rssConservative Columnist Calls For Palin To Withdraw From Race
Friday, September 26, 2008 at 11:08 am
- 11 Comments
The National Review’s Kathleen Parker — an early champion of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s candidacy for vice president — is now calling for Palin to withdraw from the ticket, in the wake of weak nationally televised interview performances.
As we’ve seen and heard more from John McCain’s running mate, it is increasingly clear that Palin is a problem. Quick study or not, she doesn’t know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion…
It was fun while it lasted.
Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League.
No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I’ve been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I’ve also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted.
Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there’s not much content there. Here’s but one example of many from her interview with Hannity: “Well, there is a danger in allowing some obsessive partisanship to get into the issue that we’re talking about today. And that’s something that John McCain, too, his track record, proving that he can work both sides of the aisle, he can surpass the partisanship that must be surpassed to deal with an issue like this.”
When Couric pointed to polls showing that the financial crisis had boosted Obama’s numbers, Palin blustered wordily: “I’m not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who’s more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who’s actually done it?”
If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.
Ouch! So Ms. Parker, what is the solution?
McCain can’t repudiate his choice for running mate. He not only risks the wrath of the GOP’s unforgiving base, but he invites others to second-guess his executive decision-making ability. Barack Obama faces the same problem with Biden.
Only Palin can save McCain, her party, and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.
But the McCain campaign is in a Catch-22. If Palin stays on, they basically have to keep her muzzled as much as possible — clearly, there has been a very good reason for hiding her from the press. But continuing to keep her quiet will only invite more criticism. If Palin withdraws herself from the ticket, it will invite “others to second-guess McCain’s executive decision-making ability,” as Parker fears. Whatever happens, unless Palin somehow turns this thing around, people are second-guessing McCain’s decision to pick her as a running mate.
Palin withdrawing herself may be the campaign’s best move — we won’t really know for sure until November — but it would be the best of a bunch of bad options. If Palin bows out with just 38 days left until the election, McCain could find himself starring in a re-run of George McGovern’s debacle with Thomas Eagleton in 1972. It’s hard to feel sorry for him — McCain created this mess himself, by cynically choosing someone who he thought would help him get elected, rather than help him govern.
11 Comments
Comment posted September 26, 2008 @ 10:47 am
I'm not convinced McCain chose Palin. I don't like McCain. I fear for the result if he is lucky enough to be elected. But I also belleve that Palin was foist upon him by his advisors and others in the party.
Comment posted September 26, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Yikes. I kind of feel sorry for the gal.The Palin faceplant is no surprise to us cynical moderate types who saw it coming….and warned ya'll. As far as Obama “worrying” about Biden, maybe WE should be taking Biden more seriously. A few unscripted gaffes from a man who has been a very respected and effective Senator since 1972 is nothing to scoff at.
Comment posted September 26, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
a delusional presidential candidate chooses an even more delusional vice presidential candidate. when the choice is the truth or a good story, both of these politicians choose a good story.
perhaps they both can get a group rate for mental therapy.
Comment posted September 26, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
It has alway been, is she capable to perform the duties of the position. Would you take a job you knew you were ill prepared for and would likey fail at. That is what worries me the most. The position is to important to have someone stumble through it.
Comment posted September 26, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
I have to agree that Sarah Palin is not ready for the VP position but blame should be put squarely on McCain's shoulders. He, in the end, had to choose his running mate. I believe Sarah Palin is a bright woman with a possiblility of climbing the political ladder in future years once more experience is gained. However, at this time, she is not ready and I believe the McCain campaign has made her look inarticulate and quite simply foolish in interviews by not allowing her to speak for herself well before now. Did they think she could stand before us and utter a few slogans repetitively and the voters would quite simply say – she's great, I'll vote for her! The voters have more substance than that. I think Sarah Palin would be relieved to go back to Alaska and do her job as Governor and leave Washington for others who can stomach it.
Comment posted September 26, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
Palin will withdraw due to family needs. I won't be surprised that a suspicious report comes out between now and next week's V.P. debate time that states Palin is a “no show at the debate due to some unforeseen needs of her daughter”
Comment posted September 26, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
Palin will withdraw due to family needs (pregnant daughter). I won't be surprised that a suspicious report comes out between now and next week's V.P. debate time that states Palin is a “no show at the debate due to some unforeseen needs of her pregnant-daughter”
Comment posted October 1, 2008 @ 6:36 am
First, the rumor about Biden withdrawing, now Palin withdrawing! Maybe both VP candidates should withdraw, and both P candidates should bow out, and we can start all over again and maybe get some candidates which are attractive to ALL of us and we can have a REAL election instead of some vaudville show! With BO's history with ACORN, the Dems' history of shevling legislation which would have (maybe) prevented this financial crisis a couple years ago, and all the other weaknesses both parties have demonstrated, I'm ready to just run into the woods and hide! But I won't, 'cause then it would be just as much MY fault as anyone, when the disaster of either one winning the Presidency (depending on how it's viewed).
Let's just stop all this “advising” and pontificating and “predicting” and get on with the election! Maybe we can sort it out afterwards!
But one thing's fersure — it's a mess now and won't get any better until the election is over and the dust (and mud?) settles!
Comment posted October 22, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
Palin must withdraw. I, too, fell she was not McCain's pick, even though it did fit his hotdog style enough for him to be able to swallow it. It is not too late, even today, 10-22-08. It will be fantastic! McCain and his new VP nominee will win by a landslide.
Comment posted October 23, 2008 @ 2:44 am
Palin must withdraw. I, too, fell she was not McCain's pick, even though it did fit his hotdog style enough for him to be able to swallow it. It is not too late, even today, 10-22-08. It will be fantastic! McCain and his new VP nominee will win by a landslide.
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