Up until Palin's selection I was on the fence in this election. I don't like extremism. I fear that Obama, a liberal, teamed up with large Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress could lead to more liberal policies than I really want. I think that low capital gains taxes, especially on small businesses, is a good thing; that we might collect more corporation tax if we lower the nominal tax rate and reduce loopholes; that government solutions too often lead to impersonal and inefficient bureaucracies.
In that regard, I could see a conservative Republican in the White House (and McCain is mostly conservative, although he has his moderate moments) disciplined by a Democratic congress could be a workable solution. McCain's extremist tendencies would be checked by Congress, and he would, unlike Bush, probably compromise.
The Palin selection blew that theory out of the water.
Let me be candid up front - I'm not a Democrat and I'm not a liberal. Once upon a time I was a conservative. Observing Bush's conservatism in action, I have drifted away from the Republican party. I guess today I am a pragmatic moderate.
Up until Palin's selection I was on the fence in this election. I don't like extremism. I fear that Obama, a liberal, teamed up with large Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress could lead to more liberal policies than I really want. I think that low capital gains taxes, especially on small businesses, is a good thing; that we might collect more corporation tax if we lower the nominal tax rate and reduce loopholes; that government solutions too often lead to impersonal and inefficient bureaucracies.
In that regard, I could see a conservative Republican in the White House (and McCain is mostly conservative, although he has his moderate moments) disciplined by a Democratic congress could be a workable solution. McCain's extremist tendencies would be checked by Congress, and he would, unlike Bush, probably compromise.
The Palin selection blew that theory out of the water. What it tells me:
- McCain doesn't want to compromise. He wants to move to the right. He has cut his deal with the hard right, and they will demand their payback.
- It can't be assumed that McCain will act prudently or reasonably, or give anyone, including Congress, a chance to reel him back from the precipice. No matter that from his political perspective the Palin pick is playing well; the scary takeaway point is that the made this decision on the fly and without a full set of facts.
- It may not be McCain dealing with the Democratic congress. It could be Palin, who - despite some appealing qualities - thinks we should teach creationism alongside evolution, and who would require raped teenagers to carry their rapist's child to term. She doesn't seem to think or care about non-Alaskan or non-religious issues such as the economy or the strength of multilateral international alliances, and I really have reason to wonder if she has any idea what life is like for those of us who don't hunt moose before breakfast.
The net is, I'm done with McCain. I've talked to other folks like me, and I'm not alone. We're not as outspoken as the whacko Palin haters or the whacko Palin fans, but I think there are going to be more of us, more visible, as the initial buzz wears off and people stop to think.