Palin questions
James Forsyth 11:12pm
Both The New York Times and The Washington Post have detailed looks at Sarah Palin’s record today. Both are fairly critical. The Washington Post story points out that the Mayor of Wasilla has fewer responsibilities than most city mayors. While The New York Times piece raises worrying questions about Palin’s hiring patterns; as governor she has hired five of her high school class mates for high-paying jobs in state government. Personally, I’m also disturbed by the fact she seems to rely on a small circle for advice and has spent 312 nights away from the state capital since becoming governor. These are, as the Bush presidency has demonstrated, not traits that are conducive to good government.
To be sure, the McCain campaign are telling Palin’s friends and supporters to talk to the press through the campaign while her detractors are bending the ear of every journalist who has been despatched to Alaska. But these stories do raise legitimate and worrying issues about Palin’s record which should be addressed.
The Palin debate has become absurdly polarised with people either treating her as a “dangerous, vindictive Christianist cipher” or as the second coming of Reagan. Judging from what I’ve seen, read and heard she appears to be a skilful and ambitious politician who may have been put onto a national ticket too fast. The more we see of Palin, the easier it will be to come to an informed view of her. Let us hope that McCain follows through on his comment that he’s recommending that his running mate appear on Face the Nation.
murray
September 14th, 2008 11:50pm Report this commentFocusing all of their attention on Palin seems to be working out fabulously for the MSM and their anointed One...I wonder if they will realize what they have done before 10 p.m. on November 4th (when I predict they will covering the biggest Republican win since Bush-Dukakis).
Hal
September 15th, 2008 2:33am Report this commentYou might have added that Palin's foreign experience, which includes visits to Ireland and to a combat zone in Iraq, includes no such thing. Another lie -- her plane touched down in Ireland to refuel, and she visited a border crossing in Kuwait. The lies, the "hum a few bars and I'll fake it" tone of her ABC interview, and her style as an office holder are coming together.
I think she may have peaked. She'll continue to help McCain, especially in the red states, but by the end of this month attention will largely be off her and back to McCain. That's not good if you're a Republican.
Travis
September 15th, 2008 3:47am Report this commentA Republican win in November with Palin as VP.....say it isnt so?
Then one can really emerge from the 'woodwork' and win...may the gods help us on this.
Travis
September 15th, 2008 3:48am Report this commentA Republican win in November with Palin as VP.....say it isnt so?
Then one can really emerge from the 'woodwork' and win...may the gods help us on this.
dennis moore
September 15th, 2008 4:01am Report this commentGood article,analyzing the personality of the candidate.A leader of vice president post should be of having good past record. Nd at the same time a sincere, honest personality, Here she is lacking
Old Hack
September 15th, 2008 6:10am Report this commentthe American system of political patronage is what it is, James. Besides which the NYT and WP were ALWAYS going to find something negative to say about her. Do you believe that Alaska is brimming over with the sort of politico that populates the beltway or that Anchorage is a hot destination for Ivy Leaguers?
Palin is doing her job in an election where no candidate is ideal. Frankly Obama in the White House without a single executive decision to his name and messianic mindset scares me a lot more than a moose hunting hockey mom who has already shown she's got a pair.
Ian C
September 15th, 2008 9:34am Report this commentIt's part of the tease. So far the McCain campaign managers have first 'exposed a bit of ankle' and then a bit of thigh - the Charlie Gibson interview - and now the USA women are getting the hairdo and buying the glasses and shoes and swithcing to McCain because that combination is 'more like them'.
Next comes the unstoppable momentum and then you expose her in full having got her up to speed and really checked out the weaknesses and prepared the answers to them - which will be sufficent to get the campaign through to Nov 4th.
If this can be dragged out through September, by which time they are in the lead by 10 points, leaving only October - the serious part of the campaign where the focus will return to real issues, from which Obama has been disracted.
And you have a campaign strategy explained. So far it is working. If she comes through, just OK against Biden in the debate on October 1 or 2, they will be half way home. Either damn clever or a lucky pick. But there are still a couple of hurdles to get past. They need not worry about the NY Times or the Washington Post - their criticism will help.
RMH
September 15th, 2008 11:23am Report this commentSo in summary she is not qualified to be VEEP not even lick the door of POTUS.
Shameful reactionary candidature from the GOP
Conservative Cabbie
September 15th, 2008 5:05pm Report this comment"Personally, I’m also disturbed by the fact she seems to rely on a small circle for advice and has spent 312 nights away from the state capital since becoming governor"
On the 312 nights away from the state capital - I don't really see this as a problem, the legislature only sits for 90 days a year and Juneau is not the most accessible city in Alaska.
If all this led to her being an unpopular governor then I can see it as being a legitimate complaint, however she is the most popular guv in the states, she must be doing something right.
Conservative Cabbie
September 15th, 2008 5:23pm Report this commenthttp://www.siena.edu/level2col.aspx?menu_id=562&id=19322
The above poll shows Obama's lead in NY state down to only 5 points from 18 points in June. Interesting that in some states post convention, McCain has made huge inroads into Obama but hasn't got dramatic positive traction in the swing states, I suppose this is a money advertising thing.
sketch
September 24th, 2008 11:07pm Report this commentA very intelectual President, who surrounded himself with intelectuals, nominated as his Vise President someone who had never been to University, had no particular background in world affairs, had run a retail
store, into bankrupy, not being
qualified for anything in particular, entered professional politics, and became a Senator.When becoming
Vice President the intellectuals
withheld information from him, dealing with nuclear research. The President died, and the newly
President Truman was called upon to order the droping of the
first and second nuclear bombs on Japan. President Truman was one
of the best Presidents of the U.S.A. not an intelectual, not
having much of a background in many things, but he had for instance the guts to fire General MacArthur when the latter became to independant, and to presidential.
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