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Go Home Sarah Quaylin

POLITICS SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

Sarah Quaylin

BY JONATHAN CHAIT

Ever since John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, I’ve gotten confused about all the reasons I’m supposed to dislike Barack Obama. The previous reasons, in rough chronological order, were his lack of experience, his empty rhetoric, his flip-flopping, and his “celebrity.” But Palin has made each one of those critiques moot. The “celebrity” attack on Obama has a particularly Dada quality right now as starstruck Republicans bask in the charisma of their adorable veep. (Coldest state, hottest governor, read signs at her rallies.) With her hunky husband, touching family life and plucky personal story, she is the candidate of the People. And by People, I mean People magazine.



The flip side for Republicans of losing most of their attack lines was supposed to be a series of virtues Palin would bring to the ticket: She’s a reformer, a steadfast opponent of earmarks, a proponent of transparency and clean government. Subsequent reporting has revealed that Palin embodies the precise opposite of every one of these virtues. She appointed unqualified cronies, abused her power to punish personal enemies, and has displayed a Cheney-esque passion for government secrecy. Her boast of having put the state airplane on eBay was undermined by subsequent revelations that she failed to actually sell it on eBay.



The swift disintegration of Palin’s anti-pork credentials has been especially amusing. After initially casting Palin as a dedicated foe of earmarks, and then having it revealed that she asked for and received enormous sums of earmarked projects, the McCain campaign has fallen back to the defense that she requested fewer earmarks than other Alaska pols. This is true: Even though Palin took ten times the national per capita average in earmarked spending, in this regard she still rates somewhat below average by the standards of the petro-kleptocracy of the state from which she hails. Yet this defense raises the question of why Ted Kennedy never thought to run for president on the slogan “He Never Took a Drink In His Life,” and then, when challenged, point out that other members of his family are less sober than he.



The main complaint against Palin has been her lack of experience. That’s fortunate for her, since “experience”--especially measured in a linear way--fails to capture exactly what Palin lacks. Yes, two years as governor is less than you’d like, as is four years as senator. The real problem, though, is that Palin has no record of thinking about national or international policy. Bobby Jindal, another Republican veep contender, has barely more experience than Palin, but he is a respected policy intellectual. Pat Buchanan ran for president without ever having served in elective office, but he had engaged more deeply than most presidential candidates in policy questions.



Engagement, not experience, is the difference between Palin’s qualifications and Obama’s. Obama has a longstanding interest in national and (to a lesser extent) international issues, and has answered questions on all those issues in extensive detail. Palin has dealt almost exclusively with parochial issues in a wildly atypical state. (Her fiscal experience, which consists of divvying up oil lucre, offers better preparation to serve as president of Saudi Arabia than the United States.) It’s possible Palin has harbored a long-standing, secret passion for policy wonkery, but the few signs available thus far--her convention speech that spelled out “new-clear weapons,” her evident lack of familiarity with the term “Bush Doctrine”--suggest otherwise. The Republican intelligentsia is frantically tutoring her while they run out the clock until November 4.



In lieu of opening Palin to regular questioning from the press corps, of the sort the other three candidates have all undergone many times before, the McCain campaign is helpfully leaking positive appraisals of her studiousness. “Despite the worries, [Palin] struck many campaign officials as more calm and cerebral than expected,” reported Newsweek. “She was quick to ask questions, and to ‘engage in a back and forth’ with briefers.” See, the McCain campaign says she’s on the ball. That settles it, right?



But, somewhere in the recesses of my mind, this admiring appraisal of the prospective veep’s intellect struck a familiar chord. With a quick search, I discovered that, indeed, the same was said of Dan Quayle in 1988. Twenty years ago, The Washington Post reported, “Bush aides, who were getting their first in-depth exposure to Quayle, were impressed by his attention span, the quality of his questions and the facility with which he moved through the agenda.”



Other parallels stood out as well. Conservatives received Quayle’s selection rapturously. L. Brent Bozell pronounced himself “ecstatic,” and Jerry Falwell called the surprise pick “a stroke of genius.” After a media frenzy, Quayle’s speech was well-received. The convention hall burst into cheers of “We want Dan!” NBC anchor Tom Brokaw said that Quayle executed “flawlessly,” and CBS’s Bruce Morton called it “a good speech.”



Questions about Quayle’s readiness remained, but he did his best to turn them into elite condescension toward small town America. Quayle, in his acceptance speech, spoke movingly about the small towns in Indiana where he had grown up, and later disparaged Dukakis for “sneer[ing] at common sense advice, Midwestern advice.”



Today, Quayle is remembered as a disaster. But, during the campaign, his supporters believed that media skepticism of Quayle had rallied ordinary Americans to his side. Dukakis “looks down on his fellow Americans. He looks down on Bush and Dan Quayle as--in his word--‘pathetic,’ ” wrote right-wing columnist Michael Novak. “Thus, the ‘feeding frenzy’ of the press in New Orleans stirred a national backlash. It united all the scorned of America as one.”



Conservatives are saying the same things about Palin. “Elite opinion,” insisted McCain strategist Steve Schmidt, “looks down with contempt at people who are not part of their world.” As Palin herself said, “If you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone.” To the right, the mere fact that the press questions her fitness proves that she is one of them.



As the original rationales for Palin melt away, this bond has become unshakable. Her lack of qualifications turns out to be her greatest qualification.



Jonathan Chait is a senior editor of The New Republic.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

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291 comments

Hello, 4 years as a US Senator? Try 147 days before he went full time on the Hope and Change Campaign trail. I am in shock...the american media so invested in their own opinion and self invovlement they are missing the bigger picture. America is rejecting the false prohpecy of the OMessiah.

- Barry Hussein Soetoro

September 19, 2008 at 12:43am

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Palin's qualifications to be one heartbeat away from the presidency are roughly equivalent to Obama's qualifications to be one heartbeat away from the vice presidency.

- namancon

September 19, 2008 at 12:49am

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Okay, let's say she's a Quayle. He was on the winning ticket against Dukakis. Do you recall that?

- MaxMBJ

September 19, 2008 at 1:04am

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so glib

- lee

September 19, 2008 at 1:09am

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Let me spell it out for you Jonathan. Like Obama, she is young, atypical (read: not a white male), attractive, energetic, an excellent public speaker and beloved by the base. Like Obama, she lacks experience. Unlike Obama, she is asking for the job after eight and a half years of preparation at the highest level. He wants it in four months. Also unlike Obama, she sacrificed a $122,000 per year position on principal, took on the established powers and reformed her state. He is a machine politician that has never challenged his party on anything and never will. Rather than critique her lack of "policy wonkery", why don't you just come out and say it: she did not go to Harvard or Yale, she's never spoken at the Aspen Institute, she probably wouldn't know anyone in the Hamptons, her kids have never been anywhere near St. Albans, you've never seen her at Davos and like, no way would they ever let her in to Renaissance Weekend. Fortunately for us all, the Constitution sets no such criteria for the VP.

- Lance Entrekin

September 19, 2008 at 1:25am

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The Palin smear bounce towards Obama has already peaked and you're a bit late to the party. Your rehashing of old, discredited talking points already seems a bit dated. The smears have already reached critical mass and are beginning to look silly. Palin is calmly beginning to slice through the smears. People are beginning to see the disconnect between the disdain in the media/left and what they actually see in front of their eyes. Green Bay should be a pretty good place for the backlash to get into full-swing. Come join the festivities! With the McCain/Palin ticket only down 1 point in WI...this could mark the turning point.

- cport

September 19, 2008 at 1:25am

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And you're a fair minded journalist? Let's see, Bill Ayers, Rev Wright, ACORN(MSM not mentioning that investigation), Fredie and Fannie money, community organizer,Resco, his wife hates whitey, corrupt Chicago political machine, no experience, flip flopper on everything from primary, went on a world tour to show he has foreign policy, lost all remaining primaries after Wright info came out and yes, did I forget to mention he's black? Why would you be comparing the Republican VP pick to Obama the Presidential candidate? I'm ashamed to be a Democrate when the person I can't stand most in the party, Biden is picked by Obama as his VP. So we've got an unexperienced black guy and a bigot running together. I'd say that will hand it to Senator McCain and the Gov of Alaska. Too bad, it would have been so easy with Hillary on the ticket. Career politicians, like all the Senators running for President should be a clear sign to Americans that reform is what's needed in Washington not more Joe Bidens and John McCains. Term limits now!!!!!!!!

- Fem Dem

September 19, 2008 at 1:29am

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Therein lies a major, major difference between the Palin "experience" and the Obama "lack of experience", the interest in and engagement of national and international affairs. Since we have seen and heard more from Palin, the only sense you get is that she says what she is supposed to say nothing more, nothing deeper, and nothing more substantive. Of course, as a hockey mom raising five kids, where could she have found the time to study politics and foreign affairs? Obama, on the other hand, is well read and presents a depth of knowledge of our political history and national affairs sufficiently well to compete on this national stage. More importantly, he is "egaged" and genuinely wants to bring change for a better America. Unfortunately, it will require those who are comfortable with the power to step aside. Final comment: McCain's pick of Palin was reckless.

- mvc

September 19, 2008 at 1:36am

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Yes, but wasn't Dan Quayle in his second term as a U.S. senator? There is a precident for a first term Governor running for President. Thomas Dewey ran against FDR in 1944. As far as I know there has never been anyone run for President with less than two years of Legislative or Military Experience. And oh by the way Sarah Palin is running for Vice President and she is just as experienced as someone who was running for President. So far nobody can find anyone with as little credentials as Barack. Please let me know if you do. One thing the media tends to overlook is that no matter how you cut it a Senator is not an executive and is not in a huge position of responsibility. This is why Obama can vote straight party lines without being scrutinized (until he decides to run for Pres. - but even then not really), where as Bush has everyone and their Mom criticizing him and giving him advice. The media is in a position of reporting (though mostly criticizing). They are not leaders anddo not understand the caliber of a person that it takes to be a leader. It is far easier to manage any task once you have developed leadership qualities. These qualities come from experience.Please name one good President who did not have a ton of legislative experience or a ton of leadership experience.You could say Kennedy resume was weak, but he came from a family of leaders and was a community leader. Lincoln had debated issues for years and had numerous legislative terms prior to his presidency. Even with that he second guessed himself a lot which is not a great characteristic for a leader. It is easy to sit back and pick apart things that are wrong it is far harder to step into that position because you inevitably have some holes as well. I can tell you everything that is wrong with the New York Jets football team. Probably with more clarity than their coaches. I may even think I could do a better job. But I don't think they would be very wise to let me coach the team. How many managers and coaches haven't been entrenched in football for years before getting their first job. Now we are going to hand over the presidential keys to someone with not enough experience to run a sports team. That would be like hiring Bob Costas to coach the Eagles. He is a great analyzer, but I don't think he knows how to run a team or gain the respect of the players. Oh and by the way he has been involved in covering football for 20 years. Its like hiring a comedian to run for Senator - wait never mind. Woe to us if we elect Obama.

- Jeremy

September 19, 2008 at 1:37am

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Ever since FDR died, we have heard this same mantra from the press. Truman; stupid hick. Eisenhower; stupid compared to Stevenson. Ford; plain clumbsy and stupid Reagan; plain stupid. And what have we got in return for the media's poison pens? Kennedy wins in 1960 by the votes of a few dead men in Chicago; LBJ rides the coattails of an assassinated Kennedy and then bails in '68. Ford only loses because he pardoned Nixon. We might like to see a Democratic President, but the smarmy press, through articles like this one, manage to repel the electorate time after time into the arms of Republicans and a few straggling Democrats from former slave states. The last northern Democrat to actually win the presidency without cheating was FDR. We would like to see another one, but with condescending, insulting friends like Chait, Obama is probably doomed to join all the other effete and nattering nabobs of the north: i.e. Democrat losers.

- Mark McLemore

September 19, 2008 at 1:45am

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Every time you chattering class nimrods write mocking articles about Sarah Palin you only make me like her more. Keep it up, you're helping us Republicans win this thing - more easily. I look forward to November 5 when you're all crying and hugging it out and wondering how oh why could you have lost AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN... because you nominated left wing extremists... duh.

- You only make me liker her more

September 19, 2008 at 1:54am

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Jonathan Chit see? i can do it too. man,the liberal media hates women. who knew?

- KK

September 19, 2008 at 1:56am

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Of all the of the wall tags that was invented after McCain picked Sarah Palin, I think the comaprison to Dan Quayle was the most confusing and best example of sexism. Dan Quayle was the prettyboy VP-candidate whose name became synonymous with stupid after a couple of misspeak and an infamous spelling error. Palin had not said a word, not even held her well received acceptance speech when the Quayle-comparison was thrown at her for no apparent reason. Commenting his opponent Biden, a proud member of the old boy network, said Palin was better looking than him. Another sexist remark from a guy known to put a foot in his mouth. Biden is wrong too: He looks very good, and if you look at the Biden record of misspeaks it's puzzling Biden is not the VP-pick media compare with Quayle.

- Sylvia Johnsen

September 19, 2008 at 2:21am

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Wow- so true. I can't believe that Republicans were so stupid as to pick someone who only arrived on the national stage after a single convention speech, who came from a state run by a corrupt party, who has NO foreign policy experience, and never had the courage to challenge the party hacks or take a stand that might be unpopular ...Oh wait. What ever happened to the brilliant people who ran President Dukakis's campaign? Idiot. She has accomplished more in the last two years than anyone who will comment on this article, and of course this irrelevant scribbler that will be forgotten long before people forget the first Female Vice President and President of the United States.

- Mark M.

September 19, 2008 at 2:27am

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Your point about engagement over experience is well-taken. However, your willingness to accept and restate so many available distortions about Palin's record undermines the credibility of the column.

- Renascent

September 19, 2008 at 2:38am

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Jonathan, The lame Dan Quayle comparisons came out 3 weeks ago. Where ya been?

- Tikitak

September 19, 2008 at 2:39am

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The main reason to oppose Obama is not "his lack of experience, his empty rhetoric, his flip-flopping, and his "celebrity". The main reason to oppose Obama is that he is a hard Leftist.

- Allen Peterson

September 19, 2008 at 2:54am

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Re "lack of qualifications is the qualification": This issue is broader than just a Palin-related phenomenon. To get a sense of how much conservatives despise qualifications, which they defensively perceive as a snobbish attack on themselves, go and hang around conservative websites---read the articles, but especially read the posts that follow. Townhall.com (established by The Heritage Foundation and run by them for years although they've now handed it off) is a good place to start. Find an article that has anything at all to do with education and you will soon be awash in hatred of schools, colleges, universities, teachers, curricula, the NEA, and, most of all, professors. Homeschooling is very big with conservatives, who hold it as an article of faith that any parent is a more competent teacher than anyone academically prepared for the job. Some states have no educational requirement for the homeschooling parent and no requirement of record-keeping or student evaluation. Homeschooling parents generally resent state-required curricula and want to design their own. They see nothing unusual in a parent who dropped out of 9th grade teaching World History to a 12th grade son or daughter from a home-made curriculum. A couple of years ago Newt Gingrich did a Sunday Night Special on FOX News trying to persuade parents not to send their kids to college, where they would just be contaminated by liberal thought. Gingrich suggested that parents should instead invest the tuition money then give it to the grown kid to start a business. Education is not the only anathema---try medicine, and notice the articles (and the advertisers!) on townhall.com, which present physicians either as well-meaning dopes who are naive to treatments that really work, or scheming crooks who withhold efficacious treatment so they can enhance their incomes by protracted contact. The clever conservative is advised to be sick on the do-it-yourself plan. The person who spurns degrees, licensures, and other marks of authority is seen as a folk-hero, strong and authentic.

- Nora Tocus

September 19, 2008 at 3:17am

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They say that Gov Palin is no real reformer but that is nonsense. Compare her to Obama who came from the arguably most corrupt political estrablishment in the country, the city of Chicago with the MACHINES full blessing and tell me HE is a reformer? What BLAZING HYPOCRITS Democrats are. Obama is NO REFORMER and most Americans don't want FOUR MORE YEARS of Jimmy Carter and that's what the Obama regime will bring. Face it, he's an empty suit, just like we've been saying.

- Kevin C

September 19, 2008 at 3:51am

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Sarah Palin is a far better and more natural speaker than Obama. She is obviously intelligent. More than that - she is a woman of character. You have only to look closely at her face, in any of the interviews she has given, to see the magic shining quality of goodness. If you wish to compare her to previous Vice Presidents, forget about Quale: Sarah Palin is Harry S. Truman.

- HevelHai

September 19, 2008 at 4:31am

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unbelieveable... we can't question her readiness we can't find out about her troopergate we can't get the truth out of her or McCain on anything. alas, we can not vote for them. period.

