‘What was McCain thinking?‘
Published: September 4, 2008
Seldom has anything of a political nature actually kept me awake at night, but John McCain’s announcement of his choice for vice president did just that.
What was he thinking?
The lovely Sarah Palin is his answer to fill the position of which he said more than once: “The first criteria of course will be to choose as a running mate someone who is ready to be president of the United States.”
And then he chooses someone whose total experience has been mayor of Wasilla City, Alaska (pop. 8,000), and less than two years as governor of a state with total population of 664,000.
During this entire campaign, the distinguished senator has contended that Barack Obama “is too young and does not have the experience” to be president. And now he has thrust upon us as a nation the possibility that a 44-year-old with what has been termed “the thinnest foreign policy experience of any candidate in our nation’s history,” would be there to take that position were anything to happen to a sitting 72-year-old world leader.
Again, what was he thinking?
If, in fact, this choice was made to attract women voters, I would beg him to give American women more credit than that. And pro-lifers who cherish the role of women in the home must surely wonder how Palin can abandon the care of her younger children, including the 4-month-old baby, in order to wage this campaign. Wives of candidates can choose to campaign or not; candidates do not have that option.
It has been said that the first major decision to be made by a presidential candidate is his or her choice for vice president; that decision will reflect the way in which all future decisions will be made.
Well, according to GOP news media releases, McCain has selected as his running mate someone he only met once at a governors’ meeting in February, and with whom he had no other conversation until she flew to Flagstaff, Ariz., to meet with him last week. And again, that fills his pre-stated criteria that he would choose “someone he knows well and with whom he is very comfortable.”
Who is wearing the flip-flops now?
Yes, McCain’s choice for one who is only a heartbeat from the presidency truly did keep me awake.
Elaine Herrin Onley
Dothan
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Reader Reactions
Obviously you can (and will) stand behind any misleading half truth you want to. While you are very well written, it will take more than mis-direction and debate tricks to throw this old hound dog off the scent.
John McCain was not “Forced” to admit poor judgement as he was not “Forced” to testify. I know he was not “Forced” because he was the only one to show up to testify. So maybe he showed up and admitted poor judgement voluntarily which I would say is a sign of “Character”. Contrast this with the fact that Bill O’Reilly could NOT get Senator Obama to admit he was wrong about the surge in Iraq. Hmmmmmm… Also, your comment that “Well D. DeConcini is not running for President” doesn’t hold water either because your diatribe was not just directed at John McCain but also the Republican party in general. A Democrat was INDEED involved in that scandal.
Senator Obama not involved in this mess so we should give him a chance? I’m sorry, I just can’t understand that statement at all… Its not like we are substituting players into a ball game… We are indeed electing someone to the most powerful position in the world…
As to your statement “Now to Palin’s Experience perhaps you would list them for all to read!!“ How artful of you to dodge my request with one of your own! I will concede that there are more experienced male/female politicians that McCain could have chosen if you will concede that there are more experienced male/female politicians than Senator Obama. Either way, the point is moot because we should be comparing Senator Obama to Senator McCain.
I stand behind the statements; John McCain was forced by Congress to admit his faulty judgment in the Keating Lincoln savings and loan failure. Charles Keating moved to Arizona to run American Continental Corporation the Arizona parent co. of Lincoln Savings and Loan. Among McCain’s earliest benefactors in Arizona was Lincoln Savings and Loan chief Charles Keating Jr., who filled McCain’s campaign coffers with more than $100,000 and hosted the McCain’s multiple times at his vacation home in the Bahamas. John McCain and the other Senators in the Keating Five met privately with Charles Keating this was the basis for their hearing before the US Senate. Yes I know who the other 4 members of this group were but they are not running for President. The Democrat Dennis DeConcini Arizona Senator a close friend of John McCain was indeed on the record criticized for acting improperly. On his Keating Five experience, McCain has said: “The appearance of it was wrong. It’s a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do.”
Were the Republicans the only party at fault, the answer is no. The democratic presidential Candidate Barack Obama was not involved in this mess so I believe he should be given a chance to correct many of the problems our government faces.
