The Daily Sabbatical

The word is out: even conservatives are beginning to bemoan Senator McCain’s choice of a vice-presidential candidate. They no doubt feel betrayed. I know I do. Even though I am a strong supporter of Barack Obama, when McCain won the primary I was relieved. Sure, he offered the best chance for a Republican victory, but who cares? He seemed a very tolerable downside. He seemed reasonably moderate, very experienced, full of integrity, and honest. So, even if he won, at least it would be a huge step up from the disaster of the Bush years.
And then came Palin.
Suddenly the downside is very, very far down. Suddenly I see a future where I pine for the Bush years. This is not sexism: McCain could have chosen any number of women on the hill or elsewhere in the country who would have been shining examples of intellect and expertise. But he chose someone he barely knew, who had barely moved into the governorship of the least densely populated state in the nation, and who has all of a communications degree from the University of Idaho. Yes, she is very right wing, and no, I don’t like that. But that is plainly not the issue. Hell, I think I’d even prefer Ann Coulter!
McCain threw a political Hail Mary, sacrificing the country in the bargain. Despite all the fawning over the P.O.W.’s patriotism, this is so far from patriotic as to almost be treasonous.

As an end to this diatribe, I’ll simply post this video from CNN.

Turns out that inside the McCain camp, the absurdity of his pick is being realized.  See the Huffpost report here.

Harper’s gives us a peek into the sermons that Palin has been ingesting up there in the coldest state. Their main message? Most of us won’t be cold for long.

I find myself shocked by John McCain’s VP pick, but I’m even more shocked at how unprepared McCain spokesmen are to answer questions about that pick. This, for example, is a video with Campbell Brown absolutely roasting Tucker Bounds. It’s entertaining but painful.