- james

September 19, 2008 at 5:02am

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This article would be all good and well if Democrats have no similar kind of guy on TOP of the ticket. And instead of not knowing his position on most of issues, there is often two contradicting statements within this year on key policies. For example; Talking to enemies. Or about economic protectionism (NAFTA). And his tendency to defend his allies but only until they criticize him is troubling. Examples? Samantha Power said: "Neither is qualified" and was out. Rev Wright said: "He is just a politician and do what he has to do" and was THEN out. This election is regarding qualifications of candidates worst in decades, at least. If you pick best qualities from all presidential and vice-presidential candidates from major and minor parties too, you might assemble one reasonably qualified person. Sorry to say, but I do not see anyone equal to losing candidates Al Gore or Bob Dole and I won't even try to compare any of current lot with some of truly great presidents.

- Mladen

September 19, 2008 at 5:08am

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Dumbest. Commentary. Ever.

- GEAH

September 19, 2008 at 5:19am

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The problem is that criticism of Palin is a two edged sword. If Palin lacks foreign policy experience, what is Obama's? If Palin has a thin resume, Obama's is even thinner. What has Obama accopmlished other than give stirring speeches? If Palin is unqualified to be vice president, why is Obama qualified to be President?

- Alan Hawk

September 19, 2008 at 5:20am

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Quayle is only remembered as a "disaster" by Liberals like yourself. As a two-term Representative and two-term Senator BEFORE becoming Vice President, he had FAR more experience than Senator Obama. Much like your writing, he had definite "deer in the headlight" type moments. But, I'd rather have good judgement on lawmaking with some airy moments (like Senator Biden and Vice President Quayle) than to have someone as critically flawed as the Alinsky disciple Barack Obama. Oh, by the way, are you forgetting that as much as you complain about Dan Quayle, they WON that election? Ahh.. what can we expect from a writer that still doesn't "get" why most people on both sides of the aisle consider a Eureka College graduate one of our greatest Presidents EVER!

- Thom Scott

September 19, 2008 at 5:32am

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Wonder why your guy is not way ahead in the polls?? Hmmmmmmmm. You guys in the media need to try a little hard to persuade public opinion since we're so stupid and can't figure it out on our own....By the way, Mr. Obama, there isn't 57 states....

- terri

September 19, 2008 at 5:37am

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You must be the slowest Democrat in the house. This stuff is two weeks old and Obama is avoiding it because she is the VP going after here, only reminds us how thin is resume is and that some people have been hiding part of it. Oh and Obama is in the pocket of companies who brought the the mortgage disaster. Be the 2nd largest recipent of donations.. and he did it in half the time of the other Senators.

- KH

September 19, 2008 at 6:02am

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"Subsequent reporting has revealed that Palin embodies the precise opposite of every one of these virtues." There's the rub. The quality of the reporting has been akin to that of high school jealousies. 'How could he pick her!?' I would half consider believing the trumped up media charges against Palin if the media had given half a column to the same 'investigative' analysis of Obama's qualifications. "The "celebrity" attack on Obama has a particularly Dada quality right now..." Indeed.

- ODIrony

September 19, 2008 at 6:22am

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Does anyone read the New Republic anymore? New Republic = "Shattered Glass" = No credibility. "Hunky husband???" Start posting on Monster Jon. Maybe US Weekly is hiring.

- NickinVA

September 19, 2008 at 6:24am

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Let's give someone with good old-fashioned common sense and homespun values a shot at cleaning up the mess in Washington. A team that will take on the establishment, regardless of party, and shake things up. That's what I'm voting for and your snide, snobbish commentaries make me all the more determined!

- Deb--Georgia

September 19, 2008 at 6:40am

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Actually, I dislike Barack Obama because he is a socialist guiltmonger, which Palin is most assuredly not.

- Chains we can believe in

September 19, 2008 at 6:43am

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What an empty article not worth the words.

- Fiorot

September 19, 2008 at 6:54am

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What is it with "you people" just anyone who is not for Obama you have to go after. First it was Hillary just so snide and down right dirty with your "opinion articles" now it is Palin. Don't tell me you are not sexist in your crusade of "he is the one" Because I have read the not so veiled sexist, psuedo intellectual rabid attacks from the beginning. Someday you may understand life and real people who are trying to just really contribute to this world rather than sit in front of their puter and denegrate others preferably women but for now just enjoy your time in denial re. your deep seated bias. When McCain and Palin win you can sit around in your smug circles clicking your glasses of wine in your townhouses and call the voters racist and never have a clue that you just don't get it.

- lou

September 19, 2008 at 6:57am

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Tsk, tsk, tsk.

- TSK

September 19, 2008 at 7:00am

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It is not about competence; it is about dogma. The candidate who can espouse, with a straight face, the egregious and scurrilous "positions" of the far-right elements within the Republican party is the darling of that party. Failure to adhere to that orthodoxy will cause one to be branded an apostate...or worse. Dan Quayle/Sarah Palin are two halves of a wholly-discredited unit: that only pro-life, pro-gun, evangelically-ordained, anti-gay idealogues are qualified to be Vice President. It was bull when Quayle tried it; it remains bull as Palin continues to attempt to advance it.

- AnaHadWolves

September 19, 2008 at 7:00am

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As the economy crumbles in plain sight, and McCain's senile gaffes compete day after day with Palin's hapless ignorance, it's hard to believe that this ticket isn't a one-way ticket to Palookaville for the Republican Party, once and for all. There has never been such an incompetent pair of presedential contenders in my 65yr lifetime. McCain-Palin are becoming the biggest national joke in our political history, the reductio ad absurdum of the previously winning Rush Limbaugh idea that the American public is so stupid, you can feed them ANYTHING and they'll buy it, if you just call the other guy a "liberal."

- jeanrenoir

September 19, 2008 at 7:03am

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Dan Quayle = Barack Obama

- TDY676

September 19, 2008 at 7:09am

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This article show how people like Chait compare Sarah and Obama. Both are new faces, compare to McCain and Biden. Both are less than perfect, and are developing with time .... and both would make good Vice-Presidents for their party. Which is part of the problem with the Dems. The Republicans have place their experience person at the top of the ticket. Clinton should have been at the top, with Obama as VP. As she said, Obama is not ready.

- RJ Schundler

September 19, 2008 at 7:22am

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Speaking of Quayle. OBAMA has made more GAFFES than Dan Quayle. At Least Dan knew how many states we have.

- Dennis D

September 19, 2008 at 7:22am

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Dan Quayle is a national joke because he said stupid things. Sarah Palin has not said stupid things. You can argue justifiably that Palin has been thrust on the national scene too soon before the election, that her experience is limited and that Republicans have swooned over someone they hardly know. But your comparison to Quayle is flawed from the start. His mouth did him in.

- Jim Troy

September 19, 2008 at 7:34am

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Dear Sir, I have some other examples to give you; So hold on to your pants because we are no longer in Kansas anymore: - Joe Biden (Presidential debate before a Afro-American audience) “ .. I got tested for AIDS , I know Barack got tested for AIDS, there is NO shame to being tested for AIDS..” - Barack:” I just want to make clear that I was tested WITH Michelle..” - Joe Biden (Presidential debate about the readiness of Mr. Obama) : “The Presidency is not something that lends itself to on the job training..” - Joe Biden, more about Obama: “The first sorta mainstream African-american who is articulate and bright and clean..” - Joe Biden: “In Delaware the largest growing population is Indian-Americans- mowing from India. You can not go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin doughnuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.. That’s a point..” - Joe Biden to a voter in a dispute: “I think I have a much higher IQ than you have” - Joe Biden : “Chuck Graham state senator is here.. Chuck stand up, let everybody see you.” (Chuck Graham sits in wheelchair.) - Joe Biden ponders about that Americans should pay more in taxes because: “..It's time to be patriotic ... time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut." And I have more than a trunkfull of anecdotes made by Joe Biden. The difference is that those were never reported because narrow-minded people like you can not stand the fact that a women like Sarah Palin –who isn’t democrat is the newest brightest star on the political horizon. Threatening Barack Obamas razor thin accomplishments. Journalism is a profession – or should be a source of information channel to the broad audience – where you should expect thorough an unbiased articles from journalist with integrity. Your venomous and trashing piece above fells light-years from that standard. Shame on you. Karl B. Nowak

- Karl B. Nowak

September 19, 2008 at 7:40am

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Yawn.... snore.... uh' you do realize you are comparing the bottom of the Republican ticket with the TOP of the Democrat ticket? You libs never learn. Sarah Palin is a huge draw because people who vote actually see someone who is like them and understands where they are coming from in her. Barry Obama is an empty suit, everyone knows it, including democrats. Take away his teleprompter and he falls into the "George Bush" level of speaking ability.

- Barry Hussein O'Bomber

September 19, 2008 at 7:40am

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I am guessing the author's leg quivers when Obama walks by also....

- Ken

September 19, 2008 at 7:45am

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Lack of qualification isn't a liability any more, it's a prerequisite.

- Gary

September 19, 2008 at 7:45am

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Why is there nothing here about the debate? When Bentsen nailed Quayle with the "no Jack Kennedy" line, Quayle went into the downward spiral from which he never recovered.

- KMD

September 19, 2008 at 8:44am

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Interesting article. The problem with your closing argument is that even though people can identify with Palin as being "one of them," most people do not like to be lied to. Palin's untruths and ducking of the law, on the heels of an eight-year run of the same from our current administration, do not sit well with honest, hard-working folks.

- ChuckleberryFinn2008

September 19, 2008 at 9:22am

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Sarah Palin is a fine choice and the media onslaught nor the scrutiny have found anything that would disqualify her as a good candidate.

- Daniel

September 19, 2008 at 9:23am

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No matter who the Republicans would have picked, you would have said they are lousy, foolish etc. Just face it that you don't understand the party. My real outrage is that Obama's only claim to fame is bringing the House of Clinton down. What else has he done? What does he really stand for and why did he vote present in the Il state Senate so many times rather than yes or no. I would have thought that had Obama picked HRC to be his VP than the winner in November would have been decided but waht does Biden bring to the ticket and how many times has he plagerized speeches or papers by others. This tells me a little something about his character or? Bottom line is that you and your paper are very hyper-biased and should think twice about supporting an empty suit with no history. McCain/Palin in 2008

- JeffinNJ

September 19, 2008 at 9:23am

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"Engagement, not experience, is the difference between Palin's qualifications and Obama's." - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

- lulupink

September 19, 2008 at 9:25am

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Did Dan Quayle become Vice President? I believe that Sarah serves to point out the differences between Obama and her - who has the better experience. Excuse me, but isn't the race between a very inexperienced, unqualified Obama (like Palin) and McCain?

- Deeptexas

September 19, 2008 at 9:27am

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Let's be blunt: If John McCain wins the election and drops dead during his first year in office, someone not very experienced will become president. But the same is true if Barack Obama wins the election and doesn't drop dead during his first year in office.

- Peter from Dover NH

September 19, 2008 at 9:30am

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Excellent article!! I am, or was, a registered Republican. This year, for the first time, I will vote Democrat. Palin's cuteness during her RNC speech ( the jutting chin as she waited to be applauded for something said that she thought was cute), was enough to turn me off. Plus the fact that all the cute stuff was simply intended to veil the facts that she knows nothing. Coupled with John McCain, who, heretofore, I liked and admired, and his confused distortion of facts, I do not trust the Republican Ticket. And, I am contantly amazed at those 'staunch' adoring Republicans who question nothing that comes from the McCain-Palin campaign, even when it is a well documented lie. It's scary to imagine this ticket in the White House.

- skp

September 19, 2008 at 9:31am

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I think the case for the New Republic is unraveling. Not sad but true.

- Kabookey

September 19, 2008 at 9:31am

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"Today, Quayle is remembered as a disaster." Hey Jonathan! He was elected Vice President. Rewrite! This piece is not finished.

- Patrick Kernan

September 19, 2008 at 9:34am

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BINGO!!!

- Iain

September 19, 2008 at 9:35am

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Excellent article.

- makjocs

September 19, 2008 at 9:37am

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Yeah, I don't see it that way. This is a liberal rag. No one with any real sense cares what you think. We will see November 4th who middle AMerica wants and guarantee it won't be the community organizer and the big mouth. I'll take the war hero and authentic beauty queen any day.

- Virginia Womyn

September 19, 2008 at 9:41am

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I truly hope that the electorate see through the sham that is Palin. Is anyone really convinced by this idiot who doesn't want to, sorry, isn't allowed to answer questions, at least until the McCain campaign have given her the answers, and when she does the ridiculously thin responses come 3 weeks later. The cable service "Charter" have a quicker response time than this clown! Ans all this nonsense about "oopergate" has got to stop. What does it tell us when nobody will coooperate with the investigation? Does she think this will just go away? I hope that when all this is done, she and all her cronies are locked up for the maximum 6 months permissable for ignoring a subpoena.

- JInx

September 19, 2008 at 9:41am

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This article is not informative or helpful. While everyone knows McCain took a huge gamble, Palin's anti-corruption credentials are very, very strong. The big picture speaks for itself after the media blitz - people understand the concept of net average - her expenses were significantly lower on a net basis than the previous administration. Her lack of experience is a huge risk, I agree, but overall bad job on this piece. Moved the ball zero yards.

- Brooklyn88

September 19, 2008 at 9:43am

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This is such a great article. So true and scary! She's so incompetent, frightening with her hawkish views, and a nightmare to know she's a religious zealot. Therefore making her worst than Quayle. Which leads me to believe or wonder how people are so dumb about this. This is the same guy or pair that voted 90% of the time for the guy who puts in the mess we are, and yet he is tied with Obama. Unbeliavable! Only in America and I hope America wakes up!

- Juan from L.A.

September 19, 2008 at 9:45am

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I guess a senior editor of TNR has got to do what he's got to do, which of course is to support the democrat ticket and the "Sarah Quaylin" cutesy word thing is no doubt proof of why you are a senior editor. You've gotten confused why you should dislike the messiah? As a senior editor of TNR I bet you could come up with plenty of reasons why Obama is not ready for prime time; not that you would ever go public with them. Surely you know that your party has put up two rather oily lawyers as Bill and Hillary also know. When will you stealth socialists ever learn? You are still foolishly comparing Palin with his holiness the Barack of Obama? Now that's a good strategic idea. Keep up the good work!

- steve yochum

September 19, 2008 at 9:45am

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I love how your cover makes John McCain look twenty years older and that's a nice scowl; while Obama looks fresh and "happy"...no one is buying this anymore. I guess you're ok with the hacking and subsequent release of Palin's emails? I wonder what your reaction would be if that had happened to Obama? I'm quite sure that real tears would fall as you bemoaned the demise of the "process".

- ambivelentone

September 19, 2008 at 9:46am

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Dream on Jonathan. The more negative press Governor Palin gets, the more solid her support becomes. Once again, come November, the Henry Wallace contingent of the Democratic party will be deprived of taking up residence in the White House.

- Mark W. Scott

September 19, 2008 at 9:50am

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"And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations"...Obama picked the GOP VP in this quote he outlined exactly who McCain should choose. Obama really is like me...we often make our own hell for ourselves.

- unhuh

September 19, 2008 at 9:51am

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And let's not forget all of the claims in the build-up to the '04 election that even though Bush seems like a dolt whose VP and assorted minions run policy, in actuality, Bush is the most intellectually curious one in every meeting, always firing sharp questions and never leaving an assumption unquestioned.

- Mizzou

September 19, 2008 at 9:52am

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I love it when you nattering nabobs of negatism (the one line from Agnew I love) get going. You yell and scream and point fingers and then collapse from sheer fright that the Republicans are going to "steal" another one from the anointed!! I love it!!!!

- Wes

September 19, 2008 at 9:52am

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I would think that DemoRats would be embarrassed by their sexist attacks.

- Not_A_Libscum

September 19, 2008 at 9:52am

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Everyones seems to forget - she is running for Vice President. However you dice it - Obama is running for president with less experience. Everyone holds her up against Obama and critizes her for what us normal folks like. The press needs a dose of reality.

- David Allen

September 19, 2008 at 9:52am

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And yet another distinctly partisan hatchet job. I do so love to see the liberals in the press shredding the last vestiges of thier credibility as the desperately try to smear Sarah Palin. Keep trying buddy boy, your white guilt and rediculously obsessive multi-culturalism are on the verge of finally showing the blue collar american worker who is REALLY on his side, the Republican party. You and your Dgimmicrat buddies will be reduced to snivaling and whining about how 'racist' america is because they would not elect and empty-suit racist socialist who happened to be half Kenyan Arabic.

- John Galt

September 19, 2008 at 9:55am

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Have you done a comprehensive research report on Obama as you did on Gov. Palin? He must be everything in a candidate that you want, right? Why are you comparing Obama to Gov. Pain---they are not running for the same office. Your way of thinking is exactly what the far left liberal Democrats want us to believe. Let's see you do an equal comparison of the two presidential candidates.

