There were many questions before the first presidential debate about Obama concerning the Commander In Chief issue, and National Security. Obama answered the attacks and questions throughout the campaign, but it took him saying the very same things during the debate with John McCain to raise the public’s comfort level on his abilities. Now let’s take Sarah Palin. She has failed every conceivable set of questions posed to her. I dont think the debate changes our first and last impressions of her.
She has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she does not have a curious mind about the world outside Alaska, and her intelligence is moderate to low on anyone’s scale. There are those who say she is a popular Governor, and challenged corruption there. These statements remind me of stories about old west gunfighters. A famed gunfighter from Tucson Arizona travels the country and kills many men in duels to the death. One day he arrives at a new town, becomes embroiled in a verbal altercation with a local farmer. During the ensuing gunfight, the farmer kills the gunfighter. When asked how he killed the famed gunfighter from Tucson, the farmer meekly replies "This aint Tucson". The moral to this story is that you might be good at what you do where you are, but when you take your show on the road, it’s a whole new ball game. I think Americans want the President to be bright, intelligent, and inquisitive enough to search out the answer to the many questions facing the nation. We want the President to be able to operate in Tucson, and out of Tucson.
Let me be direct, Sarah Palin could very well be our next President, based upon John McCain’s age. As opposed to Obama, the questions about Sarah Palin are not just National Security and Commander In Chief, but about the very basic knowledge and intelligence to understand the questions, much less the answer. If I understand voters thinking, and maybe the media is pushing this a bit as well; if she can answer questions and demonstrate Presidential bearing tonight, she has passed the test to be our President? This makes no sense at all. I believe the old saying "first impressions are the best impressions" come into play here. Let’s say for instance that Ms Palin goes out tonight and crushes Joe Biden. In the debate she is Presidential, informed, and conversant. What’s that prove to anyone? That she can act the part and spit out provided talking points in a short period of time? It sort of says "I am not Presidential material, but I can play one on TV". Is that what we are looking for? I for one think I have heard the real Sarah Palin, and any cramming she might do does not belie the fact that she’s an air head. I will throw in plus points for being new to Washington, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that I wouldn’t trust her to take out the trash. In accepting the nomination from McCain, that further defines her mentality to me. I believe that she accepted because of the easy going laid back philosophy that makes her ask herself "how hard can it be". Well, she has seen, and we have seen how hard it can be.
To go into this with no idea and no questioning of the depths to which s it may reach, begs serious questions about her judgment. Dorothy is not in Kansas anymore, and we are finding out that Dorothy is kind of a country bumpkin. Being a country bumpkin is not a negative attribute if you can rise to the occasion, but Ms Palin missed her rising moment, at first impression. Now, it’s a too little too late moment. Cramming for and passing the test is not the same thing as understanding the basic concepts behind the questions. No matter what she does and says tonight, it’s nothing more than pure theater, and maybe that’s why Americans are so interested. We talk out of both sides of our mouth. We want someone to be a serious Presidential candidate, but it seems we want them to entertain us as well. No matter what Ms Palin does tonight, I think we have already seen the real Sarah, and it won’t change my mind. Sarah Palin is out of her league, and seeking a position beyond her meager capabilities. Ms Palin should get out of dodge and withdraw.