And make me your Secretary of Education . . .
McCain locating a man of the people...
I can't say that I care for all of Luckovich's satire, but this political cartoon made me laugh out loud. Chiastically speaking, I'm not one of Sarah Palin's detractors, but I don't think that she's qualified to take over as president for McCain if the need should arise. David Brooks put it well:
Sarah Palin has many virtues. If you wanted someone to destroy a corrupt establishment, she'd be your woman. But the constructive act of governance is another matter. She has not been engaged in national issues, does not have a repertoire of historic patterns and, like President Bush, she seems to compensate for her lack of experience with brashness and excessive decisiveness.As Brooks says, "Experience matters" (International Herald Tribune, September 16, 2008). One might also want to check out Charles Krauthammer's article, "Palin's Problem" (Washington Post, September 5, 2008), for he makes a similar case that Palin lacks experience, which undermines McCain's strategy agains Obama:
McCain's strategy: Make this a referendum on Obama, surely the least experienced, least qualified, least prepared presidential nominee in living memory.My sense is that Palin gave McCain a boost in the polls, but some of that will fade, perhaps for the reason given by George Will in his recent article, "McCain's Closing Argument" (Washington Post, September 18, 2008):
Palin fatally undermines this entire line of attack. This is through no fault of her own. It is simply a function of her rookie status. The vice president's only constitutional duty of any significance is to become president at a moment's notice. Palin is not ready. Nor is Obama. But with Palin, the case against Obama evaporates.
Palin is as bracing as an Arctic breeze and delightfully elicits the condescension of liberals whose enthusiasm for everyday middle-class Americans cannot survive an encounter with one. But the country's romance with her will, as romances do, cool somewhat, and even before November some new fad might distract a nation that loves "American Idol" for the metronomic regularity with which it discovers genius in persons hitherto unsuspected of it.But should this romance fail to fade, we'd better hope that Palin is gifted in accumulating years of experience faster than anyone we've ever known.
Labels: John McCain, Sarah Palin
posted by Horace Jeffery Hodges @ 5:18 AM
19 comments
19 Comments:
I now recall reading the article by Charles Krauthammer re Sarah Palin.
We will get a better perspective when the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates take place.
Governor Palin seems to be a fast learner, and both Senator Obama and Governor Palin would have many advisors, whichever party wins the nomination. So the lack of experience is a problem on both sides. Only time will tell.
I am a McCain/Palin supporter, as their views are more in line with mine in regards to taxation, size of government, right to life issues, foreign and domestic policy, etc.
Whichever side wins, my duty is to support, obey and pray for our new president and vice-president.
(Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-17, for example).
In the event McCain wins, I will also pray for his health and at four years of vital life and intellectual capabilities.
Cran
I meant to say "at least four years..."
Cran
Dammit,
You know how to draw out the nutcases.
McCain should use his vast experience and nominate Charles Keating for Treasury Secretary, maybe the Federal Reserve.
I sure hope there's no Biblical reference to having convicted felons in high government positions.
In the offchance there is: please delete this before...
JK
It is a sin to remain silent, when it is your duty to protest.
Abe Lincoln
I realize since he didn't write it down 200 or so years after the "Big Fact" it's probably not a sin.
JK
Uncle Cran,in Obama's case, I'm more worried about his foreign policy positions . . . but I don't even know Sarah Palin's positions.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
JK, I think of Mark Twain's words:
"Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing."
Probably, this blog entry will draw some nutcases, for it's already drawing a lot of Google hits, but my words are rather innocuous, so maybe we'll be spared the haters.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Actually, I was referring to myself. Myself solely and only.
When I hit "comment" no other comments had yet appeared. Had there been comments-you would have been spared this particular self-admitted nutcase.
JK
Well, so long as it's merely self-irony because you're no nutcase . . . just a hard nut to crack no matter how big the nutcracker.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Cran,
Do you, or I, have a "duty" in any sense of the word?
How do you define duty? My sense is that we, the American People share duty. We send our sons, now our daughters, to share the costs of "duty."
Is it "God's Plan" to utilixe your understanding of God's Plan to advance "your interpretatation of God's will?"
I wonder. I inquire. I do know that I am not capable of discerning "God's Will" and yet I am forced to accept whatsoever Preachers' discernment of God's Will defines.
Except that...
Well since God is never wrong it follows that Preachers are never wrong.
I'm certain to bring forth the wrath, but really WTF.
One can never argue the merits with God. He of course is never wrong, it is after all God's Plan.
I don't recall the particulars (I only read the KJM seven times, cover to cover) but I seem to recall somebody saying, "Hey God, if I can find one Righteous Man, will you spare him?"
And so that guy Lot was discovered, admittedly he was sorely tested and his wife was turned to salt.
But.
I suspect, consider that I am more wrong than right. I conmsider that God's plan diifers significantly from my plan.
What do you think Cran?
If you do advise God, is there a possiblity that I can link to your site and enroll?
Also, I wouldn't interfere, but I would like to sit in on a board meeting.