- Barb Kargleder

September 19, 2008 at 9:55am

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- Lance Konover

September 19, 2008 at 9:55am

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Palin a mistake? That's a good one. You're either in serious denial or clueless. Her choice by McCain stuck you Commie/libs right in the eye because you know that Barry Hussein should have chosen Hill-Billie. On Nov. 5th you'll all wake up to a shocker, not only when McCain and Palin win the WH, but when your Democommies BARELY, if at all, keep their stranglehold on Congress. NOT ANOTHER HUSSEIN! McCain / Palin 2008 H

- mrunpc

September 19, 2008 at 9:56am

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Palin a mistake? That's a good one. You're either in serious denial or clueless. Her choice by McCain stuck you Commie/libs right in the eye because you know that Barry Hussein should have chosen Hill-Billie. On Nov. 5th you'll all wake up to a shocker, not only when McCain and Palin win the WH, but when your Democommies BARELY, if at all, keep their stranglehold on Congress. NOT ANOTHER HUSSEIN! McCain / Palin 2008 H

- mrunpc

September 19, 2008 at 9:56am

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Your comments about the 'unraveling' candidacy of Sarah Palin are amusing. I suggest you examine the polls. With regard to Obama's extensive thinking, or for that matter: writing, there is solid evidence that he speaks and writes with warmth and eloquence about himself (two books). I have not read his Law Review articles (have you?), so there may be a treasure trove of his cosmopolitan ideas that has eluded me.

- Andres Bacalao

September 19, 2008 at 9:57am

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The same could be said of Obama: "The real problem, though, is that Obama has no record of thinking about national or international policy." The guy has less experience than all four candidates. Myself and many of my friends are excited that Palin is on the ticket and are now looking forward to voting. No matter what you liberal-minded reports say or write, the GOP base is solidified. Deal with it.

- Moxxe

September 19, 2008 at 9:58am

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The Quayle selection, it could be argued, did not cost Bush the election but rather Ross Perot and Bush himself. What is much more interesting to ponder than yet another stunted assessment by Chait is whether nominating an uber liberal that is of mixed race will prove the winning strategy to get a northern liberal back as POTUS when so many others have failed.

- Brad

September 19, 2008 at 9:59am

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The same could be said of Obama: "The real problem, though, is that Obama has no record of thinking about national or international policy." The guy has less experience than all four candidates. Myself and many of my friends are excited that Palin is on the ticket and are now looking forward to voting. No matter what you liberal-minded reports say or write, the GOP base is solidified. Deal with it.

- Moxxe

September 19, 2008 at 9:59am

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Didn't you get the email from the Obama campaign? You are supposed to stop attack Sarah Palin, as it is driving McCain up in the polls. And quit talking about her experience! After all she had more executive experience that Obama...or Biden for that matter. Talking about it just points out how weak Obama is on experience of any sort. As for Biden...30+ years in the Senate, wrong on Vietnam, wrong on El Salvador, wrong on the war being lost in Iraq. Guess some people are immune to learning from experience.

- RJ

September 19, 2008 at 10:01am

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First you media elites tried to destroy her, now you are trying to trivialize her. Neither ploy will work. Sarah Palin is an authentic person who comes from and reflects the core values of mainstream America. When juxaposed with Sarah Palin, the fraudlence that is Barack Obama is overwhelming.

- J Doe

September 19, 2008 at 10:08am

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Well, if the past is prescient than the Democrats are trouble. As I remember it, Qualye won....

- slomatch

September 19, 2008 at 10:08am

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As I recall, candidate Quayle became VP Quayle in a landslide election. Are you predicting the same with Palin?

- Jeremy

September 19, 2008 at 10:08am

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John, the Media's obsession with Palin is supposed to be about what? I read your dismissal of her & had to reread because I could barely remember any of it, save the comparison to Dan Quayle. Such was the gravity of your points! Gov Palin has been rubbished & dismissed so many times by the Elite Media, whom the ordinary, commonsensical American so understandably despises, that it is impossible to take another, meandering, subjective trashing seriously. Where is the shocked response to Obama's clearly Marxist & radical history? Where is the media's hand-wringing over his vapid responses to a myriad of questions, lack of depth on policy details, and his smug self-infatuation? Is leadership really just a confident posture? All the non-doctrinaire attacks on Sarah Palin could be written on the back of a fortune cookie paper, with room for the ingredients. Chait, I have relished some of your past articles, but your unthinking return to the lockstep leftist, pro-aborting herd on this is no compliment to your independence of thought, fairness of opinion, or commitment to the canons of journalism.

- Ralf Nemperor

September 19, 2008 at 10:09am

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I love Jon Chait!!! As an undecided, I love to read your vapid articles...you bring a smile to my face...

- Anon...

September 19, 2008 at 10:10am

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Bambi's new campaign tag line: "I'm as qualified as she is! Almost!"

- Schroeder

September 19, 2008 at 10:10am

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Comparing Palin to Quayle is a bit odd. Didn't Bush and Quayle win in 1988? According to the electoral vote state by state breakdown of dukakis/bensten. I believe it was Bush/Quayle 426 Dukakis/Bentsen 111 I sure hope Obama/Biden can do better than that. Those kinds of numbers today would be called a landslide. But I also remember Quayle, and in 1988, he was not considered a disaster, it was later after media beat him up over stupid comments. Like I visited 57 states, and Bitter clinger, and stand up for chuck. Wait, that was this election and that was Obama Biden. I'm getting all confused now.

- Brian Duncan

September 19, 2008 at 10:11am

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Great article. It's actually unfair to compare Palin to Quayle. Quayle was actually much more experienced. When he was chosen by Bush 41 he had been in Congress for 12 years (4 in House, 8 in Senate) and actually had met a foreign leader or two. Quayle's problem was that he looked like he was 18 and said some dumb things to the press. His selection didn't ultimately cost Bush 41 the election because Quayle was just the VP pick. No one ever thought he'd actually ever be president. I think Palin is now hurting McCain's chances because people now know what it's like when you have a President Quayle - it's Bush 43. We've had an intellectually disengaged leader and darling of the Right for 7 years. A President McCain could very easily step aside after one term and then we have the heir apparent, VP Palin. That can't sit well with many people, even Republicans.

- El Sereno

September 19, 2008 at 10:11am

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Does someone actually pay you for your thoughts. The world needs ditch diggers. You qualify!

- Bill

September 19, 2008 at 10:12am

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Believe me, republicans can sell anyone to the voters.

- ysophism

September 19, 2008 at 10:16am

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Barack Obama = Dan Quayle Obama quotes: 1. I've been to 57 states. 2. Hillary is going to do better than me in Ky as it is closer to her home state of Arkansas than Illnois - check out a map. 3. Statement 24 hrs (not off the cuff) on Russia:Georgia conflict to let U.N. Security Council handle it - problem is Russia has veto power 4. Multiple times of not knowing what city he was in

- Leroy

September 19, 2008 at 10:19am

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A well analyzed piece. History will prove the author of the article right!

- StoneHall

September 19, 2008 at 10:20am

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John, the Media's obsession with Palin is about what? Gov Palin has been rubbished & dismissed so many times by the Elite Media, whom the ordinary, commonsensical American so understandably despises, that it is impossible to take another, meandering, subjective trashing seriously. Where is the shocked response to Obama's clearly Marxist & radical history? Where is the media's hand-wringing over his vapid responses to a myriad of questions, lack of depth on policy details, and his smug self-infatuation? Is leadership really just a confident posture? All the non-doctrinaire attacks on Sarah Palin could be written on the back of a fortune cookie paper, with room for the ingredients. Chait, I have relished some of your past articles, but your unthinking return to the lockstep leftist, pro-aborting herd on this is no compliment to your independence of thought, fairness of opinion, or commitment to the canons of journalism.

- Ralf Nemperor

September 19, 2008 at 10:20am

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Great article. It's actually unfair to compare Palin to Quayle in one way - experience. Quayle had been in Congress 12 years when Bush 41 picked him (4 in House, 8 in Senate). And he had actually met a world leader or two. He really didn't hurt Bush 41 because people don't vote for the VP, they vote for the person at the top of the ticket. However, I don't think anyone ever imagined Quayle being president (even as heir apparent to the Bush presidency). I do think she is hurting McCain because people have now seen what a Quayle presidency is - Bush 43. And it would be very likely that she would be the heir apparent of a McCain presidency (as you mentioned the Right loves her and has never fully embraced Romney). I think this makes her an inferior pick to Quayle. We will see...

- MER

September 19, 2008 at 10:21am

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You hit the nail on the head, "thinking" experience is lacking!! Those important qualities of critical thinking, discernment, judgment, etc. are lacking as they are in some measure in McCain as well. Neither has written a critique of anything to my knowledge, much less a book, but if you raise this you are labelled elitist. I hope that someone asks Palin in the debates what books she has read in the last year. Assuming that you would get a 'truth' it could be very revealing. Even George Bush reads books, Laura keeps after him, or at least he says so. Horrors, I see George on the TV now and he actually looks presidential in contrast to McCain-Palin!!

- Jott

September 19, 2008 at 10:21am

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In your dreams, Mr. Chait.

- Arlen Williams

September 19, 2008 at 10:22am

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Engagement, not experience. That's right on the money. She obviously hasn't been interested in the problems of national government or international affairs until very recently. So she doesn't really have the lexicon to think or talk about it. There is none of the ideological framework that emerges after studying something and thinking about it for a long time. So regardless of how many interviews she does, she will remain a blank slate. On most of these issues, she's a blank slate to herself. This isn't a matter of her being dumb or inexperience: she's just not ready to be managing issues that are completely opaque to her. Any intelligent person who has been reading the new york times for ten years would be more prepared for the job. This isn't a compliment to the NYT; just an acknowledgement that the human brain can't do what it hasn't been asked to do.

- Mountainecho

September 19, 2008 at 10:24am

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Palin is the VP pick. Why do you insist on comparing Obama to her? They arent running for the same office? Why dont you write an article comparing Obama to McCain to give us some real insight? Could it be you wont like what that looks like? Let me help you: McCain - Lower Taxes and Less Regulation. Obama - Repeal Bush Tax cuts increasing taxes on all tax payers and more regulation. McCain - Win the war in Iraq Obama - End the war in Iraw McCain - Tax Credit to buy health insurance Obama - Nationalize 20% of the US economy and make health care equivalent to trying to get a passport. McCain - Drill for more oil and increase alternatives to lower prices. Obama - No Oil, No How, No Way! Higher prices are Ok they should have just come more slowly. Invest in technology that wont have any impact on our energy needs for atleast 50 years. There is no comparison so you have to talk about the VP. Sad.

- Dr Irish

September 19, 2008 at 10:25am

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Jonathan, your just a confused person believing all of these lies you list in your article. If you had any character, you would truthfully research these points you list and express the real truth. Your comments are just an extention of the Bush Bushing that confused people like you engage in.

- mike

September 19, 2008 at 10:25am

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Being female I would think that your sexism would be blunted, but I see that your loyalties LIE with your party. DemoncRat for life! Maybe you should ask Sara Palin how she managed a surplus when every other state is in the RED. Maybe you should ask her how someone so inexperienced stood up to both sides to balance the budget. Or maybe you're just afraid that she may be the first female president of the United States of America.

- Drizzit

September 19, 2008 at 10:25am

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This article just like all of the articles is full of misquotes, half truths and a general lack of facts; how can we EVER make a decision based upon such obvious bias and misinformation???????????????? ************* the media is awful and unprofessional and I am ashamed of them.

- Bob

September 19, 2008 at 10:32am

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She took the money for projects, as any GOVERNOR would, she just spent it on better things than a bridge to nowhere. The plane did get sold, and the chef was fired. "Troopergate" involves the firing of a cop who tasered a 9 year old, nothing there. Now, for Obama, he has two years as a senator, where he spent the whole time running for POTUS. Name one accomplishment he has? All that said, being RIGHT MINDED and lacking experience beats the heck out of being WRONG HEADED and lacking experience.

- David Stone

September 19, 2008 at 10:34am

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The author is an idiot if he truly expects the reader to believe his pablum that Obama has considerable experience in domestic and international issues. This is an outright lie. Name one thing of substance that Obama has ever done in either arena. Not a damn thing! God help us all should the American voter drink the koolaid and vote this Marxist/Socialist in as President. You can kiss the next 30 years goodbye.

- Shadoman

September 19, 2008 at 10:34am

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Sarah Palin has done wonders for our party. If nothing else as a party we are reved up and ready to go to the polls!! In condemning Sarah Palin's experience it has magnified the inexperience of Barak Hussein Obama. He is an empty suit! For the most liberal of senators to stand on the same platform with a warrior such as John McCain will show Mr. Obama as a weak, hesitant candidate into whose hands the American people will not want to put their security and the security of their children.

- Patricio

September 19, 2008 at 10:35am

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Your case for the debunking of Sarah Palin as a reformer is lacking in the facts. It would appear that the writer is not about to allow the "facts get in the way of a good story." Everything that Sarah Palin has said that she has done has actually been true. The Obama campaign, which apparently includes most of the MSM, has offered selective distortions of the facts in an obvious attempt to discredit her. Even factcheck.com has been reposting some of their previous positions as the correct information has come to light. You don't have to believe me. Find an unbiased source of information...there are still a limited number of those out there and find out for your self. The real question raised by this article is whether or not Sarah Palin the voters who really do know the truth believe the baloney that has been presented. I think the polls show not...which makes the VP Debate very important. Even though I still plan to vote for the democratic ticket, I am deeply ashamed at what passes for news and "fact based" commentary in today's society.

- William

September 19, 2008 at 10:35am

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Not what Chuck Hagel says lol

- David

September 19, 2008 at 10:39am

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First you sexist (Male and Female) media elite went after Hillary now Palin are we seeing pattern of behavior. Perhaps you could come out your elite compound and seek some therapy for your issues with females. Or then you could just stay in denial and believe your own bs. with your wife, boyfriends and girlfriends giving you the high five and calling anyone who does not agree a backwoods racist. Oh as an afterthought to this article Quayle and Bush won.

- Tanya

September 19, 2008 at 10:40am

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Sarah Quaylin? Wow, you are soooo witty. I just changed my vote.

- Heh

September 19, 2008 at 10:41am

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The case for Palin is unraveling only in Chait's feverish, leftist, imagination.

- Mike

September 19, 2008 at 10:43am

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The liberal media distorts the truth constantly to make their political points. Sarah Palin lost her $135,000 a year with the Alaskan Energy Board because she turned in the Head of the Republican party in her state. Where has OBama ever done anything like that? She vetoed wasteful spending, sold the plane ( I know , not on ebay) and drives herself to work. Palin's popularity is based on her "doing the right thing" for the poeople of her state and because she is NOT a politician in the typical vein, aka Charles Rangel.

- Matt

September 19, 2008 at 10:43am

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Palin is a lier that is all I have to say. She came out fresh, and as we see who she really is its sad. Lie after lie and she keeps on doing it like it's nothing. She is just another old politician. Looks like she lied also on trooper investigation that McCain had to cover it up until after election. I was going to vote for her but now I will vote foe Obama.

- Bev

September 19, 2008 at 10:44am

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I truly wonder how left-wing political hacks like this clown can get up and go to work in the morning. Are you surrounded by so much of the same hatred that you think the vile stench is right?? Typical democrats, ignore facts and respond with emotion.

- Nebraska

September 19, 2008 at 10:45am

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Good perspective but maybe an overly-strict analysis. The job as governor is prioritized with earmarks. It's their job to get the federal money for their the state. For this Sarah should be commended as a governor. She did however, reduce her State's governmental spending waste. An important distinction. As far as experience. Sarah is running for VP. Barak is running for P. Sarah has more exec experience. To me this point is a problem for Barak.

- LamPoondit

September 19, 2008 at 10:46am

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Yet another liberal press in Obama's pocket trying to get their guy elected. You liberal press folks must be so frustrated to think you're throwing everything you've got into convincing the American public into electing Obama, yet McCain stays even in the polls WITHOUT the media's help. It might behoove the left to start figuring out WHY the right believes as they do rather than just assuming we're all rubes who cling to our guns and religions. For supposedly being the party of "tolerance" the left shows absolutely no tolerance for anyone who disagrees with them. I do believe that makes many of you on the left close minded bigots.

- Florida Gal

September 19, 2008 at 10:48am

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How like a Democrat to think that anyone cares who you are "supposed to" dislike. Go ahead and like Obama if you want. It makes you sound like a partisan hack -- but this is America and you have the right to express teenage logic.

- Della

September 19, 2008 at 10:49am

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No, actually, it isn't. It's between an intelligent, engaged, energetic, charismatic politician with vision and ideas and a long legislative resume, and John McCain, who this week accused the leader of Spain, our ally, of being a South American dictator. Face it. McCain showed horrible judgement (or a lack of leadership of his own campaign) by nominating someone woefully unqualified for the job by any measure you choose, and America is starting to figure that out (check the polls). Obama is back up, she is plummeting, and every time she opens her mouth, she makes it absolutely obvious that she has no clue what she's talking about. Sounds too familiar (see: US History, G.W. Bush Era, 2001-2008). Personally, I think being able to pronounce "nuclear" properly, without having it spelled phonetically on your teleprompter, is one of the main yardsticks for president or vice president. But then, I'm probably just a northeasetrn liberal elitist. Who lives in Texas.

- smitallica

September 19, 2008 at 10:50am

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It's interesting that you say Quayle is remembered as a disaster - why? Because he misspelled "potatoe"? Good thing for us that we had President Dukakis on hand to save the Republic from that disaster! You and your magazine are the real disaster.

