"Utterly Unqualified"
| Sun Sep. 28, 2008 12:35 PM PDT
"UTTERLY UNQUALIFIED"....Fareed Zakaria on Sarah Palin:
Can we now admit the obvious? Sarah Palin is utterly unqualified to be vice president. She is a feisty, charismatic politician who has done some good things in Alaska. But she has never spent a day thinking about any important national or international issue, and this is a hell of a time to start.
....In these times, for John McCain to have chosen this person to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible. McCain says that he always puts country first. In this important case, it is simply not true.
I don't want to overstate the importance of this, but it's definitely a sign that Palin's jig may be up. Zakaria frequently writes astutely, but he's something of an establishment weathervane, reluctant to state firm opinions unless he's got plenty of company. So if he's willing to say flatly that Palin is "utterly unqualified," it suggests that the center-right establishment pretty unanimously agrees about this. I don't know for sure that this will have a noticeable effect on the campaign, but when you add it to the growing list of conservatives who have taken similar stands (George Will, David Frum, Rod Dreher, Kathleen Parker, Ross Douthat, David Brooks, Charles Krauthammer), it suggests that dismay over Palin may be reaching critical mass.
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Continued From Above
Comments
Counterpoint
Please Keep Your Voice Down, My Poor Retarded Child Is Sleeping
by Sarah Palin
Govenor of Alaska (R)
Shhhh!
Could you please stop tearing apart my record so loudly? I just put my special needs child down for a nap. You remember my poor, Down syndrome baby, don't you? The developmentally disabled child I carried to term despite knowing that he had special needs? The child who would be helpless without my constant care and attention? Well, he's just nodded off, and if you continue to provide such damning evidence of my inexperience in both foreign and domestic policy, you'll wake him.
You wouldn't want him to start crying, would you?
It's very rude of you to keep pointing out the myriad reasons I am unfit to be the governor of Alaska, much less vice president of the United States of America, when you know my Down syndrome?afflicted son is trying to get some much-needed rest. If you wanted to question my qualifications as a leader, you should have thought of that sooner, like, say, before I gave birth to a retarded child who would probably starve to death if I weren't so selflessly and courageously dedicated to him.
Actually, he'll probably be sleeping for a while, so maybe it would be best if you came back later. Perhaps this afternoon, or in a couple of months. It's just that he gets so tired having to struggle with even the simplest tasks that you and I take for granted. Because my special needs son has Down syndrome, you see. My child has Down syndrome. And, as the mother of a baby with Down syndrome, I would appreciate it if you stopped bringing up my nonexistent energy plan while he sleeps there, like an angel.
My beautiful, special needs angel.
I assure you, I have every intention of responding to your claims. Sarah Palin does not run from a challenge. Like the challenge of raising a child with Down syndrome. That's what I've been doing for five months now, and let me tell you, it is hard work. But I wouldn't trade a moment of it for anything in the world, not even for more time to respond to the gaping holes you've just punched in my candidacy. Did I mention he has Down syndrome?
Now, if you'll please back away quietly without saying anything else?especially about my recent comments regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how they illustrate my complete lack of even a basic understanding of our economy?I'll forget this whole thing ever happened.
And so will my vote-stealing retard baby.
jwb2005: "...I wouldn't want to be Biden in this debate, not for a minute. There is no way he can win. All he can hope for is not to lose and pray that Palin destroys herself?but not so much that everyone cringes and feels sorry for her?because then he's liable to be the scapegoat just because he was present."
I'm not sure why so many people think Biden has to be careful. The McCain campaign has marketed her as a "pitbull" and "barracuda," and they've promoted her nontraditional interests and pursuits such as hunting. Her acceptance speech was not that of a shrinking violet. I realize they've paradoxically cried "sexism!" at every turn, but I think it would be a mistake to treat her any differently than any other hypothetical VP candidate. It goes with the territory, and she shouldn't be given special treatment.
Submitted by jwb2005 (not verified) on Sun Sep. 28, 2008 3:03 PM PDT.
I wouldn't want to be Biden in this debate, not for a minute. There is no way he can win. All he can hope for is not to lose and pray that Palin destroys herself?but not so much that everyone cringes and feels sorry for her?because then he's liable to be the scapegoat just because he was present.
