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John McCain was aiming to make history with his pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and historians say he succeeded.
Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era.
So unconventional was McCain's choice that it left students of the presidency literally "stunned," in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. "Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who's of presidential caliber," said Goldstein.
"I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major party ticket in modern history," said presidential historian Matthew Dallek.
That includes Spiro T. Agnew, Richard Nixon's first vice president, who was governor of a medium-sized state, Maryland, for two years, and before that, executive of suburban Baltimore County, the expansive jurisdiction that borders and exceeds in population the city of Baltimore.
It also includes George H.W. Bush's vice president, Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle, who had served in the House and Senate for 12 years before taking office. And it also includes New York Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, who served three terms in the House before Walter Mondale chose her in 1984 as the first woman candidate on a major party ticket.
"It would be one thing if she had only been governor for a year and a half, but prior to that she had not had major experience in public life," said Dallek of Palin. "The fact that he would have to go to somebody who is clearly unqualified to be president makes Obama look like an elder statesman."
And Alaska is a much smaller state than Illinois, the political base of Barack Obama, whom Republicans have repeatedly criticized for being inexperienced, having served nearly four years in the U.S. Senate after eight in the Illinois state Senate. (Dare I add a lawyer compared to someone who holds only a B.S. from Idaho. A professor and Sarah Palin would be her student had she attended that law school).
"Not to belittle Alaska, but it's different than the basket of issues you deal with in big, dynamic states." Dallek said.
Palin has no experience in national office. Before becoming governor in December 2006, she served as a council member and mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, which had a population of slightly more than 5,000 during her time in office.
In choosing Palin as his running mate, McCain has reached back to a time when few actually seriously contended that the vice president should be demonstrably prepared to assume the presidency from day one.
If elected vice president, Palin would appear to have the least amount of experience in federal office or as a governor since John W. Kern, Democrat William Jennings Bryan's 1908 running mate, who had served for four years in the Indiana state Senate and then four more as city solicitor of Indianapolis. The Democratic ticket lost to Republican standard bearer William Howard Taft and running mate James S. Sherman by an Electoral College spread of 321-162.
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Comments: 63
Not to mention his campaigning for the presidency these past 11 months, Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004 from the State of Illinois winning 70% of the vote - in the 109th Congress he helped create legislation to control conventional weapons, promoted greater public accountability in the use of federal funds - he made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa - in the 110th congress he helped create legislation regarding lobbying and electrical fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism and care for returned u.s.military personnel - before the U.S. Senate he was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996 - there he gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming ethics and health care laws, sponsoring a law increasing tax credits for low income workers - he negotiated welfare reform and promoted increased subsidies for children, among many other things - before this he had ample grass-roots experience as a community organizer, including developing a church-based community organization of 8 catholic parishes in greater Roseland in Chicago - Crain's Chicago business newspaper named Obama to its 1993 list of "under 40" powers to be - a Harvard law graduate cum laude, teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago law school for 12 years, keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, and twice a best selling author.
To say that Palin, suddenly brought into the national limelight yesterday - who asked barely a month ago "what is it exactly that a vice-president does?" has the national and international know-how and expertise to be commander in chief if the situation arose, based on her 'executive' experience as two year governor of Alaska, is frankly, ludicrous.
B.S. Columbia..............................................B.S. Idaho
J.D. Harvard (President law Review)............NO GRADUATE DEGREE
Illinois State Senate 7 years........................Wasila (pop. 5000) Mayor
Professor of law...........................................NO PROFESSION (politician)
United States Senator 4 years.....................Governor 19 months
THE PROSECUTION RESTS BEFORE THE EVIDENCE FROM THE HISTORIANS.
Boo hoo hoo.
Okay, you're stealing my THUNDER!!!!!!!!!
I am WOMAN, hear ME roar!!!
That cuts it. I'm doing a few comments, then I'm off to do MY article!
Uh, just one . . . more . . . thing!!!
We're gonna have a funky good time!
This . . . is going to be a FUN election. McCain REALLY stepped in it this time.
I'm ROFL.
Hey Maceo! Maceo! Take it from the top! We're gonna have a funky good time. We gonna take it Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii yer!
Experience is over rated.
Lets talk about issues and policies.
How "sophisticated" is this woman? She now has to run a huge diverse modern nation and deal with the world, if need be.
If you can survive the Chicago media, you can survive the media anywhere. Obama's media success has little to do with luck as it does with skillful media mangement. Notice how Obama doesn't choke on interviews or speeches. He's big time and so is Joe Biden.
Palin is not ready for the big show and it will come out in the debates . I can see her vs. Joe Biden now and it won't be pretty.
BIG CREEPING DEAL!
WHO would survive in Alaska wildlife areas the longest -- the GREAT Governor of the State of Alaska, or my sister, Chris? I'll lay you odds on THAT one as well. My money is on my sister! I would place a second on my house for this one!
I'll lay you odds that the cream puff, compared to my Wildlife specialist sister, would get her butt whipped in these areas, just as surely as Hillary whips her (with Hillary's hands tied behind her back) in Politics.