- BigG-Man

September 19, 2008 at 10:50am

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It seems that the right & left wing are incapable of meeting anywhere. There are VALID critiques of Palin in this article and yet all the right wingers cant even SEE that. THe critiques on OBAMA have been responded to time & time again and his message of CHANGE is more believable because he is new to Washington. Why can't we be reasonable & apply common sense as it seems this article clearly has.

- Confused Independent

September 19, 2008 at 10:51am

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This writer fails to understand that Obama is running for President, and Palin is the VP candidate. Idiot

- Germaine Botterel

September 19, 2008 at 10:52am

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Calling an idiot an idiot is not sexist. It's honest.

- smitallica

September 19, 2008 at 10:52am

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My contention is that no matter who the Republicans would have picked for a VP, no matter how bad or unqualified, they would have defended them with a passion. Putting all issues aside, as people already have with Palin, people defend her just because they are steadfast conservatives and/or Republicans. I know this is an extreme example, so please forgive me, but I almost feel McCain could have picked Hitler for a running mate and when the criticism that he killed millions of people would be put forth, the Republican response would be: "well you know that isn't really important, he has great leadership skills you know"

- Bob

September 19, 2008 at 10:53am

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I didn't even bother reading beyond the first paragraph. Liberals make me basically sick. hateful, hateful, hateful.

- big jim

September 19, 2008 at 10:57am

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Hmmmm.I sure didn't see the Dummycrats lining up to protest Billary's complete lack of international experience..and he ran for president.Looks like another case of the pot calling the kettle black.

- Ironman

September 19, 2008 at 10:57am

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If McCain says "Senator Obama would rather lose a war in order to win an election," John McCain would rather lose the country, in order to win an election. This is what he did by taking Palin as his VP. Country First is a crock of, well you know, because if something happens to the 72 yr old senator while in office, he will have left in charge a not even 1 term governor with no track record on US mainland issues or foreign policy. Where does she stand on any major issue besides taxes, abortion, gun rights, and drilling? All I hear is same tired talking points ex-Bush staffers write for her, that's why her favorability ratings are slipping. Gov. Palin seem like a wonderful person, but as far as VP or possibly President I can not look past the empty pants suit. McCain/Palin "County Last"......

- the 5th letter

September 19, 2008 at 10:57am

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Enjoyed the article Johnathan and I think it hits home on several levels. Working in the public policy sphere here in Minnesota, I have seen several Palin "types" get elected to the State Legislature (and one could argue that Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann from Minnesota's 6th CD also fits the type). As a democrat--and although I am a large "D" Democrat as well, that doesn't truly fit here--I have no problem with people electing people who they believe best fit their preferences as someone in elective office. My initial set of observations regarding Palin is that she is totally non-reflective in her decision-making process and I don't believe that would serve her, or the country, well as Vice-President. I disagree with much of her policy framework, like I disagreed with much of Reagan's and much of Bush 43's, but I believe Palin shares Bush 43's inability, despite a considerable level of intellectual power (I don't believe Palin and Bush 43 are imbeciles) to view the world in a nuanced way. Reagan, for all the brickbats tossed by the liberal establishment, had a sense of both nuance and an embrace of the "art of the possible." I don't sense that with Palin. The hand-wringing over vice-presidential choices is often overwrought, but in this instance, we have a 72-year-old presidential candidate whose health could be in question and a relative neophyte waiting in the wings. I'm not saying that Palin couldn't grow into the job, but from both her views and the manner in which she appears to have developed those views, she does give me pause.

- Lundell

September 19, 2008 at 10:58am

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Very good article. Mccain had hammered obama on experience, celebrity and the likes only to pick as his running mate some one BELOW EXPERIENCE 101 and celebrity 809 (freshman course in experience and a PhD course in celebrity). Mccain and his running mate are now certified liers. My question is why the american people are not cleaver enough to identify facts from lies? very unfortunate??

- TT

September 19, 2008 at 10:59am

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Great analysis, Mr. Chait. Dead on and truly frightening.

- UrbanRube

September 19, 2008 at 11:00am

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"Mizzou says - And let's not forget all of the claims in the build-up to the '04 election that even though Bush seems like a dolt whose VP and assorted minions run policy, in actuality, Bush is the most intellectually curious one in every meeting, always firing sharp questions and never leaving an assumption unquestioned." All I have to say is WOW! I am concerned about the build up to '04 thats why I'm looking for CHANGE! YES WE CAN...Hope we can overcome the ineptitude of the Right and get AMERICA back on track... Good Article

- Eddie

September 19, 2008 at 11:01am

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"Sarah Palin is an authentic person who comes from and reflects the core values of mainstream America." Umm, what? Hey Sarah, let's teach creationism in the schools! Exactly when do you think the dinosaurs lived? Gimme God baby, gimme God! Core value, core value! Hey Sarah, a 12-year-old girl is raped by her pedophile uncle and gets pregnant. Can she get an abortion, or must her life be irrevocably altered by outside forces twice in a row by being mandated to have the child, a constant reminder of a tragic event completely out of her control? Dysfunction junction! Woo-hoo! Core value, core value! I could go on and on, but I have some books to burn. I mean ban. It's jaw-droppingly absurd, but really, what's the use? "Sarah Palin is an authentic person who comes from and reflects the core values of mainstream America." You're right (except for the "authentic" part -- her folksy facade is as calculated as a Disney movie). Sad but true -- the morons of America will elect McCain/Palin, and the morons of America will get what they deserve.

- toddloth

September 19, 2008 at 11:02am

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Sarah Palin was picked for political reasons. No one should for a second say that she was the most qualified, or even one of the most qualified. And since McCain didn't even know her, it's obvious she was picked by "the in-crowd", which is typical Rove-like campaign strategy-decisions are made from people who have no accountability. "Country First", I don't think so.

- Richard Marcus

September 19, 2008 at 11:02am

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Her demeanor looks scarily similar to that of the FLDS women. Put her in a lavender dress, and there you have it. She is entirely too much of an extremist religious zealot.

- Bethany

September 19, 2008 at 11:04am

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That's all Mr. Chait can come up with? Palin exaggerated about earmarks while still showing relative restraint, pronounced "nuclear" differently than someone from a diffent region (that's called dialect), and failed to demonstrate awareness of Charles Gibson's myopic definition of the Bush Doctrine. That's it? You enhance her appeal by questioning her with such piffle.

- Casey in Chicago

September 19, 2008 at 11:04am

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Judging by both the number and the spelling of the pro-Palin comments, somebody leaked this article to Free Republic.

- Bruce Moomaw

September 19, 2008 at 11:04am

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Barack Obama is a policy heavyweight with a deep knowledge of U.S. history and law. He wrote a thoughtful book, "The Audacity of Hope," outlining his policy views, beginning with the deeply-rooted twin commitments in our Constitution to community and the individual. He is a serious thinker. Jonathon Chait's point about Sarah Palin lacking the interest and background in policy issues is accurate, whether or not her nasty supporters here care to acknowledge it. She cares about energy production, but she doesn't even have much patience for the nuts and bolts of energy policy. What she's good at, other than promoting herself, is slogans and sneers. For John McCain to have selected Palin as a running mate, when he himself is seeming so backward-looking, out-of-touch, and just plain erratic, is the height of irresponsibility. It's not the kind of leadership we need in a complex world.

- NER

September 19, 2008 at 11:05am

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The republicans had several fine female choices. In fact several with better appeal than the best dem fems. Susan Collins, Olympia Snow, and Christy Todd Whitman are three superior choices each of whom is far better than Palin by any measure. Kay Bailey Hutchinson is another that I don't are for, but yet another who would be far better than Palin.

- joer

September 19, 2008 at 11:05am

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Thank you for being fair and balanced. Your services are greatly needed. I am being sarcastic. P.S. please use factcheck.org before you spew your venom without any real journolistic research involved.Even opinion pieces have to have facts. not your opinion nor mine.facts are facts. Thank you.

- ROHIT PATEL

September 19, 2008 at 11:07am

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wow...now you have to write a book to be qualified ? How about participating in the Senate for a few more years instead of getting annoited after a few ? Desperate article, you're definately worried about this woman, let's face it she's an outsider being chastised for not being more of an insider...the Dem reformers BHM/JB,senators, ivy educated just like the rest of 'em, real reformers, like Dodd, Frank, etc...write an article on those idiots considering the latest business fallout.

- el diablo

September 19, 2008 at 11:09am

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Examples of "Palinese": a language of the double standard If you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a 'token hire.' If you're a conservative and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a 'game changer.' Black teen pregnancies? A 'crisis' in black America. White teen pregnancies? A 'blessed event.' If you grow up in Hawaii you're 'exotic.' Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential 'American story.' Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you're 'unpatriotic.' Name your kid Track, you're 'colorful.' If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual, you're 'reckless.' A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a 'maverick.' If you spend 3 years as a community organizer growing your organization from a staff of 1 to 13 and your budget from $70,000 to $400,000, then become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new African American voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, then spend nearly 8 more years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, becoming chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, then spend nearly 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of nearly 13 million people, sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees (whew!), you are woefully inexperienced. If you spend 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, then spend 20 months as the governor of a state with 650,000 people, you've got the most executive experience of anyone on either ticket, are the Commander in Chief of the Alaska military and therefore well qualified to lead the nation should you be called upon to do so because your state is the closest state to Russia. If you are a Democratic male candidate who is popular with millions of people you are an 'arrogant celebrity'. If you are a popular republican female candidate you are 'energizing the base'. If you are a younger male candidate who thinks for himself and makes his own decisions you are 'presumptuous'. If you are an older male candidate who makes last minute decisions you refuse to explain, you are a " 'shoot from the hip' maverick." If you are a candidate with a Harvard law degree you are 'an elitist 'out of touch' with the real America. If you are a legacy (dad and granddad were admirals) graduate of Annapolis, with multiple disciplinary infractions, you are a "hero". If you manage a multi-million dollar nationwide campaign, you are an 'empty suit'. If you are a part time mayor of a town of 7000 people, you are an 'experienced executive'. If you go to a south side Chicago church, your beliefs are 'extremist'. If you believe in creationism and don't believe global warming is man made, you are 'strongly principled'. If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian. If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years with whom you are raising 2 daughters, you're 'risky'. If you're a black single mother of 4 who waits for 22 hours after her water breaks to seek medical attention, you're an irresponsible parent, endangering the life of your unborn child. But if you're a white married mother who waits 22 hours, you're spunky. If you're a 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton, the right-wing press calls you 'First dog.' If you're a 17-year old pregnant unwed daughter of a Republican, the right-wing press calls you 'beautiful' and 'courageous.' If you kill an endangered species, you're an excellent hunter. If you have an abortion you're not a Christian, you're a murderer (Even if it resulted from rape!) If you teach abstinence only in sex education, you get teen parents. If you teach responsible age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

- Pal in Comparison

September 19, 2008 at 11:09am

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Lots of comments- lots of noise- this does not matter. In the final analysis the people will decide who they will hire and who they could live with. I say always- people get the leadership they deserve. So think of healthcare, the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, Immigration, the minimum wage, your mortgage, farm prices, who really owns our country and then hire the folks whom you think can manage this best. Forget values- we all have good ones and they are practiced anyway, religion - I have my own beliefs thank you- flag burning- okay- abortion, as a male I do not have the right to impose my views on a female- so what's left - choose!

- Kirit Singh

September 19, 2008 at 11:12am

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Why does no one investigate Biden. Is he that boring. IF he gets the same effort , we would find all types of political negative crap. I dare you to investgate. Obama can be included.

- Tim

September 19, 2008 at 11:12am

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Wow you're a dork. Obama was a do-nothing typical Chicago politician who never voted and used his status to increase his families connections and wealth. He got elected when his opponents self-destructed. He arrived in DC and immediately did NOTHING except run for president. He has done nothing for the state of Illinois, but he will win our state handily thanks to the universally acknowledged crooked Chicago democratic machine. Yet here is yet another article about Palin. Like I said, you're a dork.

- IllinoisknowsObama

September 19, 2008 at 11:14am

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The fact that Obama taught constitutional law makes hime more qualified than anyone running for the White house. How does getting shot down make you a hero or qualify you for president. How does being able to shoot a moose qualify you for VP. Obama has a Harvard Law degree, was a civil rights lawyer, taught law, was a community organizer a state senator and a U.S senator. Getting beat up in a POW camp for 5 years just makes you crazy.

- hkirkend

September 19, 2008 at 11:16am

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This post is very clearly bias. That is the problem, if you have a swayed mind already when you write somethings, of course it will mention the things, that in your opinion, the canadate you are dis-pleased with has done. The truth is, ALL the candidates have problems, mis-truths, and as far as expereinces, she has it, so does Barrack. The far greater question is who has done, in thier career, what I agree with. This article is way off track and I am not impressed, I dont know who would be, because I am republican who likes to read demoncratic pieces to be understanding of how others feel. The article to me, seems as if someone just took how they felt and made it seem like fact, with little fact to back it up. Hope veryone will read this and then read something with a better content and not take a bias article to heart!

- Becca

September 19, 2008 at 11:17am

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why is everyone on the left and MSM questions Sarah Palin's experience and not Obama's??? I would take Palin over Obama, Biden and even McCain anyday!!!! She was a mayor (4 years) and a Governor (2years), and those are EXECUTIVE positions. Last I check, in those positions, she had to make decisions herself and she alone reposnsible for the outcome, good or bad. This alone, I believe, is the best experience one has in order to become president because it built character. On the other hand, senators and congressmen generally BS and vote without taking any repsonsibility. When was the last time or how many bills you see with only one name attached to it?? SO please no more garbage about Sarah's inexperience. If I ask you to name one who was young,40 something, loved to hunt, had lots of children, was a governor, and ran for vice president... who would you name? I'm sure Sarah Palin comes to mind but not the only one. The answer is Teddy Roosevelt!!!

- diqiti

September 19, 2008 at 11:17am

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Just another Palin hater. The real problem is that Palin has more executive experience and accomplishments than empty suit Obama, who is merely a pawn for the radical left. Sorry but you have just revealed your true colors and dug even a deeper hole for the scum liberal media in this country.

- Harold

September 19, 2008 at 11:18am

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Just another Palin hater. The real problem is that Palin has more executive experience and accomplishments than empty suit Obama, who is merely a pawn for the radical left. Sorry but you have just revealed your true colors and dug even a deeper hole for the scum liberal media in this country.

- Harold

September 19, 2008 at 11:18am

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Why do some people assume that they can help their argument by changing letters around to create a funny spelling. "Dgimmicrat" "DemoRats" Seriously?

- rutherfurd

September 19, 2008 at 11:20am

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My big concern with Palin isn't the Quayle comparison, as scary as that is. Quayle isn't the only one who was laughably lauded for his ability to "ask questions" and "be engaged." That's also the exact sort of praise they were heaping on W when questions were raised about HIS preparedness. And we all know how tht turned out.

- miceelf

September 19, 2008 at 11:21am

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By the way, is anyone else here disappointed to find that well-established & respected commentators -- like Chait -- are writing articles with strong conclusions which rely upon weak or even contradictory evidence & argumentation? I think this gets down to the core of what it means to be a "Liberal." Liberalism, in some sense, is about reaching the "correct" conclusion. These conclusions might change over time, so are temporally derived, and not universally true. But this means that a true Liberal's argumentation is NEVER going to dictate the final summary. The two are not even necessarily related, because the arguments & evidence are just a prop to give the conclusion the appearance of legitimacy. So, Liberal positions cannot be said to be syllogisms, in the classic form of: "If A, then B; If B, then C: A, therefore C." In other words, Liberalism is not a set of propositions that are logically inevitable, or need even be intellectually tenable. Instead they are merely political postures meant to gain & hold power, as Machiavelli & Nietzsche wrote about -- a ruthless will to power that is disinterested in ethics & morality. And this gives Liberals the great advantage of not needing to do anything BUT state a conclusion to be accepted by other Liberals. Logic, Proof & Rigor are NO part of the deal! Hence, we have today's piece by Chait. Viva la Socialism, Johnathan !

- Ralf Nemperor

September 19, 2008 at 11:22am

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I find it so hilarious that the MSM keeps comparing Palin, the VP running mate, to Obama, the actual candadite for President. Could it be because they now believe that the Republican ticket finally has somebody on it that Barack Obama can even come close to in experience? Yeah, that's a great strategy, since my experiences don't even hold a candle to my actual opponent, I'm going to try to run against his second in command. By the way if you think about it, Dan Quayle, whom you say is "remembered as a diaster", actually had way more experience than Obama does. So if he was such a disaster as VP imagine how incompotent Obama would be as the actual leader of the free world.

- eire1965

September 19, 2008 at 11:23am

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Oh c'mon, she can see Russia from her house.

- Q

September 19, 2008 at 11:25am

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"lack of experience, his empty rhetoric, his flip-flopping, and his "celebrity" Geez Jonathan, did you forget that he has a funny sounding name and doesn't look like our money? Or - possibly that he is the monstrous creation of a nasty truce between the Chicago Machine and the radical undercurrent of South Side identity politics? Right On, Jonathan!

