Did they even bother to vet this person? Or did they panic after Obama's speech last night? Here's the dirt on Palin.
(Lack of) Experience:
Wasilla City Council, 4 years
Mayor of Wasilla (Population 5400), 6 years
Ethics Commissioner of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 1 year
Governor of Alaska, 1.5 years
So, despite all of McCain's bluster about being ready and experience and whatever, the person this septuagenarian POW who has had cancer (twice) picks to be a heart beat away from the presidency is someone with no national security experience and someone who barely has any statewide experience. In fact, the bulk of her experience is spent on local issues: nothing that can prepare her for bombing the hell out of Iran and Russia in McCain's two pronged war.
I'm sure Team Obama appreciates McCain taking this issue off the table for him. A reverse birthday present from John, I guess?
Vendetta scandal
As Kos reported in July:
Sarah Palin is the governor of Alaska, and a hugely popular one, with approval ratings hovering in the 90 percent range. She was even discussed as a potential VP pick for McCain.
Or, that used to be the case, as her administration is rocked by revelations that she and her family used the governor's office to carry out a vendetta against a policeman who was a former brother in-law, up to firing the public safety commissioner because he wouldn't fire the trooper. The top wingnut radio host in the state, a huge fan, has turned on the governor big-time, declaring her a one-term governor. The Republican-dominated state legislature is talking investigations. For a state party rocked by scandal, who had seen Palin as a savior -- clean and new, this abuse of power scandal has to be crushing.
And, now, an investigation has been opened, according to CQ this week:
Parnell is backed by Republican Gov. Sarah Palin , who won election in 2006 aided by positioning herself as an anti-corruption candidate. Palin has been highly popular but has recently faced questions regarding her administration’s ethical conduct. An investigation has been opened into whether a member of her administration pressured officials to fire Palin’s former brother-in-law.
So, McCain's Veep pick is facing an ongoing ethical investigation? How perfect!
Oh, and did I mention nobody in America knows who the hell she is? Or that she's viciously pro-life? Or that her entire state party is the most corrupt in the nation? This is gonna be fun!
UPDATE: I'd like to add, if Hillary and her supporters needed any other reason to go ballistic on McCain's ticket, here it is. I bet they'll be damned if she's going to let this nobody become the first woman vice-president.