tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241505550351823820.post5498576653543259547..comments2024-02-11T06:57:23.174-05:00Comments on SchansBlog: Palin, "inexperience", and how to look like a donkey in criticizing hersEric Schansberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147388189415035752noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241505550351823820.post-19302185398682645072008-08-31T17:19:00.000-04:002008-08-31T17:19:00.000-04:00I see that point, but think it's (easily) trumped ...I see that point, but think it's (easily) trumped by the other points-- especially since she's the V-P and Obama is the P. <BR/><BR/>And the choice of a V-P is not (even close to) the first important act of a P candidate.Eric Schansberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16147388189415035752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241505550351823820.post-21037130648252444562008-08-31T14:16:00.000-04:002008-08-31T14:16:00.000-04:00McCain cannot criticize Obama for being inexperien...McCain cannot criticize Obama for being inexperienced now that he has demonstrated his own lack of regard for experience by choosing Palin. And the bottom of the ticket is no less important than the top of the ticket, since McCain is a 72-year-old cancer survivor. The first important act made by a nominee is their choice of a running mate. Voters might compare the decision of Obama with the decision of McCain: Obama made a conservative (meaning non-risky) choice, while McCain took a political gamble. And I think Obama might be blunting the experience issue anyway, by showing such control and strength in his convention speech.William Langhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04308959355199753193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241505550351823820.post-43962241503460943942008-08-31T00:13:00.000-04:002008-08-31T00:13:00.000-04:00Again, let me preface this by saying that I'm not ...Again, let me preface this by saying that I'm not a fan of McCain's...<BR/><BR/>Of course, McCain can still criticize Obama's lack of experience. Obama is running for President; Palin is running for Vice President. And anyone who tries to condemn Palin's experience implicitly downgrades Obama's. And the point that occurred to me: by choosing someone who is relatively inexperienced, it ironically brings even more attention to Obama's experience deficiency-- by getting us to talk about it more! <BR/><BR/>And to repeat another punchline here: one could argue that Palin's experience is stronger than Obama's-- given her executive experience. Why is Obama's experience preferable to hers? <BR/><BR/>I heard the conjecture about Lieberman as well. But I'd be surprised if McCain's political instincts are that lousy. Choosing a pro-choicer would have been as politically suicidal as Obama choosing a pro-lifer. <BR/><BR/>I also don't see any evidence for a quick or careless pick. Nor can I imagine any reason for McCain to panic. (Mondale picking Ferraro certainly fits that bill!) The race is basically even-- and where does Obama have to go, but down? I don't know much about Palin, but a comparison to Stockdale is insulting and a comparison to Eagleton seems quite improbable. <BR/><BR/>I think the most challenging thing one can say about McCain's choice is that he picked Palin because she's a woman. But, ironically, for most Democrats, the pursuit of diversity is a completely legitimate end in itself, so they should be applauding that as well.Eric Schansberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16147388189415035752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8241505550351823820.post-58982721012040801592008-08-30T19:04:00.000-04:002008-08-30T19:04:00.000-04:00I'm not sure I follow your logic. Never mind ...I'm not sure I follow your logic. Never mind that Obama or other Democrats cannot criticize Palin for inexperience—the salient point is that McCain cannot now criticize Obama's lack of experience. That was one of his best arguments against voting for Obama, and now he cannot use it.<BR/><BR/>I think McCain's choice of Palin signals that his campaign is in trouble. I suspect that McCain wanted to pick a more experienced politician (certainly not one he's only met once before), but the other possible choices turned him down. I read somewhere that McCain wanted to ask Lieberman to run with him, but his Republican strategists talked McCain out of this because Lieberman is pro-choice and that would have alienated the Republican base. Anyway, it appears that McCain made a last-minute choice, if not a panicky last-minute choice. This will end up in the same category as McGovern picking Eagleton (at the last minute without a proper vetting process), or Perot picking Adm. Stockdale ("What am I doing here?"). In each case, solid, credible national politicians turned down invitations to be running mates—because they knew the respective candidacies were doomed.William Langhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04308959355199753193noreply@blogger.com