- rhodeymark

September 19, 2008 at 11:26am

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All of you who think you know it all and think McLame and Kelly Bundy are gonna win just need to wait and see.

- INDEPENDENT VOTER

September 19, 2008 at 11:27am

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This piece is striking for one reason, above all others: You have tacitly admitted that you Obama supporters have lost the experience argument. The proof? You have attempted to change the terms of the argument. You realize that two years as governor (even of a state as "atypical" and inconsequential, apparently, as Alaska) is more executive experience than even 36 years as a senator or two years of running for president. So now you are altering the argument to say that Obama is somehow more experienced than Palin because he has spent more time thinking about being president. How utterly vapid. I can spend all the time in the world thinking about how to run a business or, say, quarterback an NFL offense. It doesn't mean I am qualified to do either. Your argument also runs into the same wall of logic: You cannot argue that Obama is qualified to be president because he is more qualified than Palin. Obama's opponent is John McCain. McCain has spent decades thinking about how to be president. He has spent years running for president. And he has served in the Senate far longer than Obama, serving on more influential committees than Obama and sponsored vastly more pieces of significant legislation than Obama. By any measure, McCain is vastly more experienced than Obama to be president and to hit the ground running. And you, Mr. Chait, need to return to whatever influential university that spewed you and brush up on your reasoning skills.

- JB

September 19, 2008 at 11:28am

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I am amused that said "look to the polls", or that the Media focus is helping McCain the in polls. Well, you all obviously havent checked the polls lately. After McCains VP Pick/Convention bumb, Obama/Biden are back in the lead in almost EVERY poll, with a few being tied. One poll which had Mccain 10 pts ahead now has Obama 5 pts. A 15 point swing. I think the Palin love has worn off, now that more people know the truth.

- Chris NY

September 19, 2008 at 11:28am

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The problem with Palin is much more simple: this is a girl that had to transfer four or five times just to get a Bachelor's degree? Does middle America really want a Vice President that's even less intelligent than they are?

- ceejay

September 19, 2008 at 11:28am

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As mayor of a tiny town, she supported making rape victims pay for police forensics work. When the state asked them to stop, she did nothing. The state legislature had to pass a law to get them to stop. If you don't know charging rape victims for police services is wrong, you have no business being a heartbeat away from the presidency.

- michael

September 19, 2008 at 11:29am

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did you read the article? or do you just post for the sake of it?

- heather

September 19, 2008 at 11:30am

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I wonder why people are putting so much on the "experience thing", it's so dumb. No body held the presiden's Office before, hence nobody has a president's experience. No wonder why the americans have Bush as their prez for eight years. Alas! America had a lot of so called "experienced" presidents over the past decades, but not a leader who could lead the free world.

- Outsider

September 19, 2008 at 11:31am

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I just don't understand when conservatives get so ruffled when a LIBERAL magazine comes out with a negative article about one of your candidates. Biased media has been around since the creation of our democracy. I don't believe I have ever seen this magazine admit that they were an unbiased organization. Don't worry...Liberals do the same thing with conservative biased media as well. Everyone just relax! Read, inform yourself..and make a decision you feel is best for the country. And if you don't like what the article says, don't read it. It does this country no good to squabble and make such negative comments as "No one with any real sense cares what you think," posted by Virginia Womyn. Do you really believe that all liberals don't have any sense, and all conservatives do? I truely feel sorry for you!

- Crave

September 19, 2008 at 11:35am

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Listen Chait, Chuck or whatever your name is... If anyone is Dan Quayle in this story than this is Joey "from Scranton" Biden. Palin is new Thacher and Obama is Jimmy Carter.

- Frederik

September 19, 2008 at 11:37am

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Palin said she put the state jet on eBay - and she did. The fact that it did not sell on eBay does not make the story a lie. It was sold through a broker (the more traditional way) because nobody met the minimum bid on eBay.

- Hillary Rules

September 19, 2008 at 11:39am

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This article is typical of a communist rag. Leave your opinions for the editorial section.

- ed

September 19, 2008 at 11:39am

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I think I've said this on several talkbacks, Palin is a nice governor for Alaska. She got elected so you have to give her credit for that. Alaskins are obviously okay with a governor who fires a commissioner for not firing her ex-brother-in-law and then stonewalls the bi-partisan investigative party and shoots at wolves from a plane and actually supports legislation to reward this activity. If leaving your hometown with millions of dollars of debt and supporting and then not supporting a "Bridge to No Where" is okay with Alaskins then who are we to judge?

- Fulltime Observer

September 19, 2008 at 11:39am

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Really disagree. Palin is an outstanding, experienced leader. Obama is a celeb wanna be.

- Pd

September 19, 2008 at 11:40am

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There is a side to Sarah Palin that you have omitted. She is actually an expert on energy policy, having served for a number of years on the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission. She is also the current Chairman of the Oil and Gas Interstate Compact, which has its headquarters in Oklahoma City. As Governor, she has also led a very tough fight to build the natural gas pipeline from Alaska to the lower 48. This shows courage and vision. She is qualified to serve as a leader in the fight for energy security for the USA. This is certainly one of the top priorities for the next administration.

- OKbirder

September 19, 2008 at 11:41am

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The best part of Sunday service are the moral values that my kids learn, foremost among these is the importance of telling the truth. I am so very disappointed with the half-truths and outright lies that are being told by McCain and Palin. I tell my kids to always tell the truth. The damage from a painful truth is smaller than that from a lie. I used to admire McCain for his boldness and openness, but no more. For the past month everything that I here from his campaign is at best a distortion of the truth. I do not know what he really stands for anymore. I can't vote for the Dems for I will sit this one out.

- Lies, Lies, And More Lies

September 19, 2008 at 11:42am

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So what say ye ole blind people who thinks Palin is qualified for VP and even President. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel clearly stated yesterday that it is a stretch to call Palin qualified. He also said that it is an insult to the American people to assert such nonsense. Those folks who are not insulted by this lie is willing to vote for anything or anybody to keep from voting for a Black candidate. You don't like Black folks plain and simple. You will feel better if you just confess it and move on with your life. Oh, I forgot, some of your best friends are Black.

- Willie

September 19, 2008 at 11:44am

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So what say ye ole blind people who thinks Palin is qualified for VP and even President. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel clearly stated yesterday that it is a stretch to call Palin qualified. He also said that it is an insult to the American people to assert such nonsense. Those folks who are not insulted by this lie is willing to vote for anything or anybody to keep from voting for a Black candidate. You don't like Black folks plain and simple. You will feel better if you just confess it and move on with your life. Oh, I forgot, some of your best friends are Black.

- Willie

September 19, 2008 at 11:44am

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I do not understand why people keep saying Obama has no or little experience. If you include the years he was an Illinois State Senator, he was in the Senate for Eleven years. Obama held assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans' Affairs through December 2006. In January 2007, he left the Environment and Public Works committee and took additional assignments with Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama has made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. He has sponsored several bills, many of them bipartisan. Obama introduced two initiatives bearing his name: "Lugar–Obama," which expanded the Nunn–Lugar cooperative threat reduction concept to conventional weapons, and the "Coburn–Obama Transparency Act," which authorized the establishment of USAspending.gov, a web search engine on federal spending. On June 3, 2008, Senator Obama, along with Senators Carper, Coburn and McCain, introduced follow-up legislation: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008.]

- Donna S

September 19, 2008 at 11:46am

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You just looking for any reason to whine, look at the State by State polls and we on the "right side" of things just smile as you far left American haters twist in the wind with your uber-Liberal candidate once again going down in the scrap heap of history. I hope you and the rest of your far left socilists DO ACTUALY leave America this time when we kck your America bashing butts back to the wall in Germany. Maybe the 20,ooo peole that REAL AMERICANS do not care about will give you a space to sleep on the floor while they and thier socilist friends sip coffee and work 30 hours and week and pay 80% taxes for crap health care and "socilized" services. We'll be just fine here without you and yours. Please take the "President of The World" with you and his fake Presidential airplane and podium seal, and his anti-American retoric... Shara Palin rocks and will help us win AGAIN.

- Mark Garnett

September 19, 2008 at 11:48am

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You are an idiot. McCain/Palin are all about lies and themselves, not Country First. When have you actually heard details of WHAT & HOW they are going to help regular people? They can't even answer a question when asked, especially Palin. IF those 2 get in the WH...GOD help us!

- Deborah

September 19, 2008 at 11:48am

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The description of engagement in national and international affairs hits it right on the mark. I support Obama, even though based purely on resume it is a leap from his current position to the presidency. I am willing to make the leap because I see him as a serious person, not an idealogue, who has spent his life engaged in policy issues. That combined with excellent political skills can make for a good president. Palin is the opposite- apparently uninformed, unengaged, but idealogical. That, as we know, is a dangerous combination.

- Mark

September 19, 2008 at 11:49am

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He IS old

- Deborah

September 19, 2008 at 11:49am

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I don't understand why the pick of Palin in any way is the beginning of your argument of: why you shouldn't like Obama. Faulty logic if you ask me. The Palin pick has nothing to do with Obama. If you were and are an Obama supporter, so be it. The independent voter, (the ones that haven't made up their minds) that's where this pick is aimed at, not you (or me for that matter).

- Al

September 19, 2008 at 11:51am

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the logic that obama is experienced or engaged because he "has a long standing interest in national and (to a lesser extent)international issues" is like suggesting someone who has never started a business is an entrepreneur because they have thought about all the issues an entrepreneur encounters. The truth is Obama has never had to make a decision and be accountable for the results, particularly, the unintended consequences. For the "intellectual leader" assumptions are always right and the solutions always work. Unfortunately, as any governor,CEO or small business owner knows, the real world does not work that way.

- brad

September 19, 2008 at 11:52am

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I love all of the right wing rhetoric. The amazing thing to me is thay they so parrot the words and thoughts of Fox news (AKA BBC -Bush Broadcasting Company). Terms like "elitist", "liberal media", and especially my favoriteL "mainstream media" astound me. These people are using these terms to frame their arguments in such a way as to attempt to shift the press away from the real issues. I was personally amazed at the choice of Palin, whom I immediately coined Danielle Quayle. You have got it right-on! It was very cynical and insulting to choose this stewardess instead of a more qualified woman (or man). Remember, she is only one 72 year old cancer survivor away from declaring war on Russia! Oh, I forgot, she knows all about Russia because she can see it from her back yard......

- edward

September 19, 2008 at 11:53am

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RE: "Ever since John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, I've gotten confused about all the reasons I'm supposed to dislike Barack Obama. The previous reasons, in rough chronological order, were his lack of experience, his empty rhetoric, his flip-flopping, and his "celebrity." --- You forgot he is an ultra-liberal, disingenuous person, without the judgement to be president. But mostly, it's the ultra-liberal thing. Oh yeah, 50% of America is anti-abortion, while Obama is as pro-abortion as you can get.

- TheDudesBlog

September 19, 2008 at 11:55am

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I agree with MountainEcho. Sarah Palin is the least prepared VP candidate in the history of American politics. She has never shown any interest in foreign policy, the chief job of any president, or in any serious domestic policy issues, other than drilling for more oil in Alaska regardless of the danger to the environment. Selecting her may help McCain solidify his base with "know-nothing, don't confuse me with the facts" voters, but it is shameful nonetheless. There are at least ten million Americans more qualified than she is for national office. Country first, my ass. Her husband was even a member of a secessionist party, with whom she expressed solidarity! Being governor of the only state in America which pays its citizens to live there is hardly experience that comes close to balancing a budget. And the more we learn, she did a terrible job! Talk about cronyism! To be appointed in Alaska, you just had to be nice to SP in high school. Give me a break. This selection basically says that McCain will do or say anything at all to become president. Shame on him. I have lost all respect for the man. And I believe it will backfire. Most Republicans I know now have serious qualms about their ticket...she scares anyone with any intelligence.

- Sensible Centrist

September 19, 2008 at 11:55am

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The more appropriate historical comparison is Spiro Agnew. Nixon, a moderate on social issues (wage controls, creation of the EPA,etc.) needed to 1) shore up his credentials among the rightist wing of his party, and 2) get an attack dog to go after the D's and their supposed media allies. So he reached past all the other more qualified Republican contenders and selected a little-known governor of a small state. And Ted fit the bill admirably -- unless the shady dealings in his administration brought him low and he had to resign. Sound familiar so far? Politically, let's be clear -- VP candidates don't doom the nominee or guarantee victory. the one thing the successful No. 2's do is stoke the fires in that part of the party base that doesn't trust the nominee. That's what Quayle did for 41, that's what Gore did for Clinton, that's what Cheney did for 43, and early indications are that's what both the Mouth from the First State and America's Newest Sweetheart from the Frozen North are doing for their No. 1s. It's a cop-out to say the VP pick dragged Dukakis, Dole, Gore,etc. down -- they would have lost in any case. The one possible exception in my lifetime might be again 1968 -- but only because on the D side all the usual rules went out the window when LBJ punted. Interesting to speculate what might have happened if, in an attempt to solidify the party reeling from Bobby Kennedy's assassination, Humphrey would have passed over Ed Muskie and picked the Dan Quayle of his age, Ted Kennedy (a year before Chappaquidick...)

- uppermacbob

September 19, 2008 at 11:57am

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You have forgotten all the non-sensical and, at times, downright stupid comments that the inexperienced Senator Obama made during the Democratic primary debates. His only claim to "presidential" experience now is that he has been running for the office and his hundreds of advisors have honed an almost rational message for him. Obama and Biden are establishment Democrat hacks who will take money from anyone if they believe they can get away with it (including Freddies Mack, etc.) and blame everyone else when their troubles arise. McCain and Palin have said NO to corruption in their respective spheres. You shouldn't care much beyond that regarding policy. Checks and balances and bureaucratic inertia will limit executive range for the most part. You should be deeply concerned that the cess-pool of Chicago (and Delaware) politics will be in the White house along with BO and JB, the "go along to get along" boys. Their initial decisions can be influenced by whatever gets them ahead. Even as a lifelong registered Democrat, I'll take honorable and honest executives over that any time, even if they're in the Republican party.

- Catdaddio42

September 19, 2008 at 11:57am

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I keep wondering how anyone continues to believe that being the Mayor (aka official ribbon cutter) for a little town in Alaska is preparation for presidency. How can being a governor of a state that has a smaller population than most major US cities and for ONLY 2 years qualify her? The first thing the VP or Presidential candidate will have to do is take an oath of office to uphold the constitution. What experience or even knowledge does she have in this area? Obama has 12 years as a professor of constitutional law! That is a mighty big qualification many people here are overlooking. Some act as though the only thing Obama has done since school is work as a community organizer, I believe they need to take a good look at the whole resume. It is much more impressive than that of Palin. Put all the elite bulllsh** aside and think do you want a beauty queen governor with a 2.0 GPA making decision for you and you family or would you rather have a well educated and accomplished Senator? I personally will take the Senator any day. Of course let’s compare apples to apples right? She is running for VP. The GOP continues to compare her experience to Obama because if they try to compare to Biden she can’t hold a candle to the DECADES of experience he has!!! Get smart people and if you can’t at least elect someone who IS!

- Gina Gandhi

September 19, 2008 at 11:58am

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I am not an American but I have watched the American Presidential election with envy for my country. Just for its extremism and yet without violence. The candidates are challenging each other but without getting babaric. I see the forthcoming US election as an opportunity for America and its next President to right the things that are currently wrong with the World. The hate or love America syndrom was suspended on "911" - whether contrived as a strategy to attack Iraq or genuinely contrived by Osama bin Laden, before then the business partner of the Carlyle Group. Interestingly, American officials seem to be in a hurry to hide the memories and anniversaries of 911 from the rest of the sympathetic world. This is an oddity considering that the The War Against Terror remains an unfinished business. Obama and McCain are the prime candidates whose statements and positions matter in this election, not the cow-towing positions of Sarah Palin or Jo Biden. They will follow their Commander In Chief, either to make Peace or go to War. McCain talks tough on War. Obama talks soft on reconciliation with Iraq, Iran and other perceived enemies of the United States. If any candidate will mobilise the world towards the path of Peace, Obama is the more likely candidate. America is recently reviving the cold war and mobilising NATO against Russia. The whole world is interested in who the next American President is going to be. McCain's heroism in Vietnam or his additional adventures anywhere in the world will not help NATO or America. Better for American voters to elect a Commander in Chief that will see America spending less on War, making more friends abroad, and fixing the Econonmy and other things that humanity expect for the next millennium. Further War and a disastrous foreign policy will only revive the flames of polarisation that climaxed in 911. If building an empire through war was such a good idea, we would all be either speaking Latin, Greek or Persian languages today as a global language. The days of empire building by force is dead. Vote McCain and delay World Peace. America, the choice is yours.

