The Palin Problem: governing requires knowledge, and mindless populism is just that—mindless

Or this:

Good thing she can use her experience as Gov of Alaska and her administrative experience to connect with the people.An advantage neither Biden or Obama has.

Factual knowledge will be freely forthcoming from
experts by whom a President will surround herself; not a problem.

Analogizing to a tug-of-war:
more important than the strength
applied by one member of a team
is the DIRECTION in which the rope is pulled.

Sarah wishes to remain loyal to principles of Original Americanism
as set forth in the Constitution.





David

Obama has LESS knowledge and experience than Sarah does.
If that is the criterion,
then he is disqualified.





David

This is tricky territory. I'm worried you are in serious jeopardy of having just disqualified your own post.

it's amazing all the back and forth on this Palin issue...something to inspire conversation I suppose. She's not qualified....she barely knows jack ****... an that's that.

BP

Of course, she isn't.

So her candidacy, her rah rah support from people like Omsig, and her promotion by all (make that many) of the usual suspects are subjects of interest.

I suggest you read my topic: Francis Fukuyama: The Fall of America, Inc. Reagan started it; G.W. Bush gave it the coup de gras

BBB

you betcha

No need for worry,
because I said IF.
Maybe u missed that part.

I just watched a video about her in the German Spiegel online, and they also
called her mindless with very little knowledge. She has become the laughing
stock around the world and so has the United States for even considering someone who is as qualified as a brick layer. I compare Palin to Chavez.

I 'll stand by the reasoning in my posts on this thread.

That is a cruel defamation.





David

She's fully qualified for the office and Oinkbama and Biden clearly are not, but there's something else in the picture.

She's clearly also one of us. The Anmerican people have been getting an increasingly large impression that most of our pols have no real clue as to how most of us live. As I read it neither SlicKKK nor Hillary KKKlintler has ever had a drivers license nor ever owned a motor vehicle. John the Gigolo Kerry is the same thing; you'd never see a picture of him doing any sort of a normal thing, always standing there on a 200' yacht, walking a truffle pig around on a leash, or doing something or other in a pink tutu. When the guy tries to show the world he's not a gun control freak you see him standing there with some sort of a $70,000 Krieghoff trap gun trying to hit a tin can on a post with it or some such.

Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air after all that.

Germany used to be a serious country.....

Knowledge, experience, and maturity are all important qualifications for Presidential office. That has always been so, but is especially important at the beginning of the 21st century. Management of a swollen bureaucracy, interaction with a recalcitrant Congress, and sensitive foreign issues all while under the eye of a sensationalist Press requires exceptional leaders. Any error could easily cause a great deal of needless suffering at home and around the world. The "innocent" tyro invites challenges that a more experienced leader would be spared. Yet, the myth that any ordinary citizen plucked from obscurity is capable of leading the nation is rooted very, very deep in our national mind.

During the Revolution the idea that the Minute Men were fully the equals of British regular soldiers died hard, and the idea still had currency right up until the debacle of the 1812. Andrew Jackson was the most influential President before the Civil War, and was arguably the most popular until "landslide Johnson". Following in Jackson's footsteps of rising from a backwoods cabin to national prominence were Presidents Harrison, Polk, Taylor, Pierce, and, of course, the "Rail Splitter". Were they all really just common folks? Nope. Harrison was born in tidelands Virginia before going West to fame in the Black Hawk War, and by the time Lincoln ran for the Presidency he was a nationally prominent lawyer sought after by major corporations. After the Civil War, politicians still sought to portray themselves as "common men". Andrew Johnson, was an illiterate small businessman before becoming Governor of Kentucky and then VP. Cleveland, the only man to be elected to two non-consecutive terms built his reputation on being Mayor of Buffalo, NY. Truman, perhaps one of the greatest of all the second tier Presidents, was a failure at virtually everything he ever put his hand to except to loyally work for the Pendergast Political machine.

Can the Lack of knowledge, experience and even maturity, be overcome if the President had other exceptional characteristics? The last time we opted for something different was when we elected Jimmy Carter for his high minded values and that turned out to be a disaster. Legislation stalled, the nation was challenged repeatedly by contemptuous foreign nations (Iran, most notable), and the President was unable to effectively act because of his commitment to openness, fairness, and all the other Christian virtues.

Now we have two candidates both of whom have limited knowledge of how the world works, inexperienced and whose maturity is at least open to question. One intensely wants to become President, and that has been the thrust of his public career for a long time. The other probably never dreamed of high national office until a month ago when chosen to run for Vice-President. BTW, that's another beloved American myth; the best leaders are those who don't actively seek office. Both of these two appeal more to the radical wings of their Parties than to the more independent and moderate middle of the road voters. Their popularity seems more rooted in their charisma, than anything of substance in their political record.

Personally, I would be less anxious of a Democratic victory in this election if Sen. Biden was at the head of the ticket. If our candidate wins, the likelihood of Gov. Palin becoming President within 4 years is relatively low.

Even if your supposition that the small chance of Palen becomeing president in the next four years was true it is still too much of a chance to take after the last eight years of republican culster fu-k government.

Perhaps, but it is a far lower risk than electing the other inexperienced "outsider" to be the President from Day One. Which is better, a one in twenty chance of an amateur at the helm, or 100% certainty that the navigator will be inexperienced? The Vice-Presidency is traditionally a political graveyard, but, as you've pointed out (though I don't agree with your feelings about the current administration), an ill-prepared President can fill real graveyards.

If a sitting Governor is NOT qualified for the VEEP role, explain how a one term Jr. Senator IS qualified for the Presidency?