John McCain Does Not Have The Judgment To Be President

[Joanne98]

by DemFromCT
Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 05:09:43 AM PDT
There's a most interesting reaction to the Sarah Palin choice this morning.

Though John McCain clearly concluded that Palin could attract female voters and grab his campaign some Barack Obama-style media buzz, he also is taking a risk that in elevating a largely unknown figure, he undermines the central theme of his candidacy that he puts "country first," above political calculations.

Having swallowed the insult (it's my country) of watching McCain fail the "a heartbeat away" test with someone who thinks drilling in Alaska will make Saudi Arabia obsolete (the country with 3% of the world's oil reserves and 25% of its usage can't drill our way out of the problem... even T. Boone Pickens knows that), the country really needs to focus on the person who picked the creationist cheerleader in the first place.

McCain's decision-making style is scary.

For a candidate known to possess a quick temper and an unpredictable political streak, the decision raises questions about how McCain would lead -- whether his decisions would flow from careful deliberations or gut checks in which short-term considerations or feelings outweigh the long view.

"Americans like risk-takers, but they also want to know that in times of crisis, you're going to be calm," said Matthew Dowd, who was a senior campaign strategist for President Bush but is neutral in the McCain-Obama race.

"Americans don't necessarily want somebody in a time of crisis to be overly emotional," Dowd said. "That's the balance that John McCain's going to have to show the public.

This particularly balanced article notes some of Palin's proven and unproven strengths. The proven ones are the "cool" factor of having a working mom juggle life to do a job. That is a wonderful thing. The unproven parts are the delving into her history by the working press, her ability to prove that living closer to Russia makes her a foreign policy expert and that she is ready for the job of Vice President to a 72 year old candidate. That's not just an insult to Joe Biden, it's an insult to Pawlenty and Romney, and they've taken it as such. And it's not Palin's insult (by all accounts she's engaging and likeable), it's McCain's. I get the impression Pawlenty thought the job was his.

But the other proven "strength" is the one to watch. Sarah Palin is a right-wing creationist in the mold of Rick Santorum. She is as anti-choice, anti-science and anti-stem-cell research as anyone who thinks it's okay to teach creationism in the school system. That's why the religious right adores her.

What kind of President picks that kind of candidate? One who is no moderate, one who wants to run a base election on the advice of a Karl Rove surrogate. The purpose of this pick is to try and recreate the 2004 ground game and turnout in places like Ohio. But it's the moderates and centrists and independents who should do what the McCain camp wants... give a good hard look at this ticket and move past the image of the old John McCain and look at the reality of the "sell my soul to win" politician who once told Robertson and Falwell where to get off and who now jumps when the fundie wing tells him to.

One thing I will say for McCain - if he wanted to make people give his campaign a good second look, he will succeed.

In trying to reclaim your maverick brand, you appear to have pushed an unknown, unformed and under-vetted politician onto the world's biggest political stage.

Reporters like new faces because the status quo is tiresome to write about. They also like new faces like a lion likes a baby wildebeest -- fresh meat on the hoof, not much energy to make the kill.

But the emotional decision process? The putting winning over country? Not reassuring. As for the quality of the candidate, the media dogs have been let out.

You have to wonder how deeply McCain's team delved into any of these issues, though, given that even political hands in her own state say they had no inkling she would be the vice presidential designee.

McCain's judgment is very much deserving of a second look. Not just this week in St. Paul, but for the next two months, the country will do exactly that. I don't think that's a net positive for McCain.

Update <2008-8-30 8:28:45 by DemFromCT>:: Andrew Sullivan agrees.

Think about how the key factor in this decision was not who could defend this country were something dreadful happen to McCain in office but how to tread as much on Obama's convention bounce and use women's equality as a wedge issue among Democrats because it might secure a few points here or there. Oh, and everyone would be surprised. And even Rove would be annoyed.

This is his sense of honor and judgment. This is his sense of responsibility and service.

Here's the real slogan the McCain campaign should now adopt:

Putting. Country. Last.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/30/7368/15830

[FrenchieCat]

1. Excellent Motto we should use!

[Lint Head]

2. McCain just doesn't get it. Enough.

:dem:

[AtomicKitten]

3. Nor the temperament required to be CiC.

Just ask McBush's colleagues.