- Tintano

September 19, 2008 at 11:58am

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I keep wondering how anyone continues to believe that being the Mayor (aka official ribbon cutter) for a little town in Alaska is preparation for presidency. How can being a governor of a state that has a smaller population than most major US cities and for ONLY 2 years qualify her? The first thing the VP or Presidential candidate will have to do is take an oath of office to uphold the constitution. What experience or even knowledge does she have in this area? Obama has 12 years as a professor of constitutional law! That is a mighty big qualification many people here are overlooking. Some act as though the only thing Obama has done since school is work as a community organizer, I believe they need to take a good look at the whole resume. It is much more impressive than that of Palin. Put all the elite bulllsh** aside and think do you want a beauty queen governor with a 2.0 GPA making decision for you and you family or would you rather have a well educated and accomplished Senator? I personally will take the Senator any day. Of course let’s compare apples to apples right? She is running for VP. The GOP continues to compare her experience to Obama because if they try to compare to Biden she can’t hold a candle to the DECADES of experience he has!!! Get smart people and if you can’t at least elect someone who IS!

- gina gandhi

September 19, 2008 at 12:00pm

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I wonder if this foolish commentator, who pretends that Barack Obama has "answered all the questions", truly realizes he's referring to himself. Obama hasn't had a hardball question lobbed at him in two years. Meanwhile, Palin seems to have no problem answering the questions of 86% of Alaskans who approve of her job performance, while Obama's been busy campaigning and "cultivating his interest in international affairs." What a joke. Also, did anyone remind you - before you wrote this article - that Dan "You're No John Kennedy" Quayle won his election versus Lloyd "Practically Joe Biden" Bentsen?

- Jay

September 19, 2008 at 12:00pm

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1) all this time I thought Palin was a VP candidate and Obama was a Pres candidate. Good thing liberals have set me right. Now I know they're running against each other. 2) Obama's advisors said "take the old white guy (Biden) it's safe and the right thing to do" and he did. Awhile later McCain's advisors said "take the old white guy (Romney) it's safe and the right thing to do" and he showed some spine and didn't and WOW are the libs pissed off! Not with Obama for being afraid of a strong woman (Hillary) and choosing the safe old white guy because Obama is beyond critique - they're pissed at McCain, at Palin, at God, at babies, at their neighbors, at having to get up and live every day. It's like throwing a rock in a wasp nest. 3) I love politica and our process but whether Obama wins or McCain wins I'll be the same person and just as happy either way come late November. My liberal friends will be even more intolerant and unhappy if McCain wins. I say this from the bottom of my heart to all my liberal friends "If McCain win's please be true to your word and move to Canada or Europe this time. I'll come visit and for once in a long time you'll be happy and at peace. We'll have a great time and I'll have a place to stay.

- John Galt

September 19, 2008 at 12:03pm

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So what say ye ole blind people who thinks Palin is qualified for VP and even President. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel clearly stated yesterday that it is a stretch to call Palin qualified. He also said that it is an insult to the American people to assert such nonsense. Those folks who are not insulted by this lie is willing to vote for anything or anybody to keep from voting for a Black candidate. You don't like Black folks plain and simple. You will feel better if you just confess it and move on with your life. Oh, I forgot, some of your best friends are Black.

- Willie

September 19, 2008 at 12:03pm

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Excellent article. They got away with fooling the people 20 years ago and in the past 8 years. They succeeded in stealing the election in 2000 using Bushes brother and the Supreme Court appointed by Bushes Father.That will not happen time. Mcsame is unstable mentally. This man's temperament is dangerous. I would not trust him with the black box. Sarah Palin is a simple fraud like other GOP crooks from Alaska. They will not game the people this time.

- DBT

September 19, 2008 at 12:03pm

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When America is done with this election, McCain/Palin will be in the WH. Wall Street will learn what it means to clean up, and it will finally be time for us Americans to turn our collective attention to the corruption and leftist takeover of the pro-Socialist media vehicle. For years, Academia, the Mainstream Media and Hollyood have attempted to dictate the affairs of this nation. This can no longer be tolerated. The idealogues who have infiltrated education and the entertainment and information industries need to learn, for once and for all, that they are out of touch with the big, strong and indomitable heart of America and her core values. We will change you. We will destroy your smugness, your complacence and your egregious abuse of free speech. This election cycle, the media went too far. The bias and disgusting proselytizing in the name of "news" was evident. The ridiculously friendly slant towards the far left was noted. Obama was touted. McCain was ignored. Palin was attacked. Many people will remember. And those who begin to forget, will not be allowed to forget. Wait. We, the American people, are the ones you unscrupulous media idealogues have been waiting for. Enough.

- Julian Damanas

September 19, 2008 at 12:04pm

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Stupid article. Showing a picture of Palin next to Quayle says it all: You have no interest in taking a fair look at this woman's record. Just one example: earmarks. As Governor of a state it is right and proper to seek federal funding. Why not? The fact that her views have evolved over time and she has asked for less is a point in her favor that you conveniently forget to mention. Meanwhile, let's look at Mr. Obama. As a U.S. Senator he has a fiduciary responsibility to the entire country, not just one state. As a Washingont insider he has privileged access to federal funding and must not abuse that privilege. And yet, he has asked for $740 million in earmarks for IL including over a million for his wife's employer. That is somewhere between 3 and 5 times what Palin has asked for.

- Heather

September 19, 2008 at 12:04pm

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Your first paragraph got it wrong. The problem with Obama is soooo basic: his proposals are left of left and won't work. The alleged 5% who would pay taxes won't be enough to cover his proposals. He's against allowing inner city kids stuck in poor schools to get vouchers to private schools (even though his kids are in private schools). He's a hypocrite. He's against resuscitating a baby accidentally born alive in an abortion. That's why you should be opposed to him. Flip-flopping and having no executive experience is just the tip of the iceberg!

- leanright

September 19, 2008 at 12:07pm

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These foolish, sexist attacks on Sarah Palin will not work. Everytime I hear her, she sounds far more articulate and knowledgable than Barack Obama. She certainly has more real-world accomplishments, leadership experience, and a far greater record of reform than Obama. Not only that, but she speaks without a teleprompter - Obama is glued to his, even on the road. If Sarah Palin is so bad, why is she so popular in Alaska, the State she governs?

- MarleneOhio

September 19, 2008 at 12:07pm

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I don't think we've heard the last of Palin. Elitists have been writing her off from the get go, so there is really nothing new here. The fact that she has held her own against the most vicious onslaught of so-called journalists speaks volumes to her abilities. Time will tell, but the public still has a highly favorable view of her, and that will not likely change regardless of which tempest in a teapot the MSM decides to focus on. She remains an extremely strong candidate.

- Micky

September 19, 2008 at 12:08pm

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Wow. I am not sure I've read a more partisan article in a hot second. Everything about Sarah Palin concerns you, but none of the far more egregious character questions about Barak Obama worry you at all?

- Brent

September 19, 2008 at 12:11pm

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As a Republican until today I am not a commie or liberal and I will vote for Obama. I just can't vote for a man McCain who is changing every position he has ever had. McCain 2000 I would have happily voted for. It is sad that the Republicans are trying to win a 3rd straight election on scare tactics and just garbage thrown at their opposition. I hope Obama throws as much dirt back at them they deserve it. And please stop the Palin talk she is an even bigger joke then Quayle was and I am from Indiana. I am an expert on Kentucky I guess because you can see part of it from Indiana. Are people really going to fall for this BS for a 3rd straight election I don't think so but who knows. Lastly don't believe that Indiana will be a slam dunk for McCain it will not be I promise that. Indiana Republican for Obama

- Joe

September 19, 2008 at 12:13pm

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NO to SARAH PALIN! see The Complete Book of the Collected Wisdom of Sarah Palin: In Her Own Words for an enlightening view on what she believes.

- susanwilliams

September 19, 2008 at 3:24pm

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Palin's popularity is waning and her negatives are climbing. People are realizing that behind that chirpy everywoman exterior is a small-minded politician of very limited intellectual ability, experience, and competence. As attention turns to the serious issues that this election should and MUST be about, the smart and savvy ticket of Obama-Biden gains momentum. This is going to be a close one but right now it's breaking for the Democrats. One can be sure, however, that something completely unpredictable will influence the race.

- ProfPaul

September 19, 2008 at 3:27pm

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In your first paragraph, when listing the reasons of concern about Sen. Obama, you forgot to list ties to William Ayers, Pastor Wright, the Chicago web of political corruption, Tony Rezco.....the media has forgotten these connections while sending dozens of lawyers to Alaska to dig dirt on Gov. Palin. Follow up article please?

- Mary

September 19, 2008 at 3:28pm

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Great comment.

- pep

September 19, 2008 at 3:30pm

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bla bla bla LIBERAL MEDIA bla bla bla yada yada MSM SUX noise noise noise Elite Journlists bla bla bla PALIN CAN SEE RUSSIA!

- JTS

September 19, 2008 at 3:32pm

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Ok, seriously. Check out the latest Marris polls in PA: Palin: Women: 41% favorable, 44% UNFAVORABLE Biden: Women: 57% favorable, 22% unfavorable Palin has a net negative among women in PA. And this poll was at the peak of McCain's convention boost (9/11 - 9/15). In other polls, she's basically a wash. Practically speaking, Palin undercuts so many of McCains criticisms of Obama she seems like a poor choice.

- JTS

September 19, 2008 at 3:40pm

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Im sorry but now Im confused ,you want me to believe in your choice Obama even after the second most liber newspaper in the United States panned him? I dont know if you took the time to read[or for that matter if you indeed do read and or if you even bother to read anything unfavorable about the man] the article in Boston.com titled "Obamas failed housing legacy" It was quite interesting in that it followed his being led[ as a newly elected rep. in Illinois] by the Daily machine into dumping public works from the upkeep of pubic housing and farming it out to private concerns.Nice idea maby but who gets the contracts...his buddy Tony [the slumlord] Rezco and others [who now work in his election campaign] that they had NO Experience as contractors didnt matter! After bilking Freddy Mac and the taxpayers for MILLIONS the Federal govt. closed the housing for items such as raw sewage in living areas,live bare wires exposed in living areas and rat infestations!!1 Why this does not ire and liberals is beyond me.That Mr.Obama would sell out poor inercity folks and award millions of dollars for work that wasnt done,costing those pepole a place to stay is frankly just more of the old Chicago backdoor crap politics we have seen to much of and his claim "I didnt know" rings as hollow as his excuses for his pastor, and his "bomb boy" friend Mr.Ayers. I was a democrat who voted for and worked localy for every presidental election since MCGovern but IM off the bus on this one!DO your own research and find out just how just and honest Mr.Obama is dont take my word for it ..look it up and youll see is not "change we can believe in" just more Chicago insider " SUPER FLY " politics where he and his cronies are "trying to get over" even if its on the backs of the poor inner city folks he claims to ant to help. And besides helping people like Mr.Rezco rip off fanny may and freddy mac iswhat put us into the financial mess were in now.Look into your Mr.Obama before you take that glass of kool aid...........

- andrew robitaille

September 19, 2008 at 3:44pm

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If Palin had precisely the same credentials (and looks) but was a pro choice democrat, Chait would be saying how charismatic, capable, and joyful she was. Left wing pundits have an agenda. They almost never criticize their own. Obama is neither experienced not suited to be president. He does not have the temperament. Besides Lyndon was our very worst with the possible exception of Jimmy Carter and he was as qualified as anyone in history. Lee Tabin

- lee tabin

September 19, 2008 at 3:48pm

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I checked the earmarks information on Alaska and other states on-line. It is true that per capita, Alaska is number one in the USA for earmarks. But that method of reporting the information has a certain bias to it. Alaska is one of the smallest states in population. When reporting earmarks by total dollars received, Alaska is tenth. One can also think of this matter in regards to infrastructure and the size of a state -- a state, what, twice as large as Texas? -- might need some extra infrastructure dollars to place it on a better footing. If I am not mistaken, even Palin's opponents admit that she changed the atmosphere in Alaskan politics, and did reduce the amount of earmarks that came there. Probably in most circumstances that would be hearlded by many as a brave thing to do when it comes to descresing financial advantages coming your own direction.

- thinker

September 19, 2008 at 3:49pm

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It isn't 1954 anymore, old white people. The implication of 'socialism' does nothing. Get up to speed, please.

- RyanD.

September 19, 2008 at 3:50pm

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Well said. Lets not forget Obama set out to become a celebrity, his world tour, the props for his convention speech etc. Whereas Palin became newsworthy because a large fraction of the population liked what she said about the issues and the leftists, fearing she might garner too much support for McCain, hounded her and her family in an extremely malicious manner. If even 10% of the mud slung at Palin and her family had been aimed at Obama and his family the leftists would have been filing lawsuits making wild claims all over the country by now.

- Gizelle

September 19, 2008 at 3:52pm

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Go Sarah! It's not unraveling at all. In fact, it's just beginning. You'll have to deal with her for years to come, so you'd better get used to her. She is a real person, not some conjured, angry, sad lawyer or academician. Thank God.

- Gigantus

September 19, 2008 at 3:52pm

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On January 20, 2009, John McCain and Sarah Palin will be sworn in as the president and vice president, respectively. No amount of smears, lawyer airdrops in Alaska, or outright lies by the Obama/Biden whining tour will stop it. Americans can see who the best leaders will be, and it ain't the community organizer and serial plagerizer.

- Volkmeister

September 19, 2008 at 3:59pm

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Wonder why my post did not show up earlier, but now 50 others have. Obama = Quayle 1. according to Obama, we have 58 states as he has visited 57 and has 1 to go 2. Obama suggested (after 24 hrs to think about it) having the U.N. Security Council handle the Russia : Georgia incident apparently forgetting that Russia has veto power. 3. Obama redrew the map of the U.S. to show Arkansas closer to Kentucky than Illnois to explain why Clinton was doing better than him in Kentucky. 4. I've lost count of how many times he has said the wrong name of the city he was in while speaking. His main accomplishment seems to be being able to read well from a teleprompter.

- Leroy

September 19, 2008 at 4:02pm

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Wow, Mark! You said: "Maybe the 20,ooo peole that REAL AMERICANS do not care about will give you a space to sleep on the floor while they and thier socilist friends sip coffee and work 30 hours and week and pay 80% taxes for crap health care and "socilized" services." But I could not understand you at all. Take a breath, guy.

-

September 19, 2008 at 4:03pm

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She said she SOLD the plane on eBay. The lies, people, the lies, Haven't you all had enough of the lying yet?

- BinB

September 19, 2008 at 4:05pm

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"Republican intelligentsia" will join the ranks of great oxymorons of the new millenium.

- Michael H Weems

September 19, 2008 at 4:09pm

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Wow, another elite, oh sorry (I forgot my manners), sound journalistic opinion on Sarah Palin. The media hate machine can't contain themselves when it comes to Sarah Palin. Barak Obama has been in the U.S. Senate for 3 years. Two of which he's been absent from D.C. or actually the Senate building, running for President. Just when did Obama have time to gain a wealth of knowledge or even work across party lines for successful bi-partisan legislation? Joe Biden, Obama's VP pick, has been in the Senate for 36 years. How many enacted laws is Biden credited with having authored? Assuming there are some, giving him the benefit of doubt considering the length of his senate career. How long did it take Biden to get his legislation passed into Law, and with whose help, or assitance? Are the American people to believe Barak Obama was so masterful his first and only full working year in the Senate so to overcome, supercede, the usually slow and tedious legislative process of the Congress? Enough is Enough with regards to the snide personal attacks against Gov. Sarah Palin by the majority in the media!

- FemaleVoter

September 19, 2008 at 4:12pm

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Your ignorance,as is the case with most right-wing idiots, is astonishing. Go to college and learn what communism is. Perhaps then you will choose not to make clear your stupidity!

- J Ruben

September 19, 2008 at 4:12pm

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This guy is still writing articles!! Hah! I guess any old liberal can write nonsense for the New Republic! And from the comments here, people will believe just about anything. Obama is the best candidate since......Stalin!

- contracowboy

September 19, 2008 at 4:16pm

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JB, How can you say dems have changed the terms of the "experience" argument? The republicans- overtly, obviously- changed the terms after Palin was selected; specifically, the term "experience" to the term "executive experience". A month ago, if you had done a google search on that phrase you'd have found a bunch of links to resumes of unemployed CFOs. Today, you'll find links to (mostly republican) comments about Sarah Palin. Nobody used the qualifier "executive" to demean Obama's experience a month ago. Nobody (excepting some fringe blogs) uses that qualifier to demean McCain's (legislative only) experience now. It is without a doubt the republicans who are guilty of starting this round of context shifting (though some foolish dem talking heads have taken the bait and are now trying to play catch-up in the hypocrisy race). Being mayor of Wasilla, Alaska is, technically, executive experience, but the subject matter of that position holds little overlap with national and international policy-making. Governorship of Alaska for a brief period doesn't bolster the argument that much. Were it not for predispositions to defend a chosen side, This injection of the "executive" qualifier would seem absurd. Or, to put it another way, if you redacted names, parties, and places from their resumes, very few republicans would opt for Palin's over Obama's on experience alone. Similarly, very few democrats would choose Obama's resume over McCain's. By CV alone, both groups would opt for a president Biden. Which should show you how much this silly line of argument distorts the picture, right?

- DB

September 19, 2008 at 4:17pm

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Because she pays them about $3000.00 a piece from government coffers.

