Aug 30 2008
Sarah Palin: Ms. Smith Goes to Washington, Maybe
John McCain has certainly shaken up the election for 2008. Brilliant political insight, or flawed miscalculation?
Some points are crystal clear: She’s an individualist and a strong individual; she’s a reformer, and wildly popular with her state’s population; mom of five, former beauty queen, athlete; Sarah Barracuda.
McCain looks to have panicked with this one, folks. What were his options? Mitt Romney, whose religion (unfortunately) makes him even less suited for the Presidency than a woman (remember, we elect two Presidents this fall, an active one and a spare). Or Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, who found chemistry so hard he gave up studying for dentistry and went into politics. Or maybe ex-Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman, who the electorate has rejected before, and who can’t even remain loyal to his party. (Besides, why should he give up his powerful position as the swing vote in the Senate?) Finally, what about Tom Ridge, the first Homeland Security czar?
All of these options have baggage, of course. Lieberman still caucuses with the Democrats; the kindest thing people say about Pawlenty is that he’s boring; Ridge has led the most hated Cabinet Department, but done little else. Besides, Johnny Mac needs somebody with him who balances out the age issue.
So he makes a desperate play; a role of the dice to grab disaffected Hillaroupies; he plays to the voyeur generation and their addiction to the young and beautiful, while trying to re-energize the conservatives with talk of reform, guns and oil.
Sorry, J-Mac, you missed.
I can’t even begin to determine how Ms. Palin stacks up agains Joe Biden, point for point. Does that matter? America is always ready to elect a man as Prez or VP. A woman? Today, Gallup estimates about 60% would consider a woman for these jobs. Only religious beliefs handicaps a candidate more (see link above).
Why do you think the Democrats turned tail and buried Hillary, their original front-runner? She’s clearly more experienced, competent and tough-minded than Barry. But ever since Mondale-Ferraro, the Dems have known that a woman on the ticket costs at the polls; back then, maybe 15% or more, today, maybe 10%.
Call it outdated and foolish prejudice. Voters don’t leave their prejudices out of the booth.
But wait, you say. Sarah Palin won her election! She’s never lost an election, in fact. She’ll win the hearts of Americans, you say.
Yes, some will jump to her side of the ledger. I have to admit, someone who can run a state, raise five kids, hunt, fish and still smile is interesting. I’m only one vote, though.
A little time will tell whether the Republicans have grasped the essence of the national mood, or not. The Republican Convention hasn’t even happened yet, and the Dems are riding high from their lovefest and “I Have a Dream Part Deux” speech.
The next couple of weeks will tell us a lot, and then we’ll settle in for the real trench warfare; if the battle’s not already over by then. In the meantime, we’ll all be distracted by Gustav’s threat to the rebuilding Gulf Coast, so maybe politics won’t be the top news for a while…
Seeya ‘Round the Ol’ Coffee Shop Debates…
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