The Governor of Alaska for Vice President?

Carly comments on the Thursday Open Roost:  I'm confused by the Sara Palin mania.... Isn't asking "why can't a new mom be VP" same thing as asking if we're "ready" for a black Pres--or a female one? All the inane Democrat identity politics notwithstanding, we don't vote for a generic type, we vote for an individual. Personally, I would have NO problem voting for a black person, a woman, a pregnant woman or a new mom--IF they were fully qualified to hold the position they were running for and IF I thought they best represented my views.

The fact that I'm not voting for Hillary or Obama has NOTHING to do with their race/sex and everything to do with the fact that they just aren't qualified/prepared to be President (and I disagree with everything they advocate...). From what I know I'd have to say the same about Palin (not the disagree-with-everything part). I couldn't care less if she's a new mom, but I DO care what qualifications/competencies she has that make her a viable candidate for VP--especially when her running mate's age and medical history makes it more than remotely possible she will accede to the Presidency at some point. What convinces all these Palin fans that she-or anyone with her level of experience--is qualified to run this country?

The Mad Pigeon:  In case you're wondering who Sara Palin is:

From The Pink Flamingo via Blogcritics:  ...some Neanderthal wrote on the site that Sarah Palin, the very competent and very pregnant Governor of Alaska is probably out of the running for VP because she will be a new Mommy and would probably want to stay home with baby.

If Governor Palin were a new, first-time Mommy I might give some credence to that mindset simply because she would need time to get adjusted to the whole situation. But Governor Palin is expecting her fifth – count ‘em – fifth child. Sarah and Todd’s oldest son Track is 18 and serving our country. Their daughters are Bristol, 17, Willow, 13, and Piper, 6. I think Governor Palin’s been there and done that. Considering her age, she has had all the proper tests and everything evidently looks very good. She even knows the gender of the baby but is not telling. She knows what she is doing.

What better way for my beloved GOP to show how beautifully modern and progressive we truly are than to facilitate and encourage John McCain, our nominee, to select Sarah Palin as his choice for Vice President? Baby Palin is not expected to make an appearance until mid-May, which is plenty of time for Mommy and baby to bond.  CONTINUED

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She seems to be doing okay, at least according to an article by the Weekly Standard:  Palin's tough spending cuts drew criticism from Republican legislators whose pet projects were vetoed. But her popularity doesn't appear threatened. "It's not just that she's pretty and young," says Dittman. "She's really smart. And there's no guile. She says her favorite meal is moose stew or mooseburgers. It wouldn't shock people if that were true." 

I dare say she comes across just as qualified as Billary and Obama, with the added bonus of having executive branch experience.

So what does it take, then?  To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, having a pulse is enough to qualify for Veep; but that was back in the day.

I'm with Carly in that in the modern presidency we're voting for the total package: someone who not only compliments the President for electable purposes, but is also competent enough to take the reigns.  In Palin's case, she's awfully young and rose awfully fast... but then again, didn't Obama?  As another example, I've heard the Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, hyped as a potential Veep candidate, and he's only 36 years old (makes me feel like an underachiever).

Carly and S.J. Reidhead's (The Pink Flamingo) arguments also bring up the larger issue of what it takes to be president.  According to Article II of the Constitution, the only requirements are to be a 35-year old natural born citizen--and there are plenty of those running around!  James Madison and the other founders specifically made presidential requirements lax so it could be a position to which any American could aspire to (with the age minimum of 35 to allow for maturity.  Seems quaint now).

But can any 35-year old natural born citizen run for president and be picked up for vice?  No... the position should be reserved for those with talent and experience, but is often taken by those with connections:  candidates with brand recognition who can fill the war chest.  For that reason Obama's come-out-of-nowhere candidacy must be a real shock to Hillary, the supposed anointed one.

With the same argument it's easy to see why a Cheney or Gore gets picked for Veep:  experienced, well-known, palatable to the party... doesn't explain the Quayles, though.

So on one hand Mrs. Palin is young, hard charging, family-oriented, and has city and state government experience under her belt.  On the other hand, I had no idea who she was until an hour ago, so she's lacking in the brand name department; plus, does state experience translate to national foreign policy experience?  Okay, that didn't stop Bill Clinton, but I think you get my drift.

Final prognosis, then:  if she's just as experienced as the Democratic presidential candidates, then she's got the creds for the vice president. 

Plus, she's much better looking than John McCain.

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Trackposted to Rosemary's Thoughts, third world county, McCain Blogs, A Newt One- Chris Hill on tonight, DragonLady's World, Adam's Blog, Right Truth, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Stuck On Stupid, Leaning Straight Up, Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Comments

[K-Lo]

Gov. Sarah Palin is respected by social and fiscal Conservatives, reformers and indy's.

The battle ground is shifting to the mid-west and Gov. Palin has the profile to appeal to those voters. Palin has more executive experience than both Clinton and Obama, and Palin practices straight-talk! Her two years as Governor has resulted in a long list of reforms in government and a 180 degree change in how politics is practiced in Alaska.

www.PalinforVP.com

One more note: In almost all of the head-to-head McCain-Obama polls, the number of undecided women doubles over a McCain-Clinton poll.

[Annie in Alaska]

I'm a fiscal conservative - and I wouldn't vote for Palin as dog catcher!

Mmmmm… let’s see. She was on the city council and mayor of Wasilla (population 5,469 in 2000), an Alaska Oil and Gas Commissioner for 9 months, and now Governor of Alaska for a little over a year.

National experience and expertise? None.

International experience? None.

Let’s see if she has the competence to run the state first. She might, but it’s a bit early to tell. Good intentions are a great start, but if the GOP is seriously looking at Sarah as a VP candidate, they are really desperate.

Democrats love her! I wonder why?
-Palin promised to cut the budget, but the budget grew $350 million.
-Palin introduced a $700 million tax hike, but signed a $1.5 billion tax hike.

Fiscal conservative? NOT!