Posted on 10/05/2008 8:20:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Normally the vice presidential choice is tangential to the top of the ticket. But that may not be the case this year as this election - a 2-year-long odyssey - has broken a number of rules.
Lloyd Bentsen, the 1988 Democratic vice presidential nominee was seen as better in many ways than lead man Michael Dukakis. He couldn't save Dukakis. Dan Quayle had the presence of a ventriloquist dummy. But he didn't sink the senior George Bush.
Under Richard Nixon, former Maryland governor Spiro Agnew was elected with scandals rattling in the closet. He became the first vice president to resign from office, but his troubles never directly touched Nixon. That president was to have bigger problems of his own.
Al Gore's selection in 1992 with Bill Clinton set a new pattern representing a generational team rather than a geographic or political balancing act.
Dick Cheney wields power no other vice president has ever dreamed of. Though consistent with President Bush's direction, he is an independent force no one wants to cross.
Thus far, Joe Biden is fitting the traditional mode for Barack Obama, like it or not. He's so dull it was said a Google search turned up nothing on him. That's not true, of course, but he's hardly setting the world on fire.
In most of our history, the bottom of the ticket has done well to be a supportive cheerleader or eager attack dog, avoiding outshining or embarrassing the boss.
Then there's Sarah Palin.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, she may be the first vice presidential candidate, with the exception of Lyndon Johnson for JFK, to lift the presidential nominee over the bar. She is like a made for television movie: an obscure office holder from an obscure state plucked from invisibility to the national spotlight.
In politics personality counts, and that she has in abundance. If diamonds are a girl's best friend, her life stories grace her like a beautiful pendant. She has that political narrative as a fighter of corruption in Alaska, taking on her own party, accomplishing much in little time as governor.
Experience as a small town mayor reminds us America is full of small town mayors dealing with big time problems. She has her personal story interweaving a family saga with a passion for the great outdoors.
But the McCain campaign better pay attention to what she says without a prompter, or she'll become just another ordinary number 2, one that doesn't lift the ticket and doesn't boost him to the brass ring on election day.
In an outdoor town hall meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich., Sarah Palin was asked by an audience member to answer concerns about her lack of foreign policy experience. She said, “I think that I'm prepared. We'll be ready. I'll be ready. I have that confidence. I have that readiness. And if you want specifics with specific policies, specific countries, you can ask me. You can even play stump the candidate if you want.”
This was a missed opportunity. A wasted chance.
She could have talked about her role as a border governor with Canada. She should have spoken about the unique commerce and trade issues Alaska has dealing with the Pacific Rim countries of Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and so forth. There are defense installations in Alaska that she should be as familiar with as our governor is with Arizona based military facilities.
But she has never referred to any of these. With all of the media coverage following her, if she had, we'd know.
If she doesn't pack some substance based on experience she must surely have, she'll fade out like a shooting star. Sarah Palin needs to show she could weather a catastrophic transition. She has to do a better job of packaging and communicating her experience when she has those impromptu moments to show she could handle the presidency should McCain suffer illness or death, given his age and history of skin cancer.
Consider that when Harry Truman succeeded Roosevelt and the Second World War with zero foreign policy background, he went on to make a series of fateful decisions, from dropping the atomic bomb on Japan, to establishing the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, halting the advance of communism in Western Europe, and helping birth the United Nations.
His conduct of the military demobilization post-World War II and the Korean War have been subject to analysis and criticism. But overall, not bad for someone working off not much more than Midwestern common sense. Sarah Palin would have a Great Northwest version of common sense should the sun, moon and stars fall on her.
Of course, we'll never know what she's capable of if John McCain isn't elected President.
John McCain had better hope she lives up to voters' expectations in substance as well as popular style. Otherwise, his legacy may be as the fourth Arizonan to try, and fail, to win the presidency.
Gee, a glimmer of journalism in America. It is almost dead except in the hinter lands.
Results 1 - 10 of about 18,700,000 for sarah palin. (0.04 seconds
One of Truman's big flubs and he would probably agree if he were alive today.
“If she doesn’t pack some substance based on experience she must surely have, she’ll fade out like a shooting star”
This writer is not thinking clearly.
Palin’s experience is her substance. Does he think Palin isn’t aware of her own experience?
The fact that she didn’t cite it in her reply simply means she was restrained. Could it possibly be that she was holding back a little, in the interest of avoiding gaffes?
To the author I say turn up your brain a little.
Governor Clinton handled this issue (where he certainly did not have as much foreign policy experience as George HW Bush) by claiming he would be a President who'd focus on domestic issues.
I don't recall Senator Gore being asked to talk of his own qualifications in foreign policy.
That's the issue- Cheney. He's the one driving the train of this administration. Bush is just a figurehead.
Palin OTOH- she's just hot!
And the "writer" of this piece has the talent and imagination of a second-grade English teacher.
I've met Dan Quayle, and he's a far better man than Lloyd Bentsen ever was: brighter by far, and with genuine character.
So what if he had a hard time spelling "potato" once.
Personally, I think he'd have made a far better President than either of our present candidates will.
There are several reasons why Palin makes all the difference.
