DCFOUNTAIN.COM

Photo: masonvotes

Todd and Sarah Palin with Sen. John McCain

In one of the most stunning developments in the entire 2008 election season, GOP operatives searching for a fresh vice presidential candidate foraged deep into the subarctic wilderness; emerged with a feisty, overly confident small-town-beauty-queen-turned-moose-skinner; and today presented her to the nation as if she were Alaska’s answer to Davy Crockett.

Before crowning Gov. Sarah Palin “Queen of the Wild Frontier”, however, Americans rightfully want to know exactly who this folksy, gunslinging backwoodswoman is, and whether she really is capable of suddenly taking on the weighty responsibilities of leading the free world, should that become necessary. After looking beyond the pretty face and quirky but memorable sound bites, the answer seems a resounding, “Hell, no!”‘

For a presidential candidate who has adopted a campaign slogan of “Country First”, Sen. John McCain’s pick of Ms. Palin to fill his place as commander-in-chief if necessary is at best highly quizzical, and at worst careless, grossly irresponsible and — in every sense of the word — quite dishonorable.

Given the disastrous state of affairs in this nation — economically, militarily and diplomatically — selecting a self-described “hockey mom” with zero experience in either foreign policy or handling any other national issues, a very brief and controversial record as governor of a sparsely populated state, and a record of spending recklessly while accumulating huge budget deficits (sound familiar?) while mayor of a one-stoplight village in the Alaskan outback hardly can be considered putting the nation’s interests first.

This judgment, from a man who, at 72, would be the first new U.S. president ever to take office in his 70s — making him the oldest new president ever inaugurated. Of particular note are McCain’s four separate incidents of skin cancer, the most serious of which was in 2000 — adding sobering new meaning to the term “a heartbeat away from the presidency.”

Medical experts say that typically 65 percent of patients with the stage of melanoma McCain had survive 10 years after diagnosis, although that survival rate increases sharply — possibly to as high as 91 percent — after five to seven years have passed without recurrence, as it has in McCain’s case. Yet, they caution, melanoma survivors never are fully free of the recurrence threat.

Given these risks, McCain’s selection of Palin was purely and simply a shrewd, calculated move to win the election at any and whatever cost — even if it means leaving the nation in reckless, wholly inexperienced hands should a President McCain become incapable of serving his full term. That he would do so reflects quite poorly on McCain’s judgment and, yes — let the breast-beating begin — his patriotism.

But perceptions rule in politics, and the GOP is counting once again on the gullibility of the nation’s electorate to buy hook, line and sinker their lies, myths, smears and distortions. They also are counting on just enough disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters who don’t keep up with candidates’ issue positions to cross over to vote for the only woman now in the race.

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