Ok, since the buzz on Sarah Palin has all but fizzled with just a few remaining crazies still hyper-ventilating because she shoots guns and won't kill babies. Zzzzzz.....
So, here's what I think will be interesting this week.
1.Experience or not, Sarah Palin is the VP candidate and very well might be the next Vice President of the United States. I'm not particularly fond of the experience argument. I'm not convinced that you need to be an expert on world affairs or international relations in order to be in Government, including President of the United States. Andrew Jackson is a prime example of the fact that a good leader need not be the smartest man in the room, but you do need to be intelligent enough to surround yourself with smart people and use your judgment to decide on a course of action.
Herein lies a problem with Palin. From what I can tell, there is a troublesome record with this. Like most mavericks, she is convinced that the principled position of an "outsider on the inside" is to look for people outside, with new ideas, and little tested experience to liven up the debate and bring in fresh perspectives. Good, but without the experienced and tried wisdom of the establishment, you're easily prone to error and poor judgment. You need both. Palin needs both if she expects to convince us that she's more than just a face.
2.Palin is a feminist. This drives liberal feminists crazy. She has her cake and is eating too. She has the family and the career. She has everything that the feminist movement said they wanted but thought was impossible without contraception and abortion. She is against abortion and yet she has managed to not sacrifice her career for it. At least, she had her children, returned to work, and now is incredibly successful. She has achieved what only one other woman has in American history. She's a candidate for the second highest executive office in America. Like it or not, that's an accomplishment.
3. There is something to worry about. I don't like strangers. I warn children about them. I make sure I know where my wallet is when I see them. I lock my car doors when they come up on me on a dark street corner at night. Sarah Palin is a stranger. If she wants to succeed in convincing me that she is not someone to be afraid of, she needs to talk to me, all the time, about what she thinks, what her vision of leadership is. I'm tired of her telling me how great McCain is. She's running too. Tell me why I can trust her judgment. Tell me what she thinks about things. Not about Putin. She doesn't know anything about him. Tell me how she made decisions about the Putin's in her own experience. Where has she had to make tough decisions? How did she go about it? Why is she trustworthy?
Screw the liberal media. Don't play their game. Get your message out. Tell my why Palin is someone I can trust.
Well the Vice-Presidential Debate is Thursday so that should help give us a better understanding of who Palin is.
Posted by: David | Sep 30, 2008 at 12:45 PM