-

September 19, 2008 at 4:21pm

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Liar! Using a photoshopped pic of Quayle and Palin just to make a spurious point!

- rick

September 19, 2008 at 4:39pm

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The only thing I hate about this country is reactionary idiots like Mike Garnett: people who couldn't think straight to save their miserable lives. And, Willie, get a grip: half the whites voted for Obama in the primaries, whereas only 10% of blacks voted for Hilary. So, who hates whom? Also, posting your comments once would have sufficed. Why doesn't TNR delete duplicate posts?

- Ken in Seattle

September 19, 2008 at 4:40pm

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Sarah Palin can't even defend her own email--there's no way she can defend this country.

- /b/ 4ever

September 19, 2008 at 4:57pm

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"As a Republican until today I am not a commie or liberal and I will vote for Obama. I just can't vote for a man McCain who is changing every position he has ever had." Hey Joe, You don`t have a dog in this fight if you can`t vote for a man who changes positions on issues. Obama has chunked a legion of policy positions and friends under the bus. McCain is no conservative, but he`s all we`ve got unless you want to be cared for by nanny gov`t from the cradle to the grave.

- Chris

September 19, 2008 at 5:14pm

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Dear Sir, you state "Obama has...answered questions on all those issues in extensive detail." Precisely which Obama are you talking about? I have heard nothing "extensive" from Barack Obama except his incessant chattering about the evil George Bush and his whining and complaining about "change;" a topic which he apparently thought he had a monopoly. Where, for instance, is Obama's "extensive" discussion of his tax plan which promises cuts to 95% of American taxpayers despite plans for spending on everything from education to energy to healthcare to the environment and anything else he thinks will ring a bell with American Marxists. Obama's problem is precisely that he has NOT been extensive. He has been shallow, superficial and cursory and, as his plans for taxation and spending clearly show, disdainful of taxpayers whom he apparently believes are even dumber than you are.

- RealityCheck

September 19, 2008 at 5:29pm

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This article is straight from the democrat talking points. Palin has already made a big difference in unifying the Republican base. The country is waiting now for the debates. Obama was weak at Saddleback. If he displays a lack of directness in the debates, the independents will move to McCain. Those of you on the left need to remember that McCain is the same type of Politician as Bill Clinton. One more thing, if the Democrats lose this election, you need to nominate someone like Phil Bredesen next time. You weaken your hand when you nominate someone that is far left. The country is in the cneter and McCain is, whether you like it or not, in the center. Palin is more center than you think. Americans like her down to earth qualities. She is very real.

- truth justice and american way

September 19, 2008 at 5:32pm

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Iam not an American,but i can put my money that if Obama could be white.there would be no question that he would be the next president of the United states.China and Russia are waitng in the sidelines to become the most powerfull countries on planet when Mclame and the girl win the presidency.They don't look very clever and they will create more enemies than you already have.

- Mouhammed

September 19, 2008 at 5:32pm

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I have never seen such inane comments on this site. The debates are usually very civil on both sides. Palin seems to be as much a magnet for semi-literate psychopath commenters as Tibetan independence was.

- Ben

September 19, 2008 at 5:32pm

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The difference is that the Palins are real people, not the self-hyped, elitist Obama clan, and certainly not the clueless Hollywood bunch, basking in their own perceived self-importance. I swear, if Obama could get away with wearing a gold-leaf crown similar to Caeser's, I really think he would. Before any of you change your votes for Obama, I challenge you to listen to Bill Clinton's idealistic speeches from 1992. It's almost word for word the exact same rhetoric, none of which he (or Gore) did in the 8 years they were in office. He partied like a rock star , pardoned half the criminals in America on the way out, and went to work making tens of $millions for himself by using his influence for the same foreign cronies who put, and kept, him in office in the first place.

- zeekbag

September 19, 2008 at 5:39pm

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I hate all these one-post wonders. Isn't there a way to segregate the thoughtful regular posters from the people (freepers) who linked to this site from some site catering to kool-aid drinkers? The regular conservative posters at this site at least have well though out positions (mostly). Maybe on page of comments for people who have actually paid for a subscription?

- Regana

September 19, 2008 at 5:50pm

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| Posted by ed 17 of 50 | warn tnr | respond This article is typical of a communist rag. Leave your opinions for the editorial section. This is what happens when you let the riff-raff (non-subscribers) like "ed" comment. They don't get that the entire magazine is one big editorial section. It's an OPINION JOURNAL.

-

September 19, 2008 at 6:02pm

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If being a foreign policy wonk was so important then Codaleeza Rice, with her PHD from Stanford and knowledge of Russian should have been a very good Secretary of State. As it is, she has been mediocre at best. We know about Rev Wright ans Bill Ayers, but now Barack has Franklin raines of Fannie Mae fame as one of his chief advisors. What kind of judgement has this man shown. Now Palin's e-mail has been broken into ala Watergate!

- George

September 19, 2008 at 6:06pm

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Ralf Nemperor: Your comments are the dumbest remarks I have read this year and that includes all the inane Ann Coulter columns that I have slogged through. Modern conservatives are far more Machiavellian than liberals are; look at the scorched-earth tactics of Karl Rove, et al. and the vicious lies purveyed by the Swift Boat 527's. Further, you are so fatuous that you apparently don't even know that Jon Chait is a free-trader. Some socialism. Lastly, in your pathetic attempt to indict liberalism, I should think that you would find liberal ideas syllogistic; i.e., that their conclusions are inherent in their premises. In a pluralistic world, imperfect and characterized by limired information, syllogistic thinking is inadequate. Aristotle invented the syllogism and it was a great advance at the time. I profoundly disagree with Bertrand Russell's assessment that the syllogism is essentially worthless because tautological. I read an extremely interesting take on the syllogism a year or two ago by some philosopher - Elizabeth Anscombe, I believe - who demonstrated that even intelligent people could benefit from more syllogistic thinking by giving examples of erroneous conclusions that people came to that did not follow the major and minor premises. That said, there were few advances in logic from Aristotle until Gottlob Frege. It seems that you prefer - as ideologues tend to do - syllogistic politics. Jon Chait has demonstrated how conservatices are anti-empirical, for instance, in favor of smaller government even if bigger government would work better. George Will implausibly lays the same charge on liberals. This works only with unreconstructed liberals and MoveOn.org. types but certainly not for policy wonks like Jon.

- liberal reformer

September 19, 2008 at 6:07pm

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I can't help but notice that, while Mr. Chait's article points out remarkable similarities between Palin and Quayle, critics will mention anything other than what Jonathon wrote about. Great jorb btw, Mr. Chait.

- trog69

September 19, 2008 at 6:23pm

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OKBirder, Sarah Palin is actually not an expert on energy issues, not even in Alaska, much less in America. She served on that oil & gas commission as a political appointee and was there for less than a year. That's one way she made a name for herself, as a whistleblower on the guy who is still chair of Alaska's Republican party (and was using state resources for party business). He hated her until McCain picked her--wouldn't endorse her, didn't even have her picture on the party's web site. Up here in Alaska, we laugh every time we see him cheering her in an audience. Furthermore, although she did push through an agreement to award a license to a Canadian company to build a gas pipeline through Canada (not Alaska, as many prefer), it came with a $500 million present from the State of Alaska as seed money. Most people here think that deal will never happen, at least with that company. Finally, I have a friend who served until recently in her administration who IS an expert on Alaska's energy issues. I asked him what he thought of her as a governor. If it's a few facts on a piece of paper, he said, fine. But that's about it. She continues to overstate how much Alaska contributes in energy resources, and she's cut research and development funds for alternative energy more than once. What she is expert at, as we're all learning up here thanks to the campaign, is exaggerating her accomplishments, lying repeatedly about some of them, and stonewalling the state's investigation into whether she abused her power. She has literally turned over her governor's role to McCain's campaign (one of his lawyers speaks for her on state business.) Thanks to GOP operatives here, every one of the 13 people our Legislature subpoenaed refused to show up today to give their testimony. Now what do you suppose Palin & McCain are so hellbent on hiding? And who does this remind you of? So I guess you could say she's now an expert in Washington politics. Turned out to be a natural at it.

- Sherry

September 19, 2008 at 6:47pm

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Personally I think cynical choices for vp serve a purpose no one seems to be pointing out. How much safer all the presidents must feel when people start to think in terms of: President Spiro Agnew, President Dan Quayle, President Dick Chenney, President Sarah Palin. These are outcomes that would make an atheist start praying.

- your back is covered

September 19, 2008 at 7:19pm

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Dan Quayle was elected Vice President...and that's the objective of running is it not?

- Petey Kay

September 19, 2008 at 7:21pm

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What part of America do you inhabit? Oh, I forfot. It is that part that we call mainstream media elitists who look down on the rest of "ordinary" America. Even after all of the fawning by the liberal left and its refusal to properly vet Obama and ask difficult questions, the American people are finally seeing through the empty rhetoric: audacity of reverend Wright, Bill Ayers, Franklin Raines, mean America, war crimes charges against US military .... It is a vision of change that we do not want.

- Alex T.

September 19, 2008 at 7:32pm

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Aha, you see every right to challenge Palin's credentials but refuse to challenge Obama's credentials at the top of your ticket (the objective press is 80% D and 95% D within the beltway.) How telling. Why should we listen to your rantings and foamings then?

- SeattleBruce

September 19, 2008 at 7:35pm

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McCain has not changed his positions. He still believes in sensible immigration reforms; he still opposes drilling in ANWR; he still would like to stem global warming in a way that makes sense and protects American jobs; he still wants to win in Iraq instead of tucking our tails and run as we did in Vietnam; he has always supported tax cuts to stimulate the economy; he still believes in working across the aisle with the opposition; he still believes in campaign finance reforms.... Shall I go on? Obama, on the other hand, has not for once worked against his own party for the good of the country. Why would you risk the unraveling of the American society by voting for an America-hater?

- Alex T.

September 19, 2008 at 7:46pm

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TNR used to be a respectable publication but has sadly become just another leftist rag intent on getting Obama elected. This and other articles of similar ilk caused my husband to cancel our subscription this year after having been been loyal readers for over 35 years. I fully supported the decision. When you're losing the Ivy League-educated professionals like us, maybe it's time to do a little soul searching.

- Karen in LA

September 19, 2008 at 7:49pm

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So thinking about issues qualifies you to be president. Actually accomplishing things is meaningless. Makes perfect sense.

- tschanel

September 19, 2008 at 7:50pm

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You're deciding what you agree upon and pretending that it's true. Palin is more qualified than Obama, and more honest and talented that Biden.

- BigPoet

September 19, 2008 at 8:00pm

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I wonder if she went to the University of Idaho as a resident.

- kate545

September 19, 2008 at 8:04pm

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The ticket with Dan Quayle on it won.

- DougHenderson

September 19, 2008 at 8:09pm

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Should be a quick read.

- linda

September 19, 2008 at 8:44pm

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This article hits a raw nerve with me. As a an economic and cultural conservative, who eschews the 'evangelical' Right, I am offended by the the smorgasbord of vapid bimbos (not sexist - I include Quayle and Bush in this category) the GOP keeps dishing up to us. Ut insults our intelligence. I would like to see a Republican Party that is genuinely conservative rather than one that is the prisoner of a mindless right-wing cult dominated by religiuous fundamentalists and gun touting rambos. It has become a party that trashes the facts and shoots the messenger if reality doesn't support the parallel universe it is trying to create. It rejects science in the name of 'Faith'. It purports to be defending America's interests in fighting terrorism in Iraq when the terrorists that did so much damage on 9/11 and still threaten America roam free in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It slams 'big spending Democrats' as it chalks up record budget deficits. It preaches patriotism as it watches American jobs and American investment go offshore. It regards itself as the party of business as it pays attention to everything but our economy and pretends out spiralling foreign debt is not happening. It preaches 'leadership' yet it's President goes MIA in the middle of, arguably, our greatest economic challenge since the great depression ( a 2 minute speech in the Rose garde to tell us he is "monitoring" the situation and contiuing to "consult" with his advisors. It flogs its 'strength' on international relations as it insults our allies in Europe and does it's best to make America more unpopoular internatioanlly than it has ever been. The modern Republican Party is no longer a responsible conservative party. It has become a mish mash of right wing wackos, special interests and modern day Elmer Gantrys. They have taken genuine conservatives for granted for too long.

- Conservatives for Obama

September 19, 2008 at 9:36pm

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Ralf Nemperor: You win the award for most incoherent pseudo-intellectual babbling today. MarleneOhio: Sexist attacks? Where are you fact based rebuttals on Chait's correct assertion that Palin has acted in ways opposite of what she claims? Heather:"As Governor of a state it is right and proper to seek federal funding." Yes it is, but Palin can not claim she actaully rebuffed such funding, when in fact she was shilling for it. She did build the road to the Bridge to nowhere.

- real_democrat

September 19, 2008 at 9:48pm

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Articles like this are why I cancelled my subscription to the New Republic after 30 years. It has become a toy of its owner Martin Peretz. To compare Sarah Palin with Dan Quayle evidences only the author's demonstrable lack of intelligence. And that is what the New Republic has become--a magazine with a demonstrable lack of intelligence and a decling readership.

- James Bryan

September 19, 2008 at 9:49pm

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Excellent article. Now I am not confused about why I've been against McCain.

- David Maijala

September 19, 2008 at 10:31pm

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I can't believe you really believe what you are writing. Another C- intellect for McCain. Wow...have you been in a cave for the last 8 years?

- RJ Kruger

September 19, 2008 at 11:02pm

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Your article is biased, just like your entire magazine. This relentless attack on Sarah Palin is embarrassing, and yet it goes on day after day. Sort of suggests that some of you folks are scared of her????

- Steve from Wisconsin

September 19, 2008 at 11:12pm

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Its not the reasons to dislike Obama that confuse you.Most of his liberal media groupies aren't capable of much analytical thought to begin with.When Palin was elected in Alaska she cleaned house and corrupt party hacks went to prison. When your golden child Obama was elected here in Illinois he reported for duty, literally, and became the pet of the cook County boses. He is their Main Man. enough said

- Tara

September 19, 2008 at 11:20pm

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Not this year, not this time, WE ARE TURNING THE PAGE. No way, no how, no McCain/Palin ENOUGH!!! See you in November. OBAMA-BIDEN '08

- OBAMA-BIDEN '08

September 19, 2008 at 11:31pm

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Why so many righties posting on TNR today? Did Rush mention this article and tell you to complain? At least no one on either side used the phrase "a heartbeat away from the Presidency" The Obama-Palin comparison is made because the other two candidates are hot-swappable old white moderate Senators and just not very fun to compare. Anyone, Republican or Democrat, who is capable of thinking for themselves can see that Palin is woefully unqualified. However, some people are partisan like they're football fans - even when their team is 0-8, they still have season tickets and will argue their team is better than your 8-0 team. It's comical to see Republicans who have griped about political correctness for 20 years suddenly calling "Sexist!" at the drop of a lipstick. It must be refreshing for them, since calling "Commie!" is so stale after 60 years. McCain is a decent man in a tough position trying to run against both the Democrats and the Bush administration at the same time, but his choice of Palin as a running mate has seriously damaged his credibility. He may have motivated the fundamentalists, but he also alienated the pro-business social libertarian types. All my Republican friends are voting Obama or not voting at all. Bush has been an embarrassment, but putting Palin in office would signify the dawn of the idiocracy - and sensible Republicans like Chuck Hegel and Peggy Noonan know it.

- Observist

September 19, 2008 at 11:47pm

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I can't help but laugh when Obama supporters write about Palin lacking substance, and then rant without any message, just complaining about Palin. While Obama was talking about McCain, McCain was talking about fixing the economy. Two years ago, when McCain and Republicans were trying to prevent a crisis on Wall Street, Obama and Democrats were blocking the necessary reform = fact. Wall Street hurt America, whether the index numbers recovered or not. Getting back to topic, the job of the Vice President is to work with Congress on making laws; Palin's experience qualifies her for two reasons: 1. She is blatantly an expert of energy - no question about that. 2. When Palin sees an issue that is the business of a town or city; she's not going to let Congress waste there time, our money, on it. She is going to get things back to the proper jurisdiction and order. The state Reps should only legislates if the laws need to change to accomplish something. It’s as if Democrats don’t know that State governments exist for other purposes beyond sales tax.

- statementsoffact

September 20, 2008 at 12:04am

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Hey everyone, please post how many McCain support troll points your comment is going to earn you. And if you get a tote bag or t-shirt, make sure to let us know!

- Jon H

September 20, 2008 at 12:22am

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How impressive! 236 words of what Shakespeare would describe as "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, and signifying nothing." Broad, sweeping generalization about how liberals supposedly think, meaningless references to Machiavelli and Nietzsche, totally irrelevant observations about syllogisms -- is there anything at all even remotely related to the article, or to anything at all in the real world? I'm guessing you really like Sarah Palin -- she utterances are as content-free as yours are.

- David in NYC

September 20, 2008 at 12:23am

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I'm an Alaskan who has watched numerous Palin press conferences on state issues. She's a shallow thinker, even about her own proposals. She is probably the least informed or intellectually curious governor we have had in the 30 years that I've been watching Alaska politics, including Frank Murkowski, who wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer either. She's a lot like GW Bush, but not as well-educated. God help us if she became President.

