The Vice Presidential Debate
So, Sarah Palin did much better than I feared. She apparently learned her lines well. It would be unreasonable to expect that someone who basically knew nothing about the world 3 weeks ago could debate an old-time liberal and get the upper hand. Sarah certainly didn't get the upper hand, but she made a much better showing than expected by most. She didn't break down and she didn't make gross stupid mistakes as she has in the past. She held the line and stuck to what she was told to say and kept smiling even when trampled. She worked hard at keeping her distance from George Bush and was careful and successful at not answering questions to which she did not know the answer.
Did She Win?
In the hearts and minds of the committed right-wing Republicans, yes. She stood up to the experienced Joe Biden. In the hearts and minds of the committed left-wing Democrats, no. She sounded like Barbie reciting recorded soundbites. So, did she win?
She did as good as could be expected with her limited knowledge, but mostly, she embarrassed the Republican Party. What really counts is not the opinions of diehards, but those of the people in the middle, true conservatives and others who think and listen and consider and think and decide. That's who she has to win over and frankly, she didn't do much to win them over. The thinking people who have been disgusted with the Bush-Cheney disaster couldn't possible see much hope in Sarah Palin. She will cost Republicans the Presidency if she remains the darling of the campaign. She is the new center of Republican politics, but she doesn't fit into true conservative politics. She has far too many weaknesses and previous blunders to hold up under the scrutiny of thinking conservative and independent voters.
The Meat of The Debate
Sarah Palin could have done worse, but in the minds of people who were listening for the answers, she can only be described as doing awful. A perfect example is when responding to the question about when to use nuclear weapons, Palin responded at length about the dangers of the spread of nuclear weapons, but noticeably avoided any answer to the question. She managed to avoid the deer-in-the-headlights look (that was likely what she was feeling) by launching into reciting what she had been coached to say. The impression she left was one of someone who was clueless. Clueless on the use of nuclear weapons is a sad and dangerous state for someone who could end up commanding the most powerful nuclear force in the world. I don't want someone in that role who has apparently never given thought to when it is appropriate to use nucs.
All through the debate, Palin failed to find the meat. She is the model soccer mom, smiley and artificially cheerful, but she demonstrated that she doesn't belong in the race for the Whitehouse. She demonstrated that she has no mastery of any of the critical issues facing this country. She simply learned to lines and recited them before the camera.
Where Are We Now?
We are stuck with a loser. It is too late to dump Palin from the Republican ticket. To do so would leave the Party off balance and in trouble, yet the Party is in trouble. We have abandoned conservative principles in favor of big spending policies that support a powerful central government that intrudes into people lives and directs family affairs. As conservatives, we would look to the Constitution for guidance before we give the federal government power to control the lives of its citizens. As Republicans we have given the federal government more power over its citizens than at any time in history. We are running candidates that want to continue the big spending policies of that current administration and who advocate continuing transfer of wealth to the mega-corporations that have helped devastate our economy. We can't expect to get away with this. The stupidity exemplified by the selection of Sarah Palin as the Vice Presidential candidate signifies a hopeless departure from conservative politics in favor of new era religious right-wing Republican politics that will drive away thoughtful conservative and independent voters.
We should be ashamed of ourselves...
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To be lofted to power by desperate people is not a sign of greatness. - Jenny Jerrome
