McCain made clear on ABC-TV's This Week that Sarah Palin could not count on his support for the 2012 Republican nomination. Many social and media conservatives, who never were sold on McCain because of his maverick stands on various issues, were delighted with the Palin pick and made it clear she was their favorite. Furious at what they regard the unchivalrous treatment of Palin by McCain campaign staffers, particularly the unflattering post-election leaks. they have made McCain the target of their contempt, knowing any critical McCain comments regarding Palin would be a double-edged sword, putting his own judgment into question for picking her.
I've already discussed my judgment of Palin elsewhere, and I really think it was Palin's anti-corruption, reformist, bipartisan credentials, not her gender or baby Trig, that sold McCain on Palin. In my own posts, I considered gender to be a relevant factor, but I was looking at more experienced women like Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson. But just as Dan Quayle wasn't the second most qualified person to be President after George H.W. Bush, and Clarence Thomas wasn't the most brilliant and experienced jurist available for the Supreme Court opening during the first Bush term, Sarah Palin, with no federal, foreign policy, or military experience, little grasp of the issues underlying the financial tsunami, and just 2 years of governing one of the least-populated states, is a hard sell as a legitimate Presidential contender on her own merits and would be unable to hold her own against a highly articulate Mitt Romney or Bobby Jindal. And even if she decided to pursue the dubious privilege of taking on an incumbent Harvard-trained Barack Obama, her primary opponents would almost certainly bring up the embarrassing Wasilla earmarks, Palin's deliberate mischaracterization of her involvement with the Gravina Island bridge (the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere"), and her embarrassing interview clips summarized in earlier posts.
McCain, by pointing out a stable of highly-capable GOP governors, was essentially damning Palin with faint praise, although he acknowledged her positive contributions as a running mate. But he was aware that she had a net unfavorable rating and cost him a number of independent and moderate voters (like Republican Colin Powell). Many of these votes were initially positive towards Palin, but she lost them with her performances. I'm not saying Palin cost McCain the election; I think the financial tsunami and Obama's financial ability to outspend McCain in each battleground state had more to do with the outcome. (I have a special post outlining a number of factors contributing to McCain's loss.)
Mexican Playboy Robed Maria
A currently licensed version of Playboy in Mexico shows model Maria Florencia Onori, nude but covered with a white robe except for a partial glimpse of her left breast. Published days before the Immaculate Conception holy day of obligation for Catholics and days later by the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the robe, the model's name and the phrase "Te adoramus, Maria", the magazine was intentionally provocative, and Playboy issued a gratuitous apology, claiming no intent to evoke the memory of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, saying they were sorry if any Christian was offended. As a Catholic, I reject the "apology"; this was a deliberate attempt to sell a men's magazine by creating a controversy.
RNC Raising Obama-Blagojevich Questions
US Attorney Fitzgerald made it clear that has been no evidence to date that disgraced Illinois Democratic Governor Blagojevich found any willingness of the Obama team to cut a deal over Obama's former Senate seat. The RNC should avoid any appearance it's trying to politically exploit the charges against the governor. Democrats, never mind Republicans, were looking for ways to get rid of Blagojevich months before the governor's arrest last week.
Obama New Cabinet Picks
Obama continues his eclectic combination of choices for his upcoming cabinet and administration, including another senator (Ken Salazar, D-CO) as Secretary of the Interior, a government Nobel-winning scientist, Steven Chu, as Secretary of Energy, and Carol Browner, another Clinton administration retread (former EPA chief), as energy czar. I'm not sure how running a national lab translates to the political nature of running a cabinet level post, but Chu, well-known in the field of alternative energy, seems, at least on the surface, to shake things up a bit. I'm not happy that the Obama team is underplaying the need for offshore oil exploration, is raising unrealistic expectations for the rapid implementation of solar energy and alternative fuels and is ignoring the need to ramp up nuclear power plants as part of our power mix.
SNL's Bad Taste of Humor
Fred Armisen's mockery of NY Democratic Governor Paterson's blindness established a new benchmark of bad taste. This is different than, say, Chevy Chase's bumbling portrayal of President Gerald Ford, whom among other things did have a reputation for stumbling and doing things like eating a tamale with its corn husk still attached. I am unaware of the governor being known for doing the types of things portrayed in the skit. This is hardly a First Amendment issue. I can hear people swear on the street every day; I don't need to pay money for some journeyman comedian to "shock" me with bad language. Even if the First Amendment permits you the right to act as if you were an obnoxious fourth-grader doesn't mean you should. I suspect Governor Paterson and I disagree on a number of political issues, but I'm very appreciative of his ability to reestablish the honor of the office after the disgraceful actions of former Governor Spitzer and for his living proof and example of how people overcome physical disabilities and contribute to the well-being of society.
