Throwing in the towel

John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin is embarrassing and will not end well for the candidate or the party. For those of you, like me, who have never heard of her before, here are the basics: The Alaskan governor is a 44-year old mother of 5 who has 2 years on the job, prior to which she was the mayor of a town of 7,000 (and served on an Oil board). Previous experience include: Sports Reporter, beauty pageant winner, owner of an outdoor sports equipment company, and owner of a fishing company.

I’m guessing the “experience” meme is no longer important to McCain. In fact, this pick is so unbelievable because the central attack on Obama was that he wasn’t ready to lead on day one. I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that America really doesn’t want to rely on a 72-year old president with a history of cancer and possibly dementia with only a 44-year old Vice President who has no experience in foreign policy, agricultural policy, urban policy, or any of the other issues that are important to the ENTIRE nation as his backup.

This pick is also entirely illogical in the sense that she also risks alienating the very independents that McCain so needs to have any hope in November with her virulently crazy views about creationism and abortion. McCain of 2006 was the guy who was considered “moderate” on abortion and women’s rights. Hiring Palin is the final nail in that coffin and I have a feeling that his now party line conservativism won’t float well with the true independents.

Furthermore, she doesn’t have a squeaky clean image. While she has campaigned as an outsider and a reformer, it’s worth noting that she’s currently under investigation for corruption for allegedly trying to get her former brother in law fired from his job as a state trooper in retribution for his custody fight with her sister.

And if that’s not enough, she’s in bed with big oil which doesn’t seem like such a hot idea in an election year when big oil is under attack as gas prices spike. (It will be interesting to see what McCain does with ANWAR. She’s in favor of drilling while he is, as of today, opposed.)

And did I mention that she’s from Alaska?

Some people are calling this a Hail Mary but a Hail Mary implies you have a chance. I’m calling it a capitulation. Because you don’t pick a nobody with no experience from a nothing state if you are serious about winning. In fact, the only reasonable explanation is that McCain thinks that women will vote for a women simply because she’s a woman. And that’s got to be the low point in this campaign.

Earlier I said “game, set, match”. Now I’d like to repeat a favorite line from Die Hard: “The Quarterback is toast!”

Update: Did I mention that a month ago she said she didn't even know what the VP did? Watch for yourself as she states that she wouldn't accept the job until someone told her what it involved. Way to go McSamey!