Alaska relies on oil for about 80 percent of its revenue and has no sales or income tax. Alaska state government is mandated to invest 25% of its oil revenue into the APF while the other 75% of oil royalty revenue is dispersed to other government funds to finance education, infrastructure and social services. The payments are in addition to the usual annual dividend from the state’s oil trust fund. The legislature also repealed the state’s 8-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax for a year. When coupled with annual payments Alaskans get from a trust fund related to the state’s oil and natural gas production, nearly every adult and child is expected to get $3,200 or more this October.
The Governors of the other 49 U. S. States would dearly like to have these revenue sources to fund their Budgets.
Now to Palin’s Experience perhaps you would list them for all to read!!
Fact Only??? Or “Only the facts you’d like to disclose” ??? The only bad thing about having to bail these institutions out is the fact that it will come from Tax Payer dollars! It sets a bad precedent that big industries will think that they can take very risky chances and the government will bail them out if it all goes bad… But that certainly doesn’t mean it is the Republicans fault that this happened… For that matter, one could argue that our Democratic led Congress (Fact: worst congress in history) allowed this to happen… And lets discuss the Keating 5… How many of the 5 showed up to testify before congress? ONE! John McCain… (How convenient of you to leave that out)... And he WAS investigated and it was found that no wrong doing on his part occurred… (How convenient of you to leave that out too)... Do you you remember the names of all 5? Neither do I, but I do remember one other name… Dennis DeConcini - DEMOCRATIC Senator. (How REALLY convenient of you to leave that out too)... And for the life of me I don’t recall (because it didn’t happen) that DeConcini was prosecuted either… Hmmmm…. And in an earlier post you stated about Sarah Palin “Now where is all the Experience?“ Maybe you should give “All The Facts” and tell us what the great “Community Organizer” has accomplished for this country besides voting “present” 130 times…
Were you wondering why McCain and Palin are calling for “change” now? Its not to hard to figure the Republican government must bailout failed Banks, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, Investment Banks and now the Federal Highway Trust Fund.
John McCain’s son, Andrew, who is also CFO of his mom’s beer distributorship, “sat on the boards of Silver State Bank and of its parent, Silver State Bancorp, starting in February but resigned in July citing ‘personal reasons.‘ Andrew McCain also was a member of the bank’s audit committee, responsible for oversight of the company’s accounting,“ according to AP. The failure which was caused by “poor-quality loans primarily related to real estate development” will cost the FDIC deposit insurance fund between “$450 million and $550 million,“ according to AP.
Remember John McCain’s good friend Charles Keating Jr. Lincoln Savings and Loan chief who was among earliest benefactors in Arizona who filled McCain’s campaign coffers with more than $100,000 and hosted the McCain’s multiple times at his vacation home in the Bahamas.
Lincoln Savings and Loan collapse, the biggest of many savings and loan failures, cost taxpayers $2.6 billion for the bailout.
The Republican led Government has your Dollars now McCain and Palin wants your Change to (Pennies, Nickels, Dimes and Quarters).
First,let me preface my comments to say"never has anything of a political nature ever kept me awake at night”.My wife my kids and my family has from time to time but not politics.I rest peacefully knowing my insomnia or sleep deprevation won’t solve America’s problems.
Senator McCain was thinking what can I do to help my election campaign and help turn this country around.Enter Govenor Sarah Palin.The majority of American’s are always complaining about the way things are in Washington.To take a quote from Mark Twain"Everyone complains about the weather ,but nobody does anything about it.“Well,the distingushed Senator McCain is trying to do something about Washington.And has recruited the help of someone with pretty much the same temperment,vision and courage.And because Sarah Palin happens to be a lady,a very intelligent lady and a politician not corrupted by Washington’s elite cocktail and left wing crowd.