On the other hand, at this point if Palin comes in and answers any question half coherently she may well "win" the debate. I mean the bar is SOOOOO low. It's to the point that we are bound to judge her answers by: "well, that wasn't horrible" and conclude that she therefore succeeded.
Personally, I don't think she is stupid. She's just out of her element right now and at the moment knows only that she can't say what she thinks (because on most of the things that matter she doesn't yet know enough to know what she shouldn't say). It's little wonder that her words come out as utter nonsense.
So, if she is in fact not an idiot, I think it's fully possible that she can come in, barely muddle through and the fact that the center right punditry turned on her will prove to have set the bar at such a low level that she can clear it. And once she clears it, she can basically be used in tightly scripted events.
BTW, what I'm describing here is an effect of that turn of opinion; I don't think it's part of any coordinated strategy.
Counterpoint
Please Keep Your Voice Down, My Poor Retarded Child Is Sleeping
by Sarah Palin
Govenor of Alaska (R)
Shhhh!
Could you please stop tearing apart my record so loudly? I just put my special needs child down for a nap. You remember my poor, Down syndrome baby, don't you? The developmentally disabled child I carried to term despite knowing that he had special needs? The child who would be helpless without my constant care and attention? Well, he's just nodded off, and if you continue to provide such damning evidence of my inexperience in both foreign and domestic policy, you'll wake him.
You wouldn't want him to start crying, would you?
It's very rude of you to keep pointing out the myriad reasons I am unfit to be the governor of Alaska, much less vice president of the United States of America, when you know my Down syndrome?afflicted son is trying to get some much-needed rest. If you wanted to question my qualifications as a leader, you should have thought of that sooner, like, say, before I gave birth to a retarded child who would probably starve to death if I weren't so selflessly and courageously dedicated to him.
Actually, he'll probably be sleeping for a while, so maybe it would be best if you came back later. Perhaps this afternoon, or in a couple of months. It's just that he gets so tired having to struggle with even the simplest tasks that you and I take for granted. Because my special needs son has Down syndrome, you see. My child has Down syndrome. And, as the mother of a baby with Down syndrome, I would appreciate it if you stopped bringing up my nonexistent energy plan while he sleeps there, like an angel.
My beautiful, special needs angel.
I assure you, I have every intention of responding to your claims. Sarah Palin does not run from a challenge. Like the challenge of raising a child with Down syndrome. That's what I've been doing for five months now, and let me tell you, it is hard work. But I wouldn't trade a moment of it for anything in the world, not even for more time to respond to the gaping holes you've just punched in my candidacy. Did I mention he has Down syndrome?
Now, if you'll please back away quietly without saying anything else?especially about my recent comments regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how they illustrate my complete lack of even a basic understanding of our economy?I'll forget this whole thing ever happened.
And so will my vote-stealing retard baby.
jwb2005: "...I wouldn't want to be Biden in this debate, not for a minute. There is no way he can win. All he can hope for is not to lose and pray that Palin destroys herself?but not so much that everyone cringes and feels sorry for her?because then he's liable to be the scapegoat just because he was present."
I'm not sure why so many people think Biden has to be careful. The McCain campaign has marketed her as a "pitbull" and "barracuda," and they've promoted her nontraditional interests and pursuits such as hunting. Her acceptance speech was not that of a shrinking violet. I realize they've paradoxically cried "sexism!" at every turn, but I think it would be a mistake to treat her any differently than any other hypothetical VP candidate. It goes with the territory, and she shouldn't be given special treatment.
Submitted by jwb2005 (not verified) on Sun Sep. 28, 2008 3:03 PM PDT.
I wouldn't want to be Biden in this debate, not for a minute. There is no way he can win. All he can hope for is not to lose and pray that Palin destroys herself?but not so much that everyone cringes and feels sorry for her?because then he's liable to be the scapegoat just because he was present.
On the other hand, at this point if Palin comes in and answers any question half coherently she may well "win" the debate. I mean the bar is SOOOOO low. It's to the point that we are bound to judge her answers by: "well, that wasn't horrible" and conclude that she therefore succeeded.