JK
I am not an adviser to anyone.
Especially in regard to God, who keeps His own counsel.
The only things I have asked of God is to forgive me of my sins and take me to heaven when I leave this earth....and at times when I don't know what to do, to ask God to help me.
For instance, when I tried without help to quit smoking and lacked the will power, I prayed for help.
When the tornado devastated us in 1982, when our three boys wanted to go to higher education, and other situations, I prayed for help and wisdom.
My duty to government, I feel, is what is found in the passages referred to above: Pray for our leaders, pay my lawful debts, tribute (taxes), obey the laws of the land, love my neighbor, live a quiet and peacable life, respect for others, etc. My father, my brothers, myself, two of my sons have served in the military.
King David, before becoming king and fleeing from Saul, had an opportunity to slay him, and he said "God forbid that I lift up my hand against the Lord's anointed." I don't have to like who is elected president, but I am required to respect the office, and pray for those in authority.
There is a lot I don't understand about the Bible, and I'm not an authority on anything. But when I read the Bible, there are some clear instructions in the New Testament that aren't hard to understand. When we are told to do something, do it. When we are told not to do something, don't do it.
I don't think God holds board meetings to determine His will, beyond His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We can only do our best to seek His will. I know from experience that preachers can be and often are wrong, and are just as capable of sinning and falling as the next person. We try to do our best.
I can tell you have given this a lot of thought, from your questions.
Sorry I don't have all the answers.
I like to read your comments. They make a person think.
Regarding Lot's wife, a little boy came home from Sunday School, and was asked what they learned that day. He said he learned about Lot's wife. He said she was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night. We all get things a little mixed up sometimes, don't we?
Cran
Cran can certainly advise *me* any time. I appreciate his wisdom.
Uncle Cran, perhaps you can start up an online church. You've already gotten Kate Marie for the congregation, and if you can get her to cross denominational lines, then you're one helluva preacher.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
"I don't think that she's qualified to take over as president for McCain if the need should arise."
She's as qualified as the
Democratic Candidate for POTUS...let's be fair.
Krauthammer, Brooks, And Will are all establishment hacks more concerned about their jobs than who can run the nation. Their writings and rantings of the past year prove it.
I wouldn't give a dime for advice from the lot of them.
Daddio, neither one of them has much experience in foreign policy, though I think that Obama has more than Palin.
With Obama, however, I'm more concerned about his actual positions on foreign policy. For instance, he's taken a long time to acknowledge that the surge has worked in Iraq.
As for Krauthammer, Brooks, and Will, I guess that we'll just have to agree to disagree in our opinions about them.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Personally, I think the "experience/non-experience thingy is overplayed.
Some of our greatest leaders went into the office of POTUS wanting.
It's about character...and for me, McCain/Palin outshines the Democrat ticket by several billion candlepower in that category.
"Some of our greatest leaders went into the office of POTUS wanting."
Yes, like Jimmy Carter. Actually, I used to like him quite a lot, but seasons change and so did I.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Normally Daddio, I'd not do this:
Hoover vrs FDR?
Dubya vrs just about anyody I can think of.
Dubya told us he "got down on his knees everynight and..."
He told Cran he [Cran] could trust him [Dubya] as far as his taxes were concerned "safe with me."
On Friday, September 26th, 2008 we'll see how safe Cran's taxes are concerned. And really, whoever is elected his/her freedom of action is constrained by the Evangelical-get down on his knees everynight-Conservative GW.
In September of '03 (recall-after 9/11-you could spend $350 and buy 1ounce of gold-try that now-3 hots and a cot-unless of course you workedformerly for Goldman-Sachs),
gasoline was $1.94/gallon. Try that now.
Conservatives (and Liberals too for that matter) are swaggering around the idea that both are gonna lower taxes. Come Friday, September, 26, 2008 no matter what anyone says, Conservatives, Liberals, Paulistas, our personal taxes, our children's, or grandchildren's taxes are headed one-way.
Our taxes ain't gonna be headed for Hell.
Our taxes are headed for Heaven.
Of course that is if we agree Hell is down-Heaven is up.
If you don't agree, take your 03 coupons in to the grocery store and try to redeem them.
JK
Just for repeating's sake:
"It's about character"
Bush may actually be "the worst president in history". Time will tell.
But I do not regret my votes for him considering the alternatives.
Now, ask me if I regret HAVING to vote for him considering the circumstances!
Too bad Sarah wasn't running for POTUS in '00!
Getting down on one's knees asking for guidance sounds like a good idea, whether morning, noon or night.
I don't regret voting for President Bush, and I think that future historians will be kinder to him than current ones.
Has anyone here read the life of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, or a number of other presidents.
Some of the things said about them during their lifetime are just as bad as anything currently being said about President Bush.
Folks have short memories. That's why politicians say the things they do.
Gay's uncle Ray "Penny" Fore voted for whichever candidate for road commissioner (county judge) would promise to put a bridge across the road in front of his house. He always believed him, but never got that bridge in his lifetime.
Cran
Cran
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