Scholars question Palin credentials

[DogPoundPup]

Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era.

So unconventional was McCain’s choice that it left students of the presidency literally “stunned,” in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. “Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who’s of presidential caliber,” said Goldstein.

“I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major party ticket in modern history,” said presidential historian Matthew Dallek.

That includes Spiro T. Agnew, Richard Nixon’s first vice president, who was governor of a medium-sized state, Maryland, for two years, and before that, executive of suburban Baltimore County, the expansive jurisdiction that borders and exceeds in population the city of Baltimore.

It also includes George H.W. Bush’s vice president, Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle, who had served in the House and Senate for 12 years before taking office. And it also includes New York Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, who served three terms in the House before Walter Mondale chose her in 1984 as the first woman candidate on a major party ticket.

“It would be one thing if she had only been governor for a year and a half, but prior to that she had not had major experience in public life,” said Dallek of Palin. “The fact that he would have to go to somebody who is clearly unqualified to be president makes Obama look like an elder statesman.”

And Alaska is a much smaller state than Illinois, the political base of Barack Obama, whom Republicans have repeatedly criticized for being inexperienced, having served nearly four years in the U.S. Senate after eight in the Illinois state Senate.

“Not to belittle Alaska, but it’s different than the basket of issues you deal with in big, dynamic states.” Dallek said.

Palin has no experience in national office. Before becoming governor in December 2006, she served as a council member and mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, which had a population of slightly more than 5,000 during her time in office.

In choosing Palin as his running mate, McCain has reached back to a time when few actually seriously contended that the vice president should be demonstrably prepared to assume the presidency from day one.

If elected vice president, Palin would appear to have the least amount of experience in federal office or as a governor since John W. Kern, Democrat William Jennings Bryan’s 1908 running mate, who had served for four years in the Indiana state Senate and then four more as city solicitor of Indianapolis. The Democratic ticket lost to Republican standard bearer William Howard Taft and running mate James S. Sherman by an Electoral College spread of 321-162. (entirety pg. 1)

Read page 2 @ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/13001_Page2.html

[searchingforlight]

1. Being a Governor in her venue is like being the CEO of a middle-size company.

There are hundreds of thousands of people with her level of experience. It is really scary to think that she has really been chosen for this position. They are touting the fact that she was runner-up in a beauty pageant? She has used her veto pen? For what? Writing a book on how to abuse your power when a member of your family has a domestic problem - - for Dummies?

[nichomachus]

5. Except that

a CEO usually brings something to the table. She was elected governor only because she wasn't the other guy -- whom everyone hated. You or I probably could have beaten him. She wasn't elected governor on her merits.

[K8-EEE]

2. Except, a CEO would need a Master's Degree

at least.

Did you she won gov race with 115,000 or so votes??? That's it!

[johnnydrama]

3. yup

115,000 votes. The guy who lost for Mayor of Los Angeles had 200,000+ votes.

[spanone]

4. mccain has no regard fot the nation...it's an insult to the country

[FrenchieCat]

6. That's the meme that we need to run with!