Personally, I don't think she is stupid. She's just out of her element right now and at the moment knows only that she can't say what she thinks (because on most of the things that matter she doesn't yet know enough to know what she shouldn't say). It's little wonder that her words come out as utter nonsense.
So, if she is in fact not an idiot, I think it's fully possible that she can come in, barely muddle through and the fact that the center right punditry turned on her will prove to have set the bar at such a low level that she can clear it. And once she clears it, she can basically be used in tightly scripted events.
BTW, what I'm describing here is an effect of that turn of opinion; I don't think it's part of any coordinated strategy.
Kevin: Excellent point. I think we ARE close to critical mass on this. The question is: How do they pull it off? Unless she somehow has a miracle performance Thursday night, she will create more You Tube comedy videos. If I were on the McCain campaign, I'd vote for sooner rather than later.
Submitted by cleek (not verified) on Sun Sep. 28, 2008 12:49 PM PDT.
please please please let her stick it out until Friday, at least!
I'd frankly be astonished if Palin were yanked from the ticket, either before or after the debate. This is a campaign who wouldn't even admit that McCain had misheard a reporter's question, and instead constructed a whole policy position towards Spain based upon an answer he was completely winning. If they're not prepared to admit a tiny, understandable mistake like that, there's no possibility they would admit a much larger one.
Besides, if Lieberman replaced Palin on the ticket, the base would be furious, and stay away from the voting booth en masse in December.
No, the silver lining of the Couric interview is the debate bar is so incredibly low that she will look good if she can even string a few coherent sentences together. Plus, the gender and age dynamics will be such that Biden will be treading on eggshells during the debate.
"Besides, if Lieberman replaced Palin on the ticket, the base would be furious, and stay away from the voting booth en masse"
So what? McCain can't win on the Karl Rove strategy anymore. The Rove strategy only works if the base constitutes a majority of the voters. Obama can win on that strategy, but McCain needs to get some independent voters or he doesn't stand a chance. He simply cannot win with Palin. The question is whether he wants to lose or is willing to roll the dice again. He's a gambling addict, so I'm guessing he'll roll the dice. And calling Joe will allow him to run against his own party, which is now very toxic. How mavericky.
I think the debate bar is actually higher for Palin than it was before. Every sentence will be scrutinized. She will get no free passes. She is in a very tough position
Contrast that to Biden's position. Biden is well known for making big gaffes, but he has been in the Senate for years and will be given a lot of leeway.
No, if I were the GOP, I would look for any excuse to cancel the debates.
Of course now we are all setting the stage for that most bizarre of debate traditions - in which a know-nothing manages to merely finish a debate without starting a world war and is declared the winner, expectations being what they are. How sad and strange.
It's scary to think she could be a heartbeat away from the presidency. I think she will surprise us all and do better in the debates, provided that they give her the questions in advance and that she is tutored on the answers. She was given the questions and the answers prior to the Charlie Gibson interview. Maybe they will give her the same courteousy for the debate. Expectations are so low for her. If she just shows up and smiles, I think she will do well.
Tom Ridge has a better shot at getting the call than Lieberman. For one he is a PA politician. I actually don't know why McCain didn't pick him in the first place -- he would have lost the base, but won the independents and the working class voters that find Obama a little to alien. If he replaces Palin, he is setting himself up for a litany of 'bad judgment' ads and punditry. And really, all Obama has to do is run an ad of a rollercoaster ride: Do you really want the next 4 years to feel like this? The economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are not an amusement park. The one advantage to him is that he could distance himself from Bush by marking that he can in fact admit he was wrong. I just don't think his handlers are smart enough to pull it off anywhere near as smoothly as they'd have to.
It's a funny thing, but the only way I can make any sense at all out of the Republican's presidential campaign is by assuming that they don't want to win the presidency. But some interesting ideas come up if you start to think along these lines.
Think about it. They have screwed things up so badly during the past eight years that the next administration is going to have a VERY DIFFICULT TIME avoiding economic decline. The international challenges in the wider world are huge. And the nations debt is outrageous. If the Republicans win the White House, things will go so badly, that by 2012, the Republican Party that we know so well may be tossed on the dust-heap of history.
