We can hardly keep up with all the opportunities McCain has presented for us to throw his words back in his face. But here's a real opportunity we shouldn't let pass.
McCain's told us, time and again, that Islamic extremism is the MOST important issue America faces. "And I have the vision and the knowledge and the background to take on the transcendent issue of the 21st century, which is radical Islamic extremism."
Really? Regardless of the truth of that statement, it begs the question, and HOW does Palin help him address this issue? Was he really putting "Country first" when he picked her?
Gail Collins columnin the New York Times, picks up this theme and puts a brilliantly sarcastic take on it:
McCain does not believe in pandering to identity politics. He was looking for someone who was well prepared to fight against international Islamic extremism, the transcendent issue of our time. And in the end he decided that in good conscience, he was not going to settle for anyone who had not been commander of a state national guard for at least a year and a half. He put down his foot!
I think Palin has been a great gift. It's laughable. I can't help thinking the GOP and McCain are just floating a sitcom pilot:
She's young, perky, high-strung, former beauty queen, now a harried mother of five!
He's really old, cranky--kinda creepy--filthy rich and a bit of leach! And he says the darnedest things!
Toss in a spoiled, pill-popping, beer heiress bombshell and a hunky stay-at-home dad, and hilarity ensues!
Watch them make it work as, together, they come together to run the country!
OK, maybe I'm doing a disservice to mock her. Certainly, it wins us no fans to condescend to her, particularly a woman.
And it seems that the Palin pick has been polarizing among Dems, I hear people taking this move seriously, which obviously, I disagree with.
But then, I recognize, sometimes I underestimate the GOP's ability to pull the wool over voter's eyes. I've found it laughable as I saw through this move in an instant as a desperate, pandering, Hail Mary Pass and immediately felt confident that voters as a whole would too. But maybe I'm giving voters too much credit?
UPDATE: Wow, based on my poll, my impression was correct, Dem reaction is very split on this. The results so far is nearly even split between "yes," "no," and a little. Well, short term, McCain played this well. I don't believe she'll have legs to take the ticket to November.