McCain’s choice of running-mate raises serious questions about his judgment (Economist)

[jefferson_dem]

The woman from nowhere

Sep 4th 2008
From The Economist print edition
John McCain’s choice of running-mate raises serious questions about his judgment

Illustration by KAL

THE most audacious move of the race so far is also, potentially, the most self-destructive. John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his running-mate has set the political atmosphere alight with both enthusiasm and dismay.

Mr McCain has based his campaign on the idea that this is a dangerous world—and that Barack Obama is too inexperienced to deal with it. He has also acknowledged that his advanced age—he celebrated his 72nd birthday on August 29th—makes his choice of vice-president unusually important. Now he has chosen as his running mate, on the basis of the most cursory vetting, a first-term governor of Alaska.

The reaction from inside the conservative cocoon was at first ecstatic. Conservatives argued that Mrs Palin embodies the “real America”—a moose-hunting hockey mum, married to an oil-worker, who has risen from the local parent-teacher association to governing the geographically largest state in the Union. They praise her as a McCain-style reformer who has taken on her state’s Republican establishment and has a staunch pro-life record (her fifth child has Down’s syndrome). Who better to harpoon the baby-murdering elitists who run the Democratic Party?

Mrs Palin was greeted like the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan by the delegates, furious at her mauling at the hands of the “liberal media”. And she delivered a tub-thumping speech, underlining her record as a reforming governor and advocate of more oil-drilling, and warning her enemies not to underestimate her (“the difference between a hockey mum and a pitbull—lipstick”). But once the cheering and the chanting had died down, serious questions remained.

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http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12066224

[Kber]

1. From the ECONOMIST??!11!

[Epiphany4z]

2. The end of the article is the best

One of the biggest problems with the Bush administration is that it appointed so many incompetents because they were sound on Roe v Wade. Mrs Palin’s elevation suggests that, far from breaking with Mr Bush, Mr McCain is repeating his mistakes.

[Forkboy]

3. To quote Reservoir Dogs...

"Juicy, Junior....real juicy."

[kestrel91316]

4. The Economist???? Holy feces-splattered ventilator, Batman!!

Does this mean the money-grubbing faction is no longer behind him?????

[unblock]

7. wall street hates bushco and mcsame

they liked reagan, but they also liked clinton.

the economist is more economic libertarian than conservative. mostly they want a reasonable economy humming along.

bushco has trashed that for sure, and mcsame promises little change. he pretends to be a reformer for change, but he hasn't given any real proposal or even hint that he could or would change anything relating to the economy.

not to mention the fact that he's a f*cking idiot when it comes to economic matters.

[Patiod]

10. You beat me to it - they supported Clinton over Bush Sr.

I remember them saying GHWB's heart didn't seem to be in the race, and that Clinton would be the better choice.

Make no mistake, they're not even vaguely liberal or progressive, but unblock, you nailed it - they're economic libertarian, and see a strong American economy lead by a stable leader as good for the world. I'm actually a fan to degree - always interesting to see how the rest of the world view these shenanigans.

[quiet.american]

5. Love the TOON for this artlicle.

[Cronus Protagonist]

6. This is what I've been saying ever since he announced the spokesmodel

He failed, disastrously, his fist test as "president" - choosing a spokesmodel...... uuhhhhhhhhhh I mean VP.

More from the source...

"The New York Times claims that his team arrived in Alaska only on August 28th, a day before the announcement. As a result, his advisers seem to have been gobsmacked by the Palin show that is now playing on the national stage. She has links to the wacky Alaska Independence Party, which wants to secede from the Union. She is on record disagreeing with Mr McCain on global warming, among other issues. The contrast with Mr Obama’s choice of the highly experienced and much-vetted Joe Biden is striking. Mr McCain’s appointment also raises more general worries about the Republican Party’s fitness for government."

[LonelyLRLiberal]

9. The words themselves smack of outrage: "gobsmacked" "wacky". eom

[Straight Shooter]

8. Maybe The Economist has finally learned their lesson about blind acceptance of conservatives.

It sure took them a long time to wise up to bush.

IMHO, I think they're all horrified at The Economist. They are, after all, serious professionals.