P. is right. Maverick is a non-issue, and will not resonate with the American public for much longer.
So forget "maverick" as talking point number one. Or remember it, and consider the personality trait (which is all it is) as it ought to be considered: a record of good or bad choices. I'd trust an independent-minded person with good judgment in a heartbeat. McCain used to fall into that category. But now? His choice of Palin will continue to undermine his credibility with anyone but the deeply-conservative base. Just watch.
Good judgment means knowing the person you choose as your running mate. It means investigating their record before you sign them on to (potentially) become President of the United States (read the NYT's piece on the last-minute decision, and lack of vetting. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02vetting.html?pagewanted=2&em) McCain is a 72-year-old cancer survisor, so this vetting should mean a lot to most Americans... Good judgment means knowing enough about your Vice President to be able to justify the choice, and her experience, to the American public when they ask about it (please watch this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYYiw_y2qDI) of McCain's spokesman as he falls all over himself trying to explain her national security experience, and note that McCain has since cancelled his interviews for tonight).
This concern about Palin does not equate to Obama's so-called "inexperience". Obama's political history is well-documented. Palin's personal history is exploding over the airwaves because there is very little, politically, to make of her. And what there is seems to be questionable at best. Ethics violations, etc, ahem.
Add to this everything P has detailed above... Maverick don't mean a thing if it ain't got good principles behind it. :)
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-09-02 11:07 pm (UTC)So forget "maverick" as talking point number one. Or remember it, and consider the personality trait (which is all it is) as it ought to be considered: a record of good or bad choices. I'd trust an independent-minded person with good judgment in a heartbeat. McCain used to fall into that category. But now? His choice of Palin will continue to undermine his credibility with anyone but the deeply-conservative base. Just watch.
Good judgment means knowing the person you choose as your running mate. It means investigating their record before you sign them on to (potentially) become President of the United States (read the NYT's piece on the last-minute decision, and lack of vetting. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02vetting.html?pagewanted=2&em) McCain is a 72-year-old cancer survisor, so this vetting should mean a lot to most Americans... Good judgment means knowing enough about your Vice President to be able to justify the choice, and her experience, to the American public when they ask about it (please watch this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYYiw_y2qDI) of McCain's spokesman as he falls all over himself trying to explain her national security experience, and note that McCain has since cancelled his interviews for tonight).
This concern about Palin does not equate to Obama's so-called "inexperience". Obama's political history is well-documented. Palin's personal history is exploding over the airwaves because there is very little, politically, to make of her. And what there is seems to be questionable at best. Ethics violations, etc, ahem.
Add to this everything P has detailed above... Maverick don't mean a thing if it ain't got good principles behind it. :)