And why do I love her? She's Dan Quayle meets Harriet Miers! We don't even have to pick on her. As Clammyc said to me yesterday, we CAN use her to go after McWar's judgment. And I agree with that. But she's also the biggest reminder of his age. As in - he's 72 and people have said for a while that his VP pick will be important. Palin needs to be someone the Republicans would actually enjoy having as president.
BTW - I had an article published on Alternet yesterday. My 2nd ever. You can read it here: Are Organic Foods Getting Too Pricey For the Middle Class?. More on Palin below the flip.
Cross posted on La Vida Locavore
1. Palin removes the criticism that Barack is too inexperienced/young.
He's 47, she's younger. He had several years in state government and most of a Senate term. She was mayor of a town of 8000, then had 18 mos as governor of a small state. He's been vetted through a grueling 18 mo national campaign that visited all 50 states. What about her?
2. She's not credible even to her own party.
It's Harriet Miers all over again. That was a bit different. Bush wanted his buddy on the court. McCain wants to woo the theocrat voters and Hillary voters all in one fell swoop. Well, he might get some theocrats, at least. Hillary voters? After the job the Clintons did this past week, I think the number of Hillary voters who vote McCain because of Palin will be in single digits, if that.
Hardcore righties might like her because she's pro-oil, anti-polar bear, pro-theocracy, anti-evolution, anti-choice, etc, etc, etc, and she uses the word "nucular." Mainstream Republicans and independent voters? Not gonna buy it.
3. She's a constant reminder of McCain's age.
A good McCain VP wouldn't be such a daily reminder that he could kick the bucket any day now, leaving the veep in charge of the free world. Palin's inexperience makes people look at her and immediately think "She's one heartbeat away... can she handle the job?" And the answer they'll come up with? NO.
4. The country has no idea who she is. She's got VERY little time to define herself.
This is the same problem Obama's been grappling with and it's also the reason why Biden was such a great choice. I think after this week, with 38 million people watching Obama's speech and even more seeing it on YouTube or reading about it afterwards, the nation knows who Obama is. Palin? No such opportunity. She's going to be defined by the little we know about her... mainly her inexperience and the reminder that McCain doesn't always make the best decisions.
5. Biden will TAKE HER OUT in a debate.
Period.
6. She won't be very believable if/when she tries to attack Barack Obama.
The VP needs to be the attack dog. We've got Biden and he came out swinging. What can Palin do, with no credibility? That's right: NOT MUCH.
So that's my very amateur analysis of the Palin pick and why I think it's great. Now would I think it would actually be great if the two of those losers got into office? No. But at least she wouldn't be a powerhouse like Cheney. She'd have a hard time gathering any power at all in Washington - and that's great!