Sarah Palin Interview
While Sarah Palin didn’t run for office as Alaska’s Governor until months after Lydia and I moved away, I’ve heard lots of good things about her for the last few years. She has been able to shake up the old-establishment republicans in that state, and get a lot of amazing work done. As I said a few months ago, she will make an amazing addition to the national republican party. Right now, as the rest of the world tries to find out who Sarah Palin is, I thought I would direct you to a brief interview that a friend of mine from Iditarod Coverage, Scott Slone did a few months back while in Juneau. Scott hosts the “AlaskaHDTV” podcasts and during one of his “Hike of the Week” features, he walked with Sarah from the governor’s mansion to the state capital. Its a good peek into her style and how she relates to her constituents.
Good call. I don’t think many saw this coming. She’s certainly interesting and has tools to appeal to a lot of people (wrangling in the hard right/social conservatives skeptical of McCain, appealing to women voters, upping some of the charisma that McCain has lacked in recent years, etc). Could be a game changer.
Yet she also seems to have A LOT of liabilities. I know she kicked out the Mikowski folks as a reformer, but it appears this “Troopergate” thing might have legs (Josh Marshall runs down what we know so far http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/211769.php ). Secondly and perhaps more treacherous for McCain is the fact that Palin instantly mutes McCain’s strongest point of attack: Obama’s percieved lack of experience (the campaign has even changed their motto from “Ready to Lead” to “America First”). Not just the issue of experience, but the issue of security and foreign policy. While Obama may not have many years in federal politics, he’s demonstrated good command of foreign policy issues and nobody could argue with Biden’s foreign policy chops. Its very hard to make the case that 24 months as AK Governor gives Palin anywhere near the needed experience and insight on security/foreign policy. McCain’s age and health really do beg the question: do we really see Sarah Palin being at the helm to handle issues like the rise of China, a Nuculear Iran, Israel/Palestine, and Russian aggression?
All that said, most of us know very little about this person and its very possible the larger public “misunderestimates” Palin’s political skill and the power of her charisma. Still, this feels like McCain’s “Hail Mary” on 3rd and long. By most accounts, he was looking to loose this election by 2-3 points. With Palin he’s taking a gamble that her ability to shore up the base and get some women crossover will either help him win with 51%, or that she’ll totally bust and be percieved as a token and a lightweight and he’ll loose by ten. In presidential politics a win is a win and a loss is still a loss if its by 2 points or ten points. Only time will tell.
You got the political junkie in me going.