No, I think that with regard to the White House, they are looking to 2012 or 2016. Right now they have the Supreme Court "safe" from their point of view. They don't have to worry about THAT for another four or eight years.
I think that the Republican Party knows its brand is sullied. The best way they have to rebuild it is to stay OUT of the White House for a while now. Look at the base they built while Clinton was in!!
The real heart of this election may in fact be the Senate races. To understand the Republican strategy, I think you need to look down-ticket. And I am worried about the following question: Is the DSCC (the Senate-focused committee) on top of things? What are the odds of getting 60 without Lieberman? If we don't then the Repubs are just going to block anything and everything. They won't let anything through that stands a chance of making government look competent.
Sarah Palin's total lack of qualifications might not matter in this campaign if the party's purpose for her to get out the conservative vote in key Senate-race states. Sort of like the anti-gay-marriage propositions that found their way onto ballots in some states in previous presidential election years.
Just food for thought.
Governor Palin won't be pulled from the ticket. To the base, Fareed Zakaria is MSM - they have no idea, and don't care, what shade of the establishment he represents.
Picking Palin was the one thing McCain has done that genuinely excited the prople who will form his core support. They'll hate his voting for the bailout. To remove Palin from the ticket would be an act that would set McCain's ceiling at 40%, and 35% would be possible.
The Corner at NRO is full of "let Sarah be Sarah" advice. I'd be quite happy with that, as I suspect would Kevin and 99% of the people who post here.
McCain's nomination of Palin was foolish in the extreme. Pulling her from the ticket would be suicidal.
The opposition among the intellectual class -if I may include the punditocracy in that class (I know that should be offensive to true intellectuals), is reaching critical mass. But to all those, who disdain intellectuals -those rotten know-it-alls, it may be a feature, not a bug. If she does poorly, it will be portrayed as those horrible elitist intellectuals ganging up of the poor sweet woman. Biden has to be careful, that he doesn't appear meanspirited, as he whumps her for lack of knowledge.
"No, the silver lining of the Couric interview is the debate bar is so incredibly low that she will look good if she can even string a few coherent sentences together."
Not a chance, in my opinion.
Sitting down with Couric seems pretty tame, but Palin was a wreck. Getting on stage, in front of the world, is going to be far more nerve-wracking.
"If she just shows up and smiles, I think she will do well."
If she just shows up and smiles, she'll doom McCain. I think you can take that to the bank.
"I think the debate bar is actually higher for Palin than it was before. Every sentence will be scrutinized. She will get no free passes. She is in a very tough position."
I think this is exactly right.
The pressure and scrutiny will be very tough.
I do think the press has been pretty bad during this campaign. But right now, when it comes to Palin, there are a lot of circling sharks.
A poor debate performance, and she'll be devoured.
I think, to understand the stakes here, just imagine the Obama - McCain debate, and insert Palin into McCain's place.
It's essentially impossible, isn't it?
I'll be shocked if she doesn't have a breakdown on camera.
Ifill can't be seen as giving Palin a pass - and anyway, Ifill is too professional to do that.
I think this is easily one of the riskiest political moments that I can recall, ever.
And the audience will be huge. I think McCain would be insane to take this risk.
The VP debate will be Palin's "Checkers" speech. She will miraculously recover from all that has happened in the last two weeks.
This is the narrative that the corporate press/media wants and they will write and put it out there no matter what actually happens.
Remember, these are the people who turned the incompetent fraud George W. Bush into Our Own Young Churchill.
Submitted by jwb2005 (not verified) on Sun Sep. 28, 2008 3:03 PM PDT.
I wouldn't want to be Biden in this debate, not for a minute. There is no way he can win. All he can hope for is not to lose and pray that Palin destroys herselfbut not so much that everyone cringes and feels sorry for herbecause then he's liable to be the scapegoat just because he was present.
On the other hand, at this point if Palin comes in and answers any question half coherently she may well "win" the debate. I mean the bar is SOOOOO low. It's to the point that we are bound to judge her answers by: "well, that wasn't horrible" and conclude that she therefore succeeded.
Personally, I don't think she is stupid. She's just out of her element right now and at the moment knows only that she can't say what she thinks (because on most of the things that matter she doesn't yet know enough to know what she shouldn't say). It's little wonder that her words come out as utter nonsense.
