Sunday Palin wrap-up
This morning on "This Week," Stephanopolous and his panel were all raving about what a great political move picking Sarah Palin was for John McCain. And maybe it was, although in the long run I don't think the impact will amount to much more than boosting voter turnout in places he'll win anyway.
But what none of them were talking about was the fact that the job of the presidency involves more than just the campaign. If McCain were interested in governing rather than simply in winning, he would have picked someone who could actually do the job of VP and step in as president if needed. Instead, he picked one of the least-prepared politicians in the country, to be a heartbeat away from replacing the oldest president ever.
Frank Rich has a good piece in today's New York Times describing what this pick tells us about how McCain would govern. His key point is this: "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." The whole piece is worth a read.
There are also more twists and turns in the ongoing Troopergate scandal, including the apparent fact that the McCain campaign is interfering with the investigation. Since the Palin announcement (and the team of McCain lawyers hit the state) seven people have inexplicably changed their minds about their willingness to testify before the investigators. Palin has also said she won't testify, unless the investigation is taken over by a political board appointed by--wait for it--the Governor of Alaska! No conflict of interest there. In other words, she's perfectly happy to abuse her power in order to prevent a serious investigation of her abuse of power. Who knew they could find such a perfect replacement for Cheney?
Here are Newsweek and the NYT on the continuing saga. This is important stuff. Lying about not supporting the bridge to nowhere, about Obama's qualifications, about selling her jet on eBay--that stuff speaks to her character (and it doesn't paint a very savory picture). The fact that she's afraid to be interviewed (or the McCain campaign is afraid to let her) tells us all we need to know about her real job qualifications and her personal courage--she's not even brave enough or informed enough to go on Fox News. Troopergate, though, speaks to how she governs.
The fact that McCain picked her in spite of all this baggage just underscores Frank Rich's point. This is a dangerous man who only considers his own short-term political advantage. "Country First" is no more than a slogan to him.