McCain’s Second Life

What was John McCain to do? By that, I mean: what sort of campaign was he supposed to run? Steve Benen says it’s “chilling” that Sarah Palin could be a heartbeat from the Presidency. Matt Yglesias notes the “crassly political” nature of her selection and asks what federal agency or cabinet department she might be qualified to run if she hadn’t been picked as McCain’s running-mate. Andrew Sullivan, in his characteristically restrained style, fears for the future if “this dangerous, vindictive, Christianist cipher” is “foisted” upon the United States.

And yes, today’s New York Times story on her record – and style of governing – in Alaska is, to put it mildly, far from encouraging. As Rod Dreher writes, “Look, I love the image of Sarah Barracuda tearing through the corrupt ol’ boy establishment of Alaska. But how real is it? Are we thinking we’re getting a real reformer, but are actually just getting someone whose idea of reform is to replace one good ol’ boy network with one of her own?” Equally, David Frum’s concerns are real and persuasive: she really isn’t ready to be President.