Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Palin as the Right's Obama

I have no idea what the Palin pick will ultimately do to the Presidential race. Yesterday I visited with some clients who are appalled by McCain's nomination of Sarah Palin and believe he has lost the election because of it. They had no problem in respect to the inconsistency of their view that she was unqualified because of lack experience to lead and their support of Obama.

And then there is this rush of enthusiasm on the right for Palin (which I share).

I think we are all so jaded with the sort of leadership we have been getting from both parties that the lack of history that characterizes both Obama and Palin merely gives us blank slates upon which to project our grandest hopes.

Think about who we have leading Congress - Pelosi and Reid. Then on the Republican side consider Trent Lott and Ted Stevens; the leadership we had from Rumsfeld, the unchecked spending by Congress to which President Bush turned a blind eye if he did not otherwise sponsor it himself; and an intellectual elite that includes Newt Gingrich, Bill Bennett, and Pat Buchanan.

As I continue to read McCullough's biography of John Adams, I am reminded of the storehouse of great men and women with which this country began. What a contrast to our wardrobe of leadership now.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have never been excited about politics before in my life: until last Friday and the announcement about Sarah Palin. I am reminded of the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and the "revival" that occurred because of an outsider standing up to the cronyism of Washington insiders.

Furthermore, I am confused at the immediate criticism of Mrs. Palin's supposed lack of experience. What her critics on the left and right really mean is that they have never heard of her. This does not mean that she is inexperienced. It reveals a bigotry and prejudice not only against Mrs. Palin but for the entire state of Alaska. How dare we discount her experience as a governor of a state with a budget over $11 BILLION with 15,000 state employees.

I can't wait until tonight. It says a lot that the father of her unborn grandchild will be there with the family at the GOP Convention.

Go Sarah, Go!

Paul Stokes said...

Good points.

If a tree falls in the forest, and there is no one from the Washington Post or the New York Times to see it, has it really happened?

Sean Meade said...

as gently as possible, Rick, how challenging is it to administer a budget that never runs in the red? no major income problems for Alaska...

anyway, i'm here to say that, in this day and age, we have many talented people. they just don't, by and large, go into politics.

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's a good sign that their budget is in the black. I'm trying to "simmah down" on SP and not get too excited. The next couple of months will reveal much more about all the candidates. I'll end up voting on the issues and policies and the Mc/P ticket is the one for me. Hopefully everyone will vote on the issues and not on the side show.