JBD

Well now, my friends, wasn't that an interesting couple of weeks?

In the 13 days since my last post, it has been Sarah Palin 24/7. I started a dozen posts about her, and then held off, because each time I thought the frenzy had reached its peak, the media or Obama campaign would top themselves. And every time I thought I had a fresh insight, I would read somebody’s take who said it better than I ever could.

The stuff came so fast, and so good, that I was helplessly trying to take a drink from the fire hose. So I would just cut a reference here and there and paste it to my blog compiler so I could write about it later. In the end, I gave up – see the links below for what I believe are definitive statements and analysis.

The pick – pure genius. Palin was known to us Republican geek types because of her conservative takedown of Murkowski, and her anti-RINO policies in the face of the Alaska uber-RINO senators Young and Stevens. They, like Biden, are very long term Senators from small population states, whose main claim to re-election is their seniority, which gives them more power to suck out Fed dollars in the form of earmarks and other Fed projects. Like nearly all Senators, they quickly become creatures of Washington, and measure their success in dollars spent.

McCain has a reputation as one of the few non-DC Senators, his maverick brand earned by bucking his own party and crossing the aisle. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t want him for President, and really still don’t. Even with a bona-fide non-DC running mate, he just is not interested in shaking up the things that really need it.

All that aside, the effect that Palin has had on the Obama campaign and the media (more or less one in the same) has been nothing short of astonishing. They were caught completely flat-footed, stunned by the pick, and simply unable to summon up a straightforward comment. I’m sure they had pre-cooked statements for the other likely picks – Pawlenty, Romney, even Lieberman.

But McCain’s airtight inner circle (a very good sign for the future, BTW) gave them all the rope they needed to hang themselves, including having the more obvious candidates head-fake by canceling appearances and traveling unexpectedly. THAT is how you deal with adversaries – you get into their heads, and play their own strengths and faults against them - ju-jitsu instead of sumo.

Right from the beginning, the Obamaniacs unveiled their abominable instincts, with the first official comment from the campaign belittling Palin’s experience and her background. Here’s what they should have done. Obama and his main campaign people should have ignored the pick and reserved comment when asked, sucking some of the air out of the Palin balloon and at the same time building anticipation. Then 24 hours after her announcement, Biden should have released a totally goo-goo statement (similar to what McCain did the night Obama had his coronation party), some thing like “We are thrilled and excited to learn that the Republicans have made a historic choice for their VP candidate in Sarah Palin, the fine governor from the great state of Alaska. We welcome her to the national scene, and I look forward to debating her on the issues that concern the citizens of our country.” Period, full stop.

But even if they had done something smart like that (Obama tried to cover up the stink of the original comment with his more gracious statement later that day) there would have been no way to restrain the madness of the nutroots and media. I’m sure you have heard all the charges and counter charges by now, summarized here (so I won’t repeat them). If after reviewing that list any of you have further negative statements or "gotchas" not on that list (like this one) please say so in the comments, and I’ll address them.

So, is she qualified? Constitutionally, sure. Does she have the necessary experience? Arguably, more of the right kind - executive experience – than the three Senators. What about international experience? Overrated – Biden has bags of it, and his comments and policy suggestions have been proven laughable. So "experience" in foreign affairs is not what you want in a President, you want a spirited and well-informed (which is what aides are for) advocate for your country, who will make sure that the USA’s interest are promoted and protected. Complaining about your country to Europeans is not what we want in a President.

Bottom line – Sarah Palin is the biggest game-changer since Teddy Roosevelt, for many of the same reasons, including the fact that plenty of mainstream Republicans are leery of her, just as some were of Teddy. That does not mean she is otherwise comparable, as many have debated. Whether that is good for the Republican party, or even good for the country at this time, is debatable. I still think Obama-Biden will (and should) win in November, but it is not nearly the sure thing I thought it was two weeks ago.

Now the race will now be much tighter, which, coupled with what was confirmed by the rabid, juvenile reactions of the Obama supporters, bolsters the likelihood of my still-preferred scenario. A bitterly-fought campaign, followed by a squeaker win, including a reduced but still majority Democrat presence in both houses, will lead to chaos and gridlock until 2010, then real change in 2012.

Lots more to say on this, as you shall see. Politics is fun again!

Posted by: JBD at 02:13 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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