Palins Under the Bus

I've come to the conclusion that Governor Sarah Palin is merely a pawn for the GOP and McCain. There doesn't seem to be another logical explanation for the fact that the McCain campaign picked a first term governor of a state with a population equal to that of El Paso, Texas, with little to no experience making executive decisions. The decision to tap Governor Palin, a self-professed conservative Christian, for the veep slot was exactly the spark that the GOP and McCain's campaign needed to ignite the evangelicals planning to sit out this race. As a mother of five, staunchly pro-life (even in the case of rape and incest), anti-gay rights and a huge proponent of offshore drilling and even drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve (a position that even John McCain is against), this is exactly the kind of attack dog that the Right craves. The McCain camp probably thought that by adding Palin to the ticket, they would kill three birds with one stone: Energize the evangelicals, make McCain look like a forward thinking "maverick," and pick up former Hillary Clinton voters who haven't yet committed to Barack Obama. It looks like yes, they have gotten the evangelicals/right-wingers on board, but whether McCain will look like a "maverick" and whether they will pick up a large bloc of former Clinton voters remains to be seen. Personally, as a Hillary supporter, I am insulted. Did Team McCain really think that "any woman will do?" That if I can't have say, filet mignon, that ramen noodles will do? Come on. I have yet to hear anything of substance from Sarah Palin that would even nominally compare to Hillary Clinton.

That said, it's funny that all these scandals about Sarah and the Palin family are tearing out of the floodgates in rapid succession. The McCain camp thought that Governor Palin would be a great power play, but instead, are finding out very quickly, that their "through vetting process" lacked significant depth. Consider: McCain only met Palin ONCE in February this year, before offering her the VP job on Thursday August 28th 2008. The decision was announced on Friday, August 29th. Following the weekend, bright and early on Monday morning, September 1st, it was revealed that Bristol Palin is 5 months pregnant. It was also revealed that Governor Palin who also styled herself a "maverick" that fiercely fought pork barrel spending, strongly supported the pork project: Bridge to Nowhere before she was forced by Congress to drop the project. According to Governor Palin:

I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves..

So essentially, she lied to reporters (and to McCain's Team of veep vetters, I'm assuming) when she told them that she did not support the Bridge to Nowhere. She was forced withdraw her support after the federal funds for the almost $400 million dollar project were pulled, and Alaska would have to pony up $329 million of the cost themselves. So much for the "reformist" governor.

So now with the McCain veep pick going to hell in a handbasket, and even conservative Republican analysts blasting McCain for his hasty and irrational decision, it remains to be seen whether McCain will drop Palin and pick someone else, or burn the Republican party in the November election. Personally, I think he has insulted the qualified women of his own party, such as Condoleeza Rice, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and even top advisor Carly Fiorina. As much as I HATE Condi, I have to admit that she is experienced, and ready to lead (in the wrong direction, but at least for the GOP, the "Right" direction). And Fiorina has actual executive experience as head of HP. Kay Bailey, I just like. No reason, really. She's just Texan. And as a Texan, I love Kay.

With the Palin family kids at the mercy of the GOP puppetmasters, and their ego-maniacal, self-aggrandizing and self-serving mother, whose got a taste of the good life, going from small town mayor to Alaska's governor, and now the historic VP nominee, I feel really bad for them, especially the teenage girls and the baby. Being a teenager ain't easy, and Mom's ambitious agenda isn't going to help the situation either.