So, if she is in fact not an idiot, I think it's fully possible that she can come in, barely muddle through and the fact that the center right punditry turned on her will prove to have set the bar at such a low level that she can clear it. And once she clears it, she can basically be used in tightly scripted events.
BTW, what I'm describing here is an effect of that turn of opinion; I don't think it's part of any coordinated strategy.
Perhaps what McCain and Lieberman were talking about last night at their swanko din-din at Cafe Mozu was how to dump La Palin so that they could formalize their relationship, making Lieberman his consort--I mean vice president. Kinda like how Prince Charles finally married his true love, Camilla Parker-Bowles.
I predict she will be out this week, and Bloomberg will get the nod. "At this time of great economic uncertainty, I have decided we need someone expert in financial matters and Wall Street. Country first." After a day or two of taunts over McCain's failure to properly vet Palin, she will have faded from the scene and the campaign will be transformed. If Palin remains on the ticket, McCain will lose. Which is why I'm convinced she'll be gone this week.
It is shame that some believe liberals, moderates, progressives and democrats alike need bear witness to the opinions of George Will, David Frum, Rod Dreher, Kathleen Parker, Ross Douthat, David Brooks, Charles Krauthammer and Zakaria et. al. in determining what is so superficially apparent to anyone who has viewed even a portion of her interviews.
These are many of the same people whose credibility should be zero, having embraced the mindset and politics of Bush and today's republican.
Frankly, it is insulting.
I see people say that Palin isn't stupid, but I do wish someone would produce some evidence to support this.
I see people say she's going to "do fine" in the debate but I'd like to know upon what evidence this opinion stands.
To say that she could not be stupid and be where she is, well, may I remind you that George Dumbya Bush has been our president for eight long years?
Do we know who will be moderating the debate? Also, what is the format? I seem to recall a NYT article that mentioned the format was adjusted for Palin - the response time is shorter or something.
If the format is short, not like the recent Obama-McCain debate, I think she will do okay as long as she doesn't garble her response like she did in the Couric interview. She will fail if she has to rebutt Biden or is forced by the moderator to clarify or provide more detail, like Lehrer did on Friday. Once again, I think she can do it; she won't win, but she will get through it. All she has to do is answer some standard questions and stick to the Republican talking points. Maybe she can bring up some flash cards and find the one with the correct topic (e.g., Iraq, Bailout, Terrorists, Pakistan, etc.) and then she can read from the card. Or they can wire her up and coach her.
The tougher row to hoe is for Biden. He has to come across as respectful and gracious. If he uses the same tactics McCain used in the debate w/Obama (he doesn't understand, he's naive) Joe will be crucified by the pundits. It's a shame that the bar has to be so low...
Joe Biden has already told the media after Friday's debate (I was watching MSNBC) that he considers Sarah Palin to be a formidable debater, and that he expects her to be appealing. He may not *think* this, but I believe this is the correct attitude to take. It should be fairly easy for Biden to be gracious. Just like with Obama on Friday, the point isnt to win the debate, but to close the sale with the voter. He doesnt have to attack Palin, though he may need to correct her in some matters of fact. Remember how well Bill Clinton treated Bob Dole in the 1996 debates, even though he disagreed with him on so many issues. If Palin successfully speaks her talking points without error, Biden can argue with the talking points, not her.
Counterpoint
Please Keep Your Voice Down, My Poor Retarded Child Is Sleeping
by Sarah Palin
Govenor of Alaska (R)
Shhhh!
Could you please stop tearing apart my record so loudly? I just put my special needs child down for a nap. You remember my poor, Down syndrome baby, don't you? The developmentally disabled child I carried to term despite knowing that he had special needs? The child who would be helpless without my constant care and attention? Well, he's just nodded off, and if you continue to provide such damning evidence of my inexperience in both foreign and domestic policy, you'll wake him.
You wouldn't want him to start crying, would you?
It's very rude of you to keep pointing out the myriad reasons I am unfit to be the governor of Alaska, much less vice president of the United States of America, when you know my Down syndromeafflicted son is trying to get some much-needed rest. If you wanted to question my qualifications as a leader, you should have thought of that sooner, like, say, before I gave birth to a retarded child who would probably starve to death if I weren't so selflessly and courageously dedicated to him.