Palin is NO BIG DEAL, especially when you place her in proper perspective
Palin and guns
Palin and experience
............and particularly
Palin and executive experience
I've never responded to anything like this before and have voted in every General Election for the past 48 years. I've never been as discouraged as this years choices until McCain added Sarah Palin to the ticket for the republican party. I have always voted republican but this time I'm eager to cast my ballot. I trust that it will be for the good of our Nation . I know it sure will upset the status of doing business in Wash. both on the economic and national deferse issue. Because I believe only John McCain is qualified to do the job of Pres. of the United States of American, and he has chosen one who will take direction and help get things done, wherever he sends her. I also believe he will have a cabinet that knows what to do and how to do it, just as Sarah Palin knows how to be an excutive and stand up for what is right.
Sarah Palin knows how to be an excutive and stand up for what is right.
You mean like trying to push creationism in the schools and getting her ex-brother-in-law fired?
When Bush subverted the legislative branch to gather unprecedented power to create imbalance in our government McCain did NOTHING. When Bush gave away oil leases and let royalty payments lapse McCain did NOTHING. By his slavish devotion to Bush's agenda, yesterday and today McCain forfits by default his qualification for office. John McCain is UNFIT for command.
I do not understand how any rational person can review the record of John McCain and conclude that he should be anywhere near the seat of power.
Margery Barnhill, Aug 30, 2008, 5:34pm EDT
And you base this blind trust on what? The fact that she is an American.
With 4 years as VP, she'll have even more experience than Obama. And then she can run for President. Cool.
Palin made her name in part by backing tough ethical standards for politicians. During the first legislative session after her election as governor, her administration passed a state ethics law overhaul. McCain will be seen as driving the course of this campaign overwhelmingly, and the DEMS will be seen as merely reacting. Palin is Team Obama’s worst nightmare , an impressive resume–way better than Obama, with a son in the Army (and McCain’s son in Iraq), she blows the “chickenhawk argument” out of the water.
Sarah Palin defeated a corrupt political system in Alaska, that was entrenched with specialist interests, powerful lobbyists and laundered money
- Sarah Palin has successfully fought to reduce wasteful government spending, including earmarks from Washington
- Sarah Palin has defended liberty and freedom by enforcing and promoting a strict interpretation of the constitution
- Sarah Palin has supported our soldiers at war and at home, including visiting them abroad
- Sarah Palin has fought to reform education in Alaska
- Sarah Palin has fought to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, and has encouraged the development of safe and clean energy sources in Alaska
Thanks for posting that Barbara. Now I understand why she is such a shining star in the repub party. She is a hypocrite. She is fighting for ethical standards while abusing her power...Troopergate.
Obama has done what exactly while in office of either Illinois or US Senate?
Obama has how many friends in Jail or federal criminal investigation?
At least she can be Palin has actually done something while in office. And troopergate is trumped up after her nomination, as it was dying until the Democrats saw she was asked to run for V.P.
How fucking retarded this crap is.
Shooting old men in the face.
Perhaps labeling her with names at this point is a bit presumptuous. The fact that McCain selected her with knowledge of the incident would indicate they feel it is a big to do about nothing. Still, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
You know, Lori, that guy had made death threats, On-duty DUI's, Alcohol Abuse, Using tasers unjustly, wife abuse, and a laundry list of other such actions. I think we should wait to see what an investigation might show.
AND... did you see this?
According to Lisa Demer at the Anchorage Daily News, the McCain campaign says Palin “was never directly involved” and blamed the controversy on the campaign of the Democratic nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
OR to use my favorite sports term, Sam C.:
TOUCHDOWN!
Time this dumb bubble somebody cynical who appointed her got popped. We have already suffered Bush the American.
1. She consolidates the rightwingnut political base=religeous fundies.
2. She's a woman.
3. She has very little to look back on and investigate, pro or con, so there's little to use against her.
4. (The real Carl Rove motive) It will cause everyone to compare her to Obama, as opposed to Biden, which will have the effect of causing Obama to run against the vive-Presidential pick, as opposed to the Rep. Presidential nominee, McCain.
5. Anyone argueing or debating against her will be cast as a big insider bully Goliath, being mean to a young spunky, starry-eyed, patriotic-all-American-Girl.
Will they now bring up the long, nasty case of Biden forging documents, and all the other skeletons tucked away in his closets?
Politics does bring about strange things.
Many of our greatest presidents had no formal education...at all:
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Jackson
William Harrison (no degree)
Zachary Taylor
Andres Johnson
Grover Cleveland
Harry Truman (no degree)
The list is endless of the men and women without the benefit of education, yet have done the greatest things, of the unselfish category, for the country. History books are full of those. Some of this country's greatest thinkers, inventors and statesmen did not have degrees. AND, some with the longest list of degrees have been the most absymal failures and disappointments.
The president's with the most impressive educational resumes have been the ones who get labled : Dumb, stupid, crooks, uninformed and chastisesd for a list of degrees, and accused of still knowing nothing......according to some.
