Vote '08

Meet Sarah Palin, Alaska’s current Governor.

There is a movement afoot to have her on John McCain’s ticket. Check out what two Vote08 commenters have to say:

“4bob” quotes another comment from some other blog somewhere, addressing McCain:

First and foremost, Sarah Palin shares your values. She killed the bridge to nowhere. Need we say more?

As for the politics, Sarah Palin transcends geography. Her constituency, like yours, goes beyond state lines.

She will get your ticket access to voters all over the country based on who she is and what she stands for. Because she’s young, a woman, a mother with young kids, she will grab media attention more than any other potential candidate.

Gov. Palin also has a son in the active duty military. You have very wisely taken your son’s service in Iraq off the table as a campaign talking point. That is and should be respected. But others can talk about it and reflect on what it means.

A McCain-Palin administration would be the first in memory which has family members in uniform during wartime from both the President and Vice President. That would be a powerful statement as to the importance of national service, especially in uniform.

Most importantly, any Vice President should be ready to step up and serve in the event she is needed. Frankly, who is really ever ready? Gov. Palin is as ready as anybody, she is a quick learner, and in her public career has exhibited the courage and decisiveness needed for a great leader.

Godspeed to you in your campaign and in making this important decision.”

& “Ted” writes

“Mac Pick Palin Veep BEFORE Hil Campaigns w/Obama!

In addition to her overwhelming attraction on the oil/energy issue and the female/disaffected Hillary voters, her human interest story will generate millions and millions of dollars worth of publicity and media coverage — essentially free to the McCain campaign — more than offsetting Obama’s reported money advantage.”

Both of these comments show astuteness & there is definitely an advantage.

For one, Palin was named (by Alaska magazine, but still, what an honor) “America’s Hottest Governor:”

One (minor) issue: she just gave birth to a boy whom she & her husband named “Trig.” Trig?

The Politico looks at three women, including Palin, who McCain might pick for the ticket. In my view, Palin is by far the best candidate if these are the 3 choices.

Here’s Sarah Palin’s official website.

Here’s a blog dedicated to getting Palin on the GOP ticket. The blogger’s latest post on the Politico article linked above is worth quoting here as he counters the arguments against Palin on the ticket quite deftly:

1. She is “too unkown and inexperienced”.
This argument could be made for almost any potential VP candidate. I don’t hear anyone complaining about Charlie Crist’s lack of experience, despite the fact that he and Palin were both elected in 2006. In fact, Palin was elected to her first office (city council) in 1988, four years before Crist’s first election as a State Senator in 1992. Furthermore, I doubt that the average man on the street knows the names Tim Pawlenty, Bobby Jindal, and Tom Ridge. Hence, this criticism is totally irrelevant.

2. “She is not only based far from the continental 48 — and in a state with just three electoral votes that should already be in the bag for the GOP”.
The Vice Presidency is about leadership, not geography, and this argument is an insult to every American who lives in a small state. However, I would also point out that Alaska could become a swing state this year, and Obama is also targeting other Northwestern red states. Please read my recent column, “The Geographic Argument for Palin“, for a detailed description of why the current electoral map requires John McCain to select a Northern (and preferably Northwestern) running mate.

3. “No foreign policy credentials or experience.”
Again, this is a blatant example of a double standard being applied to Palin. Gov. Palin has the same level of foreign policy gravitas as almost every other Governor. Tim Pawlenty, Charlie Crist, Bobby Jindal, Mitt Romney, Mark Sanford, and Mike Huckabee are all lacking in the foreign policy department, and no one is criticizing them for it. John McCain has foreign policy gravitas spilling out his ears, and it is not what he needs in a running mate. However, as this election will likely be won or lost at the gas pump, he does need someone with gravitas on oil and gas issues. [my emphasis added - Vote08] Gov. Palin, being from Alaska, is one of the country’s leading voices on such issues, a mantle which no other governor can claim.

McCain definitely needs a “WOW” kind of a pick, & in many respects Palin would fit the bill. In my view her age - 44 - is the biggest drawback, in the same way Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal’s (36) is.

What do you think?

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