And to insinuate that she has or will abandon her children.Actually when you become Vice President you get to keep your children and your husband.Just because Bill Clinton didn’t know that does not make it true.Over the last few days I have heard so many women attack Gov.Palin just because she has the courage to want to change the status quo in Washington.And attacks her for having family values and how dare her to believe that it is wrong to kill babies just because they aren’t wanted or may become an inconvienance.How dare she believe that a woman can have a family and a career at the same time.I know plenty of strong,courageous,hard working mothers who work 40 plus hours a week on a job and then comes home to raise their families on a daily basis.And without having to abandon them.I believe he also chose her to help attract more women voters as well. And it will,intelligent, hardworking,principled mother’s,mama’s and single women voters who see Gov. Palin for who she is.
Experience, two term city councilwomwan,Mayor of Wasilla,Chairwoman Alaska Natural Gas and Petroleum Commission and Govenor of Alaska.Not to mention mother of 5,wife of one and hopefully the next Vice President of millions.Hockey mom,soccer mom,football mom,cheerleader mom the name really doesn’t matter, they are all cut out of the same cloth.
If you watched Sarah Palin’s speech last night, you might have a different opinion today. She embodies the values I grew up with in the 40’s & 50’s in Headland. She is also very experienced, contrary to what the media says.
LILY !! Oh my gosh !! I have absolutely nothing to add to that brilliant rebuttal of the self-serving sexist sophomoric remarks… Run for office!! Thank you and good job !!
Managing Alaska’s economy and budget is different than in other states.
The state’s $36 billion Permanent Fund, derived from oil revenue, makes it look more like energy-rich nations such as Abu Dhabi and Norway than the rest of the United States. Governors of the other 49 states would like this budget problem since they must pick and choose what can be funded and could never deliver a check for $1200.00 from a budget surplus to every citizen of their state.
Palin does have extensive experience in energy, where she’s taken a hard line against oil companies and pressed for more exploration and infrastructure development.
She pushed through a $1.5 billion tax increase on oil- company profits last year to help fund price relief for Alaskans. She opposes excess profits tax on Oil Companies for all other states.
In May, she asked state lawmakers to approve a $30 billion-$40 billion proposal from TransCanada Corp. to build the pipeline. Oil production in Alaska is declining so this is an effort to maintain the flow of Oil Revenue.
Now where is all the Experience?
I think John McCain knew what he was doing and I think he picked a winner. He has, in Sarah Palin, a woman who is comfortable in her own skin and unafraid to tackle the tough problems. Despite the scoffs and sneers from her elitist opponents, she already has more executive experience than Obama or Biden. It is not necessary for a leader to know everything about everything; that’s why he/she chooses advisors and department heads and aides who are knowledgeable, competent and capable. She is articulate, grounded and up to the challenge. As for caring for her children…that’s a specious argument. Who cares for the children of other women in politics, and career women in general? It’s really astounding that those who generally support women in the advancement of their careers now choose to castigate a woman with whom they may philosophically disagree. Her children are well cared for, and they do have a father and extended family, much like other women who toil outside the home every day. This campaign doesn’t hinge on whether or not Ms. Palin has visited foreign countries (didn’t Obama just have a whirlwind tour so he could add that to his resume?), or whether or not she has children, or whether or not her state has fewer people than others. What matters is her ability to do the job with which she is tasked. What matters is that we stop the spiraling spending spree in Washington. What matters is that we keep this nation safe. What matters is that we elect people who encourage free enterprise, self-sufficiency, self respect, hard work and the desire to help our neighbors and our country to prosper. We need to ensure that our elderly and our children are safe and that their needs are met. We need to create a climate in which those who want health insurance can have it without government strings. We need to overhaul our failing educational system and throw what’s not working. We need to keep taxes low, enforce our immigration laws and keep our military strong. We need to encourage people in their successes instead of punishing them for being successful. We need strong leaders who will stand up for this country instead of apologizing for it. We need strong leaders who are not afraid to call it as they see it and who are not intimidated by those who wish to harm us. Yes, change in Washington is needed, but change for its own sake is not always good. The change offered by McCain/Palin is fundamental and strikingly different from the change offered by their opponents.
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