Just Another Blog
Friday, October 03, 2008
 
More on the VP

I can't believe the easy treatment that Palin is getting in the press. The NYT has the harshest criticism I have seen yet, but I think even they give her too much credit. This woman is so clearly unqualified it is shocking to me that people are willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. This is not The Apprentice; this is for the vice presidency of the frickin' country. I feel fairly certain that Gov. Palin wouldn't even make it long on The Apprentice (though I haven't ever actually watched the show).

The following is from the beginning and end of their editorial review of the debate.
After a series of stumbling interviews that raised serious doubts even among conservatives about her fitness to serve as vice president, Ms. Palin had to do little more than say one or two sensible things and avoid an election-defining gaffe.By that standard, but only by that standard, the governor of Alaska did well.
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In the end, the debate did not change the essential truth of Ms. Palin’s candidacy: Mr. McCain made a wildly irresponsible choice that shattered the image he created for himself as the honest, seasoned, experienced man of principle and judgment. It was either an act of incredible cynicism or appallingly bad judgment.
Update: Arianna Huffington, who watched the debate with some of the brightest and most influential women in America, gets it right too. She noticed a number of the annoyances that I did. Here are a bunch of her comments without any context - not that any is really needed here.
She is so obviously not equipped to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, it takes your breath away that McCain picked her.
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The only thing Palin proved herself good enough for is starring in her own reality show.
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Watching Biden and Palin on the same stage was like watching a tennis champion walk onto Centre Court at Wimbledon only to find himself facing an over-eager amateur from the local high school.
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Palin's grasp fluctuated between wafer thin and skin deep.
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Throughout the entire 90-minute debate, Palin came across as an over-wound windup doll, sporting a pasted-on-smile expression that never varied, except when she winked. Which she did repeatedly -- and pathetically. It was the folksiest appearance since Hee-Haw went off the air.
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My patience with Palin is waving the white flag of surrender.
Agreed, agreed, agreed.