This is not a game. Running a country is not a stupid electoral play where winners and losers walk away without worry.
This is the Government of the United States of America.
Patriots come in all stripes: liberal-conservative, black-white, old-young.
In every group there are divisions on how the country should seek greatness, but there is the implicit argument that we are moving forward and will be continually striving for improvement, that is the American way of life.
The notion of improvement is based upon the idea that we have had leaders who through our democratic-republic system make decisions for us that will help their constituents and the nation.
When we discuss who is best to lead, we create this process of elections, primaries, caucuses, etc. Weeding out those who are not fit to serve and whose ideas for America are not in line with what it wants.
Barack Obama despite his fewer years in elected office has proven himself for the past 18 months that his ideas for America are what many people want. His choice of Joe Biden sought to squelch discussion that he would not have a trusted advisor who understood issues.
John McCain, despite his lack of judgement has had many years in elected office and through his campaigning was able to be selected by many republicans as well.
BUT, Sarah Palin has neither the experience, the judgement, the ideas, nor the trial by primary that the candidates have faced.
The fact that someone as shallow as her would be nominated for the Vice-Presidency attacks the very core of our governmental system because we are not sure she will be capable of leading our country if she is called upon doing so.
It is an unpatriotic decision. It removes the safeguards of our country to know that we have a government that is accountable and can be trusted to govern effectively.
As an American. I would be more than willing to have McCain admit a mulligan, re-choose and pick someone with much higher qualifications for the sake of our country if he were to win.
For all the problems we have seen with a person like George W Bush in office, we need one who is able to know the issues that Americans face.
I am not calling Sarah Palin, John McCain, or any Republicans unpatriotic as persons, but the decision to risk the stability and effectiveness of government on an unworthy candidate is Unpatriotic.