting process will play out. If Palin comes off as the charming "Hockey Mom", which the McCain campaign is no doubt hoping she will, it can help the ticket. If, on the other hand, she comes off as a woman out of her league in National politics or if her ultra conservative ideology is put front and center, then it may spell the end for McCain 08.
There's been a lot of talk about "qualifications" to be President in this election. This is nothing new in politics, but in the last 72 hours things have really hit a frenzy. For months Republicans have claimed that Barack Obama was "unqualified" or "unready" to be President based on his experience. In addition, Obama's VP vetting was also subject to scrutiny based on the "qualifications" of certain candidates. Karl Rove said on tv that Tim Kaine would be unqualified to be President because he had "only" 3 years experience as a state governor.
In light of all this, it seems suprising that the McCain campaign would nominate a VP candiate who has less experience than Obama, Kaine or any other Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate in memory. Wait, not suprising. I meant perfectly apt, since this is the kind of bullshit I've come to expect from the Republican Party. It's almost comical how often they switch positions on different issues. In 2000 Al Gore's experience was bad while W's inexperience was a blessing. Now its experience which is to be treasured and inexperience which should be condemmed. Unless of course your VP has no experience, in which case you're just pulling shit out of your ass. Granted, this new experience fetish may be the result of a disaterous Presidency at the hands of W, but I doubt it considering how much they love that guy despite his incompetance.
John Kerry was a war hero, and as such deserved horrible lies to be told about his service because he hates America. Now that the Republicans have a war hero on their ticket, woe to he who would even think of not genuflecting before his visage. Kerry was a waffling flip flopper because he dared to change his mind when new facts came to light. When Bush, McCain or any Republican changes their positions, they are showing bold leadership. And on and on and on and on and on.
Of course, when the Obama campaign, rightly, pointed out this contradiction on the importance of experience, the Right was oh so quick to accuse THEM of being the real hypocrites. Let me lay it out for you with a poorly done mathematical proof:
X= amount of experience necessary to be qualified to be President
Y= Obama's experience
Z= Palin's experience
John McCain says for months that X>Y. Obama no qualified.
John McCain picks a VP with experience Z.
This means that he believes Z>=X.
Its clear that Y>=Z.
So Y>=Z, Z>=X, Y<
Obama points out that this is mathematically impossible
Republicans throw a shitfit and claim that Obama is using elitist "math" skills which the common American cannot relate to.
Also, the word for Algebra comes from the Middle East, so its clear that Obama is a secret muslim Mathlete who hates America.
The Universe Implodes. QED.
It's simple people: if Palin is qualifed (and she may well be), then so is Obama. If you attack Obama and call him unqualified, then McCain has just selected a VP who is not qualified. One way or the other, something has to give.
The sad thing about this is that I like McCain and Palin. I don't agree with all their policies, but I like them as people and respect their accomplishments. But they're part of the Machine now, and as such I have to root against them on principle. Back as a sophomore in high school, when the rest of my classmates were interested in normal stuff like girls and getting high, I was an avid supporter of Senator McCain's first run for President. This dirty campaign run by W in the Primary, for which he was rewarded by the Republicans with their nomination, was my first big realization that the Republican Party was a den of vipers. Make no mistake, I have no great love for the Democratic Party, but from that campaign in 2000 forward nothing has emerged to shake my belief that the Republican party is a ruthless, power hungry, incompetent, hypocritical gang of liars, assholes and thieves.
They've messed up my country, they've poisoned a man I once admired greatly, and now they're poised to do the same with Governor Palin.
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