Any obsession with the level of formal education is interesting in todays politics where politicians are surrounded by the highest level of experts and advisors and information is instantly at their fingertips. You don't get National Security knowledge and experience from sitting on the Senate floor, or the courage to be an independent thinker, mover and shaker, and unafraid to stand up to corruption. She has 13 years as a political "Reformer" --- she can boast much more political and life experience than Obama. And... isn't it odd, that in this election, the comparison seems to concentrate on the experience of Obama, as the first person on the Dem ticket versus Sarah Palin, the VP on the Rep ticket? It's as if Obama is running against Palin, whereas before, he was always running against Bush, a man not even running as a candidate this time. That's what provides McCain the freedom and overwhelmimg power to drive this campaign.
The vision, hands on experience and many other valauable characteristics of a candidate are also important considerations in selecting a person for this job.
Sarah Palin is a truly rare individual -- Her upcoming TV bio, at the Republican convention will focus on the person she is.
Perhaps labeling her with names at this point is a bit presumptuous. The fact that McCain selected her with knowledge of the incident would indicate they feel it is a big to do about nothing. Still, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
You know, Lori, that guy had made death threats, On-duty DUI's, Alcohol Abuse, Using tasers unjustly, wife abuse, and a laundry list of other such actions. I think we should wait to see what an investigation might show.
AND... did you see this?
According to Lisa Demer at the Anchorage Daily News, the McCain campaign says Palin “was never directly involved” and blamed the controversy on the campaign of the Democratic nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
Barbara L., Aug 31, 2008, 2:34am EDT
So Barbara it is too early to be so critical of her then shouldnt it be too early, since lets face it none of us know anything about her, to be singing her praises and labeling her the best thing since sliced bread?
As for McCain statements, he picked her because she was an attractive woman. I would be highly offended if I were her.
Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Jackson
William Harrison (no degree)
Zachary Taylor
Andres Johnson
Grover Cleveland
Harry Truman (no degree)
OK name someone in the last 80 years.....times change and politics change with it.
Now flip to this century. This would not be possible. Times change.
For months, the McCainiacs have said they will run on his judgment and experience. In his first presidential decision, John McCain has shown that he is willing to endanger the country, potentially leaving it in the hands of an ideologue who simply has no business being a heartbeat away from the most powerful, complicated, difficult job in human history.
And, if I were one of the many truly qualified women in the party who paid her dues and has played on the national stage and got passed over for a woman with former beauty pageant contestant on her resume by a man who can't seem to keep his eyes off her booty, I would be highly offended.
230 years ago our founders gave us a government with the understanding that we must keep it safe and secure. Every 4 years we are tasked to insure we hold to our responsibility to our flag and our national promise and prove WE are worthy of the great efforts and sacrfice of our ancestors. We FAILED in this duty by electing Bush as President. Failed again in electing a Repub congress which assisted Bush in dismantling the checks and balance of the co-equal branches and violating our most fundemental principals of habeous corpus and torture. We failed again in re-electing Bush. We have redeemed our patriotism, honor and common sense only partially by electing Dems who have limited power and to helped staunch the hemmoraging of American principals and rights. Our greatest test is upon us, the true test of whether THIS generation will defend the hope of the great American experiment, "that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth."
We must not fail again. John McCain is UNFIT for command.
Obama's ads are keeping the focus where it belongs. McCain may have picked Palin but his real running mates are really Bush/Cheney/Rove. McCain may be Bush only even dumber.
For anyone trying to assert that Palin has more or equivalent experience to Obama:
Not to mention his campaigning for the presidency these past 11 months, Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004 from the State of Illinois winning 70% of the vote - in the 109th Congress he helped create legislation to control conventional weapons, promoted greater public accountability in the use of federal funds - he made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa - in the 110th congress he helped create legislation regarding lobbying and electrical fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism and care for returned u.s.military personnel - before the U.S. Senate he was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996 - there he gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming ethics and health care laws, sponsoring a law increasing tax credits for low income workers - he negotiated welfare reform and promoted increased subsidies for children, among many other things - before this he had ample grass-roots experience as a community organizer, including developing a church-based community organization of 8 catholic parishes in greater Roseland in Chicago - Crain's Chicago business newspaper named Obama to its 1993 list of "under 40" powers to be - a Harvard law graduate cum laude, teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago law school for 12 years, keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, and twice a best selling author.
To say that Palin, suddenly brought into the national limelight yesterday - who asked barely a month ago "what is it exactly that a vice-president does?" has the national and international know-how and expertise to be commander in chief if the situation arose, based on her 'executive' experience as two year governor of Alaska, is frankly, ludicrous.
As for the quote that is supposed to be a killer on Palin - she was trying to throw them off the trail. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would know that. (Is that as rude as referring to someone's post as silly... I'm trying to decide)
How could someone vote for him, knowing that she could take over. Seriously (OMG) that is so insane.
Sorry, Shelly. As used in the context above, there is no difference. The two words are synonyms.
Your nose is growing, girl. You've been attacking Obama and defending McCain for a lot longer than a couple of days.
If elected McCain said that a VP's duty should be to keep quiet and attend state funerals. Palin should do nicely.