America's Hottest Governor

A media tsunami struck over the weekend when John McCain tapped little-known governor of Alaska to be his running mate. It's been such a big topic that it overwhelmed coverage of Hurricane Gustav and had reporters researching the city council minutes from the little town of Wasilla, Alaska. Then, as if it wasn't enough that a former beauty queen was asked to be one aneurysm away from the White House, it was revealed that her seventeen-year-old daughter was pregnant. I'm sure it's a great time to be a political reporter.

I had heard of Sarah Palin, which probably puts me in a very small minority, but only because Wonkette, a political web site I read daily with glee, had proclaimed her "America's Hottest Governor," or GILF, upon her election. Who could have dreamed, at the time, that she would be catapulted to national prominence? Maybe John McCain is confusing the presidential election with the Miss America pageant.

I'm not sure what aspect of this fiasco to address first. I guess the primary thing is how this selection reflects McCain's judgement, or lack of it. Clearly this was a gut decision for him, and also a gimmick (can anyone say with a straight face that Palin wasn't selected because she's a woman?). When Barack Obama didn't choose a woman as his running mate, McCain seized upon the chance to make a move for women, specifically white middle-class women, supposedly disaffected because of Hillary Clinton losing. Secondly, if this is how McCain makes his decisions then I think we should be very worried if he becomes president, as the man clearly has no intellectual heft. He's one of those seat-of-the-pants guys who scoff at research and can lead people right into a ditch.

What is the requirement of a vice-president? To break ties in the Senate, which anyone with half a brain can do, and be ready to become president. Sarah Palin is not ready to be president. Less than two years ago she was the mayor of a town with less than 10,000 people. As governor she had less constituents than the population of Fort Worth, Texas. She has absolutely zero foreign policy advice. When she accepted the job, could she name the breakaway republics in Georgia? The president of Afghanistan? No doubt she is cramming this information now in preparation for a debate with Joe Biden. I wonder if flash cards are being used.

To compare her experience, or lack of it, to Barack Obama is absurd. He was president of Harvard Law Review, a professor of constitutional law, and is a U.S. Senator, which means he has been involved in all issues, foreign and domestic. And if managerial experience is so important, than what of John McCain? He and Obama have equal experience as executives. Watching Republican spin doctors drink the Kool-Aid here is pathetic.

As for Palin's daughter, Bristol, I feel sorry for her. What kind of parent, knowing her teenage daughter is going through a difficult time, takes a job that she knows will expose her child's delicate condition to the media? I think if I had a kid in that situation, I would have passed on the job, but that's just me. And is Bristol's pregnancy an issue? Only because Palin is a supporter of abstinence-only sex education and slashed programs for unwed teen mothers in Alaska. Apparently that abstinence-only stuff didn't work in the Palin household. Bristol Palin will get all the best care for her baby, but can the same be said for other unwed teen mothers in Alaska?

Who knows how this will affect the race. I'm still amazed that the U.S. fell for the moron that's now in office (twice!) so I can sit here and fume all I want, that doesn't mean the American people won't be duped. I do know that Palin's positions, where she has them, are extreme--no abortion even in the case of rape or incest, full supporter of the National Rifle Association--two issues that suburban white women are on the other side of, by the way. Republicans are trying to make honest inquiries into her background as sexism in action, which I don't think will work. I'm still pretty sure Obama will hang on and win this thing, but the alternative has me very scared.