It’s unfortunate that in his choice of Sarah Palin as running mate, John McCain has yet again demonstrated his willingness to continue the Bush administration’s tradition of choosing political expediency over what is best for the country.
No one is going to believe what I’m about to say. (I wish I’d blogged it.) I predicted McCain would pick a female running mate. From a political point of view it was entirely foreseeable. Today’s Republicans can not possibly win on the issues. This has been true for quite a while. They have won using political tactics. Seen in this light, McCain’s tactic of choosing a right-wing female vice presidential candidate is obvious. He is playing catch-up to the Democrats. Given the historic events that have unfolded vis-a-vis Clinton and Obama (who just happened to be two great candidates), can you actually see him up there with another white man?
Gail Collins said it much better (and it was much funnier) in the Times.
Has McCain forgotten that the purpose of the vice president goes beyond helping him convince disaffected Hillary supporters and Christian extremists to vote for him? McCain would be 81 at the end of a second term and his health has been questionable. Do we really need to risk having another president with no demonstrable understanding of foreign affairs who views the world through a prism of religious fundamentalism? Been there, done that.
