NYT: "Not Ready '08"

The theme of the Republican convention, "Not Ready '08" (presumably directed at Obama), was established prior to McCain's erratic VP choice. Now that this theme is tinged with more than a little irony, it's no wonder the Republican operatives are scrambling to revise it:

Republican officials said that though they had time to collect surface-level material on Ms. Palin and her husband, they had done no examination of the rest of her family.

Beyond that, Republican organizers said the convention aides in charge of reviewing every speech delivered from the lectern are now on the watch for blunt attacks on Mr. Obama's readiness to lead, and reviewing how much to emphasize what had been the convention theme: "Not Ready '08." They are aware that such criticism in a high-profile setting would provide an opportunity for Democrats to make the same charge against Ms. Palin, who has almost no foreign policy experience and has been governor for just 20 months.

This fallout from McCain's VP-pick debacle dovetails well with the growing evidence that he is not ready in '08.

  1. His biggest presidential decision to date, the VP pick, was a reckless and unadulterated failure; surely he could've found a more prudent way to motivate Fallwell's sheep.
  2. While the Iraqis and Bush administration eagerly jump on Obama's timeline bandwagon, McCain still doggedly clings to occupation in perpetuity.
  3. In the midst of an economic crisis, McCain sees light at the end of the tunnel, but he fails to recognize it's an oncoming train.
  4. For the love of G-d, he can't even remember how many mansions he owns.

McCain's own delegate, citing his high-stakes, high-profile and high-risk VP gamble, evokes the question of McCain's readiness to put his ill-tempered or his successors inexperienced finger on the proverbial button:

Several Republican delegates said they too were shocked by the selection of Ms. Palin and, while they wished her well, were deeply concerned that she did not have the experience in foreign policy or national security to be commander in chief.

"We've been told for the last few months that experience is what matters most in the next White House," said John Scates, a delegate from St. Louis. "But McCain is picking someone whose experience is little to nothing or, at best, unknown.




Display:


Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (2.00 / 2)

Leave McCain aloooooone!!!!!!1111!!one

/in before the trolls


"In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." -Barack Obama
by blueAZ on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 08:52:32 PM EST

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (none / 0)

I'm surprised Democrats have not realized by now. McCain/Palin is running as the reform ticket, not experience ticket.


Restore America's Strength.
by RJEvans on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:10:29 PM EST

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (2.00 / 2)

They are now. But Obama's got a long head start defining himself as the change candidate and McCain only has a couple months to reverse that. Plus now McCain is suddenly the 'riskier' choice too. And they can't use 'experience' anymore...


by Mystylplx on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:34:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (none / 0)

I don't see how McCain is the riskier choice. You could say Palin is too risky to be McCain's VP, but that does not make McCain the riskier choice. Americans still see Obama as inexperienced and he is not running against Palin, he is running against McCain.


Restore America's Strength.
by RJEvans on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 12:42:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (2.00 / 1)

RJ,

Is this snark?

Serious question.


"Can We Build It? Yes We Can!" - Bob the Builder
by Stipes on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:41:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (none / 0)

If you think that was snark, then you're hopeless. Have you not realized in every speech in rolling out Palin, it is not about McCain is ready and Obama is not, it is McCain/Palin will bring REFORM.
Restore America's Strength.
by RJEvans on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 12:40:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (2.00 / 3)

Seeing, no doubt, if it's possible to lose on both.

It's not the Democrats who don't realize it, by the way.  They've chosen an event called "Not Ready 08" to introduce Governor Palin.


I'm voting for Saxby Chambliss!
by Jess81 on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 10:18:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (2.00 / 2)

As of today, you are correct.

As of the past few months - ?????

What a schizophrenic campaign.  It will truly be remarkable if they somehow pull it off.


by rfahey22 on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 11:28:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

We have (2.00 / 1)

but it's a really stupid strategy.  McCain's had two decades to reform Washington, and Palin is tied to Stevens and has a little abuse of power problem herself.


by JJE on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 01:10:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (none / 0)

And within a few days her "reform" cred will be in tatters as the major media discover what a cesspool her Administration really is.

Troopergate is absolutely lethal for her. So are her lies about Bridge to Nowhere.


by elrod on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 02:48:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (none / 0)

Troopergate is not lethal. I've read every article on the story, both local and national and frankly, Democrats have no case.


Restore America's Strength.
by RJEvans on Mon Sep 01, 2008 at 12:39:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (2.00 / 2)

Awwwww..... give the guy a break about not being able to remember how many houses he owns. For chrisake the man is 72 years old! He's lucky if he can remember how many children he has!

Seriously though, the more I think about his Palin pick the better I like it (for Obama of course.) He just took away their major amunition for attacking Obama--inexperience and risk. He can no longer frame Obama as the inexperienced and riskier choice. Suddenly the McCain/Palin ticket is looking like the more inexperienced and riskier choice, while still holding the promise of change and better judgement.

Palin helps in the short term by taking a lot of attention away from the Dem convention and bringing attention to the repub convention. But in the long term she torpedoes his whole strategy.


by Mystylplx on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:31:26 PM EST

Oops. (2.00 / 1)

I meant Obama/Biden still hold the promise of change and better judgement.


by Mystylplx on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 09:36:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NYT: "Not Ready '08" (none / 0)

My first thoughts when I heard about Palin (well, after picking my jaw off the floor) were:

1. From now on, whichever side mentions inexperience first loses that argument. If the Obama campaign attacks Palin's resume, they are admitting that a resume is important, when they have been trying to say all along that judgement is the key. Likewise, if McCain's campaign puts too sharp a focus on experience, they look like hypocrites at best.

2. Hillary Clinton just became even more important to the Dems success this fall. Palin mentioned Hillary's glass ceiling remark in her intro speech, and will no doubt mention it again. Clinton is the only Obama surrogate with a totally free hand to criticise Palin without being tarred as a sexist, or offending any Hillary supporters.


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 01:17:29 AM EST


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