Over the years I’ve been asked to help prep politicians for debates. I’ve never worked for one, so I’m always the outsider coming in. I usually watch the politician’s staff ask softball questions (even when they think they are hard ones) before I pipe up. My questions are designed to be annoying and the followup is made to make it seem that the first answer was pathetic. When it comes to criticism after the practice, I usually say “you need more practice”. The politicians’ chiefs of staff usually wish they hadn’t asked me. However, sometimes when I see the politicians even years later they say “you know, I remember that day you helped me with that debate on X, Y, or Z”. They liked it.
I don’t give partisan political advice to candidates, however. I have always worked for non-profits that cannot by law endorse or oppose candidates for any public office. Even when I appear as myself–commentator, author, talk-show host–I never tell people who I will vote for.
So, the following question is not partisan. I am genuinely confused by the announcement just made by John McCain announcing that he has chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his Vice Presidential pick.
Why would John McCain, whose fundamental argument with Barack Obama is that he is not seasoned enough, qualified enough, knowledgeable enough to govern, pick a person whose only experience really leading is 20 months as Alaska’s governor? Senator McCain is 72; he has had two bouts with the most serious skin cancer you can have; actuarially speaking, he may just make it through his first term. Will Gov. Palin be able to take military command immediately if tragedy strikes? Why does John McCain want the press asking that question for the next 67 day?
Jay, I know the Governor is anti-choice, anti same-sex marriage and pro-school vouchers. But so is Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has been around domestic and foreign policy issues much longer than Governor Palin. What would you have advised?
posted August 29, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I agree, I think McCain has gone senile. I think he likes to surround himself with blondes. Complaining about Obama’s lack of experience and then picking a unknown like “Just Plain” Sarah Pallin is like Bush Sr. picking Quail, some dumb kid from the hicks of Politics.
Hutchinson would have been a better choice if he wanted a woman on the ticket. But Sarah Pallin will be raw meat for Biden and a laughing point for the Democrats. Has McCain lost his mind? Doesn’t he know that the Religious Right leadership is an All White Male Club? She may be pro life but that won’t help him win independents or Clinton fans. Sarah Pallin is not a Hilary who can bring women to the Republicans side. Those who wanted Hilary will sneer at the mockery that McCain would think that Sara Pallin is a women they would follow to the polls.
posted August 29, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Don’t be a hater,,,Just because You have a Washington insider and a community organizer with 143 days of Congressional experience on the ticket and Palin with a year and a half of governing experience has more executive experience that both your candidates.
The Hillary gals will love it when you start attacking her telling her she needs to stay home with her special needs child. Or Biden tries to hit her in the mouth. This is getting fun.
posted August 29, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Either Governor Palin or Senator Hutchinson would have been a good choice. The important thing about this choice for the McCain campaign is that finally, FINALLY, we have a conservative on the team. The fact that Governor Palin is a woman is a wonderful secondary benefit, and that would have been the same if McCain had chosen Senator Hutchinson.
Now McCain has an actual chance of motivating the Republican base.
posted August 29, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I know people who have been around Kay Bailey Hutchenson sort of behind the scenes and they say that she is really hateful. Don’t let that perpetual public smile fool you.
posted August 30, 2008 at 11:55 pm
“Just because You have a Washington insider and a community organizer with 143 days of Congressional experience on the ticket…”
Since Obama took office in January of 2005, I’m sure he has more than 143 days of “Congressional experience” (which, by the way, is 143 days more than Palin has).
“The Hillary gals…”
Ah, a little dash of sexism to spice up the commentary!
“Or Biden tries to hit her in the mouth”.
You think Biden will try “to hit her in the mouth”?!
posted August 31, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Like most Obamba supporters Mary, you need to do a little less “messiah” worship and a little more research.
Here you go:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=obamba+143+days+in+the+senate&aq=f&oq=
Sarah Palin: has had to make decisions as governor
Obamba: look up how many times he voted “present” in other words “I’m too scared to make a decision.”
But you being an “objective” person will just take Obambas word on his record
posted August 31, 2008 at 9:07 pm
“the Hillary gals” it’s called sarcasim
“Biden hitting her in the mouth” ….figuratively
the fact that I’m having to explain this says alot
posted September 2, 2008 at 9:20 pm
What does calling women who support Hillary “gals” have to do with sarcasm? I don’t see sarcasm in that term, I see sexism.
posted September 5, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Unfortunately many citizens of the U.S. are easily snookered and don’t really don’t make an effort to find out about many issues that make our country the marvelous place it is until it’s sometimes too far gone. Outward appearances and smooth-talking politicians can be dangerous creatures. Issues that are extremely immportant to our country are national security, fuel/energy resources, immigration, economy/jobs, food sources, ecology/global warming, etc. All are closed related, but keeping our country safe from terrorists should be first and foremost in order to even think about the other stuff. Sen. McCain said he “hated war”, and so do I, but at this time in our universal civilization, it’s very prevalent and won’t be going away in the near future. We in the U.S. need to have a strong and well-trained military to protect ourselves from these dangerous countries who despise our freedom. Even Russia is reverting to it’s old ways of bullying so can we even trust them? Use your one very important vote to protect our country first–so that we can be prosperous and free, and also have a future for our children, grandchildren, their children, etc.
posted September 5, 2008 at 11:23 pm
This is the kind of ignorant statement conservative Christians always make:
We in the U.S. need to have a strong and well-trained military to protect ourselves from these dangerous countries who despise our freedom.
Who despises the little bit of freedom Americans have? Anyone who has traveled abroad can see that the citizens in the rest of he world, for the most part anyway, have a lot more freedom than Americans have. No one despises us because we are free. That is just stupid. As Ron Paul and Mike Gravel pointed out in the early debates, almost everybody hates us because of our meddling in their affairs and the fact that the US has become a very stupid dangerous giant that thinks it has the right to police the world. That’s why they hate us and it’s why I hate our government and what our country has become too.
posted September 11, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Kay is not pro life. She votes pro life but favors pro choice when asked. If th vote was to overturn roe vrs wade than she would vote no. McCains choice was brilliant. Rev Lynn, do some research, ignorance is no excuse……
posted July 9, 2009 at 12:05 am
Pres. Barack did not have a lot of leadership experience going into the campaign as well. Even though he served in the Illinois state senate for seven years, he only served in the US Senate for 127 days. Leadership experience obtained as a governor is very fitting to lead as President of the United States because the governor’s role is like a microcosm of the president’s in terms of being in charge of staff and a large budget, the ability to influence national policy and foreign politics, and ruling a sovereign entity. In this respect, one’s service as governor is very apropos for a vice presidential candidate.