Okay, this is my first Diary, so be gentle.
In all the hullaballoo about who has experience, executive experience vs legislative experience and foreign affairs experience, etc, etc, ad nauseum, there seems to be a lack of proper context in the argument(s).
There is a fundamental difference in the way that Presidential candidates are vetted and the way Vice Presidential candidates are vetted and it is an extremely important distinction.
Follow me over the fold for more.
The Presidential candidates have been locking horns for a good year and a half now. They have all taken their case to the people at political rallies, town hall meetings, television and newspaper interviews, dozens of debates, advertising, speeches and yes, even in the blogosphere they fight tooth and nail.
We have seen straight talk, BS, spin, lies, gaffes, videos of preachers and everything else under the sun to promote these candidates by them and their surrogates and after a long and grueling process, we the people have voted on them and we have our two nominees. John McCain and Barack Obama have won their party's nominations and the American people have fully participated in their vetting and voted on them to represent the Republican and Democratic Parties, respectively.
Not so with the VP, my friends. These candidates parachute into the race at the behest of the respective nominees just in time for the 60 day sprint to the finish. Therefore, it MUST be expected that the person chosen is absolutely hands down qualified to be the next POTUS. There is no room for rookies or unknowns at this late date. There is not enough time in the last 60 days to truly get to know an unknown candidate.
Using that correct context, it becomes obvious why Sarah Palin is a horrible, even offensive, pick. Because folks, NOBODY really kinows who the heck she is. And that should be a cardinal sin for a VP pick. This is not OTJ training. This is not time to get to know a newbie. The VP pick is for choosing someone who is fully qualified to be President on day one. PERIOD. McCain blew it. And it should be pointed out over and over and over and over.