McFibber's Judgement

Good editorial in today's New York Times.

At the heart of it, the selection of Gov. Who? as McFibber's running mate reflects a profound lack of judgement of his part. It's not Who?'s problem that she's only 20 months from being the mayor of a small town in Alaska, and unprepared to assume the office of President if necessary. She didn't select herself (although she has a nutty belief that she can do the job with a total lack of preparation). It's McFibber's hideous judgement and cynicism that is reflected in passing over so many qualified running mates.

"A Disastrous Mayor"

Less than 2 years ago, Sarah "Who?" Palin was the part-time mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, population 8,400. As Andrew Sullivan notes in The Atlantic, her terms as mayor were a disaster for the town: project cost overruns, botched land acquisition, and leaving a town that was without debt when she started to one having $19 million in long-term debt ($3,000 per resident of Wasilla) when she left to become Governor.

What is so troubling about her designation as the McSame running mate is not so much Who?'s lack of credentials - - that's not her fault, and she may end up being a successful governor of Alaska. It's McSame's recklessness and cynicism in picking her over many, many more qualified candidates (including at least 20 women*) in the way that he did simply to rev-up the evangelical base and sway some Hillary voters. He had met her only once before, and she was only interviewed in detail the day before her designation. He wants to put her a heartbeat away from the presidency, and that speaks volumes not about her unfitness, but about McSame's.

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*For starters, Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Elizabeth Dole, and Olympia Snowe, Govs. Jodie Rell and Linda Lingle, and former business executive Carly Fiorina are often mentioned.

(photo: Wasilla City Hall and bakery shop)

Who Vetted St. John McBungle?

Listening to CBS Radio News this morning, it's becoming clear that despite the media's initial obsession with Sarah "Who?" Palin's daughter's situation, the real stories are found in Palin's abuse of authority in the "Troopergate" saga, and, more strangely, in her confirmed membership in a nutbag outfit called the "Alaska Independence Party," about which we blogged yesterday. News organizations and blogs are on this story, and found this quote from the Alaska Independence Party's founder: "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions." Gov. Who? might want to have an answer for why she was a member of that "party."

And speaking of answers, we would all be interested in St. John McBungle's explanation of why his campaign started serious vetting of Who? after her selection to be his running mate, and what he thinks the American people should make of his judgement and steadiness. In the most important decision in his campaign, he was impulsive, shallow and arrogant, by passing over many more qualified candidates. Maybe McBungle wasn't vetted enough either.

"Putting Country Last"

The Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan has a blog item that everyone should read in the aftermath of John McAncient's pick of Sarah "Who?" Palin as VP nominee. Think about McAncient's judgement in selecting someone who was mayor of a town of 8,400 people just 2 years ago to be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office. The list goes on, but points to one conclusion about McAncient: he's "Putting Country Last."

Also, did the McAncient campaign fail to vet Palin's "Troopergate" scandal? What does that say about his judgement?

(photo: "Thanks, grandpa. Remember to take your medications today. I'm not quite ready for the top job")

AP photo/Sato