John Mccain rides the Cynicism Express w/Sarah Palin

Has anyone noticed that Sarah Palin's central claim to political fame is a fraud? She represents herself as a fiscal conservative who abhors pork-barrel projects and said no thanks to the "Bridge to Nowhere" -- a $398 million span that would have linked Ketchikan, Alaska, to its airport across the Tongass Narrows. But as mayor of Wasilla (pop. 9,780), she hired a Washington lobbyist to bring home the bacon. And as a candidate for governor just two years ago, she supported both the Ketchikan bridge and the congressional earmark that would have paid most of its cost.

We learned last week that John McCain is not who he is -- not, at least, who he claims to be. The steady, straight-talking, country-first statesman his campaign has been selling is a fictional character. The real McCain is either alarmingly cynical or dangerously reckless.

You will recall that McCain gave the same prime criterion for choosing a running mate that every presidential candidate gives: someone who is ready to step in as president if, heaven forbid, the need arises. Barack Obama echoed those words before picking Joe Biden, who is about as prepared as a vice presidential candidate could ever be.

You will also recall that McCain and his supporters have been lecturing us about the grave and urgent dangers our country faces -- Islamic fundamentalism, the resurgence of Russia and other geopolitical threats. In a menacing world, McCain says, he will keep America safe.

So, at 72 and with a history of cancer, how could McCain choose a vice presidential nominee who has, let's face it, zero experience in foreign affairs? Being the nominal commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard doesn't count, unless you think Vladimir Putin is about to order an invasion across the Bering Strait.

At a time when the nation also confronts enormous challenges at home, Palin has, um, slightly more than zero experience in domestic affairs. The reason most people move to Alaska is that it's different from the rest of the country. Salmon fishing and snowmobile racing are not front-page news in Ohio, Pennsylvania or Florida.

McCain's political calculation in choosing Palin is obvious. Social conservatives, who had been unexcited by his candidacy, are ecstatic that he has picked a running mate who staunchly opposes abortion, favors the teaching of "intelligent design" in the public schools and generally embraces the agenda of the religious right.

I have my doubts about the other objective of McCain's gambit: to win the votes of blue-collar women who supported Hillary Clinton. For one thing, these voters disagree sharply with Palin on most of the issues. For another, initial indications are that many women were insulted at the notion that they would automatically swoon over any candidate who happened to have two "X" chromosomes.

The other thing we learned about McCain is that he is willing to take an enormous gamble based on limited information. He only met Palin once before summoning her for a final interview. He realized he needed to shake up the presidential race, and that's what he did. But we are reminded, if we did not realize it before, that the three things not to expect from a McCain presidency are caution, prudence and a willingness to always put the nation's interests above his own.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR20080901017...
He wanted to choose the pro-abortion-rights Joe Lieberman as his vice president. If he were still a true maverick, he would have done so. But instead he chose partisanship and politics over country. "God only made one John McCain, and he is his own man," said the shafted Lieberman in his own tedious convention speech last week. What a pathetic dupe. McCain is now the man of James Dobson and Tony Perkins. The "no surrender" warrior surrendered to the agents of intolerance not just by dumping his pal for Palin but by moving so far to the right on abortion that even Cindy McCain seemed unaware of his radical shift when being interviewed by Katie Couric last week.

That ideological sellout, unfortunately, was not the worst leadership trait the last-minute vice presidential pick revealed about McCain. His speed-dating of Palin reaffirmed a more dangerous personality tic that has dogged his entire career. His decision-making process is impetuous and, in its Bush-like preference for gut instinct over facts, potentially reckless.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/opinion/07rich.html

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[ameliabedelia99]

very few women get to hold such high positions in the us govn't as palin potentially might - wish they had picked a more informed/intelligent woman (there are plenty) - does nothing to help the feminist cause to have a woman in a high position of power if she's such a lightweight.

[SageDerf]

When I go to McDonalds and order a hotcakes meal, I am gonna call it a McPalin because she is gonna get flattened on Thurs. like a pancake.

[carla0924]

That sounds very dumb! So what you have a BS degree..What does that mean?

[mrscorie]

Rachel Maddow is the truth. And a rhodes scholar might I add.

[mrscorie]

Well he has been on the United States Foreign Relations Committee under Joe Biden who is the Chairman for three years. The job of the VP is to step in and br President. And she doesn't pass the smell test. Now you can't compare the two Obama was voted in by the American people he debated 25 times some of the brightest people in politics on domestic and international affairs, and he picked the head of the Foreign Relations Committee to be his VP. McCain picked Palin to win votes.

[fhood]

hahah Here we are one month after the election, and OBAMA WON! I guess experience does count, after all, doesn't it? hahaha

How many red states did Obama turn blue on Election night? Several. How many blue states did McCain and Palin change to red on Election night? NONE!

Now that's what I call research!

[tgggd86]

Palin has no experience? Well if McCain/Palin win she will have more experience that Barack Obama did when he said he was ready to run for president, and she is running for VICE president! What foreign affairs experience does Obama have? A Palestinian liberation viewpoint of the middle-east!? Do your research you mindless fools. It is about both sides of the story not what you want to hear.

[snkatak]

well said franks2732.

Palin is going to prove to be the worst "palling around" anyone has done in political history.

[franks2732]

Gee Willlycas

[franks2732]

Isnt it great to see a women of integrity, who understands the issues, is well informed, educated and can clearly respond to the challengers which face a modern democracy, who hold no radical or fundamentalist ideals, who does not cling to "faith" as the only argument, its the "openness with the media I admire the most" her generosity, her ability to attack candidates on what they believe not with falsehood. Thats why i will vote for? Sorry Hillary is not running, its a moron Case Closed

[innyopti]

Obama's "trickle up" poverty, NO WAY! I have a Bachelors of Science not a sociology or poly sci or anthro degree so i don't understand support of receiv'g/giv'g free handouts!

Palin Power!

[dirtyal1234]

rachel maddow freaks me out. is she a guy or girl, or simply between a sex change?