Actually, he'll probably be sleeping for a while, so maybe it would be best if you came back later. Perhaps this afternoon, or in a couple of months. It's just that he gets so tired having to struggle with even the simplest tasks that you and I take for granted. Because my special needs son has Down syndrome, you see. My child has Down syndrome. And, as the mother of a baby with Down syndrome, I would appreciate it if you stopped bringing up my nonexistent energy plan while he sleeps there, like an angel.
My beautiful, special needs angel.
I assure you, I have every intention of responding to your claims. Sarah Palin does not run from a challenge. Like the challenge of raising a child with Down syndrome. That's what I've been doing for five months now, and let me tell you, it is hard work. But I wouldn't trade a moment of it for anything in the world, not even for more time to respond to the gaping holes you've just punched in my candidacy. Did I mention he has Down syndrome?
Now, if you'll please back away quietly without saying anything elseespecially about my recent comments regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how they illustrate my complete lack of even a basic understanding of our economyI'll forget this whole thing ever happened.
And so will my vote-stealing retard baby.
Submitted by kudzu (not verified) on Sun Sep. 28, 2008 6:42 PM PDT.
What Kevin says is completely true, and utterly irrelevant. Let's get real. We have eight years of proof that they are incapable of admitting a mistake. They will just circle the wagons and play the victim. It's all the elitists'/liberal media's fault. The VP debate will likely be a massive train wreck, but that will only make the base & the 5th grade reading level masses buy into her "persecution" & love her more. They outnumber those who see behind the curtain, by far. And they never heard of Fareed Zakaria, & wouldn't remotely give a crap what he thinks if they had.
In the face of these odds, nominating a white male Bubba was the only remote shot the Dems had. They squandered it; the damage is done. I've already ordered my Schweitzer In '12 T-shirt.
But don't bet the farm on the country actually making it there as is. If you've enjoyed the 21st century so far, you ain't seen nothing yet.
"I think she will do okay as long as she doesn't garble her response like she did in the Couric interview. She will fail if she has to rebutt Biden or is forced by the moderator to clarify or provide more detail, like Lehrer did on Friday. Once again, I think she can do it; she won't win, but she will get through it. All she has to do is answer some standard questions and stick to the Republican talking points."
I'm sorry but I just don't understand why anyone thinks this.
Palin has shown no capacity to be even simply coherent.
Why will some other Palin show up at the debate, where the pressure will be far higher than the interviews?
Here's something I think is very, very odd. If anyone has a theory, I'd love to hear it.
Palin was so bad in the Couric interviews that even some conservatives who loved her have jumped ship. Douthat said he wasn't going to link to the video, as it was too painful. And he was an earnest supporter.
And, Palin is being mocked, mercilessly, for her performance - Jon Stewart and SNL have really been tough.
But now they say that Palin is going to sit down for another session with Couric, I think on Monday.
WTF???
It's just inexplicable.
Why would they do this????
Conspiracy theories, anyone?
jwb2005: "...I wouldn't want to be Biden in this debate, not for a minute. There is no way he can win. All he can hope for is not to lose and pray that Palin destroys herselfbut not so much that everyone cringes and feels sorry for herbecause then he's liable to be the scapegoat just because he was present."
I'm not sure why so many people think Biden has to be careful. The McCain campaign has marketed her as a "pitbull" and "barracuda," and they've promoted her nontraditional interests and pursuits such as hunting. Her acceptance speech was not that of a shrinking violet. I realize they've paradoxically cried "sexism!" at every turn, but I think it would be a mistake to treat her any differently than any other hypothetical VP candidate. It goes with the territory, and she shouldn't be given special treatment.
Submitted by Mari (not verified) on Sun Sep. 28, 2008 8:46 PM PDT.
I am in agreement with Mr. Zakaria. Even if she debates in an acceptable manner, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HER RESIGN FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO WAKE UP & REALIZE THIS IS NOT A FIT CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF VP. IT IS AN INSULT TO HAVE HER FOISTED ON US. I AM FEARFUL FOR THIS NATION, THE WORLD IS WATCHING