First, it means that conservatives have a future in the Republican Party. If McCain had named another RINO, it would have amounted to a complete repudiation of the base and RINOs in office forever.
Second, it’s another sign that McCain started to wake up and move in a new direction, much more hopeful to our country. It began with his campaign reform last summer, his switch from the global warming/ethanol shtick to drilling and nuclear, and his convincing speech at his nomination that he is determined to serve his country, not his ego.
He still occasionally reverts to old habits, but it’s all very hopeful. And Sarah was the key sign that he is waking up and smelling the roses.
I remember that several commentators said Biden gave one of the best debates of his life with Palin, and still came out a draw. I watched. He didn’t seem all that lifeless to me. Actually, he was more likable than I’d ever seen him.
Then I realized. He had that “sparkle” a man gets in the presence of a pretty woman. He had the hots for Palin, even though she was aggressive and cleaning his clock.
There’s a lot to be said for a woman that can do that.
A little side note: Try posting with Firefox using the word potato without an “e”.
McCain, AuH2O, M. Udall and ?.
Tangential, eh? That's Obama's favorite big word. He uses it all the time to show how smart he is.
The writer obviously has not seen nor heard about Gov Palin’s dealing with Russia over oil issues nor her highly successful negotiations with Canada and her several Provinces over the gas pipeline which is the largest construction project in the US. This project was an idea for 31 years. In less than 2 years, Palin negotiated with the oil companies and the several governments to get it approved. I have no knowledge of her dealings with Japan or other Pacific Rim nations but since the author mentions it, I know that Gov Palin has been called among the very best of National Guard commanders.
I wonder if she can be a viable presidential candidate if McCain loses this time around. I would vote for her at the top of the ticket anyday.
Actually, Spiro Agnew was the second Vice President to resign from office. The first was John C. Calhoun.
Biden had that “sparkle” a man gets in the presence of a pretty woman. He had the hots for Palin, even though she was aggressive and cleaning his clock.
There’s a lot to be said for a woman that can do that.
She had him at “Can I call you Joe?”, and she knew it.
Interesting you should say that. I was reading an article today (which I think was linked to by Instapundit) that stated that the future of journalism would be set by local newspapers like this, rather than the NY Times' and Washinton Posts' of the world.
Decent article, but imo, Ms. Palin is far different than any other VP candidate. Yes, LBJ did bring southern states-but Gov. Palin has the potential to start a movement. She’s Mrs. Smith Goes to washington. Any bets she ends up campaigning in Mighnigan LOL
“Red Sun” will be the future of journalism? It’s a very left wing paper published by a relative of the late Claude Pepper.
My friend and I caught that too while we watched the debate, LOL! He seemed mesmirized by her at times. We were joking that he probably had to stay behind the podium as that was not the only wood in the room!
I am surprised that on SNL they didn’t have Joe trying to make out with her!
Does anyone remember the vice presidential debate of 1992, in which Quayle creamed Al Gore? The MSM seems to have flushed this down the memory hole.
All solid bedrock achievements which she needs to tout on a regular basis. One of her mistakes during those ridiculous interviews was not promoting her obvious triumphs with a bullhorn repeatedly. This would go a long way to assuring the public that she has the horsepower to get things done.
Truman was kept in the dark about the Manhattan project. He didn’t know of it’s existence until FDR died. Then he had to make the painful, but right decision to use the bombs. Now Truman is regarded as a near-great president. But he was a nobody as Veep.
Aside from Goldwater, who were the other Arizonans who tried and failed to win the White House?
I think Quayle did great in 92 as well. Bentsen got off a cheap one-liner against him in 1988 that sent the MSM into ecstacy. The template was then stacked against him and he never had a chance to rebuild his image. Heck It took me about a decade to realize how brilliant Quayle really is.
I don't recall Dan Quayle discussing President Franklin D. Roosevelt's appearances on television in 1929.
When I watched the Quayle-Bentsen debate in 1988, I thought "Lord" Bentsen "won" the contest on debating points, but it was a Pyrrhic victory, as he came off as slick, oily, and untrustworthy.
Have no idea of this particular paper’s ideolgy (though the article seemed fair). The point the article made is that the APs and big conglomerates are in their deathe throes. Not my opinion, as I said, an article I read. If I can find it I’ll post a link and you can argue with them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8QcpdUtxNQ
This video will help get Sarah and that other guy elected.
And the McCain campaign should be doing this for her is every venue they can use or find.
I believe that Obama is a Muslim extremist and has almost hijacked our election with an avalanche of uncontested, lying ads bought with hoards of ill begotten illegal money, also uncontested. I believe he thinks he can get away with anything because there is not enough time before the election to prosecute him and be time he is President it will not matter as he will be King. May God have mercy on us and give us providential favor not allowing this to happen.
The ability to leave a comment on the video has been locked.
The counter is also stuck on 4899 for a long time.
“All three of McCain’s political predecessors - Republican Barry Goldwater in 1964; Democrat Udall in 1976; and Democrat Bruce Babbitt in 1988....” - all tried for the White House and Lost
I think she does that to a lot of men.....lol
The author of the article had one minor point wrong about the rally in Grand Rapids, MI. It was not held outside. It was inside the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse at Grand Rapids Community College.
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