I would briefly interupt this mostly-sports blog ("Hey what're you doing? STICK TO SPORTS!!") to offer a quick take on this week's campaign suicide by Republican presidential candidate John McCain. It was a joke, right? He's going to go on Leno, slap his knee, say he was just kidding. Right? He's going to open his convention Monday night by announcing his real running mate. Right?
Actually, of course, the choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was very popular. Unfortunately it was mostly very popular among Democrats.
As a benefit to the McCain ticket, the logic in the choice defies identification.
You say it is an obvious attempt to woo Hillary Clinton supporters? Not a chance in hell. Palin is an ultra-conservative who is anti-abortion even in cases of rape or incest, and who supported Pat Buchanan. Hillary's crowd wouldn't touch her with a 10-foot pantsuit.
You say Palin's youth balances the ticket? McCain has selected a political neophyte whose bank of experience less than two years ago was running the tiny town of Wasilla, Alaska. This is the person McCain in his infinite judgement would nominate as a heartbeat away from the presidency -- McCain, who at 72 would be the oldest man ever elected to the White House.
Did I mention that McCain had met this woman only once before entrusting her to be his VP? How does that happen? Sounds like a possible warning sign of dementia.
Is Palin by most accounts a good governor of Alaska? Sure. Is she someone with the experience to be a heartbeat away from the presidency? You can't even ask the question with a straight face.
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