- pjamala

September 20, 2008 at 12:24am

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Don't worry about the polls. Make sure that you are registered to vote by Oct 1st. Do early voting and lets make a statement America!!!!!!!!!

- Dee

September 20, 2008 at 12:34am

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In response to the statement made that Obama is qualified: The bills Obama sponsored were NOT major legislative issues. They were in the Senate, but they were very much basic, and very much like the bills assigned to most Jr. members. For example, his nuclear weapons reduction extension was probably placed on his desk by a research team; the papers required due process. He's not an expert, but what he was allowed to read was confidential. He was the Chairman of a Sub - Committee, not a real committee, a sub committee on Europe. Europe having a new governing structure, it's good to have new guys there to avoid any confusion. Another classic Jr. Senator job. Oh, and the Senate put him in charge of building a website. Now that's major...please note sarcasm. In closing this comment, as a matter of fact, all Senators serve on Committees, it's the job. There is no getting around the fact that Barack Obama is the second most liberal Senator in the United States and one of the least experienced. Barack Obama has no factual proof of his plans, it's pure speculation. Like Wall Street; his advisors sure did.

- recordfact

September 20, 2008 at 12:37am

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I find the comparison of Sarah Palin to Dan Quayle to border on racist! Dan Quayle actually had more experience than either Barack Obama or Sarah Palin... yet Barack Obama is lauded as a diety. Why? I do not see anything special about WHO Obama is, besides that fact that he is black. And Palin has no great calling to the office of Vice-President besides the fact that she is a woman. The fact that we are giving these people passes on the experience factor, and rushing them into these high offices just for the "historical" signigicance of it proves that we are NOT post-racial. Instead, it shows that we are trying to over-compensate. I for one quit. I am not voting and will actually do my best to convince as many people as possible to give up on this failed government. We need more than just Democrat and Republican. The two party system just doesn't work.

- SailorInIraq

September 20, 2008 at 12:42am

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Correct me if I am wrong but weren't the last 2 democrats in the white house governors of small states? Dems think Slick Willie hung the moon but some of this economic mess we are in now rest at his feet with the policies under his administration and some of us are old enough to remember the economy under the Carter administration.

- just a thought

September 20, 2008 at 12:47am

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I find the comparison of Sarah Palin to Dan Quayle to border on racist! Dan Quayle actually had more experience than either Barack Obama or Sarah Palin... yet Barack Obama is lauded as a diety. Why? I do not see anything special about WHO Obama is, besides that fact that he is black. And Palin has no great calling to the office of Vice-President besides the fact that she is a woman. The fact that we are giving these people passes on the experience factor, and rushing them into these high offices just for the "historical" signigicance of it proves that we are NOT post-racial. Instead, it shows that we are trying to over-compensate. I for one quit. I am not voting and will actually do my best to convince as many people as possible to give up on this failed government. We need more than just Democrat and Republican. The two party system just doesn't work.

- SailorInIraq

September 20, 2008 at 12:56am

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Mr. Chait failed to notice, like the rest of the national media, that the governor's airplane was sold to one person in Alaska who turned out to be a financial contributor of the Palin campaign. Hmmm! Mrs. Palin is another good ol GOP boy with lipstick and good looks. If she had the looks of Janet Reno, Obama would be way ahead in the polls by now. But of course, in such a case McCain would have not picked her for the VP. Since her introduction to the national stage, the voters are learning day by day about the lack of honesty and national and foreign policy experience of the Vogue celebrity (her face made the cover of this magazine last year something that Obama has not been able to do)and beauty queen from the closest state to Russia. Also, be aware that the manner in which a campaign is run gives people the idea of how the candidates of such campaign will run the country if they are elected. The McCain Palin combo has established in less than three weeks an astounding and insulting pattern of lies as corroborated by non others than Karl Rove and Chuck Hagel among so many. If they are elected, they can be worse than Bush and their victory based on lies will convince them even more that the way to achieve their goals is by lying more to the American people. The lipstick ad and their support of it, especially on the View show, shows a very clear model of how McCain and Palin distort the truth and rewrite the facts of history to accomplish their political goals. Lying is anti-family, unpatriotic, anti-Christian, anti-God and pro-Satan, who according to the Scriptures, is the father of lies. It is written: Your sin shall find you out.” Just watch.

- Jose Lopez

September 20, 2008 at 1:18am

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Some people don't seem to know the difference between elitism and appealing to people because of the way one is perceived. Obama is perceived to be elite because he leaves one with the impression that he thinks he is better than everybody else. Palin is appealing because she is perceived as being just like the rest of us.

- Julib

September 20, 2008 at 1:24am

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God, help us! McCain graduated 894/899 from the Naval Academy. He was a "legacy affirmative action" student who barely graduated. Day after day on the stump, he's stumped. He has close to no idea what he's talking about. It's one gaffe after another. One knowledge gap after another. Palin also had a tough time getting a four-year degree. She lacks basic smarts and literacy. One can barely understand what she says on the rare occasions when she answers an unscripted question. She is clueless on the economy and foreign relations. What she kinda knows, she either get wrong or lies about. McCain + Palin = Bush + Cheney = Worse than the same = Failure

- Hank

September 20, 2008 at 1:25am

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Ralf Nemperor, for a comment critical of the article for it's lack of "logic," I fail to see any logical thread in your statement. For instance, the original article cited various facts to support the conclusions, your comment does not. Frankly, your statement makes me less likely to take a conservitive's statements on face value given your lack of support. For example: when the article talks about Palin's pork, he references the amount of pork per Alaskan. You on the other hand appear to be saying "I don't agree with this article, therefore it is unsubstantiated opinion, as you can see from this article." I believe the logician's name for that is circular logic.

- Aaron

September 20, 2008 at 2:07am

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how about o'bummer? could we list those accomplishemts again?

- charles g.

September 20, 2008 at 2:54am

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Misty watercolor memories of the way Obama was... Jonathan forgot all the reasons. How about kicking Alice Walker off the ballot, voting present, Rezko, Ayers and the Annenberg Challenge, ACORN and voter fraud, Wright and Pfleger, born alive infants, lying Spanish language ads... oh but the media won't seriously investigate these aspects, maybe fearing Obama would send out an "action wire" to his followers to stifle free speech as they have done twice now to Milt Rosenberg's program.

- Milwaukeean

September 20, 2008 at 2:59am

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Mr. Chait: "I've gotten confused about all the reasons I'm supposed to dislike Barack Obama." Well, you got the reasons you're supposed to dislike Palin down pat. What I'd like to know is when Liberals will actually get around to examining their own candidate's credentials and accomplishments, because frankly, Democrats seem most confused about why they're supposed to *like* Obama.

- Fithian

September 20, 2008 at 3:35am

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Small problem with what you're saying is Bush-Quayle beat Dukakis-Bentsen. Also what first made Quayle something of an albatross was the debate with Bentsen where he (Quayle) compared himself to Kennedy. Even if she really is dumb I have a feeling she's not dumb enough to make comparisons like that during a debate.

- Thomas R

September 20, 2008 at 4:47am

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"Ever since John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, I've gotten confused about all the reasons I'm supposed to dislike Barack Obama. The previous reasons, in rough chronological order, were his lack of experience, his empty rhetoric, his flip-flopping, and his "celebrity."" REALLY? DO YOU REALLY THINK THESE WERE "ALL THE REASONS"? THEN YOU'RE TREMENDOUSLY MISINFORMED AND DON'T DESERVE TO BE CALLED A JOURNALIST.

- Cecilia Holmes

September 20, 2008 at 5:34am

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It's been said people get the leader they deserve. Let's hope we're more deserving than to have McCain and Palin at the helm.

- Alaskan Woman

September 20, 2008 at 7:58am

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Alright Ralf you moron. Your commie friend Hank paulson is taking over insurance companies under the government wing and this smacks you as socialism? Isn't there a single intelligent person in the entire republican party? You are so doomed.

- horatius

September 20, 2008 at 9:00am

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I just don't understand when conservatives get so ruffled when a LIBERAL magazine comes out with a negative article about one of your candidates Part of the thing is that conservatives regard TNR as "theirs"-- yes, they know it's written by liberals, but what they want to read is, "I'm a liberal, but even I can't get behind these Democrats." Conservatives take it personally and get upset when people like Chait aren't kissing their asses.

- Tyro

September 20, 2008 at 10:12am

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There was a syndicated column (from Scripps) which appeared in Denver today which stated regarding Pailin: "She is a woman who lives and breathes the belief that the government ought not to provide families the things that families ought to provide for themselves." It occurs to me that most voters are not aware tat the government of Alaska provided her and her family approximately $20,000 this year out of the oil royalty fund.

- stanmvp48

September 20, 2008 at 10:34am

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Did they post a link to this article on NRO and instruct the kool-aid drinkers to post such stupid responses?

- Bflo

September 20, 2008 at 10:43am

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I think this pick says more about McCain to me than anything. It says that he does not actually LOVE this country. That as a nation we don't deserve the finest minds, we just deserve to be pandered to. Where is all that honesty that we all used to admire? Gone in a rush to get elected. As for Palin she is just more George Bush than George Bush. I never thought, as many others did, and still do, that he is dumb. But, he never displayed any intellectual curiosity either. He compensated for this by being ever more dogmatic and definitive. To me, Palin is even more right wing and also a better, more gifted politician. As a long time Republican I am scared that we have indeed lost our core principles and values.

- Cindy

September 20, 2008 at 10:52am

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You claim there is no syllogism (phallocrat that you are). How about: Populism decrees that an elite has created a problem that normal folks can fix. Sarah Palin is not elite (therefore [where's that three-dot triangle on my keyboard?] she's normal folks [prior syllogism provided upon request]) Therefore, Sarah Palin can fix the problem(s) we face (hence, "Her lack of qualifications turns out to be her greatest qualification," which seems to elegantly contain the entire syllogism in a single sentence with fairly clear implication and explication). As for your references to Machiavelli and Nietzsche: Well, as the NYT (liberal rag that it is, though I think we might be able to trust it to get a quote right, even on the editorial page) notes today, Lee Atwater, political architect of the current GOP electioneering strategy was described as Machiavellian--in the best sense of that word. (NB, does nemperor feel that Machiavelli was immoral or amoral? Please explain in 250 words or less. Of course, one can choose to answer this question in such a way to absolve Atwater by claiming that Machiavelli was a moral being. Again, please explain.) As for Nietzsche: My God, man! What more exemplifies the will-to-power than the Iraq war and the particular grab for Executive power. The problems with the left is that they ain't got enough of either Machiavelli or Nietzsche in their balls.

- HDL

September 20, 2008 at 10:55am

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Unbelievable!!

- vk

September 20, 2008 at 11:08am

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Excellent article! I agree that McCain blew his opportunity to distinguish his vice presidential candidate from the inexperienced Obama by picking someone with even less experience. This leaves voters with little to choose from. In the words of Simon and Garfunkle "Laugh about it, shout about, when it comes to choose. Anyway you look at it you lose."

- jgzeger

September 20, 2008 at 11:37am

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"There is a side to Sarah Palin that you have omitted. She is actually an expert on energy policy." Are we talking about the same Palin who told Charles Gibson Alaska produces 20% of America's energy?

- Lauging at Palin

September 20, 2008 at 12:33pm

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Didn't Dan Quayle win the election, though?

- Tom Reese

September 20, 2008 at 12:42pm

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Marlene posted: "If Sarah Palin is so bad, why is she so popular in Alaska, the State she governs?" 1. I'd be pretty fond of my governor too if I got a $1200 oil profit check just for living in the state.

-

September 20, 2008 at 3:48pm

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I have been thinking about the whole "experience" issue and it seems to me that there is such a thing as too much experience as well as too little. It comes down to the old saying that generals always fight the last war. Experience brings confidence and even certainty, and with that come less willingness to try new methods, think outside the box, consider new ideas and approaches, doing the same old, same old even when circumstances radically change. . .

- Mary Zashin

September 20, 2008 at 4:23pm

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...is this the part where i'm supposed to forget that over 90% of blacks are voting for obama for no other reason than because he is black? why only evaluate one side of the equation...this sebelius can just imply that his race MIGHT be a factor just to take the spotlight off the fact that he is highly unqualified and is an unrepentant lock-step liberal, and we are to entertain through debate that she has a point! YEAH RIGHT!

- ExT

September 20, 2008 at 6:29pm

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rutherfurd - At least we are pitiful blog commenters, not the President of the United States impishly mugging for the camera and calling the opposition party of this country the "Democrat Party" as his twelve remaining supporters cream their pants in frabjous unison. The lowest common denominator of these people on both sides who think semantic games score them political "points" are just that - the lowest common denominator. It should irk you when either side does it, but not nearly as much as the fact that most people on all sides tend to talk to you as though you're a child while acting like children themselves. Ralf Nemperor - You are one brilliant so-and-so, sir. You'll never, ever realize this or understand my explanation of it, but your comment sets up an elaborate (though entirely unjustified) assertion that capital-L "L"iberals make arguments that don't follow from prior logic... then ends with the non sequitur conclusion that all "L"iberals are Socialists! Your entire perspective must be so narrow that you don't even realize you've proven your own case against yourself. But in a world where all others are enemies to be quashed, any attempt to think critically must be too spicy an ingredient for the bland mayonnaise that comprises your brittle ideology. I beg of you: while you're out there in the real world, being dumb, spare us the horror of your procreation. (Oh, and viva la socialism.) On-topic, great thanks to Mr. Chait for illuminating the narrative quality of the crumbling catwalk of Doppler-shifting, media attention-grifting doublespeak that is the Palin-McCain campaign. Palin's script has entirely fallen apart after the first act, it seems, and there's really no one in today's GOP with the Charlie Kaufman-esque ability to pull all these overturned and undercooked plot points back into one cohesive, emotive, pitch-perfect whole before November. Intellectual conservatism is all but dead. For all our sakes, let's hope this movie ends with a snore and a whimper in a few months.

- sp

September 20, 2008 at 6:51pm

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How amusing that each and every criticism of Governor Palin could be used against Senator Obama...and that Obama is the one actually running for President. The case for Obama is the one that is evaporating!

- Reality Hammer

September 20, 2008 at 7:08pm

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Can't wait to see your article on Biden -- or is he the great VP candidate now? Here's a direct quote from your previous assessment on Obama's VP choice. "Biden looks as if he’s the product of a laboratory experiment designed to create the world’s worst presidential candidate." Care to elaborate???

- Kay

September 20, 2008 at 8:31pm

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Mr. Chait, why has Joe Biden accused the truck driver who killed his wife and child of causing the accident? Why has Joe Biden accused the truck driver who killed his wife and child of being drunk? Joe Biden is a sick man, a congenital liar, a fabulist.

- Jon Fraud Carry

September 20, 2008 at 9:10pm

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'Biden looks as if he’s the product of a laboratory experiment designed to create the world’s worst presidential candidate.' ' In addition to his uncontrollable verbosity, Biden is a gaffe machine. He ran for president 20 years ago but had to abandon his campaign when it was discovered that he had plagiarized speeches from a British politician, substituting in key details to make the story his own. In his latest effort, Biden wasted no time subverting his already microscopic chances. On the day of his announcement, he mused about Illinois Sen. Obama: “I mean, you got the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”'

- Mad Scientist

September 22, 2008 at 1:49pm

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To EXT To say 90% of blacks are voting for Obama because he's half black is not true. Many blacks supported Hillary. It's amazing to me that "whites" who say that can't imagine African Americans vote on policy the same way white are suppose to. I'm African American and I want to end the war ASAP, that's my #1 issue. If McCain wanted to end the war I'd vote for him because I only believe in abortion in extreme circumstances. So Palin would probably push me back to the Dems. I think to say 90% of blacks are voting for Obama because he's black is really an excuse for these "whites" to justify voting for McCain because he's white or Palin because she's a woman. Don't use Blacks as an excuse just acknowledge your bias and move on.

- Anna

September 22, 2008 at 8:23pm

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I saw Dan Quayle give a speech at the Bush(41) Presidential Library. He was quite articulate. His topic was the duties of VP and it was shortly before we invaded Iraq. It turns out it was part of the propaganda blitz to support the war. He told us we had to trust the Whitehouse because they knew more than we did but they couldn't tell us anything because it was Top Secret. Boy were we fooled!

- Johnny E

September 25, 2008 at 2:44pm

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In addition to Bobby Jindal and Pat Buchanan, I would add Steve Forbes to the list of Republicans who, though with minimal experience in government, actually had a worldview, an interest in policy and respect enough for the voters to discuss them intelligently.

- chrispkenny

September 26, 2008 at 3:22pm

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Good morning. Books...are like lobster shells, we surround ourselves with 'em, then we grow out of 'em and leave 'em behind, as evidence of our earlier stages of development. I am from Fiji and also now teach English, give true I wrote the following sentence: "When you hear jetblue, airtran or southwest, you think cheap fares." With love :P, Maisie.

- Maisie

April 3, 2009 at 7:50am

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